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Restaurants

Restaurant · Omaha · The 402

V. Mertz

Old Market$$$$

A 1977 Old Market Passageway landmark serving contemporary American tasting menus with local sourcing and a deep wine program.

Directions Book a table Menu Official website

What stands out

Intimate, romantic cellar atmosphere — exposed brick, dim candlelight, Old Market Passageway setting

Good to know

Price point is steep ($30–$60+ per person before drinks; tasting menu adds considerably)

See the full sourced read

Ready when you are

Plan your visit

Omaha read

Location on this page1022 Howard Street, Omaha, NE 68102

See current hours
Mon
Closed
Tue
5:30pm–close
Wed
5:30pm–close
Thu
5:30pm–close
Fri
5:30pm–close
Sat
5:30pm–close
Sun
5:30pm–close

Will this visit work for you?

1/3 researched

Check what matters for your visit. Not checked means unknown—not unavailable.

  • Accessibility

    Important limit

    Steep-stair approach

    The venue's history page describes the passageway approach as down a steep flight of stairs and does not identify a step-free route; contact the restaurant for current access options. Only the cited feature is described; unlisted access needs remain unknown.

    Venue source · Aug 27, 2026
Kids + familyNot checked

Family logistics unknown

A kids menu, high chairs, changing table, stroller room, seating, and noise level have not been confirmed here.

Dietary handlingNot checked

Preparation details unknown

Menu options, substitutions, shared surfaces, fryers, and cross-contact practices have not been confirmed here.

Accessibility notes describe only cited features—not ADA compliance. Dietary evidence is not medical advice or a safety guarantee; confirm your exact needs with the venue.

Venue hours above were checked on the listing date, but schedules can change. Confirm parking and other time-sensitive details directly before you go.

  • Fine dining
  • Tasting menu
  • American
  • Good for groups
+4 more useful filters
  • Vegetarian options listed
  • Visitor classic
  • Local favorite
  • Takes reservations
5 source-backed details5 of 8 useful labels have their own dated link · listing checked Aug 27, 2026

Each link supports only the detail beside it. Menus, policies, and setups can still change, so confirm anything important before visiting.

3 broad catalog labels do not yet have an individual source link.

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Public-source snapshot

The Omaha read

Researched Aug 27, 2026

Why people go

  • Intimate, romantic cellar atmosphere — exposed brick, dim candlelight, Old Market Passageway setting
  • Exceptional and knowledgeable service, including sommelier expertise on wine and spirits pairings

Good to know

  • Price point is steep ($30–$60+ per person before drinks; tasting menu adds considerably)
Sources + full snapshot3 sources

V. Mertz is the consensus standard-bearer for fine dining in Omaha — a 40-plus-year Old Market institution that earns frequent praise for its romantic subterranean ambiance, creative New American tasting menus, and impeccable wine-forward service. The rare criticisms center on price and close table spacing, not on food or hospitality quality.

More reasons mentioned

  • Creative tasting menu anchored in seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients and French technique
  • Standout dishes: Wagyu tenderloin, roasted duck breast, and the coconut-pork-fat bread rolls

More notes

  • Tables are close together — neighboring conversations carry when the dining room is full
  • Menu rotates constantly, so a beloved dish from a prior visit may not return (occasional complaint about chef changes affecting signature preparations)

Open the source snapshots

4.8/5OpenTable · 2.1k reviews4.6/5 (#16 of ~984 in Omaha)TripAdvisor · 226 reviews4.5/5Yelp · 210 reviews

This is a dated summary of cited public ratings, reviews, and coverage—not a live venue guarantee and never part of the OmahaSpots score. Open a source before relying on current details.

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On the record · what we found

Cited public sources in the Aug 27, 2026 snapshot — not reviews and never part of the score. Open each source to check current context.

Listing checked Aug 27, 2026

Transparent preview

How OmahaSpots reads it

A sortable preview built from synthetic scenarios—not a live community rating. Use it to compare places, then use the sourced notes above for real-world context.

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How this score is built · the receiptsSeeded sample

Score by dimension

  • Food8.6
  • Value6.7
  • Vibe8.5
  • Service8.2
  • Quiet6.7

Each preview score weights synthetic scenarios across sample source, identity, and evidence tiers, then shrinks toward the category average (the faint tick) when inputs are thin. These are not consumer reviews or claims that a real person visited.

Provenance

Built from 6 synthetic scoring scenarios with an effective sample size of 3.8 after credibility weighting.

2 Sample anonymous tier1 Sample registered tier2 Sample local tier1 Sample expert tierSample in-app source · 3Sample sourced input · 1Sample anonymous source · 2

3 of 6 carrying a sample visit-evidence flag—not a real visit verification

No sample proof · 1Sample self-attestation · 2Sample photo flag · 1Sample receipt flag · 2

Highest-weight sample scenarios

  • scenario: omaha_plates · Sample expert tier×1.65 · Sample receipt flag · 5mo
  • scenario: blackstone_b · Sample local tier×0.91 · Sample receipt flag · 10mo
  • scenario: midtown_mo · Sample local tier×0.54 · Sample photo flag · 15mo
  • scenario: tuesdaytacos · Sample registered tier×0.51 · Sample self-attestation · 1mo
  • scenario: guest-22b9 · Sample anonymous tier×0.10 · Sample self-attestation · 7mo