I was impressed to find this dining option in such a tiny town. The decor was tasteful, kind of interesting with the dead crows, but nice. Low lighting, could even be considered a little intimate. I loved that the tablecloth was a big piece of paper to color on. For some people, that might not be as appealing. Before we understood it, we looked at each other like uhh where's the nice white tablecloth. This is until we discovered the crayon basket. Life changing. Maybe we came on a bad day or at a bad time because I heard this was a great place. I ordered the salad nicoise, my friend had the stir fry special. When our bread basket came, it was pretty dry. My friend was not happy with her meal. She said the broccoli was raw and the "stir fry" sauce was basically brown gravy. I did enjoy my salad- smoked salmon, olives, eggs, potatoes, onions, broccoli and dressing- but how hard is that to mess up? I think the menu options are pretty impressive for the community and if I would try this place again.
(3)
Michael R.
I personally believe this is the best place for lunch in Beatrice. The Stromboli is amazing! I have never had a bad experience here and would recommend it to everyone!
(5)
Derek B.
Probably 4.5 stars, but, finding this in the town of Beatrice bumps it up to 5. I read a few of the reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor before trying this place. Dont' get to Beatrice very often, but, it was between this and the Mexican joint. I gotta say, I'm happy I tried Black Crow. Most of the negative reviews I read had to do with it being higher priced... Well, let me say, if this was in Lincoln or Omaha, most dishes would be $5 to $10 higher pretty easily. Most dinner dishes are just under the $20 range although a couple were closer to $15 and there were some closer to $25. Can't recall what the Pizza's cost. I had the Shrimp Rissotto dish along with the House Salad. The house vinigarette dressing was awesome. Shrimp Rissotto dish was very solid. Good-sized portion and seasoned quite well. Who would think you could get Rissotto in Beatrice, NE? Not me for sure. I'd be interested to come back at lunch as I heard they serve Gyro's. I would have to think a gyro at this quality of place would be amazing.
(5)
Gregg S.
Atmosphere was nice. Nasty food. Salad and dressing was warm. Sandwich very greasy. (I had to dab it with napkin). Water tasted like rust. Three in my party got sick after their meal.
(1)
Alek Z.
Another surprisingly awesome place in an otherwise unspectacular Nebraska town. The food was delicious, the prices were good, the ambiance was nice and the staff were a riot. I had the lamb and beef gyro with a caesar salad. Both were great, although the gyro did taste a bit different. Not odd, just different than most other gyros I've had. But it was still delicious and filling, and only cost like $7.50. I had a Golden Ale from Colorado, which was pretty refreshing. They've got a few "local" beers from Lincoln, and then your average beers and liquors. The building is this old place that clearly had a lot of history to it. They have those green copper ceiling tiles I've seen a lot in other places in Nebraska.
(5)
Nicole G.
Passed through Beatrice during my road trip and after reading the reviews I decided to stop in. Great ambiance and wonderful staff. Food: A basket of warm bread was brought out with herbed olive oil. It was good. Mark ordered the Fresh Salmon and I ordered the Louisiana Seafood Bake. Both came with the house salad. I requested the house vinaigrette and he requested his with the Dorothy lunch dressing. Both salads were fresh and both dressings tasted great. Fresh Salmon: Came on a bed of mashed potatoes and with asparagus. I tried some and it was delicious! The salmon was was cooked to perfection and fell easily apart as I cut it. It was light, juicy, and the maple glaze added a touch of sweetness to die for. The mashed potatoes and salmon married together beautifully. Louisiana Seafood Bake: My absolute favorite. It came in a baked dish of scallops, shrimp, peppers, tomatoes, and onions under a puffed pastry. I don't know what was in the sauce but I wanted to lick my plate clean. The scallops and shrimp melted in my mouth. It really was heaven in my mouth! And the pastry was baked how I like it- crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The flavors just marinated perfectly together. The dish looked small but it definitely filled me up, and after driving a few hours on the road I definitely worked up a big appetite. Dessert: I ordered the cheesecake. It was creamy and light. The caramel sauce was rich in flavor. A perfect end to a perfect meal! Our waiter: The waiter described the daily specials and their ingredients like the back of his hand. He was attentive and definitely made our already great experience a more enjoyable one! I highly recommend this place and will definitely come back!
