I came here for dinner for two on Labor Day. We were able to get a sit right away. Each entree came with 2 sides. I got half a rack of baby back ribs with caesar salad and baked beans. The beans were a little sweet. Our other order was the whiskey creek steak with mash potatoes and broccoli. Note that there is complementary peanuts and bread when you order. The best ribs and steak around!
(3)
Tim B.
Killer. WAAAAAAY better than what I was expecting, borderline last minute on a weeknight. You can get three 1.25 oz. shots of mid shelf bourbon for twelve bucks. Alyssa killed it as a waitress. She made sure my glass was never empty, and i even heard her yell at the kitchen staff on our behalf. The food itself was exactly what I needed after a eleven hour drive. BBQ sauce was decent, meat cooked exactly as I ordered it. You can throw the peanuts on the floor. If I didn't Google the place after my visit, I wouldn't have assumed it was a chain.. the service killed it. Thank you, Whiskey Creek.. I'll be sure to visit next time I'm in Kearney.
(5)
Michelle T.
We don't understand why---so many negative reviews ?!? The negative "Yelps"---Almost kept us from coming , but this grill's proximity to our hotel, persuaded us to " try for ourselves". We were warmly greeted and offered a table , the place was really " hopping", waitstaff literally jogging ,and this was a Monday night at 8pm in the Midwest . The bar area had a more laid back vibe and no kids & so drew us. So glad we ended up with MICHELLE as our server/bartender ! She was GREAT ! The fact that she was churning out cocktails for the whole place,did not stop her from giving us lots of attention . She distracted us with peanuts ,ICE COLD BREWS & nice conversation , as we waited for our meal . This is a grill , not fast food . We ordered a 20oz. PORTERHOUSE . To share & also,mac&cheese & baked beans. Everything was perfectly cooked , seldom the case with a 20oz bone in steak. "Grill Man" knows his stuff ! The Mac was the best I've had in some time , even had bits of pulled pork .The beans are sweet yet savory. So scrumptious we even ordered a "second round of side dishes",to avoid a territory dispute. For dessert we tried the peach cobbler . Michelle assured us it was big enough to share , and she was right ! A heaping bowl arrived a La Mode ! The crust was like a shortbread , unusual but perfect ! The peaches were obviously " fresh " Not canned . We loved everything , and would come Again GLADLY ! We recommend coming here when traveling thru , or staying in Kearny.
(5)
Kathleen K.
Not much was open on the 4th of July so Whiskey Creek was packed. Our server was friendly and did a good job. The French Dip was good but a little dry. A pulled pork plate was okay but had lots of crispy, chewy, dry ends. Possum Pie for dessert: Graham Cracker and Pecan crust, layered with sweet cream cheese, rich chocolate and heavy cream topped with chopped pecans and whipped cream. It was good but the crust had a strange aftertaste. Really about 2 1/2 stars.
(3)
Vachot P.
Just passing through Nebraska, fueled up in Kearney and couldn't resist grabbing a brisket sandwich for the road. The waitress at the bar was nice, and the ambiance was, too. The brisket, however, was the driest I've ever had. I was already down the road before I found out, or I would have asked for a pulled pork instead. The fries were good :|
(2)
Morgan H.
We walked in and promptly walked out because: PEANUTS. Just a note of warning to anyone with food allergies, avoid.
(1)
Lacey E.
Not bad, good food, good service. The menu has a nice variety, the steaks are always cooked correctly. It's clean and the wait is never long. Nothing stands out however as a must have.
(3)
Laurie B.
We stopped in after a long drive, service was attentive. The grilled veggies were fantastic. The prime rib is yummy! The meals are similar to Texas Road House, or Logan's. If you are wanting a wonderful grilled meal I recommend it!
(5)
Erik Y.
I have not had the best luck at this Whiskey Creek. I have been there several times by myself and they just don't know how to handle single dinners. They must be so used to date night or groups that when arrived they did not even offer me a table to sit at. They were fairly busy but they sat me at the bar instead of asking if I wanted a table. Ok, whatever. I ordered a whiskey & coke. After the bartender took my order, he rang in some things, and then made 5 or 6 other drinks, probably for some other table, then got distracted by another server. Granted she was cute, and needed something made. Then, finally he remembered I needed a drink and made mine. Ok, Whatever #2. Then I ordered a steak and shrimp combo, medium rare. First it took much to long to get my food. Again, they were busy but I figured one person ordering a steak and shrimp should get their food a little faster then a group of 5. Nope, a group of five who arrived right after me was served first. Ok, whatever #3. My steak arrived and was cold, flat, and resembled a grey hockey puck. It was NOT medium rare, or even Medium well, but well done. It was so thin there is no way they could cook it as a proper medium rare anyway. Granted it was only an 8oz steak but I expect a thick cut not a half inch cut. Shrimp was just ok. Whatever #4. I asked my bartender for the check, and waited as he again had other things to do, finally getting me my check about 10 min later. ok, whatever #5 If your looking for a sub-par, Whatever kind of night, then this place is for you. They do have some good items on the menu, but I just never got the sense anyone there gave a darn about a solo customer at the bar. Maybe if you go in a group of 4 or so you get better service. Its really to bad, because Kearney lacks many choices of decent restaurants to choose from that are not fast food.
(2)
Judy O.
We were travelling, and the new manager went way out of his way to make sure we were served well! We stop here every time we cross the country and the food is always great. Staff was friendly and talkative, we have some new friends in another state! Thumbs up, waaay up!
(5)
kevin l.
I ate here with my friend on our drive cross country. The restaurant is very family orientated. It place has a relaxed fun environment with a good bar. I ordered the prime rib with a loaded baked potato and grilled vegetables and my friend ordered the 1/2 rack ribs with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. The house bread was a nice start. Freshly baked. Nice and warm. Taste was ok. When the food came out I was visually disappointed. The plates looked like something you would put together at home. There was no presentation! That was the problem. Anyways so I tried the prime rib, the taste was average but it was a bit cold. The prime rib was "edible" I give it a 2 star. The so called "loaded" baked potato must have been unloaded before it got to my table because there was hardly anything in there! And the potato itself, what a disappointment. COMPLETELY overbaked! How do you mess up a baked potato.....really. I give the potato a 1 star. The saving grace of the meal was actually what I expected least from. The grilled vegetables. They were exceptional. My friend's ribs were pretty good. Although they gave here a crappy end cut with barely any bones in it. Here mashed potatoes were bland and served with a white gravy that is just as bland. She was happy with the veges but they only gave her half the portion they gave me. The only reason this place is getting a 2 star is because the delicious vegetables, the ok pork ribs, the free unlimited peanuts, and the friendly service. About that, my friend swore that our server was high!! This place has a lot of potential, but the kitchen needs to get their Sh*t organized!! It was weird because the place was packed!! Probably because of a lack of options in the area for family restaurants. My final thoughts: I wouldn't recommend this place however if you are going to go, I would get the ribs with a side of veges and something else that they hopefully can't mess up like a salad or fries.
