Martha’s Pick:

Ooh De Lally
4916 Underwood Ave.
Fare: New American fine dining
Cost: $117 for one drink, two appetizers, two meals and one dessert
Reservations: Recommended

Greetings, Eaters and Readers!

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon an article highlighting a new Dundee eatery. Taking over the space formerly known as Mark’s Bistro, the new Ooh De Lally (ODL) is a restaurant on a mission.

A non-profit, ODL partners with 180 Rap, a Metropolitan Community College program that helps recently incarcerated and released persons, as well as individuals transitioning from treatment centers. 180 Rap provides services and support as participants pursue their education and employment goals.

Learning about ODL’s mission – and glancing through their menu – put them at the top of my list. So when May rolled around and it was my turn to choose, I didn’t need to spend any time researching. I picked Jaclyn up and, as we approached the Dundee area and Underwood Avenue, I divulged we were heading to Ooh De Lally; Jaclyn mentioned she had heard of it and hoped to go. It was a beautiful, spring evening as we found a parking spot and enjoyed a short walk to ODL’s front steps. The charming exterior giving a glimpse of ODL’s personality, we headed upstairs and inside to check in for our 6:15pm reservation.

Given ODL’s newness and schedule (closed Sunday and Monday; Tuesday – Thursday: 4 – 9 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday: 4 – 10 p.m.) a reservation is recommended. The walk to our table showed us the place was busy and getting busier. The buzz around ODL’s opening mentioned a patio area is coming – but we didn’t see any seats or tables when we walked past it.

Fuego Mango Margarita ($12) — Reposado Tequila, Bauchant Orange Cognac Serrano-Mango Agave, orange juice, lime, Tajin rim

Sitting at our cozy high top, we started reviewing the menus – both dinner and drinks. Only because it jumped out at me as fun to say, I ordered the Fuego Mango Margarita. What was served to me was a well-balanced cocktail (not too strong, not too wimpy) with a fun coating of Tajin around the rim. It’s a flavorful experience for your mouth and I enjoyed it.

Our corner table would have benefited from a small lamp – both Jaclyn and I thought it was a tad dark and hard to read the menu. But the service and attention that started with our drinks and continued throughout our meal was a bright spot. And in case it gets buried in the coming paragraphs – I feel compelled to say it here: the service we experienced at Ooh Da Lally was the best, most observant service I have experienced in a long time. Maybe ever.

Crab and Sweet Corn Croquettes ($18) — With remoulade and dressed greens

Once upon a time, Jaclyn and I bonded over our casual appreciation for crab cakes. And when you add words like sweet corn – well – I thought it was a no brainer that we would enjoy them.

When they hit the table, we learned the breading of a croquette is akin to that of a breaded mac n’ cheese ball or mozzarella stick. Inside the croquette was shredded crab meat and the occasional piece of corn. If we’re being honest, we were hoping for a creamy texture. The crab had the consistency of shredded tuna, but definitely the flavor of crab. We’re not sure what they bound the insides with, as it was a bit dry and fell apart after the first bite. We both thought, however, the dryness was addressed by the swash of remoulade on the plate. It had a nice, zesty kick to it.

We enjoyed them – but with each bite, I always wanted more sweet corn to break up the seafood flavors, and Jaclyn concurred. (I know. I know. My IOWA/her NEBRASKA is showing.) We finished them of course – but that may have been motivated by the $6-each price tag and desire to not leave that money on the plate!

Short Rib Fries ($14) — Hand-cut fries, braised short rib, Ooh de lager beer Cheese, smoked paprika mayo

The other appetizer that caught my attention was the short rib fries. I imagined it being an inspired version of poutine … maybe? Without the gravy, of course. But with ingredients like short ribs, beer cheese and smoked mayo – I had to try them.

My first few bites were scrumptious. Everything was hot and the fries were holding their crunchiness. Eventually, given our mediocre feelings about the crab cakes, I focused my attention on the fries. Again – and maybe I’m grumpy now that I’m *whispers* 40 … but I wished I could see the plate and food better. Jaclyn and I both think while these apps may have missed the mark for us, on a return visit, we’d probably try the Dundee Dip – which sounds like a warm, cheesy concoction that you get to enjoy with some crunchy bread.

Smoked Chicken Lasagna ($22) — Ricotta, crimini mushroom spinach, oregano cream, four cheese blend

This entree jumped out at me when I first I read the article about ODL and checked out their menu. So when I saw it again the night of our outing, I didn’t hesitate to order it. It featured some of my favorite ingredients – and it IS lasagna, after all. Usually hesitant about mushrooms, I hoped they would hardly be noticeable amongst all the other deliciousness.

