Best Restaurant Meal in 2015

[nativeomahan]

With the year coming to a close, I wanted to hear from forum members about their best local restaurant meal(s) they have enjoyed over the past year. Either from an established restaurant or one that has opened their doors in the past year. Has anything "wowed" you?

The Omaha restaurant scene is vibrant, with places opening and closing all the time.

For my part, I finally got out to the new Stokes restaurant by Boys Town, and just really love their food. Plus I think they have some of the very best house margaritas I've ever sampled. And a couple of recent visits to España in Benson found the place (finally) on top of their game. We absolutely were wowed by some of the tapas. I also really enjoy the atmosphere and sophisticated bar food at The Burlington League. (They are rolling out an expanded menu next week). I want to try Enzo's and the Mouth of the South, in Florence. They are just located far off my normal restaurant radar screen.

[Brad]

801 Chophouse and the Drover are probably my two favorites of the year.

I am glad to hear you like Stokes. I have always enjoyed it, but they do seem to have their fare share of haters.

Burlington League and Mouth of the south are also both on my radar. I have heard nothing but great things about both!

[Professor Woland]

I had an amazing salmon at the Grey Plume, really the whole meal was fantastic. I also really enjoyed a couple of meals at Avoli this year. We made a trip to the 801 and everything was superb, but I made the mistake of going rare instead of medium rare on the steak do that hurt the experience, through no fault of the restaurant's.

[Brad]

I forgo about Avoli, always a great meal too!

[Coyote]

OK, it took a while to go back and see where I have been in 2015, but here is a sampling of my favorites:



Best Breakfast (Brunch): Dad's Breakfast, with a Flight of Kinkaider Beer - Local, Beer Patio and Kitchen

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Best Lunch: Sausage Mix on a Stick - Beer, Blatt and Table (Legacy)

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Best Bar Food: Charbuff Wings - Salty Dog Bar & Grill

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Best Food Truck Meal: Crawfish Boil - Taste of New Orleans

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Best Appetizer: Ahi Fish Tacos - Cantina Laredo

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Best Appetizer II: Beef Carpaccio - Enzo's Italian in Florence

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Best Entreè: Camaron Poblano Asada - Cantina Laredo

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[Brad]

I love those Ahi Tuna Tacos at Cantina Laredo.

Looks like I need to get back to the Blatt and try that sausage.

[Coyote]

Looks like I need to get back to the Blatt and try that sausage.

Sausage? "Beer-braised bratwurst, jalapeño Polish sausage & smoked kielbasa sausage, braised kraut, dill potato salad, German rosemary mustard, smoked tomato ketchup." Made in-house.

[Original]

The Massaman curry at Salween Thai (either location) is very, very good. Really, anything at Salween is excellent. If you haven't eaten there, allocate a little more time than normal, and go. It's great. The Radial location has a little bit better atmosphere, if that's important to you.

We've also really enjoyed the Student Bistro at the Fort Street Campus of Metro. My wife isn't a big fan of duck or steak, but their Pre Fixe can include that and she'll eat it happily, because it's very good. The students are also fun to interact with.

[iamjacobm]

Mahogany the steak was obviously fantastic.
Lot 2 steak and fries, adventurous of me I know.
Pasta Amore had the rabbit, probably my most unique meal of the year.
Block 16 burger still never disappoints.
Louie M's is the goto brunch place for me now.
The crawfish boil at Barrett's gets an honorable mention.

Also went to Market House and M's. Market House was good, didn't make a huge mark on me. M's was good as always.

Outside of Omaha had great meals at the Snack Bar in Austin, Monarch in Houston and Euclid Hall in Denver.

[EastCB]

Saigon Surface.
Twisted cork
M's
360 Steakhouse

[Ramlco]

• Dario's Brasserie
  Cote de Porc (Frites as an appetizer because they're the best in town!)
• Railcar
  Coffee Rubbed Ribeye
• Farnam House Brewing
  House Burger with an Egg
• Market House
  Butter Bar with Nutella Ice Cream

[coelestis]

Hi,

Espana in Benson http://www.espanaomaha.com/ has been my favorite restaurant for the past several years.
It is a very social thing, to go with good friends and order various tapas to share at the table.
Not every tapas that I try is a 10/10, but the experience of sharing with friends is what makes it great.

Brindis! <clink glasses>

[nativeomahan]

Twisted Cork is close to where I live, but I never think to eat there. I need to put it on my list for 2016. Dario's is always excellent. As is their sister restaurant, Osteria Avoli.

[bigredmed]

Twisted Cork is good. They have brunch, but for my money, brunch at Railcar surpasses it.

For dinner, we like both. Railcar has a broader menu.

[choke]

I second that sausage on a stick at the Blatt. Delicious!

[PotatoeEatsFish]

Once you've eaten at Big Mama's Kitchen all other food seems bland.

[daveoma]

Best martini in 2015 was an orange martini from Blue Sushi ($5 Happy Hour price was bomb)

Best meal in 2015 was prime rib at Farmer Brown's in Waterloo.

[lisanstan]

In no particular order other than as they come to mind:

Avoli - Rosemary Focaccia
Cantina Laredo - Torte de Carnitas
J Coco - Fish special
The French Bulldog - Rillettes and baguette from Le Quartier

[Omababe]

The best local restaurant meals I remember from 2015 were Piccolo's and La Casa. Yeah you can call me old-school.

[Coyote]

A most delicious year: Top 10 reviewed restaurants in 2015

1. Twisted Cork
2. Nite Owl and its Ugly Duck Ramen pop-up restaurant
3. The Market House
4. Fat Shack
5. Le Voltaire
6. Dugger’s Cafe
7. Corkscrew Wine & Cheese, Blackstone District
8. Himalayas
9. Enzo’s Italian in Florence
10. Jams

[43county]

I went to Twisted Cork for lunch on Christmas and was blown away, again. I live right by there and I think it's about the perfect little neighborhood spot: everything is well thought out from the beer and wine to the food menu and Iove you can have a meal for under $20 that's going to be delicious, or a really nice dinner that will be as good as just about anything in town. I'm a huge fan.

[lisanstan]

I forgot to add to my list: El Basha, especially the hummus. I have lived in the Middle East, and this is good stuff!

[iamjacobm]

Wow Dugger's in the Top 10? I was very underwhelmed when I went there. Too many other good breakfast places in town to go back for me.

[Coyote]

You know I had kind of forgotten about the Twisted Cork Bistro (107 & Pacific). I went there 6 years ago but have never managed to get back. I could swear I had a review for this with pictures but can't find it anywhere. A nice NW theme and some great menu items.

[bigredmed]

You know I had kind of forgotten about the Twisted Cork Bistro (107 & Pacific). I went there 6 years ago but have never managed to get back. I could swear I had a review for this with pictures but can't find it anywhere. A nice NW theme and some great menu items.

Went there 3-4 times in 2015 including once for brunch. Solid performances each time, but I think I prefer Railcar for Sunday brunch.

[RNcyanide]

I would have to say that Pig and Finch was the best I've had this year. Market House comes in second. Hunan Fusion comes in for the most reliable Chinese/fusion restaurant. Not the best by any means, but I've never been disappointed.