Black Oak Grill Happy Hour Review ....the REMMIXXX

 This is another REMMIIXXXXXXX (again in my Diddy Voice!) I had the pleasure of reviewing Black Oak Grill in Omaha, NE. Black Oak is located in Midtown at 220 S 31st Ave next to Crave. Happy Hour is Monday-Friday from 3-6pm and Saturday 11-6pm. Happy Hour is Bar only but don’t worry there is plenty of seating. Black Oak offers half-price draft beers, wine, and appetizers. Also five dollar fresh cocktails, house cocktails, and bar sliders. 

The last time I was here, I had the Flip and Sip Martini. This time I had the Frozen Jack N Coke ($5). To spruce it up a bit I asked for Cherry Grenadine and it was simply sweet and delicious. I perfect way to end a hot and humid summer day. I love that they added a generous amount of Jack and was able to make my drink perfect. I actually ordered two within my stay. 

For food, I started off with the Meatloaf Sliders with Fries. The French fries came out crisp and fresh and tasted like they been tossed with rosemary oil at the end. The slider was okay. The meat itself could use some seasoning. Alone it tasted a bit bland. On top of the slider is mashed potatoes and tomato sauce. Overall the fresh was the bomb but the slider really needed more flavor. 

I couldn’t leave Black Oak Grill without having their Chicken BBQ Nachos. Since my last visit, I noticed that they upgraded some of the ingredients. Added grilled tomatoes and more fresh veggies. You can’t really go wrong with it comes to their nachos. Cheesy, bbq, and chicken goodness on a plate. Can easily share with your partner or girlfriends. 

Overall, I give this Review Remix 4 Smiles! Black Oak Grills customer service is phenomenal and the drinks are always on point. The perfect place to come out and relax after a long day at work, or just a place to get together with your girlfriends. 

Nite Owl Omaha

Located in Omaha’s Blackstone District, Nite Owl (3902 Farnam Street) is the perfect haunt for after work drinks or late night eats (their kitchen is open until 2 am). Happy Hour is from 3pm to 6pm Monday through Friday. Specials include sliders, fries and tots, $1 off tap beer and both classic cocktails and rotating house cocktails.

The interior of Nite Owl is a hybrid of updated dive bar and speakeasy. Lots of wood throughout with a focus on their rather large bar. All ordering is done there which may throw you off a bit if you don’t read the menu on your table first (Thank you for ordering at the bar is mentioned everywhere). It was rather dark inside, but they are working on an outside patio which I’m excited for (yay more dog friendly patios at restaurants/bars). They put a lot of care into your drink order and the bar setup allows you to see every step. Food came out hot and pretty promptly.

I went with the Toronto ($6: rye whiskey, fernet branca, demerara) on this first visit which is one of their Classics. Again, it’s apparent that a lot of time went into perfecting these cocktail recipes. The fernet wasn’t overpowering and the finish was perfect. A few of these would definitely get the job done.

I LOVE that Nite Owl offers tots ($3: includes house aioli). I totally expected a small side order of tater tots similar to fast food drive thrus but that wouldn’t cut it at this joint. You literally get a tray full (think high school lunch trays) of hot and fresh tater tots. Just the right amount of salt and the aioli is delicious. Even my friend who prefers french fries liked my tots better. There were so many I got to take some with me and give them the microwave reheat test (they passed).

I also ordered the birdhouse slider ($3: fried chicken, honey-sriracha sauce, southern bacon slaw) which came out on a cool little glass dish. The chicken was crispy on the outside even with the sauce and slaw on top and juicy on the inside. I love the honey-sriracha, not too spicy and reminded me of the hot honey trend I’ve been seeing. Plus how can you hate sriracha on chicken. I am not really a slaw person but it made sense on this sandwich. I would have liked a slightly less rough chop on the lettuce, the slider size just made the slaw pieces seem to be too much.

I give Nite Owl 5 smiles. I will be back to try some more cocktails and for another slider and tot order. I’m also excited to try their regular menu items and spend a warm summer day on their patio with a boozy slushie (coming soon) and my dog.

MULA Mexican Kitchen & Tequileria

Located in the new Blackstone District, MULA Mexican Kitchen & Tequileria (3932 Farnam Street) is Omaha’s newest authentic Mexican restaurant and tequila bar. Happy Hour is ALL DAY Monday and 2p-6p Tuesday - Friday. Specials include discounted starters ranging from salsa of the day to rolled tacos, as well as discounted margaritas and drinks. Tap beer is $1 off and 1 oz tequila & mezcal shots are ½ priced. They also offer $2 tacos on Tuesday (with the exception of their machaca and camaron options) and tequilas of the day.

I loved the interior of MULA. Plenty of seating and sun. I wish they had a patio but their location on the corner of 40th and Farnam makes that hard. Had the feel of a hipster taqueria which is something I would expect from the Blackstone area. Service was prompt and our food came out quickly and piping hot. I had a bit of a snafu with my taco order but my waitress fixed the situation and didn’t charge me for the mix up resulting in an extra taco to review.

