Roost Really Wants Your Business!!!

After reading the review on Taste of Lincoln I thought I'd give Roost a shot.



I ordered the "Grape Escape" and my companion (Mom) ordered the "Presto Pesto." The sandwich that Buffmeat describes over at Taste of Lincoln is actually called "Ol' Red." So yeah, this place is kinda gimmicky.

I found this little gem nestled inside my sandwich wrapper:

DONE!

A lot of people love gimmicky, I just don't happen to be one of them. What I do love is a delicious sandwich, and my "Grape Escape" was quite tasty. It really tasted like homemade chicken salad, which I've been craving ever since I read this. The toasted whole grain bread was pretty good too.


Yeah, I took a couple bites before I remembered to take the picture again

The "Presto Pesto"? Not so great. It was overly salted and the pesto tasted like it might be past its prime. What happened Mom? You used to be such a good orderer. People used to call you long distance for menu consultations. Poetry has been written about your ordering prowess. Has the student surpassed the teacher? Will you be calling me from your next vacation destination for help deciding between the soup or the salad?

Perhaps not.

I'd get down there fast cuz one of two things is bound to happen:

1. Roost will become a big corporate national chain and you'll want to brag about eating at the original.

2. You'll get a chance to try it before it goes the way of Pita Pit, Taco Bueno, Great Wraps...

NOW GO!!!

Lunch in Omaha: Victor's Falafel

I'm far from a falafel connoisseur, but Victor makes some pretty dang good falafel.


Located at 40th and Farnam

Victor's, like every good Middle Eastern restaurant in my experience, is small and no-fuss. They have some interesting items on the menu, including fava bean dip and eggplant casserole. The prices are on the high side compared to say, Ali Baba's in Lincoln.



I ordered a basic falafel sandwich and my dad got a gyro. The falafel was really perfect-- it had a nice crispy crust and the inside was substantial, yet very fresh tasting. It had some herbs in there-- dill and parsley? My dad said his gyro was good, but fairly standard. He wished he had gotten the falafel.



I couldn't resist picking up a few cookies from their bakery display. They look better than they taste, but they were okay. I'd rather have, say, a Pepperidge Farm Milano.

JIffy Burger!

The dudes who made hamburgers at PO Pears served them on East Campus on Friday. It doesn't get much better than kickin' it with your friends and a Jiffy Burger on a beautiful day.


The Jiffy Burger has jack, bacon, and peanut butter on it. It came with baked beans and a vegetable bisque.

The lovely Marlenia (a former student and dairy store employee) recommended Scarlet and Cream ice cream for dessert. It was SO GOOD: extra creamy sweet cream with ribbons of strawberry throughout. I managed not to get any on my shirt this time.

Tastees and Garage Sales Go Together

I spent all morning going to garage sales with my cousin Kirsten and friend Julee. At one of the places a woman was eating Tastee sandwiches. This was the fourth or fifth incident of Tastees at garage sales I've experienced. It made me hungry, so we went to my place and made some for lunch.



The part that got got off says "yellow onion." I have no idea how to add a teaspoon of "accent"!

Grateful Bread

Grateful Bread (on South 17th between Sumner and Washington in Lincoln) has been a lunch time favorite of mine for a while now. They serve vegetarian soup, a couple choices of breads, and cookies. That's it. Nothing else. (Though they did have a sign saying that they're going to have some more veggie lunch options this summer.) Oh, and they're only open for lunch.



I went there again today and it didn't disappoint. They had five choices of soups including Moroccan tomato and a peanut soup. I got my new favorite, the Southwest Chowder. They put a ton of hand-chopped vegetables in there with a creamy broth. It's just a bit too spicy for me, but crackers make it just right. On the side, I had one of their cheese scones, which was one of the most delicious things ever. The other bread choices were French bread and an apple muffin. A generous bowl of soup and a side of bread is $4.50. I'm usually pretty full after this, so I get a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie to take home and eat later.



Their decor is eclectic to say the least. They've got fun and colorful posters and signs all over their walls, including a gigantic photo of Lincoln taken from the top of the State Capitol during the '50s. The tables are all chromed-out '50s kitchen tables with big metal colanders full of crackers, plus a few tables outside which are great on beautiful days like today.

Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike love this place. As a heads-up, they're closed on Monday and Tuesday and there are lines out the door on the weekend (although the line usually moves pretty quickly). My tip is to eat there on a Wednesday or Thursday when the lines aren't too long.

The Cup

I had lunch today at The Cup, located at 625 S 25th St. I couldn't believe how many people were in there-- the place was basically full, and more people kept going in and out as I was there. The clientele was an interesting mixture of retirees and the teachers and students of the Arts and Humanities school. There were writings and paintings posted around the place from the school, which as a teacher, I thought was really cool. I got the impression that it's mainly a coffee/tea house and bakery, but they serve paninis, salads, and soup.

My aunt got a salad that had really nice, fresh looking greens, and a TON of fresh berries: strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. She said the dressing was excellent. They had a nice selection of paninis, including turkey, chicken, and a couple vegetarian options, all served on what appeared to be Le Quartier ciabatta bread. I got a roast beef panini. They substituted the bleu cheese for provolone, (though I'm sure it would have been even better with the bleu cheese). It came with a little mini green salad and was quite delicious. I also got a fresh-squeezed lemonade. The bill for both of us was $15.

If you're looking for a nice, laid-back, locally-owned place to have lunch near downtown, check out The Cup.

Leftovers

I made meatball sandwiches for lunch today.

My friend Julee thought they were good.