This is part three in my series exploring some of the best places to eat in what I consider to be one of greater OKC’s most awesome shopping and dining districts — Campus Corner in Norman (see part one covering Victoria’s Pasta Shop and part two covering Pepe Delgados). Today we take a look at Coriander Cafe, a truly unique eatery from two innovative, local culinary entrepreneurs.

Occupying the space right next to Victoria’s, Coriander Cafe has a fantastic location in a historic building on the corner of White Street and Buchanan Avenue. The interior is simple and modern, with stained concrete floors and a semi-open kitchen feel. The menu concept is a modern take on Vietnamese fare. Many of the traditional Vietnamese dishes that are prevalent in OKC’s Asian District are offered here, providing Normanites with a viable Vietnamese option much closer to home.

As someone who has spent a lot of time dining in OKC’s Asian District, it’s hard for me not to compare Coriander Cafe to what I’ve experienced in central OKC. So, my thoughts are going to reflect some of those comparisons. For instance, things are a bit more expensive here than what I’m used to for Vietnamese food. A bowl of Pho is $8 and a Bahn Mi sandwich, $6. But the higher-prices are justified, in my opinion, by the higher-quality ingredients (especially the meats) and, of course, the location and atmosphere.

The menu is pretty simple. The entree section includes about five options — Bahn Mi (see a pic), Rice Bowl (see a pic), Noodle Salad (see a pic), Pho Soup, and Lettuce Wraps (see a pic) which are served with your choice of meat (or tofu). It is this selection of protein that really sets Coriander Cafe apart for me. I can tell they have put a lot of thought and care into their assortment which includes roast pork, pork sausage, beef short ribs, sesame ginger beef, beef meatball, lemongrass chicken, spicy hoisin tofu, lemongrass tofu, and lemon garlic shrimp. It’s a great selection and the options I’ve tried have all been very well seasoned and prepared.

On my first visit, I tried the Bahn Mi with roast pork. The pork was the star of the show — tender and juicy with just enough seasoning to stand out but not so much as to overpower. The sandwich also comes with pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro, pate’, aioli, jalepenos and cucumber. The veggies were crisp and everything was flavorful. The french baguette bun is locally-sourced from La Baguette. Interestingly, after visiting on this day I tweeted about my visit and Coriander Cafe immediately tweeted back, apologizing and indicating that I had visited on a “bad bread day.” Evidently, they weren’t pleased with the batch of bread they had received that day. While I had thought the bread was a little too crusty (making it a bit tough to eat), it certainly wasn’t anything I was concerned about. Yet, I was impressed all the more that they were so attentive to each of their ingredients. A good sign, I think.

I’ve also had the noodle salad ($8), which is basically their take on the vermicelli bowl I know and love at several Asian District spots. I had the sesame ginger beef on this one. Again, the meat stole the show with the rest of the ingredients supporting nicely.

Their appetizers include egg rolls, veggie egg rolls, egg drop soup, green papaya salad, and Vietnamese-style spring rolls (see a pic). Interestingly, you can add “crunchies” to your spring rolls for 50 cents extra.

The story of Coriander is made even richer when you find out a little bit about its owners and their history. Take a minute to read their about page to get to know a little about Chris Le and Jeremiah Caldwell. When you visit, you’re likely to find them both working and excited to talk with you about their restaurant. These guys are very passionate about what they do. They’ve accomplished a lot, bootstrapping their business without a lot of funding to work with. They’re also one of the best I’ve seen when it comes to utilizing social media and the web effectively. Their website is simple but top-notch and I’ve enjoyed all of the food photography they share on their Facebook page.

Coriander Cafe is pretty new to the well-established Campus Corner scene, but it’s proven that a solid concept, good implementation and a lot of hard work can be successful, even for first-time entrepreneurs just starting out. Though you can find more “traditional” Vietnamese cooking in OKC’s Asian District, Coriander Cafe brings a modern spin with quality ingredients that I feel is worth a visit to experience first hand. And for those in the Norman area, it’s a very unique option bringing some nice variety to the robust selection of restaurants on Campus Corner.

