Atmosphere: Ate there at 8pm on Saturday evening. Older, conservative crowd. Decorated with antiques and historic memorabilia. Service: very professional, tenured servers. Slow to greet us initially. Food took 30 minutes to get to table. Food: ordered a $28 Filet Mignon prepared Medium Rare. Steak came out close to well done. Underseasoned. Chicken Oscar dish was good. Appetizer was heavy and filling: fried Portobello Mushrooms with Havarti Cheese sauce. Service: didn't see server for 10 minutes after food was dropped off. Too late to have them fix the $31 steak. This wasnt our servers first rodeo. Offered desert in the house immediately. Didn't want dessert . Wanted a $28 filet grilled medium rare. I'm convinced the server knew the steak was overdone before she brought it to the table. Our complimentary Lemon cheesecake was probably going to be outdated the next day so that was their solution to scrapping an overcooked filet. Total time in restaurant was 1.5 hours. We we not in a hurry but the crappy steak situation had me antsy. I might try thier $5 burger special during lunch hour. Nah.
(1)
Jeremy N.
Wait staff was pretty good. Food was good, but not as good as I expected from how pricey it was. Got my order just a tad off (gave me regular mashed potatoes instead of garlic). We were in and out quickly. It sounded as if they highly prefer reservations. If you were going out on a date there, it would be a nice, cozy little romantic place to go. As we walked up, it was a unique building and we were a little unsure where to enter. After we got in, it was a nice, historic house of some sort (but they never told us what it was historic for).
(3)
Nikki B.
Chef Nader will not disappoint. "Billy" is WIlliam Jennings Bryan, a famous Nebraska Democrat who ran for President about 100 years ago. (You can also visit his house, Fairview, in Lincoln). Agreed with Heather B. - this is a popular hangout for Lincoln Democrats. This restaurant is located in the shadow of the State Capitol. I've been there for several fundraisers or socials, which gets pretty crowded in the small bar area. But dinner is a completely different experience. I had the best rehearsal dinner EVER there. The wait staff was wonderful, and the appetizers were amazing - we had about 5 different kinds served to us in the private rooms. We each got to pick from the entrees on the rehearsal dinner menu. I loved every bite of the pork. Unfortunately, I felt a little TOO guilty about how good everything tasted, so I skipped dessert :) You can view their menu on their webpage: billysrestaurant.com I would highly recommend this place for small rehearsal dinners or an anniversary date. I would not recommend it for large groups or claustrophobic people. Closed on Sundays.
(5)
Adrian B.
The place is in a time warp. Orange Duck and Steak Diane, is this 1980? I've literally not seen this on a menu in 20 years. I visited this restaurant over 10 years ago and it was the exact same menu then still in cheap plastic holders. There's not even a rotating menu, there's a lazy chef in the house! The bread rolls were white and obviously not made in house and they didn't or even take time to warm them. The mixed vegetables served with the meal were out of a bag and full of cheap celery. For the price I was stunned. It was a step back in time and not a good one! Fortunately the proteins were well cooked and portions hearty to say the least. We could not eat the mash potatoes as someone had got way too excited with the garlic, it burned the mouth and lips. The greeter did not even have a nice outfit or a proper uniform. Additionally she had to cover as a server which is another indicator of a cheaply run establishment cutting corners in the wrong areas. We landed up waiting for 5 solid minutes (there was no one waiting and the place was half empty) before getting a server from the dining room to give us our coats back and this was on a Saturday night. The decor is tired with 1980's pictures in pink and blue on the way to the bathroom. The bathrooms need remodeling, they were tired and dirty. The carpet in the property is a tragedy in itself, old and far too busy with flowery designs clashing with the already over busy flowery walls. It was like my grandmothers place. I do understand it's going for an older warmer look that a large old stately home gives. I should know coming from England but this was a step too far. The establishment is living off it's old reputation and you could tell this by the guests eating, this restaurant is treading water and just felt lazy, old and out of touch. With all of the new restaurants going into Lincoln they better be careful or start making a concerted effort. I won't be back. I hope they take heed and make some changes. It's one of those establishments that deserves fresh life and it would not take a huge amount of effort to put it back on the local culinary map. Right now it's snoring in the corner like old grandfather!
(3)
Steve E.
Don't go here if you like a steak done medium, or mid well. The chef refused to cook a filet med well. You would think he was going to eat it himself. What a disappointment!! This was after we had a RSVP and were stuck at a cramped little table in the bar area. Don't waste your time or money here.
(1)
Kassy E.
I have been to Billy's a couple of times and had great experiences during both of them. There is nothing vegetarian on the menu, but when we told them that I was, the chef came out, sat at our table with us, and created an amazing pasta dish for me that is probably one of the best I have had. It was a buttermilk/wine sauce with cumin and he threw in all the veggies that he had found at the local market that morning. You get really good portion sizes and both times I have brought enough food home for another meal (which is nice when you are paying a higher price.) Billy is very friendly, although his sense of humor can be a little crude. Don't take your grandma there if she isn't comfortable with some off color jokes, but if you don't take offense, he can be pretty funny. The atmosphere is a little odd because you are in an old house essentially and all the tables are in different rooms. The first time my husband and I went we dressed up because we went to celebrate our engagement, but we felt out of place with nice clothes on. Overall a great experience and if you are in Lincoln looking for some decent food, this is the place to go!
Super expensive, but very (albeit small portion sizes) good food. It's a cozy atmosphere with a good wait staff.
(4)
YS Z.
