Omaha Exploration

The Drover is an anomaly among Omaha’s oldest steakhouses. Unlike its predecessors, it began as a chain restaurant that originated in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1964. After opening a half dozen restaurants across the West, the owners of Cork N’ Cleaver decided to pursue franchising in 1968. That year, Omaha became just the second location to sign a franchise agreement—following Fargo, North Dakota.

The restaurant stood out from other steakhouses in several ways that quickly proved popular with customers. Its Spanish motif featured hacienda-style buildings, madras-clad waiters, and adobe-style fireplaces. The atmosphere was casual yet cozy, with multiple small dining rooms that created a sense of intimacy. Both the steak and ale menus were engraved on meat cleavers, while the wine list was printed on a champagne bottle. Eventually, the chain grew to more than 80 locations nationwide.

In a city already filled with high-quality steakhouses, The Cork was well received when it opened in 1968 near 72nd and Mercy Road. Beyond its distinctive décor, it set itself apart by charbroiling steaks instead of cooking them on a griddle. Its proximity to Aksarben certainly helped early on, but it soon held its own among Omaha’s established steakhouses. In 1979, cost savings and the desire for independence led to its separation from the national Cork N’ Cleaver chain. Many other locations followed suit, and today only three restaurants still operate under the Cork N’ Cleaver name.

It was fitting that the restaurant adopted the name The Drover, defined as “one who drives cattle to market.” Under the same management, the menu was expanded and the building’s exterior updated. The original hacienda style gave way to a Western theme, complete with a split-rail fence, wooden front porch, and wagon wheels. The interior—featuring brick and stucco walls, dim lighting, and an adobe-style fireplace—remained largely unchanged. Prices were adjusted to be more reasonable, and the restaurant continued to thrive, perhaps even more so, under longtime owner Bob Anderson.

The Drover became famous not only for its secret-recipe whiskey-marinated steaks but also for its old-school salad bar, which may have been the first of its kind in Omaha. With crisp iceberg lettuce, a dozen or so toppings, and chilled plates, it has remained virtually unchanged for over 50 years.

In recent years, The Drover has weathered the death of its longtime owner, a devastating fire, and even a global pandemic—yet it has always bounced back. That resilience can be credited to its consistency and quality, along with the dedication of the Anderson family and co-managers who have been with the restaurant for more than 45 years. In 2024, the Omaha World-Herald named it the city’s best steakhouse.

Today, only three steakhouses in Omaha are older than The Drover: Johnny’s Café (1922), Gorat’s (1944), and Cascio’s (1946).

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