Of course I had to try the Mula margarita ($4: camarena reposado, house limonada). This marg was super fresh and strong as steel. I had two and may or may not have fallen asleep when I got home (sitting next to the full length window in the sun may have contributed though). This was so good I may never try their strawberry one (maybe).

I also ordered the sope ($3: masa cake, carnitas, black beans, house crema, cabbage, cotija) which was delicious. Everything complimented each other perfectly. As it is a masa cake it was a bit dry but adding a bit of the house made verde salsa they bring to your table fixed that immediately. The carnitas were tender but I do wish the black beans would have been a bit more flavorful. Also the radishes they garnished it with weren’t my cup of sangria but I don’t like radishes ever.

The guac of the day on this Tuesday was their house option ($4: white onion, garlic, cumin & cilantro) which is made to order. This guac was super fresh and the right consistency. The fact that it’s made to order earns them points as my mother who visited with me is allergic to cilantro. She simply requested it be left off. The guac was still flavorful; the exclusion of the cilantro didn’t affect quality or taste. The chips are handmade and fried which was great and they were still warm when they arrived at our table. Thicker than most house made chips which I liked and not super oily.

Now for Taco Tuesday which is what brought me here in the first place. I originally ordered the chicken tinga (chipotle adobo chicken, avocado, house crema, cotija) and the baja fish (crispy cerveza battered cod, house crema, dressed slaw) tacos but accidentally got the carnitas taco (coca-cola braised Michoacan pork, onion & cilantro mix) instead. When I noticed my waitress got me my chicken tinga taco and didn’t charge for the carnitas one. I loved all the tacos I tried but the tinga was hands down my favorite. The fresh slice of avocado put it over the edge. The runner up was the baja as the fish was super hot and fresh, as well as not super greasy. Most people will probably complain that you only get one taco for $2 and they aren’t the biggest thing on the block but that’s par for the course at most “hipper” authentic mexican restaurants. These also don’t come covered in “cheese” or traditional “sour cream” because they are authentic mexican tacos. The ingredients alone make these worth the money for me.

I give MULA 5 smiles. I will be back for another Taco Tuesday and probably on a random Monday for both the food and drink. Everything from the salsas they bring to your table to the little “plates” they bring your tacos out on differentiate MULA from your mom and pop taco shop but they manage to hold on to the taste. 

Dozo Lincoln

Dozo Sushi Grill & Lounge, located in Lincoln’s Haymarket (151 N 8th Street), offers a variety of options for both sushi lovers and haters. Happy Hour runs Monday - Saturday 3p-6p, noon - 10p Sunday and a reverse option Thursday-Saturday from 10p-1a. Dozo offers various apps, rolls and drinks for a discount ranging from $4-$9 in most cases and around $15 for Dozo fishbowls and $12 for flavored sake bombs.

Dozo’s interior is nice. Unfortunately every sushi place I visit is “nice”. They all have the sushi spot esthetic, ensuring you never mistake it for anything other than what it is. I do like their bar more than some places I’ve been to but at the end of the day, it’s just another place to get sushi and asian dishes.

The first off putting thing for me was the prominence of both gin and vodka options on their HH drink menu. I drink dark almost exclusively so to not be able to try one “signature” cocktail that included a liquor I liked was disheartening. Eventually we got ahold of the bartender and to my delight the well whiskey/bourbon they had was Jim Beam. My Beam & Ginger only being $5 was a small victory, albeit the only one of the night.

For a starter I ordered the Firecracker Shrimp ($6: battered fried with sweet and spicy mayo sauce) as I am obsessed with this option at most sushi spots. What I got was interesting. Tail on shrimp, which I got over eventually, without much batter to speak of. They were good sized so I really wanted to enjoy them however between the sauce being a bit blah and lack of batter fried-ness I ended up sending it back. The waitress was a good sport about it, taking the charge off my final bill and inquiring in the kitchen about it (turns out the batter they used was “off” that day) so I let the issue rest.

I tried their shrimp tempura roll ($4: mayo, avocado, smelt, shrimp tempura, tempura crunch) will was another disappointment. I have a feeling half the ingredients weren’t included, or I was just so over Dozo by this point I didn’t notice. These rolls were huge, not something I’d normally complain about but in this instance it was just too much. You almost wanted to cut it in half to enjoy comfortably. Other than the size, these rolls didn’t stand out. I realize I’m a sushi snob but these were nothing to write home about.

I give Dozo 1.5 smiles. I liked that they rectified my shrimp situation and that the bartender came to our table personally to find a drink I would enjoy, but the food didn’t make me want to return.

Rock Bottom Brewery Omaha

Rock Bottom Brewery’s Omaha location, located in the Old Market (1101 Harney Street), is a leader in “beer on demand” technology. With select party booths that boast taps right at the table one of their award winning beers is never far from hand. Happy Hour is Monday - Friday from 3pm-6pm, with two late night Happy Hours (Monday-Thursday 9pm-close and Friday & Saturday 10pm-close) as well as all day Sunday. Specials include $3, $5 and $7 discounted appetizers like single kobe sliders, ball park pretzels and chicken quesadillas as well as $2 off Rock Bottom pizzas, signature beers, wine by the glass and cocktails. Daily bonus HH specials include Monday ½ price wine bottles, Tuesday $6 southwest lemonades, Wednesday $6 Absolut martinis, etc. on top of their daily specials like $5 margarita and mojitos on Mondays. Rock Bottoms interior is pretty standard. A nicer Old Chicago, plenty of seating, low light and central bar. Everything you expect from a “chain” brewery.

