Grateful Bread

This place sucks don’t go there
Okay that’s a lie just being a little selfish here and wanting to not be told my favorite Moroccan tomato soup is out again because they had another busy day.
There are lines sometimes down the block in front of this vegetarian soup joint, with some of the best bread products a carb-​ivore could dream up, yes I said vegetarian and hello this is in Nebraska the beef state.
Whether you are a meat and potatoes carnivore or a vegan you will appreciate Grateful Bread.
They have mac and cheese dishes soups and delicious desserts and scones. Everything there is full of flavor probably not suggested for the Bland palate you will taste spice, some heat and tons of flavor in everything they make.
Whatever you do do not try the Moroccan tomato soup, especially not with a cheese scone on the side. You will become addicted.
Okay well don’t say you weren’t warned

A Lincoln favorite. There’s always a huge line and the line usually takes twice as long as it should take but it’s worth it to eat the delicious food. I loved the Tibetan noodle soup but haven’t had it in several years because they either don’t make it anymore or I don’t go on the right day. The chipotle Mac and cheese is phenomenal. My mom and I have been trying to replicate it at home for ourselves but just can’t get it like they can at grateful bread. We love their cheese scones and Santa Fe chowder too!

My favorite Lincoln spot. I have never been disappointed by anything I’ve eaten here and I love the quirky interior decorations. Everytime I go I get a mac AND a soup because I can never decide. The portions are great and I can get 2 meals out of them. Every once in awhile they’ll also feature delicious unique sandwiches. Being a vegetarian I also love that I can walk in and order anything on the menu. I really enjoy eating local and that this is a family owned and operated business. Definitely a Lincoln gem.

Love the cozy atmosphere, soul food, and good vibes. Limited seating during lunch time during the week but that’s part of the deal. Homemade Vegetarian soups and sandwiches. Mac and Cheese is great. Love the eclectic vintage décor. I wish Lincoln had more gems like these– gotta support the unique and home grown restaurants.

One of the very best places to eat in Lincoln! I truly hope that you will stop in if they are open when you are in town. You’ll be greeted by a sign that reads «sorry we’re open» followed by an eclectic, bright and colorful array of vintage album covers, posters & knicka knacka bricka bracka. The hours are limited, so definitely check out their Facebook page for details. Hours also change depending on the season. I am especially excited that they are offering fresh baked breads again! I took home a delicious loaf of Ethiopian bread and it was gone by the end of the day… so good. My daughter and I enjoy the Moroccan tomato soup but there is a rotating variety of vegan and vegetarian options that are all worth a try. There is also a daily selection of homemade mac & cheese. I love to add siracha to mine! I have a dream that one day they will again offer their homemade cinnamon rolls… Truly the very best cinnamon roll in the entire world. If you ever have an opportunity to eat one… Take it! All of the beverage options are carbonated but there is a water cooler for those of us that don’t like anything with soda. Overall a highly enjoyable dining experience!

Love, love, love this place. A true Lincoln original. I went today and had split pea soup and a cheese scone. The soup was delicious, but the scone. Omg, the scone. It was like a little piece of airy heaven, perfectly designed to be eaten on its own or dipped into soup. I could have eaten five of them.
Cash only. My total was just over $ 7, I believe. I didn’t get a drink this time around, but they have a really interesting selection of specialty bottled sodas that’s worth perusing.

Really good soup! $ 5.50 for a bowl for here which is kinda expensive but very filling and large portions.

Fantastic soup! This is very much so a local place. At times, they may be unexpectedly closed or a soup may run out. The décor is random and all over, service is very limited, and the selection is limited. But if you like real food, you must try this place, because this is a place where real people have a passion for real food and are sharing that passion through their little café. Check their Facebook page before you go for (usually) up-​to-​date information. And when you do get there, if it’s available, try the spicy Moroccan tomato soup — you’ll be surprised how filling a tomato soup can be!

