Mark's in Dundee

My return to blogging coincides with a return to Mark’s Bistro.  This summer, Mark’s had a change in Head Chef and I was interested to see what changes he has made and how he has made his stamp on the menu.

The first thing I noticed was how much smaller the new menu is.  Many of the favorites that regular customers expect from Mark’s are still there, including their signature dish: Macaroni and Cheese, with or without embellishments.  The embellishments on this particular visit were nothing to get too excited about. 

The new chef has added a handful of new dishes, one of which we tried for our appetizer.  The Roasted Brussels Sprouts caught our eye and I am glad we tried it.  The sprouts were well prepared with just the right amount of tenderness.  The combination of honey and the mustard “aioli” were a perfect contrast.  The mustard had some eat behind it without the tang of vinegar.  This was perfect as the sprouts provided enough tanginess.  The sprouts were cooked with honey and it had a warmth and fullness behind it that made me think of maple syrup.  The dish also comes with bacon lardons which would give you the complete package of sweet and salty.  For crunch, torn croutons were tossed with the honey and Brussels Sprouts.  I could have devoured the whole plate. 

For our main entrees, my Beau and I ended up ordering dishes we have had at Mark’s on previous visits.  We found the Pad Thai and the Tempeh Reuben to be largely the same as before.  Gone, however, are the sweet potato waffle fries, replaced with roasted fingerling potatoes, served with a malt vinegar aioli.  I did not care for this mayonnaise mixture as the combination called out for another ingredient to tie it together.  The potatoes themselves were average.

We were uninspired by the dessert selections and chose not to order any this time.

Mark’s is still a lovely environment.  Our waitress was the worst of the lot that night as she didn’t even tell us about the specials and largely seemed uninterested in us.  The other wait staff were pleasant even as they struggled to remember all the details of the night’s specials.  The menu has room for improvement and I hope the new chef spreads his wings a bit as he does show promise.  At this point, Mark’s is not on my list of “Must Visits” but still is a good bet for a nice place to dine and watch Dundee.

Just as Important

Ingredient

www.ingredientrestaurant.com

3201 Farnam St., Omaha (402) 715-4444

As I have discussed before, the service at a restaurant is just as important as the quality of the food.  This point was emphasized to me at my recent experience at Ingredient. 

I have dined at Ingredient before and found the concept charming and something I was interested in tackling again, especially at breakfast.  I called ahead to find out how late they served breakfast and was told they served until noon.  Perfect!

My beau and I arrived around twenty or quarter till noon and grabbed the menus by the front door just to confirm the order I already knew I wanted to make.  Good thing we checked because much to my surprise, the list of ingredients has changed.  Now before you go rushing to the website to check their offerings, I can tell you their breakfast menu, at least, is not updated.  Now I was feeling the pressure, we were nearing the cutoff time and the pancakes with specifically chosen ingredients were not an option.  I had to make new choices and fast.  My back-up choice of a delightful omelette no longer offered the desired ingredients either.  Quick! Come up with something!  My disappointment was nearly insurmountable, but we managed to make a choice and head to the register to order. 

Plates piled high with delicious smelling, large, warm pancakes floated by.  Oh! How I love breakfast!  A second register opened and with a smile I stepped forward to place my order only to be told “We’re not serving breakfast anymore” just as another plate of pancakes left the kitchen.  “But I thought you served until noon,” I replied.  The employee was adamant.  No more breakfast.  It does not matter that it is before noon.  The kitchen said no more breakfast. 

No more breakfast?  Now what do I do?  I feel the pressure of people waiting behind me in line.  I have to order.  Quickly.  I throw together a pizza, feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.  The service after this was subpar as well.  Tables were not cleared or cleaned.  We had to wait for a clean table.  Our orders were brought out incomplete.  Nobody seemed to care.

So… a few comments about the food. 

The pancakes “looked” good but I thought raw Granny Smith apple sliced on top is not what I would want if I ordered apples on my pancakes.  The pizza was again tasty even if I was a bit sullen while eating it.  The Grilled Veggie and Hummus wrap was a surprisingly well balanced combination of ingredients, the vegetables being slightly crisp with feeling to “raw” and the hummus, feta cheese, and tatziki sauce played nicely off each other.  The wrap was stuffed full without being over filled. 

I was later told that the extensive ingredient was too costly and a bit too much to handle so they had to cut some items.  Unfortunately, the more exotic ones seemed to get the axe, which was the best part of having options. 

