FREMONT — You know you’re at the right place when even the parking lot smells wonderful.
The aroma of meat being smoked and special sauces simmering on the stove draws patrons inside, where a trendy, upscale interior boasts seven flat-screen TVs and glossy tabletops.
Customers of Black Label Burgers & Shakes order at the bar from a menu that boasts a unique blend of specialty barbecue sauces, in-house smoked meats, handcrafted shakes and signature cocktails.
“Jason made the tables himself,” said Laurel Korman, co-owner of Black Label Burgers & Shakes at 1755 N. Bell St.
Jason has been running Korman Construction Co., since 2016, so he was the natural choice for renovating the space formerly occupied by Mac’s Café.
“Everything has stayed pretty much the way it was,” Jason said of the new business, which opened in September. “I painted the copper ceiling black.”
The shiny black ceiling enhances the sleek, industrial look Laurel wanted for their restaurant.
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Originally from Chicago, Laurel brought her big-city décor to a family-fun eatery that offers a special menu for the kids.
“They can have their chicken nuggets and their corndogs,” she said, “while the grownups enjoy some new twists on old favorites.”
Although Jason and Laurel had always dreamed of running a restaurant, they didn’t want theirs to be just like all the others.
“We wanted to bring something new to Fremont that they’ve never had before,” Jason said.
Mac & Jack bites, bacon cheese barrels topped with boom-boom sauce, and their smokehouse sampler are just a few of the unique items being served.
Black Label also boasts gourmet burgers, such as the Kormans’ version of the classic hangover.
“It’s got what you would normally have in the morning when you’re hung over,” Laurel said.
Fremont's newest barbecue restaurant offers up some new "spins" on old favorites.
This burger includes bacon & eggs and hot sauce as well as diner aioli on Texas toast.
Another specialty burger is the Boss Hogg, which has pulled pork, smoked cheese, onions, barbecue sauce, and bacon jam on a house roll.
The Black Label burger offers up shoulder bacon, smoked cheddar, a whiskey glaze, caramelized onions, and mushrooms.
In addition to their in-house smoker, the Kormans also have a a wood-fire pizza oven.
“We wanted to put smoked meat on our pizzas,” Laurel said.
Handcrafted shakes are served with a unique style as well. Chocolate milk & cookies, strawberry cheesecake, birthday cake, and mint chocolate brownie are some of the sweet treats the Kormans offer.
They also serve signature cocktails. Malibu sunsets and blue lagoons are two of their most popular drinks, along with their Black Label punch.
As proud as they are of the menu, Jason and Laurel are equally proud of their staff.
Two of the Kormans’ employees are their children, Cassie and Jayden.
In addition to working at the restaurant, Jayden has also been working with his dad at the family construction company.
“Jayden’s the one who came up with the name for our restaurant,” Laurel said. “We don’t know what gave him the idea, but we went with it.”
“We’ve been really fortunate,” Laurel said, “The citizens in Fremont have been great. A lot of repeat business!”
For the coming winter months, the Kormans will be including chili and soups on the menu.
“We’re also working on three or four new sauces,” she added.
Because many of their customers are business professionals who prefer not to dine in, the Kormans have been getting requests for online ordering.
“That’s in the works too,” she said.
Black Label Burgers & Shakes is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Mondays.
Top sports bars in Lincoln
1. Sportscasters
1. Sportscasters, 3048 N. 70th St. -- Its tiered seating makes it easy to watch games from either the main dining floor or the bar area. Plus, Sporty’s is one of the few restaurants in town with a dedicated gluten-free menu.
Since I returned to Lincoln in 1996, I’ve probably spent more time at Sportscasters than any other restaurant in Lincoln. My softball team goes there after games, as does my golf league, and I’ve watched my fair share of New York Jets wins and losses there.
So, more than anything, my vote is about loyalty. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the bar serves some tasty food. I’m partial to the patty melt (with a side of Thousand Island for dipping), the jalapeno burger and dinosaur-sized chicken strips, which go well with a nice cold brew from Sporty’s taps.
2. Big Red Restaurant and Sports Bar
2. Big Red Restaurant and Sports Bar, 955 W. O St. -- Because of its West O Street location, it’s often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. The bar prides itself on being home for Big Red Keno and for its burgers. I recently enjoyed this month’s burger of the month, an Irish burger dressed with fried dill pickles. And, yes, you read that correctly. There's also a location at 87th and Nebraska 2.
3. Brewsky's
3. Brewsky’s, multiple locations -- Brewsky’s has the best wings among the sports bars. The downtown location also offers an entertainment aspect with its popular dueling piano nights. Those are always a hoot.
4. The Press Box
4. Press Box Sports Bar and Grille, 5601 S. 56th St. -- My go-to entree here is the sourdough melt with mac ‘n’ cheese as the side. I like that the Press Box kept a row of seats facing the TVs from its old Bleachers days. Plus, there’s a Lincoln Southeast (my alma mater) connection. It’s owned by former football and girls basketball coach John Larsen.
Readers' No. 1: Brewsky's
Readers' No. 1: Brewsky’s got 18.8 percent of the 1,000-plus votes cast for best sports bar.
Readers' No. 2: Press Box
Readers No. 2: Press Box got 9 percent of responses.
Readers' No. 3: Sportscasters
Readers' No. 3: Sportscasters was the favorite of 7.3 percent of respondents.
Readers' No. 4. Tanner's Bar & Grill
Readers' No. 4: Tanner's Bar & Grill, 8600 S. 30th, got 6.2 percent of responses.
