Americanized Mexican: OSO and Taco Inn

I've had Americanized Mexican food twice in as many days and was happy with both experiences. Last night I ate at OSO, and today I had Taco Inn.

OSO (forgot my camera):

I love love love fish tacos, but I was craving OSO's soft flour tortilla, so I got the mini fish burrito. I love that the offer a mini burrito, since the regular size is just too big and some people (ahem) can't control themselves. I have a problem with branching out when I go to OSO, but I hear that their curry tofu burrito is excellent (my friend Katie swears by it). What do you like to order at OSO? They also have a nice atmosphere and a good selection of Mexican beers. It rivals Yia Yia's as the best place to eat, drink, and people-watch on a summer evening in Lincoln.

Taco Inn:

Taco Inn is my favorite fast-food-Americanized taco joint. During my drinking days, nothing cured a hangover better than a big mess of nachos made with the flour chips. If I had to describe Taco Inn in three words they would be cheap, local, and satisfying.


"A Lincoln Original since 1976"-- just like me!

My friend ordered the chicken enchilada, one of my favs. It's a little flour tortilla stuffed with chicken and cream cheese and smothered in enchilada sauce and is totally worth the heartburn it gives you. The $5 chicken enchilada meal is a crap-ton of food.


Sorry about the blurry pics

I ordered a taco and the combo burrito. The burrito was...meh. It was just a tortilla wrapped around some beans and taco meat. For some reason I thought there was supposed to be more stuff in there. I should have read the menu more closely. The taco was delicious as always. I think they're the best Americanized tacos I've ever had-- far better than Taco Bell or Taco John's. The meat is fresh and not too greasy, the shell is always light and crunchy, and there's always a good quantity of cheese. Their kick-ass taco sauce makes them even better. I eat it at a ratio of 2-3 packets per taco.



Neither of these places are as good as a good authentic place like Super Taco, but they aren't the same thing. If you're in the mood for a good old fashioned hard shell taco or a great big burrito filled with international specialty ingredients, both of these places are nice to have around.

Lunch in Omaha: La Buvette

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days. I've been in a bit of a funk, mostly due to tapering off a medication (Prednisone) that made me happy and hungry. I tried to pull myself out of it with a trip to one of my old favorites, La Bouvett in the Old Market, which worked fairly well, but I still don't feel like writing much. I will say this-- go to La Buvette on a nice day when you have a lazy afternoon to kill, not in the time between a blood draw and doc's appointment at UNMC. Good food takes time to prepare and eat.


Located on 11th, across from Spaghetti Works and Upsteam


You can choose from lots of wine by the glass, or pick something out from their wine shop and pay a corking fee


I love places that have lots of specials


Their hummus isn't as good as mine or anything, but it's pretty good. Their bread, baked on the premises, is as good as Le Quartier


This plate of melon and prosciutto momentarily brought my appetite back.

Lunch at The Oven

Dear The Oven:

Remember when we first met? It was 1988 and my parents introduced us as part of my 12th birthday celebration, followed by the movie "The Last Emperor" starring Peter O'Toole. Weren't we sophisticated? Hahaha. I thought your curry was strange and I was embarrassed when my dad got angry at us for allowing one of your waitresses to take away his salad while he was in the bathroom. But I took one bite of your rice and knew I had to have more. I didn't know it then, but I was already falling in love with you.



In the early 90's I found myself glancing your way more and more. You were so sweet to me; you didn't mind that I wore my band shoes and over sized flannels everywhere I went. I discovered some of the foods you had to offer that fit my underdeveloped palette: Tandoori Chicken, Mango Lassis (yogurt smoothies), Pistachio Kulfi (ice cream)...



By the time I was in college, we had both gone through some changes: you adding your beautiful decor; me beginning a 4-year-long stint with vegetarianism. I found myself eating with you at least once a month, spending money I didn't have on all my favorite new dishes like Vegetable Curry, Aloo Gobi (potatoes and cauliflower), and Matar Paneer. I couldn't afford you at the time, but your huge portion sizes somehow justified it to me. You taste even better the next day (wink!).



Then there was that fateful day that I ordered your paneer kulcha (flatbread stuffed with cheese and onion) for the first time. With my first taste of that spicy buttery bready goodness, I knew I had found my perfect food match. Were I to meet my end on death row, your Paneer Kulcha would be the last thing to pass my lips.



When I had lunch with you yesterday, more than twenty years after our first awkward encounter, I realized that I'm more in love with you than ever. Sure you have your little quirks that annoy me sometimes-- your mulligatawny soup sometimes has clumps of chickpea flour and you give me my leftovers in unmicrowavable styrofoam containers-- but I still can't resist you. Having lunch with you is a delight; your entrees are a bit cheaper (around $10) and a bit smaller, but every bit as delicious.



Sure I've strayed over the years, trying Indian food in other cities, but it's never the same, never quite as good. Every time I take a bite of your saffron-yellow rice, I'm twelve years old again, discovering a whole new world of culinary adventure, right here in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Love always,
Sarah

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!!!

Sunday Dinner: Veggies! Veggies! Veggies!

Thin-slices cucs, tomato, and red onion with Mom's favorite ingredient: seasoned rice wine vinegar

Eggplant, corn on the cob, and chicken legs with Cookie's BBQ sauce

Nice grill marks Dad!


I was delighted to discover a field of baby dill growing in the garden. I think dill is the greatest of all the herbs. Too bad it only grows like this for like, a day.

Location

What did this place used to be? The camera shop, right? Has it been anything since? If you had your druthers, what will it be in the future?


North side of "O" street between Bodega's and Iguana's

Anyone who says "Sandwich shop" or "Bar that caters to college kids" will be shot.

Bread and Cup

If you read about Lincoln food on the Internet, which I assume you do, you've already read everything there is to know about Bread and Cup. So I'm not gonna do a full review; I'll just show you the pretty pics and tell you that they have the best scone I've ever tried.




Note that the orange juice comes in a glass bigger than a thimble-- I love you Bread & Cup!