Lot 2

Lot 2  Restaurant & Wine Bar

www.lot2benson.com

6207 Maple St., Omaha, NE 

(402) 504-4200

I was excited to finally visit Lot 2.  I had heard all the positive feedback and the owner/operators and Chef have worked some of Omaha’s best restaurants.  In most points, they did not disappoint.

The atmosphere at Lot 2 is fantastic.  It has warm touches throughout including wood floors and ceiling with one wall partially exposed to the brick.  The rest of the space is light and airy with warm white walls and the front, a wall of windows facing Benson’s main street.  The bar welcomes you to take a seat and stay awhile as you look at hand picked bottles of wine displayed in dark wood open crates.  The tables are a play on butcher blocks and the white napkins and flatware look great in contrast. 

We settled in and decided to order a several items to share.  For starters, I order the Faux Gras, a vegan version of Foie Gras.  It was served on a board with curry seasoned nuts, olives, garlic confit, spicy mustard, pickled vegetables and a terrific tomato jam.  All the accoutrements were tasty.  I loved the tomato jam and I ate the lion’s share of the curried nuts.  The Faux Gras itself wasn’t anything to get too excited about. 

My beau chose the Kale salad and this was the best thing we ate all night.  I wish I had ordered it.  I am still thinking about how delicious this salad was.  I could have eaten a bowl twice the size as the one they served.

With our entrées we also wanted to try a couple sides.  We chose the Brussels Spouts and the Beets.  The Sprouts were prepared well although they could have been a little bit crispier.  They were lacking the advertised Preserved Lemon and the shaved Parmesan Cheese was scant.  The Beets had a good texture but could have been livened up with more of the white Balsamic.  The whipped goat cheese was a nice complement to the veggie.

I ordered the Falafel for my entrée and my beau ordered the Seitan Kebob.  Again, we had somewhat mixed results.  I found the falafel to be a delightful take on the traditional.  The falafel themselves were well prepared.  They were crispy on the outside, moist on the inside and well seasoned.  The jalapeno chutney was the second best thing I ate that night.  The cabbage was perfectly dressed with a yogurt dressing and I found the entire dish satisfying and delicious. 

The Seitan Kebab was served with couscous and flatbread and the plat was drizzled with a curry yogurt dressing.  We could have used a lot more of the dressing.  It had terrific flavor.  The couscous on the other hand was average.  Unfortunately, the dish got worse from there.  The Seitan was not only the worst thing we ate that night, it was the worst seitan I have ever come across.  It was super dense and cooked so that I could barely cut it with a fork.  It was chewy, rubbery, and not at all flavorful.  It was just bad. 

Fortunately, the panna cotta we had for dessert left us with a pleasant bite.  Also, the wine pairings were perfect, as expected from top notch Certified Sommeliers.

All in all, the service is five star, the atmosphere is great, the wines are excellent and the food could use some consistency in seasoning.  Other than the Seitan, none of the missteps in food would keep me from going back to Lot 2. 

For another take on Lot 2, check out Sarah Baker Hansen’s review here in the Omaha World Herald.  Plus, she has pictures!  (I didn’t feel like taking any this time.)

The Grey Plume

The Grey Plume

www.thegreyplume.com

220 S. 31^st Ave., Suite 3101, Omaha, NE 
(402) 763-4447

I have been to The Grey Plume half a dozen times now.  I have waited to write anything about them because they are Just. So. Good.  It is difficult to give a review when you don’t have anything bad to say. 

One of the things The Grey Plume does well is the attention to detail.  When they bring around warm crusty bread and house-made butter, the butter is delightfully spreadable soft.  That may seem like an insignificant detail, but spreading cold butter that tears up your bread is annoying. 

The menu is ever changing to keep up with what is fresh and available.  Some dishes are variations on a theme and simply incorporate new ingredients.  The comments I will make about the food are therefore, a bit general. 

My favorite thing at The Grey Plume is the soup.  I have tasted Butternut Squash Bisque, Beet Soup, and Parsnip Chowder.  All have been the smoothest, most velvety soups I have ever had.  The Beet Soup was served with smoke and when the dome was lifted, it was fantastic.  The Parsnip soup was served with coffee crumble, kumquats, roasted parsnip and huckleberry.  The combination seemed odd, but all worked. 