I used to love this place due to its unique style and family-like atmosphere. Food quality itself is average among all restaurants in Lincoln. However, my wife and I experienced an EXTREME UNPLEASANT service during this Friday lunch time. When stepped into the restaurant, we noticed it was kind of busy. Only a lady and a young gentleman were serving all guests. The lady led us to a table WITHOUT a welcome greeting and smile. We waited over 10 minutes until the same lady dropped by our table and asked us what to order. No introduction. No Smile. It took about 30 minutes for the food to be served. During this long waiting time, no bread, no explanation, no drink refill. I ordered a diet coke and my wife ordered a cup of hot tea. For the Diet coke, almost 75% of the cup was filled by ice. It took forever to be refilled even I asked for a couple of time. During the whole meal time, we were treated like enemies rather than guests. I am very very disappointed at this visit. Personally, I will never come back to this place any more. I do not want to pay for hostility, rudeness, and mediocre food.
(1)
Kent M.
Two of us had dinner here tonite. Probly best I have ever had here. We both had the swordfish. Was just wonderful, and nice portions. Great service too.
(5)
Audrey B.
I went here with my dad and boyfriend and it was superb! The waitress recommended a delicious Shiraz and our steaks were all cooked perfectly. Definitely will be going back here again!
(5)
K. M.
We came here during restaurant week. The food was fantastic. Recommend the stuffed mushrooms appetizer. The setup and atmosphere is more suited towards an older crowd so being late 20 year old patrons we felt a little weird. The bread rolls they served weren't warm, who wants to eat cold bread? They also were very skimpy on how much wine they give you. When you pay $7-9 for a glass of wine you expect it to be half full.
Best restaurant and Unicameral hangout in Lincoln. Drop in during the legislative session. You might get free drinks, if one party or the other is having a fund-raiser. But drop in any time for the best rack of Lamb you will ever have. The owner/chef (whose name escapes me at the moment) is friendly, personable and brilliant. I love this place, despite the fact that I despise William Jennings Bryan.
(5)
Elisabeth E.
Heard some good things about this place from a coresident who took his wife there for their anniversary and loved it. It's in a great location right near the capital and we were able to go on a nice walk after dinner and look at all the lights on the capital building. The restaurant is in an old Victorian style house that has been redone. Billy, owner of Billy's, was there and seated us while wearing what looked like chile pj pants.. Pretty legit. My coresident said he actually sat down with him and his wife during dinner and chatted. We were seated quickly despite our reservation was for 7:30 and we were 30 mins late. The atmosphere is very intimate and romantic. Low lit, dark colors, styled with antiques and old pictures and collectibles. Calming 30s- 40s instrumental style music completed the mood. The menu was really exciting and apparently has some variability to it. For people who are gluten free, vegan, or vegetarian this place is a dream come true. It says right on the menu they will accommodate anything. Our order was taken promptly and no issues were made to turn a scallop dish gluten free for me. Food came out in a timely manner as well. We decided to split a glass of wine cause I didn't want a whole one. The server brought out the wine divided into two glasses with generous portions. My boyfriend had a cup of tomato Tuscan soup which he said was very good, full and flavorful with a hearty broth. I had a salad with oil and vinegar and fresh greens. My peppered scallops were substituted with risotto for penne. The risotto was creamy and flavorful and perfectly cooked. Scallops were also executed ideally. The dish was very good and more than filling, I took half of it home. He devoured a New York steak seasoned with rosemary and a side of mashed potatoes. The temperature of the meat was right on. The steak had three jumbo prawns on top. The steak was great and mash wasnt bad. Plating was a bit to be desired, I can see some comments from other yelpers, but really it's a minor detail. I wish I could comment on dessert but there weren't any gf desserts that night.. Prob better for my waistline. Price was affordable for the quality and portion size. About 60 for 2 people. They also participate in restaurants.com Well def be going back, I have the feeling this may become one of my regular local haunts!
(4)
Jim C.
We found Billy's on Yelp and from all the great reviews we wanted to give it a go. it was not hard to find, we got there just before 6, there were only a few tables occupied, and a large table at the back corner, I ordered my ice tea and started to go over the menu, it's a single page with a handful of appetizers and a good selection of entrees, we opted for the baked stuffed mushrooms for appetizer, and I went with the pomegranate duck. We were talking and really wasn't paying much attention to the time, I guess about 10 min later she came back with some bread, then another 10 min went by before the salad arrived. I guess another 15 min later the mushroom showed up, they were large buttons with shrimp and smoked provolone melted on top, they did a good job with them, I thought they would be cold, but they were very tasty. She then took our empty plates and left us sitting with our drink for seems to be another 30 min before our food came. We had some good conversations and the time went by quick. I thought she gave me the wrong order, I was expecting a duck breast, but I guess since it was a duckling, they gave me half a duck! It took up almost the entire plate! The duck was cooked to perfection, not at all fatty, but not dry either, it was the best duck I had in a very long time. We ate quickly because we were starved and we wanted to get to the ball game. The entire time she was the only one we saw going back and forth, so only one person for host, waiting, bartending and bus? Did she have to cook and wash the dishes too? I could easily give them a 4 or maybe even 5 stars, if it weren't for the super long wait, don't get me wrong, the food was excellent, everything top notch, the restaurant had a lot of history and characters, but the wait did me in, sorry.
(3)
Kevin F.
What a bizarre little restaurant. As an out-of-towner, I thought that I was walking into what looks like a subdivided Victorian duplex (which is what the building is). On a Thursday evening at 8PM, I was the only patron other than a four top that was apparently celebrating a birthday. My impression is that most diners are seniors that arrive early. Everything about the place was a little weird. I felt like I arrived for dinner in someone's house and not in a comfortable way; the chef made my cocktail (or the barman, who I never saw again, was wearing pants with chili peppers on them), the lighting was bad, and the piped in Muzak was horrific. I played "Name That Tune" with myself to make it tolerable. The food was above average but nothing to write home about. I ordered the "Steak Diane" which was over sauced but tender and well cooked. The "vegetable medley" was prosaic at best and the mashed potatoes were just okay. No bread was served. There was no salt & pepper. I didn't stick around for dessert. You get the picture...
(3)
John R.
