The Oven Lincoln

Date Night Downtown at a regular stop The Oven. You can usually get a table as a walk-in but made a reservation just in case. Our server let us know he was brand spanking new... first day on his own I believe! Speaking of new, I'm not sure if it was also the bartenders first week. It took 15 minutes for me to get a Diet Coke and a whopping 32 minutes for my husband's glass of Cabernet to hit the bar. There were other patrons around us inquiring about their drinks as well. It was quite lengthy and frustrating. Anyhoo... We tend to go a bit overboard on starters here. Veggie Samosas for me and a Naan buffet. Garlic, Paneer Kulcha (fresh cheese), Spinach Bread, and Kabuli (raisins and cashews). The lady chef that helped deliver them to our table wanted to know if we were trying out things for the first time. I'm like No, this is just how we are . She seemed surprised but tickled by it. I went with the Chana Masala as a main. It's different here but I really like it. It comes with fried Batura bread but I like it with the Garlic Naan also. My husband likes to burn his face off with Lamb Vindaloo. He ordered extra meat and that bowl was practically overflowing! Got the Onion and Chili plate to mix in. This is definitely one of his favorites! As is often the case we pretty much cleared out the dining room. Our server Mariano, while very new, was quite attentive and easy to talk to. The lovely lady from the kitchen earlier checked on us again to make sure everything was to our liking. I had to get some Kheer (rice pudding) to go. Can't go wrong with a Lincoln staple! Originally posted to EAT IT in Lincoln, NE on Facebook. Join Us!

Amazing atmosphere and decor. Food was ok, but that is a little unfair, as I am visiting for business. And I spent most of my life somewhere with the highest density of South Asian expat diaspora outside the Indian subcontinent. So, it’s a bit like judging quality of basketball when visiting Moldova after you have been in NBA most of your life. Also, super lovely waiting staff, although very obvious they did not understand at a slightly deeper level the basic culinary cultures of the subcontinent. For example, my dish came with “soup” which was explained as lentil based soup. When I asked “So it’s just dal, right?” Poor chap looked like I had just spoken Ancient Greek to him. Turns out it WAS just dal and no sane Indian has it as a soup. It is mixed in with rice, dipped in naan etc etc. Anyway, without hopefully sounding too patronizing, I applaud the effort. Much cheaper than crazy prices of the big cities in the US where I reside. But luckily for me, my wife is a Michelin starred Indian chef.

Great vegan options but they aren’t clearly labeled so you need to ask. But they were very knowledgeable on ingredients. Had a delicious meal and great drinks and would 100% recommend.