Bistro, I understand, is the equivalent of chop-chop in Chinese or schnell in German: quick. Oh, for a French bistro in Omaha: croque monsieur, haricote vert, charcouterie, seasonal menu, good wine list, knowledgeable wait staff (who don't ask you "You still working on that?" or just grab for your plate when it's mostly done...)...the Le Central of San Francisco is not here yet, but Marks does a nice job of trying to bring that attitude into play.
Mark and his business partner Molly are often in sight, pay attention to detail, and are working hard to improve and hone this jewel of restaraunt.
NO SMOKING throughout...when you serve fine food, smoking sucks. We know this about food that the French have not yet quite figured out, strange to say. The restaurant, built in an old frame house, has an outdoor patio, and upstairs small dining rooms perfect for something more intimate or business, although the main room is more fun with a wall length full window to observe the outdoors (come here when it snows: gorgeous with the lights from the street).
Mark offers one-price menus in the Fall through Spring, one night a month, wine dinners if you will, that their chef (a what appears to be cool dude name of Zack) prepares: if they have one when you are available, drop everything that night and go. Those menus top anything in town for what? $65-70 per person and it includes 5 courses and wine (and pretty much, as much as you can drink, if you don't wish to recall courses 3-5....).
Service: great, friendly, fairly informal, a lot of staff has stayed for a while, making it much more in tune with the kitchen.
Menu: standard menu that has 1-3 specials nightly (closed Sunday, at least currently). The cuisine check is "American" but it verges on continental, American thoughts presented well and often in a European way.
Wine list: really quite nice, though short. Mark incorporates customers' suggestions at times, some wines disappear, so it is a nice selection. You may have any on the menu by the glass or a half-bottle's worth in a carafe (now, gee, THERE is a novelty, Omaha! It would be nice to see this appear elsewhere. Marks wants you to enjoy your meal, that is why you are there and not at Mom's swigging boxed Chilean chardonnay).
Desserts: OK, this needs work, admittedly. A real creme broulee is always there, done right, with a fresh hard top just for you, but how about fresh berries in cream in the summer and pie year 'round? Click your ruby slippers three times, Dotty, and it may happen!
Marks is fairly new, 1-2 years old, and probably still trying to keep the profit line good: things will get adventurous with time, as they have all shown an intense interest in presenting good food for their customers.
Bar: great bar, fine drinks.
You want a good meal, comforting and comfortable setting, no rush to you unless you want it, and you want to come here. Call if you have a party of 5-6 or more, otherwise first come, first served.
This website has checks for categories such as kid-friendly and gay/lesbian...excuse me, but good places to eat are all of those things and do it well. This is a good place to eat.
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