After hearing some good things about this place I decided to try it for lunch and went back for dinner a month later. For the most part, I enjoyed the food. I had the duck for dinner which out shinned my typical bar-like burger on the previous trip. This place gets a 3/5 is because of its service and atmosphere. Usually if the food is good, I'll disregard ambiance or so-so service. However, Billy's is old and has a stuffy feeling to it. Rooms are set with a few tables in them, almost as if they are on top of each other. Moreover, I've only seen and had one waitress. She's well past her prime and inattentive. Combined with loud smooth-jazz music, the overall experience lacks. Go for the food, run away from the ambiance.
(3)
El S.
The food was worse than I could cook myself - my litmus. Frozen veg & brought in rolls - my 4year old could cook that. Plus a menu that the 1980s buried with big hair and stirrup leggings (orange chicken and steak Diane) left me wanting my money back. Go to jtk, venue or dish if you want something special, not here.
(2)
Marina V.
Loved it, super cool historic location (1800s Victorian house previously owned by William Jennings Bryan!!), delicuous food (we split the filet mignon, Pittsburgh rare), and had a cup of an awesome ham and cheese soup (du jour). Great service and atmosphere!
(5)
Jon'el H.
It has been awhile since I've been to Billy's. we had dinner reservations but some how even with reservations there wasn't any seating in the dining room. So we had to sit in the bar for dinner. Strike one Service was TERRIBLE! As soon as we sat down our waitress wanted to know what we wanted to drink. Since we hadn't seen the wine list yet we asked if we could have a minute. 10 minutes later she came back to check on us. Strike two When our food arrived, mine looked like everything on the plate had slid to one side and was kind of mashed together. I had the pan seared ahi, it was unrecognizable because it was hidden under a huge lump of big hunks of onion & drowning in balsamic reduction sauce. The fish was so overcooked that it was tough and dry, the squash was undercooked and tough (like eating a piece of raw sweet potato). I didn't bother to say anything because I overheard the chef demanding to know what the next table didn't like about their order. Strike three I was very disappointed in my dining experience and will probably never go back
(1)
Jill V.
We had As Groupon for Billy's so decided to give it a try. The location by the capitol is cool. We had the chicken satay skewers which were tender and had a very delicious sauce. The shrimp pasta entree was just ok-too many canned ingredients. It was really something most people could make at home. The dessert (caramel apple cheesecake) was very yummy. The restaurant itself only gets 3 stars b/c of the mediocre entree and the atmosphere is too outdated. This is definitely an older person's scene.
(3)
Ingrid H.
We were excited to try Billy's, but were pretty disappointed with the experience. The location is cool (in an old house by the capitol building), but that's where the charm ended for me. The interior just feels like it needs to be updated and the food was disappointing. I ordered the orange duck and my husband had steak & potatoes. While he thought his food was okay, mine was definitely not. The orange glaze on the duck was thick, too sweet, and tasted like orange marmalade. The side was not, nor did it resemble, "risotto." The rice was undercooked and crunchy, was not arborio, and was not cooked like risotto. I think this place is trying to be really nice but just can't quite pull it off. I will say that the service was very good, but for me that's probably not enough reason to go back.
Never been for dinner but have been a couple of times for lunch and enjoyed my visits very much. Like the atmosphere, cozy old house, cool stuff to look at. Very reasonably priced for lunch. Nadar came out and talked for a while And was super nice and accommodating. I like that Lincoln had a place like this, wish there were more places like it. Seems silly I have never been for dinner.
(4)
Gabby A.
I ate at Billy's for the first time last night. I had purchased a Lincoln Journal Star Daily Deal for $50 to spend and it was about to expire. We hustled ourselves down to give them a try. The restaurant is in an old house in the downtown area, and the outside is gorgeous. Pretty landscaping, green grass, flowers-very welcoming. We walked in and were immediately seated. The tables are in different rooms of the house which made it very nice and intimate. We started off with an appetizer. Thai Chicken Satay with peanut sauce. It was a decent dish. The chicken was fresh and grilled well, and the peanut sauce was pretty tasty. It rang in at $9.95 and I thought it wasn't that special of a dish to be priced at nearly $10. I could have grilled some chicken at home and whipped up some peanut sauce for a fraction of the price. This is mostly a cost complaint. I just felt for what we got, it wasn't worth it. We also received our house salads at this time, and these were probably my favorite part of the dining experience. Wonderful, fresh lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and a delicious house dressing. They topped it all off with tasty homemade croutons. Very good. The main dishes came next. I ordered Crab Alfredo and the gent ordered Chicken Asiago. When my pasta dish arrived, I was a bit confused. The menu says the dish comes with blue crab meat, asparagus, and mushrooms in a creamy alfredo sauce. What I got were two crab cakes instead of crab meat. Not a huge deal, but I was looking forward to hunks of crab in delicious sauce. Had I known they would have been crab cakes I probably would have gone with something else. The crab cakes were tasty enough and asparagus was fresh and prepared well. The noodles and alfredo were definitely lack-luster. This was over all a decent dish, but nothing I'd come back for. I had a bite of my boyfriend's dish and it was also decent. We ended the night with a Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake slice that was wonderful. I would certainly recommend this dessert. It was awesome. The salad and the cheesecake were the best part of my dining experience here. The service was pretty good, but a bit slow. There was only one waitress and quite a few people dining. She definitely did her best, but she really needed some help! Billy's was good, but I really don't think I'll be back. It doesn't stack up to my other favorites here in Lincoln.
Overall, very disappointed. I've heard about this place for years and have tried some of the better Lincoln dining establishments like Dish and The Venue. Unfortunately, Billy's doesn't cut the mustard. The location was cool and it's probably a great place to hang out at the bar, but it looks like the menu hasn't been updated since the 1970s. Three out of our party of four were very disappointed with the food. I had jumbo sea scallops thinking to myself ... "Dish can pull off scallops in the Midwest -- can Billy's?" No, these rubbery, flavorless offerings cannot compare. The waitress also looked like she hadn't been updated since the '70s and reeked of cigarette smoke. You'd probably get a better meal at some bag and boil chain restaurant like Fridays, and that isn't saying much.
