The minute you walk inside Red Door Woodfire Grill in Aksarben Village, you notice that distinct wood-fire aroma. It’s the kind of smokiness that makes your mouth water with the promise of grilled steaks and burgers. That tantalizing smell has you imagining the menu as you’re escorted to your seat by a friendly host.
Red Door Woodfire Grill opened in Aksarben Village on June 2 and has already gathered a bit of local buzz. It’s the seventh location for this small Midwestern concept, which started in the Kansas City area in 2013. The company expanded across Kansas and Missouri when it made sense to do so. Now, it’s here in Omaha.
Angela Mitchell is a partner in the business. She also serves as director of training and development and has taken on the role of managing partner for the Nebraska market. Before joining Red Door, she spent 14 years with another concept until she met Gary Zancanelli Jr., Red Door’s founder. Mitchell said she knew within 10 minutes she wanted to work with him.
“His passion for hospitality, quality of food and guest experience in general led me to move back to Kansas City to join him,” Mitchell said. “What spoke to me was the passion to create great dishes, to create things, to collaborate.”
Part of the motivation behind Red Door was freedom. Zancanelli wanted to create a restaurant where he had a say in all of it, from culinary direction and cocktails to the team…