Ryan Gish has done it again! His latest venture – the Zin Room – is nestled in the lower level of the new Hotel Deco boutique hotel in downtown Omaha. It is nothing short of fantastic! While some city residents shirk hotel restaurants, I implore you to not make this same mistake with the venue at 316 So 15th St. It has a lovely warmth and welcoming staff and should be appreciated by tourists and urbanites alike.
Upon entering, the subtle scent of smoky goodness greeted us, and once we were settled into our cozy table , salivating was inevitable. We were very appreciative of the extensive wine selections, which are priced very appropriately. Additionally, there are a number of signature cocktails available from the full service bar.
The menu is delightfully diverse and will tempt the appetites of both hotel guests and local diners. We opened the evening with the Steak Bites – delectable bits of Cajun steak served over spinach and glazed in a creamy steak dipping sauce. It was plentiful for two and every tender bite rang a melody of flavor enjoyment. The spinach was equally as tasty, and we managed to wipe the dish clean!
Next up was the soup of the day – a creamy potato and Gouda cheese chowder that was as awesome as it sounds. Gouda can sometimes overpower a dish, but we both remarked at how well the balance was between potatoes and cheese. I know we licked the spoon – I just hope we didn’t lick the bowl and embarrass ourselves!
The entrees took us a bit of time to select – there are a host of opportunities from a wide variety of ethnicities and genres. My dinner partner selected the Red Snapper, while I chose the Bleu Cheese Chicken Breast – guess the Gouda just wasn’t enough cheese for one night!
While waiting for our meals, we took in the ambiance that the Zin Room offers. It is extremely comfortable, intimate and inviting. Simple décor, but oh, so enticing. Soft strains of music from a few of the members of the Rat Pack echoed throughout the dining room, and it just enhanced the appeal that is the Zin Room.
Our entrees arrived and the presentation was stellar. Gish exudes pride in both his presentation and taste satisfaction.
The loaded baked potato that I had selected as my side order was spilling over with butter, sour cream, onions and cheese (again!), and I could not wait to dig in. It was so large that we elected to split it and still it was more than adequate. Baked potatoes are smoked at the Zin Room – just like their ribs. I had never experienced that taste sensation in my tuber before and it was amazing. I savored every forkful. My beautiful chicken was covered in a glaze of bleu cheese – not swimming, not skimping – just enough to explode with flavor in every bite. This meal also was accompanied with crisp carrot slices and broccoli florets – it was a meal that would make Gish’s mom proud – all food groups were represented and portions sizes were perfect.
My dinner guest savored the sesame seed crusted Red Snapper that was served with a Thai peanut sauce and chives. The fish was tender and delightful and as a side dish he chose the onion strings, which were plentiful, crispy and yummy. There is a wonderful selection of seafood on the Zin Room menu and we can only imagine that the salmon and Chilean seabass are as delightful as the snapper. Again, the portions were just right and both my companion and I would have made our moms proud – as we happily cleaned our plates!
Dessert or no dessert, that is the question. At this point in the meal, I am always so very tempted to tip the dietary scale over the top, and one look at the dessert menu had me in a quandary! Being the discerning gal that I am, I elected instead to lose myself in the minty enjoyment of a Grasshopper. I haven’t had one in a very long time, and frankly I was pleasantly surprised to see it among the listings for the after dinner quaffs. It was the best choice to close off this meal and we left so very sated.
The Zin Room is an ideal location for an after work cocktail and appetizers, to celebrate a special occasion or just to enjoy a wonderfully tasty dinner with friends. Don’t miss it!