I don’t know if I was getting full or if the flavor profiles just weren’t for me, but a few bites into the dish, I knew it wasn’t going to be my favorite lasagna. It was also about this time I began to wonder if I didn’t give proper consideration to all the flavors I’d be devouring. From the Tajin to the seafood and spicy remoulade; and from spicy mayo to the ricotta, oregano cream, and four cheese blend – I think my palate was simply overwhelmed. And hear me when I admit – that’s on ME, not Ooh Da Lally. I pushed through to enjoy the lasagna as much as I could, but I only ate about half. I also lied to myself and said I was stopping to save room for dessert.

Lobster Roll ($28) — Brown butter, lobster sauce, toasted roll

Being in a landlocked state means you don’t find lobster rolls on the menu very often. So, when Jaclyn saw it as an option, ordering it was a must. Upon voicing her selection, the server informed Jaclyn it was a Connecticut-style lobster roll – meaning hot and doused in butter. Jac had only ever tried (and loved) the cold-and-wrapped-in-mayo Maine style, so she was excited to try this version to compare. 

As promised, the lobster roll came out hot and dripping in butter. The meat had the slightly sweet, nutty flavor you’d expect, and paired nicely with the brown butter and toasty bun. It didn’t take long for Jac to finish the roll. But part of the reason she ate it so quickly was the size. It wasn’t a terribly large sandwich, which she hoped it would be given the price tag. And while yes, ODL’s Connecticut-style lobster roll was good, Jaclyn decided she prefers Maine’s rendition.

Side Ooh De Lally Greens Salad ($4) — Farro, dried cherry, pepitas, Ricotta salata, teardrop peppers, honey citrus vinaigrette

When Jaclyn ordered her entree, which comes with fries, the server asked if she’d rather have a side salad since we were already ordering an appetizer with fries. Originally thinking this was an attempt to suggest a healthier choice (thank you?), Jaclyn later realized it was probably a clever way to snag the up-charge. Our waitress is a smart cookie! Of the few bites she had, Jac says the leafy greens tasted like they came straight from the dirt. Perhaps it was a fluke, or maybe the greens actually did come directly from the Dundee community garden. The salad toppings were good, but the earthy flavor was hard to overcome. Jaclyn won’t be saying yes to a side salad in the future.

Whiskey Bread Pudding ($9) with Vanilla Ice Cream ($3) — Mulled spices, warm butter sauce

Even though we asked to see a dessert menu, we knew full-well the bread pudding was in our future. Suffice it to say, the piping-hot dessert was the best thing we put in our mouths all evening. It was a classic, warmly spiced, sweet and dense bread pudding. Dipping each bite into the warm butter sauce and vanilla ice cream, we happily devoured it. We can see why the server said it was a house favorite!

Final Bites

We both believe strongly that this restaurant and its mission deserves to be supported by the community. In fact, if the buzz around Ooh De Lally is any indication – plus the full house we experienced on the Tuesday evening we visited – it already is being embraced quite warmly. ODL has a LOT to be proud of: a beautifully designed, charming space; a worthy mission by which they are already living and succeeding; an ambitious menu that elevates expectations; and a thoughtful, dedicated staff that pulls it all together.

That amazing service I mentioned at the beginning? It accompanied our experience from start to finish. At one point – after Jaclyn’s empty lobster roll plate was taken away, I overheard the bartender and other staff whispering “did that table get her lobster roll? Can someone check?” Eventually, one of the team leaders approached the table and checked to make sure Jaclyn received her main course. There were a handful of moments like that all evening – where the staff showed itself to be tuned in and observant, always anticipating our needs. To me, that care and attention to detail indicates how sincerely they approach their mission: guiding and teaching their 180 Rap interns (the servers and cooks) that success, like most things, is in the details.

A mural on the wall just inside the door welcomes visitors to ‘a community of second chances’. We think that sums up our feelings after our inaugural visit to Ooh De Lally. Despite the flavors we may not have loved this time, we both genuinely look forward to our next visit to try other menu items, like the Dundee dip, their burger, or the popular mac and cheese (a nod to the former Mark’s menu staple). Or perhaps we’ll go to enjoy something not listed on the menu: supporting people who are living their passion and improving the lives of those around them. That always gets a double fork-up from us.

Cheers!
The Good Bite Gals

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