Pivot Prime — Restaurant in Omaha

Last night, I had the pleasure of dining at Pivot Prime with my wife. Despite a minor service misstep, the evening quickly recovered thanks to the exceptional attention provided by Manager Jeremy. I left thoroughly impressed and am already planning my next visit.

As a classically trained French-Italian chef with extensive experience at high-end steakhouses along the West Coast, I approach every meal with a discerning palate. Having sampled premier establishments throughout the region, I can confidently state that Pivot Prime’s steaks are among the best—only John Howie Steak in Bellevue, Washington, offers a comparable level of perfection.

The culinary journey began with an appetizer of steak tartare—an impressive offering in the Midwest. The dish was elevated by a unique smoked egg garnish that provided an enticing finishing touch. For my main course, I selected the 16oz ribeye sourced from Creekstone Farms. It was cooked to perfection, masterfully seasoned, and presented with an artful touch. My wife enjoyed a 6oz filet, a cut that proved both tender and flavorful.

The sides were equally noteworthy. We sampled the “Crack Fries”—three fried potato wedges tossed with parmesan and garlic—which were delightfully crisp and savory. I also ordered the Lobster Mac & Cheese, a dish I typically approach with caution due to common issues in preparation. In this instance, however, it was exceptionally creamy at the time of service and maintained its luscious texture even when reheated later. While slightly on the pricier side, both sides were well worth every cent.

A small note on the Crack Fries: they would be even more memorable if prepared with beef tallow or duck fat. So inspired was I by their flavor that I reimagined them this morning in a creative scrambled eggs dish, adding an innovative twist to my leftovers.

In my view, Pivot Prime outshines comparable establishments such as 801 Chophouse in terms of service, taste, ambiance, and overall charm—even when accounting for my previous suboptimal experiences elsewhere. Pivot Prime offers an outstanding dining experience that stands out in every respect.

One final point of advice: this is clearly a high-end restaurant, so please ensure you review and adhere to...

Pivot Prime has potential, and there were certainly a couple highlights, but it does not rise to the high-end experience that others offer.

Wins: "Best Part of French Onion Soup" is a must-have. This dish was hearty, tasty, and incredibly satisfying. Perfect to pair with a salad and glass of wine for lunch. I'd come back just for this dish alone.

OKs: "Beef Tallow Candle" was pitched to us, so we tried it. It is unique and interesting, but not worth the $18. I'd recommend the restaurant offer this to each table with bread - would set the stage for excellent service and a memorable experience.

Losses: Ordered the "Filet Rossini" and the "Truffle Ravioli" - both noted as restaurant specialties. I really enjoyed the light and citrus ravioli, but the middle of all 3 raviolis was cold (not from sitting, from under cooking prepped pasta). The filet was under-seared, and only partially saved by the over-powering sauce.

Atmosphere: When experiencing a self-classified high-end restaurant, expectations are high. PP offered decent service, though it was clear they hired staff not yet qualified to execute at the level of Mahagony or 801.

Lastly, more personal preference (as to each their own) the decor left a lot wanting. The chairs and carpet were more "doctor's office" than classy steakhouse, the unpressed table linens, walls of Whiskey Pig whiskey and open tables in the only route to the bathroom led one to conclude a lack of sophistication.

I would go back for the French Onion Soup dish -- but would likely not take my East Coast clients...

Had an amazing dinner tonight at Pivot thanks to our server Mike. He was so helpful and knowledgeable about everything from drinks, apps, sides, mains, and desserts. Every one of his suggestions was spot on. The lobster bisque was served so uniquely, showing an impressive array of fresh lobster. It was easily the best lobster bisque I’ve ever had. And FINALLY a restaurant that knows how to make a simple salad! Precisely cut with the perfect amount of dressing. I’m picky about my salad and I ate every bite. The Manhattan filet was divine with a faint touch of red wine that did not overwhelm the delicious wagyu. The Cowboy Ribeye was nicely charred, no knife even needed. I could’ve eaten the whole thing had it not been for the Crack Fries and Brussels sprouts. Good god the fries! Just order them. And not a bitter sprout in the bunch. Slightly sweet even. Dessert was the impressive Bananas Foster bread pudding and the Triple Chocolate mouse cake. Loved the bread pudding but the mousse cake was outrageously good. I ate it till my stomach hurt from fullness. The cake part of the dessert was some of the best I’ve had in a restaurant. I’m a baker and I rarely gush about desserts. This was a 10/10. And yes, we dropped a few hundred dollars, but it was a special occasion and every bite was perfection. You get your money’s worth. Go, ask for Mike, and take all of his recommendations....