The worst part is that even though the food is enjoyable, if not mind blowing, I do not see myself returning anytime in the near future.  With unexceptional service and average ingredients, I might as well go to any salad bar.

Risotto Fail

Other than the half a day I worked at a Hardee's when I was fifteen, I have no restaurant experience.  While enthusiastic about trying new dishes and techniques, I really have no foundation on which to build.  Enter my risotto experiment.

I have made risotto before and it has turned out lovely.  Creamy, delicious, spreads on the plate just as it is meant to.  So I feel I have a decent handle on making the dish.  My beau and I have been talking about having a dinner party and I got it in my head I wanted to make this wild mushroom risotto.  Not wanting to ignore our guests for half an hour to make the risotto, I concluded I would have to make it ahead of time and finish it just before serving.

Realizing my limitations, I thought it best to practice on my beau ahead of time.  Thank goodness I did.  This was an epic fail.  I did a little Googling about pre-cooking risotto and mostly the advice was to never do it.  Some places did suggest that restaurants cook risotto about 2/3 of the way and then finish to order.  It was recommended to cook it to that stage, then put it in the fridge to cool and stop cooking.  I happily cooked up my risotto, checking it regularly, and reached a pre-al dente stage that I guessed was right.  I put it on a cookie sheet and directly into the fridge.  About 90 minutes later when we were ready for dinner, I pulled out my risotto. 

Epic fail.  I put it back on the stove to finish cooking and heat through.  The final result was overcooked and thick.  Basically, it was nothing I would ever serve guests.  My only consolation was that the flavors were good.  The texture was nearly too much to overlook.  Needless to say, our dinner party menu has been revised. 

What's the big deal?

Indian Oven
Old Market, Omaha

This will be a short review because I will admit upfront that before dining here I had already had more than a couple cocktails.  It is possible my perception was impaired.  However, I have to say I don't understand what the big deal is.  I enjoy Indian food from time to time and I have had several locals say to me, "If you like Indian, you should definitely try Indian Oven."  So... I did.

The atmosphere is nice.  The service was pleasant.  The food was underwhelming. 

My favorite part of the meal was the rice. 

Several items were served lukewarm at best.  The spice level was bland and the flavors a bit muddled.  the menu disclaimer was off putting.  It was not the worst meal I've ever had but certainly not something I would rave about.  Except for the rice.  The rice was really good. 

Worth It

Mark’s

www.marksindundee.com

4916 Underwood Ave. Upper, Omaha  (402) 502-2203

Every time I go to Mark’s my boyfriend and I seem to end up having an argument.  I’m not really sure why this happens.  It could be the food brings out some deep emotions, or the environment allows us to feel relaxed and say what is really on our minds, or maybe it is just coincidence.  Fortunately, our arguments are over something silly, but there is nothing frivolous about the food at Mark’s.

(I know that was cheesy.  Gimme a break, okay?)

Anyway…  The food!!

On my first visit to Marks I was already enchanted.  We climbed the stairs and passed the hidden outdoor patio which I am eager to enjoy in warmer weather.  The converted building has modern conveniences yet retains elements of older charm.  The wood floors and waiting area wingback chairs are warm and welcoming.  A heavy dining table invites you to stay and linger with friends for hours with a bottle (or three) of wine.  The bistro tables pressed against the glass wall draw you like a moth to flame with the twinkling lights of Dundee just below you. 

I was impressed with the menu with its ranging variety of selections.  The cuisine is spirited American.  They dapple in Asian, French , and Italian but it feels as if it is because someone had these dishes and loved them, not because they are trying too hard.  Mark’s also has a wide selection of gluten free and vegetarian dishes. 

My first time at Mark’s, we were in the mood for something lighter and decided to order sandwiches.  We had our choice of sides and each picked the sweet potato fries, a waffle cut fry with spice to counter the sweetness and a house-made remoulade for dipping.  I could have filled up on these crispy treats but managed to save room for the sandwiches.  We went vegetarian and ordered the Tempeh Reuben and the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich.  The flavor of the Reuben was spot on.  Unfortunately, I don’t really care for Reubens, but if you like them, these are really well prepared.  I was even more skeptical about the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich which boasted of smoky carrot “bacon.”  I have eaten my share of bacon in my life and found the idea of a carrot replacement unimaginable.  Surprisingly, it served quite well in the context of a sandwich.  It is not something I would alongside eggs and toast, but in a sandwich it did indeed provide that smoky salty flavor one expects from bacon in a sandwich. 