(2)
John W.
After a long day on the road the food was good. The service was OK. There is a good array of selections on the menu.
(3)
Greg V.
Service is very bad. My Suburban almost got lost in a pothole in the parking lot. My glass of wine may have been a little bigger than a thimble.
(1)
Tessa R.
Travelers, there's a reason all license plates in the lot are from out of state. Local citizen here who used to love this place. We've tried several times over the past couple years hoping for a better experience than the last, but it's continued to maintain poor service, long wait times for food, and then being disappointed in what's brought. Drive further up the road to Flippin Sweet or Alley Rose for better, non-chain food.
(1)
Sheila G.
When you enter a restaurant, the host or hostess is the first line of defense, and sets the tone for the restaurant experience. Most of the time. Here, the young woman was so sour-faced and unfriendly we actually considered leaving. She was the poster child for "Hates Her Job." Not a good start. But since it's slim pickin's in Kearney, NE late at night, we were here to stay. And our server made up for the sorry intro. He was better than terrific. I'm never impressed by peanuts in shells; I don't like to work for my food, and would much prefer bread. Bread was served with the meal, though, an individual loaf that was pretty tasty. We both ordered flatiron steaks, the small one for me and the medium for my husband. Mine, ordered medium rare, was delivered well-done. The manager said he'd replace it in just a couple of minutes, but that dragged on well beyond that. But to make up for that, he comped it. Nice business practice. The second version of the steak was cooked correctly, and it was decent. Not top of the line, but it's a cheap cut. Aside from me freezing my tush off because the air conditioner was blasting though it had gotten very chilly outside, the seating was comfortable and, as I said before, the service was excellent. No fireworks here, but not a bad choice, especially after a very long day of driving.
(3)
Susan S.
Very slow service, rum and diet coke is ok, my friend had a Mojito...not good at all. French onion soup was clearly microwaved not baked. Provolone cheese (really, on French onion soup?), cold. My friend's chicken avocado salad was warmer. The avocados were brown. We had been traveling all day so were hungry, but the food was inedible. Go to Arbys or Perkins. Fortunately the manager removed our food from the bill and gave us $30 worth of gift certificates.
(1)
Brett K.
Food was okay. Our server was wide-eyed and eager to help, but it felt like being served by a confused puppy. As far as Right-Off-The-Highway road trip stops go, you could do worse.
(2)
Eldon R.
After a 10 hour drive, maybe we were just hungry but had some of the best ribs ever. Baked beans were fantastic too. A bit noisy but would recommend.
(4)
Karen R.
Visiting Kearney and decided to try a local spot. Our waiter-in-training did a good job. He checked back often. I ordered the fire grilled prime rib. All I can say is "fabulous!" It is only guard tees at medium due to the two methods of cooking. The grilled flavor in the tender prime rib was a great combination.
(4)
T L.
A last minute late nite choice that was great. I had a blowout and my tire is a special order. So we were stuck in Town for the night. This place made it a worthwhile overnight stay. The ribs and coleslaw were excellent. I've had better but this was a nice surprise considering where we were. If it was in my town I would eat there often.
(4)
Marshall L.
DO NOT GO HERE!!!! I have been a happy Yelper for many years, and I trust my fellow yelpers for guidance and good advice! My Girlfriend and I were driving from our home in NorCal to New York and figured we could get a good home cooked meal and based on what we read this place seemed like a good option. I'll keep it simple and straight It took 20 minutes for French Onion soup to arrive at the table, in the mean time a troupe of sweeping servers began to clean up the peanut shucks from the floor creating a dust bowl, when asked to stop they obliged but with attitude, shortly after that I received the news that my entree was no longer available, we are now 45 minutes in to this fiasco and I only wish I had opted out and just finished my beer and left but I gave the waitresses suggestion "burnt ends" a try! In a word DREADFUL!! When our server asked if everything was good I kindly replied no and asked for our check when she asked if we wanted a box, I respectfully said I have 3 dogs in the truck and I wouldn't feed it to them and in addition the onion soup was like salt lick and my GF's salad was loaded with dressing, sorry for the locals that seemingly have a lower standard for cuisine, but if you are passing through and want a meal the Golden Arches is a better option
(1)
Tanner H.
After seeing other reviews of this place, I was surprised I enjoyed it so much. Went there with a friend, greeted and seated immediately. It's a little different to have peanut shells all over the floor, but by the end of meal, it was fun to be in the layer-back environment. My steak was excellent, cooked to near perfection. My friends salmon was surprisingly good as well. Our server was attentive and knowledgable without being overbearing. Overall, it was a great experience from a place I had low expectations for. Great place for a good steak and a cold beer right off the interstate.
(4)
Concerned C.
Gone downhill. Food quality poor, steaks over cooked and crap quality cuts. The Santa Fe chicken is a glob of processed food topped with Pace and cheap cheese. Food cold. Drinks are weak and wait staff could care less. To end on a happy note the bread was good.
(2)
Lee R.
Sat night was busy, birds and sports filled every hotel in town. Our wait here was 20 min as the mgr said it likely would be. New waitress, Tara, did a great job. Food was good. Bartender apparently having a bad night and was as rude as a 20 something could possibly be. Had the mgr not stepped up and professionally handled the situation this would be a 1 star review. We will come back to Whiskey Creek next year during the crane festival. To the owners of Whiskey Creek; your mgr is everything a busy restaurant mgr should be.
(4)
Buck N.
Service was good and friendly mid afternoon. Food was pretty subpar for the cost. I had brisket and pulled pork with loaded baked potato and veggies. Brisket was one giant chunk of ground fat and chose not to eat it because I have what doctors call a "weight problem" my girlfriends sandwich was very undercooked for medium. We are just passing through but will probably choose somewhere else next time.
