LAWRENCE — Dick’s Place Bar and Grill in Lawrence made it to the ‘Final Fork,’ in the inaugural Central Nebraska TODAY.com’s Tournament of Taste.
The Tournament of Taste featured 64 different central Nebraska restaurants and eateries that had been nominated by residents through a vote.
A bracket was set up and those businesses with the higher number of votes moved ahead. In the end, it came down to Skyline Café of St. Paul and Prairie Creek Vineyard and Winery of Central City, with Skyline taking home the top spot.
During the Tournament of Taste, Dick’s Place went up against Sit N Bull Saloon, The Cellar Sports Bar and Grill, The Rescue Bar and Grill and Big Dally’s Deli.
A trophy and full bracket were presented to Dick Kohmetscher on Wednesday, April 10.
Dick’s Place is located at 161 N. Calvert St. in Lawrence, a village in Nuckolls County which advertises itself as a “Small Community with a Big Heart.”
Reviews for the location praise its homemade food and cold drinks but many note that it is the people who make the place exceptional.
One of the favorites from the menu is the “Dam Good Sandwich,” which is a double cheeseburger with two slices of ham.
The location is operated by Dick and Marge Kohmetscher. Dick is a Lawrence native and enlisted with the U.S. Army in 1967, meanwhile Marge entered the U.S. Navy in 1969. The two were stationed in Maryland and they met at a USO show.
Dick spent a year of service in Vietnam, and both were discharged in 1970. They moved back to Nebraska and were married on Aug. 1, 1970. Dick worked as a machinist in Hastings and Marge did office work in Hastings, as well.
After some encouragement from Leander Brockman to sub-lease Joe’s Place. The Kohmetscher’s undertook the business in 1971 and rebranded the locale Dick’s Place.
The building was originally a harness shop and became Joe’s Place in 1944.
The Kohmetscher’s sub-leased the building until 1975, the building contains the tavern, restaurant and social center for Lawrence. The full-time kitchen was established in 1983; the ‘South Room’ was established when that building was purchased from Arnie Krebsbach in 1993 and the grocery store was added in 2009.
Dick’s Place has had a loyal staff, and the location has served as a source of employment for many youths of the community and the surrounding area.
Dick’s Place recently celebrated 50 years of business in August 2021.
Dick said he enjoys the work and the regulars who come often, sometimes every day, to the location.
When asked about his reaction to Dick’s Place making it to the ‘Final Fork’ of the Tournament of Taste, Dick said that he was happy to see it happen and noted they had many people throughout the community help them get as far as they did.