# Flagship's Anthem nails atmosphere but stumbles on uneven menu  
**Published:** 2026-07-02T10:00:00.000Z  
**Source:** [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/the-sbh-review-anthems-vibes-are-immaculate-its-food-is-uneven/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/flagship-s-anthem-nails-atmosphere-but-stumbles-on-uneven-menu

Anthem, [the latest restaurant from Omaha-based Flagship Restaurant Group](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/the-sbh-review-anthems-vibes-are-immaculate-its-food-is-uneven/), opened earlier this year in the Old Market at 12th and Howard in the space formerly occupied by Plank Provisions. The new Tex-Asian fusion concept, which has an existing location in Austin, Texas, excels at creating the kind of destination space where diners gather for the experience as much as the food—but the kitchen's execution remains inconsistent.

The venue is undeniably striking. [Anthem sits on one of the Old Market's busiest corners](https://www.eatdrinkanthem.com/omaha-location), with groovy patio benches and italicized green signage drawing passersby through its doors. Inside, the space features a sophisticated design upgrade from its predecessor, with golden wood tones, sage green accents and diffused lighting that create a chill, welcoming atmosphere suited to younger diners. A back wall displays the Omaha skyline in motion on a digital screen, while a prominent bar anchors the east corner.

What emerges is a restaurant designed foremost as a social gathering spot. Diners appear as interested in sipping cocktails and seeing and being seen as they are in ordering food. [Flagship Restaurant Group, founded in 2002 by Nebraska natives Nick Hogan and Tom Allisma and Texas natives Anthony Hitchcock and Tony Gentile](https://www.flagshiprestaurantgroup.com/about), has long excelled at crafting such spaces. The group now operates [nearly 50 locations across multiple concepts](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/the-sbh-review-sushi-and-burgers-memoir-opens-trendy-new-chapter-for-omaha-restaurant-group/).

The menu presents a mashup described as Tex-Asian fusion—essentially one half Tex-Mex, the other Asian. Some dishes work. Others do not. The most engaging offering is a reimagined pupu platter, a nostalgic throwback to 1950s Polynesian dining culture that Flagship cleverly reboots. The plates, available in two versions, include familiar elements like egg rolls, teriyaki, ribs and chicken wings, providing a shareable experience that suits the venue's communal vibe.

Less successful are several other preparations that feel uninspired or poorly executed. The menu's unevenness suggests a concept still finding its footing in Omaha after replacing a well-established seafood destination.

Whether the food matters much remains an open question. First-time and repeat visitors seem content to linger over cocktails while the restaurant's "vibes"—as current parlance dictates—do the heavy lifting. That strategy may prove sufficient for Flagship, which has long understood that modern dining destinations must offer more than just nourishment.

[Anthem is located at 1205 Howard Street](https://www.eatdrinkanthem.com/omaha-location) and operates Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant offers weekend brunch, daily happy hour and reverse happy hour on Friday and Saturday evenings.

## Sources

- [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/the-sbh-review-anthems-vibes-are-immaculate-its-food-is-uneven/)
- [Anthem location and hours information](https://www.eatdrinkanthem.com/omaha-location)
- [Flagship Restaurant Group history and information](https://www.flagshiprestaurantgroup.com/about)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Flatwater Free Press, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://flatwaterfreepress.org/the-sbh-review-anthems-vibes-are-immaculate-its-food-is-uneven/.