Rick's Cafe Boatyard

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:25 am

I would have thought we would have had a Rick's Cafe Boatyard thread....

Rick's Cafe Boatyard

Rick's Cafe Boatyard: Restaurant still lacks consistency

http://omaha.com/article/20090612/ENTER ... /706129972

NICHOLE AKSAMIT WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:We were seated around 6 p.m. at a dusty table on the windblown patio along with several others who didn't realize how chilly it would be on the eastern edge of Rick's Cafe Boatyard.

The 1,000-seat restaurant wasn't full, but it was bustling, perhaps because of that evening's Kenny Chesney concert at the nearby Qwest Center Omaha.

Ninety minutes and $81 later, we slid into a booth at a midtown fast-food joint for something that, while arguably uninspired, was more satisfying.

At Rick's that night, the kitchen was swift. Sadly, not much coming out of it was craveable.

Don't get me wrong: I'm rooting for Marcus Woodworth, the relatively new executive chef at Rick's who, in recent months, has managed to get more diners to their shows on time. I wish him luck with the next challenge: the quality and consistency problems apparent on three visits in May.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:52 am

Does anyone like this place? I have eaten there twice and had them take the food back both times because it was inedible. Everyone I know who has eaten there has never said anything nice about the place. It's a shame. If they're going to take up such a prime spot on the river and ruin it with parking that better be the best |expletive| restaurant in the region let alone the city.

ThatGuy · Post by **ThatGuy** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:17 am

I've been there 4 times and sent the food back 3 of the four times. The place is a joke.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:22 am

The last time I was there was when my old job took me out to eat on my last day of work and most of us did not like what we got. It would be one thing if one person sent their food back saying it was inedible, but not multiple people.

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:51 am

All I've ever heard is how much this place sucks. It's amazing it's still around, and incredibly sad it's the only thing on the riverfront.

ThatGuy · Post by **ThatGuy** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:56 am

I get the feeling that they know they are going to get decent business no matter what due to their location....so why even try.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:10 am

I'm not going to name names, but the existence of Rick's as the only private commercial entity on the riverfront is the absolute epitome of the Omaha good ol' boy network.

It really is a shame.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:45 am

I don't think you need to name names because it's obvious. That restaurant sucks but will do decent business just because of where it is.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:56 am

The only time I ever go there is when I am boating on the river. Stop by the outdoor bar for a few and then head back to the boat.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:01 am

Well you can't real mess up a drink that bad but you're not missing out on the food at all.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:53 pm

Never eaten there but have given out many gift certificates as thank you's. If it's actually this bad, I should probably consider an alternative.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:04 pm

Great, now everyone thinks you hate them.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:31 pm

DTO Luv wrote:Great, now everyone thinks you hate them.

Lol, yeah. This entire time i've been pissing people off instead of giving them thanks.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:51 pm

I probably shouldn't, but I'm probably going to try and eat there once so I can see how it is myself. If it's no good, I will definitely let them know.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:36 pm

I was very happy to see this review of Rick's. For years we dined there regularly, and while the service had its ups and downs the food always seemed good, if quirky (they wouldn't do fried eggs for Sunday brunch!). But 2 years ago we had a horrible experience, where the restaurant refused (!) to split a check for 10 people at our table. We complained and got nowhere, and wrote a letter to the restaurant, and it was never even acknowledged.

The place has a sweetheart deal with the city, paying next to no rent! So they don't need to put out good food. They have a total monopoly on riverfront dining, and it shows.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:33 pm

I've eaten at Rick's several times in the past, and have always had good experiences.

Their STRONGEST asset is, without a doubt, their amazing outdoor bar (and their location...duh)

My girlfriend and I did burgers and drinks there earlier this spring. The burgers were great, HOWEVER (and that's a big "however"): For some reason I remembered their bloody marys being REALLY good... These were the WORST bloody marys I have EVER tasted. They tasted like shrimp cocktail sauce. I even asked the bartender about it and she said it was pre-made mix. I REALLY doubt any pre-made mix would be this bad... and this UN-like an actual bloody mary. They'd be better served by just sticking with Mr. T's.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:00 am

During UNO's Stomping of Bowling Green this weekend at the Qwest Center, The Public Address Announcer was doing a live advertisement for Rick's. Apparently New Owners, New Management, New Chef, and coming soon and New Menu. Anyone know more?

