Under the O street viaduct, Leadbelly’s sister restaurant, Fleetwood, has opened its doors.
Fleetwood is Red Herring Concepts’ second downtown spot and third overall restaurant in Lincoln. Red Herring Concepts is the mind behind Toast in Fallbrook and Leadbelly two blocks away.
Fleetwood is located on 8th and O St. right by Escape Lincoln and Craft Axe Throwing.
This restaurant is named after the Cadillac Fleetwood, a car that symbolized affordable luxury, which describes this restaurant to a T.
Fleetwood strives to serve elevated modern American food that not only features locally sourced ingredients but is also affordable.
Jessica Powell is the general manager and director of operations for Red Herring Concepts. Powell has been a part of Fleetwood since the start.
“When you build a new restaurant, you don’t want to do what everyone else is doing,” Jessica Powell said. “You have got to find your niche. There’s a lot of bar and grills in town and that’s really great, but Lincoln is missing fine dining.”
Fleetwood had its soft open in mid-November and has only gained popularity in the Haymarket. The establishment’s elegance mixed with its juxtaposition causal atmosphere has quickly become a Downtown Lincoln staple.
“We wanted to try and find something that was in the middle [of fine dining and pub food],” Powell said. “This is filling a gap that Lincoln needs. So we wanted to do things that are elevated, but still approachable and affordable.”
Top-selling dishes include The Fleetwood, which is their signature steak sandwich, and Ponzu Pot Stickers for a shareable plate.
“The Fleetwood is probably the most popular,” Powell said. “And that comes with marinated skirt steak, a charred shishito gremolata, and just a ton of grilled onions that comes on a locally made hoagie.”
Powell said Fleetwood represents new American rustic food.
“It sounds really cheeky, but it’s true,” Powell said. “We definitely try to make sure that the food we’re putting out is hopefully as true to the ingredients as we can.”
Fleetwood also caters to the brunch crowd. From house-made biscuits and gravy to a pork belly benedict with a sweet potato hollandaise sauce, Fleetwood’s brunch options have been a big hit.
On the weekend, Fleetwood offers their brunch menu from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fleetwood is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to midnight, and Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to midnight. Weekend hours are Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.