Jaclyn’s Pick:
The Linden House
721 N 132nd St (Linden Market)
Fare: European-American fine dining
Cost: $106 for one appetizer, one drink, two meals and one dessert
Reservations: We made one, but didn’t need it. There were plenty of seats available on our Thursday visit.
Greetings, Eaters and Readers!
This month marks a very special one for us at The Good Bite. It’s our 100th review! A milestone more than eight years in the making. In that time, we’ve had countless crab rangoons, bread puddings and hours spent laughing across the table. And what better way to celebrate than with another meal together?
Naturally, such a momentous occasion called for a classy joint. A quick search for Omaha fine dining brought up the usual suspects: Boiler Room, V. Mertz, Avoli Osteria. All excellent contenders, but I wanted to find somewhere we’d never heard of.
And there she sat, tucked into the corner of Linden Market: The Linden House.
I did a little digging and discovered the woman behind The Linden House, Jennifer Coco, got her start in the restaurant industry at just 15 years old. Fast-forward a few decades and she’s now a four-time James Beard Award nominee. (And the first woman in Nebraska to receive those accolades. 💪🏻)
Upon walking in, we clocked that we were easily the youngest people in the restaurant. And while the other diners were dressed in suits and slacks, there I stood in my leggings, sweater and combat boots. Whoops. But you know what? Act like you belong, and you will!
Nevertheless, our host warmly greeted us and led us to our favorite kind of seating arrangement. You know the one … a booble!
Lemon Elderflower Spritz ($13) — Sparkling wine, fresh lemon, eldeflower
She wasn’t planning to get a drink, but Martha made a last-minute call to try the Lemon Elderflower Spritz – for no other reason than she likes a good spritz. She sipped it while we chatted and noshed on our curry fries. It was light and maybe more summery than one might be in the mood for in mid-October, but she found it to be a delightful start to her Linden House experience.
Curry Fries ($8) — Served with truffle mayo and spicy mayo
We both thought the curry fries sounded like the right starter. A plateful of thinly cut, gently-seasoned fries came out accompanied by truffle mayo and spicy mayo for dipping. Martha and I briefly commiserated about the fact that aioli-like sauces always sound good in anticipation, only to feel underwhelmed when they hit our taste buds. One particular sauce – the truffle mayo – proved to be no different.
We both really enjoyed the fries, especially when they were their freshest and hottest, with the spicy mayo. The online menu mentioned honey mustard as a dipping option and although it wasn’t offered, we both would imagine opting for it over the truffle mayo.
Blackened Chicken Gouda Pasta ($32) — Creamy gouda, applewood bacon, cavatappi, blackened chicken breast, parmeesan, sautéed vegetables
Everything about this item called out to Martha with the features and flavors to which she usually gravitates: melty gouda cheese sauce, blacked chicken, cavatappi – one of the fun noodles! She waffled a bit looking over the menu. So many items sounded like they would treat her right. She asked the server to help her decide between the gouda pasta or the Blackberry Fig Pork – and he hardly waited to blink before saying, “Oh, that blackened chicken pasta is … always so good.”
Her initial feelings endorsed by the house, Martha dug into the gouda pasta and never looked back. She loved the colorful vegetables that topped the dish: purple cauliflower, bright green beans, asparagus, sugar snap peas and one bright orange carrot. It was nice to break up the heaviness of the pasta dish with freshly steamed bites. She’s glad she knows how good the chicken gouda pasta is, but she’s eager to keep trying other menu items – given how well everything tasted on our inaugural Linden House visit.
Shrimp & Scallops Risotto Carbonara ($36) — Sautéed scallops, grilled shrimp, creamy parmesan risotto, carbonara style
I first gravitated toward their burger – wagyu, pretzel bun, caramelized onions … YUP. But something about it being our 100th, at a fine dining restaurant, I felt I owed it to the blog to branch out. Never have I ever ordered scallops, though. And I rarely choose shrimp. But I was confident that any dish created by Chef Coco wouldn’t disappoint. And my trust paid off when I took the first bite.
All I really look for in seafood is that it’s not overly fishy tasting or rubbery in texture. Both the shrimp and scallops met that criteria and therefore tasted great to me. The risotto was definitely my favorite part – and I knew it would be. Creamy parmesan? Get outta here! (And into my mouth).
Very good. Highly recommend!
Mixed Berry Bread Pudding ($8)
And what better way to round out our celebratory review than with our all-time fave: bread pudding! How fitting that it happened to be on the menu for our special occasion.
While we’re used to seeing chocolate- or caramel-heavy versions, we were delighted to see a mixed berry option. It was sized just right for sharing, especially considering our already-full bellies. And let me tell you, this one ranks among the best we’ve ever had. No small feat considering how much bread pudding we’ve consumed over the years!
Final Bites
I had a good feeling we’d be walking out of The Linden House with two forks up, and I’m happy to report we did.
From the moment we walked through the door, the service was excellent. And it didn’t let up throughout our entire meal. One thing I always appreciate is a staff that works together seamlessly. Whether it was the host checking in or another server lending a hand, everyone seemed to have each other’s backs. No one missed a beat, and it made for a pretty flawless dining experience.
From start to finish, The Linden House delivered. The food, the atmosphere, the service … it all came together for a wonderful evening. And considering we were celebrating our centennial review, we couldn’t have asked for a better place to mark the occasion!
So, the next time you have something worth celebrating (or just feel like treating yourself to a fancy night out), we’d happily point you in the direction of this fine establishment.
Cheers!
The Good Bite Gals
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