(2)
Julie D.
We were greeted with a smile but unfortunately it was downhill from there. A waitress kept walking by our table but didn't acknowledge us, so we assumed we had a different server. After a long wait in a 25% (at most) occupied restaurant, I went and asked the friendly greeter if we had a server assigned to our table. The greeter took our drink order (not difficult...rum & coke and mojito...unfortunately also not tasty) and then took our order. Our "real" waitress showed up to bring us our food. My friend got the French onion soup which was clearly microwaved, but not long enough as it was lukewarm. I got the avocado chicken salad, which was warmer than the soup. Warm lettuce is a real turn off, especially when combined with brown avocados. On a positive, the greeter was nice and she brought bread. Still not a place we recommend or want to try again. UPDATE: Manager just came out and gave us gift certificates (???dare we try again???) and comp'd us our meals.
(2)
Joseph D.
Nice casual "steakhouse" environment and decent service but the food is average at best. The French onion soup was bland and salty. The prime rib, which was prepared more like a steak than a roast, was overly seasoned and served with a very bland imitation Au Jus.
(2)
Beca H.
I love my flat iron steak and have been going to Whiskey Creek for years like since I was ity bitty. Went during lunch both my little sister and I got steak for our meal. Received my salad but got no bread. I waited further until we got our steaks and still no bread so I had to ask =(. When I ordered my steak the waitress tried to upsell me like they do, with a loaded baked potato. I told her just EXTRA butter and EXTRA sour cream. When I received my plate the potato was loaded. =( so after waiting a very long while (only 2 bites of my steak left) she finally came back over. I told her I could be wrong but this appears loaded. Her fake gasp of shock gave her away as to her knowing. She had me put the baked potato on the dirty salad plate and brought me a new one at which time I was done with my steak. I also had to ask for more water =( We were all finished for the most part my 5 year old sister was still munching when she gave us our bill. I was waiting on my sister, when the waitress came up and asked me if I was ready with my bill! I was like what?!! I wasn't going to say anything at all to the manger about having to ask for everything that is your job to do, but when she asked if I was ready to settle up I was appalled. When I'm ready it will be at the end of the table, don't try and hurry us out. At which point I asked for a manager, he came over immediately over doing the genuine vibe, when I told him what had occurred he did give a discount trying to make it right but his fake concern or genuineness voided that effort.
(2)
Tiffany S.
We were greeted with a smile and sitting in a booth in less than 5 minutes! The staff was great from the time we entered through the end of our meal. The food was cooked to order and served exactly as expected. We enjoyed the atmosphere, food and service. It was a perfect stop on our long journey through Nebraska. I will be returning on my next trip through.
(5)
Dan R.
Pretty much exactly what you expect from a chain "theme" steakhouse. They know how to cook a steak better than Ruby Tuesday, but for those who have had true top-shelf... it's just not there. My last trip here the service was sloooow, like 30 mins to get the appetizer slow, 30 minutes to get a second beer slow, SLOW! Luckily they nailed the prime rib otherwise the night may have been lost for me. Our appetizer "tootsie rolls" (similar to crab rangoon - but with BBQ sauce for dipping) was pretty well burnt. The salad was fresh and cold so that was good. When the steaks finally came, they were delicious! All in all, friendly if slooow experience. Food that will fill you up, but not let you forget you're half a mile off I-80, and could be on the road to somewhere else.
(2)
Jake P.
Proximity to hotel was main reason for stopping in for a quick bite,along with "whiskey" being the first part of the name. Ordered a burger. "The Plainsman". It indeed was that. Just a burger. Pretty hard to mess that up. Service was meh,but not ugh. Average chain steakhouse type atmosphere. Not impressed or let down. Exactly as expected.
(3)
Ryan M.
I have eaten here before and some experiences good and some not very good. Latest trip was not good for lunch. I was served warm bread load which was good but seemed like a waste for lunch when I did not even request it. I guess i would rather have them perfect my food I actually order. But maybe the food quality is always bad so they have to serve warm bread to fill up their customers. I had the bourbon bbq burger and fries. Burger was OK but nothing very enjoyable. Flavor of a Fast Food Burger is just as good. The French Fries? Terrible. How do you mess up fries? This is how. You serve old french fries that have been sitting out for a while and are not freshly cooked. I asked for a new order of fries and waitress apologized and and agreed to get new fries. It took over 10 minutes to get new fries. Waitress did a great job even with my complaint on fries. But food quality was terrible. With so many better options in Kearney, i dont intend to take my business back to Whiskey Creek.
(2)
Ellie B.
Don't let the wood fired grill fool you! You would eat better chewing on some left over Popeye's fried chicken bones. The ribs were edible, but barely. The brisket was reheated from sometime after the civil war. Pulled pork was pulled from something. Road food is always a crap shoot but why do I always pick the crap!
(4)
Anon J.
Every time I come here I am disappointed. Cold food! Bloomin' onion is flavorless, soggy, and uncut. Can't do something they did last time. Prices are way too high, $15 for chicken pasta. Generally will be a 30+ minute wait to get any food. Could be good, but falls well short!
(2)
Lynn B.
We had a good experience when we had dinner here. First off, we had a drink at the bar & met Jen the bartender. She added personality & fun to our evening . The Prime Rib was very good & our waitress was very attentive . I would recommend this place to those who would like a good atmosphere & good food.
(4)
Rick S.
I have tried this place 3 times. I guess I like abuse! You can walk to it from the number one rated Roadway Inn in the USA but after 3 times of abuse and the worst steak int the world....really I had a better steak in Mexico and this is beef country. drink water and go to the Allie Rose down town. I ordered the 18.99 12 ounce strip it came with 8 ounce of gristle and 4 bites of the toughest steak I have ever had what a joke. I ate soup stock beef more tender then this pos. They had one of these restaurants in Fremont and closed it. Terrible place what was I thinking to go there again. The beer is good but the bartender hates her job just ask her she will tell ya. I am sure some one spit on my food seems like everyone hates there job there. I would to if I had to serve this garbage.
(1)
Daniel H.
