Reader Review: Wilderness Ridge
Contributed by sylvia
Their menu looks great...but their execution is terrible. Keep in mind, I'm on Atkins still, so I have to know about the content of certain foods. I was looking forward to some seafood bisque, but a consult with the kitchen verified more than trace amounts (a couple of tablespoons) of cornstarch/flour in the seafood bisque. Higher quality ones just use cream as the main thickener, sometimes with a couple of tablespoons of cornstarch/flour. I did have a taste of it though. The taste was not anything special. I expected a more buttery/creamy flavor, with even more taste of the sea. Looking around at the other clientele of elderly couples, there is probably a reason the taste was muted.
We ordered an appetizer. The "mushroom caps stuffed with goat cheese and chorizo" on the menu come out as "fried breaded portabello slices on a bed of lettuce"? No cheese or meat? We asked the waitress what it was and she said that the mushroom caps weren't supposed to be on the menu, and that is what they have been serving in its place. ...and it sounded like they have been doing that for quite some time. We tried to order another appetizer (forget which), but they were out of that too.
The ahi tuna steak was CONSIDERABLLY SMALLER (and of lesser quality) THAN THE ONE I HAD AT BACIAMI last year (the one at baciami was even at a lesser cost). It was supposed to be wasabi crusted. The waitress came back and warned me about how it was breaded, and I asked if they could just put some of the wasabi on the outside when they cooked it? Turns out they couldn't do that without the flour, but no one even asked if I wanted it on the side?
The vegetable was supposed to be a bean medley, but it was snap peas, a few slices of red pepper, and carrots. Where were the beans again? The jasmine rice didn't smell the least bit jasmin-y. All of the meat seemed way overpriced, but again, we didn't have any of the beef. The proscuttio-wrapped scallops were huge and tasty though! The smoky flavor of the pork extended all the way through the scallops. The creme brulee tasted very good also. They threw that in for free after the mushroom caps fiasco.
Their menu looks great...but their execution is terrible. Keep in mind, I'm on Atkins still, so I have to know about the content of certain foods. I was looking forward to some seafood bisque, but a consult with the kitchen verified more than trace amounts (a couple of tablespoons) of cornstarch/flour in the seafood bisque. Higher quality ones just use cream as the main thickener, sometimes with a couple of tablespoons of cornstarch/flour. I did have a taste of it though. The taste was not anything special. I expected a more buttery/creamy flavor, with even more taste of the sea. Looking around at the other clientele of elderly couples, there is probably a reason the taste was muted.
We ordered an appetizer. The "mushroom caps stuffed with goat cheese and chorizo" on the menu come out as "fried breaded portabello slices on a bed of lettuce"? No cheese or meat? We asked the waitress what it was and she said that the mushroom caps weren't supposed to be on the menu, and that is what they have been serving in its place. ...and it sounded like they have been doing that for quite some time. We tried to order another appetizer (forget which), but they were out of that too.
The ahi tuna steak was CONSIDERABLLY SMALLER (and of lesser quality) THAN THE ONE I HAD AT BACIAMI last year (the one at baciami was even at a lesser cost). It was supposed to be wasabi crusted. The waitress came back and warned me about how it was breaded, and I asked if they could just put some of the wasabi on the outside when they cooked it? Turns out they couldn't do that without the flour, but no one even asked if I wanted it on the side?
The vegetable was supposed to be a bean medley, but it was snap peas, a few slices of red pepper, and carrots. Where were the beans again? The jasmine rice didn't smell the least bit jasmin-y. All of the meat seemed way overpriced, but again, we didn't have any of the beef. The proscuttio-wrapped scallops were huge and tasty though! The smoky flavor of the pork extended all the way through the scallops. The creme brulee tasted very good also. They threw that in for free after the mushroom caps fiasco.
posted by Swoof at 2:16 PM
3 Comments:
I've been hearing the similar things since Wilderness switched up their staff last year. My brother worked there till the kitchen managers were forced out and left soon after himself. He now works at Venue which I think is where some of the original Wilderness staff wound up. Skip the Ridge and give Venue or Dish a try.
Ash
the weird thing is....we were going to go to venue...but it's closed on sunday nights. thanks for the tip!
sylvia (aka you know who....)
I think Wilderness and Venue both suck. Too expensive, poor service and food that is so so. Lincoln's old standby's like Misty's and some predictables like Macaroni Grill are okay but I long for the days of Miller and Paine greats and a place like Tony and Luigi's -a Soprano's meeting place with old world Italian charm and great food at a great price. Too bad we have to go to Omaha to get some of the long time favorites like Sortino's and Mr. C's. Omaha Prime or the place on Gorat's are the places for steak from what I have heard and don't forget Greek Island for awesome Greek food.
Unfortunately, the only places with any elegance,class good service and good food in Lincoln are the clubs or the Governor's Mansion and not everyone can go there.
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