A New/Old Vibe at Dundee’s Ooh de Lally
By now it seems everyone has heard of, and many have eaten at, Ooh de Lally, Dundee’s new restaurant concept that took over Mark’s Bistro this past year. Located at 49th and Underwood, the nonprofit restaurant works with the 180 Re-Entry Assistance Program at Metropolitan Community College, which offers former prison inmates an opportunity to train for food industry jobs.
JH Interior Design was asked last year to be a part of the renovation of the well-known space, and designer Breanna Cortinas took charge. Breanna, who has designed such spaces as Stories Coffee, Lyle’s Pizza and Wonderbowl, said the challenging aspect of this project was maintaining the feel of the former restaurant. “We needed to update for sure but also keep Mark’s integrity because it was such a beloved restaurant in the neighborhood,” she said. “We didn’t want it to feel totally new.”
Breanna was able to modernize the space by staining the original “orange-ish” wood a darker tone and adding a faux velvet blush upholstery to the banquettes.
She also convinced decision-makers to replace carpet in the restaurant’s dining room with a luxury vinyl tile in a plaid pattern. “The tile is easier for clean-up in a space with food but also reverberates sound for a livelier feel,” she said.
Breanna was able to carve out four additional seats at the bar by replacing a wine rack and tiling it to serve as a foot rail. Penny tile in a stripe pattern helps to create a playful mood.
Omaha’s Secret Penguin furthered the design with spot-on branding on everything from the restaurant’s awning to match books to a large mural across the front windows.
Visitors reactions to the renovated space have been positive. Yelp reviews about the restaurant describe the interiors as cozy and intimate, with a few reviewers commenting on the vibe being similar to Mark’s. “Wonderful environment for a nice dinner, the same Marks charm with elevated updates and a great menu!” and “From start to finish, an excellent experience. It would be hard to replicate the magic of Marks Bistro, but somehow Oh De Lally has. It is just as cozy and inviting as you’d expect and want from a space like this.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
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