When it comes to entrées, I have experienced beautifully prepared halibut and the single best bite of scallop I have ever had.  The portion of halibut was buttery and moist and had been seared on one side until it had the perfect crust.  The halibut came with parisienne gnocchi which were as light and pillowy as gnocchi are supposed to be.  The pasta is always cooked spot on.  The vegetables are fresh and truly delightful. 

I like my desserts more spicy than sweet as I don’t have much of a sweet tooth.  The Grey Plume usually has scoops of house made ice cream as an option.  These ice creams are also smooth and velvety.  Perfect little rich and creamy quenelles that are a terrific after dinner bite, but not overwhelmingly sweet.  On a recent visit, they offered a take on Lemon Pie.  The dish was served with cubes of dill gel.  I thought this was brilliant as I love herbs, dill in particular.  It was a great complement to the lemon curd atop a puff pastry with a side of creamscicle ice cream.  I’m totally stealing the idea of putting dill with my lemon when I made my own ice creams this summer.  If you like your desserts more traditional, I’ve also had apples served three ways which came out as the best of apple pie, apple crisp and apple fritters all re-imagined and put on a plate. 

Best of all, the service is outstanding.  The staff is well informed.  They make excellent suggestions and offer thoughtful wine pairings.  Every person on staff you come in contact with during your visit strives to make sure your needs are attended to. 

THIS is fine dining.

7M Grill

7M Grill

www.7mgrill.com

15805 West Maple Rd., Omaha, NE

(402) 509-3225

I recently had an awkward phone conversation that went like this:

Me:  Hello?

7M:  Hi.  This is 7M Grill.  Is this “Kiki?”

Me:  Yes.

7M:  We show that you had a reservation with us in the past 12 months.

Me:  Yes?

7M:  Did you know that 7M Grill was recently named Omaha (something or other’s) Best (something or other) Restaurant?

Me:  Uh…… Congratulations?

7M:  We’re just calling customers from the past year to thank them for making it such a great year for us.

Me:  Um… okay…

7M:  We would like to offer you a free drink or maybe an appetizer as a thank you.

Awk.  Ward.  And a little confusing until the end there.

It is especially unfortunate as I don’t see myself going back to 7M Grill in the near future.  This is a restaurant I expected a lot more out of.  They have great potential but the execution just isn’t up to par.  Our experience was bad enough that even a menu change and rotating specials aren’t enticing me back.

We had a group of six so I was able to have a wide sample of their offerings.  Half of us ordered the house salad which was nothing to get excited about.  The most interesting part of the salad is that you have a dozen different dressings to choose from.  The other half ordered the soup of the day which was a crab and roasted corn bisque.  This soup was velvety and smooth and had a strong fresh roasted corn flavor.  The lumps of crab meat were generous and tender.  This soup showed such promise, I was eager for my entrée.  (Coincidentally, I believe that is what a first course is supposed to do.)

One other bright note, our waiter was well informed on the dinner and wine menus.  He made good recommendations for the wine.

Then our entrées arrived.  I ordered one of the house specialties, the Raspberry Whitefish.  This dish features a filet of whitefish wrapped around a black bean and corn crab cake (WooHoo!  More Crab!)  It also comes with a raspberry chili sauce, mango cilantro rice and some sautéed vegetables.  Presentation was a bit sloppy as the crab cake fish tower didn’t really tower.  Maybe this is because the whole dish was overcooked.  The fish was so dry, even the sauce didn’t help.  The crab cake held no resemblance to a cake and did not hold together.  After the delicious pieces of crab in the soup, I was disappointed to have only a few shreds of crab meat that I had to dig through the filler to find.  Even the black beans and corn were not the main ingredients of the crab cake.  Dry, bland filler was the main component of the dish.

The seafood enchiladas were also a disappointment.  The best parts of the dish were rice and salsa.  The chef came close to a good dish with decent overall flavors, but the seafood was so rubbery it ruined any promise the dish had.  The Harissa Chicken was a complete misnomer.  If someone is going to order Harissa chicken, they probably know what harissa is and expect that level of spice.  7M’s version had virtually none of the expected heat.  They have since removed this item from the menu. 

The best dish at our table were the fish tacos.  I’ll just let that sink in for a minute.  The best you can do is fish tacos?  Seriously?  7M has added other items to their menu with such groundbreaking (ahem!) options as Mac-N-Cheese (with Bacon!  Oh, how original!) and the 7M Burger (Where do they get these ideas?!?) listed under “lighter fare.”