(5)
Lonnie L.
Best food in the ferry building. Always fresh, delicious, and makes me feel like i am eating at a restaurant but for a lot less. The thought and composition that goes into the food is great, and you can taste the farm freshness of the ingredients. It feels like the farm is in the kitchen, that's how fresh the ingredients are!
Great local restaurant. We stopped for lunch on the way to a business call. Caesar salad was excellent, along with the Cuban sandwich. Recommend to anyone stopping through town for lunch.
(4)
Donna M.
Yummy Stromboli and gyros
(4)
Robyn G.
I made my maiden voyage from Omaha to Beatrice to have dinner at this restaurant after reading glowing reviews and hearing raves from my foodie friends about the wonderful Black Crow. I must assume that they have recently changed ownership, or at least management, because the alternative is that all my foodie friends have lost their minds. The restaurant is architecturally interesting and lovely. The painted tin ceiling is beautiful. I have no more positive observations to make. My dinner companion and I arrived at 6 p.m. on a Saturday night and were surprised to find the restaurant less than half full. It did not fill up at all during our two hour visit, and after reading the rest of my diatribe I am sure you will understand why. To begin with, my friend ordered a Jamison only to find that they were out of Jamison. He was disappointed, but we gave them a pass on that, because it's very possible to be out of a specific whiskey on any given night. He adapted, and ordered a martini. He specifically asked that it be served very cold. It was served at approximately room temperature. Strike two. We ordered a bottle of wine. Our server went away and came back to inform us that they were out of that wine. Again, it is possible to be out of a specific wine. . . however we found it amusing that the two things we ordered right out of the gate were unavailable. Strike three. But we'd driven all that way, so we ordered a different bottle and stayed for the second inning. When she brought our "French bread", our server stated that she went looking for olive oil for the bread, but could not find any. We asked ourselves, how can a restaurant not have olive oil? It didn't matter, though, because the bread was so awful that we weren't going to eat it anyway. It looked and felt like a hot dog bun which had been sliced to impersonate a baguette. We debated over appetizers and ultimately selected the baked brie with spiced apples. When it arrived, we started talking about going to McDonalds. The cheese appeared to have been microwaved, not baked. It was a gooey, congealed mess with some warm spiced apples which actually resembled over-ripe tomatoes but which had no flavor at all and could have been made of wet cardboard for all I knew. The white cheese rind was sitting on the plate near the rest of the cheese mass, but appeared to have been tossed there as an afterthought, as it was not abutting the rest of the melted goo. We were expected to eat this with yet another piece of hot dog bun. We sent it back. Against our better judgment we decided to give the appetizer course another go, and ordered the Angus beef tips in Asian soy glaze. In the interest of not allowing this review to go on for ten pages, I will simply say they were edible, but uninspired. Salad was next. Dressing options were house vinaigrette, ranch, and Dorothy Lynch. Ugh. We both opted for the vinaigrette, which came out of the kitchen as a small pitcher of balsamic vinegar and . . . guess what . . . the cruet of olive oil they couldn't locate earlier. You make your own. It is just olive oil and vinegar. No seasonings. My companion and I are both capable of making basic dressing, but I pity the gastronomically challenged person who orders the vinaigrette and is then faced with the task of engineering his or her own dressing. Because we are gluttons for punishment, we soldiered on to the main course. I ordered the seafood provencal and my friend had the scallops in pink cream sauce. My angel hair pasta had apparently been boiling in a pot since Tuesday. It passed the "al dente" phase some time during the Clinton administration. The seafood was properly cooked, but there was no attempt made to season the dish. The scallops were also adequately cooked, but again, the dish had no seasoning and the pink cream sauce appeared to be a can of tomato paste mixed with heavy cream and a dash of garlic. Our server asked us if we'd like to order dessert. We are pretty tough, but not tough enough to endure any more, so we declined.
(1)
Rachel H.