Have you been to Coriander Cafe? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

EatAroundOKC has a new partner I want to tell you about. TangoTab is a company based in Dallas that’s now just venturing into Oklahoma City. Like EatAroundOKC, TangoTab works with local restaurants to offer special deals. Also like EatAroundOKC, TangoTab donates 20% of its revenue to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

TangoTab’s deals work a little differently than our own deals. With TangoTab, you don’t have to pay anything up front to get a deal. You simply sign up for their service and when they notify you by email of a deal you like, you visit their website, claim the deal and print off your coupon, all for free. You can also browse for and claim available deals when you’re out and about with their handy iPhone app. For every coupon used, TangoTab makes a donation to the Food Bank. Their motto is “When you eat, they eat.”

Click this link to sign up for TangoTab (it’s free!)

I’d like to ask you to sign up for TangoTab so that you can be notified of these Oklahoma City restaurant deals when they are available (use the link above to sign-up). Please note — TangoTab is just getting started in OKC (they haven’t even officially launched here yet) so their available deals are limited, but they’re adding new restaurants all the time. Sign up now to get notified whenever new deals are added. If you sign up now, you’ll also be invited to attend some exclusive launch events that TangoTab has in the works.

Here Are Some Answers to Questions You May Have

Are you still going to offer deals on your own deals site?
We haven’t run any deals in a few weeks on our own deals site (deals.eataroundokc.com) but we are currently working on some plans to get things rolling again. So yes, we still intend to run our own deals in addition to promoting deals for TangoTab.

Why would you promote TangoTab when you have your own deals program?
TangoTab’s deals work differently than our own deals and we feel they are complimentary to our own service. This, plus the fact that TangoTab’s goal of supporting the Food Bank is aligned with our own cause make this partnership a natural fit.

Are you still going to publish awesome reviews, listings and photos?
Yes. Reviews, listing and photos are the heart and soul of what we do. We intend to keep publishing them as long as people keep reading!

Thanks for Your Support

Thank you for your support EatAroundOKC and our new partner, TangoTab. If you have any questions or feedback about the TangoTab service, they would love to hear from you. Mike Yonker, TangoTab’s Vice-President of Strategy and Corporate Development, invites you to contact him personally at myonker@tangotab.com with any questions or suggestions you may have.

When I first heard about Travel by Taste, I thought I needed to get over there and try the newest place in town. Mediterranean food is quickly surpassing Mexican food as my favorite, and I didn’t want to miss out on a new option. Boy was I surprised to learn that Travel by Taste has been around for over 10 years!  How had I not heard of this place?  Probably because you can’t see it from the street. To find it, go to the light at NW 49th and MacArthur, turn east and go about 100 yards to find a small strip mall behind the other, main strip mall, and (hopefully) you’ll see it there on the right.

It’s not much to look at on the outside, but here at EatAroundOKC, we often find favorites in unlikely places, so I was excited to see what tasty treats awaited me on the inside.

The front part of the restaurant is actually a mini grocery store stocked with Mediterranean items such as grape leaves, Greek yogurt and fresh dates still on the twigs. There are a variety of fresh-roasted figs and nuts beside the cash register (see a pic). One of my new favorite snacks is their lemon-roasted sour almonds. With just the right amount of tart and a little bit of salt, they are delicious. I can’t leave the store without purchasing about a half-pound to take with me.

Take note, the grocery store counter is also where you place your order for restaurant items off the menu, and the process can be a little inconsistent. Sometimes I’ve been asked to pay when I order. Other times I’ve paid on my way out. When you dine here you just need to be willing to go with the flow. Also, Travel by Taste is not the best option if you’re in a big hurry. Service can be a bit slow.

But if you have the time, it’s worth the wait because the food here is homemade and very good. I always start with two of my favorites — the tabouli ($3.99) and the hummus ($4.99 – see a pic).  The tabouli is nice and lemony, not overly oily like at a lot of places. The hummus is creamy and wonderful with a very “olivy” olive oil drizzled on top. The strong olive flavor is unique, but we enjoyed it. You get a very generous serving of tabouli and plenty of hot pita slices to go with the hummus. I usually just make a meal out of these two items. If you’re splitting lunch with someone, you can add an order of the falafel bites ($3.99 – see a pic), which is served with their homemade yogurt and cucumber sauce, and you’ll leave plenty full.