(2)
Roxanne A.
I had the chicken special which was okay, but the atmosphere was fun and the wine was good and the service was GREAT.
(4)
Lilly C.
Went to Billy's last night for dinner with my husband. The Victorian house, turned restaurant, is both charming and cozy. The previous review states that tables are "on top of each other." I didn't find that to be the case at all. Each room has three or four well-spaced tables. Our server was knowledgable and friendly. I had the much-talked-about rack of lamb, which was grilled to perfection at medium rare. The rosemary and garlic were perfectly balanced and not overpowering. The lamb itsself was like butter. My husband had the New York, which came out perfectly medium, and the prawns on top were nice and tender, very flavorful. Overall, a great experience.
(5)
Sarah W.
A surprising culinary delight in Lincoln Ne. I only ended up here because my favorite vietnamese restaurant in LIncoln was closed. Arrived late evening with a party of five. After the waitress greeted us, the chef greeted us. So cool. He stuck around and walked us through the menu as well. I am a spice whore, and noticed a lack of heat on the menu. The chef disappeared and arrived about ten minutes later with a spicy chutney and grilled pita. Not a menu item, and so above and beyond. What is this...A chef with people skills. A new world has opened for me. All seven of the items we chose were delicious and huge! I highly recommend the lamb. If you are an eater, try the pork chop. Prices are more than fine for the amount of food served. Five people, $200.00 with tip, coffee, and a $55.00 bottle of wine. Not to mention 5 full togo boxes. One star taken away for the wine list. Very small, very California. These menu items would shine with a larger selection. Everything tastes better with wine right?
(4)
Steph H.
Hadn't been there for years. Went last night w/ some friends. Everything was great, from food to customer service. Since I don't eat meat or dairy and there was nothing on the dinner menu that was a simple mod, the chef was incredibly kind and asked what things I liked and he prepared a great thai/indian dish w/ coconut milk. the portion size was the only extreme thing. It will last me for about 4 meals!
(4)
Heather B.
Billy's is frequented by politicos at the capital. It's got great food. I've had one lunch and one dinner there, and I'll just say that it never disappoints. Fabulous fish, well-prepared everything. The restaurant is in an old Victorian home, and it is all very tasteful... A place where one likes to linger with coffee after dessert, etc. A little bit pricier than the average place in Lincoln but not bad.
(5)
Ryan P.
We were met immediately by attentive waitstaff who followed up with us in perfect intervals during our meal. We first tried the Thai Chicken Satay Skewers which were so good we actually ate the peanut sauce straight off of the plate after the skewers were gone. My wife ordered steak and I ordered the pomegranate duck. While she wasn't terribly impressed with the steak (nothing she couldn't get elsewhere, she said), my duck was pretty darned good. The pomegranate sauce dripped into the garlic potatoes and made them even better. Best duck I've had in Lincoln. Of course the place used to be a house and is now full of political artifacts and history. We were having a hard time figuring out where in Lincoln and old picture on the wall was taken and with the help of the neighboring table and the chef we placed it. Lawyers and politicos may frequent the place, but there were more blue collars there when we went. The chef's very friendly and cordial and I thought my food was well worth it. I'll definitely be back.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Amanda B.
Atmosphere: Ate there at 8pm on Saturday evening. Older, conservative crowd. Decorated with antiques and historic memorabilia. Service: very professional, tenured servers. Slow to greet us initially. Food took 30 minutes to get to table. Food: ordered a $28 Filet Mignon prepared Medium Rare. Steak came out close to well done. Underseasoned. Chicken Oscar dish was good. Appetizer was heavy and filling: fried Portobello Mushrooms with Havarti Cheese sauce. Service: didn't see server for 10 minutes after food was dropped off. Too late to have them fix the $31 steak. This wasnt our servers first rodeo. Offered desert in the house immediately. Didn't want dessert . Wanted a $28 filet grilled medium rare. I'm convinced the server knew the steak was overdone before she brought it to the table. Our complimentary Lemon cheesecake was probably going to be outdated the next day so that was their solution to scrapping an overcooked filet. Total time in restaurant was 1.5 hours. We we not in a hurry but the crappy steak situation had me antsy. I might try thier $5 burger special during lunch hour. Nah.
(1)Jeremy N.
Wait staff was pretty good. Food was good, but not as good as I expected from how pricey it was. Got my order just a tad off (gave me regular mashed potatoes instead of garlic). We were in and out quickly. It sounded as if they highly prefer reservations. If you were going out on a date there, it would be a nice, cozy little romantic place to go. As we walked up, it was a unique building and we were a little unsure where to enter. After we got in, it was a nice, historic house of some sort (but they never told us what it was historic for).
(3)Nikki B.
Chef Nader will not disappoint. "Billy" is WIlliam Jennings Bryan, a famous Nebraska Democrat who ran for President about 100 years ago. (You can also visit his house, Fairview, in Lincoln). Agreed with Heather B. - this is a popular hangout for Lincoln Democrats. This restaurant is located in the shadow of the State Capitol. I've been there for several fundraisers or socials, which gets pretty crowded in the small bar area. But dinner is a completely different experience. I had the best rehearsal dinner EVER there. The wait staff was wonderful, and the appetizers were amazing - we had about 5 different kinds served to us in the private rooms. We each got to pick from the entrees on the rehearsal dinner menu. I loved every bite of the pork. Unfortunately, I felt a little TOO guilty about how good everything tasted, so I skipped dessert :) You can view their menu on their webpage: billysrestaurant.com I would highly recommend this place for small rehearsal dinners or an anniversary date. I would not recommend it for large groups or claustrophobic people. Closed on Sundays.
(5)Adrian B.
