If you have ever promised yourself you would save room for dessert, Stauffer’s Cafe & Pie Shoppe makes that promise easy to keep. This Lincoln favorite serves homey plates and an irresistible pie list that locals whisper about like a delicious secret. Pull up a chair, breathe in the cinnamon and butter, and let the glass pie case work its magic. You will leave planning your next slice before the first bite is gone.
The Signature Banana Cream Pie
Banana cream pie at Stauffer’s is comfort in a cold slice. The crust flakes with a gentle crackle, then gives way to silky custard that tastes like childhood birthdays and Sunday suppers. Fresh banana coins tuck into the filling, and a swoop of whipped cream crowns each forkful.
You notice the balance first: not too sweet, mellow vanilla, lingering creaminess. The chill of the pie plays against warm coffee from the bottomless pot. Order early, because regulars know this one goes fast.
Ask for an extra napkin and a corner seat near the window. Watch people smile when their plates arrive. You will probably do the same, then plan your next visit before your plate is clean.
Classic Chicken Fried Steak Plate
Golden, peppery breading shields tender beef that cuts with a butter knife. The gravy arrives in generous rivers, speckled with black pepper and memories of family tables. Mashed potatoes sit beside it like clouds, ready to catch every savory drip.
At Stauffer’s, this plate hums with diner soul. The first bite crunches, then melts, reassuring and familiar. Locals pair it with a slice of pie, promising themselves they will leave a forkful of potatoes to “save room.”
You will probably clean the plate anyway. Then you will order pie, because restraint is optional here. If comfort had a Nebraska accent, it would taste like this chicken fried steak on a weekday evening before eight.
Morning Cinnamon Roll Warm-Up
The cinnamon roll comes big, warm, and unapologetically gooey. Icing slides down the spirals like first snow on a porch rail. Tear a piece and the steam carries butter and cinnamon right to your grin.
Pair it with hot coffee and a quiet booth at Stauffer’s. Breakfast crowds arrive early, especially on weekends, but the staff keeps things easygoing. Share a roll or do not, no judgment either way.
This is the kind of morning that resets your week. Sticky fingers, warm mug, friendly nods from regulars. Before you leave, you will eye the pie case and wonder if dessert for breakfast is really a bad idea, and decide it is not.
Chocolate Silk Pie With Whipped Clouds
Chocolate silk at Stauffer’s glides like a whispered secret. The mousse is satin-smooth, deep with cocoa, and never cloying. A sturdy crust keeps the slice upright while the whipped cream floats like a cloud.
Take a slow bite and let it linger. The finish is clean, almost elegant, which surprises in the best small-town way. A cup of black coffee draws out the chocolate’s darker notes and makes each forkful new.
Locals know to ask if any is left before committing. When it is gone, you will hear sighs from a table or two. Do not be shy about celebrating your slice with a photo before the first fork mark lands.
Chicken Noodle Soup Like Home
Thick noodles curl around tender chicken in a broth that tastes simmered all afternoon. Carrots and celery stay just crisp enough to remind you someone cared. It arrives with saltines, because some traditions should not be improved.
On a windy Lincoln day, this soup at Stauffer’s feels like a blanket. You inhale rosemary and pepper, then take another spoonful before the first can cool. The portion is generous, comforting, and perfect before a slice of pie.
Pair it with half a sandwich and call it lunch. Or make it dinner when the day runs long. Either way, you will leave warmer than you arrived and maybe humming a little under your breath.
Buttermilk Pancakes All Day
These pancakes puff like they believe in second chances. Buttermilk tang keeps sweetness in check, while edges brown to a gentle lace. A pat of butter slides down the stack, meeting maple in a reunion you can taste.
At Stauffer’s, breakfast is not bound by the clock. Order pancakes at lunch and no one blinks. Add bacon if you want crunch and salty balance, then consider pie as a curtain call.
You will cut triangles, pass a bite to your tablemate, and quietly plan a return visit. Some days ask for simple joy. This plate answers, reliably and without fuss, from six in the morning to eight at night.
Chicken Pot Pie Special
When the pot pie appears, the room smells like butter and thyme. Crack the crust and steam escapes with whispers of chicken, peas, and tender potatoes. The sauce clings just enough to promise comfort without heaviness.
Stauffer’s makes it hearty yet balanced, the kind of special that wins weekday dinners. The crust shatters softly, then melts into the filling like it was meant to be there. A forkful tastes like a story your grandmother told.
Add a small salad for crunch, then save space for dessert. This is the strategy locals trust. By the time you finish, you will feel settled, content, and ready for a celebratory slice of something sweet.
Strawberry Rhubarb Slice For The Win
Sweet meets tart and does a happy dance. Strawberries bring sunshine, rhubarb adds the wink, and Stauffer’s crust keeps the beat with delicate flake. The lattice top glistens, inviting you to hurry and take a bite.
Each forkful pops bright, then settles into buttery calm. A scoop of vanilla ice cream turns it into summer on a plate, even in January. The slice holds together just enough to feel homemade and honest.
Ask which pies just came out of the oven. If this is one, do not hesitate. You will thank yourself later, and probably tell a friend who will claim the last piece tomorrow.
Country Skillet Breakfast
The skillet arrives sizzling, smelling like Saturday. Hash browns crisp at the edges while eggs go runny just right. Sausage adds savory depth, and onions with peppers bring color and a little snap.