I ended up doing this review in two parts. The first visit happened to coincide with some big event downtown earlier, resulting in RB being out of jalapeno spinach dip, sliders and pretzels. If you know me, you know once I want something I get really worked up when it is no longer available. Hence my return visit. My first trip included a mango margarita ($7 for HH, $5 when I returned on a Monday) which was delicious. I tend to be pretty ehh on most margaritas because super fruity/syrupy. These were not that. Pretty strong (two had me feeling it) and not too much flavored syrup (since again this is a chain I gave them a pass on not using real fruit).

Their Southwest Egg Rolls were next ($7: pulled chicken breast, black beans, roasted red peppers, zucchinis, carrots, tomatoes, corn & pepper jack cheese with a spicy ranch dipping sauce). Really liked these as they weren’t super greasy. All the veggies made me sort of pause but I felt healthier afterwards so that’s good. The dipping sauce was really yummy and complemented everything they had going on in the egg roll. The wrapper also wasn’t super thick which was good. Portions were really good, RB is a sharing app place for sure. These also passed the microwave at 3am without them being soggy and gross test.

Since they were all out of the things I came for on my first visit I tried the Skillet Chili Cheese Fries ($6.95: crispy seasoned french fries, cheddar & pepper jack cheese, housemade steak chili, jalapenos, red onions and sour cream) which wasn’t on the HH menu, but reasonably enough priced to be a substitute. Although the actual fries didn’t seem to be seasoned I loved the steak chili and there was enough of it that you didn’t have to eat plain fries. Again this was huge so I had another 3 am snack for later.

Again I returned a few days later because I HAD to try this dip. I ordered the Jalapeno Pretzel Stix ($5: hand twisted pretzels served with jalapeno spinach cheese dip) which was worth the return visit. The actual pretzels have jalapenos and cheese baked into them so you can eat them solo no problem. The actual dip was alright, it got cold rather quickly which rendered it sort of gross. Also didn’t expect this to be more queso dip than spinach dip. But the pretzels, they were great.

I give Rock Bottom 5 smiles. Everything I had was good and even the tiny misses like the dip and all the veggies in the egg rolls weren’t horrid. Rock Bottom also offers so many HH and daily specials it’s nearly impossible to not find something you can try here.

Ponzu Sushi & Grill (Aksarben-Omaha)

Located adjacent to the Aksarben Cinema in Aksarben Village, Ponzu Sushi & Grill (2110 S 67th Street, Omaha) has been described as a “nouveau American fish house, combining cutting edge food with contemporary architecture. With a wide variety of sushi, a full grill menu and a full service bar Ponzu has something for everyone in your group. Happy Hour is everyday from 3pm to 6pm with a reverse Happy Hour Friday and Saturday from 9pm to close. Chose from various discounted grill items (like black pepper calamari or kobe beef sliders), $5 and $8 sushi rolls, $5.50 specialty cocktails and various other drinks such as $5 Big Saporro’s and $4.50 house wines.

I immediately liked the exterior and interior of Ponzu. Lots of clean lines makes this place appear modern and “cool” while still allowing enough space for large groups. Service was great for the duration of our stay and the waitress was super helpful and inviting. Our drinks were prepared quickly and the grill and sushi items arrived hot and fresh respectively. Happy Hour is also open to the whole restaurant which is a plus if you have a larger group that wouldn’t be able to be accommodated at the bar. A great place to stop before or after a movie at Aksarben Cinema (which was the idea in the first place I’m sure).

I sampled the $5.50 Stormy Ginger which includes both rum and ginger ale. This drink was super refreshing and the rum matched all three of the items I ordered surprisingly well. I’ve never thought of rum as a particular pair for sushi but the Stormy Ginger proved me wrong.

My first dish to arrive was the Kamakazee Shrimp ($6: breaded and tossed in sambal aioli). The presentation was nice and the shrimp were hot and crispy. The aioli was very good although I wish it had a bit more kick to it. They lasted well, not getting soggy throughout the night and still tasting great after they had gotten a bit cold. Two or three lasted until the next day and passed the microwave test, not getting soggy or hard after a few seconds heating up.

I also tried some of my friend’s Pork Potstickers ($6: fried served with sweet & spicy ponzu). I enjoyed that the wrappers they used weren’t too thick, ensuring the potstickers weren’t too tough. The filling was nice, would have liked a bit more flavor. The sauce that accompanied was ok, but I went without it on most of them.

For sushi I tried the Crazy Crab roll ($5: spicy crab, avocado, rolled in panko, topped with unagi sauce). These rolls were super fresh and you get 8 pieces so well worth the $5 price tag. Was surprised it wasn't a bit more spicy, but was also glad that they didn’t put in huge chunks of avocado, overpowering everything. Definitely some of the best sushi I’ve had in a while (which ended in me drunkenly eating it cold later).

