Honorable Mentions (Dining 2010)

They fell short of the Top 10, but I hope these promising and interesting new concepts take root and flourish in Omaha:

SOUP REVOLUTION, the city's first year-round gourmet food truck.

With Nebraska-born, classically trained chef Sara DeMars Cerasoli at the helm, it trolls the city most weekdays, Tweeting its whereabouts and serving gourmet soups, star-shaped biscuits and a smattering of get-'em-until-they're-gone sweets. That's a happy turn in a city short on street food.

DAILY GRUB, Elle Lien's fiercely edited, discreetly vegan, farm-to-table spot.

It's a beacon for committed vegans and others who are serious about flavor, the planet and their health. Lien says a city sewer project will force the restaurant to move in the spring. Here's wishing it a new, more permanent home.

BRIX, the wine lounge attached to the wine-and-more store of the same name in Village Pointe.

In offering 64 wines by the ounce from self-serve dispensers, owner Dan Matuszek provides an ongoing do-it-yourself wine course for those with curiosity, but not the cash for a personal cellar. What fun exploring — and happy pairings with chef Rob Mattoch's carefully sourced small plates.

WASABI SUSHI, Omaha's first all-you-can-eat, fixed-price, made-to-order sushi spot.

Kong Shun “Randy” Gao's new northwest Omaha restaurant lowers the entry price and widens the door for the sushi-curious. This well-appointed place boasts friendly staff, good ingredients and a range of sushi and hot Japanese dishes, some on par with considerably more expensive sushi restaurants. It's a nice way to get acquainted.

LALIBELA RESTAURANT, the new Ethiopian spot on Saddle Creek Drive.

Though hours and service were spotty on my visits, Lalibela is a welcome addition to a recent string of tasty new restaurants that reflect the food, culture and customs of Omaha's growing African population. Cheers to another place to eat well, and affordably, with your fingers.

— Nichole Aksamit

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