Since the early days of the South Omaha stockyards, the midwestern city of Omaha has been home to traditional steakhouses. Legacy Chophouse, newly opened in November 2024, borrows from past traditions while blazing its own path.
After the recent tenant vacated, the west Omaha building owners went in search of a high-level eatery concept that melded with Alice—the whimsical, upscale speakeasy located in the lower level. Enter co-owners Natalie and Steve Sorensen, who combined decades of experience with a proven concept and quickly made their vision a reality.
Taking inspiration from traditional Midwest steakhouses, the restaurant features contemporary industrial design tempered by warm rustic elements. The west side of the main floor space is anchored by a 17-foot, two-sided fresh salad bar featuring nostalgic favorites such as pickled beets and fresh greens, and the east side houses a bar and inviting booths.
Having grown up in the hospitality and restaurant business, Natalie Sorensen is no stranger to the industry. “The work culture here is fun and family—our motto is you have to care to be here.” The entire team subscribes to the concept of CARE: communication, appreciation, respect, and encouragement. She is an ardent fan of the current menu, especially the tender kebabs with sweet peppers.
Co-owner Steve Sorensen echoes his wife’s enthusiasm for the stellar service and family-friendly environment, “It’s like having 500 of our best friends over for dinner every night—some of them even act like they own the place, and we love them all,” he joked.
As a steakhouse, the menu is centered on the 21-day wet aged, locally sourced prime Angus beef, whether in the form of the Tomahawk steak served with broccoli, the 8-ounce filet mignon with asparagus, or the bone-in ribeye sizzling alongside a bruléed sweet potato.
The same care is taken with the Berkshire pork, hailing from a small family farm in Valley, Nebraska. The farmer raises and butchers all the pork on-site, resulting in a rich, tender taste profile. According to the Sorensens, the farmer’s custom applewood smoked bacon brings depth of flavor to the lobster mac-and-cheese, as well as taking the bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches to another level.
Top-quality seafood is sustainably sourced from St. Petersburg, Florida, and flown in fresh daily. Classic steakhouse soups such as French onion and lobster bisque provide hearty starters, and a generous portion of bread pudding topped with hot caramel sauce proves a worthy topper to a satisfying meal.
The recipe development process at Legacy Chophouse is simplified with one word: tastebuds. “Everyone eats off each other’s plates when testing new dishes or adapting menu items based on customer feedback,” said Natalie Sorensen. “Our goal is to have every item on the menu to be a home run.”
The extensive bar program includes nostalgic steakhouse drinks such as the Flying Grasshopper featured next to riffs on classics such as the smoked old fashioned made with a demerara simple syrup, Knob Creek private select single barrel whiskey, and both Angostura and orange bitters. “Our talented and creative bar staff is constantly mixing and creating new signature drinks according to the changing holidays and seasons,” shared Natalie Sorensen.
On a busy night, the space is bustling with activity; businesspeople entertaining out of town clients and colleagues, couples on date night, or families making precious memories at the table. It’s the little things that create special experiences. To wit, Natalie Sorensen found a special “exploding” candle, enjoyed by birthday revelers of all ages. Making guests feel loved and appreciated is part of the charm at Legacy.
The team’s marketing philosophy is to advertise to one customer at a time. “We find that if one customer has the best experience, with great food, atmosphere, and service, they share that with a few new friends who accompany them the next time,” said Steve Sorensen.
The eatery is open Monday – Friday for lunch and dinner on weekends and recently started offering to-go orders. They hope to add a four-season room on the back patio, but as the weather improves, the existing capacious patio spaces will open for lunch, happy hour, and dinner service. In the coming months, keep an eye out for announcements regarding live entertainment, wine pairing dinners, and other special events.
That was a great article for a restaurant deserving of recognition! Legacy Chophouse is eclectic, and its owners are fraught with innovation. Love the warm vibes, fab food and accommodating service every time I go there.