In most cases, one would consider Nebraska to be something of a culinary wasteland. Luckily, The Black Crow is a flavor oasis, welcoming to travelers with weary tastebuds such as myself. Here's what I had: Old Fashioned Cocktail: I'm always surprised when I order one of these in the Midwest and the bartender gives me a blank stare. Luckily that didn't happen here, they not only knew what it was (or googled it unobtrusively) they also knew how to make a good one. Slightly sweet with a hairy chest. Oysters Rockefeller: Amazing! The oysters were buttery and sweet, baked underneath a blanket of spinach, cheese, and breadcrumbs. I could have eaten about 6 of these. Filet Mignon: was cooked perfectly to medium rare and wrapped up in a piece of bacon, just the way I like it. It comes in 6oz and 8oz, but 8oz is only a dollar more, so go for it! It came with some delicious roasted veggies and a hearty helping of garlic mash. Creme Brulee: a rare treat in the Midwest, and presented here in the traditional style. Delicious, of course! We heard some customers at the next table over ask for the dessert list and then remark "Oh, I don't like creme brulee." Oh really? Then you must not like AMERICA. The parental units also greatly enjoyed their dinners, though they expressed some disappointment because the restaurant was out of the mushroom raviolis, which apparently they have been out of for quite some time. I saw other tantalizing things on the menu, such as scallops with puttanesca sauce, but due to the small capacity of my stomach parts, that will have to wait for next time. All in all, quite a delightful experience. I could easily see this very same restaurant transplanted to my home city of San Francisco with a line of hipsters out the door. A small town restaurant with big city flavors!
(5)
Chris E.
I've been eating at the Black Crow for 15 years and always consider the experience something special. The food is great and the ambiance wonderful. There are several drawbacks (which I usually overlook) ... one is the temperature of the restaurant during the winter. On cold nights (like last night) the interior termps fluctuate and cold drafts interrupt the flow of the meal and conversation. And honestly, the booths are very uncomfortable ... narrow booths and hard bench like seats. They could do better. But, having said that, I put up with those things to enjoy the wonderful food and the gracious owners. And here's another great part of the "crow experience"...the food is priced just right. A good dinner for two will come in well under $70! Not bad nowadays. GO TO THE CROW .... YOU'LL LOVE IT.
(4)
Amanda G.
No lie, it's been awhile since I've been here, so...take this review with a grain of salt. I grew up in Beatrice, and the Black Crow has been around...well, not for as long as I can remember, but for quite awhile. I've had dinner there a handful of times over the years, and while I can't precisely remember the specifics of my meals, my opinion of the restaurant has changed drastically over the years. When I was younger (and a very picky eater), I remember thinking that it was murderous trying to find anything on the menu that I liked; when I was older, however (and had expanded my palette substantially), I remember thinking that I'd never be able to choose something from the menu because it all looked so amazing...and it was. This restaurant is not for the picky eater, to be sure. The last time I was there I ordered the quail, which was divinely prepared by Ray Arter, the chef, although I can't recall anything more specific about the meal other than that I enjoyed it immensely (I have no lasting memories of the service, either, so I can't comment on that aspect). However, the memories of the Black Crow that HAVE survived the years (and the primary reason that I am writing this review, despite my horrid memory) are of Ray's truffles. His deletcable, heavenly, perfection in-and-of-themselves truffles. I have no idea if he still makes them (and even when I was growing up, they were a special-order thing and not widely-known or available), but if I were ever to suffer death by chocolate, these would undoubtedly be the murder weapon. Forget the Godiva-esque truffles that I'm sure you're picturing in your mind - these things were veritable chocolate boulders in comparison, and were oh-so-delicious in the way that only something so utterly and completely diet-ruining can be. What has become of Ray's truffles? Does he make them anymore? I have no idea...I hope so. However, rest assured that the excellence of these truffles extends to the cuisine at the Black Crow as well. And while this restaurant might not necessarily stand out in a city any larger than Lincoln, it isn't located there, it's located in a small, mid-western town, and in such a setting, it can't help but shine - and with good reason.
(4)
Nico M.
Candlelit atmosphere. Gorgeous old bar. Great wine. Delicious pastas, meat & potatoes. Salads with tasty leaves - no iceberg here. If you're craving for local flavor and don't care for big city basalmic, you can still order the local thousand island type dressing. Wonderful folks working here. Whether its just the two of you, or a whole family reunion, the Black Crow won't do you wrong. No need to drive up to Lincoln for a delicious dining experience.
