In the heart of Lincoln’s beloved Haymarket District, LeadBelly is the kind of locally-owned contemporary American restaurant that makes you realize a burger can be so much more than a burger.
Born from a shared vision sketched on a cocktail napkin by co-owners Michael Martin and Tony and Wendy Young, LeadBelly opened its doors in 2013 and immediately carved out a reputation as one of the best locally-owned restaurants in Lincoln, Nebraska — a bold, creative, and unapologetically fun dining destination that has never once played it safe. 🍺
How LeadBelly Won Lincoln’s Hearts
From day one, the founding team built a menu that treated the humble American burger as a blank canvas — topping their house-ground patties with everything from tequila-braised pork and jerk ginger peanut butter to raspberry jalapeño jam and chorizo hash, creating a lineup of options that manages to feel both wildly creative and deeply, satisfyingly delicious.
Diners from across Nebraska made the drive specifically for LeadBelly’s burgers — a remarkable testament to what a well-executed, truly creative menu can do for a locally-owned restaurant without a corporate budget behind it…