The real treat at this meal was the lemon basil cheesecake with balsamic macerated strawberries.  Unfortunately, bowing to some seasonality, this item is not on their menu now, but it is one of the best things I have ever eaten.  Ever. 

Our second trip to Mark’s we received the same level of top notch service.  The wait staff seem to struggle a little to remember all the complicated details of the nightly specials, but are well versed in the regular offerings and the wine selection.  Bread and butter begin the meal and are brought quickly.  We choose from the entrees this time and went international.  My beau had their take on Indian food with the Spinach, Paneer and Pasta; I chose the Pad Thai Pasta.  I was warned the Pad Thai was spicy, but it was as spicy as other Pad Thai I have had.  Mine came with a choice of Tofu or Shrimp.  Tofu seems to be a tricky ingredient and often has an odd texture but this was well prepared and fully marinated.  The portion was enough for two meals.  It could have used more vegetables proportionately and the garnish seemed to be an afterthought.  I had to ration my crunchy peanuts.  The Spinach Paneer dish was an interesting Indian/ Italian hybrid, not really evoking either. 

For dessert we tried the Pumpkin Butterscotch Cheesecake and the Whisky Bread Pudding.  The cheesecake was light and fluffy and tasted of all the best of pumpkin pie.  The ginger crust and butterscotch ship topping were nice complements.  I am a sucker for bread pudding and couldn’t resist.  I was disappointed in the dish.  It was served piping hot and had a good amount of the whiskey caramel sauce.  The pudding itself however had not soaked into all the bread and tasted as if it had been reheated, perhaps more than once.  It had crunchy and burnt pieces and one corner was hard.

Part of an enjoyable dining experience is of course, the experience.  Mark’s delivers.  This is an experience you will enjoy.  It feels like going to a friend’s house and if you don’t have some there, you might make some new ones.  Every time I have been greeted and welcomed by managers and patrons.  The menu is varied enough that you will find something you want to eat and probably something you want to try next time.  Even if you have an argument with your boyfriend every time, dining at Mark’s is worth it.

Unexpected

Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill

www.firebirdsrestaurants.com

17415 Chicago Circle, Omaha  (402) 359-1340

To begin with, this is a steak place which is not really my thing.  However, I have been here a couple times and even I would eat steak here, if I wanted to eat a steak.  Today, I am just going to talk about my most recent dining experience at Firebirds.

We were at Firebirds for a party so I began with a cocktail.  I have a passion for pears so I could not resist the Dessert Pear Martini.  It was full of pear flavor without any of the cloying sweetness that sometimes accompanies this fruit.  The vodka, sweet and sour, and pear juice were well balanced and delicious.  In fact, it was so good, I had two!

Along with cocktails, we enjoyed appetizers.  The star here and from anyone I have talked to is the Lobster Queso.  Barely salted tri-color tortilla chips accompany a warm bowl of pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, spinach, and lobster.  Such strong flavors could overpower lobster, but this dip has unexpected large chunks of lobster making it a rich and flavorful starter.  Despite the richness, you will not want to share.  Thank goodness decorum will hold you back from gobbling it all down because there will be much more food to come.  We also sampled onion rings which were large and crispy due to a panko coating. 

Firebirds offers a variety of salads that are large enough for an entrée, but some also work nicely to be shared for your salad course.  Trust me… share the salad.  Do not order your own.  You may think it is priced to be a side salad, but don’t be fooled.  Share the salad. 

Along with salad the wait staff will bring fresh sourdough bread and butter.  In our case, we had to twist the waiter and waitresses arm a bit to get enough bread for our table of ten.  Seriously.  We are ten people.  We need more than one 6” round of bread.  The bread is warm, but impossible to cut properly with the utensils provided.  The butter is cold and impossible to spread on delicate fresh bread. 

The service was timely and we did not wait long for our entrées.  It is a steak place so of course my beau and I ordered fish dishes.  Ordinarily, a steak place only does steak well, but the fish was unexpectedly pleasant.  He had the Sesame Encrusted Salmon which was cooked perfectly.  Salmon is hard to screw up yet I frequently find it overcooked.  This was just right and had a lovely ginger mustard flavor under the crunchy sesame crust.  Neither overshadowed the salmon.  Most delightful on his plate was the fried spinach.  He is not a fan of cooked spinach but this was unexpectedly light and crispy.  It was reminiscent of potato chips and equally as addictive.  They carried a hint of garlic, were lightly salted, and melted on your tongue.  I would return just for this spinach.