(5)
David F.
We haven't been to the Black Crow for several years and we may not go back. My wife and two of her friends stopped there for lunch yesterday. She ordered a pasta salad with veggies. It was drowned in dressing and otherwise extremely mediocre. She was way too nice to send it back and ask for a better dish. I certainly hope this is a one-off, rather than creeping indifference at the restaurant. We don't get to Beatrice that often. When we do, we try to stop at the Black Crow. Next time, we'll think twice. Very disappointing.
(1)
Justin C.
I too grew up near Beatrice, and can vouch for the Black Crow. It's not just "good for a small town", it's an excellent restaurant by any standards. The menu has a wide variety without being too generic: pasta, pizza, various entrees ranging from beef dishes to wild game (quail, duck, etc). The ambience is also very nice. The location used to be a rough and tumble biker bar decades ago, and underwent an extensive remodel. The restaurant features a large antique bar spanning half the length of the restaurant, numerous booths, and several tables. They also have several good beers on tap - stella, etc. I don't know scotch, but those who do claim it is one of the best selections in the state. It's also very inexpensive. Couldn't recommend this place highly enough, and it could certainly merit a trip from Lincoln or Omaha. In addition, I held my class reunion here - it is very capable of accommodating groups of any size.
(5)
Mark D.
Can you believe that I'm reviewing a restaurant in Beatrice Nebraska? Sure am! I lived here over the summer, and the Black Crow is one of the nicest dining experiences that I had while living here. Service was fantastic, and the food was good. I wonder if anyone else is going to review this place...
(5)
Tessa M.
The best priced lunch in Beatrice! There is no where else that you can get that quality of food and service for such a reasonable price! Hands down the place to eat lunch in Beatrice!
(5)
Roderigo S.
To start off I am not from Beatrice and I found this establishment difficult to find especially while driving in the dark. Since we did not have a reservation we sat at the bar until an open booth became available. While sitting there I soon encountered one of the most disgusting acts I have seen from a bartender in a long time. After mixing a drink for a customer, I watched the bartender taste the drink numerous times using his finger to dab a bit of the drink, followed with him using a straw and finally a draw through a straw to taste it. He then proceeded to serve this drink to the customer. NASTY. On to the meal. We ordered the prime rib and found it to be mediocre at best after being assured by the waitress that it was the best. The dinner salad was pre-made and contained pine nuts. This may cause issues with those allergic to nuts as there is no indication that the salad contains nuts. The bread served with the dinner was the best part of the meal. It is served with olive oil instead of butter which is a nice choice. What was a concern though was the cloudy look of the oil. Typically olive oil is clear unless its contaminated. Conclusion - $50 for two prime rib dinners, a mixed drink and a beer. If this is the best Beatrice has to offer it maybe time to raise the standard of best.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner, Dessert Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Jessica H.
I was impressed to find this dining option in such a tiny town. The decor was tasteful, kind of interesting with the dead crows, but nice. Low lighting, could even be considered a little intimate. I loved that the tablecloth was a big piece of paper to color on. For some people, that might not be as appealing. Before we understood it, we looked at each other like uhh where's the nice white tablecloth. This is until we discovered the crayon basket. Life changing. Maybe we came on a bad day or at a bad time because I heard this was a great place. I ordered the salad nicoise, my friend had the stir fry special. When our bread basket came, it was pretty dry. My friend was not happy with her meal. She said the broccoli was raw and the "stir fry" sauce was basically brown gravy. I did enjoy my salad- smoked salmon, olives, eggs, potatoes, onions, broccoli and dressing- but how hard is that to mess up? I think the menu options are pretty impressive for the community and if I would try this place again.
(3)Michael R.
I personally believe this is the best place for lunch in Beatrice. The Stromboli is amazing! I have never had a bad experience here and would recommend it to everyone!
(5)Derek B.
