FireWorks Restaurant — Restaurant in Lincoln

Came here after a Nebraska football game. We're from Omaha and found this place through Google and decided to try it. First let me say this place smells amazing when you walk in, and we were surprised you can see right into the kitchen. They dont hide their cooks and food behind walls and doors they let you see the magic happening. We loved that. The place was about half full of patrons at 4:30 pm and our wait time for our meal was acceptable. I think under 20 minutes. We ordered the rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and mc n cheese, a filet with broccoli and Mac and cheese and a margarita pizza. The chicken, potatoes broccoli and Mac n cheese were divine! The pizza was really really good. Very heavy on the garlic, and didn't come with basil, we were told they were out after they brought the pizza, and I think the basil would've changed the flavor profile a bit so in Hindsight we basically got a cheese pizza with tomato. If they toned down the garlic a scosh I would devour this pizza in one sitting But it was still very very good. Now the filet. I'm a one and done kind of person. I ordered it medium rare and it came super rare. Still blue inside and really wasn't seasoned as I could taste. I don't like sending stuff back or asking for a refund after I ate around the raw meat. So when the server came with the check she just stared at the steak knowing it was way undercooked waiting for me to probably say something, I displayed more than half the filet in a way you could see why I didn't eat it. She knew it was undercooked And still charged us for it. I will gladly pay for what I ordered but I believe good customer service is acknowledging something was wrong and taking steps to correct it rather then assuming everything was just fine since I didn't say anything. The server was polite but kind of seemed annoyed she had to serve us. Can't judge. Maybe she was just having a bad day. All in all I recommend this place. My advice tho. Get anything but the steak. If you want a steak go to a steak house not here. But we will definitely be driving back here from Omaha for dinner because their menu has alot to offer and I think everything is priced fairly. We wanted to try their cake and ice cream so badly but didn't get it because we felt our server just wanted us gone. But I will say this. Best Mac n cheese from...

Mixed feelings here. We stopped by around 5:30 on a Friday night and the parking lot was pretty full and we were told a 20-30 minute wait. Totally fine, no worries.

The Good: •Service was nice. The busser/runner was prompt and offer to grab us drinks. Our server showed up a couple seconds later and we clarified our order was already taken. •The Raspberry Gin Fizz (sub lemonade instead of soda water) was fantastic. •Crabcakes were good. Wasn't expecting corn in them but it worked. The slaw on the side had a tasty dressing. •Our server and management were understanding and empathetic to the following "Bad".

The Bad: •We double checked that the Prime Rib was still available before ordering. We both ordered medium-rare. What we received was just a hair below well-done. I thought "maybe it sat under the heat lamp and just the outside is cooked", but the cheese on top of the potato was cold and when the meat was cut into, it was dry and well done inside. •I would like to emphasize that I have worked in food service for over a decade. I understand the industry and I have a wide tolerance, but no hint of pink on the most expensive cut of meat is something I won't accept. •By this time they had ran out of Prime Rib. We were offered ribeyes as replacements and told they would "cover them". Whether this meant 'comp' or 'pay the cheaper price' wasn't clarified. However, we were charged full price for the ribeye. •The ribeye we did receive was blue-rare. Not much more than grill marks on the outside. I hated to do it, but had to send it back again. We received the steak back at the table less than 2 minutes later which is simply not enough time to return to kitchen, cook and run to table to cook to the desired med-rare.

At this point I felt like sending anything more put me into "Karen" territory and I didn't want to push my luck.

The FOH team tried their best and were appreciated. Whoever was working grill clearly needs more training as the entirety of our meats were unacceptable.

We gave our server the remainder of our gift card balance (50%+ tip), because he tried his best and we simply have no intention of returning after this...

The following account highlights my third or fourth—and, as of yet, most disappointing—visit, after prior experiences that were relatively positive.

I entered—well-dressed—on an early Sunday evening after my own professional concert to meet my friend and colleague who was already seated. I was hurriedly beset by not one but two staff members who were intent on questioning my knowledge of my friend's presence and my agency to meet him—after I already politely explained that he was there. I understood the two staff members' diligence to do their jobs, but I did not understand their surprising skepticism and bombardment, which I silently forgave and shrugged off.

Our server was kind-mannered, but he never bothered to look at or acknowledge me each time he asked how we were doing and whether we needed anything. He only ever asked my friend, as if I didn't matter. After we received our separate bills, I gave our server a full tip regardless.

Though the cut of sirloin I received was overpriced for its quality and size, and though it was unremarkably seasoned, it was cooked to my specification with a decent char on the outside and pink coloring on the inside. However, the $3 brandy peppercorn sauce was a waste of three of my hard-earned dollars. It was not a sauce but rather a gelatinous glob of cold, uncooked, unfresh, flavorless stock in a dollop that never melted on top of the meat. The first time I had this dish a year or so ago, it was much better; based on this experience, I'd never order it again.

The "cheese and macaroni" and smashed potatoes were warm, flavorful enough, and significantly better than the steak and sauce.

The white Russian was mixed without my permission and very rapidly watered-down with small-sized ice cubes.

The environs were pleasant as always, but they alone were not enough to warrant the $48 I spent for the underwhelming experience I received as a respectful and thankful customer.

In terms of food and service, I had better dining experiences here in the past, and I would like to see it return to form. For obviously maintaining a high opinion of themselves, this restaurant must do better to earn...