Others I’ve dined with have tried the gyro platter ($8.99 – see a pic) which includes a generous serving of gyro meat, pita bread, fresh vegetables and sauce; the kabob sandwich ($5.49); the blackened chicken ($8.99); and the shish kabob ($11.99 – see a pic).  The kabob sandwich had ground beef seasoned with sumac and onion, which was skewered and broiled with tomato, onion and pickle.  It was pretty darn tasty.  The blackened chicken was served with grilled veggies and saffron rice, and the shish kabob was especially good with a grilled and marinated filet mignon, also served with grilled veggies and saffron rice.  The steak was especially tender and tasty.  I’ve also added the samoosa ($2.49) to my list of regular items. It’s ground beef, onion and spices in an egg roll wrap served with a delicious tamarind sauce.

I really enjoy the variety of antique, mismatched dishes on which everything is served.  It makees me feel as if I am a guest in someone’s dining room at home.

One thing I have found is that you can spend as little or as much as you want on a meal here because the lunch and dinner menu are available all day long.  I usually end up on the high side because I have to also purchase my staples of Greek yogurt and lemon almonds while I’m there.  And I’ve discovered the almonds and other delicious fresh roasted nuts make great gifts.

For another great, local Oklahoma City eatery that’s very off the beaten path, I highly recommend you give Travel by Taste a try. If you’ve been already, please let us know what you think in the comments below!

Your Place for Oklahoma City Restaurant Photos

Over the years, we’ve accumulated quite a treasure-trove of Oklahoma City Restaurant photos and today’s upgrade allows us to better feature these photos. It also makes it easier for you to view and share them. Here’s an overview of what’s new:

• See our latest photos. You’ll find a new option on our main navigation menu called “Photos.” Click it to access the photos page, which shows you the last 200 images we’ve uploaded to our site. Click any image to see it larger on the image’s detail page.
• View photos, get details, and leave comments. Click any photo on the photos page or on any restaurant or review gallery and you’ll be taken to the new photo detail page. The detail page shows you a larger view of the image along with links to its associated restaurant listing and review (if available). You can also leave comments about photos on their detail pages. Plus, having this dedicated page for each photo makes it easier to share individual photos with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and more.
• See all photos on reviews. We’ve installed a gallery at the bottom of every review that shows all available photos associated with that review’s restaurant. Clicking any of these photos also takes you to its detail page.

Pinterest Integration Across the Board

This upgrade also adds Pinterest integration to all reviews, restaurants and photos. Along with the Facebook Like Button and Google’s +1 you’ll find a “PinIt” button for Pinterest which will automatically populate your pin with the most relevant image and description content. We’ve noticed a lot of people have been pinning content from our site lately and we wanted to make this process even easier. So feel free to pin away! You can also follow us on Pinterest (though we’re just getting started here).

Leave Comments, Pin Stuff, and Win a Gift Card!

To celebrate all of this we’re launching a new giveaway that starts today and lasts through the end of May 2012. We’ve got multiple gift cards good at all Good Egg Dining restaurants (including Tucker’s Onion Burgers, Iron Starr Urban BBQ, RePUBlic Gastropub, Red Primesteak, and Cheever’s Cafe) and a few additional prizes as well. To enter, you can do any or all of the following:

• Leave comments on photos on EatAroundOKC.com. Remember, click a photo in any gallery and you’ll find that photo’s detail page, where you can leave a comment through Facebook or our built-in comments system. Every comment counts as one entry.
• Pin stuff from EatAroundOKC.com to Pinterest. Every pin counts as one entry.

You can add as many comments and pins as you want, as long as they are legitimate and not spammy. Each one increases your odds of winning one of our fantastic prizes. You have through May 31st to get your entries in. After that, we’ll randomly select winners from all of our entries. Good luck!

Thanks to Our Fantastic Photographers

In closing, I’d like to say thanks to two fantastic photographers who have donated their efforts contributing great photography to our site over the years. Lacey Dillard and Nicole McDaniel have both provided us with so many great restaurant photos, and they have done so as volunteers. Please join me in thanking them for their work.

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel Photography

It isn’t every day you enter a restaurant to be cheerfully greeted by the chef and owner, but that’s the norm at Vito’s Ristorante. Located at the corner of May and Wilshire in the Lakeside Shops, Vito’s is a great choice for an intimate meal for two or even for large family dinners. Cathy Cummings opened the restaurant, which she named after her uncle Vito, about six years ago with the goal of serving amazing Italian food like her grandma used to make. I think grandma would be proud.