The place is in a time warp. Orange Duck and Steak Diane, is this 1980? I've literally not seen this on a menu in 20 years. I visited this restaurant over 10 years ago and it was the exact same menu then still in cheap plastic holders. There's not even a rotating menu, there's a lazy chef in the house! The bread rolls were white and obviously not made in house and they didn't or even take time to warm them. The mixed vegetables served with the meal were out of a bag and full of cheap celery. For the price I was stunned. It was a step back in time and not a good one! Fortunately the proteins were well cooked and portions hearty to say the least. We could not eat the mash potatoes as someone had got way too excited with the garlic, it burned the mouth and lips. The greeter did not even have a nice outfit or a proper uniform. Additionally she had to cover as a server which is another indicator of a cheaply run establishment cutting corners in the wrong areas. We landed up waiting for 5 solid minutes (there was no one waiting and the place was half empty) before getting a server from the dining room to give us our coats back and this was on a Saturday night. The decor is tired with 1980's pictures in pink and blue on the way to the bathroom. The bathrooms need remodeling, they were tired and dirty. The carpet in the property is a tragedy in itself, old and far too busy with flowery designs clashing with the already over busy flowery walls. It was like my grandmothers place. I do understand it's going for an older warmer look that a large old stately home gives. I should know coming from England but this was a step too far. The establishment is living off it's old reputation and you could tell this by the guests eating, this restaurant is treading water and just felt lazy, old and out of touch. With all of the new restaurants going into Lincoln they better be careful or start making a concerted effort. I won't be back. I hope they take heed and make some changes. It's one of those establishments that deserves fresh life and it would not take a huge amount of effort to put it back on the local culinary map. Right now it's snoring in the corner like old grandfather!
(3)Steve E.
Don't go here if you like a steak done medium, or mid well. The chef refused to cook a filet med well. You would think he was going to eat it himself. What a disappointment!! This was after we had a RSVP and were stuck at a cramped little table in the bar area. Don't waste your time or money here.
(1)Kassy E.
I have been to Billy's a couple of times and had great experiences during both of them. There is nothing vegetarian on the menu, but when we told them that I was, the chef came out, sat at our table with us, and created an amazing pasta dish for me that is probably one of the best I have had. It was a buttermilk/wine sauce with cumin and he threw in all the veggies that he had found at the local market that morning. You get really good portion sizes and both times I have brought enough food home for another meal (which is nice when you are paying a higher price.) Billy is very friendly, although his sense of humor can be a little crude. Don't take your grandma there if she isn't comfortable with some off color jokes, but if you don't take offense, he can be pretty funny. The atmosphere is a little odd because you are in an old house essentially and all the tables are in different rooms. The first time my husband and I went we dressed up because we went to celebrate our engagement, but we felt out of place with nice clothes on. Overall a great experience and if you are in Lincoln looking for some decent food, this is the place to go!
(4)Jessica H.
I've wanted to dine at Billy's for a while now, so when I saw a Groupon for it I quickly signed up. But, life got busy, and like most Groupon's go, it expired. But I was able to use the paid valueso after a couple of years (yes, we were THAT slow about it) I convinced my husband to finally have dinner here for our third anniversary. We headed there very early on a Tuesday afternoon, arrived about 5:15 p.m. so we'd have plenty of time to catch a movie and get home at a respectable time. I love the history of the place, the exterior is well kept, the interior is a bit rundown (i.e. update those chairs and replace the stained table clothes!) but it was also beautiful, old architecture, small intimate rooms. I was extremely excited! We were seated quickly, as I expected since it was pretty much empty. After some excessive coercing from whom I assume to be the owner, we forked over $7 for a glass of wine for each of us. I know he was trying to just be welcoming but my husband rarely drinks and I knew I'd end up being the one to finish it off (oh the torture, I know I know!) so that annoyed me. I was fine with just ordering one glass for myself. Note to the owner, don't be pushy! We eyed the menu and my husband picked the thai chicken skewers for an appetizer. Our wine came quickly but it took FOREVER to get our food. I would have liked to have enjoyed my wine with food, even bread, but no, nothing. I'm not sure how long it took exactly, probably 25 or 30 minutes, before we got the chicken and eventually our side salads. It was past 41 minutes before our entrees finally arrived. Big disappointment! Especially since we arrived early, there was no crowd, it just didn't make sense. In fact, a couple that showed up after us received there meals before we did. It just didn't add up! I was hoping that the food would make up for these blunders but it didn't. The food was tasty enough, no complaints, but not so outstanding that it's worth a long wait and spendy prices (more on that in a minute). The Thai Satay Chicken Skewers were delicious. I am NOT a fan of peanut sauce but this sauce was delicious. There are four small skewers (about 3 to 4 chunks of chicken per stick) per order for $9.50. As far as the side salads, the house dressing my husband nor I liked. The bread, when we did finally receive it, was good. Hard, but not too hard, on the outside and soft and delicious in the middle. For the entree, we both ordered Steak Diane at $30 an entree. This is a hand-cut tenderloin medallion, sautéed with mushrooms, garlic, shallots, Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard flamed in brandy and finished with a dash of cream and parsley. Served with garlic mashed potatoes. First things first, it was delicious. However, that description does not describe what I saw in my mind and what came out on the plate. Two thick beautiful steaks completely smothered in this red, almost like an indian marsala sauce. Way too much sauce! I scraped a lot of it off so I could enjoy that expensive steak. The potatoes were good, they had a very creamy, sour creamy flavor. Loved them! The plate also included some broccoli, which was good. I wish I would have known it was included and I would have likely gotten soup versus the salad. By meals end, we were very full and a little happier (we had at one point considered just walking out because of the wait) but all these things just added up to a bad experience. We didn't even get an apology for the slow service. In fact, after our waiter brought our water and the chicken, I don't remember if we ever saw him again. I'm not that picky about it, but come on, that was a little extreme and some acknowledgement would have gone a long way! Then we got the check. I knew it would be pricey, but I didn't figure it out in my head. We had a $10 off coupon and I used the $20 I already paid on the Groupon. And since I used the Groupon (even though it was not used for the deal, it was simply money I already spent) they charged me $17 in gratuity. I thought that was not appropriate since I wasn't using the pay $20, receive $20 deal. Just keep that in mind if you're in the same boat. And with our two glasses of wine and the $30 entrees, we ended up spending $80. All-in-all I doubt we will return. I only gave it the extra star because the food was tasty and the flavors unique for the setting. It was a foodie bucket list item, if you will, but it wasn't the experience I had hoped it would be.