Love this place.
The hours are terrible and the guy at the counter is just there to take money and hand you food. The décor is super weird and the restaurant is kind of small.
But my goodness.
The soup and pasta and scones are made to perfection. I seriously can’t get enough of it. Great value, too, because the food is always more filling that it appears. But you’ll want to keep eating more anyway because the food is. So. Good.
Like them on fb to check out their menu and hours. My personal favorites are the Moroccan tomato soup and the Vampire Be Gone. Also, always order one more scone than you think you’ll need.

I have loved this place for years. It is a gem.
This week I came late in the day and the one choice for Macaroni and cheese wasn’t up my alley (Trailer), so I finally had the chance to try the Moroccan Tomato Soup I have heard so much of. Holy shit. It was amazing. Now it’s going to make deciding what to eat even more challenging.
Pro tip: get two cheese scones, devour one, and tear the other one up into the Moroccan tomato soup.
The only time I’m disappointed by this place, is on the unpredictable days that they are closed.

I’ve visited here several times. The food is very good — I’d recommend the soup, the baked goods, or the macaroni. The kids are usually very happy with the macaroni as well. The only downside is that the ordering system (at the counter of a very small place) is clunky. I wish there was table service.

This family business goes on for a long time and i decided to try this place. Menu was simple but really big portion. I liked their soft scone and signature soups. Interesting interior with many different collections.

All I can say is, I wanna live here! My friend had been mentioning this place to me for the longest and I finally went. I was totally mind blown by all the awesome decorations and even the potato heads on the ceiling were pretty dopetastic (word of the day! I have never seen a unique place like this before.
Food: At first I couldn’t find the menu, but my friend pointed out at the colorful flyers near the cash register. They have Moroccan Tomato Soup, Chipotle Potato Soup, Soul of Zorba Mac and Cheese, Chipotle Mac and Cheese, Italian Stuffed and baked Polenta, and Indian red lentil soup to name a few.
I got to try the Baby Bella Mac and Cheese, it was really gooood! It had mushrooms, Gouda cheese, bread crumbs, thyme. you just have to try it.
They also have cookies and cheese bread which I heard were must haves. This place is cash and check only, so no plastic.
The Bathroom is definitely a must see. So many posters, old magazines, toys, a leopard mirror, so many cool things.
if you’re ever in Lincoln, make your way to Grateful Bread, it’s something to be grateful for!

Grateful Bread is a Lincoln gem. I have been coming here for years, indulging in the constantly changing menu of vegetarian and vegan soups, mac and cheese, scones and cookies. Occasionally they even have cinnamon rolls but get there early because they are to die for and when they’re gone, that’s it.
Staples you can almost always get are the Moroccan tomato soup, chipotle mac and cheese, cheddar cheese scones, and their mouth-​wateringly amazing Santa Fe chowder. Typical rotating soups and macs feature Asian and southern flavors prominently, often with curried soups, lentil soups, creole seasonings, and many different cheeses with macaroni. Recently they have branched out into non-​soup territory, featuring a biscuits and gravy or rice and beans. Always check Facebook first because they post their menu daily, along with surprise closings. We sometimes like to joke about GB being closed on Monday and Tuesday as «hippie weekend.»
A line out the door is very common at peak hours but it never seems to take that long.
Pricing is amazingly reasonable, less than $ 10 per person.

Really great. Soups, mac and cheese, and the occasional curry are flavorful, filling, and peculiar (in a good way). Every time I come here, there is a different spice, flavor, or dish that I fall in love with. Fun atmosphere, cool sodas to choose from, and a flat price you can agree with. Make sure to check their facebook for their hours and daily menu.