The menu goes beyond traditional options like Fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Parmesan (though both of these dishes are well prepared). Vito’s also offers unique options that you won’t find at just any Italian restaurant. Chicken Scaloppine (grilled chicken breast sautéed with lemon butter, mushrooms, artichokes, Kalamatta olives and capers – see a pic) and Cioppino (a seafood stew cooked with assorted fish, mussels and shrimp in a tomato-based broth – see a pic) are wonderful dishes if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary.

Vito’s is only open for dinner, and prices are in the mid to high-mid range, starting at $14-$15 for Lasagne (see a pic), Ravioli with Meatballs and Eggplant Parmesan to $22 for the Cioppino and Fettuccine Diablo con Pesce and $25 for the Shrimp Spedini (charcoal-grilled shrimp served with Sachetini pasta in a roasted red pepper cream sauce – see a pic). In my opinion, most of the dishes are large enough to be shared. All entrees include a wonderful Caesar salad with homemade dressing (see a pic) or house salad if you prefer. And everything comes with Cathy’s homemade bread.

The night my family visited Vito’s, I ordered the Cioppino (mentioned above) while the others stuck mostly with traditional pasta dishes. Their favorites included the Lasagna and Chicken Parmesan, both of which are made with Cathy’s famous “sugo” (read: red sauce).

But don’t forget to ask about the Zuppa di Giorno (or Soup of the Day). Cathy convinced us to try her Italian Wedding Soup made with fresh pasta, sausage, and spinach in a flavorful broth. I was a bit skeptical, but after hearing Cathy describe it, my 11-year old said “I’m having that!” Evidently, we raised a smart kid because the soup was spectacular.

I would describe the atmosphere at Vito’s as “rustic Italian.” There are simple red and white tablecloths and fresh flowers on each table and the lighting is intimate (see an interior pic). There are probably a total of 16-18 tables in the entire restaurant. On the weekends, you can enjoy live music that includes the ballads of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Honestly, I could live without the live music as the noise level in this small space gets quite loud. Weeknight music includes recorded Rat Pack tunes at lower levels.

My favorite part of the ambiance has to be the photos. Most every wall is adorned with black and white pics featuring members of Cathy’s family, including Uncle Vito himself (who, from the looks of the picture, could have been related to Tony Sopprano).

Vito’s also delivers on the wine front. You can order house wine by the glass or choose from a nice selection of bottles, most of which are Italian varieties. Bottles can be reasonable (we choose one that was $35) or you can splurge and go for the expensive stuff.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave room for dessert. Vito’s creates some wonderful desserts including lemon sorbet, cheesecake, Tiramisu, and my personal favorite creme brûlée. Desserts run about $5.95 each and often can be shared with your significant other (or in my case with a 7-year old).

Speaking of 7-year olds, Vito’s does offer a kids menu with plenty of options for even the pickiest of eaters. And since everything on the menu is made fresh-to-order, special requests are no problem for Cathy and her staff.

I’ve visited Vito’s no less than a dozen times over the past couple of years and I have always been pleased with the food and service. Have you been to Vito’s? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Get more information and see more fantastic photos courtesy of Nicole McDaniel Photography on our restaurant listing for Vito’s Ristorante.

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

It is rare to walk into a restaurant and feel like the place represents everything you love about the town around it. But for me, Joey’s Pizzeria is the embodiment of Oklahoma City and the development occurring all over town right now.

This isn’t some flashy, fly-by-night place that just popped up to be trendy. Irena (“Joey”) and her crew had been comfortably slinging pies and pasta near 18th and Classen for a few years and their relocation to Film Row on Sheridan Avenue gives the restaurant a much-needed overhaul and expansion, not to mention cool new digs (see a pic).

Joey’s strikes a great balance with a quality menu, historic charm, great drink selection, friendly staff (Joey is frequently walking around) and trendy touches. It brings new life to a rehabbed old building in an up-and-coming district downtown. Put it all together and you’ve got a new must-try spot for lunch or dinner.

The vegetarian lasagna ($12.99 for dinner – see a pic) is one of my new favorite meals in town. Heavy on Joey’s red sauce and packed with fresh veggies, this lasagna fills me up without packing in a ton of cheese to go straight to my thighs. This particular lasagna actually feels somewhat healthy (at least that is what I tell myself). I also really appreciate that all of their pastas are available in lunch portions, which are still decently-sized and cheaper than their larger dinner counterparts.

