Today’s entry comes from a guest blogger, Brand Manager Elissa Plastino. You can follow more of her thoughts and adventures at @eplastino
Admittedly, I am not an early bird. Or, for that matter, a night owl. In fact, I function best between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. So what was I doing yesterday when I got up at 3:45 a.m. to start a travel day in which I would spend time in three states and three time zones before arriving back home at midnight?
Well, it was the lure of seeing our new restaurant Otis & Henry’s Bar and Grill at Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk. As Chef Eric Brenner mentions in an earlier posting, Otis & Henry’s Bar and Grill will bring guests a menu that features comfort food favored by people across the nation.
Otis & Henry’s opened today, so I made the trip yesterday to get a sneak peek and see what was happening in the restaurant only one day before opening.
When I arrived, the Otis & Henry’s sign was being installed at the restaurant’s entrance. Inside, servers looked spiffy in their new uniforms and they seemed to carry themselves with a heightened level of confidence. Chef Eric’s trusty sidekick Haris was putting the team through some additional service training to ensure guests were provided with an exceptional dining experience. Both Chef Eric and Haris have led the openings of our two other Otis & Henry’s locations (Caruthersville, MO and Waterloo, IA) so they take great pride in every aspect of the restaurant.
Having been up so early, I was hungry and, even knowing that lunch was a few hours away, I stole a glance at the menu. What a mistake! My mouth started to water immediately and my stomach started to growl. From an all-day breakfast section that features all-you-can-eat pancakes and a French toast platter, to appetizers of cheese fries and wings, to entrees of meatloaf, ribs and country fried steak. But what really caught my eye was the baked mac-n-cheese dinner, an O&H signature item. I knew immediately what I was having for lunch, and let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed!
When lunchtime came around, I looked out the window and the snow had started to blow! Of course, weather like that makes a person want comfort food even more, so we headed to Otis & Henry’s for a bite to eat.
I didn’t have to look at the menu because I already knew what I wanted the mac-n-cheese. Others at the table decided that the weather made them want soup, so several ordered the soup & salad bar along with an entrée like meatloaf or the grilled triple cheese sandwich.
As I watched my colleagues come back to the table with bowls of hot tomato soup, I wondered if I had made the right decision. It looked and smelled wonderful! The soup was thick and creamy…they said it was delicious.
Our meals arrived and I was not disappointed by my order. The mac-n-cheese was a large bowl of shell pasta covered in creamy cheese and then topped with melted Cheddar and toasted Italian bread crumbs. I took a bite and it was pure deliciousness! I ate until I was so full that I couldn’t even consider having a slice of pie for dessert.
As we left, I noticed a great buzz from other diners. Even though the restaurant wasn’t officially open, Chef Eric had his team practicing by serving casino employees and some lucky guests who were treated to a free meal in exchange for their honest feedback.
I left Black Hawk shortly after lunch to head home to St. Louis, and I couldn’t stop smiling. I am so excited for the Lady Luck team as I know that Otis & Henry’s will be a hit!
Have you tried Otis & Henry’s yet? If so, please leave us your feedback. If not, what are you waiting for?
Many of you enjoyed the recipe that we shared last month for the Amazing Apple Cinnamon Cake from Lady Luck Casino Marquette! Well just in time for Thanksgiving, we have another recipe from their kitchen for a pumpkin dessert.
