We went to the other location first and the hostess was so rude that my wife walked out and refused to go back . I convinced her to try this location and everyone was so much nicer!! The outdoor patio is beautiful snd has lots of space to socially distance. We had 4 kids and a dog so we wanted lots of distance for the sake of other people :) we easily found parking in the adjacent lot and walked through the back door with kids and dog in tow. The waitress was very patient snd kind. We struggled to pull up the beer list with the online code. It kept switching pages as I was reading(never had this occur before). Unfortunately, my wife and I are big beer drinkers and they were out of every single IPA on draft and in bottle . Our next wheat choice was also out. We finally settled for a boring Miller light . I asked for a lime in it to add some flavor. The lime served was so old it was yellow. I thought they gave me a lemon but realized it actually was one really ugly lime. I wouldn't have served that. The Mac n cheese arrived on iron skillet nice snd broiled... loooked amazing. Tasted horrible. I'm not sure what type of cheese they used but it was BAD. No one out of 6 would eat it. I love any cheese, I couldn't eat it. Bland and oily. The cheese balls were the best thing we ordered. Perfect. The Caesar salad unfortunately was also a C-. Greens were fine snd dressing was okay but the croutons had a really bad flavor; never had a bad crouton before so idk. The journal steak bites were really over cooked, charred actually snd very hard and chewy. I ate them because I was hungry but they were bad . I was very disappointed and had looked forward to some good food snd beer. Maybe it was an off night. I'd give 5 stars for atmosphere, 5 for staff, one for food/drink. read more

Great place! Going in a few minutes. Nice menu, variety of tap beers. Enjoy visiting with the staff, many local college students. Never been disappointed. read more

Great place! I could hangout there if I lived there. Friendly staff. Jami is very nice. My Juicy Lucy came up short of expected. It had just a tiny bit of cheese in the middle and seemed small for a 3/4 pound patty. The fries were crispy though. Recommend. read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - The Juicy Lucy - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

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Stopped in this place last night to get a steak, they only had one to choose from, but it was Excellent! This is a nice bar and after 10pm the place is packed with college football fans! Everyone seamed to be have a great time, even the bartenders, who were slammed most of the night was having a good time. read more

Great drink and food choices! Lots of choices and the service was wonderful. Hands down the best Old Fashioned in town! read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - Hands down the best Old Fashioned! Great attention to detail! Also some outstanding food choices! Well done! - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

We were driving to Montana via Rt. 80 and checked for a place for lunch and this place came highly recommended. Avoid the chain restaurants near the highway and drive five minutes north for a much better experience here. Megan, our waitress, was fabulous and went out of her way to get my friend a birthday dessert - nonalcoholic Mudslide - with a match as a candle!!! And we sang! Really good food and homemade pico de gallo salsa to die for. The 'Mudslide' was the perfect palate cleanser. I had salmon with veggie & baked potato, my friend had quesadillas and both were delicious. Pool tables, Kansas blasting from the speakers, and great vibes. read more

Had to head to Kearney with some coworkers to visit a client for the day. Arrived early and needed to grab lunch, so pulled up Yelp to see what was good. The app didn't let us down as we decided on Cunninghams Journal. Located in a cool looking turn of the century building, this is a pretty cool bar and grill. The inside has the original hardwood floors and woodwork, exposed brick and tin ceiling, so it has that cool been there forever vibe going on. Burgers were the thing to get, so that is what most of the party ordered. I ordered the Guinness Burger, which is a half pound burger marinated in Guinness, and infused with bacon, topped off with melted Swiss, and a side of their potato bites. I have to say it was a damn good burger. It came out a perfect medium rare, and was juicy and flavorful. The Potato Bites are like a breakfast potato, but finished in the fryer, and were a nice compliment to the meal. Others had the Juicy Lucy (comment: Lucy was the right amount of Juicy!), and another had the Buffalo Bill (comment: good, but needed more heat). The locals already know this place, but if you are coming in from out of town, skip the fast food, and check this place out. read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