Finally, a word on dessert.  I would have thought the chef, who grew up in Omaha’s Lithuanian Bakery, would have prepared an amazing Lithuanian Torte.  It was, again, dry and disappointing.

So, 7M Grill, thanks for the offer, but I probably won’t be cashing in on my free drink or appetizer. 

Twisted Cork Bistro

Twisted Cork Bistro

 www.twistedcorkbistro.com

10730 Pacific Street

(402) 932-1300

On a recent occasion generally celebrated as romantic, my beau took me to a charming little place called Twisted Cork Bistro.  I do mean little- they couldn’t have had more than a dozen tables.  I do mean charming- the staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the owner checked on all the tables and bussed them himself.

Living in the Midwest, I have lamented before about being able to find decent seafood.  TCB focuses on local food, but their Seattle influence is obvious.  The menu is concise and 70% seafood.  Plus, I have to love a place where the wine list is longer than the menu.  (Don’t be intimidated by that.  The staff knows their stuff.  Get a recommendation.)

On this particular Hallmark Holiday night out my beau and I both ordered the Northwest Salad.  Pears are my favorite and I rarely pass up a chance to have a pear salad.  Mixed with pistachios, white cheddar, craisins and apple vinaigrette on a bed of mixed greens, the salad was a generous portion for a starter.  Thankfully, it was not overdressed.  Twisted Cork also offers a salad of greens, red onion, Kalamata Olives, goat cheese, and a basil balsamic vinaigrette or a choice of corn chowder, mulligatawny, or fire roasted tomato soup, all for $5. 

Reading over the entrées, the descriptions hint at not only the Pacific Northwest, but also the Pacific Islands.  There seems to be a bit of Hawaiian influence as well, evidenced by the use of macadamia nuts, coconut, mango, ginger and miso in some dishes.  I ordered the Shell Fish Duet: wild jumbo sea scallops & shrimp, mango-curry, coconut, cream, carrot, jasmine rice.  The seafood was well prepared and my first two scallops were perfect in doneness and texture.  My third scallop was slightly undercooked.  Surprisingly, the shrimp were just a bit overcooked, but I’m really nit-picking here.  They were plump and delicious.  They were generous with the mango and the curry provided a nice bite.  I wish there had been a little more of the curry to cut the sweetness of the dish but that didn’t stop me from gobbling it all up.  The scallops had a lovely sear and the rice had great texture.  Being able to execute a dish well is something I don’t take for granted.  The meal was wonderful. 

My beau ordered the Sockeye Salmon which came crusted with ginger and served over Jasmine Rice with corn, miso-sesame vinaigrette, and basil oil.  Again, the salmon was perfectly prepared, well seasoned and the flavors of the dish were balanced.  I enjoyed the combination of basil with ginger and miso flavors, something I wouldn’t have expected.

The dinner was really quite fantastic.  The entrées alone would have been enough to recommend this restaurant.  Then, we had dessert.  The balance of ingredients, bursts of flavor and just overall experience was even better than the meals.  It has been some time since I’ve had a dessert that good.  I ordered the spice cake.  I am not afraid of strong flavors and you shouldn’t be either if you order this.  It was strongly spiced and topped with candied ginger.  It was fantastic.  And when paired with the rich vanilla ice cream topped with orange zest… even better!  The rest of the world ceased to exist while I ate that cake.  When I came to, and remembered I had a boyfriend sitting across from me, I tasted his chocolate cheesecake sitting on a pool of ganache and topped with sugared raspberries.  Pretty freaking good also.

If you are a fan of seafood and interesting flavor combinations, make a reservation for the little restaurant right away.  If you prefer beef, they serve a couple beef and chicken entrées, not the least of which is the Twisted Cork Burger, chosen by Food Network Magazine as the #1 Burger in Nebraska for their 50 States, 50 Burgers selection. 

McFoster's

McFoster’s Natural Kind Café

www.mcfosters.com

302 S. 38^th St.

Omaha, NE  68131

(402) 345-7477

My return to blogging is with a farewell* to an Omaha gem.  McFoster’s is unique in Omaha from its décor to its food.  The exterior is sort of miniature Swiss Chalet while the interior is peppered with Jerry Garcia memorabilia.  The booths are cracked and the tables are worn, but you are always welcomed with open arms and made to feel right at home.  Every time I visited, I felt it was a place I could simply relax and enjoy a good meal.  That sounds simple, but oddly, an experience that isn’t often the case at many restaurants.  The clientele was diverse, encompassing college students, health conscious yuppies, new granolas, some original flower children, and everyone in between.  I could never be certain who my dining companions might be.  Sadly, on too many occasions, there would be only one or two tables in use.  Probably part of the reason they will be closing the end of this month.

