Sick of going “Upstream?” No problem. Thanks to the opening of a new restaurant in the Old Market on Nov. 16, you can now take a trip to “Rock Bottom” instead. Unfortunately, it took the place of Famous Dave’s, but this tasty brewery makes for a fun night out nonetheless.

Located at 11th and Harney streets, Rock Bottom is just a short ride from campus. While Rock Bottom is a chain, there are only 36 locations throughout the United States. This is the first and currently the only Rock Bottom in Nebraska.

Upon entering the restaurant, my party of three was immediately greeted and seated shortly after. While booths line the perimeter of the space, the bar sits in the middle. Smaller tables are situated in between. Tasteful, upbeat music plays quietly in the background. Also, the lighting is dimmed, making for an intimate dining experience while maintaining a casual atmosphere without white tablecloths or candlelight.

Our drinks were immediately taken care of. As I skimmed the menu, several appetizers looked appealing: nachos, quesadillas, wings, shrimp, spicy spinach cheese dip, and pizzas to name a few. In the end, we decided to share an appetizer, choosing the homemade guacamole and chips.

Although apparently made with onions, jalapenos, and spices, a lime flavor still seemed to overpower any other flavors. It also could have used a bit more pepper. The chips were served warm in a small, metal bucket, making presentation a plus.

Rock Bottom offers a variety of main dishes. From burgers to steaks to chicken to ribs and club sandwiches, there’s something for everyone. There are also salad and soup options for those with a smaller appetite.

The friendly waitress recommended the brewer’s club, a turkey, ham and bacon sandwich with melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and chipotle mayonnaise on focaccia bread. Although the club sounded delicious, I decided to try the ponzu salmon.

The salmon looked exquisite, arriving on its bed of citrus rice and vegetables. With my first bite, I noticed that my salmon was not very hot. Aside from that, however, the dish was very tasty. The ponzu sauce added a citrusy-sweet flavor to the salmon, but was by no means overpowering. If anything, it lacked in flavor a little bit, but nothing to be overly worried about.

Generally, a meal ends with dessert, but Rock Bottom does not offer a dessert menu. So, if you still have room for dessert after a delicious meal at Rock Bottom, you’ll have to it elsewhere. This might be good for your wallet, however, as Rock Bottom tends to be a bit pricey for the food it serves. It is good food, but I’m not sure some salmon and guacamole is worth $25.

One last point of interest is the option of a Rock Bottom party booth. Party booths include a built-in tap, great for birthdays and other celebrations or nights out. The tables are already booked for a while, but it’s an option to keep in mind for your next party.

Coincidentally, the manager on duty at the time was a Creighton graduate. He stopped by to check on us and was very polite and talkative. Just a little extra incentive to give Rock Bottom a try.