(3)Jordan L.
Super expensive, but very (albeit small portion sizes) good food. It's a cozy atmosphere with a good wait staff.
(4)YS Z.
I used to love this place due to its unique style and family-like atmosphere. Food quality itself is average among all restaurants in Lincoln. However, my wife and I experienced an EXTREME UNPLEASANT service during this Friday lunch time. When stepped into the restaurant, we noticed it was kind of busy. Only a lady and a young gentleman were serving all guests. The lady led us to a table WITHOUT a welcome greeting and smile. We waited over 10 minutes until the same lady dropped by our table and asked us what to order. No introduction. No Smile. It took about 30 minutes for the food to be served. During this long waiting time, no bread, no explanation, no drink refill. I ordered a diet coke and my wife ordered a cup of hot tea. For the Diet coke, almost 75% of the cup was filled by ice. It took forever to be refilled even I asked for a couple of time. During the whole meal time, we were treated like enemies rather than guests. I am very very disappointed at this visit. Personally, I will never come back to this place any more. I do not want to pay for hostility, rudeness, and mediocre food.
(1)Kent M.
Two of us had dinner here tonite. Probly best I have ever had here. We both had the swordfish. Was just wonderful, and nice portions. Great service too.
(5)Audrey B.
I went here with my dad and boyfriend and it was superb! The waitress recommended a delicious Shiraz and our steaks were all cooked perfectly. Definitely will be going back here again!
(5)K. M.
We came here during restaurant week. The food was fantastic. Recommend the stuffed mushrooms appetizer. The setup and atmosphere is more suited towards an older crowd so being late 20 year old patrons we felt a little weird. The bread rolls they served weren't warm, who wants to eat cold bread? They also were very skimpy on how much wine they give you. When you pay $7-9 for a glass of wine you expect it to be half full.
(4)David M.
It's a pleasure to eat at Billy's. Set in an old Victorian House, the restaurant is filled with pictures and paintings of Nebraska's past. This is a favorite of the legislature, and you will often see state senators there when the legislature is in session. We went during restaurant week. Soup was ok, Portobello with Havarti appetizer was great. Sunset Shrimp entrée was very good, Chicken for Jordan was wonderful. Chocolate cheesecake was good. Billy's can be a little understaffed at times, but it was not an issue this time as the restaurant was relatively empty. They were out of the baked stuffed mushrooms, which was surprising since it was the beginning of the dinner service and the restaurant is closed on Sundays (we ate on a Monday).
(4)Salmon P.
Best restaurant and Unicameral hangout in Lincoln. Drop in during the legislative session. You might get free drinks, if one party or the other is having a fund-raiser. But drop in any time for the best rack of Lamb you will ever have. The owner/chef (whose name escapes me at the moment) is friendly, personable and brilliant. I love this place, despite the fact that I despise William Jennings Bryan.
(5)Elisabeth E.
Heard some good things about this place from a coresident who took his wife there for their anniversary and loved it. It's in a great location right near the capital and we were able to go on a nice walk after dinner and look at all the lights on the capital building. The restaurant is in an old Victorian style house that has been redone. Billy, owner of Billy's, was there and seated us while wearing what looked like chile pj pants.. Pretty legit. My coresident said he actually sat down with him and his wife during dinner and chatted. We were seated quickly despite our reservation was for 7:30 and we were 30 mins late. The atmosphere is very intimate and romantic. Low lit, dark colors, styled with antiques and old pictures and collectibles. Calming 30s- 40s instrumental style music completed the mood. The menu was really exciting and apparently has some variability to it. For people who are gluten free, vegan, or vegetarian this place is a dream come true. It says right on the menu they will accommodate anything. Our order was taken promptly and no issues were made to turn a scallop dish gluten free for me. Food came out in a timely manner as well. We decided to split a glass of wine cause I didn't want a whole one. The server brought out the wine divided into two glasses with generous portions. My boyfriend had a cup of tomato Tuscan soup which he said was very good, full and flavorful with a hearty broth. I had a salad with oil and vinegar and fresh greens. My peppered scallops were substituted with risotto for penne. The risotto was creamy and flavorful and perfectly cooked. Scallops were also executed ideally. The dish was very good and more than filling, I took half of it home. He devoured a New York steak seasoned with rosemary and a side of mashed potatoes. The temperature of the meat was right on. The steak had three jumbo prawns on top. The steak was great and mash wasnt bad. Plating was a bit to be desired, I can see some comments from other yelpers, but really it's a minor detail. I wish I could comment on dessert but there weren't any gf desserts that night.. Prob better for my waistline. Price was affordable for the quality and portion size. About 60 for 2 people. They also participate in restaurants.com Well def be going back, I have the feeling this may become one of my regular local haunts!
(4)Jim C.
