I have loved O’mei for over 25 years, and as of last week I still love this low-key house of brilliant flavor combinations, culinary creativity and seasonally-changing menus.
Winter seems to fire the creative juices of O’mei cooks, who have come up with a whole new menu long on chili-laced squash, Sichuan green peppercorns, eggs and house-cured pork belly Small plates now include blistered red peppers with thin-sliced cured pork belly that is as good as the first time you tasted ice cream.
Several entrees of seasonal note include a comforting, spicy stew of pork belly, mixed squashes, Sichuan peppercorns and bits of soft tofu in a dazzling broth(below right). Prawns with minced pork, black beans, peas and egg. And as local fans know, O’mei desserts also dazzle, including a new special of apricot almond custard.
Perhaps it’s human nature to take quality for granted, but I’m thinking this outstanding restaurant should be at the top of everyone’s dining list. Maybe it’s the economy, but this place should be packed nightly.
Remember the expression, use it or lose it?
Why O’Mei has been so overlooked recently is a mystery to me. So often you return to a restaurant after a long absence and you’re quickly reminded why you stopped going there in the first place. In O’ Mei’s case you wonder why you stayed away so long? If anything things have improved over the years or perhaps changed is a better word, and those changes are really really good. Lately we have been ordering more so as to have some of those delicious leftovers to enjoy the next day, fat chance, it always gets eaten, the food is that irresistable. With out doubt one of the best restaurants in the area and in my opinion one that could hold its own anywhere there’s great food.
Christina, thanks for the reminder; the last few times we ate there (admittedly several years ago), the oh-so-casual UCSC undergraduate attitude of the servers really put us off. What’s also off-putting is the outside of the place–could it look any more dreary, in that incredibly dreary mini-stripmall? Having said all that, we always loved the food. But geez, put in some geranium planters, for Gawd’s sake!
O’Mei is my next favorite restaurant and has been for a long, long time. Though it’s located way out on the far west side of Santa Cruz (you can tell from that description that I don’t live close-by) it is ALWAYS well worth the travel time and effort to dine there. Service has improved over the years and the women who serves as the Hostess as well as support to the service staff is exceedingly charming and very helpful when deliberating what great things to order.
So, even if you live in Aptos or La Selva, make the drive. You won’t be disappointed. Do bring at least one other couple with you in order to have a shared meal with several items and flavors.
I think that O’Mei hit a nadir a few years back which is why folks have not been going as much.
They are much better now, more creative dishes and more consistent cooking. And the service seems a notch
better, too.
To Judy’s comment, interesting that another terrific restaurant with beautifully prepared and delicious food, Au Midi, is also located in a dreary strip mall setting. Perhaps we should all remember the adage “never judge a book by its cover” when want to eat well?
Yes, we know Au Midi well, but the little mall where it’s located is not nearly as dreary as O’Mei’s, and also, Au Midi makes a great effort to make their little al fresco area in front of the restaurant cozy with seasonal plants. O’Mei makes no effort to make their front look inviting, which in itself is off-putting. Sorry, but with anything to do with food, you should be as inviting as possible. I say again, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort to plant a few geraniums.
Thanks for the tip about the apricot almond custard. It was delicious!
Everyone praises Au Midi and I do not always understand why; but I do miss the real French restaurant Ma Maison that was in Aptos just down the same street. This one was the real deal , fabilous food and it had a cozy patio; it seems that spot in the past, housed the best French restaurants– chez Renee. southern Exposure and last, Ma Maison. I guess the foodies did judge the strip malls and failed to appreciate the best spots.
Bob, while I agree Chez Renee was one of the best and still miss it, Ma Maison fabulous food, really? I thought it just O.K. And you’re right about Au Midi, everyone I speak to that’s eaten there comes away impressed. They’re also very fair with their corkage charge too.
Love the thread! Ma Maison was our favorite ‘French comfort food’ restaurant, and we’re really sad it’s gone–great real onion soup, cassoulet, moules et frites, steak frites (my mouth is watering as I write this) and his menu rarely changed; however, Au Midi is a totally different restaurant. The chef Muriel is from the south of France, which understandably informs her cooking, and the menu is constantly changing. There is an elegance to her food that you just do not find in many places outside of France, and her desserts are beautiful, restrained and amazing. We have been eating there since it opened and rarely has she missed her mark. I highly recommend getting on their email list because they do special prix fixe dinners around various American and French holidays, and these are a great deal.