This was not the case on my last visit.  Every table was full, perhaps of people looking to get one last meal at this joint.  The food of course is the draw.  McFoster’s puts its own spin on favorite dishes.  Everything had a little tweak.  Fries?  How about sweet potato fries.  You want ketchup with that?  How about Banana Ketchup?  The food is primarily vegetarian with a few free-range chicken and fresh seafood dishes.  The sautéed Brussels Sprouts are a top seller and one of my beau’s favorites.  Ordinarily I order a salad topped with items you don’t find at a typical salad bar, and much more delicious for it.  On this occasion however, I wanted all-American, McFoster’s style.  I had the “BLT” with Sour Cream and Chive Fries alongside a Date Shake.  The McFoster’s BLT is the exact way I want a BLT.  The tempeh bacon is smoky and crisp and there is plenty of it.  The tomato and lettuce are crisp and in perfect proportion.  The slightly sweet and nutty bread is generously spread with veganaise.  I could eat a dozen of these sandwiches.  My sour cream and chive fries were the best I’ve had at McFoster’s.  They were hot and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, just the way a fry should be.  My beverage was one of the best shakes I’ve ever had and it wasn’t even a shake.  Of course, I love dates so I couldn’t really go wrong with this.  Blended with frozen bananas and cocoa almond milk, it was a fantastic treat. 

I will very much miss McFosters but I am glad I was able to have such a delicious farewell meal there. 

*McFoster's is hosting a fundraiser dinner Sunday, Feb. 26th to try to stay in business.  I am hoping for the best.

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.

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. 

You Look Lovely

Vivace

www.vivaceomaha.com

1108 Howard St., Omaha 402-342-2050

I may have had stars in my eyes on my last visit to Vivace because it was my birthday, but I feel they honestly deserve a good review today.

Because it was my birthday I decided to celebrate with a Champagne Cocktail.  Our charming and innocent waitress (after telling me I looked lovely) confessed in a whisper that she didn’t know what was in that drink.  She quickly recovered and decided that the Bartender probably did know.  (Note:  Yes, the bartender DID know how to make a champagne cocktail as well as the basic screwdriver my beau ordered.)

I was planning on ordering a filling meal and certainly dessert so I decided to forgo any appetizers.  Besides, we had a basket with focaccia and accoutrement of olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, and diced tomatoes and garlic.  Being able to mix it to your own desired proportions is nice and I restrained myself from filling up on bread alone.  My beau and I began with Vivace’s Field Salad.  It is a simple salad I have since replicated at home but it is quite delicious; mixed greens topped with strawberries, goat cheese, candied walnuts, and a pear balsamic dressing.  The portion is generous for a pre-entrée salad and would almost be adequate for a lunch.

We spent some time considering the dinner specials menu which changes with some frequency.  The shy waitress explained their daily specials as well.  The waitstaff was well informed on the menu items, specials, and ingredients.  One special in particular caught our interest: Ratatouille and Goat Cheese stuffed Ravioli.  At Vivace, if you are ordering pasta as opposed to other Italian style entrees, you may choose your sauce, choose your pasta, and choose additional toppings.  I selected the basil pesto alfredo sauce over penne pasta topped with grilled shrimp.  My beau choose the ravioli special with a dill pesto and salmon.  We thought the dill and salmon would be a nice combination.

My sauce turned out to be more alfredo than pesto but still had a noticeable basil flavor.  The shrimp were plump and delicious, but cooked just a few seconds too long.  We were right in that the salmon paired nicely with the dill pesto.  The dill flavor also complimented the ravioli, however, the Ratatouille flavor was not very prominent and was overwhelmed by the dill.  The vegetables inside ended up being more of a texture component than a flavor component.  The goat cheese naturally having a mild flavor was there mostly to provide a bit of creaminess. 

