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Fried pickles with Lila sauce, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Fried whiting fish with greens and spaghetti, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Fried whiting fish with greens and spaghetti, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Chicken wings with Lila sauce, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Tramesha Cruse didn’t take long to settle on Lila Mae’s Southern Kitchen and Lounge as the name of her new restaurant.
It’s a tribute to her great grandmother, who raised Cruse’s mother and taught the family how to cook much of the delicious Southern fare found on the menu.
Tramesha Cruse poses for a photo at her restaurant, Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
“She meant a whole bunch to a whole lot of us,” said Cruse, who grew up in Tennessee. “She actually delivered me.”
Cruse and her partner, Travis Russell, opened Lila Mae’s at 2110 Winthrop Road in June, where Stur 22 used to be. Cruse worked at Stur 22 for four years before realizing her dream to run her own restaurant. She originally planned to start a food truck, but took over the Rathbone Village site instead when it became available after Stur 22 left to focus on its downtown operation.
“I love this location,” Cruse said. “The community over here has been super supportive.”
Cruse opened Lila Mae’s with a limited menu but plans to expand her offerings within the next month once she secures her liquor license. She then will add brunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Currently, Lila Mae’s is open for dinner only from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Lila Mae’s hangs its hat on Southern fare, with Nashville hot chicken ($13.95) as its signature dish. It’s breaded, dipped into a hot sauce and fried. It’s then served atop a slice of white or wheat bread or a maple syrup-covered waffle. The waffle, of course, is the way to go.
Patrons can choose the hot chicken’s “heat level”: extra mild, mild, medium, hot, extra hot, hot or — for 50 cents more — “melt your face off.”
In addition to hot chicken, Lila Mae’s small menu boasts Southern favorites such as pork chops, served “nekkid” ($15.95) or “smothered” ($16.95); fried whiting ($13.95); and shrimp and cheesy grits ($16.95). Most entrees are served with a choice of two sides, which include such soul food standards as collard greens, fried okra and cole slaw.
Nashville hot chicken with fried okra and cheesy grits, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
My wife, Rebecca, enjoyed a “hot” hot chicken on a waffle with fried okra and greens served in styrofoam cups. The chicken is breast meat, (most likely) pounded flat and lightly breaded. The hot sauce is hot. My bald head generated beads of sweat from just one bite. Her greens included white onion slices and bacon pieces. The okra was breaded and fried.
I, too, enjoyed my entree, the fried whiting. Two hefty, lightly breaded and seasoned pieces of fish were served atop a slice of wheat bread. I went with fried okra and a sweet-tasting homemade macaroni and cheese. Both of our entrees were served with dill pickle slices.
We finished our meal sharing a slice of moist Kentucky butter cake ($7), served with a mix of fresh and frozen fruits. Other dessert choices were apple crisp and peach cobbler.
We thoroughly enjoyed our meals. We’re anxious to see how Cruse expands her menu when she begins serving brunch. Grade: A
Lila Mae’s is one of my favorite dining rooms in Lincoln, having found its appealing look when it was Henry’s on South. It’s a small room, with seating for around 50 or so, on two levels. The bar is located on the upper level at the back of the room and can’t be seen from the lower level because of a dividing wall. The lower level features a mix of booths and attractive two-tone hardwood tables, which are in great shape. Music playing was a mix of Motown and soul, creating a perfect vibe. Grade: A
My wife adored our server, Cruse’s teenage daughter, Tavia, who was a bundle of energy as she combined hosting and serving duties. She was uber-friendly and quick to recommend her mother’s hot chicken served atop a waffle. Our food took a little while to come out of the kitchen. That’s because it’s just Cruse and Russell in the kitchen and each entree is prepared as ordered. So be patient. Also be patient if Tavia is working the floor by herself. On our visit, she had help arrive just as the dinner rush was picking up to aid in delivering food and busing tables. Grade: B
Veggie options include one entree (okra stew, $11.95), spring salad ($9.99) and several appetizers (fried cauliflower, okra and/or pickles, $5.95 each). Side items, which range from $3 to $6, include crinkle or waffle fries, fried okra, macaroni and cheese, cheesy grits, greens, steamed veggies, pasta salad, cole slaw and fruit salad. The menu doesn’t designate gluten-free items, so check with the kitchen. Grade: C+
Grateful Bread/Freakbeat Vegetarian, 1625 S. 17th St., serves vegetarian soul food. It's known for soups and mac and cheese.
FireWorks, 5750 S. 86th St. (Old Cheney), is a popular spot for southeast Lincoln diners.
Banhwich Cafe, 940 N. 26th St., is a popular Vietnamese/Asian Fusion place in north Lincoln offering 17 styles of sandwiches.
Grata, 6891 A St. (Clocktower), features liquor and food as well as karaoke night, darts and more in an upscale atmosphere.
Blue Orchid, 129 N. 10th Street in the Grand Manse building, has long been a trendy option serving Thai food.
AmuManu Ramen Bar, 1451 O St., opened in April 2014 specializing in noodle bowls with homemade, flavorful broth.
HopCat, 601 P St., opened in 2016 and has quickly become one of the trendiest places to go in Lincoln with an extensive selection of craft beers.
Toast, 570 Fallbrook Blvd., has become one of the area's go-to restaurants and coffeehouses. The restaurant serves sandwiches, soups, salads and signature entrees in an eclectic atmosphere featuring reclaimed materials.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill, 808 R St., features -- you guessed it -- sushi and sake. This photo shows the dining room of the restaurant.
Yia Yia's, 1423 O St. and at 70th and Van Dorn, is known for pizza by the slice and a large beer selection. The restaurant serves tasty hunks of bread with the pizza.
Honest Abe's Burgers & Freedom, 840 N. 70th St., 8340 Glynoaks, 2662 Cornhusker and 126 N. 14th St., features numerous specialty burgers.
Cultiva, known for its crepes, has a varied collection of diners and coffee drinkers. The coffee shop/restaurant has two locations, the original at 727 S. 11th St. and the new location at 3535 Holdrege St.
Venue Restaurant & Lounge, 4111 Pioneer Woods Drive, offers fine dining. The dinner menu includes hearth-baked dishes, fresh seafood, hand-cut steak and more.
MoMo's Pizzeria at 7701 Pioneers Blvd. offers Neopolitan-style pizza in a stone hearth, wood-fired oven. The restaurant has an extensive menu of specialty cocktails, beers and wines.
Jeff Korbelik is the winery manager at James Arthur Vineyards, former Journal Star features editor and author of “Lost Restaurants of Lincoln, Nebraska.” He’s written restaurant reviews for Ground Zero since 1998.
Lila Mae’s Southern Kitchen & Lounge
Payment: Cash, major credit cards
Hours: 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday
Notes: Parking, no alcohol (liquor license pending), takeout
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Nashville hot chicken with fried okra and cheesy grits, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Fried pickles with Lila sauce, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Fried whiting fish with greens and spaghetti, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Tramesha Cruse poses for a photo at her restaurant, Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Fried whiting fish with greens and spaghetti, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
Chicken wings with Lila sauce, seen at Lila Mae's Southern Kitchen and Lounge.
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