Ponzu gets 5 smiles. I immediately wanted to return the next day and will definitely explore some of their rolls not on special during HH (I tried my friend’s Jammin Salmon and may be an Itchy Salmon convert). Great vibes and atmosphere here and quality food and drink. Plus with its prime location in Aksarben Village, it wasn’t jammed packed (although it was 10pm on Valentine’s Day when I checked it out lol).

Ginger Pan Asian Grill (Lincoln)

Lincoln’s newest sushi spot and Mongolian grill, Ginger Pan Asian Grill is located on 6055 Apples Way (great news for South Lincolnites like myself, no more trekking all the way to the Haymarket for sushi)! Specializing in sushi, Asian entrees and a large selection of items for their Mongolian Grill, Ginger has a bit of something for everyone. Happy Hour is 3p-6p Monday through Saturday and ALL day Sunday. Specialty drinks are $5 as well as $2 Bud Light draws, sushi rolls range from $2.50-$4.50 and select apps are $3.50-$5.

Ginger’s decor is very sleek and modern. Happy Hour is in the bar area, where you can either sit at the sushi bar and watch the magic happen, select a booth for a bit of privacy or sit at one of the hightops. The music is modern radio fair, a bit better than the usual surfer/semi Asian background music most places default to. Service was quick and efficient, a plus as Ginger hasn’t been open more than a month or so. The place wasn’t super packed, which I attribute to not many people being aware Ginger is open. Can see this place becoming a hot date spot.

I started with the pineapple mojito ($5) which was ready quickly (Ginger has a full bar opposite the sushi bar.) The drink was super pretty (I care about those kind of things) but outside of that, I wasn’t impressed. There was something a bit off about it but I couldn’t place what. Would probably try a Mai Tai or Gingertini next go round.

The first item that arrived was my crab rangoon ($4.50). I was glad that Ginger doesn’t serve smaller portions for HH, everything is big enough to share. These were winners because they actually had crab in them! Not just the blah cream cheese most places pass off as crab rangoon. They came out super crispy and the sweet and sour sauce wasn’t too thick or sweet. Definitely the best thing I had that night.

For sushi I went with the spicy tuna roll ($3) which again was a great portion (8 pieces) and well presented. These rolls were as fresh as sushi can be in a landlocked Midwestern city. Can see myself liking this place more than a certain other sushi chain (rhymes with true).

I’m giving Ginger 4 smiles. Overall I really loved this place. I’m chalking up my drink with my tastebuds adjusting after i was sick days before. The crab rangoon and service was great, but I do wish there was more of a variety with their sushi items. Include more of the specialty rolls for a slightly higher price like $6 or $7. I’d gladly pay it.

Saints Pub + Patio Midtown (Omaha)

Located in Midtown Crossing with a West Omaha location opening mid-January, Saints Pub + Patio (120 South 31st Ave, Omaha) is an upscale sports bar offering a full menu, over twenty flat screens and a large outdoor patio. Their daily Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday 2p-6p with a reverse drink special only Happy Hour Monday - Saturday from 10p to close. Specials include $6 appetizers (excluding the sampler), $1 off premium pints, $2 domestic drafts & wells, $3 Long Islands and $4 house wines. Sunday is all day Happy Hour along with $4 Bloody Mary's and Mimosas.

I decided to do my review on a Sunday so the space was pretty packed. There was still seating at the bar and at a few tables so it seemed less crowded than it really was. The decor was nicer than most sports bars which I enjoyed. I'd like to come back and check out the patio more when the weather gets nicer. All of the tvs could be a bit overwhelming for someone who may just want to see a particular game. I enjoyed it as I could watch other games while the Broncos game was on a commercial break. I sat at the bar & was immediately asked for my drink order which was nice. I went with a mimosa as they were on special and Sunday's without mimosas are sad. It was a pretty standard bar/restaurant mimosa. Would have liked less juice more alcohol. Also made a note to ask for a pineapple juice substitution next time.

I ordered the Pepper Jack Bites ($6: hand cut, battered pepper jack cheese, chipotle ranch) first. Really liked the bit of kick from the cheese in combination with the chipotle ranch. It was a nice size to share with my friend who was along for the ride. I noticed that the smaller bites seemed to be just breading, as if the cheese sort of melted since it wasn't the same consistency as mozzarella. But the larger bites as they cooled a bit were more like traditional mozz bites. These bites also get snaps for the breading not being too thick.

I also got an order of the Saints Loaded Fries ($6: waffle fries, queso, tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, shredded cheese, green onions and sour cream with your choice of beef or chicken) choosing the chicken option. My only real complaint with these were the actual fries. I wish they had some sort of spicy seasoning on them. Most of the flavor came from the toppings and queso. My friend said he really enjoyed the queso while I was expecting it to be a bit spicier. Again it was the perfect size to share with someone and the chicken was good, not dry at all. Also reheated well the next day.