Looking for a good place to eat in Nebraska is not so easy. Although the Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill is a chain restaurant (only 15 locations) the food was very good and the service was excellent. I had the house salad and bone in ribeye and it was cooked to perfection. They brought out a small loaf of warm bread that looked delicious but unfortunately I'm on a frickin low card eating regime. I really wanted that bread ;( My daughter ordered a salad and she said the lettuce was warm so they replaced it with a Cobb salad and took it off our tab. The Cobb was very good! The manager came by twice after that to make sure everything was OK. The reason I'm writing this is because the service was just so good and everyone was so friendly. Yes the food was really good but after being on the road for 5 hours it was nice to be treated so well. Stop by this place if you happen to be in The Corn Husker state.
(5)
Peter B.
The nastiest, toughest, most inedible prime rib I've ever tried to knock back. I was just sawing away - and then grinding away. Nice waitress and good timing, but this place feels like a grungy and dark high school lunch room. I get that the peanut shells on the floor are supposed to make it feel kind of homey... if you're a Neanderthal maybe and throw your scraps on the ground. It made me feel like I was sitting in garbage. That was one bloody hunk of cow that I foolishly consumed and I'm going to be paying for it in a few hours.
(1)
Rob R.
According to everyone else here, I must of hit a good night. The service was good, the food was good, and we had a good time. I had the Flat Iron steak and my wife had the branded steak and they were both cooked to perfection and delicious. I had a sweet potato and my wife had the loaded potato that were both perfect and delicious. For those complaining about the peanut shells on the floor, if you have ever been to a true country steakhouse you should be use to shells on the floor. This is NOT a yuppy overpriced steakhouse so don't compare it to one. The music was interesting for a country style steakhouse I have to admit but we will definitely be visiting here again the next time we are in town.
(4)
Tanner E.
Really not much different than a Texas Roadhouse or Lonestar, but it's decent food, and some of the better barbeque in Kearney. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but I've never had a bad experience either. '
(4)
Mark W.
Has potential, but didn't quite get there. Service was friendly but not very attentive. Didn't bring water that was requested, was offered peanuts and bread and neither came for 30 minutes. Waitress just briskly walked by on the way to and from other tables didn't even make eye contact. (It wasn't that busy). Finally after hailing her down, she brought the bread and peanuts. The bread was soft and warm. Finally got that water when my beer was finished and the meal came out another 20 minutes later. I had a peppercorn ribeye. Ordered med-rare. It come out mostly well done with a tiny bit of med-well (although I don't know how it could be cooked any other way as the cut was so thin.) It came with a side of thick from the jar gravy/sauce flavored with black pepper. The grilled vegetables and the sweet potato fries were the highlight of the meal and quite good. One of our other orders had a side of corn; unseasoned, cold, bland and seemed like it was "fresh" out of a can. Been to other steakhouse restaurants of this style, but this was just mediocre.
(2)
Miguel R.
I honestly don't know what experience the other yelpers had when coming here. I was staying just down the street at the Holiday Inn, and thought I would give it a try. It was not very busy, but it also wasn't rush hour. I ordered the ribs, pulled pork combo, and I thought it was fantastic. The ribs were cooked to perfection - and the meat just fell off the bones. I scarfed them down. Now the pulled pork could have used a little more sauce on them, but that's personal preference. The price is just right, and the service was great. I didn't have any whiskey, so I can't judge that - but this is certainly a stop to judge for yourself.
(4)
Elise C.
I don't know what everyone else is complaining about. Their food was not the best thing I have ever eaten but it was good none the less. Also, their grilled veggies were quite delightful. The servers were very friendly and talkative and the atmosphere was fine. Our food came out in the appropriate amount of time and it was just the right temperature unlike what some of the other reviews said. They also have a some very interesting cocktails and at least two of them were delicious!
(4)
Karla W.
Ordered a pepper corn sirloin medium rare more on the rare side after I found out all of the prime rib was over medium rare between 5:30 and 6. First steak came and it was done, no pink what-so-ever. Waitress immediately apologized and brought me a replacement within 5 minutes or so that was cooked as ordered. It was ok, not the quality I expected for a $18 dish. Side of mashed potatoes was kind of a joke, should have ordered two instead of another side. When she said she'd check what management was going to do to comp on my meal she came back and said he would comp it 100%. Not so, they charged us full price. When we inquired she took check back to Manager and when she returned she explained they were comping us for the first steak that they over cooked...?!?! So what, did they originally expect us to pay for both of my meals?! Feel sorry for the waitress she has to work for such an idiot manager who wouldn't even come to our table to give us the news. Will never go back.
(1)
Kent M.
4 of our group in tonite for supper with visiting friends. We waited hour and half for our dinner to arrive. We ordered dessert of peach cobbler as our appetizer. It came in a reasonable time of 10-15 minutes, which was long enough. That dish was quite good and worthy of a return visit. After an hour, the main course food finally showed up. Our group ordered french onion soup, and it was quite good. One order of tilapia fish. It was ok but nothing better than that. Wife and I each had a burger. They were both small portion, finger-food size, cool to touch. An embarrassment I hope to the waitress, to serve us this. We could not eat the french fry sweet potatos which were cold and unseasoned. The potato french fries were a little better. I would not suggest anyone have a burger here, and I did not mention this dissatisfaction to the server or management. I do hope they see this Yelp review. I will not return, and we live in the area.
(2)
Mike R.
Had dinner with my family last night. Girls had Mac N Cheese and Pizza. Wife had beef brisket BBQ sandwhich. I had 6 oz sirloin (medium rare) with baked potato. Service was good. Pizza for my girl was passable. Mac N Cheese looks like it came out of a box. My steak was raw. We're talking tartar. I asked them to take it back and cook it more. In the meantime, the baked potato was luekwarm. When the steak came back, it was still undercooked-- the center was cold and blood red, not the pink and warm of medium rare. I couldn't finish it. Manager only comped me half of my meal. For a place that puts its beef menu front and center, you think they'd know how to cook a steak.
(2)
Ahole C.
2 stars because the air conditioner works well and the service was quick . But the food is crap . They have a bar , so drink up. Just don't expect good food.
(2)
Jody B.
I really liked the ambiance and the service at this restaurant but the food was a little lacking. Out of the three of us that ate that night, they only got one of our orders correct. They have a real problem cooking their meat correctly. My friends beef dip sandwich as well as my steak was raw. We had to send our food back to get it done correctly. The manager came out and apologized and then he took off one of our meals from our bill. A for effort but C for taste.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Anarie S.
