Barred Owl

This would be a 5-star review if not for poor planning. I was here for a Young Professionals networking event, 4-6PM. There are curtains on the north side of the facility, where the sun never shines, but not on the west side. Majority of attendees dealt with sun shining right in their eyes during most of the event. The bartenders were fast and accurate, despite the large crowd, the drinks were cold and reasonably priced, and the food was delicious. They just need to install some window treatments on the west side!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great service and the views are amazing.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food and drinks were delicious, though on the expensive side, which we expected for a rooftop setting. Unfortunately, the service was extremely slow. After finishing our first round, we waited nearly 30 minutes hoping to order again, but staff never checked in and we eventually gave up. For a place with such a great atmosphere, the lack of attentive service was very disappointing.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 2

I had a genuinely enjoyable experience at The Barred Owl, and despite some setbacks, I plan to return and give it another chance.

The atmosphere is truly impressive. The view and decor make it feel like you are no longer in Nebraska, which gives it a unique and hidden gem quality. Although the balcony was closed during my visit, it remains one of the main reasons I look forward to coming back.

The food was average. The flatbreads were underwhelming, soggy, and difficult to handle, with a flavor that did not leave a lasting impression. The truffle fries also fell short. They were too soft inside and thicker than I prefer. Normally I enjoy thin truffle fries, but these lacked the crisp texture and rich truffle flavor I was expecting. The standout item was the chicken skewer. It was perfectly cooked, incredibly juicy, and well coated in a flavorful sauce. That dish alone made the meal worthwhile.

Service was disappointing. We waited almost 45 minutes for our food, which was surprising since we arrived just six minutes after opening. The server apologized and explained that other tables were ahead of us, which seemed unusual given the timing. Despite the delay, the server remained polite and attentive. I can only imagine that wait times during busier hours could exceed an hour.

This is a great place to bring friends or family from out of town, but it may not be ideal for a first date or large gathering. The bar and dining area are relatively small, so I would recommend visiting with a smaller group. Pricing is fair for what you receive, and the elevated location provides an amazing view that adds to the experience. It truly is a hidden gem in Nebraska, and I hope my next visit is even better.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 3

Food and drinks were delicious and service was great. Atmosphere was beautiful.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A fun place with gorgeous interior design. Family friendly. The staff were very welcoming, helpful and professional. Every dish we had was to die for (truffle fries, grilled shrimp skewers and a flat bread). It was beautifully decorated for the occasion (4th of July). We felt well taken care of and not rushed at all. Some vegan and gluten free as well as dairy free options on the menu, which I greatly appreciate right now. Can’t wait to go back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great place for appetizers and drinks.

This was a super cute place to get a drink and a small meal. I was worried about the service going in but I had great service while I was there! The atmosphere is great and it was cool seeing the University of Nebraska infrastructure as someone who just stopped for the night. The Bee&Butcher was soooo good and the French 75 was fantastic as well.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great venue. Great vibe for pregame. Servers are great, they’re just overwhelmed on any game day. Managers: review the schedule and staff up for game day & you’ll have it made.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 2

Beautiful rooftop view and decor in the bar. Good food and drinks. Fun and engaging trivia host.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wow what a pleasant surprise. Traveled all day, arrived at night, tired and needing a place to reflect and relax. Barred Owl hit all the marks. Exceptional food and drink (highly
Recommend the paper plane cocktail). Service and atmosphere couldn’t have been any better!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Actually we attended the New Year’s Eve party and the ticket price per person was 45$, I would say it was a waste of money totally. Nothing was offered according to the schedule. Sure they did offer a welcome drink however before we even finished our drink someone else came and took over our seats. The dj was okay and music he played was average. Regarding the fireworks ; which wasn’t very attractive as promised in the event flyer. In fact I would say a better version of the fireworks could be seen from Holmes’s lake or Oak lake.
Not very satisfied with the event, do keep in mind their parking spot is limited and you have to use the parking spot from the innovation campus instead for a large crowd.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Saldo Zinfandel, The Owl Salad

I really like this bar, the rooftop has a great view. However, I have been here many times and if there is more than 20ish customers the wait for drinks is just too long. Forget getting more than one drink (if that) if you are planning to go before a volleyball game. The last time we waited 30min to get a drink, but ended up canceling our order and going elsewhere. Having more staff and bartenders during weekend, home volleyball games would likely help.

To start with the good. The place is well designed with a great view. The food is hit or miss with the ‘tatchos’ being mostly just a large plate of $16 tater tots with a little bit of toppings which were not bad but not by any means worth $16. The service is extremely slow, like sooooooo slow. Took us about 20 minutes to get our drinks and the server kept telling us the drinks were on their way (it was not THAT busy)(weirdly our tatchos came out sooner). In addition to the slow service; I asked the bartender if they could turn off the music outside since there was live music in the courtyard below and they said they would, yet they never did. The biggest low star in my book is the drink I ordered. I ordered a paper plane which is a simple 1:1:1:1 yet it was horrible. It was the color of a Manhattan yet was so off balance, I couldn’t finish it. If you go, order a beer or glass of wine, enjoy the view, and then go somewhere else for dinner.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 1

Love this rooftop bar. Enjoyed a nice Blanton on a gorgeous breezy night.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5