Yum! A gem I discovered many years ago when I moved to Lincoln. One of the original (and rare) vegetarian restaurants in the city. It sits in an unassuming little strip mall on 17^th Street near Russ’s Market. Free on street parking with more around back.
Did I already say yum? Because YUM!
Food: Grateful Bread has a rotating menu which is released via Facebook daily. Various vegetarian soups and mac’n cheese are offered and often run out by mid-​afternoon depending on traffic. Hoppin’ John and some polenta dishes make their way on the menu occasionally as well.
While some other reviewers mentioned limited selection as a negative, these dishes are individually made. Like small batches of deliciousness you have to work to enjoy. As a failed cook of many many vegetarian dishes, I have a suspicion that to make so many successful dishes, it takes A LOT OF WORK and complicated recipes. That being said, I appreciate even having the opportunity to have them offered in a local restaurant. Saltines and hot sauce are at each table!
Price: this place is CASH or CHECK only. Plan accordingly. The prices range from $ 1.25 for the various scones, cookies and other baked goods to about $ 7 for soup and pasta dishes. A wide selection of bottled drinks are available for about $ 3 – 4 a bottle. It’s been mentioned it was pricey but keep small batch, specialty dishes in mind when thinking about cost.
Location: Good for singles to groups with a combination of seating options. Not a giant place but I have usually found a place to sit. Are only a few people sitting at a big table? Sit at the other end. Eat your food. Clean up after yourself. 17^th is a one way, North-​South street. Get to Grateful Bread from 16^th by turning left Sumner.
Overall: I totally recommend this place if you want something warm, homemade and delicious. You may even get lucky and get a cinnamon roll or delicious chocolate cake while you are there!

This place is the gem of all gems! The food is remarkable, the prices are good, the décor quirky, it’s truly a treat when the day you have time to go is a day when they are opening, even better if they have the mac n cheese you are craving and those brownies! I’ve never eaten here and not enjoyed it. This place is run by a family, the hours are here or there (like them on FB to know the menu of the day and if they are open), the space is small, hot in summer and they only take cash or checks but it’s worth any hassle it ever brings. If I were to pick the best Grateful Bread menu I’d being with a bowl of mac-​n-​cheese, probably the blue, add a cheese scone (MUST MUST have a cheese scone) and take a brownie to go. Please note this is a vegan restaurant but I’m a carnivore and never miss the meat. Love. LOVE. Love.

If I had to wish two things of Grateful Bread was to be open always for me to walk in at my leisure to get a helping of some amazing soup/​mac and cheese and oh god the cheese scones. The second thing was for me to wish that I carried cash/​my checkbook with me when I’m in the mood for it.
Those things in mind, I still adore this place. I’m all about supporting local businesses especially small restaurants that serve quality food. I’m so happy this place has such a strong following and understanding customers.
I understand the whole not accepting plastic thing. It may change in the future, it may never change. I’m not going to really sweat it.
I always get AT LEAST 2 meals when I go there. If I get a bowl of mac and cheese, it’s so filling. I’ll almost be in agony from my food baby I’m about to have but then still excited that I’ll have food saved for later.
My personal favorite is the Chipotle Mac & the cheese scones.

Yes, you are correct. There isn’t much bread here, but please be a bit understanding on that front. This place has changed and evolved over the years, and they have decided to stick with the legendary Lincoln name (Grateful Bread) despite it being more of a soup place these days and most locals are very happy they did so (this is what I’ve heard through the grapevine and like every good legend maybe not all of it is 100% true. Feel free to correct the story if you know more). Also, the name is technically «Grateful Bread/​Freakbeat Vegetarian» which describes the restaurant much better.
The baked goods they do serve (scones, cookies, brownies, french bread) are AMAZING. Seriously, the cheese scones alone are worth the trip to this cool café. The cookies are huge and have creative flavors and the brownies are some of my favorite I’ve ever had.
The soup-​can be hit or miss for sure. They try new recipes and sometimes they don’t always deliver. That being said, you gotta go for it and keep changing things up. I’m much happier to frequent a place who gets creative because oftentimes that creativity breeds absolute deliciousness. They have old favorites that are always rotating on the menu (Moroccan tomato, Santa Fe Chowder, Egyptian Red Lentil etc) and they always have something fresh and new to try. It might be a bit of a gamble, but I’d rather take the risk than stay boring.
The macaroni and cheese is so delicious and sinful. I haven’t tried it all because I generally stick to the soup, but the stuff I’ve had is ridiculously delicious. Vampire Be Gone, Chipotle Mac and Cheese and Baby Bella are all awesome. I’m sure, like the soup, some aren’t as good as others.
The atmosphere is amazing. I don’t want them to change the feel or vibe of this place. I think it’s eclectic, fun and comforting in an odd way. They are also always spinning old records which adds a perfect touch as well.
The service is underwhelming, but the food is so good I don’t care too much about it. You are only at the counter for 2 minutes and then you’re off to eat your food. The guy working the front could have a sunnier disposition and acknowledge repeat customers more but when I take a bite of the cheese scone all is forgiven.
I would love to see them start to be a bit more green. It’s strange in a vegetarian/​hippie sort of place that they are using nothing but disposables. I can’t even imagine how much waste they put in the landfill every year when you think of the giant lines of people waiting for soup.
Overall, I love this place. It’s a local Lincoln place that everyone knows and a place that seems to draw people of all types to one space. That’s community at its finest.

