Four Nebraska restaurants have been selected as state winners of the 2010 Restaurant Neighbor Award that rewards community service and are now in the running for the prestigious national award. The Restaurant Neighbor Award was created by the National Restaurant Association to recognize restaurants that exemplify the industry’s philanthropic spirit.

The Nebraska winners are Runza Restaurants, daVinci’s, Grandmother’s and Lazlo’s Brewery &  Grill/Fireworks.

“We are proud to recognize these outstanding winners of the 2010 Restaurant Neighbor Award,” said Nebraska Restaurant Association Executive Director, Jim Partington. “Nebraska’s restaurants serve their communities every day by providing excellent food, enhancing quality of life, advancing opportunities for young people, and providing enjoyment to thousands of customers and visitors to Nebraska.  Restaurants are not only good neighbors but important contributors to our state’s health and prosperity.”

Runza Restaurants partnered with TeamMates Mentoring Program.  TeamMates works with school systems, administrators and teachers to identify at-risk children and teens and teaming them up with an adult mentor.  Runza Restaurants donated 10% of their entire chain sales on March 30, 2010 to TeamMates.

daVinci’s has been committed to serving low-income families in the community through their annual Free Easter Dinner.  Over the past 26 years, daVinci’s estimates that over 20,000 meals have been served to the people in Lincoln.

Grandmother’s CEO and President, Dean Rasmussen, started The Project Harmony Golf Tournament in 1995.  Project Harmony is a nonprofit agency whose mission is to respond to the abuse of children.  Their collaborative, child-focused approach ensures that children are not further victimized by the systems intended to protect them.

Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill/Fireworks designated the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as its official charity. Over the past 10 years, Lazlo’s Restaurants have raised $300,000 for the foundation by sponsoring various fundraisers and giving guests the opportunity to donate.

A panel of industry leaders will select four national award recipients from the winners of participating states. The national winners of the 2010 Restaurant Neighbor Award will each receive a $5,000 contribution to continue their community programs. Both national and state winners will be recognized on the National Restaurant Association website.

For more information and to apply for the 2011 award, visit www.restaurant.org/community.

Brewsky’s Food & Spirits had its 20th Anniversary in August, 2010.  Brewsky’s has four locations in Lincoln and two in Omaha.  The original Brewsky’s, which opened in August, 1990, is at 16th & South Streets in Lincoln, NE, (just completely remodeled) while the most recent Brewsky’s opened in 2006 at 84th & Park Drive in Omaha, NE.

Brewsky’s was one of the original “sports bars” in this area, and of that bunch probably the last standing with the original ownership still intact.  The term “sports bar” has come to be synonymous with a mix of bar and restaurant throughout the entire establishment, where families are comfortable dining in a “bar” atmosphere, with multiple TVs showing multiple sporting events.

In its 20 years of operations Brewsky’s has been recognized as “the” sports bar.  It has been voted 1st Place Best Sports Bar in Omaha in the Omaha Magazine Readers Survey for 2008, 2009 and 2010, and was recently voted 1st Place Best Sports Bar in Lincoln in the KFOR Readers Survey for 2009. Its extensive menu was created by a Certified Executive Chef, and constantly evolves with new items and tastes.  Among the favorites recognized in area competitions are Brewsky’s Buffalo Wings and homemade Chili.

Brewsky’s currently employs approximately 300 full- and part-time employees in Lincoln and Omaha, and is owned and operated by the original three owners, Brian Kitten, Jon Mumgaard and Jim Mumgaard.