Contemporary American · Old Market Passageway, Omaha · $60–$100 tasting
Contemporary American$$$Old Market, OmahaWine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence · source
"Omaha's most serious cellar hides in a brick passageway — book V. Mertz's eight-course tasting for an anniversary worth lingering over."
7Food
8Ambience
7Value
About V. Mertz
Long before Omaha had a dining scene worth arguing about, V. Mertz was already pouring serious wine in a brick cellar off Howard Street. It opened in the Old Market Passageway in the 1970s and has outlasted nearly every restaurant that ever tried to unseat it, which in a Midwestern steak town is its own kind of statement.
The format is a contemporary American carte built on classic French technique, with a five-course Chef's Tasting at $60 and an eight-course Grand Tasting at $100, both anchored by a cellar of more than 450 bottles. Executive chef John Miller cooks seasonally and locally, and the room treats wine as the main event rather than an upsell. For the wider field, see our restaurant rankings.
The Kitchen
John Miller runs the kitchen with the kind of restraint that reads as confidence: tight plating, classical sauces, produce and meat sourced from regional growers. The foie gras torchon, served with honeycomb, is the dish regulars return for, and the seared foie with pineapple-pepper jam is its richer counterpart. Beef, as you would expect in Nebraska, is taken seriously — the Morgan Ranch Wagyu is the bench-test order.
The cellar is the other half of the restaurant, and it is the reason V. Mertz holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. Five sommeliers work the floor across a night, and they will build a pairing for either tasting menu without condescension. It is a depth of list you would not expect this far from a coast, and it is what keeps the room booked. The cooking sits inside the conversation tracked across our Omaha guide.
The Room
The dining room sits down a brick passageway, low-lit and close, with exposed-brick walls and tables spaced for conversation rather than turnover. Noise stays at an easy hum even on a full Saturday, lighting is candle-dim, and the dress code is smart without being stiff. It seats a modest room, so the pace never feels rushed; a tasting here is built to occupy an evening, not a slot.
Best for an Anniversary
Book V. Mertz for an anniversary because three things line up that rarely do in one room: a kitchen that can run an eight-course arc without a weak plate, a cellar deep enough that the night becomes a small expedition, and a brick-cellar setting that flatters a long, slow dinner. Order the Grand Tasting, let a sommelier pair it, and you have a three-hour evening that feels like an occasion rather than a meal. For more rooms built to mark the date, see the anniversary and birthday guide.
Not for
Skip V. Mertz if you want a quick bite or a casual walk-in — the kitchen is built around multi-course tastings and a long wine list, and the evening is designed to take hours, not minutes.
Frequently Asked
Is V. Mertz worth it?
Yes, for an occasion. V. Mertz is Omaha's longest-running serious fine-dining room, with a five-course tasting at $60 and an eight-course Grand Tasting at $100, plus a Wine Spectator-honoured cellar of more than 450 bottles. The cooking is precise rather than showy, and the value against coastal equivalents is strong. Treat it as a special-occasion dinner and it delivers.
How much is dinner at V. Mertz?
The Chef's Tasting Menu is $60 for five courses and the Grand Tasting is $100 for eight, both before wine. With a sommelier-built pairing from the 450-bottle cellar you should budget well above that. The carte is priced in the same fine-dining band. Advance notice is appreciated if your whole table wants the tasting.
Who is the chef at V. Mertz?
Executive chef John Miller leads the kitchen, cooking contemporary American food grounded in classic French technique with regional Nebraska produce and meat. The kitchen is known for its foie gras torchon and Morgan Ranch Wagyu. The wine programme is run by a team of five sommeliers across the floor.
Where is V. Mertz located?
V. Mertz is at 1022 Howard Street, in the Old Market Passageway in downtown Omaha. The dining room sits down a brick passage off the main market streets. It is walkable from the Old Market hotels and easy to pair with a pre-dinner drink nearby. See the Omaha dining guide for more.
Do I need a reservation at V. Mertz?
Yes, especially at weekends and for the tasting menus. The room is small and books up on Fridays and Saturdays, and the kitchen prefers advance notice for the Grand Tasting so the pacing and pairings are ready. Reserve through the restaurant's booking page or by phone on +1 402-345-8980 a week or more out.
Booked via Tock; reserve a week or more ahead for weekends and for the Grand Tasting.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1022 Howard Street, Old Market, Omaha, NE 68102
