Sullivans, a delightful experience.

Sullivan's is located in downtown Omaha, in the old market area.  It is very easy to find and there are very convenient places to park close by.  Sullivan's is surrounded by other local restaurants and businesses like The Paxton, Jazz and Starbucks.  This is a fine dining establishment that treats you like a executive vice president of a very prestigious company.  You are greeted as you walk through the doors and are politely asked if you have had the pleasure to make a reservation for the evening.  If not, no need to worry because you will not be waiting long.  There friendly staff is more than willing to find a place to accommodate you for the evening.  Once you have been assigned a table the dining experience will begin to unfold.  It all begins with your server, who has been professionally trained to care for you throughout the night.  There is a large array of pre-dinner drinks to choose from.  I always ask for recommendations from the server.  After the drinks and appetizers have arrived, the dinner wine is offered.  They have a great variety.  The wines come from selections that right from Nebraska and others that come from Italy or France.  I chose a glass of white from Nebraska that was fabulous.  Remember to enjoy your dinner and savor each bite.  I recommend the prime rib, some green beans and side of mushrooms.  Save room for dessert and don't worry about the calories, they are worth every bite.

Video + Blog = Vlog

This video features several interviews with current Omaha residents. I had to follow up on a previous blog post about restaurant tax in Omaha. I chose to ask different yet similar questions pertaining to the topic. The four individuals that were interviewed are not actors. They chose to use different names in order to protect their identities.

Stokes Mexican Grill

There are two locations.  Both similar atmospheres and great staff.  You are welcomed by the friendly hostesses as you walk into the restaurant.  They invite you to follow them as they lead you to your cozy little area for the evening.  You can sit back and relax as you rest your head on the pillows located next to your seat.  The booths are plenty big so that you can enjoy your meal with all of your family and/or friends.    Your server does not waste any time getting over to you table to greet you.  They go over the specials of the night and offer you one of their famous margaritas.  Do yourself a favor and say yes, I like the strawberry one.  The menu may not have a large selection, but they perfect each dish to the extreme.  I no longer look at the menu because I order the same things everytime I come.  The nachos with cowboy beans, chicken and exrta cheese for me!  Then followed by "Sharon's Almost Famous Chicken Enchilladas", I highly recommend to try them.  I've never saved enough room for dessert, but I would suggest the flourless chocolate cake.  It looks divine.  Enjoy your evening.

A Visual Experience

With any dining experience there is a lot that can impact your opinion. From the time that you pull into the parking lot and see the restaurant from the outside you've have already judged the establishment.

As you begin walking towards the restaurant you evaluate everything on a level based on personal standards. You may ask yourself things like, "Am I going to like the menu?" or maybe "Is this a fancy place?"
Also be aware of the hours. Make sure you will have plenty of time to stay for a relaxed dinner. You don't want to be rushed through your meal. By the time you walk through that door you will have decided whether this will be a pleasant evening or not.

The first impression is usually made by the friendliness of the staff. Did they greet you in a professional manner? Did you feel welcomed to be there? As you view your surroundings you can decide whether or not you should call the health inspector or not. As you are lead to your table you should pay attention to your surroundings. How do you view them? Is it a modern, upbeat big-city feeling? Or is it a more relaxed, down-to-earth place?

The staff also has a big potential to sway the impact of your time spent there. Are they friendly and informative? Do they offer suggestions and answer your questions? Don't be afraid to try new things. Be adventurous and try somethings new and fun that you normally would not choose. Order everything that looks good. It doesn't matter if you can't finish because there will always be to-go boxes.

Make sure to check out the bathrooms also. Not only should you wash your hands, but it's another good chance to check the cleanliness of the restaurant. If you're not pleased with what you see then maybe it's a clear sign not to get dessert. But as you return to your table look around to see if the other guests seem pleased. This can really help you decide if you should refer the place to friends.

Remember to enjoy your experience and take advantage of all the special offers. Every restaurant is different and you should expect something special from each place you visit. Have fun!

The initial reaction begins with the outside.

It is very important to pay attention to the hours.  You want to receive the best possible service, and this won't happen ten minutes before the restaurant closes.

As you walk in decide what kind of feeling you receive from the atmosphere.  

The hostess should be warm and friendly as she greets you.

Make sure you look at all of the menus.  You don't want to miss out on any specials!

Look around the dining room.  Is should be clean and organized.

Remember to wash your hands.  

Take a look at the bar too.  It should have at minimum the basics.  A bigger selection is always better.

It's helpful to the guests to see the different selections of liquors and wines available.

Ask for a specialty drink.  Like Hiro Sushi's "Purple Kimono"

Find out who is making your food.  Say hi!

If you have the chance you should go take a look at the ingredients.

If salad comes with it then say yes!

Try the appetizers.  More than one.  I love gyoza.

If they are homemade, like the avocado eggrolls, order them.

Try the delicacies.  Seared tuna sashimi is delicious.

The sushi chefs create a handcrafted design with every order.

Always order the popular rolls, like the Wasabi Stinger.  They're popular for a reason.

If you close enough then you can notice the scenery on your plate.