I have tried the baked spaghetti and meatballs ($11.99 for dinner) and the chicken parmesan ($12.99 for dinner). It isn’t that those dishes aren’t good, it’s just that I have officially sworn off eating anything there except the veggie lasagna, so I am no longer an impartial judge. The toasted ravioli appetizer ($6.99 – see a pic) is also a must-try. These ravioli are crispy on the outside with smooth and creamy cheese on the inside. They’re served with a side of red sauce (pretty much anything dipped in Joey’s red sauce is good with me).

Each meal comes with a soup or salad. The salad is kind of boring to me, so I always go with the variety of soups they have on a rotating basis. I have had the Italian bean and the chicken noodle, both of which are delicious. They also have a rotating pasta lunch special with garlic bread for $7.99 and a sandwich special for $6.99 that they post (i.e. tempt me with) every day on Twitter and Facebook.

I would be remiss to not talk about the pizza. Joey’s is, afterall, a pizza place at heart and the selection is robust. From the Herbivorus Maximus to the Colossal Meat (both $10.99 for a 10’ small) to the Surfer Dude ($9.99 for the small) and  much more, Joey’s has a pizza for everyone. They also encourage half-and-halfs for sharing, which is a great way to have more than one option at the table.

The star of the pizza show in my opinion is the Bianca Neve ($10.99 for a small – see a pic) with chopped baby spinach, fresh garlic, smoked bacon, feta cheese and mozzarella cheese on Joey’s signature alfredo sauce. I heard a rumor that this pizza is a favorite of Joey herself, and used to be available by code word only at the previous location. A friend of mine always gets the personal calzone ($8.99 – see a pic) and swears it is the best in town. All I know is it is huge and comes with that aforementioned red sauce for dipping (win!).

When I first started visiting Joey’s at lunch the place was pretty dead. The crowds have picked up though and the last time I went, I had to wait for a table. I will note that I did have one experience where our group’s food took way too long for lunch, but the waitress comped our meal and the chef came out to apologize. I only mention it to praise Joey’s for appreciating its customers and understanding that every experience matters. I understand that all restaurants will have bad days so it is the way they handle those situations that matters most to me.

So, for all the positive experiences Joey’s has given me, and of course for the fantastic food, I can confidently say that Joey’s will continue to be a favorite of mine for a long time. I can’t wait to see what other exciting places move into the area.

Have you been to Joey’s Pizzeria in either their old location or their new one? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see more photos courtesy of Nicole McDaniel Photography on EatAroundOKC’s restaurant listing for Joey’s Pizzeria.

There aren’t too many restaurants over in the far southwest area of Oklahoma City. But if you ever find yourself on South Council Road near its intersection with Airport Road, or if you live or work nearby, you might want to stop in to try Tacos Don Nacho. It’s been around a couple of years, serving up some fresh and tasty Mexican fare in a very clean environment at reasonable prices.

Several of our readers have emailed me about Tacos Don Nacho ever since it opened. Everyone seemed to have great things to say about it. So, though I don’t live or work in that area of the city, I decided to make a special trip out to try Tacos Don Nacho for myself.

The first thing that impressed me is the building. It’s a new stand-alone structure, very clean and nice on the inside. The restaurant operates a counter service setup where you order and pay up front and then have a seat so they can bring your food to your table. They serve drinks for you so you don’t have to keep getting up and down to get your own refills. They also bring free chips and salsa to your table. The salsa is pretty good — a little on the thinner side, which isn’t my personal preference — but still tasty and fresh.

I would characterize the food as California-style Mexican food. Now, I make that claim loosely based on the fact that the family running the place is from California (I believe) plus a few comments I’ve heard from people who are from California who have said this place is close to the style in their home state.

The menu consists mostly of plates ranging from standards like enchiladas and quesadillas to more unique offerings like Caldo De Camaron ($8.45), Menudo ($6.19 – Saturdays only), the Taco Rico plate ($8.89) and several seafood options. They also have Taqueria-style tacos ($1.40 each), tortas ($5.10), and burritos ($4.85) with meat choices including Asada, Carnitas, Lengua, Tripe, Chicken, Al Pastor, and Barbacoa.