I opted for the Pecan Crusted Trout.  Two large filets filled my plate and were topped with a serving of peach cilantro salsa.  The salsa had great potential but the acid had begun to work on the peaches and the result was a slightly muddled sauce.  The moisture from the salsa also softened the crunchy coating on the fish but the flavors were pretty good. 

The dessert list looks unassuming, merely listing them by name.  Key Lime Pie.  Carrot Cake.  These are the desserts we ordered to share with each other.  The Key Lime Pie was good enough that my beau seemed to forget we were supposed to be sharing it.  The carrot cake was a completely different take on the traditional.  Instead of a high stack with many layers, this was one (large) square of moist cake, uncluttered with the fruit and nuts some people find necessary, topped with a rich and lightly sweet cream cheese frosting.  On the side, a serving of warm salted caramel.  This is everything you could want in one bite, sweet, salty, rich, amazing. 

After carrot cake, I really have nothing more to say.  If you like steak, or even if you don’t, Firebirds is a good restaurant to try.  The portions are huge and the flavors are not at all what you might expect from a steak place.  Enjoy.

Be sure to wear your stretchy pants

Wasabi Sushi

14513 W. Maple Rd., Omaha, NE  (402) 991-6878

All you can eat sushi. 

I will let you digest that for a moment.  At first, it sounds off-putting as it conjures visions of sad buffets and not at all how one would like to receive their fresh (raw) fish.  So let us dispense of that notion right off.

Wasabi Sushi is all you can eat, but it is prepared one dish at a time.  You may order a la carte, but I did not see those prices listed.  For a weekend night, the price is about $23 each; lunches and week nights are a little less.  Drinks are extra.

Having now been put in the right mindset, let me tell you about the food.

All of the food comes in individual portions which gives you the freedom and encouragement to try many different items.  While the name of the restaurant is “sushi” there is a variety of other foods as well.  The left side of the menu first contained appetizers.  They offered several types of soup, potstickers, spring rolls, fried calamari and more.  Next on the left were choices for those not into sushi such as teriyaki beef or chicken as well as grilled skewers.  On the right side of the menu were the sushi selections (six to eight pieces each.)  The offerings were pretty typical of Omaha sushi joints except for one unique standout- sushi pizza.  Finally, at the bottom of the menu were the dessert choices (read: ice cream.)  All of this is included in your price!

Our waitress encouraged the two of us to start with about six choices.  We thought this was excessive until we saw the portion sizes.  We requested a couple of maki rolls, a couple of appetizers and a teriyaki salmon.  The rolls were delicious and comparable to those we have had other places in town.  The teriyaki sauce was generous but the small portion of fish was overcooked and nothing to get excited about.  Also overcooked was the fried calamari.  The calamari was the largest portion of anything we received.  While the tempura breading was light and crispy, the calamari was tough and rubbery.  We fared better with the veggie tempura which was crisp and delicious and served with a delicate soy based dipping sauce.  We devoured the properly salted edamame.  The miso soup never arrived. 

After getting the hang of it, we ordered more.  Now, we were brave enough to try the sushi pizza after a brief description from our waitress who did not actually seem to know what it was.  What it was, was the equivalent of six sushi rolls of rice rolled together in a patty, coated in panko bread crumbs, then deep fried.  This crispy delight is then topped with selected sushi toppings such as spicy crab mixed with a spiced mayo (What is it with the Japanese and mayo on pizza?) and a drizzle of a hoisin type sauce.  It is then cut into six little wedges.  I was tempted to distract my beau’s attention and gobble all the pieces myself.  The good news is that the place is all you can eat so you can just order another one. 

The food is fun if not spectacular.  Sushi pizza was the highlight for me but I was pleasantly satisfied with the meal overall.  A wide variety of options allow all tastes to be satisfied.  It is wise to order several items each round as the food will be delivered as it is ready. 

The service was not very good, but at least it was friendly.  Because they were sending food out as it was prepared, we had several different servers who were often uncertain.  Two different waitresses tried to take our orders which clearly caused confusion.  Not only did we never get our soup, I was the only one to get green tea ice cream for dessert.  This was eventually remedied… twice.  My beau received two dishes of ice cream.  However, he did not complain. 

Don’t go to Wasabi expecting to be blown away, but go and have some fun and order something new. 

Delays

The holiday season got the better of me this year and I have not been an active poster lately.  However, I have been to several resataurants over the past few weeks that will be getting reviews here soon.  Thank you for your patience and thank you for reading. 
~Kiki