If the service was good, let your server know about it.  Give a gracious tip and take a picture.  You might just make their day!

Taste it.

Located in Rockbrook Village, Taste is one of a few restaurants in the area that serves both a lunch and dinner crowd. Taste has a unique "big city" atmosphere. They are distinctively decorated with geometric shapes and bright colors. The friendly staff quickly invites you to join them. They educate you with their daily specials and seasonal recommendations. The menu not only changes but offers a very wide selection of dishes. There is anything between Indian, Mexican, Italian and traditional home-cooking from mom's kitchen. If you are torn between the stroganoff and almond crusted salmon, just ask your server for an opinion. They always give the best advice. You can never go wrong with the desserts. Two words: Chocolate cake. It is a must!
So the next time you and your date can't decide on a restaurant theme, go to Taste and everyone's needs will be met.
My recommendations include the hummus, spicy enchiladas with a side of rice and beans, and a refreshing strawberry lemonade.

Omaha's Restaurant Tax

It seems as though Omaha is not in sync with Mayor Suttle and his many tax decisions after speaking to John Horvatinovich, Chef Instructor at the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College.  Omaha has added yet another tax to the list which started Friday, October 1.  The restaurant tax, is not popular with most of the locals.  Horvatinovich told me that it has been created to help pay for the new downtown baseball stadium being built.  He told me that it was easier to create an entertainment tax since it only needs approval from the city council, whereas only the State Legislation can approve sales tax.  Originally Suttle intended to set the entertainment tax at four percent versus the two and a half percent restaurant tax.  This was due to the previous year's entertainment costs in Omaha.  Horvatinovich said that this information is now outdated and not relevant to current conditions in Omaha.  However, the government is able to do whatever they want, like pass taxes on the city.  Many people lobbied against the mayor which consequently made him change the entertainment tax to a strict only restaurant tax.  While the Omaha Restaurant Association collects dues to pay for scholarships that are given to culinary students in the area, they were practically helpless because they were unorganized and unprepared when it came to fighting against the restaurant tax.  Horvatinovich said, "He went after an industry that couldn't help themselves."  He thinks it is an unfair play on the mayor's part.  He also said about Mayor Suttle's move on the restaurant tax decision, "He has taken it to his advantage."  The restaurant tax is the same as the smoking ban, it only affects Omaha.  Omaha is a larger metropolitan area, which is separated from other communities.  It is very easy to go to those other nearby communities to spend money.  In the scheme of things two and a half percent may not seem like a lot of money, but when there are large amounts of money being spent for special occasions then most people are going to look for the best bang for their buck.  Pharmaceutical reps and other people who cater lunches or dinners, will begin to look in other places.   That will not be in Omaha.  People are also spending less because they are working less due to fewer hours offered and less jobs available.  Horvatinovich does not understand the purpose of another tax that the people of Omaha will not benefit from like the trash service.  He lives in the part of Omaha that had been the annexed Elkhorn.  He still pays the Omaha taxes, but does not receive the Omaha perks.  He is forced to pay separately for a privately owned trash service.  It all comes back to decisions made by Mayor Suttle.  He spoke of many promises to lower property taxes, however they have been raised twice.  With this information it is hard to trust and believe the mayor.  It appears as though the mayor raises taxes in order to raise money.  Suttle even hired a firm to help him figure out his budget.  Instead of cutting the budget, the opposite happened.  The only thing that begins to make sense in the mind of Horvatinovich's mind is the wheel tax.  The wheel tax is specifically made to cover the budget for the roads in Omaha.  It does not go to any of the other affiliated groups in Omaha.  Unlike the restaurant tax which pays for the new baseball field downtown.  Horvatinovich said, "Why isn't he taxing the people who are enjoying it?  Tax the people who are benefiting from this."  In which case the Hilton Hotel is receiving money in order to improve and expand so that they will be able to accommodate a larger crowd , which is hoped for from the baseball crowd.  When some Omahans were asked about the possibility of re-election for Suttle they said, "Not if 200,000 restaurant workers have something to say about it."

Noodles in Lincoln

Now that the amazing Macaroni Grill is no longer a part of Omaha, you have to make a short trip to Lincoln.  But with a great friend and some conversation you can get there in no time.  The Macaroni Grill looks exactly the same at all of its locations throughout the U.S.  It is a lovely Italian eatery.  There is a generous selection of wine as well as different non-alcoholic drinks offered.  Their food menu consists of chicken, beef and fish selections, all made to perfection.  Aside from the traditional menu there is also a "pick-your-own" menu.  You are able to design you own entree.  You simply pick you noodle, sauce, meat and vegetable,  then they create a masterpiece of perfection for your taste-buds.  With the arrival of your server, you are presented with a delicious warm loaf of bread, accompanied by a homemade spread, (olive oil, parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper).  Please save some room for some desert.  Your mouth will water at the idea of their delicate tiramisu or gelato and fresh berries.  My suggestions include the calamari or stuffed mushrooms as a starter, followed by a garden salad, the chicken scaloppine and finished up with a tiramisu.  It's delightful!  Trust me it's worth the trip to Lincoln.