I came here for dinner for two on Labor Day. We were able to get a sit right away. Each entree came with 2 sides. I got half a rack of baby back ribs with caesar salad and baked beans. The beans were a little sweet. Our other order was the whiskey creek steak with mash potatoes and broccoli. Note that there is complementary peanuts and bread when you order. The best ribs and steak around!
(3)Tim B.
Killer. WAAAAAAY better than what I was expecting, borderline last minute on a weeknight. You can get three 1.25 oz. shots of mid shelf bourbon for twelve bucks. Alyssa killed it as a waitress. She made sure my glass was never empty, and i even heard her yell at the kitchen staff on our behalf. The food itself was exactly what I needed after a eleven hour drive. BBQ sauce was decent, meat cooked exactly as I ordered it. You can throw the peanuts on the floor. If I didn't Google the place after my visit, I wouldn't have assumed it was a chain.. the service killed it. Thank you, Whiskey Creek.. I'll be sure to visit next time I'm in Kearney.
(5)Michelle T.
We don't understand why---so many negative reviews ?!? The negative "Yelps"---Almost kept us from coming , but this grill's proximity to our hotel, persuaded us to " try for ourselves". We were warmly greeted and offered a table , the place was really " hopping", waitstaff literally jogging ,and this was a Monday night at 8pm in the Midwest . The bar area had a more laid back vibe and no kids & so drew us. So glad we ended up with MICHELLE as our server/bartender ! She was GREAT ! The fact that she was churning out cocktails for the whole place,did not stop her from giving us lots of attention . She distracted us with peanuts ,ICE COLD BREWS & nice conversation , as we waited for our meal . This is a grill , not fast food . We ordered a 20oz. PORTERHOUSE . To share & also,mac&cheese & baked beans. Everything was perfectly cooked , seldom the case with a 20oz bone in steak. "Grill Man" knows his stuff ! The Mac was the best I've had in some time , even had bits of pulled pork .The beans are sweet yet savory. So scrumptious we even ordered a "second round of side dishes",to avoid a territory dispute. For dessert we tried the peach cobbler . Michelle assured us it was big enough to share , and she was right ! A heaping bowl arrived a La Mode ! The crust was like a shortbread , unusual but perfect ! The peaches were obviously " fresh " Not canned . We loved everything , and would come Again GLADLY ! We recommend coming here when traveling thru , or staying in Kearny.
(5)Kathleen K.
Not much was open on the 4th of July so Whiskey Creek was packed. Our server was friendly and did a good job. The French Dip was good but a little dry. A pulled pork plate was okay but had lots of crispy, chewy, dry ends. Possum Pie for dessert: Graham Cracker and Pecan crust, layered with sweet cream cheese, rich chocolate and heavy cream topped with chopped pecans and whipped cream. It was good but the crust had a strange aftertaste. Really about 2 1/2 stars.
(3)Vachot P.
Just passing through Nebraska, fueled up in Kearney and couldn't resist grabbing a brisket sandwich for the road. The waitress at the bar was nice, and the ambiance was, too. The brisket, however, was the driest I've ever had. I was already down the road before I found out, or I would have asked for a pulled pork instead. The fries were good :|
(2)Morgan H.
We walked in and promptly walked out because: PEANUTS. Just a note of warning to anyone with food allergies, avoid.
(1)Lacey E.
Not bad, good food, good service. The menu has a nice variety, the steaks are always cooked correctly. It's clean and the wait is never long. Nothing stands out however as a must have.
(3)Laurie B.
We stopped in after a long drive, service was attentive. The grilled veggies were fantastic. The prime rib is yummy! The meals are similar to Texas Road House, or Logan's. If you are wanting a wonderful grilled meal I recommend it!
(5)Erik Y.
I have not had the best luck at this Whiskey Creek. I have been there several times by myself and they just don't know how to handle single dinners. They must be so used to date night or groups that when arrived they did not even offer me a table to sit at. They were fairly busy but they sat me at the bar instead of asking if I wanted a table. Ok, whatever. I ordered a whiskey & coke. After the bartender took my order, he rang in some things, and then made 5 or 6 other drinks, probably for some other table, then got distracted by another server. Granted she was cute, and needed something made. Then, finally he remembered I needed a drink and made mine. Ok, Whatever #2. Then I ordered a steak and shrimp combo, medium rare. First it took much to long to get my food. Again, they were busy but I figured one person ordering a steak and shrimp should get their food a little faster then a group of 5. Nope, a group of five who arrived right after me was served first. Ok, whatever #3. My steak arrived and was cold, flat, and resembled a grey hockey puck. It was NOT medium rare, or even Medium well, but well done. It was so thin there is no way they could cook it as a proper medium rare anyway. Granted it was only an 8oz steak but I expect a thick cut not a half inch cut. Shrimp was just ok. Whatever #4. I asked my bartender for the check, and waited as he again had other things to do, finally getting me my check about 10 min later. ok, whatever #5 If your looking for a sub-par, Whatever kind of night, then this place is for you. They do have some good items on the menu, but I just never got the sense anyone there gave a darn about a solo customer at the bar. Maybe if you go in a group of 4 or so you get better service. Its really to bad, because Kearney lacks many choices of decent restaurants to choose from that are not fast food.
(2)Judy O.
We were travelling, and the new manager went way out of his way to make sure we were served well! We stop here every time we cross the country and the food is always great. Staff was friendly and talkative, we have some new friends in another state! Thumbs up, waaay up!
(5)kevin l.
I ate here with my friend on our drive cross country. The restaurant is very family orientated. It place has a relaxed fun environment with a good bar. I ordered the prime rib with a loaded baked potato and grilled vegetables and my friend ordered the 1/2 rack ribs with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. The house bread was a nice start. Freshly baked. Nice and warm. Taste was ok. When the food came out I was visually disappointed. The plates looked like something you would put together at home. There was no presentation! That was the problem. Anyways so I tried the prime rib, the taste was average but it was a bit cold. The prime rib was "edible" I give it a 2 star. The so called "loaded" baked potato must have been unloaded before it got to my table because there was hardly anything in there! And the potato itself, what a disappointment. COMPLETELY overbaked! How do you mess up a baked potato.....really. I give the potato a 1 star. The saving grace of the meal was actually what I expected least from. The grilled vegetables. They were exceptional. My friend's ribs were pretty good. Although they gave here a crappy end cut with barely any bones in it. Here mashed potatoes were bland and served with a white gravy that is just as bland. She was happy with the veges but they only gave her half the portion they gave me. The only reason this place is getting a 2 star is because the delicious vegetables, the ok pork ribs, the free unlimited peanuts, and the friendly service. About that, my friend swore that our server was high!! This place has a lot of potential, but the kitchen needs to get their Sh*t organized!! It was weird because the place was packed!! Probably because of a lack of options in the area for family restaurants. My final thoughts: I wouldn't recommend this place however if you are going to go, I would get the ribs with a side of veges and something else that they hopefully can't mess up like a salad or fries.
