Well, lookie here...it's my annual blog post!
Yes, I've been super-slacking in the content department, but wanted to share
this brand new gem (less than a week old).
Nebraska Mini-Mart is a casual street food concept by
the Rooster & Till folks. They did a great job this afternoon
even though the resto is still in “soft opening” mode. The menu is
limited, consisting of beer and wine as the only alcoholic offerings (but
there's a decent beer selection), and hand food served in boxes with no
utensils. Plenty of napkins, thank Gawd, because they’re needed. This is not a
first date place - you will get messy (I'm talkin' "BYO Visqueen").
The restaurant is actually housed in a former Mini-Mart
in Seminole Heights and looks the part. Most seating consists of outside on
picnic tables, but there’s a small, super-noisy indoor room with A/C (all
seating is communal). Bocce Ball and Shuffleboard courts are available outside
with fees to play. No shade, so will probably be more pleasant when the temps
cool down and a cover is added.
Food is fun, whimsical and well prepared. You order
from a window and pick up when ready.
Sammies were stellar, especially the Pig Mac, a juicy
pork burger with “That Sauce”, American cheese, lettuce, onion and tomato on a
sesame seed bun. No need to reinvent the wheel when you can just make the
original 100x better!
Korean Cheesesteak with Bulgoggi steak, kimchi and Gochujang mayo was also a drippy, flavorful winner. You should like a little heat, 'cause this baby packs some.
Now, we get to the part where Mommy eats her vegetables. Sides sampled were sweet and smoky Charred Corn with ancho, lime, Mexican crema and a roll in Cojita cheese (this is how you pack 500 calories into an ear of corn...but SO worth it!);
Some perfectly executed onion rings drizzled with a zippy buttermilk chive ranch dressing and smoky tasso “bacon” bits (yep...they did that);
.
And, finally, Tempura Oyster Mushroom Clusters topped with a Bloomin’ Onion style sauce. I was excited to try them because I love fried mushrooms (as well as the concept of these)...but the 'shroom clusters were too large to obtain an optimal level of tenderness in the fryer. The finished product was tasty, but tough.
And, finally, Tempura Oyster Mushroom Clusters topped with a Bloomin’ Onion style sauce. I was excited to try them because I love fried mushrooms (as well as the concept of these)...but the 'shroom clusters were too large to obtain an optimal level of tenderness in the fryer. The finished product was tasty, but tough.
Fun spot if you like "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" type places with elevated offerings.
My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.
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