By The POST Staff (sponsored story)
OGALLALA, Neb. — After two years of serving up a mix of Indian, Mexican and American favorites, 308 Lounge is preparing to make some big changes this fall.
Owner Parth Patel told The POST earlier this summer that customer demand is driving an expansion of their Indian and Mexican menu offerings. Butter chicken — already the restaurant’s top seller — and a wider range of authentic Indian dishes are expected to take center stage in the coming months.
“People want more Indian food, more Mexican food, and we’re going to offer it,” Patel said. “We use up to 200 different spices from India in our kitchen, and we want to bring flavors people here haven’t tasted before.”
The balance of cuisine has shifted as the restaurant has grown. While 308 Lounge originally leaned more on American staples, today nearly 90 percent of sales come from Indian and Mexican dishes. Some visitors have even started requesting more traditional Indian meals not yet on the menu — a sign, Patel said, that Ogallala and I-80 travelers are eager for something unique.
Along with menu changes, Patel is planning updates to the restaurant’s appearance and branding. He hopes to adjust signage to make clear that 308 Lounge is more than just a bar.
“Right now, people sometimes drive by and think it’s only a lounge,” Patel said. “We want families to know it’s also a restaurant — a place for dinner, sports on TV, and authentic food you can’t find anywhere else in town.”
DoorDash delivery, which the restaurant quietly launched this summer, is another way 308 Lounge is hoping to reach new customers. In Ogallala’s small market, Patel said it makes their food accessible to people who might not realize they have more options than fast food.
Long-term, Patel said he’s open to going even further — possibly transitioning 308 Lounge into a fully Indian restaurant if the community response continues to grow.
“American food, you can get anywhere,” Patel said. “Mexican food, there are other restaurants in town. But if we bring something different — just Indian food, authentic food — that’s something special for Ogallala.”
For now, the changes are expected to roll out gradually this fall, with new menu items, family-friendly branding, and themed décor that leans into Patel’s Indian heritage.
308 Lounge is also notable for being one of only a handful of Indian restaurants in Nebraska — and one of the very few in western Nebraska, where Ogallala is located.