(2)John W.
After a long day on the road the food was good. The service was OK. There is a good array of selections on the menu.
(3)Greg V.
Service is very bad. My Suburban almost got lost in a pothole in the parking lot. My glass of wine may have been a little bigger than a thimble.
(1)Tessa R.
Travelers, there's a reason all license plates in the lot are from out of state. Local citizen here who used to love this place. We've tried several times over the past couple years hoping for a better experience than the last, but it's continued to maintain poor service, long wait times for food, and then being disappointed in what's brought. Drive further up the road to Flippin Sweet or Alley Rose for better, non-chain food.
(1)Sheila G.
When you enter a restaurant, the host or hostess is the first line of defense, and sets the tone for the restaurant experience. Most of the time. Here, the young woman was so sour-faced and unfriendly we actually considered leaving. She was the poster child for "Hates Her Job." Not a good start. But since it's slim pickin's in Kearney, NE late at night, we were here to stay. And our server made up for the sorry intro. He was better than terrific. I'm never impressed by peanuts in shells; I don't like to work for my food, and would much prefer bread. Bread was served with the meal, though, an individual loaf that was pretty tasty. We both ordered flatiron steaks, the small one for me and the medium for my husband. Mine, ordered medium rare, was delivered well-done. The manager said he'd replace it in just a couple of minutes, but that dragged on well beyond that. But to make up for that, he comped it. Nice business practice. The second version of the steak was cooked correctly, and it was decent. Not top of the line, but it's a cheap cut. Aside from me freezing my tush off because the air conditioner was blasting though it had gotten very chilly outside, the seating was comfortable and, as I said before, the service was excellent. No fireworks here, but not a bad choice, especially after a very long day of driving.
(3)Susan S.
Very slow service, rum and diet coke is ok, my friend had a Mojito...not good at all. French onion soup was clearly microwaved not baked. Provolone cheese (really, on French onion soup?), cold. My friend's chicken avocado salad was warmer. The avocados were brown. We had been traveling all day so were hungry, but the food was inedible. Go to Arbys or Perkins. Fortunately the manager removed our food from the bill and gave us $30 worth of gift certificates.
(1)Brett K.
Food was okay. Our server was wide-eyed and eager to help, but it felt like being served by a confused puppy. As far as Right-Off-The-Highway road trip stops go, you could do worse.
(2)Eldon R.
After a 10 hour drive, maybe we were just hungry but had some of the best ribs ever. Baked beans were fantastic too. A bit noisy but would recommend.
(4)Karen R.
Visiting Kearney and decided to try a local spot. Our waiter-in-training did a good job. He checked back often. I ordered the fire grilled prime rib. All I can say is "fabulous!" It is only guard tees at medium due to the two methods of cooking. The grilled flavor in the tender prime rib was a great combination.
(4)T L.
A last minute late nite choice that was great. I had a blowout and my tire is a special order. So we were stuck in Town for the night. This place made it a worthwhile overnight stay. The ribs and coleslaw were excellent. I've had better but this was a nice surprise considering where we were. If it was in my town I would eat there often.
(4)Marshall L.
DO NOT GO HERE!!!! I have been a happy Yelper for many years, and I trust my fellow yelpers for guidance and good advice! My Girlfriend and I were driving from our home in NorCal to New York and figured we could get a good home cooked meal and based on what we read this place seemed like a good option. I'll keep it simple and straight It took 20 minutes for French Onion soup to arrive at the table, in the mean time a troupe of sweeping servers began to clean up the peanut shucks from the floor creating a dust bowl, when asked to stop they obliged but with attitude, shortly after that I received the news that my entree was no longer available, we are now 45 minutes in to this fiasco and I only wish I had opted out and just finished my beer and left but I gave the waitresses suggestion "burnt ends" a try! In a word DREADFUL!! When our server asked if everything was good I kindly replied no and asked for our check when she asked if we wanted a box, I respectfully said I have 3 dogs in the truck and I wouldn't feed it to them and in addition the onion soup was like salt lick and my GF's salad was loaded with dressing, sorry for the locals that seemingly have a lower standard for cuisine, but if you are passing through and want a meal the Golden Arches is a better option
(1)Tanner H.
After seeing other reviews of this place, I was surprised I enjoyed it so much. Went there with a friend, greeted and seated immediately. It's a little different to have peanut shells all over the floor, but by the end of meal, it was fun to be in the layer-back environment. My steak was excellent, cooked to near perfection. My friends salmon was surprisingly good as well. Our server was attentive and knowledgable without being overbearing. Overall, it was a great experience from a place I had low expectations for. Great place for a good steak and a cold beer right off the interstate.
(4)Concerned C.
Gone downhill. Food quality poor, steaks over cooked and crap quality cuts. The Santa Fe chicken is a glob of processed food topped with Pace and cheap cheese. Food cold. Drinks are weak and wait staff could care less. To end on a happy note the bread was good.
(2)Lee R.
Sat night was busy, birds and sports filled every hotel in town. Our wait here was 20 min as the mgr said it likely would be. New waitress, Tara, did a great job. Food was good. Bartender apparently having a bad night and was as rude as a 20 something could possibly be. Had the mgr not stepped up and professionally handled the situation this would be a 1 star review. We will come back to Whiskey Creek next year during the crane festival. To the owners of Whiskey Creek; your mgr is everything a busy restaurant mgr should be.
(4)Buck N.
Service was good and friendly mid afternoon. Food was pretty subpar for the cost. I had brisket and pulled pork with loaded baked potato and veggies. Brisket was one giant chunk of ground fat and chose not to eat it because I have what doctors call a "weight problem" my girlfriends sandwich was very undercooked for medium. We are just passing through but will probably choose somewhere else next time.