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LOVE this place! The atmosphere is great and the bartenders are super nice. I was visiting a friend and went out with a group bar hopping. We started here and we all wanted to end our night here we all love the place so much. My friend told me to try their Skittle shot and All Blue. They were both fantastic and the All Blue is one of my all-time fave drinks! I also had a burger, fries, and a fried pickle, all of which tasted amazing. The live band was also really entertaining. Stop by! read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - All Blue! - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

I was there on a great evening to set outside. The strawberry, feta and spinach salad was amazing. Can't wait to have it again read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - Strawberry feta salad - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

Good place to watch sports, there's TVs everywhere. They also have some pool tables if you feel like getting competitive. Also, the big beer is REALLY big. It's actually served in a stein. Ordered the nachos to start. They were pretty decent, not great, but I still ate them. The beef reminded me of a less tasty version of the beef they serve at Taco Bell. I'd probably give the nachos 3 stars. For my meal, I ordered the Drunken Chicken. Also decent, but even less great than the nachos. Service was perfect though, even though the food definitely was not. I'd give the service alone 5 stars. read more

Tonight I had the salmon salad outside on the patio. While it was a chilly night the heaters and gas fire tables added to the atmosphere of the restaurant while also keeping us nice and toasty. I attended with a large group (18 people). Our drinks came out quickly and the food was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. Service was lacking, but with such a large group I understand the rush. Overall a great bite to eat. L read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

Great bar food, cool atmosphere. Located in a historic building downtown, I am guessing the old newspaper office? They are known for their stuffed burgers, 'Juicy Lucy' style, with the trend migrating down from Minnesota. I went with the juicy jack which is stuffed and topped with spicy cheese. The burger is made with cilantro and onions for a an extra kick. When it comes out wait a minute or two for it to cool or risk a hot cheese explosion squirting your face or ruining that new shirt. A real highlight was the appetizer we had, 'Journal Bites' are marinated sirloin cubes you can stab with a toothpick. Came nicely seated on all sides and still red and full of flavor in middle. Came with a great horseradish based sauce. Get them. read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - Journal Bites - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

Cunninham's Journal- A++ sports bar. Excellent draft selection (+ cheap 32 oz domestics!), tasty pub grub at extremely reasonable prices, and spacious ambiance. We spent an afternoon watching the NCAA tournament and couldn't have picked a better spot in the area. The outdoor patio was still closed so I cannot comment on that. I took a peek outside, looks like it would be a great place to hang out with friends on a nice day. Thank you for the speedy and attentive service, delicious food, and countless TV's! read more

Great local bar downtown. Stopped in for lunch and the food was typical bar food. Fries are great. Recommend the nachos on the apps menu.

My second outing in Kearney had me ending up here. cool area of downtown, went for lunch and the place was fairly quiet, I imagine things get loud in the evening here, seems to be popular. Ordered a buffalo chicken wrap with the onion strips. The onion strips were so good! The wrap was flavorful also. I'm not much of a beer drinker so I asked for a fruity drink and the server recommended a moscato drink they make with several flavor options. I ordered the berry blend one. It was good! Cool and refreshing. read more

We live in CA & the FIRAT thing we do after arriving in Kearney is go to Cunningham's!! Love the atmosphere & the food!

Jordan is always the best bartender in town, always checks up on you right as you need a refill l thank you for the great service!!!

Stopped as traveling through Nebraska. Amazing service and food! Tater Tot nachos are the bomb!