Probably 4.5 stars, but, finding this in the town of Beatrice bumps it up to 5. I read a few of the reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor before trying this place. Dont' get to Beatrice very often, but, it was between this and the Mexican joint. I gotta say, I'm happy I tried Black Crow. Most of the negative reviews I read had to do with it being higher priced... Well, let me say, if this was in Lincoln or Omaha, most dishes would be $5 to $10 higher pretty easily. Most dinner dishes are just under the $20 range although a couple were closer to $15 and there were some closer to $25. Can't recall what the Pizza's cost. I had the Shrimp Rissotto dish along with the House Salad. The house vinigarette dressing was awesome. Shrimp Rissotto dish was very solid. Good-sized portion and seasoned quite well. Who would think you could get Rissotto in Beatrice, NE? Not me for sure. I'd be interested to come back at lunch as I heard they serve Gyro's. I would have to think a gyro at this quality of place would be amazing.
(5)Gregg S.
Atmosphere was nice. Nasty food. Salad and dressing was warm. Sandwich very greasy. (I had to dab it with napkin). Water tasted like rust. Three in my party got sick after their meal.
(1)Alek Z.
Another surprisingly awesome place in an otherwise unspectacular Nebraska town. The food was delicious, the prices were good, the ambiance was nice and the staff were a riot. I had the lamb and beef gyro with a caesar salad. Both were great, although the gyro did taste a bit different. Not odd, just different than most other gyros I've had. But it was still delicious and filling, and only cost like $7.50. I had a Golden Ale from Colorado, which was pretty refreshing. They've got a few "local" beers from Lincoln, and then your average beers and liquors. The building is this old place that clearly had a lot of history to it. They have those green copper ceiling tiles I've seen a lot in other places in Nebraska.
(5)Nicole G.
Passed through Beatrice during my road trip and after reading the reviews I decided to stop in. Great ambiance and wonderful staff. Food: A basket of warm bread was brought out with herbed olive oil. It was good. Mark ordered the Fresh Salmon and I ordered the Louisiana Seafood Bake. Both came with the house salad. I requested the house vinaigrette and he requested his with the Dorothy lunch dressing. Both salads were fresh and both dressings tasted great. Fresh Salmon: Came on a bed of mashed potatoes and with asparagus. I tried some and it was delicious! The salmon was was cooked to perfection and fell easily apart as I cut it. It was light, juicy, and the maple glaze added a touch of sweetness to die for. The mashed potatoes and salmon married together beautifully. Louisiana Seafood Bake: My absolute favorite. It came in a baked dish of scallops, shrimp, peppers, tomatoes, and onions under a puffed pastry. I don't know what was in the sauce but I wanted to lick my plate clean. The scallops and shrimp melted in my mouth. It really was heaven in my mouth! And the pastry was baked how I like it- crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The flavors just marinated perfectly together. The dish looked small but it definitely filled me up, and after driving a few hours on the road I definitely worked up a big appetite. Dessert: I ordered the cheesecake. It was creamy and light. The caramel sauce was rich in flavor. A perfect end to a perfect meal! Our waiter: The waiter described the daily specials and their ingredients like the back of his hand. He was attentive and definitely made our already great experience a more enjoyable one! I highly recommend this place and will definitely come back!
(5)Lonnie L.
Best food in the ferry building. Always fresh, delicious, and makes me feel like i am eating at a restaurant but for a lot less. The thought and composition that goes into the food is great, and you can taste the farm freshness of the ingredients. It feels like the farm is in the kitchen, that's how fresh the ingredients are!
(4)Marq M.
