Timber Wood Fire Bistro — Restaurant in Omaha

I made a reservation at this restaurant the morning of our visit after needing to quickly switch plans due to another location unexpectedly closing. I called ahead and explained that I was organizing a dinner with coworkers and needed to ensure we could be accommodated. Unfortunately, the woman who answered the phone sounded irritated and reminded me that they were in the middle of brunch. I found this response unprofessional—if you’re answering customer calls, maintaining a courteous tone should be a priority, regardless of how busy you are. Multitasking is part of the job in hospitality, and how you communicate over the phone can really set the tone for the customer’s experience.

Despite the rocky start, I went ahead and made the reservation. Upon arrival, the hostess seated us and our server greeted us. We ordered waters first, then placed drink orders when she returned. At no point during this initial interaction were we informed that key items—pizza and wings—were unavailable. It wasn’t until after the drinks were brought to the table and we were ready to place our food orders that the server informed us the pizza oven was down and wings were also not available.

This was especially frustrating because pizza and wings were the exact reason we chose this restaurant. I explained that to the server and pointed out that no one had touched their drinks at this point, as she had just set them down. I asked to leave so we could go elsewhere and was then told I might have to pay for the drinks. To be clear, had the server communicated the kitchen limitations earlier, we could’ve made that decision before placing any order at all. I told her she could speak with a manager, and she eventually returned, picked up the drinks, and said, “I’m so sorry this didn’t work out for you.”

When we left, there were multiple employees standing at the entrance—possibly a manager, the hostess, and another server. None of them acknowledged us. No one said thank you, offered an apology, or even made eye contact. Instead, they stood with their backs turned and gave us what felt like judgmental looks.

Overall, the experience was disappointing. The lack of transparency, courtesy, and professionalism—from the initial phone call to the moment we walked out—was disheartening. I hope this feedback helps improve future guest interactions, because first impressions...

I always enjoy this place for excellent food and service. Ossama was our server and he is an absolute gem. He has great recommendations, wonderful knowledge of the menu and really went above and beyond. The Shrimp & Crab Cakes appetizer was delicious and I really could have just kept eating it in a larger portion as a main dish. My wife always gets the Cedar Planked Steelhead Salmon and goes back to it every times since it is so delicious. The Lamb Salisbury Steak was on special and was good but I would order something else the next time. I don't think my mind was ready for the Hunter Sauce and the steak otherwise tasted more like meatloaf. Not a bad dish but other things are better. It had a side of Grilled Four Cheese Bread Pudding that was out of this world and needs to be incorporated with another dish or put on the appetizer menu. Also, the Caesar Salad is very good. I have gotten the Beef Wellington in the past and should have gotten that again since it is a slice of heaven. By the way, get the Fire-Baked Focaccia - it is amazing! I was a little disappointed they were out of the Charred Grapefruit Tonic so I could not get the Metal Rooster to drink as that has been my favorite. The 007 Barrel Buffalo Old Fashioned, Rabbit Punch, Margarita and Dirty Martini were all very tasty.

Update September 2024: I got the Strawberries and Cream French Toast for brunch and it had to be in the top 5 best French toast I've ever had. So rich and sweet! I also ordered a side of Biscuits and Gravy with was a great savory finish. Those in my group who got the Cast Iron Biscuit loved their meal and they must wake up early to make the biscuits because they are 12/10 awesome. Finally, the breakfast tacos were delicious, smoky and savory - simply amazing and wouldn't change a thing. Our server Maci was fast, friendly and helpful.

Update October 2024: We enjoyed the brunch so much last time we brought our daughter who got the Cast Iron Biscuit and Mini Ricotta Pancake (both excellent). Our server Bret was very attentive and informative. He recommended the Durum Foccacia as an appetizer which was rich and delicious. The Seasonal Cider was a treat. I expected the Pineapple Tumbler to be more sweet and was a little disappointed but it was a very...

My husband and I came to Timber Wood Fire Bistro based on Yelp reviews where it's ranked number 2. We attended at lunch rather than dinner, so that may be why we were less impressed than other reviewers. The cinnamon roll was not light or airy and not particularly impressive. Definitely edible, but not impressive as a dish. We got the shrimp and crab cakes as a starter and they were tasty-- especially the smoked paprika remoulade. However, we were surprised that they were not crispy and seemed more loose and like they should be served with crackers like a dip than a crab cake. Worth trying once, but I wouldn't order it again. My husband ordered the BBQ Roasted Chicken Pizza and that was very good. The crust was absolutely delicious. A thin crust not in any way greasy and absolutely worth ordering. Here the wood fire cooking shinned. He said he couldn't taste the carmelized onion, but was happy by that fact because he doesn't particularly care for a lot of onion. I ordered the wood baked ricotta pancake and was very disappointed. The Chantilly cream was a small dollop on top and the berry compote (the best part) was a very small amount. The part covered in it was the only part of the pancake worth trying. It was absolutely delicious and really the only part of the dish I really enjoyed. I didn't taste any orange zest in the dish at all. The pancake itself was not something I would order again. The mouth feel was more like overcooked scrambled eggs. The ricotta didn't cook well within the pancake. We were sat in the back room with some interesting art work on the walls. However, there was also a counter that was covered in take out containers, seemed like a functional counter that wasn't particularly visually appealing. The server was very nice and we were overall pleased with service. I did have to ask for a water refill a few times, but I drink like a camel so I never hold that against a server. I think for the prices we expected more of an experience tied to the meal and there really wasn't. Perhaps if we were in the room with the stove/went on a night date it would have been more impressive. For the prices, I don't think this will be somewhere to return for a date. It wasn't bad, but not worth the price for what...