Stauffer’s does not skimp on portions, so pace yourself. Break the yolks and let them lace through the potatoes. Add hot sauce if that is your lane, or keep it classic with ketchup.
This is the kind of breakfast that keeps a morning on track. Coffee refills stay steady, friendly, and fast. Leave a corner of the skillet untouched, then pivot to pie, because balance matters and dessert counts as motivation.
Cherry Pie With Lattice Glow
Cherries shine like stained glass under a golden lattice. The filling walks that perfect line between tart and sweet, with a hint of almond that nudges things along. Each bite feels like porch talk and laughter.
At Stauffer’s, cherry pie is a signature move. The crust fractures in tidy flakes, then yields to fruit that tastes like summer fairs. A dollop of whipped cream keeps it cool and photogenic.
Order it warm if you can. The aroma will trail across your table and make neighbors curious. You will not mind the attention, especially once the plate shows only crumbs and a pink syrup smile.
Open-Faced Hot Beef Sandwich
This is a fork-and-knife situation, gloriously messy. Slices of tender beef rest on soft bread, then everything dives under a blanket of rich brown gravy. Mashed potatoes crown the middle like a friendly hill.
Stauffer’s serves it honest and hearty. Each bite blends savory, soft, and nostalgic, the kind of flavor that makes conversation slow down. You will want a nap afterward, but pie logic will win.
Plan wisely. Share the sandwich, then split a slice of something sweet. The staff will nod because they have seen this play a thousand times, and it works every single time without fail.
Blueberry Pie Breakfast Fantasy
Blueberries tumble in a glossy cascade, bursting with gentle tartness. The crust offers buttery support and a faint crackle. A powdered sugar kiss makes it feel like morning even late in the day.
At Stauffer’s, nobody looks twice if you order pie for breakfast. The coffee is strong, the service is easygoing, and the slice looks you in the eye like a dare. Say yes and thank yourself later.
Add a side of bacon for salty balance. Sit near the window at 5600 S 48th St and watch Lincoln wake up. You will wonder why more days do not start exactly like this, honestly.
Patty Melt With Griddle Charm
Rye bread toasts to a gentle crackle, framing a juicy patty and rivers of melted Swiss. Caramelized onions bring sweetness that sticks around. The griddle magic at Stauffer’s gives everything a cozy, savory hum.
Fries come hot and golden, ready for a dip. You will alternate bites, sip your soda, then eye the pie list like a strategist. This is the dance locals know by heart.
Ask for extra napkins and embrace the inevitable cheese stretch. It is all part of the charm. Finish strong with a slice of something creamy, because the patty melt plays especially well with banana cream or chocolate silk.
Coconut Cream Pie Daydream
Toasted coconut perfumes the air before the plate lands. The custard sits lush and smooth, an island of calm on a flaky raft. Each bite whispers tropical without going loud.
Stauffer’s keeps sweetness measured, letting texture do the talking. The crunch of toasted flakes against the silk of filling is pure delight. Coffee or milk both make fine partners here.
You might promise to share, then quietly change your mind. That is understandable. If coconut speaks your love language, this slice will have you plotting return visits and checking hours so you can time dessert perfectly.
Biscuits And Gravy Tradition
Fluffy biscuits split to reveal steamy centers, then disappear under peppery sausage gravy. The texture hits that cozy spot between hearty and soft. You get a little heat, a lot of comfort, and zero regrets.
At Stauffer’s, this classic anchors many mornings. Add eggs on the side if you want extra protein. The kitchen keeps plates moving, so it arrives hot and ready.
You will dab up the last streaks with a biscuit edge. Then you will remember the pie case and smile. Saving room becomes a friendly challenge you fully intend to win with a well-chosen slice afterward.
Apple Pie Ala Mode Classic
Cinnamon-laced apples soften into cozy layers under a sturdy crust. Order it warm and the aroma will wrap around your table. A scoop of vanilla ice cream melts into rivers that sweeten every bite.
Stauffer’s makes an apple pie that tastes like autumn fairs and family stories. The filling holds shape but gives easily under the fork. Caramel drizzle is optional but convincing.
Share a slice or keep it close. Either way, it is the kind of dessert that ends arguments and quiets the room. You will think about this one during errands later, and probably turn back for another visit soon.
Turkey Club Stacked Right
The turkey club stands tall with crisp bacon, juicy tomato, and just enough mayo. Toasted bread frames the stack without crumbling. Each bite crunches, then settles into savory satisfaction.
At Stauffer’s, sandwiches taste like lunch done right. Chips or fries ride shotgun, and refills keep the rhythm easy. Take half home if you are playing the long game with pie.
This is simple, dependable, and welcome any day. Add pickles for zing, then scan the chalkboard for today’s pies. The plan writes itself: salty, crunchy, then sweet, with plenty of reasons to come back soon.
Lemon Meringue Light And Bright
Lemon meringue sparkles with citrus brightness. The curd hits first, tangy and clean, followed by sweet, toasty meringue that melts like snow. The crust keeps everything grounded with a gentle crunch.
Stauffer’s nails the balance, making each forkful refreshing. If dessert could reset a day, this would do it. Coffee, tea, or even water works because the flavor stands tall alone.
Take a photo before your fork changes the landscape. Then enjoy slow bites and plan tomorrow’s order. Locals say this slice disappears fast, so asking early is a smart and delicious habit.