There’s a certain type of person who will go to Grateful Bread. As my dad says, «I’m not going to that hippie place!» It is that. Hippie-​Dippie, eclectic and YUMMY VEGAN! An explosion of 1970’s style and 2000’s flavors. Yep, it’s kitchy and weird in here. You’ll eat among troll dolls, ironic signage (for example the street sign says SORRY, WE’RE OPEN or YES, WE’RE CLOSED, (this humor is lost on certain hungry types.) pictures of Robert Smith from the Cure and Grateful Dead stuff, but let’s not focus on that only. The food here is very delicious. I swear, Meat-​Eaters, give it a try!
Time to order! The soup Nazi (Seinfeld reference) will take your order from behind his cluttered counter. Okay, he’s no Nazi, and he is not rude or condescending however he is funny. In all the years I have been to GB he hasn’t made conversation or looked happy to see us, despite the fact we’re regulars. He is like the guy who should be backpacking across Europe but somehow got lost inside Grateful Bread and is serving the food. Someone once told me he was the original Hipster of Lincoln. So, come and get an autograph!
Okay, now onto the issue at hand. The food. The food is good. Delicious in fact. The food is delicious, served in little paper cups and is often gone by the time I arrive. There’s something frustrating/​annoying/​disappointing about standing in line and the little sign being ripped down off the menu board right when I’m about to order. (This means it’s GONE.) You better pray that your favorite soup, pasta or macaroni is still available because once it’s gone, it’s gone. They’ve added a huge variety of really ‘Artisan’ sodas behind the counter which are made with real sugar and are vintage cool and delicious.
The Mac N Goats Cheese is to DIE for. I remember it to cost around $ 7 + And the soups are $ 6.50 ish and don’t come with free bread. I believe it’s $ 1 for bread or a scone. (Bread used to come free with the soup, but that was years ago and when Mr. Hipster still was in a good mood I guess.) Oh and the COOKIES! Huge and delicious! Again, not everything will always be there when you want it. But since you can’t really make a mistake on the baked goods, just order anything you see.
It’s kind of weird that they don’t accept credit cards. I mean, come on, this is 2015. Even a tiny little town in Washington accepts credit cards. Get with the times guys! I think they accept personal checks if you’re one of those folks more in the Senior Citizen category.
Overall the food is yummy and vegan. No guilt! The prices are a bit on the higher side. Soup and pasta is served in paper cups whether you’re eating in or taking it away. Kind of a bummer because if I want to eat in I always think of soup being in a real bowl. I know, I’m sounding whiney. I think the overall ambiance is discouraging and too Hippie-​Dippie as my dad says but the food is good enough I’ll get it and take it to go.
The thing is, I’d go here 50X more if they accepted credit cards. I literally have cash as often as I have a good hair day, which is almost never. Just sayin’ guys, bring cash if you want to eat here.