(2)Julie D.
We were greeted with a smile but unfortunately it was downhill from there. A waitress kept walking by our table but didn't acknowledge us, so we assumed we had a different server. After a long wait in a 25% (at most) occupied restaurant, I went and asked the friendly greeter if we had a server assigned to our table. The greeter took our drink order (not difficult...rum & coke and mojito...unfortunately also not tasty) and then took our order. Our "real" waitress showed up to bring us our food. My friend got the French onion soup which was clearly microwaved, but not long enough as it was lukewarm. I got the avocado chicken salad, which was warmer than the soup. Warm lettuce is a real turn off, especially when combined with brown avocados. On a positive, the greeter was nice and she brought bread. Still not a place we recommend or want to try again. UPDATE: Manager just came out and gave us gift certificates (???dare we try again???) and comp'd us our meals.
(2)Joseph D.
Nice casual "steakhouse" environment and decent service but the food is average at best. The French onion soup was bland and salty. The prime rib, which was prepared more like a steak than a roast, was overly seasoned and served with a very bland imitation Au Jus.
(2)Beca H.
I love my flat iron steak and have been going to Whiskey Creek for years like since I was ity bitty. Went during lunch both my little sister and I got steak for our meal. Received my salad but got no bread. I waited further until we got our steaks and still no bread so I had to ask =(. When I ordered my steak the waitress tried to upsell me like they do, with a loaded baked potato. I told her just EXTRA butter and EXTRA sour cream. When I received my plate the potato was loaded. =( so after waiting a very long while (only 2 bites of my steak left) she finally came back over. I told her I could be wrong but this appears loaded. Her fake gasp of shock gave her away as to her knowing. She had me put the baked potato on the dirty salad plate and brought me a new one at which time I was done with my steak. I also had to ask for more water =( We were all finished for the most part my 5 year old sister was still munching when she gave us our bill. I was waiting on my sister, when the waitress came up and asked me if I was ready with my bill! I was like what?!! I wasn't going to say anything at all to the manger about having to ask for everything that is your job to do, but when she asked if I was ready to settle up I was appalled. When I'm ready it will be at the end of the table, don't try and hurry us out. At which point I asked for a manager, he came over immediately over doing the genuine vibe, when I told him what had occurred he did give a discount trying to make it right but his fake concern or genuineness voided that effort.
(2)Tiffany S.
We were greeted with a smile and sitting in a booth in less than 5 minutes! The staff was great from the time we entered through the end of our meal. The food was cooked to order and served exactly as expected. We enjoyed the atmosphere, food and service. It was a perfect stop on our long journey through Nebraska. I will be returning on my next trip through.
(5)Dan R.
Pretty much exactly what you expect from a chain "theme" steakhouse. They know how to cook a steak better than Ruby Tuesday, but for those who have had true top-shelf... it's just not there. My last trip here the service was sloooow, like 30 mins to get the appetizer slow, 30 minutes to get a second beer slow, SLOW! Luckily they nailed the prime rib otherwise the night may have been lost for me. Our appetizer "tootsie rolls" (similar to crab rangoon - but with BBQ sauce for dipping) was pretty well burnt. The salad was fresh and cold so that was good. When the steaks finally came, they were delicious! All in all, friendly if slooow experience. Food that will fill you up, but not let you forget you're half a mile off I-80, and could be on the road to somewhere else.
(2)Jake P.
Proximity to hotel was main reason for stopping in for a quick bite,along with "whiskey" being the first part of the name. Ordered a burger. "The Plainsman". It indeed was that. Just a burger. Pretty hard to mess that up. Service was meh,but not ugh. Average chain steakhouse type atmosphere. Not impressed or let down. Exactly as expected.
(3)Ryan M.
I have eaten here before and some experiences good and some not very good. Latest trip was not good for lunch. I was served warm bread load which was good but seemed like a waste for lunch when I did not even request it. I guess i would rather have them perfect my food I actually order. But maybe the food quality is always bad so they have to serve warm bread to fill up their customers. I had the bourbon bbq burger and fries. Burger was OK but nothing very enjoyable. Flavor of a Fast Food Burger is just as good. The French Fries? Terrible. How do you mess up fries? This is how. You serve old french fries that have been sitting out for a while and are not freshly cooked. I asked for a new order of fries and waitress apologized and and agreed to get new fries. It took over 10 minutes to get new fries. Waitress did a great job even with my complaint on fries. But food quality was terrible. With so many better options in Kearney, i dont intend to take my business back to Whiskey Creek.
(2)Ellie B.
Don't let the wood fired grill fool you! You would eat better chewing on some left over Popeye's fried chicken bones. The ribs were edible, but barely. The brisket was reheated from sometime after the civil war. Pulled pork was pulled from something. Road food is always a crap shoot but why do I always pick the crap!
(4)Anon J.
Every time I come here I am disappointed. Cold food! Bloomin' onion is flavorless, soggy, and uncut. Can't do something they did last time. Prices are way too high, $15 for chicken pasta. Generally will be a 30+ minute wait to get any food. Could be good, but falls well short!
(2)Lynn B.
We had a good experience when we had dinner here. First off, we had a drink at the bar & met Jen the bartender. She added personality & fun to our evening . The Prime Rib was very good & our waitress was very attentive . I would recommend this place to those who would like a good atmosphere & good food.
(4)Rick S.
I have tried this place 3 times. I guess I like abuse! You can walk to it from the number one rated Roadway Inn in the USA but after 3 times of abuse and the worst steak int the world....really I had a better steak in Mexico and this is beef country. drink water and go to the Allie Rose down town. I ordered the 18.99 12 ounce strip it came with 8 ounce of gristle and 4 bites of the toughest steak I have ever had what a joke. I ate soup stock beef more tender then this pos. They had one of these restaurants in Fremont and closed it. Terrible place what was I thinking to go there again. The beer is good but the bartender hates her job just ask her she will tell ya. I am sure some one spit on my food seems like everyone hates there job there. I would to if I had to serve this garbage.
(1)Daniel H.
