Nebraska's Very First Italian Restaurant Has Literally Been Around Forever
By Megan Shute|Published April 26, 2019
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
From decades-old eateries to hip new spots, Nebraska is home to countless incredible restaurants. And while there are many restaurants you should have on your Nebraska dining bucket list, none will take you on a journey back in time quite like the oldest Italian restaurant in the state. Tucked away in Omaha near the Old Market in the area known as Little Italy, this Italian restaurant has been a Nebraska favorite since it opened a century ago.
If you haven’t heard of Orsi’s Italian Bakery & Pizza, are you really a Nebraskan? Not only is Orsi’s the longest continually operating restaurant in Omaha, but it’s also the oldest Italian restaurant in Nebraska — at least according to our research, that is.
Opened a century ago in 1919, visiting Orsi’s Italian Bakery & Pizzeria is like taking a step back in time. You’ll find the eatery’s history displayed on the walls. As you wait for your order, you’ll see photographs, newspaper clippings, and mementos collected over a century in business. While there are no permanent tables here, you'll feel right at home as soon as you walk inside.
So, what does it take for a humble little restaurant like this to thrive for ten decades? Could it be their signature rectangular pizzas topped with your choice of more than a dozen cheeses, meats, and vegetables then baked to perfection? Yes, that’s definitely it. These pizzas are a staple at lunchtime meetings and conferences across Omaha, and it’s easy to see why.
...but it's their double-crusted pizzas that really intrigue us. The spinach and broccoli varieties are crowd favorites, and you won't truly understand until you try one for yourself.
But that’s not all you’ll find at Orsi’s. In fact, pizza wasn’t even added to the menu until the 1960s. Browse a selection of packaged pastas, sauces, dressings, peppers, and olives lined up on shelves along the wall.
You’ll want to pick up some Italian twist bread which is baked fresh every morning. Don’t forget to check out the deli case stocked with fresh meats, cheeses, salads, and a variety of treats.
So, what are you waiting for? This old-school restaurant certainly stands out when it comes to mouthwatering food prepared with quality ingredients and a sense of history and charm.
Orsi’s Italian Bakery & Pizzeria is located at 621 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68108, and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
If you’re interested in visiting more of Nebraska’s oldest restaurants, click here.
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