An Indian restaurant holds the distinction of being Omaha’s first craft brewery. Jaipur opened its doors in Rockbrook Village just one year after the state’s first – Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill. Founded in 1992 by Steve and Sue Gordon, Jaipur was affiliated with the Oven in Lincoln and the Indian Oven in New York City (not the one that used to be located in the Old Market). The Gordon’s opted to move their new restaurant into a space that had been occupied by Le Cafe at 10922 Elm Street.
Named for the capital and largest city in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan, it is unique in that it has an on-site brewery. It may have been the only Indian restaurant of its kind in the world as the Hindu religion generally prohibits alcohol. The beers are all designed to compliment its cuisine. Of its four varieties, its Jalapeno Ale is most popular but the Raspberry Wheat is also well received.
Steve Gordon sold his share of the business to longtime chef Gyanendra Bhandari in 2004. Gyanendra got his start in the restaurant business at the Indian Oven in New York City after immigrating from Nepal in the 1990s.
Gyanendra eventually made his way to Omaha and has worked for Jaipur since the beginning. In the early 2000s, he developed its North Indian recipes which were adapted to appeal to a midwestern palette with low to mild spices. His dishes have been very well received as its been voted the best Indian restaurant in Omaha for 18 years. Meanwhile, the recently renovated Rockbrook location offers a warm, colorful environment accented with Indian artwork alongside one of Omaha’s best patios.
In 2016 Jaipur was named by Food & Wine Magazine as one of the “50 amazing nano-breweries in 50 states.” Today Jaipur, which operates a second location in Dundee at 5018 Underwood Avenue, holds the honor of not only being Omaha’s first craft brewery but also its oldest and one of its best Indian restaurants.
Content written by Omaha Exploration. Feel free to leave a comment or a suggestion. Until then, keep exploring!
Omaha Exploration is sponsored by @Rockbrook Mortgage Inc
More pictures
More pictures
Omaha Exploration is sponsored by
Click here to contact me if you’re interested in sponsoring OE.
Get email notifications when new OE content is posted
Follow OE on the socials
Omaha Exploration, 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links can be used, if full and clear credit is given to Omaha Exploration with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Leave a Reply