Recently, I found myself helping a friend out on a photo shoot near Beatrice, Nebraska. The models were cows, tractors, golf greens, and fields of beans and corn. Not the most glamorous shoot and not the most glamorous area. I had never been to Beatrice before and found it to be charming and nice - a larger small town. We saw current political graffiti painted on a downtown roof that reminded me of the cold war era 80's in the larger cities. There was a small permanent popcorn stand on one of the sidewalks that someone could probably make some money with if installed in Benson or The Old Market. When we pulled into town for lunch we saw a few places that looked like standard bar and grill fare and then were pulled in by a nice hanging sign that said The Black Crow. We walked in and were surprised by the long room filled with dark oak booths and a few larger tables at the back. Every seat was filled and we were offered a seat at the massive oak bar while we waited. Our wait was very short, after which we were put in a booth that had a sheet of paper over the table, complete with nice china and silverware. It was all pretty fancy for lunch in a small town. Hell, it was pretty fancy for lunch in Omaha. Thankfully the lunch prices did not reflect our surroundings. We had menus brought to us and ordered sodas. The lunch menu was vast and had wraps, sandwiches, pizzas and entrées listed. Our friendly waitress read off the list of specials for the day, along with their ingredients, like a pro. It seems that they have different and unique wraps, quiches and stromboli daily. I went with a pepperoni and salami stromboli and my friend went with a Philly cheese steak. I also ordered their mushroom soup. A bowl of hot bread was brought out along with a carafe of olive oil to dip the bread in. My mushroom soup soon followed and the first spoonful found me tasting what was possibly the best mushroom soup I have ever had. I had my friend try it and he immediately ordered a bowl for himself. It was a dark and rich broth that kept its appeal until the very end. I dipped my bread in both the soup and olive oil separately. Our entrées came and my friend's Philly was large, full of beef and loaded with cheese. He said it was very good, but would have been better with fresh mushrooms. My stromboli was loaded with melted mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and salami, and the bread that surrounded it was light, flaky and buttery. It was excellent. The Black Crow has everything going for it, and with a full bar and craft beer selection, I would even pull up here for just a couple of drinks in the evening. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was fantastic, and the food was reasonably priced and very good. It's one of those rare places that I wouldn't hesitate driving a couple of hours (round trip) for a meal, and I will as their dinner menu looks even better.
(5)Dan M.
Great local restaurant. We stopped for lunch on the way to a business call. Caesar salad was excellent, along with the Cuban sandwich. Recommend to anyone stopping through town for lunch.
(4)Donna M.
Yummy Stromboli and gyros
(4)Robyn G.
I made my maiden voyage from Omaha to Beatrice to have dinner at this restaurant after reading glowing reviews and hearing raves from my foodie friends about the wonderful Black Crow. I must assume that they have recently changed ownership, or at least management, because the alternative is that all my foodie friends have lost their minds. The restaurant is architecturally interesting and lovely. The painted tin ceiling is beautiful. I have no more positive observations to make. My dinner companion and I arrived at 6 p.m. on a Saturday night and were surprised to find the restaurant less than half full. It did not fill up at all during our two hour visit, and after reading the rest of my diatribe I am sure you will understand why. To begin with, my friend ordered a Jamison only to find that they were out of Jamison. He was disappointed, but we gave them a pass on that, because it's very possible to be out of a specific whiskey on any given night. He adapted, and ordered a martini. He specifically asked that it be served very cold. It was served at approximately room temperature. Strike two. We ordered a bottle of wine. Our server went away and came back to inform us that they were out of that wine. Again, it is possible to be out of a specific wine. . . however we found it amusing that the two things we ordered right out of the gate were unavailable. Strike three. But we'd driven all that way, so we ordered a different bottle and stayed for the second inning. When she brought our "French bread", our server stated that she went looking for olive oil for the bread, but could not find any. We asked ourselves, how can a restaurant not have olive oil? It didn't matter, though, because the bread was so awful that we weren't going to eat it anyway. It looked and felt like a hot dog bun which had been sliced to impersonate a baguette. We debated over appetizers and ultimately selected the baked brie with spiced apples. When it arrived, we started talking about going to McDonalds. The cheese appeared to have been microwaved, not baked. It was a gooey, congealed mess with some warm spiced apples which actually resembled over-ripe tomatoes but which had no flavor at all and could have been made of wet cardboard for all I knew. The white cheese rind was sitting on the plate near the rest of the cheese mass, but appeared to have been tossed there as an afterthought, as it was not abutting the rest of the melted goo. We were expected to eat this with yet another piece of hot dog bun. We sent it back. Against our better judgment we decided to give the appetizer course another go, and ordered the Angus beef tips in Asian soy glaze. In the interest of not allowing this review to go on for ten pages, I will simply say they were edible, but uninspired. Salad was next. Dressing options were house vinaigrette, ranch, and Dorothy Lynch. Ugh. We both opted for the vinaigrette, which came out of the kitchen as a small pitcher of balsamic vinegar and . . . guess what . . . the cruet of olive oil they couldn't locate earlier. You make your own. It is just olive oil and vinegar. No seasonings. My companion and I are both capable of making basic dressing, but I pity the gastronomically challenged person who orders the vinaigrette and is then faced with the task of engineering his or her own dressing. Because we are gluttons for punishment, we soldiered on to the main course. I ordered the seafood provencal and my friend had the scallops in pink cream sauce. My angel hair pasta had apparently been boiling in a pot since Tuesday. It passed the "al dente" phase some time during the Clinton administration. The seafood was properly cooked, but there was no attempt made to season the dish. The scallops were also adequately cooked, but again, the dish had no seasoning and the pink cream sauce appeared to be a can of tomato paste mixed with heavy cream and a dash of garlic. Our server asked us if we'd like to order dessert. We are pretty tough, but not tough enough to endure any more, so we declined.