We found Billy's on Yelp and from all the great reviews we wanted to give it a go. it was not hard to find, we got there just before 6, there were only a few tables occupied, and a large table at the back corner, I ordered my ice tea and started to go over the menu, it's a single page with a handful of appetizers and a good selection of entrees, we opted for the baked stuffed mushrooms for appetizer, and I went with the pomegranate duck. We were talking and really wasn't paying much attention to the time, I guess about 10 min later she came back with some bread, then another 10 min went by before the salad arrived. I guess another 15 min later the mushroom showed up, they were large buttons with shrimp and smoked provolone melted on top, they did a good job with them, I thought they would be cold, but they were very tasty. She then took our empty plates and left us sitting with our drink for seems to be another 30 min before our food came. We had some good conversations and the time went by quick. I thought she gave me the wrong order, I was expecting a duck breast, but I guess since it was a duckling, they gave me half a duck! It took up almost the entire plate! The duck was cooked to perfection, not at all fatty, but not dry either, it was the best duck I had in a very long time. We ate quickly because we were starved and we wanted to get to the ball game. The entire time she was the only one we saw going back and forth, so only one person for host, waiting, bartending and bus? Did she have to cook and wash the dishes too? I could easily give them a 4 or maybe even 5 stars, if it weren't for the super long wait, don't get me wrong, the food was excellent, everything top notch, the restaurant had a lot of history and characters, but the wait did me in, sorry.
(3)Kevin F.
What a bizarre little restaurant. As an out-of-towner, I thought that I was walking into what looks like a subdivided Victorian duplex (which is what the building is). On a Thursday evening at 8PM, I was the only patron other than a four top that was apparently celebrating a birthday. My impression is that most diners are seniors that arrive early. Everything about the place was a little weird. I felt like I arrived for dinner in someone's house and not in a comfortable way; the chef made my cocktail (or the barman, who I never saw again, was wearing pants with chili peppers on them), the lighting was bad, and the piped in Muzak was horrific. I played "Name That Tune" with myself to make it tolerable. The food was above average but nothing to write home about. I ordered the "Steak Diane" which was over sauced but tender and well cooked. The "vegetable medley" was prosaic at best and the mashed potatoes were just okay. No bread was served. There was no salt & pepper. I didn't stick around for dessert. You get the picture...
(3)John R.
After hearing some good things about this place I decided to try it for lunch and went back for dinner a month later. For the most part, I enjoyed the food. I had the duck for dinner which out shinned my typical bar-like burger on the previous trip. This place gets a 3/5 is because of its service and atmosphere. Usually if the food is good, I'll disregard ambiance or so-so service. However, Billy's is old and has a stuffy feeling to it. Rooms are set with a few tables in them, almost as if they are on top of each other. Moreover, I've only seen and had one waitress. She's well past her prime and inattentive. Combined with loud smooth-jazz music, the overall experience lacks. Go for the food, run away from the ambiance.
(3)El S.
The food was worse than I could cook myself - my litmus. Frozen veg & brought in rolls - my 4year old could cook that. Plus a menu that the 1980s buried with big hair and stirrup leggings (orange chicken and steak Diane) left me wanting my money back. Go to jtk, venue or dish if you want something special, not here.
(2)Marina V.
Loved it, super cool historic location (1800s Victorian house previously owned by William Jennings Bryan!!), delicuous food (we split the filet mignon, Pittsburgh rare), and had a cup of an awesome ham and cheese soup (du jour). Great service and atmosphere!
(5)Jon'el H.
It has been awhile since I've been to Billy's. we had dinner reservations but some how even with reservations there wasn't any seating in the dining room. So we had to sit in the bar for dinner. Strike one Service was TERRIBLE! As soon as we sat down our waitress wanted to know what we wanted to drink. Since we hadn't seen the wine list yet we asked if we could have a minute. 10 minutes later she came back to check on us. Strike two When our food arrived, mine looked like everything on the plate had slid to one side and was kind of mashed together. I had the pan seared ahi, it was unrecognizable because it was hidden under a huge lump of big hunks of onion & drowning in balsamic reduction sauce. The fish was so overcooked that it was tough and dry, the squash was undercooked and tough (like eating a piece of raw sweet potato). I didn't bother to say anything because I overheard the chef demanding to know what the next table didn't like about their order. Strike three I was very disappointed in my dining experience and will probably never go back
(1)Jill V.
We had As Groupon for Billy's so decided to give it a try. The location by the capitol is cool. We had the chicken satay skewers which were tender and had a very delicious sauce. The shrimp pasta entree was just ok-too many canned ingredients. It was really something most people could make at home. The dessert (caramel apple cheesecake) was very yummy. The restaurant itself only gets 3 stars b/c of the mediocre entree and the atmosphere is too outdated. This is definitely an older person's scene.
(3)Ingrid H.
We were excited to try Billy's, but were pretty disappointed with the experience. The location is cool (in an old house by the capitol building), but that's where the charm ended for me. The interior just feels like it needs to be updated and the food was disappointing. I ordered the orange duck and my husband had steak & potatoes. While he thought his food was okay, mine was definitely not. The orange glaze on the duck was thick, too sweet, and tasted like orange marmalade. The side was not, nor did it resemble, "risotto." The rice was undercooked and crunchy, was not arborio, and was not cooked like risotto. I think this place is trying to be really nice but just can't quite pull it off. I will say that the service was very good, but for me that's probably not enough reason to go back.
(1)Jenny D.
My fiancé and I recently stumbled across the local gem of Billy's restaurant. Atmosphere is quaint and appreciate that the food is "made to order" and fresh. Very great choice for nice lunch or dinner. Nader, the owner, is very welcoming and happy to accommodate any dietary restriction or request you may have. His whole staff offered great service on each occasion. We enjoyed the unique and delicious sauces that accompany every dish and appreciate all of the vegetarian options. We will continue to make Billy's one of our favorite go to spots in Lincoln.
(5)J C.
Never been for dinner but have been a couple of times for lunch and enjoyed my visits very much. Like the atmosphere, cozy old house, cool stuff to look at. Very reasonably priced for lunch. Nadar came out and talked for a while And was super nice and accommodating. I like that Lincoln had a place like this, wish there were more places like it. Seems silly I have never been for dinner.
(4)Gabby A.