I give Saints Pub + Patio 4.5 smiles. Even with the unseasoned fries and some of the bites lacking on the cheese side I would order both apps again. They have a variety of drink specials which is a plus. Saints is a great place to spend a few hours on a lazy Sunday watching all the sports action or a Friday after work when you don't feel like cooking and want some good snack food and drinks to wind down. 

Vega (Lincoln, NE)

Located on the second level of Lincoln's Railyard District, Vega (350 Canopy Street, Suite 220) is a gem among Nebraska’s live music venues. With ample space for local, national and international talent as well as a full service bar and restaurant focusing on high quality locally sourced food and drink Vega is also recognized as one of the best spaces for showcases and private events/fundraisers. Multiple screens let you watch sports on game days and an expansive stage and open layout makes it great for live music (I’ve even taken an early morning yoga class here). They have a daily Happy Hour from 5p - 8p as well as Reverse Happy Hour following every show. The special is a standard $1 off every drink. Vega also has daily specials on their menu items Monday - Thursday and other drink specials all day Friday and Saturday.

I visited Vega on a Monday before MNF had a chance to kick off so it was just me and the staff for a while. They were pretty attentive from the start even after two other patrons arrived about 45 mins into my stay. As there were no shows that night they even had “A Year Without Santa Claus” on the big screen on stage (I love Christmas movies). I decided to take advantage of their Monday special while I was there (½ off their gourmet burgers with a side) and ordered The Fleetwood Mac ($5: mac’ n’ cheese, parmesan, smokey bacon & fresh basil) with a side of fries. I was very excited as Vega uses organic grass fed local beef and other locally sourced ingredients. The burger and fries were presented very well. The fries were hot and crispy, but I do wish they would have had a bit more sea salt. The burger was a bit dry which I attribute to it being well done (I rarely order burgers anything but medium well but wasn’t asked or given that option) and the actual beef didn’t seem to be seasoned. I was disappointed that the mac and cheese wasn’t “gourmet” but more Kraft boxed. I could barely taste the bacon which was another let down. As basil isn’t the strongest flavor in the pantry it didn’t do much to save The Fleetwood either.

I also ordered a Jamie & Ginger ($4.59: Jameson whiskey & ginger ale) which is nearly impossible to mess up. I did appreciate that Vega had actual ginger ale and that it was a tall. I also appreciated that the HH special includes everything, not just rails or beers.

Overall I give Vega 2 smiles. I would definitely come back to catch a live show or for a private event. The drink specials would probably peak my interest again but I’m not sure how many other menu items I would be apt to try after my burger experience. I did thoroughly enjoy the venue however.

Twin Peaks (Lincoln, NE)

A new addition to Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket, Twin Peaks (800 Q Street, Lincoln) offers “eats, drinks and scenic views”. A restaurant bar that’s basically a manly man cave incarnate (wooden everything? check. Antlers and plaid? double check) it’s a great place to watch ball (football, basketball, golf balls) while drinking a “man” beer (everything here is denoted by gender. A girl is the smaller version of anything they offer). Happy Hour is Sunday - Friday from 2p-6p and 10p to close. Specials include $1.99 Busch Light, $2 girl and $3 man sized Dirty Blonde & Knotty Brunette drafts, $3 wells, $3 party shots and $4 select teasers (including mozzarella bites, fried pickles, chips and queso and single soft pretzels).

Twin Peaks doesn’t apologize for what it is. From the language on the website and specials, to the events they throw this place is for the guys. Both times I stopped by I was one of maybe 3 or 4 women in the establishment that wasn’t there for a check. The dress code for bartenders and servers ensure patrons get the scenic view they were promised (some more scenic than others) and the vibe is brief vacay in the cabin in the woods. I get it, I’m not judging and I’d probably go back, but I do wonder about the sustainability of this concept in a place like Lincoln NE. The same place that ran out a Hooters, had questions about The Tilted Kilt and boycotted Twin Peaks moving into the Haymarket in the first place. But Nebraskans and Lincolnites are sportspeople & this being a conveniently located “ultimate sports lodge” maybe, just maybe it has what it takes.

Sadly (and maybe understandably in a universe with no women) it seems that the overt attention from the gentlemen frequenters to Twin Peaks distracts the bartenders from serving the few women who don’t mind boobs and booze adequately. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say my second visit (solo this time, the first was with a guy) my bartender wasn’t totally forthcoming with what the HH specials were (had I not prompted her I would have only know about $1.99 Lites .. then after another prompt the well specials. I had to ask specifically for the girl Knotty Brunette and she didn't know all the teasers that were on special) then forgot to put in my full food order. I’d like to attribute it to the fact that it was a busy MNF evening, or that she requested to be the only bartender that night but the two other women together at the bar, didn’t seem to get checked on as much as the group across the bar (men who obviously just got off work).

The food here is standard bar fare. I started with the mozzarella cheese bites ($4: fried cheese bites with a side of zesty marinara and ranch). A mozzarella bite is a mozzarella stick is a mozzarella bite. Pretty hard to mess up as long as they come out hot (mine were just warm). I liked that you had the option of marinara or ranch since these are one of the few things I actually like with ranch. They were good sized chunks and there were enough to share with a buddy. As this isn’t a “foodie” restaurant I didn’t expect for the breading to be anything but breading.

