Dining at the hotel: Ruthie’s, 22 & Vine, Draft Day and the Café
Grand Island Casino Resort offers four on-site dining choices: Ruthie’s Steak & Seafood (top-floor steakhouse), 22 & Vine (casual bistro), Café at 22 & Vine (coffee and grab-and-go), and Draft Day Sports Lounge (bar and pub eats on the casino floor). Ruthie’s takes reservations and has set dinner/brunch hours; the other venues are generally walk-in, with Draft Day’s food service concentrated on busier nights.
In this guide
Dining options at a glance
The resort lists four on-property restaurants and bars: Ruthie's Steak & Seafood, 22 & Vine, Café at 22 & Vine, and Draft Day Sports Lounge. They cover a range from top-floor steak-and-seafood dinner service to quick coffee and slices.
Meal service patterns differ: Ruthie's focuses on dinner and Sunday brunch (reservations recommended), 22 & Vine serves breakfast through dinner, the Café at 22 & Vine is for quick bites and coffee, and Draft Day is a full-service bar and sports-lounge menu with food available on select days.
- Ruthie's Steak & Seafood — top-floor steakhouse, dinner and Sunday brunch (closed Tuesdays).
- 22 & Vine — casual bistro for breakfast, lunch and dinner; can host private events.
- Café at 22 & Vine — grab-and-go coffee, pastries, sandwiches and pizza by the slice.
- Draft Day Sports Lounge — bar and pub eats on the casino floor; food service busiest Thu–Sat.
| Venue | Typical Service |
|---|---|
| Ruthie's Steak & Seafood | Dinner, Sunday Brunch (reservations available) |
| 22 & Vine | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (casual) |
| Café at 22 & Vine | Coffee & Quick Bites |
Ruthie’s Steak & Seafood — when to go and what to expect
Ruthie's Steak & Seafood is the resort’s fine-dining option located on the top floor with window walls and sunset views. Menu focuses on flame-cooked Midwest steaks and fresh seafood, with named items including filet marmalade, Maryland ribeye, Australian lobster tails, Chilean sea bass and prime rib.
Hours and dress: Ruthie's is closed on Tuesdays and lists business casual as the dress code. It accepts reservations via OpenTable, so book ahead for weekend evenings or during events at Fonner Park or the State Fair.
- Typical hours: Mon, Wed, Thu 5:00 PM–9:00 PM; Fri 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Sat 5:00 PM–11:00 PM; Sun 10:00 AM–2:00 PM and 4:00 PM–8:00 PM (closed Tue).
- Reservations recommended — available through OpenTable.
- Dress code: Business casual.
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Location | Top floor — window walls and sunset views |
| Cuisine | Steakhouse & seafood (contemporary American) |
| Booking | OpenTable reservations accepted |
22 & Vine — casual bistro for any meal
22 & Vine presents 'Crafty Bistro Cuisine' and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu includes breakfast items (omelets, chicken-fried breakfast), burgers, sandwiches, pizza and desserts like Turtle Cheesecake.
The space is positioned for laid-back meals and small private events such as showers or rehearsal dinners. For event details or private dining, contact the resort’s event team or concierge.
- Serves: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Menu highlights: omelets, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, main plates and desserts.
- Private events: can host small receptions and private dinners.
| Good for | Why |
|---|---|
| Family breakfasts | Kids' meals and a separate discounted breakfast price for children 17 and under |
| Casual dinners | Burgers, pizza and approachable main plates |
| Small private events | Space configurable for showers or rehearsal dinners |
Café at 22 & Vine — quick bites and coffee
Café at 22 & Vine is the resort’s quick-service option for coffee, pastries, milkshakes and pre-made sandwiches or salads. It also offers pizza by the slice and hot dogs for grab-and-go convenience.
This venue is aimed at guests who want coffee or quick snacks without a full sit-down meal — useful if you have early plans at Fonner Park or need something between shows or meetings.
- Offerings: gourmet coffee, pastries, milkshakes, pre-made sandwiches and salads, hot dogs, pizza by the slice.
- Best for: quick breakfasts, mid-day snacks, to-go items before events at adjacent Fonner Park.
| Item type | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Coffee & pastries | Morning or between meetings |
| Pizza by the slice | Quick lunch or late-night snack |
| Pre-made sandwiches | On-the-go at events or racetrack visits |
Draft Day Sports Lounge — bar, big screens and pub food
Draft Day Sports Lounge is the sportsbook-style bar and lounge on the casino's main gaming floor. It focuses on chef-inspired pub eats, signature spirits and local beer with HDTVs for sports viewing.
The bar is open seven days a week; food service is concentrated on busier nights (food service available Thursdays–Saturdays per resort listings). Because it sits on the casino floor, the casino age and ID rules apply for access to that area.
- Atmosphere: sports-lounge with multiple HDTVs and a full bar.
- Food: pizza, sandwiches, burgers and pub appetizers; bar snack options available.
- Access note: casino-floor entry requires valid ID and compliance with Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission regulations.
| Feature | Practical detail |
|---|---|
| Bar hours | Open seven days a week (food service busier Thu–Sat) |
| Best for | Game-day viewing and casual group gatherings |
| Access | Casino-floor age/ID restrictions apply |
Practical tips: reservations, kids, and timing
If you want a special-occasion dinner or visit during a busy event (Fonner Park races, Nebraska State Fair, concerts), make a Ruthie's reservation in advance via OpenTable. 22 & Vine and the Café generally accept walk-ins; Draft Day is busiest on nights with sporting events or weekend casino activity.
Children are welcome at the property and restaurants offer kids' meals; however, Draft Day is on the casino floor so the casino-entry age and ID rules apply there. Breakfast is not included with a standard room rate and carries an additional fee if purchased at the property.
- Ruthie's: reservations recommended; dress code business casual.
- Bring ID for casino-floor access (Draft Day) — minimum age to enter casino areas applies.
- Breakfast costs extra (roughly $15–$30 per person) and children 17 and under have a discounted breakfast price.
| Question | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need reservations? | Ruthie's: yes recommended; others: usually walk-in |
| Can kids eat everywhere? | Yes at 22 & Vine and the Café; Draft Day requires casino access ID |
| Is breakfast included with a room? | No — breakfast has an extra charge at the property |
Pairing meals with nearby activities
If you’re attending racing at Fonner Park or events at the Nebraska State Fair Grounds (both are a short walk away), plan meals around event schedules. A quick coffee or sandwich from the Café suits early arrivals; 22 & Vine handles fuller breakfasts before a day of sightseeing.
For evening shows or a special night out, Ruthie's provides a top-floor dinner option with sunset views. Draft Day is convenient if you want to catch a game or grab a beer after spending time on the casino floor or at a concert in the resort’s event venues.
- Early morning racetrack visit: Café at 22 & Vine for coffee and a quick bite.
- Daytime sightseeing (Stuhr Museum, Island Oasis): 22 & Vine for a relaxed lunch.
- Evening show or date night: Ruthie's Steak & Seafood (reserve ahead).
- Game night with friends: Draft Day Sports Lounge for big screens and pub food.
| Activity | Recommended dining |
|---|---|
| Fonner Park races or State Fair | Café at 22 & Vine for quick options or 22 & Vine for a full breakfast |
| Concert or headliner event | Ruthie's for dinner; Draft Day after the show for drinks |
| Casual group night | Draft Day Sports Lounge or 22 & Vine |
