The Omaha Critic

I have decided that since my favorite barbeque caterer had opened a store front, I might as well do a review of his food. To be honest with you, I feel a little guilty for not going to his new establishment in Ralston. I met “The Meat Man” about 6 months ago when I started a new job here in Omaha. I was working through lunch, like I always do, and the head project manager came over and asked me if I had met “The Meat Man”. Well, obviously, since I just started, I hadn’t met him yet. So I wandered out into the lobby of our building to see what all the hubbub was.

During the work week, our company invites different businesses to come in and sell food in our lobby during the lunch. The vendors have to be here at 11AM and need to stay until 1:30PM. We’ve had Chinese, subs, pizza, and Mexican which have all been pretty good. Then? You have “The Meat Man”!

“The Meat Man” has been coming every Wednesday and Friday every week without fail for at least 6 months. Now, because of his storefront business opening and the desire of our employees for some variety, he’s now down to one day a week. It makes me sad, because now we have Godfather’s on “The Meat Man’s” Friday schedule. That was a major downer.

This is where this review gets complicated. I need to review this business, and I don’t know how to do it. I have yet to go to his storefront in Ralston, but I feel that his “q” is so damn good, that I have to say something about it. So I am ONLY going to review my interaction with him and his food.

The owner of Big Boy BBQ, has been coming to my location for 6 months. Each and every time I have spoken to him and ordered from him, he has been attentive, friendly and patient (for those people who just stand there looking at the menu that hardly changes). The area that he sets up in is always clean, the steam tables are running hot, and his cold items are kept in a large cooler that is clean and well chilled. When he cleans up for the day, his area is left just as he found it. I know this doesn’t sound like much, however there have been some vendors that have come in and the food is set on the floor, not stored properly, and one time (that I witnessed) “Blimpie” took the lid off their soup crock pot and set it food side down on the floor. I vowed never to eat “Blimpie” in the building again (which I did, and got violently ill). So… “Blimpie” as a reference, Big Boy BBQ is a freak’n school cafeteria (which always has A+ health ratings).

So I’ve had several meat combinations, from his ham, to the ribs, and even a jalapeno sausage. The end-all, be all, item that “The Meat Man” has? That’s the pulled pork. I typically get it without a bun and with cheesy potatoes. It’s $5.50 for all that. His spicy sauce is the perfect accompaniment to both the pork and the potatoes. The pork is smoked to perfection without being overpowering to the pallet. I honestly want to go back for seconds each and every time he’s here, but I feel foolish (so I don’t).

Pluses: Great food, great smoke level, everything I’ve had is juicy and flavorful. It’s a great deal for $5.50 and you get tons of food. Clean Clean Clean!!!!

Minuses: Needs pickles and onions on the table. Needs an “extra spicy”. Doesn’t sell sweet tea at the catering stop!

Overall Impression: I like this guy! I like “The Meat Man!!!” as my co-worker puts it: “He’ll give you lots of meat!” He takes the time to make it right and is proud of his work. He is also open to suggestions. Here is his MENU!

~The Omaha Critic

Do you like Vietnamese food?  I do.  I like it a bunch.  I have been a fan of Kim San and Saigon for years.  I was wandering around West Omaha looking for a place to eat.  I had the family in tow and we wanted to try something different.   We drove past what used to be the shell of the old “Cheeseburger Cheeseburger” out on West Center road.  On the building was “O Mai”, hanging on the wall.  My wife looks over at me and says “Oh, hey.  I got a mailer on that place and I wanted to try it.”

Not being one to deny my wife anything and liking Vietnamese food myself, I pulled into the back of the building.  We meandered the wooden walkway in between the two buildings toward the front.  We noticed that there was a crew dismantling the remains of the old “Moe’s” that was recently closed.  Then we looked left into O Mai’s.  We noticed it was empty, save a lone child sitting at a table eating.  We looked at the open sign then looked at each other, wondering if it was really open.  We opened the door and let ourselves in. 
I had been into the place when it was “Cheeseburger Cheeseburger”.  It was the quintessential 50’s, retro-look wannabe.  Now, the gleaming chrome was replaced by earth-tone greens and yellows.  It was elegant and pristine.  It was very clean and nice.  We stood looking around and soon we were seated. 

We ordered appetizers and drinks and waited for a while.  Eventually they came out and brought our appetizers.  It was a little awkward because they didn’t take our order until after we were finished eating our appetizers.  Now…   We had a few kinds of spring rolls and a fried roll of some sort.  There was also squid in the form of a calamari (fried).  Oh my god.  They were so good.  I REALLY loved the Calamari and they had a bbq pork spring roll that was just awesome. 

So after we put in our order for our dinner, we started the long… arduous wait for our food.  I ordered a seafood, tomato, noodle soup (No, I don’t remember which one..  Look at the menu.. Sheesh)  Once of my daughters ordered this noodle dish, the other ordered Pho, and my wife ordered this grilled chicken dish.  The older boy ordered fried rice and the other ordered a seafood pho.   Now, as we sat there, some guy walks in.  We’re sitting at our table, the only people there, and some very large man, walks in, doesn’t wait for anyone to seat him, and takes a slow leisurely stroll around.   Ok, it wasn’t leisurely.  It was freaking creepy!

So this guy takes a seat and the waitress gets him all settled in.  My wife and I actually got shivers from this guy, but we blew it off and went back to our own conversation.    So we waited there. Our food started coming out, one plate at a time.  Me, then two kids, then another…   I mean it REALLY took a long time.  5 of the 6 dishes came out.  Our fried rice was at least 15 to 20 minutes from the first dish coming out.  The waitress tried to play it off, but 15 minutes is 15 minutes.

That being said, and the service being slow… The food blew me away.  My noodles were cooked perfectly, the soup had great flavor and was very much on my radar of flavors.  My wife’s chicken, was so awesome, I wanted to take it and run off with it.  My daughter’s noodle dish was so good.  It was cooked perfectly and the vegetables were cooked but crisp. 

So, back to my soup:  I have had allot of seafood soups from Asian restaurants in my life.  One thing I always had problems with was the randomness of the fish bits, and the funky shrimp.  This time?  The flavors melded together and there wasn’t anything funky in it.  It tasted great and I sucked down the entire bowl.  After that, I turned my attention to all the dishes the kids didn’t finish.  The Pho that my daughter was eating was excellent.   There were a different kind of noodle with her dish that had a great flavor.  The meat in the Pho was tender and flavorful.  My youngest son’s Seafood Pho left me wishing I had a full order of that as well.  So..  That being said… and the service what it was…  I now have to officially rate this place.

Pluses:  The food was fantastic, the best Vietnamese food I have ever had.  Elegant and delicious, and left me wanting more.  The décor was beautiful.  The new chairs really fit with the theme and the place was spotless.   The prices were awesome and you got a great value in each meal.

Minuses:  The service was slow.  Not bad… just ridiculously slow and having your dinner for a family of 6 come out piecemeal was frustrating.

Overall Impression:  This place is a diamond in the rough.  This is one of those well kept secrets of Omaha.  I ask that you take a moment to go in here and eat.  Keep this place open.  You will not be sorry for the experience.  I am hoping they can pull it together and become one of the great restaurants of Omaha.  I plan on going back as many times as I can!

~The Omaha Critic