Hubby and I come to Cunningham's often because it's great food and great service every single time. They have a great variety of food and a huge drink menu. We have something different every time and it's always excellent. They put some of their beers on rotation. We like trying new ones when they come in. The atmosphere is great. We love sitting outside when the weather is nice. You just can't go wrong with this establishment! It's super easy to make a reservation, even on a busy Saturday evening. We highly recommend this restaurant to everyone! read more

Close to hotel- unfriendly hosts at front. Waitress spilled ice water all over husband and son. No real apology. Waitress was unfriendly after that even tho we were being cheerful about it. Totally raw juicy burger ordered by son. Seems like they all have chip on their shoulders Otherwise looks like great place to sit on deck and drink (and have low expectations for food). read more

This place is a joke don't go if you want to have a good time. They have terrible food and even worse drinks

I drove 4200 miles across the USA from LA to NYC, through 15 states over 18 days. On the way we stayed in Kearney for the night which was a great fun. We dined here and id say it was one of the meals meals I had on the whole trip. The burger was superb as were the side of wings. read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

Easily one of the best establishments in Kearney. Service is always exceptional, expansive draft and bottle selection, and a menu full of fantastic food. The pretzel bites are a must, and the Jim bean wings and Prairie burger are my favorite! Wednesday nights have a super fun environment thanks to a low key live music selection playing through the dinner service, but Friday and Saturday nights also always have an excellent band starting a bit later. Don't sleep on this place, you won't regret the stop! read more

Went to the New Cunningham's on the Lake. The place is really cool & our waitress was super nice. The hostess was not so friendly and seemed annoyed that I was asking questions since it was my first time. We ordered the shrimp tacos & they was delicious but the nachos was not so good. There was nothing to hold the toppings on the chips & was dry. We sat inside but there is a big deck overlooking the lake that looks like a nice place to relax while enjoying a beverage. read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

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Great atmosphere with brick walls, wood floors. Staff was friendly and helpful. Had tomato Gouda cheese soup, absolutely delicious, hearty and warms the soul. Then two bacon infused beef sliders. Perfectly cooked and juicy. I would go again! read more

Cunningham's Journal on the Bricks - Love businesses in old buildings - Bars Near Me - Kearney, Nebraska

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Great place for anyone ages 21+ after 10pm. Different type of spaces for different people! Upstairs is usually college aged people and very "club" like and main level has a stage with live music and plenty of tables for sitting! read more

We LOVE Cunningham's! Great atmosphere, cold beer and the food is outstanding! One of our favorite places for date night or just for a weekend lunch outing with the kids. We really enjoy the live music and the patio as well!! read more

Great food.. impossible burger was cooked to perfection. The rib eye was amazing, the tomato basil soup and their Christmas cocktails...everything was just excellent! read more

Quick mobile review. The food was good. Wings were great and burgers were average. Prices were very fair. The service was good and the wait time was good. My reason for 3 stars and maybe should've been two is that three checks in my party were all overcharged for items we didn't order. When brought to the manager's attention she did correct the problem but that is a problem I shouldn't have to deal with. So, in short food is good, service is good but just check your bill carefully. read more

Townie bar serving up bar style good food. Server offered great suggestions for our group and wasn't afraid to help us decide. One of the best old fashioned made with rye Everyone was happily satisfied at end if meal read more

Stopped here for dinner since it was close to our hotel. Loved the food and atmosphere, they had a great outdoor patio. I had the grilled chicken salad and it was the best I've ever had. Grilled veggies along with raw ones, the chicken had a nice smoky grilled taste. My husband had the tacos with guacamole and said it was great. I'm not a craft beer person but my husband liked what he ordered, and the cider I got was delicious. Wish we lived in the area, we would be eating here often. Lauren was our server and did a great job, she was attentive and it didn't take long for our food or drinks to be delivered. We would highly recommend coming here. read more

This was a fun place. I got here around 8pm, and there was a live band playing in the outside courtyard. The weather was nice, and the beer was cold, so I had to partake in the fun. With only one place to sit, I was basically front row and center at a hightop, and ordered a micro brew wheat beer - and took the recommendation of the lovely waitress to get the Lucy Burger (or whatever they call it) It was delicious!! I'm a big guy, and could only finish half..... but I am on a diet so maybe that had something to do with it also..... The crowd picked up for a little and it was nice mix of locals, college students, and people like me (out of towners). Great place, a must stop if you are ever in the area. read more