(1)Rachel H.
In most cases, one would consider Nebraska to be something of a culinary wasteland. Luckily, The Black Crow is a flavor oasis, welcoming to travelers with weary tastebuds such as myself. Here's what I had: Old Fashioned Cocktail: I'm always surprised when I order one of these in the Midwest and the bartender gives me a blank stare. Luckily that didn't happen here, they not only knew what it was (or googled it unobtrusively) they also knew how to make a good one. Slightly sweet with a hairy chest. Oysters Rockefeller: Amazing! The oysters were buttery and sweet, baked underneath a blanket of spinach, cheese, and breadcrumbs. I could have eaten about 6 of these. Filet Mignon: was cooked perfectly to medium rare and wrapped up in a piece of bacon, just the way I like it. It comes in 6oz and 8oz, but 8oz is only a dollar more, so go for it! It came with some delicious roasted veggies and a hearty helping of garlic mash. Creme Brulee: a rare treat in the Midwest, and presented here in the traditional style. Delicious, of course! We heard some customers at the next table over ask for the dessert list and then remark "Oh, I don't like creme brulee." Oh really? Then you must not like AMERICA. The parental units also greatly enjoyed their dinners, though they expressed some disappointment because the restaurant was out of the mushroom raviolis, which apparently they have been out of for quite some time. I saw other tantalizing things on the menu, such as scallops with puttanesca sauce, but due to the small capacity of my stomach parts, that will have to wait for next time. All in all, quite a delightful experience. I could easily see this very same restaurant transplanted to my home city of San Francisco with a line of hipsters out the door. A small town restaurant with big city flavors!
(5)Chris E.
I've been eating at the Black Crow for 15 years and always consider the experience something special. The food is great and the ambiance wonderful. There are several drawbacks (which I usually overlook) ... one is the temperature of the restaurant during the winter. On cold nights (like last night) the interior termps fluctuate and cold drafts interrupt the flow of the meal and conversation. And honestly, the booths are very uncomfortable ... narrow booths and hard bench like seats. They could do better. But, having said that, I put up with those things to enjoy the wonderful food and the gracious owners. And here's another great part of the "crow experience"...the food is priced just right. A good dinner for two will come in well under $70! Not bad nowadays. GO TO THE CROW .... YOU'LL LOVE IT.
(4)Amanda G.
