Grey Whale Poke Bowl — Restaurant in Lincoln

I've been here two times and had extremely different experiences. The first time was in March 2018 during lunch with a couple of friends. The food was pretty tasty, lots of options, definitely worth recommending to others. I stopped in again last night, a Saturday, around 7:00 for dinner with my husband and 16 month old daughter. There is no changing table in the restroom so I couldn't change my daughter's diaper, and the staff member I asked for help was just dumbfounded that I would even ask if there was a place to change a diaper somewhere in the building. The staff was quiet, hardly said a word to us, which was odd given the fact that the restaurant was basically dead (only one other groups of 4) . Even as I was ordering my bowl, the woman making my food just stood and stared at me waiting for me to say something. It was pretty odd. They were out of white rice (at 7pm on a Saturday), so my husband didn't really get the bowl he wanted. On top of it all, I ended up getting food poisoning from my teriyaki chicken bowl. I'm so glad my daughter hardly ate any of my food or else she'd be just as sick as I am now. I wish I could be excited about this restaurant, but it is not at all family-friendly, and I have a hard time recommending a place that puts customers at risk of...

Yum! Love having another healthier option for food downtown. I did a make your own bowl with rice - next time I’d ask for half rice and save room for more veggies.

Tried both the regular and spicy ahi for fish, both good and for my two scoop bowl, I felt like they did not skimp on my scoops here, very key.

The veggie selection was beyond my expectations - they piled it with tons and I think I didn’t even use half of the options available. VEGGIES FTW!

And sauces, lots of options there too. I was super happy to see my favorite - yuzu - as one, and they happily covered half my bowl with one sauce and half with another. And then the crispy stuff - get the potato crispy things, not the wonton, IMO. They popped out when I ate flavor and texture wise without being difficult to stir in. Perfection.

I left with enough for another meal (just adding chicken at home) so huge plus there too - given the selection and everything else I will happily pay the $10-11 to come back, often.

If this awesome experience remains consistent, they can count me as a regular. The staff was efficient yet friendly, the dining area clean and simple. They have a longer community table and various other options for groups, I love community tables for solo folks or...

The food is great. That is why I am a repeat customer, but their online ordering system is horrendous. I never really know if the order is received. It is atypical to have my food waiting for me at the pickup time that the system gives me. With my most recent order, the clerk could not find my online order when I arrived to pick it up. She then asked if possibly I was at the wrong store. After showing her my receipt, she looked again and 10 min later I got the bowl. I ordered online so that I would not have to sit around inside the store, which is a real concern of mine during pandemic times. It would have been nice to offer a discount or throw something in for free to recognize that the service was subpar.

Update: I really love their poke bowls with mixed greens. I don't eat rice. For the past two nights, they have been out of mixed greens. I asked for kale to replace the mixed greens. They were out of kale. Most times they are also out of edamame. I asked when mixed greens would be back. I was told in one or two weeks. Who sources food for this restaurant?? I can go to Hyvee and pick up mixed greens for them. Why have menu items and not be vigilant about stocking them??

The servers always find a new way to get my...