The portions were large, especially after eating a good size salad.  We took our pasta home and were left with a sufficient portion for dinner the next day.  Despite being too full to finish my entrée, I wanted to order dessert anyway.  (And my second Champagne Cocktail.)  The dessert tray was tempting, but aside from a lemon tart, was mainly heavy desserts such as dense brownie, rich carrot cake, pumpkin cheesecake with caramel sauce, and naturally, tiramisu.  I reflected back to the specials menu which listed several “small bites.”  I love pears and there were two pear items listed: a pear soufflé with a chocolate crème anglaise, or chilled pear soup with goat cheese fritters.  I think chocolate a pear can be a weird combination so I chose the pear soup.  It was small for a typical dessert but I thought it was just the right amount.  It arrived with three quarter sized warm goat cheese fritters.  These perfectly complimented the pear soup which came in a small shallow dish.  The first taste immediately reminded me of a light version of the syrup that comes with a can of fruit.  I thought I was going to be disappointed but almost instantly began to taste undertones of creamy caramel.  It was a wonderful combination and the perfect light finish to a meal. 

Overall my experience at Vivace was enjoyable.  The food was well prepared and the staff made every effort to make sure our experience was pleasant.  Pasta prices range from $7 - $13 depending on what protein or veggie you add.  Dinner Specials varying from Seabass, Osso Bucco, Pork, and several steak options range in price from $16 - $35.  They also have a solid wine selection.  I recommend Vivace as place to have a relaxing time with good food, and it can be as fancy or as casual as you care to make it.

Fool Me Once

McFoster’s Natural Kind Café

www.mcfosters.com

302 South 38^th St., Omaha, NE  (402) 345-7477

To begin with, I must confess that McFoster’s is one of my favorite places to eat.  I suppose that is what makes my disappointment all the greater.  McFoster’s is a vegetarian restaurant that also serves a couple free-range chicken and seafood dishes.  They use organic produce from local growers whenever possible and have very thorough descriptions on their menu.  They have a very home-y and somewhat hippie vibe.  You always feel like you are sitting in a friend’s kitchen when you are there.  The food is very fresh and usually quite comforting and delicious.  My beau and I went to McFoster’s for dinner on a Tuesday night and I knew just what I was in the mood for: my frequent order of the Veggie Burger with grilled onions and peppers.  Ordinarily, this is a filling sandwich comprised of grains and finely chopped veggies in a mix that somewhat resemble ground beef (more than many Veggie Burgers do that end up looking more like hockey pucks) and is cooked to bring you that delightful char-grilled flavor.  Having ordered this several times, I knew just the treat I was in for.

Imagine my surprise when my order came and had none of the above listed anticipated attributes.  First, there were no grilled onions and peppers.  The waiter told me he misunderstood and thought I was referring to the complimentary condiments of raw red onion, lettuce, pickle, and tomato.  I lift my bun to apply the condiments and I find not the delicious, filling, char-grilled, hand-crafted patty I am used to, but instead a flat, oddly spicy, black bean, hockey puck patty.  How could you do this to me McFoster’s??

I was too hurt to inquire about this change.  I had heard a rumor of the veggie burger being off the menu, but seeing it still listed, I didn’t know it would be this sham replacement.  I was so disappointed I don’t even remember what my beau ate. 

At least the sour cream & chive fries were hot and delicious.  The outside was golden and crunchy while the inside remained perfectly soft.  I would have accepted a more intense sour cream and chive flavor, but it was still a nice variation from a “regular” fry. 

I will of course go back to McFoster’s again because I still love them.  If you go, I do NOT recommend the veggie burger.  In their defense, I do recommend the Salads, the Mornay, the Guacamole and Blue Corn Tortilla Chips (which comes with a side of delicious salsa,) and the smoothies. 

Time to Spare

La Buvette

511 S. 11^th St., Omaha

(402) 344-8627

www.labuvetteomaha.com       

I had not been to la Buvette in some time, but I had pleasant memories and was eager to visit again.  The ambiance is part of the charm.  Whether seated at bistro tables on the patio watching the Old Market traffic go by, or ensconced inside amongst the racks of wine, well worn plaster, and original wood floors, the feeling is very much European Bistro without being overly pretentious about it.  My beau and I went last Saturday around noon and I’m glad we did not have a defined time line that day.  While I am a big fan of a two hour lunch, I feel that a leisurely lunch should be patron driven rather than waiter driven.