Next up was the chipotle queso & chips ($4) which I was most hesitant about after my last queso fiasco. Twin Peaks didn’t disappoint on the flavor side which brought me joy. The right amount of spice from the chipotle and the chips being warm and not from a store bag made up for the fact that like the bites, this didn’t come out piping hot. Should I have cause to return this is definitely what I’m ordering.

I decided to try a well whisky and ginger beer, mainly because I was already tipsy from the Jameson ginger beers I had while waiting for HH to start and partly just to see what the wells were. It was Bartons whisky, it was drinkable, I probably will stick to my no non premium wells rule more closely (what’s an extra $3.75 anyway).

This visit my accomplice had the man sized Dirty Blonde. I didn’t care for this beer & there was no way I would drink that much of it. He thought it was ok but ended up regretting the size later.

My second visit I got the “girl” (maybe can we change this to lady .. or woman) sized Knotty Brunette. While I like this much better than the Dirty Blonde I can’t imagine I’ll ever get the man sized. I’ll just chalk this up to my recent affinity for Infusion Brewing Co’s Butcher Block Brown.

I’m giving Twin Peaks 2 smiles. As I’m used to being one of the few girls who are around watching sports the atmosphere doesn’t bother me. I encourage showing off your boobs or flat belly if you have them. And the queso was really good. But I don’t like to think I will always get second rate service during busy times because I will always be outnumbered by the grandpas with nothing to do, the frat boys here to cheer on the Huskers or the suits stopping by before they have to go home & deal with their wives. 

Longwell's '76 (Lincoln)

Located in The Railyard, Lincoln’s new(ish) addition to the Historic Haymarket, Longwell’s ‘76 (350 Canopy St., Ste. 100, Lincoln) offers a variety of slow smoked bbq dishes, burgers, sliders and sandwiches as well as over 190 varieties of beer. Everyday is Happy Hour at Longwell’s from 4p-6p offering $1 off appetizers (from loaded fries to pretzel braids) and sliders, as well as all beers on tap.

Longwell’s is the perfect place to catch your favorite team playing. With multiple big screens throughout the bar and restaurant area, you won’t have to miss out on anything. If it’s a (relatively) nice day you can sit outside and catch the game on the Railyard’s Cube (a 14x40 feet behemoth that can be seen throughout the Railyard’s open pavillion). Dependent on how busy they are or what team is playing seating can get a bit cramped, but the outdoor seating option seems to still be viable, at least till the first snowfall. The interior is what most people have come to expect from a modern bar/restaurant of this elk; a dual bar, one with seating that gives you a front row glimpse at the many many beers on tap, (surprisingly, Longwell’s doesn’t actually brew its own beer, instead opting to provide many Lincoln staples like Empryean and ZipLine), lots of high tops and a glass encased party room. I was a bit disappointed that they play music instead of audio from the game on the big screen but it only slightly affected the experience.

I started out with the Wasatch Pumpkin Ale (pumpkin ale, Utah Brewers Cooperative, ABV 4%) as it’s October and I felt like being seasonal. Liked that there wasn’t an overpowering pumpkin flavor, the ale was very mellow. Would get this over many of the Oktoberfest brews I’ve tried lately.

My friend and I decided on three items to share: a half order of the Fries Rule add pulled pork, Spinach and Artichoke Dip and the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Sliders. The Fries Rule w/ pulled pork ($6: natural cut fries layered and topped with green onions, bacon & cheddar cheese over and over again) are Longwell’s super delicious version of loaded fries/potato skins. The half order was so big that even after splitting it with my friend there was leftovers for my lunch the next day. At first I liked that the pulled pork didn’t come pre sauced, but as with most loaded fries it needed a little bit of moisture so I ended up topping it with bbq sauce. The fries were super crispy, although I do wish they were lightly seasoned.

The spinach and artichoke dip ($6: served with tortilla chips) was really creamy and didn’t separate into an oily mess when it got cold. Would have liked more spinach or artichokes in the actual dip but that’s my complaint with most restaurants dip. Would have also liked 1) handmade and 2) warm tortilla chips as the side. Overall pretty decent but you should definitely eat this first unless you want to battle with a top layer of cheese to get to the dip underneath when it does cool off.

The last thing I tried and certainly my favorite of the night were the BBQ bacon cheddar sliders ($7.5: Angus beef, crispy bacon, melted cheddar and Longwell’s BBQ sauce). We got three nice sized sliders on pretzel buns, not too much sauce, not super small burgers patties in comparison to the bun and shredded cheddar which I like a bit more on sliders (no worries about cutting a slice of cheese to fit). Also no bacon skimping which was a plus. Would order these little guys again.

The last two beers I got were an old fav and a dare. I love the Stella Cidre they have on tap (Belgian recipe cider with apples, Stella Artois, ABV 4.5%) which is super crisp and refreshing. Not hoppy at all and a good neutral drink compared to the other two I had that day.

The Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout (milk stout brewed with milk sugar and milk chocolate, Odell Brewing Co, Fort Collins, ABV 8.5%)  was basically a dare because I have yet to reach a level where stouts are things I want to drink. Also not a huge fan of chocolate anything (except me…. never mind). I did enjoy that it was similar to a glass of milk chocolate. I full glass of this would have been too much however so I opted for a 5 oz pour. A nice little finish to the night, like dessert.

Longwell’s ‘76 gets 4 smiles. I can see myself returning to watch a Broncos, Bulls or JayHawks game this season and trying more beers and menu items. Nice staff and atmosphere and it’s not too far from where I work. Would like to see them switch over to game audio but other than that Longwell’s is a great place for sports and beer fans.

Grane at Midtown Crossing

One of the newest additions to Midtown Crossing, Grane (120 South 31st Avenue, Suite 5105, Omaha) offers all the comforts of a modern day speakeasy. A whiskey dispensary that also offers a number of craft cocktails and small plates, this concept bar is brought to us from Brix, incorporating their tasting machines (you buy a dispensing card, then sample whisky and scotch to your heart or wallet’s content). Happy Hour is all day Monday and Tuesday (the whiskey machines are also half price all day Monday) as well as Wednesday - Saturday from 3p-6p. Their House Old Fashioned and Amaro are both on tap and $2 off as well as their other house cocktails and featured whiskey classics. Wines are $5 a glass and all draft beers are $2 off. All small plates including whiskey charcuterie (meat & cheese plate) and a chocolate whiskey bundt cake are 25% off.

I immediately loved Grane when I walked through the doors. Dimly lit and all brass and wood really makes you feel like you’ve walked back into the prohibition era. The bar is massive and I got a kick out of the rolling library style ladder the bartenders have to use to reach some of the bottles. I enjoyed that the walls were decorated with news clippings from Nebraska about prohibition and bootlegging as well as Capone-esque pictures of bootleggers and bartenders. Everyone was super helpful and attentive from the moment I arrived (both of my visits were on Mondays and their were only a few other patrons, but I get the feeling the service is the same even with a packed house). The GM even greeted me personally, remembered me upon my second visit and left me his card (great place Joel). Grane is the perfect place if you enjoy history, escapism and whiskey even half as much as I do.

My first order of business was to try the House Old Fashioned ($7: Wild Turkey 101, orange, sugar, angostura). I was a bit skeptical at first since this is “on tap” and how can a mass produced Old Fashioned really be good? It can if it’s from Grane. The drink was perfect and if you’ve never tried an Old Fashioned before this is a good place to start.

I also ordered the warm goat cheese fondue ($8.25: rustic country loaf, Shadowbrook Farm Chevre, roasted cippolini onions, Banguls vinegar reduction). The fondue came out promptly and piping hot. The reduction and onions were very nice compliments to each other as they were both sweeter.I do wish the onions had a bit more of a fine chop to them as currently you’re eating a whole clove at a time. The country loaf was fresh and soft but for this it may have served a better purpose by being toasted. Overall the fondue was a bit sweeter than I expected. I love the slight tanginess of goat cheese and it was definitely missing from this fondue.

I ended up getting a dispensing card, putting $10 on it and sampling three of the whiskeys Grane currently has. First was the George Dickel Grane 9 Year as the bartender had told me this was bottled for Grane (they even have the barrel it was aged in). It’s a Tennessee Style whiskey with notes of maple syrup and caramel and a smooth finish that lingers. Next was my favorite of the bunch, the Green Spot Single Pot Still. An Irish Whiskey comprised of pot still whiskeys aged between 7 to 10 years and matured in bourbon or sherry barrels, this whiskey is a spicier whiskey in tandem with green apple, leaving behind barley and clove notes (yes I just nerded out about the “nose” and “finish” and blah blah blah. I’m becoming a snob with these things). Last was the Greenore Single Grain Irish. This small batch Irish whiskey is also aged in bourbon barrels and made from corn instead of barley, lending it a sweeter taste. It’s not made in a pot still so the finish is smoother. I would recommend the dispensary machines to anyone who 1) likes whiskey or scotch 2) likes learning or tasting new alcohols on a budget 3) someone who just happens to be in Midtown on a Monday and wants something to do.

I ran out of time on my first visit so I returned to try the chocolate whisky bundt cake ($6: scotch raisin compote, bourbon caramel, irish cream ‘air’, coffee powder). The cake is really really dense and the coffee and whiskey is evident immediately. The irish cream ‘air’ (whipped cream) was delicious as was the scotch raisin compote. I would probably would just eat a bucket of it had it been available. I’m not a huge fan of chocolate cake but the raisins and irish cream air made me finish it. The bourbon caramel sauce was a little bit lost with everything else that was going on and I wish the cake had been warmed.

I give Grane 4.5 smiles. It is exactly what I imagine a speakeasy would look like with modern adaptations. The focus is where it should be, on the whiskey, so I only took away half a smile for the food. If you’re looking for an interesting date idea, want to sample something before buying it for a gift, or just want an excuse to dress up a little nicer and enjoy an Old Fashioned Grane in Midtown is the place to be.