Murz · Post by **Murz** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:37 pm

Brad wrote:During UNO's Stomping of Bowling Green this weekend at the Qwest Center, The Public Address Announcer was doing a live advertisement for Rick's. Apparently New Owners, New Management, New Chef, and coming soon and New Menu. Anyone know more?

This is what was in the OWH on Feb.19th...

Two familiar-to-Omaha faces are behind the wheel at Rick’s Cafe Boatyard: John Begley is now general manager and a partner, with majority owner Rick Albrecht. And James Davis is the restaurant’s new executive chef.

Begley — one-time vice president of Upstream Brewing Co., co-owner of Lucky’s ten-O-one and managing partner at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse — said he joined the riverfront restaurant in January.

Davis — former longtime Upstream Brewing chef and opening chef for the recently opened Rock Bottom Gold-Medal Tap — signed on at Rick’s this week. (Rock Bottom franchise owner Greg Cutchall said Davis’ sous chef, Michael Kruger, succeeds him as executive chef.)

Begley said he and Davis are working on a new menu for Rick’s, to roll out in April.

“We’re going to scale back, focus on fresh seafood, fine-tune the peripherals and get more global with our influences,” he said.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:01 pm

We/I can hope that a new management team will turn this Titanic on the Missouri around before it sinks permanently below the water line.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:43 pm

Went there Saturday night and I will say the service was a lot better than previous trips.

Greg

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Fri May 28, 2010 4:18 pm

Visited Rick's website and wondered whose photo of the pedestrian bridge graces the homepage. looks like a pretty low res image to be legit... :?

Post by **Brad** » Fri May 28, 2010 6:42 pm

almighty_tuna wrote:Visited Rick's website and wondered whose photo of the pedestrian bridge graces the homepage. looks like a pretty low res image to be legit... :?

That's |expletive| Mine!!!!!

Time to fire up an email!!!

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Fri May 28, 2010 8:24 pm

Brad -- maybe you can get free food. :lol:

Post by **nebugeater** » Sat May 29, 2010 6:33 am

Brad wrote:
almighty_tuna wrote:Visited Rick's website and wondered whose photo of the pedestrian bridge graces the homepage. looks like a pretty low res image to be legit... :?
That's |expletive| Mine!!!!!

Time to fire up an email!!!

Can't be Brad They have the Page Copyrighted and there is no way someone doing that would steal a photo!!! :;):

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Sat May 29, 2010 8:21 am

Gee whiz... is this like the 3rd Brad Williams copyright infringement in like a month or so?

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sat May 29, 2010 10:35 am

Oh my god. How unprofessional. Not only are they using the photo without rights (it would seem), but it's all distorted and blurry.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Sat May 29, 2010 7:15 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:it's all distorted and blurry.

Yes, that's what happens when you steal a low res image and try to make it bigger.

@Brad - I thought it looked familiar. glad i could call them out for you.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:02 pm

This plagiarism tells me that RCB is still a POS.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:20 pm

My wife and I ate at Rick's today for lunch, it wasn't priced too unreasonably, and the food was actually pretty good. It wasn't over-the-moon delicious, but tasty no less. We had the chef's platter (calamari--they were big, breaded nicely, chicken cordon bleu fingers, and panko breaded shrimp, served with 3 very delicious dipping sauces), crab stuffed mushrooms (good, but only warm--not hot), and we each had the battered [cod] fish and chips. The dill tartar sauce was awesome, and the service was prompt and frequent, but unintrusive. We ended up paying about $50 for all we had ordered, which was quite a lot and ended up taking 1/2 home.

Good time.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 3:19 am

Have you seen a cardiologist lately?

S33 · Post by **S33** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:07 am

thenewguy wrote:My wife and I ate at Rick's today for lunch, it wasn't priced too unreasonably, and the food was actually pretty good. It wasn't over-the-moon delicious, but tasty no less. We had the chef's platter (calamari--they were big, breaded nicely, chicken cordon bleu fingers, and panko breaded shrimp, served with 3 very delicious dipping sauces), crab stuffed mushrooms (good, but only warm--not hot), and we each had the battered [cod] fish and chips. The dill tartar sauce was awesome, and the service was prompt and frequent, but unintrusive. We ended up paying about $50 for all we had ordered, which was quite a lot and ended up taking 1/2 home.

Good time.

That. Sounds. Awesome. I need to eat there again sometime soon, even with all the bad pub it's gotten on this forum.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:25 am

Picture taken this summer