Looking for a good place to eat in Nebraska is not so easy. Although the Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill is a chain restaurant (only 15 locations) the food was very good and the service was excellent. I had the house salad and bone in ribeye and it was cooked to perfection. They brought out a small loaf of warm bread that looked delicious but unfortunately I'm on a frickin low card eating regime. I really wanted that bread ;( My daughter ordered a salad and she said the lettuce was warm so they replaced it with a Cobb salad and took it off our tab. The Cobb was very good! The manager came by twice after that to make sure everything was OK. The reason I'm writing this is because the service was just so good and everyone was so friendly. Yes the food was really good but after being on the road for 5 hours it was nice to be treated so well. Stop by this place if you happen to be in The Corn Husker state.
(5)Peter B.
The nastiest, toughest, most inedible prime rib I've ever tried to knock back. I was just sawing away - and then grinding away. Nice waitress and good timing, but this place feels like a grungy and dark high school lunch room. I get that the peanut shells on the floor are supposed to make it feel kind of homey... if you're a Neanderthal maybe and throw your scraps on the ground. It made me feel like I was sitting in garbage. That was one bloody hunk of cow that I foolishly consumed and I'm going to be paying for it in a few hours.
(1)Rob R.
According to everyone else here, I must of hit a good night. The service was good, the food was good, and we had a good time. I had the Flat Iron steak and my wife had the branded steak and they were both cooked to perfection and delicious. I had a sweet potato and my wife had the loaded potato that were both perfect and delicious. For those complaining about the peanut shells on the floor, if you have ever been to a true country steakhouse you should be use to shells on the floor. This is NOT a yuppy overpriced steakhouse so don't compare it to one. The music was interesting for a country style steakhouse I have to admit but we will definitely be visiting here again the next time we are in town.
(4)Tanner E.
Really not much different than a Texas Roadhouse or Lonestar, but it's decent food, and some of the better barbeque in Kearney. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but I've never had a bad experience either. '
(4)Mark W.
Has potential, but didn't quite get there. Service was friendly but not very attentive. Didn't bring water that was requested, was offered peanuts and bread and neither came for 30 minutes. Waitress just briskly walked by on the way to and from other tables didn't even make eye contact. (It wasn't that busy). Finally after hailing her down, she brought the bread and peanuts. The bread was soft and warm. Finally got that water when my beer was finished and the meal came out another 20 minutes later. I had a peppercorn ribeye. Ordered med-rare. It come out mostly well done with a tiny bit of med-well (although I don't know how it could be cooked any other way as the cut was so thin.) It came with a side of thick from the jar gravy/sauce flavored with black pepper. The grilled vegetables and the sweet potato fries were the highlight of the meal and quite good. One of our other orders had a side of corn; unseasoned, cold, bland and seemed like it was "fresh" out of a can. Been to other steakhouse restaurants of this style, but this was just mediocre.
(2)Miguel R.
I honestly don't know what experience the other yelpers had when coming here. I was staying just down the street at the Holiday Inn, and thought I would give it a try. It was not very busy, but it also wasn't rush hour. I ordered the ribs, pulled pork combo, and I thought it was fantastic. The ribs were cooked to perfection - and the meat just fell off the bones. I scarfed them down. Now the pulled pork could have used a little more sauce on them, but that's personal preference. The price is just right, and the service was great. I didn't have any whiskey, so I can't judge that - but this is certainly a stop to judge for yourself.
(4)Elise C.
I don't know what everyone else is complaining about. Their food was not the best thing I have ever eaten but it was good none the less. Also, their grilled veggies were quite delightful. The servers were very friendly and talkative and the atmosphere was fine. Our food came out in the appropriate amount of time and it was just the right temperature unlike what some of the other reviews said. They also have a some very interesting cocktails and at least two of them were delicious!
(4)Karla W.
Ordered a pepper corn sirloin medium rare more on the rare side after I found out all of the prime rib was over medium rare between 5:30 and 6. First steak came and it was done, no pink what-so-ever. Waitress immediately apologized and brought me a replacement within 5 minutes or so that was cooked as ordered. It was ok, not the quality I expected for a $18 dish. Side of mashed potatoes was kind of a joke, should have ordered two instead of another side. When she said she'd check what management was going to do to comp on my meal she came back and said he would comp it 100%. Not so, they charged us full price. When we inquired she took check back to Manager and when she returned she explained they were comping us for the first steak that they over cooked...?!?! So what, did they originally expect us to pay for both of my meals?! Feel sorry for the waitress she has to work for such an idiot manager who wouldn't even come to our table to give us the news. Will never go back.
(1)Kent M.
4 of our group in tonite for supper with visiting friends. We waited hour and half for our dinner to arrive. We ordered dessert of peach cobbler as our appetizer. It came in a reasonable time of 10-15 minutes, which was long enough. That dish was quite good and worthy of a return visit. After an hour, the main course food finally showed up. Our group ordered french onion soup, and it was quite good. One order of tilapia fish. It was ok but nothing better than that. Wife and I each had a burger. They were both small portion, finger-food size, cool to touch. An embarrassment I hope to the waitress, to serve us this. We could not eat the french fry sweet potatos which were cold and unseasoned. The potato french fries were a little better. I would not suggest anyone have a burger here, and I did not mention this dissatisfaction to the server or management. I do hope they see this Yelp review. I will not return, and we live in the area.
(2)Mike R.
Had dinner with my family last night. Girls had Mac N Cheese and Pizza. Wife had beef brisket BBQ sandwhich. I had 6 oz sirloin (medium rare) with baked potato. Service was good. Pizza for my girl was passable. Mac N Cheese looks like it came out of a box. My steak was raw. We're talking tartar. I asked them to take it back and cook it more. In the meantime, the baked potato was luekwarm. When the steak came back, it was still undercooked-- the center was cold and blood red, not the pink and warm of medium rare. I couldn't finish it. Manager only comped me half of my meal. For a place that puts its beef menu front and center, you think they'd know how to cook a steak.
(2)Ahole C.
2 stars because the air conditioner works well and the service was quick . But the food is crap . They have a bar , so drink up. Just don't expect good food.
(2)Jody B.
I really liked the ambiance and the service at this restaurant but the food was a little lacking. Out of the three of us that ate that night, they only got one of our orders correct. They have a real problem cooking their meat correctly. My friends beef dip sandwich as well as my steak was raw. We had to send our food back to get it done correctly. The manager came out and apologized and then he took off one of our meals from our bill. A for effort but C for taste.
(3)