The past year was a great one for Lincoln diners who enjoy what I like to call the “dining experience.”

A handful of non-sports bar or non-sandwich shop-type places hit the scene.

These are restaurants that specialize in the overall experience, providing good food, service and atmosphere.

Three of those places — jtk, Francesca’s and Magnolia — found their way on my best-of list for 2007.

Below is a rundown of those and two others.

Please note, this is NOT a favorites list, but rather a list of favorite new (or new to me) restaurants that Ground Zero visited the past year.

Places such as Maggie’s, the Parthenon and Venue are restaurants that would make a regular best-of list, but none of them are new.

Eateries were evaluated on food quality, service and presentation and are listed in the order they were featured:

thé Cup (Jan. 19) — The coffee-sandwich shop has really taken off since it opened in early 2007. Diners can enjoy panini sandwiches, homemade soups and, at times, live music in the old Coca-Cola bottling plant.

V. Mertz (July 13) — If you’re looking for a place to impress your significant other, this is it. Located in Omaha’s Old Market, V. Mertz is one of the few places I have given four stars for food, service and atmosphere.

jtk (Aug. 24) — Found in the train station in the Haymarket, jtk is far different from owner Jason Kuhr’s downtown sandwich shop. This has a bit a flair to it, with a menu reflective of a French bistro with American leanings.

Francesca’s (Nov. 9) — Francesca’s is a welcome addition to a city that doesn’t have much Italian food outside of corporate restaurants. Located at the Yankee Hill Country Club, it’s on par with Vincenzo’s, another successful, locally owned Italian restaurant.

Magnolia Restaurant (Nov. 30) — This finally might be the restaurant to make a go of it in the Haymarket spot that’s become a black hole for restaurants. Magnolia complements a beef, chicken seafood menu with some of the best vegetarian entrees around.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.