I knew before arriving that I wanted to split the cheese plate and have a glass of wine.  The selections for wines by the glass that day were not anything to be excited about and most of them could be found at your local Hy-Vee.  Not to say that stopped me…

I will refrain from giving a timeline specific retelling of events.  I will instead just note that the service was subpar.  Our waiter forgot that we ordered meals to follow our cheese plate (all were ordered at the same time) and seemed to almost forget about us altogether.  He and a fellow waiter presented the attitude that it was the busiest shift they had seen in their entire lives.  My observation was that it was not, in fact, the busiest shift ever.

The food was delicious.  Our cheese plate had fair portions of three different cheeses.  The selection varies daily.  The tomato and cucumber slices on the side were fresh and fantastic.  I’m not the biggest fan of tomatoes but these were meaty and deliciously ripe.  We could have used more bread to accompany our cheeses.

After a significant wait, we received our lunch entrees.  He had the Salade Buvette and added goat cheese and chickpeas.  The salad covered a dinner plate and was comprised of mixed greens and the aforementioned cucumbers, tomatoes, and thin sliced rings of red onion all in a light dressing olive oil dressing.  The goat cheese portion was the size of a small plum, but the chickpeas were scant. 

I had the grilled sandwich which came with a small side salad.  This side salad was the same mixed greens, cucumber, tomato, and red onion.  My sandwich was an open faced baguette topped from edge to edge with an olive tapenade, then with a couple tomato slices, and finally covered with cheese before being set under the broiler.  One side of the sandwich would have been enough of a portion with the salad, but I was given both. 

I was tempted by the desserts but just didn’t have enough time to stay and indulge.  Plus, I was feeling like having a nap after all the wine and the food.

Overall, I still adore La Buvette.  Having a leisurely two hour lunch is my favorite pastime.  The food is good quality and the atmosphere is lovely.  The prices are fair (we paid around $7.50 each for our entrees and wine ranged from $4.50 - $9.50 a glass.  You may also pay a low corkage fee to enjoy a bottle.)  I am certain I will return to La Buvette, I will just have to embrace the service as part of the charm along with everything else. 

Little of this and add some that.

Ingredient

www.ingredientrestaurant.com

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

I’m not sure whether giving an indecisive person so many options is a good thing or a bad thing.  I find myself often wishing at restaurants that I could tweak things just a little bit.  Meals are not often packaged just as I want them.  On the other hand, allowing me to assemble my dream list of ingredients may present me with too many options.

I was unprepared for Ingredient when my beau and I went there a couple weeks ago.  We were starving and likely to order the first thing we saw without fully evaluating our options.  Which is what he did.  I tried to show restraint and put together something tasty.  My hunger was distracting though and we rushed the process.  Especially as we didn’t really “get” how it worked.  For your benefit, here is how it works:

Ingredient offers a menu of salad, pizza, soups, sandwiches, and wraps.  The salads and pizzas are largely up to your own imagination from the extensive list of ingredients, or you can get a little assistance from a short list of “Customer Creations,” salad and pizza combinations someone else has come up with.  You choose your greens, up to 5 ingredients, salad dressings, and extras (if you want) such as salmon, chicken, tofu, steak, etc.  Pizzas give you the choice of sauce, three ingredients, and additional cheese.

My beau picked one of the customer creations of a Salmon Caesar salad with pine nuts, avocado, and who knows what else thrown in.  I managed to blurt out three ingredients to top my garlic oil pizza: balsamic onions, roasted red pepper, and ripped basil with gorgonzola cheese in addition to the cheese blend that comes on top. 

The preparations were well done.  The fault really was with us.  The fatty creaminess of Caesar AND salmon AND avocado needed to be cut with something acidic.  They just weren’t flavors that went well together.  The pizza was good, but the toppings were chopped smaller than expected.

I think this is a great concept and I am looking forward to returning, more informed this time.  The list of ingredients is enticing and salads toppings range from traditional (peas, mushrooms, eggs, olives, ham) to more adventurous (many fruits, sundried tomatoes, roasted beets, spicy cashews) to almost exotic on a typical salad (honey ginger carrots, fontina, hummus, plantain chips, glass noodles.)  All told, you have over 60 choices to top your salad and about 20 choices for pizza.

I plan to go back and give it another go with more thoughtful choices.  The many options are tempting.  Also tempting are their breakfast options.  Thirty wide ranging omelet ingredients; fifteen ways to mix up your oatmeal; fifteen choices to top your waffles or warm donut holes.  Mmmm…