No lie, it's been awhile since I've been here, so...take this review with a grain of salt. I grew up in Beatrice, and the Black Crow has been around...well, not for as long as I can remember, but for quite awhile. I've had dinner there a handful of times over the years, and while I can't precisely remember the specifics of my meals, my opinion of the restaurant has changed drastically over the years. When I was younger (and a very picky eater), I remember thinking that it was murderous trying to find anything on the menu that I liked; when I was older, however (and had expanded my palette substantially), I remember thinking that I'd never be able to choose something from the menu because it all looked so amazing...and it was. This restaurant is not for the picky eater, to be sure. The last time I was there I ordered the quail, which was divinely prepared by Ray Arter, the chef, although I can't recall anything more specific about the meal other than that I enjoyed it immensely (I have no lasting memories of the service, either, so I can't comment on that aspect). However, the memories of the Black Crow that HAVE survived the years (and the primary reason that I am writing this review, despite my horrid memory) are of Ray's truffles. His deletcable, heavenly, perfection in-and-of-themselves truffles. I have no idea if he still makes them (and even when I was growing up, they were a special-order thing and not widely-known or available), but if I were ever to suffer death by chocolate, these would undoubtedly be the murder weapon. Forget the Godiva-esque truffles that I'm sure you're picturing in your mind - these things were veritable chocolate boulders in comparison, and were oh-so-delicious in the way that only something so utterly and completely diet-ruining can be. What has become of Ray's truffles? Does he make them anymore? I have no idea...I hope so. However, rest assured that the excellence of these truffles extends to the cuisine at the Black Crow as well. And while this restaurant might not necessarily stand out in a city any larger than Lincoln, it isn't located there, it's located in a small, mid-western town, and in such a setting, it can't help but shine - and with good reason.
(4)Nico M.
Candlelit atmosphere. Gorgeous old bar. Great wine. Delicious pastas, meat & potatoes. Salads with tasty leaves - no iceberg here. If you're craving for local flavor and don't care for big city basalmic, you can still order the local thousand island type dressing. Wonderful folks working here. Whether its just the two of you, or a whole family reunion, the Black Crow won't do you wrong. No need to drive up to Lincoln for a delicious dining experience.
(5)David F.
We haven't been to the Black Crow for several years and we may not go back. My wife and two of her friends stopped there for lunch yesterday. She ordered a pasta salad with veggies. It was drowned in dressing and otherwise extremely mediocre. She was way too nice to send it back and ask for a better dish. I certainly hope this is a one-off, rather than creeping indifference at the restaurant. We don't get to Beatrice that often. When we do, we try to stop at the Black Crow. Next time, we'll think twice. Very disappointing.
(1)Justin C.
I too grew up near Beatrice, and can vouch for the Black Crow. It's not just "good for a small town", it's an excellent restaurant by any standards. The menu has a wide variety without being too generic: pasta, pizza, various entrees ranging from beef dishes to wild game (quail, duck, etc). The ambience is also very nice. The location used to be a rough and tumble biker bar decades ago, and underwent an extensive remodel. The restaurant features a large antique bar spanning half the length of the restaurant, numerous booths, and several tables. They also have several good beers on tap - stella, etc. I don't know scotch, but those who do claim it is one of the best selections in the state. It's also very inexpensive. Couldn't recommend this place highly enough, and it could certainly merit a trip from Lincoln or Omaha. In addition, I held my class reunion here - it is very capable of accommodating groups of any size.
(5)Mark D.
Can you believe that I'm reviewing a restaurant in Beatrice Nebraska? Sure am! I lived here over the summer, and the Black Crow is one of the nicest dining experiences that I had while living here. Service was fantastic, and the food was good. I wonder if anyone else is going to review this place...
(5)Tessa M.
The best priced lunch in Beatrice! There is no where else that you can get that quality of food and service for such a reasonable price! Hands down the place to eat lunch in Beatrice!
(5)Roderigo S.
To start off I am not from Beatrice and I found this establishment difficult to find especially while driving in the dark. Since we did not have a reservation we sat at the bar until an open booth became available. While sitting there I soon encountered one of the most disgusting acts I have seen from a bartender in a long time. After mixing a drink for a customer, I watched the bartender taste the drink numerous times using his finger to dab a bit of the drink, followed with him using a straw and finally a draw through a straw to taste it. He then proceeded to serve this drink to the customer. NASTY. On to the meal. We ordered the prime rib and found it to be mediocre at best after being assured by the waitress that it was the best. The dinner salad was pre-made and contained pine nuts. This may cause issues with those allergic to nuts as there is no indication that the salad contains nuts. The bread served with the dinner was the best part of the meal. It is served with olive oil instead of butter which is a nice choice. What was a concern though was the cloudy look of the oil. Typically olive oil is clear unless its contaminated. Conclusion - $50 for two prime rib dinners, a mixed drink and a beer. If this is the best Beatrice has to offer it maybe time to raise the standard of best.
(2)