I ate at Billy's for the first time last night. I had purchased a Lincoln Journal Star Daily Deal for $50 to spend and it was about to expire. We hustled ourselves down to give them a try. The restaurant is in an old house in the downtown area, and the outside is gorgeous. Pretty landscaping, green grass, flowers-very welcoming. We walked in and were immediately seated. The tables are in different rooms of the house which made it very nice and intimate. We started off with an appetizer. Thai Chicken Satay with peanut sauce. It was a decent dish. The chicken was fresh and grilled well, and the peanut sauce was pretty tasty. It rang in at $9.95 and I thought it wasn't that special of a dish to be priced at nearly $10. I could have grilled some chicken at home and whipped up some peanut sauce for a fraction of the price. This is mostly a cost complaint. I just felt for what we got, it wasn't worth it. We also received our house salads at this time, and these were probably my favorite part of the dining experience. Wonderful, fresh lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and a delicious house dressing. They topped it all off with tasty homemade croutons. Very good. The main dishes came next. I ordered Crab Alfredo and the gent ordered Chicken Asiago. When my pasta dish arrived, I was a bit confused. The menu says the dish comes with blue crab meat, asparagus, and mushrooms in a creamy alfredo sauce. What I got were two crab cakes instead of crab meat. Not a huge deal, but I was looking forward to hunks of crab in delicious sauce. Had I known they would have been crab cakes I probably would have gone with something else. The crab cakes were tasty enough and asparagus was fresh and prepared well. The noodles and alfredo were definitely lack-luster. This was over all a decent dish, but nothing I'd come back for. I had a bite of my boyfriend's dish and it was also decent. We ended the night with a Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake slice that was wonderful. I would certainly recommend this dessert. It was awesome. The salad and the cheesecake were the best part of my dining experience here. The service was pretty good, but a bit slow. There was only one waitress and quite a few people dining. She definitely did her best, but she really needed some help! Billy's was good, but I really don't think I'll be back. It doesn't stack up to my other favorites here in Lincoln.
(3)Brand H.
Billy's was a disappointment for many reasons. First, the crab cakes were bland. Second, there was a large fee for splitting the entrée between two plates. Third, the steak was first overcooked, then raw, and without bacon(it was supposed to be bacon wrapped). Lastly, the chef came out with the steak the third time and when he did provide bacon it was three separate pieces and not with the steak itself. He was not apologetic, nor was the bill adjusted.
(1)FS O.
Overall, very disappointed. I've heard about this place for years and have tried some of the better Lincoln dining establishments like Dish and The Venue. Unfortunately, Billy's doesn't cut the mustard. The location was cool and it's probably a great place to hang out at the bar, but it looks like the menu hasn't been updated since the 1970s. Three out of our party of four were very disappointed with the food. I had jumbo sea scallops thinking to myself ... "Dish can pull off scallops in the Midwest -- can Billy's?" No, these rubbery, flavorless offerings cannot compare. The waitress also looked like she hadn't been updated since the '70s and reeked of cigarette smoke. You'd probably get a better meal at some bag and boil chain restaurant like Fridays, and that isn't saying much.
(2)Roxanne A.
I had the chicken special which was okay, but the atmosphere was fun and the wine was good and the service was GREAT.
(4)Lilly C.
Went to Billy's last night for dinner with my husband. The Victorian house, turned restaurant, is both charming and cozy. The previous review states that tables are "on top of each other." I didn't find that to be the case at all. Each room has three or four well-spaced tables. Our server was knowledgable and friendly. I had the much-talked-about rack of lamb, which was grilled to perfection at medium rare. The rosemary and garlic were perfectly balanced and not overpowering. The lamb itsself was like butter. My husband had the New York, which came out perfectly medium, and the prawns on top were nice and tender, very flavorful. Overall, a great experience.
(5)Sarah W.
A surprising culinary delight in Lincoln Ne. I only ended up here because my favorite vietnamese restaurant in LIncoln was closed. Arrived late evening with a party of five. After the waitress greeted us, the chef greeted us. So cool. He stuck around and walked us through the menu as well. I am a spice whore, and noticed a lack of heat on the menu. The chef disappeared and arrived about ten minutes later with a spicy chutney and grilled pita. Not a menu item, and so above and beyond. What is this...A chef with people skills. A new world has opened for me. All seven of the items we chose were delicious and huge! I highly recommend the lamb. If you are an eater, try the pork chop. Prices are more than fine for the amount of food served. Five people, $200.00 with tip, coffee, and a $55.00 bottle of wine. Not to mention 5 full togo boxes. One star taken away for the wine list. Very small, very California. These menu items would shine with a larger selection. Everything tastes better with wine right?
(4)Steph H.
Hadn't been there for years. Went last night w/ some friends. Everything was great, from food to customer service. Since I don't eat meat or dairy and there was nothing on the dinner menu that was a simple mod, the chef was incredibly kind and asked what things I liked and he prepared a great thai/indian dish w/ coconut milk. the portion size was the only extreme thing. It will last me for about 4 meals!
(4)Heather B.
Billy's is frequented by politicos at the capital. It's got great food. I've had one lunch and one dinner there, and I'll just say that it never disappoints. Fabulous fish, well-prepared everything. The restaurant is in an old Victorian home, and it is all very tasteful... A place where one likes to linger with coffee after dessert, etc. A little bit pricier than the average place in Lincoln but not bad.
(5)Ryan P.
We were met immediately by attentive waitstaff who followed up with us in perfect intervals during our meal. We first tried the Thai Chicken Satay Skewers which were so good we actually ate the peanut sauce straight off of the plate after the skewers were gone. My wife ordered steak and I ordered the pomegranate duck. While she wasn't terribly impressed with the steak (nothing she couldn't get elsewhere, she said), my duck was pretty darned good. The pomegranate sauce dripped into the garlic potatoes and made them even better. Best duck I've had in Lincoln. Of course the place used to be a house and is now full of political artifacts and history. We were having a hard time figuring out where in Lincoln and old picture on the wall was taken and with the help of the neighboring table and the chef we placed it. Lawyers and politicos may frequent the place, but there were more blue collars there when we went. The chef's very friendly and cordial and I thought my food was well worth it. I'll definitely be back.
(4)