Pitch Pizzeria

5021 Underwood Avenue
Omaha, NE 68132
402.590.2625
Lunch Tues-Sat, 11am-4:30pm, Dinner Mon-Sun, 4:30pm to close
pitchpizzeria.com

13" Margherita pizza: San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil ($13)

Dundee residents, act cool. Not only is Conor Oberst opening a new bar on Dodge Street, but Pitch on Underwood Ave just had a celeb sighting last weekend: the man, the myth, the Bono was there wining and dining. Since Bono lives and breathes cool, I figured the "coal oven pizzeria" was overdue for a visit.

The only seating available at 7:30 on a Monday evening was two high top bar stools facing the street, which had the feel of outdoor dining without all the car exhaust and bugs. The space was a little tight; just make sure you like the person you're with.

Roasted Brussels sprouts: garlic, pancetta, grana cheese ($6)

Dundonians have cautioned me for some time that the crust is extremely thin and crispy, so I was basically expecting sauce and cheese on a Saltine. The reality is that the crust was just right: chewy and powdered with flour on the bottom, with a one-inch perimeter of browned exterior to give it some character, and the occasional crust bubble. On the classic Margherita pie, there was nothing really "standout" about the sauce and cheese; it was just plain good. This is all-purpose pizza, good for getting all Euro about it and eating with a fork and knife, or for munching on in front of the fridge in your underwear.

On the whole roasted rainbow trout entree, the French green lentils were rather al dente, which suited my taste, but I wondered whether that was on purpose. It was advertised as a whole fish, but in the end, "Excuse me ma'am, where's my fish tail?" didn't seem like a necessary question. The dish was popping with rich flavor that managed not to overwhelm the trout, and I thought the messy pile presentation was kind of interesting. It was fun to eat.

I commend our server for mostly leaving us alone, and though the restaurant was full, her timing was perfect. It's great to visit a popular restaurant that's also deserving, but I'm kind of pissed they didn't really give me much to pick on. Pitch is a crowd pleaser, good for Bonos and regular humans alike.

Whole roasted rainbow trout: caramelized apples, fennel, onions, French green lentils, sage walnut butter ($17)

Wohlner's Neighborhood Grocery & Deli

2289 South 67th Street (in the heart of the developer's dream, Aksarben Village)
Omaha, NE 68106
(402) 551-6875
Breakfast 'til 11am, lunch 'til 3:30, dinner 'til 7:30 or so, see website for details
www.wohlners.com

Wholner's French Dip--
Roast beef, sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms, Swiss cheese, toasted hoagie roll, au jus,
side of tomato bisque soup that was tasty but served room temp,
and if I was over age 65 I totally would have sent it back. 

"Noddle" Special (a "tribute" to the company who owns Aksarben Village?)--
Penne tossed with olive and artichoke tapenade, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, parmesan, grilled salmon filet,
looks great, tastes like nothing.

I'm a Whole Foods loving dork. Yeah, make your jokes about how expensive it is and how it's stuff white people like, but if Omaha didn't have a Whole Foods, I wouldn't live here. A supermarket where you don't have to read the labels to make sure you're not poisoning yourself is truly great. To suggest the steep prices aren't worth it is like telling me you know a friend who could have done my tattoos for way less than I paid--a comment I regularly encounter, by the way. Point is, cheaper is not better when it comes to your body, and I am a fan of Wohlner's not because it's "Omaha's oldest grocery store," but because they carry some decent stuff, their inventory representing a sort of Whole Foods/Baker's hybrid. The food at their restaurant is also half good, half bad. Check out their presentation of the French Dip. It's on a chic square plate, but with the soup and au jus in styrofoam bowls, a curious combo of classy and wasteful. The meat was half flavorful brisket, half inedible fat that should have been trimmed off to avoid the spitting after every bite. The "Noddle Special" had a fancy description but turned up with minced ingredients and zero seasoning. At Wohlner's they've got high prices and long waits (over ten bucks per person and more than a twenty minute wait), with food prepared by someone who doesn't eat food, perhaps an alien or something. That's all I can think about a piece of grilled salmon that hasn't been salt and peppered, and beef that is so tough and fatty your average old person would totally choke on it.

Really Fat in San Diego

Di Suvero's Tumbleweeds in Balboa Park

Del Taco

At the risk of cheapening the blog, I'm going to include the national chain Del Taco, which you should know does not exist in Nebraska, or Iowa, or where I'm from. In fact, there's more in California than anywhere else, making it a fast food vacation must. Early on a Sunday morning I was able to get a "BIG FAT" taco with fries along with a breakfast taco that was trying to pretend it was from the street, wearin' a foil wrapper and all. To the Taco Bell at 38th and Dodge: Now you look grosser than ever. http://www.deltaco.com/

How could I not get the BIG FAT?

I'm all about fast food trying to mimic real street food.

Red Sails Inn, Shelter Island

And so we decided to go to a non-fancy seafood place. Not to belabor the point, but in Omaha this means Red Lobster. In San Diego it means checkered tablecloths outdoors with the water and yachts right there, and a waitress that may or may not have graduated high school some forty years ago. There was no innovative plating and no deluxe drink list; it was kinda like a seafood diner with crabs. Here we go: http://www.theredsails.com/

Mini Crab Cakes Appetizer with Lemon and Remoulade Sauce 

Crab Louie Salad--aka the King of Salads--Invented in San Francisco

Above Average Clam Chowder

Crab Sandwich--yep

California Sea Bass with Steak Fries and Veracruz and Tartar Sauces

D. Z. Akin's Restaurant and Delicatessen

My appreciation of the Jewish deli is somewhat newfound, and basically formed when I realized I couldn't have it whenever I wanted it. (If I'm wrong and there is a good Jewish-style deli in Omaha, now would be a good time to let me know.) At D.Z.'s, there were some fat folks literally dancing their way from the parking lot to the entrance, they were so excited. We sat down in one of the many ugly blue booths and skimmed the heavy six page menu while noshing on house-brined pickles from a bucket on the table. It was all over when the soup came. Please, let the pictures do the talking... I'm too full to think about it right now. http://dzakinsdeli.com/

Mish Mash:
Matzo ball, kreplach meat dumpling, noodles, carrots and chicken broth

Kishka with Gravy:
Made with matzo meal, potatoes and carrots, stuffed in a casing and fried,
a sort of vegetable sausage

Blinzes:
A crepe filled with a sort of cream cheese, with sour cream on the side

Potato Latkes:
Shredded potato pancakes fried and served with sour cream and applesauce

The Number 2:
Corned beef, pastrami and chopped liver on seeded rye with potato salad.
It's number 2 on the menu because it's popular, not because the liver looks like poop.
And yeah, you kind of have to dislocate your jaw to eat it.

Osteria Romantica, La Jolla

Sometimes you just want some good Italian food. Sure, the portions were more American than European, but at this point in the trip we said to hell with authenticity. Besides, our friend the Waiter showcased his exaggerated Italian accent beautifully. On the patio shaded by trees with the ocean a few steps away, I sipped on (chugged?) pinot grigio and nibbled on hot bread with a'spicy marinara. At one point the busser spilled a bunch of sauce on the table and didn't bother to wipe it up; I guess he figured we had tongues. http://www.osteriaromantica.com/

Calamari Fritti:
With fried zucchini and marinara sauce

Linguine Mare:
Mussels, Shrimp and Clams in a White Wine Sauce

Iforgetthename-i:
House-made penne with sausage and porcini mushrooms in red sauce

Back to Omaha for now, where the AC is kicking, the corn is shucking, and there are still like 600 restaurants I need to try. Woot.