GREY PLUME TAKES FLIGHT
One of Omaha's most anticipated new restaurants, already named America's greenest, opens tonight at 220 S. 31st Ave. in Midtown Crossing.
The Grey Plume — a seasonally-driven, eco-minded, locally-sourced restaurant owned by Omaha chef Clayton Chapman and his Illinois mentor Michael Howe — has already received the Green Restaurant Association's highest rating for its commitment to sustainable materials, ingredients and practices.
And many local foodies are eager to see what Chapman, the culinary whiz who trained in Chicago and headed the V. Mertz kitchen at age 21, will bring to the menu at his first restaurant as owner.
Chapman said the menu will change constantly with the availability of local produce and livestock. His opening menu includes a small selection of starters and main plates featuring rabbit, chicken, lamb, Red Wattle pork and Wagyu beef from the region, with dinner entrees priced between $21 and $29. He said a daily tasting menu will be available at a reserved chef's table in the bar.
Chicago-based wine author and sommelier John Laloganes designed the wine list, which features wines from vineyards and wineries with sustainable growing practices.
The restaurant will serve dinner, starting at 5 tonight, Saturday and Sunday, and will serve its first lunch, starting at 11 a.m., on Monday. Ongoing hours thereafter will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Reservations are a good idea, as the Grey Plume has just 61 seats. The number is 763-4447. The website is www.thegreyplume.com.
* * *
PHO FOR LA VISTA
A new Vietnamese Restaurant opened at 8013 S. 83rd Ave. in La Vista last week. It's co-owned by Evie Huyhn, who said her family has owned the original Vietnamese Restaurant on South 72nd Street since its launch 15 years ago.
Huyhn said she bought the 72nd Street restaurant from her uncle about five years ago and sold it earlier this year to her cousin. She and partner Sahn Pham opened the new restaurant, near 84th Street and Giles Road in La Vista, on Nov. 29.
Huyhn said the mostly Vietnamese menu includes the family specialty — the beef noodle soup pho — and some Thai curries.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. The number is 991-8998.
* * *
NEW PIZZA IN MIRACLE HILLS
San Francisco-based Extreme Pizza will open its first Omaha location, at 741 N. 125th St. in Miracle Hills, on Monday.
The 16-year-old company has locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington state and in Dublin, Ireland. Its eateries feature an extreme sports theme and serve pizzas, by the slice or the whole round, with clever names like Peace in the Middle East (hummus, tomatoes, olives, onions, feta, basil, pepperoncini and mozzarella). Diners can also create their own pizzas with four types of crusts (thin, thick, wheat and gluten-free), more than 50 toppings and 10 sauces prepared fresh daily. The company also serves sandwiches, calzones and desserts.
The Omaha franchise, owned and operated by Omahan Lisa Gordon and her son, manager Nick Gordon, seats about 50 for dining in and also delivers and offers take-and-bake versions of its pizzas to finish at home.
Nick Gordon said hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10:30 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. The number is 884-1115. The website is www.extremepizza.com.
* * *
CALI-MEX IN EX-PRIMA
Baja Grill, the new independent restaurant in the former Prima 140 space, opens officially on Monday after a soft launch with a limited menu this weekend.
Owner Kevin Fischer, former general manager of Tanner's Bar & Grill in Omaha, said the casual eatery at 2523 S. 140th Ave. serves California-style Mexican fare. The menu includes fish tacos, smoked meats and pork chile verde, along with bar staples such as wings and pizza, most under $10. Fischer said he'd originally planned to do more of the cooking himself but has hired chef Chris Griesfeller and retained some of the Prima 140 kitchen crew. “I'm so happy with the way the cooking staff turned out,” he said.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. The number is 697-7840. The website is www.bajagrillomaha.com.
* * *
A SOUP-ER IDEA
Soup Revolution, Omaha's mobile soup van, and eCreamery, the custom ice cream shop in Dundee, are pairing up on Tuesdays this winter. The soup van will sell its soups and other goods inside the ice cream shop at lunchtime every Tuesday (except Dec. 28) from now through spring. That way, diners can eat indoors and avoid any non-ice-cream-related chills. They're calling it “Soups & Scoops.”
* * *
HOLIDAY TASTING
The WheatFields at One Pacific Place hosts its ninth annual Breakfast with Santa, a benefit for the Salvation Army, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday . The restaurant serves holiday-themed a la carte breakfast specials including gingerbread waffles and cocoa, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Salvation Army. Kids can visit Santa, check out the bakers' gingerbread display and bring an unwrapped toy or a cash donation for the Salvation Army's holiday toy drive.
— Nichole Aksamit
Got restaurant news, questions or tips? Call food writer Nichole Aksamit at 444-1069, or e-mail nichole.aksamit@owh.com. Dining Notes runs Fridays.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
