Block 16 is the restaurant Omaha brags about to visitors. It’s a small downtown spot on Farnam Street, and the menu reads like a dare: the Croque Garçon burger (topped with a fried egg and mornay), Duck Duck Goose fries (duck confit, goose gravy), crab rangoon fries. It earned James Beard semifinalist recognition, and the food backs it up.
The trick is that nothing here is a gimmick. The burgers are genuinely excellent, the fries are a religious experience, and the whole operation runs with a precision that belies the playful menu. Lunch lines are real — this is a downtown institution at midday.
Go for lunch, go early, and don’t overthink the order. The Croque Garçon is the move. If there’s a wait, it’s worth it.