Garden Cafe

11040 Oak St.
402.393.0252
M-Sun: 6 am - 8 pm
http://gardencaferockbrook.com/

This is the first place I've reviewed that I've been to before. Well, sort of. Back in the 90's, there was another Garden Cafe in Millard, right off of 144th and Q. While I was in grade school, my mom and I used to go there about once every 3-5 weeks. I came to love the Acapulco potato casserole, and my mom would (almost) always order the French Dip. And whenever we left, we'd bring home a loaf of monkey bread or cinnamon bread (which, at the time, I wasn't really a big fan of). After a short conversation with my mother, we decided it's been about 15 years since that location shut down, and we never went to the Rockbrook Village location afterwards, which I always thought was a little odd, as 108th and Center isn't exactly too far out of the way, especially with the Interstate right there.

Anyway, I was kind of excited for a little bit of nostalgia when I decided upon the Garden Cafe, especially after doing some research (read: Googling their name) and finding they still serve the Acapulco potato casserole. As it was cold for a late March Wednesday (in the 50s), a home-y casserole sounded even better,

It was fairly early when I arrived, before 5:30. so there wasn't much activity going on. The inside of the restaurant is very bright, in contrast to my last review, and is supposed to bring to mind a backyard family get together/outdoor cafe. There's a gazebo in a corner, the half walls that separate the booths that run down the middle are reminiscent of a wood fence, the doors to the supply rooms look like the doors to a garden shed, etc. Just as I remember it, but laid out differently. It felt like 1998 again, in the best of ways.

The first day, I ordered the Acapulco Potato Casserole (of course!) and a cup of the soup of the day, a Cheese Tortellini soup.

I actually kind of love the cup it was served in.

My server just told me the name of the soup, so I had no idea if it was a creamy soup or like, I dunno, an Italian Wedding soup or something. When he brought it out, I quickly found out it was essentially a tomato bisque with cheese tortellini. It was creamy, cheesy, and the chunks of tomato floating throughout added a good mount of body. I loved this soup.

I'm not sure why it looks so small in this picture, it was much bigger than this.

Perhaps because I had the nostalgia goggles on, I seem to remember the Acapulco being a lot better than what I was served, because quite honestly it doesn't look any different than what I remember. Maybe its because I didn't have salsa. Not sure.

Now, if you can't tell by the picture, this is essentially a plate of nachos, but with slices of potato instead of tortilla chips. They dowse the potatoes with their chili, melt some cheese on top of that, add a dollop of sour cream, and garnish with tomatoes and olives.

It wasn't bad by any stretch. In fact, it was decently good. But I should have asked for some salsa, and I was definitely blinded by nostalgia.

With the soup, casserole, the iced tea I ordered, and tip and tax, it all came to about $18.

The next time I visited was the following Tuesday, and like any good Omaha spring, the temperature wildly swung to the upper 80s. It was a little later this time when I arrived, about 6:30. This time around I ordered the spinach artichoke dip and the Garden Fantasy omelet with added bacon, because I'm an adult and I can mix things like that.

Don't be put off by how green it is, it was delicious.

The dip came out with five slices of freshly toasted and buttered thick cut baguette bread (if I said "Texas toast-style baguette" would I piss off both Texans and the French? Because that sounds like fun, actually). I'll be honest, what came in the bowl looked a little off-putting. It was very green, and it just didn't have the stereotypical look of spinach artichoke dip that I'm used to. I had very few good expectations for it. I was very wrong.

I'm not sure what about the dip that I liked so much. It doesn't have the cheesiness that I'm accustomed to, Although creamy, it wasn't near as smooth as I normally like it. There was just something about it that worked. Also, the big, visible chunks of artichoke were very nice.

This is a blog of firsts for me. The omelet is also the first breakfast item I've reviewed.

The Garden Fantasy omelet is, unsurprisingly chock full of veggies. Here's how the menu describes it; "This omelet is filled with fresh steamed seasonal vegetables, onions, fresh tomatoes, mushrooms and artichoke hearts, then topped with monterey (sic) jack cheese and hollandaise sauce." I had them add bacon to it as well.

The eggs were probably the fluffiest I've had since the last time I went to KC and had a Waffle House omelet. I loved all the veggies inside the thing, as well. I certainly did not regret adding the bacon, which put it over the top. This was a Top 5 omelet.

With the dip, omelet (bacon was extra), pop, and tax and tip, my bill came to about $20.

I should add that both days I took home a sample of a pastry, and I didn't take a picture of either one, because why would I? I'm only going to talk about them on my blog.

The lemon bar was probably a little too sweet for my taste, but the zebra brownie was as good as I remember it.