Over my years in K-town this place has ranged from 1-5 stars. So I'll average it and give it 3. Nebraska has now has a smoking ban and this place has a beer garden you can smoke in if you want to. 5 stars for both 5 stars for it having a kick ass margarita machine (so many flavors I had a brain freeze before I even ordered) down to 1 star when this magic machine spent most of the summer broken (I don't even know if they have it any more) 5 stars for being a kick ass place to hang out at when you are 21-25. Down to 2 stars when I became old enough to start feeling old here (aka over 25). 4 stars for selection of beer and liquor. 5 stars for having the Irish whiskey that has given me one of the fondest memories of my life. 5 stars because I have never made out with one of their bar tenders but I have made out with a hot girl or two, and because their new employee Zach is a buddy. This has turned into the place I love to hate but keep showing up to drink and keep having fond memories. read more

Was in town for business trip and was referred here by our hotel receptionist. It's in a cool part of town with a few other bars surrounding it, inside it had a great atmosphere, we got there just in time to catch the live band, and our Waitress (Jordan) was conversational, friendly and on top of her service. The burgers are their specialty so we both got one of their most popular and they were delicious. We also were pleased with the seasonal beer selection. Definitely a place I'd like to go back to. read more

Forever my favorite place for a good burger! We love the trio skewers for an appetizer. My husband always gets the Juicy Lucy and I always get the Prairie Burger for many years now. We can't come up with one thing we don't like about Cunningham's. Solid service, engaging staff, fun atmosphere and delicious food every time. read more

We went to the lake location and sat in the covered patio. Amazing, amazing atmosphere- the interior is spectacular! We had the most beautiful sunset view over the lake. As for the food- even better!!!! Tried the juicy Lucy and it was the best burger I've ever had, period. We also had the house special pizza which was the bomb. My brother had the fish & chips and said it was 'questionable the best fish and chips he's ever had'. Can't say enough good things about this place!!! We'll be back & recommending to everyone we know! I also want to point out the spectacular server we had, I want to say her name was Brooke?? Anyways, very talented and genuine. 12/10 experience. :) read more

We were heading home from a visit to Yellowstone and stopped for the night in Kearney. We decided to try Cunningham's Journal based on the reviews here. The service was prompt and attentive without hovering. We ordered different burgers and both were cooked correctly and served promptly. The beer was good and cold. I'm a Plain Jane gal who loves Bud Light Draft and you can't always get it when there is a large selection of craft beers. Prices were reasonable. We were concerned when we parked because there was a live band in the back outside area, but the inside was not so noisy that we couldn't carry on a conversation. If in the area again, we'll definitely be back! read more

What can I say? This was mediocre at best. Rootbeer was flat, fries came out cold and the burger had no flavor. read more

Friendly staff, kept my drink full at all times and the food was delicious. Husband had Guinness burger and it has great flavor, can really taste the Guinness. I had Husker Wings, which are pork ribs. Very tender and Sassy sauce. Would recommend. read more

It's hard for me to go out to bars in smoking states. I am from So Cal where they don't allow smoking in bars anymore. So when I do venture out into one that allows it, it is very difficult for me to relax and have a good time. I have a terrible aversion to tobacco smoke. I get instant headaches. If I were able to put that aside, maybe I could have had a good time. I did get some harassment by the bouncers because the ID I had with me was expired but damn...it did show when I was born and that I was of age. They made me go back to my hotel and get the valid one from my suitcase. I can see that is the place in Kearney for the younger college crowd to gather and watch the Huskers play football. They also had a really kick ass band that night. I ended up going outside and standing on the sidewalk to listen to them play through the wall because the smoke inside was heavy and thick. I just could not deal. read more