Stokes Grill and Bar

With two locations in the Omaha Metro (12th and Howard in the Old Market and 13615 California Street in West Omaha) Stokes Grill & Bar focuses on southwestern Tex Mex cuisine. They have Happy Hour daily from 3-6p as well as a late night one from 9p to close. Beer, wine, margaritas and cocktails are on special ranging from $2.50 Corona bottles to $5.50 signature martinis. Selected tapas are discounted including the ceviche, tacos, wings and nachos (prices range from $3.50 to $6.95). Pretty reasonable prices for a Happy Hour that runs 7 days a week.

Although the menu didn’t specify if HH is bar area only we decided to sit there since they were pretty empty the Saturday afternoon my mother and I visited. We arrived at the tail end of the 3-6p HH and ordered pretty quickly. The restaurant is very dark, with a nice outdoor seating area as well as party rooms for special occasions. Decor matches the southwest theme at times being a little kitchy. At first our waiter/bartender was pretty prompt, taking our drink and food order. As there weren’t very many people sitting at the bar or in the restaurant in general we figured things would go relatively smoothly. There were quite a few people seated outdoors who would come in to order from the bar, something I found a little strange since there were tons of wait staff milling about the entirety of our visit. Our bartender brought our first drinks out pretty promptly but despite the small crowd our food took quite a while to come out. 

To start I ordered a strawberry margarita ($4). As far as margaritas go it was pretty standard. Couldn’t tell if they used fresh strawberries in their mix but not a lot of places do so this didn’t bother me much. The drink itself wasn’t very strong so Stokes won’t be top of mind next time I really want a marg and some chips (which is every other Tuesday honestly).

The first tapa that come out of the kitchen was the Chorizo Queso Dip ($4: white cheese topped with ground chorizo; served with tortilla chips). There are two things you need to know about me and queso: 1) I love it to death and 2) it doesn’t take much for me to like your queso (I’m a big fan of Qdoba’s). Keeping this in mind, Stokes chorizo queso dip is terrible. They literally put maybe a teaspoon of the chorizo in it. Not even enough for the dip to turn terra cotta colored when stirred. The dip came out lukewarm which is also a problem for me. Warm queso with warm chips should be like the southwestern restaurant standard I can get this right dish. My last point of contention with the dip was that it was obviously just a bowl of white Velveeta poorly heated up. Now while I hate Velveeta in theory, again I’m not a queso snob and know this is used in most quesos I like. The difference being most restaurants add other things to mask the plain white “cheese” blockness of Velveeta. 

Next I tried the wings ($5: grilled chicken wings served with Stokes’ BBQ sauce and sriracha). As I’m trying to eat a bit healthier I liked that these wings were grilled instead of fried as well as the fact that both sauces were included so you didn’t have to pick one or the other. The wings were hot when they arrived so points for Stokes. They were also well seasoned so I ate a few plain. I’d have liked them to have been grilled a bit longer to add a bit of texture or bite to them. The bbq sauce was pretty good, not too sweet or spicy. I had a problem with the sriracha though. Not with the actual sauce, which I love, but with Stokes’ decision to decorate the plate with it instead of just giving me a bowl of it. I get it, they wanted it to be plated nicely. But drawing patterns with it on my plate ends up in me not having a lot to put on my wings. What if I hated bbq sauce and wanted every wing coated in hot sauce? Logically I could have just asked for more sriracha but our waiter progressively got worse so that was out the window. Still the wings were the best thing I had at Stokes that night.

My last tapa was the taquitos ($4: black bean and corn taquitos served with spicy warmed green chili sauce). The taquitos came baked instead of fried (something healthier me liked) but the thicker tortilla used for this dish may have been better utilized fried. The black bean corn mixture was very bland almost as though they poured it straight from a can. I loved the green chili sauce (even though it wasn’t warm) but I hated the fact that I had to drown the taquitos in it for a hint of flavor. In the end I ended up leaving most of them on the plate.

While ordering my last drink my Stokes experience got worse. First the bartender decided to remind me it wasn’t HH anymore (something I had acknowledged already. We arrived at about 5:48 and I told him I wanted to make my INITIAL order before HH was over. I had no problems paying full price for my second drink as it is also on the HH menu for the purpose of the review). I got a Kentucky Derby, one of their copper cup cocktails ($5: Bulleit Bourbon, fresh lime juice, ginger beer). I love the little copper cups these are served in and am glad more restaurants are offering these for more than just gimlets as I’m not a huge gin or vodka drinker. Loved that this version used Bulleit, one of my favorite bourbons. I had very high expectations since my go to order at the bar is whiskey/bourbon and ginger ale/beer. Sadly this had way too much lime for my liking. You could barely taste the ginger beer, let alone the bourbon.

We asked for our check however our waiter/bartender decided the randoms at the bar and his co-workers at the plating area were more interesting. After waiting about 10-15 minutes to pay my bill I ended up waving down another bartender who had just arrived and gave him my money. It would be hard for me to recommend Stokes Grill and Bar to anyone from my experience. While the service may be better on other nights/visits the food and drinks weren’t the stuff dreams are made of (yes I dream about food, so what). I hate to do it but I really can’t give Stokes Grill & Bar any smiles.