The tamal, rice and beans I had were all great. Again, nothing fancy, but I like this simple style and the fact that everything tastes fresh. On the other hand, the taqueria-style tacos I had weren’t my favorite. I had one with Carnitas and one with Asada and thought the meats were a little dry and the corn tortillas weren’t as good as those I’ve had elsewhere. I’m not saying they were bad, there are just a lot of other places in town (like Abel’s, Chalo’s, Hugo’s Taquizas and some of our taco trucks) that do a better job with this style of taco, in my opinion. These are the very small tacos, as opposed to the larger variety found at Los Comales, Big Truck Tacos, and Taqueria La Original.

I haven’t been for breakfast yet but I’m planning to try it out sometime. I love a good Mexican breakfast and the breakfast menu at Tacos Don Nacho looks great with options like Chorizo or Machaca Con Huevo ($5.65), Huevos Rancheros ($5.65), and Egg & Bean Chilaquiles ($5.40). Breakfast is served from 9am to 11:30am. If any of you have tried the breakfast items, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Bottom line, it may not warrant a trip across town, but if you live in, work in, or find yourself in the area, I think Tacos Don Nacho is worth a visit. It’s great to have a quality option like this in the far southwest part of town. There are better taquerias in OKC, but Don Nacho is unique in its part of the city and also offers a lot that you can’t get at most other taquerias.

Have you been to Tacos Don Nacho? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see more photos on our restaurant listing for Tacos Don Nacho.

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

In my opinion, the most flavorful and chewy bagels in the metro can be found at Old School Bagel Cafe. Their bagels are created the old fashioned way — by first boiling them in water and then baking them. Of course, the dough is made fresh daily. Their bagels are always perfectly chewy but also light, just like I remember from New York City.

On any given day, you can expect to find at least ten different bagels and a wide array of toppings to build any kind of lunch or breakfast bagel concoction. Bagels can be purchased individually for only 99 cents each or in any combination, including half dozen or dozen.

Whenever I visit Old School Bagel Cafe I first try to decide if I’m in the mood for something sweet or something savory. Then, I select my bagel and toppings. For a sweet craving, I love their blueberry or chocolate chip bagel smeared with honey-almond cream cheese ($2.29 – see a pic). The honey-almond is great, but they create several other decadent varieties of cream cheese to try as well.

When I’m feeling savory at breakfast, I tend toward a multigrain or everything bagel topped with egg, cheese and bacon or ham or sausage ($3.29). This one makes for a very satisfying start to any day. The jalapeño bagel also offers a tasty kick to any breakfast or lunch sandwich, including the BLT with egg.

At lunch, Old School Bagel Cafe offers a variety of sandwich choices. From pastrami to peanut butter and jelly to pizza-style, the options for your bagel seem endless. It will take you numerous visits trying several different combinations to find your favorites.

My lunch favorites include the Tuna Salad on a Salt Bagel ($5.49 – see a pic) — a fabulous combination with lettuce and tomato. Although not on a bagel, the Reuben (see a pic) is also excellent and piled high with tender meat, kraut and covered in melty cheese.

Old School Bagel Cafe operates several locations in the Oklahoma City metro, as well as one in Stillwater and one in Tulsa. The interiors of all the locations are similar. They are counter-service restaurants and you place your order near the bins displaying all of the day’s bagels. This allows you a chance to contemplate which bagels you want while you check out the menu. Ordering is simple and efficient which is important because often the line is long.

Each location offers comfortable seating indoors. Some have couches and TVs and some even offer outdoor seating. Every location offers to-go orders and a few locations offer drive through service as well.

The only disappointment I’ve experienced at Old School Bagel Cafe is when I’ve arrived to find that they are already out of some of my favorite bagels. But it’s always turned out fine because I have yet to try something I didn’t enjoy here. So, embrace the variety of choices they provide and explore all that their menu has to offer. I bet you’ll find a new favorite soon.

Have you been to Old School Bagel Cafe? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

See more photos of Old School Bagel Cafe, courtesy of Nicole McDaniel Photography in our Facebook Photo Album.

   

Whenever I’m in the mood for a taste of small town Americana, I head right to the Wiley Post Airport control tower. Underneath the tower is the Runway Cafe, where you can usually catch up on the day’s events from the conversations which surround you with business men and women, pilots, and families with small children. There usually is a good group of people gathered to watch the planes take off and land as well as to enjoy eating some giant, homemade cinnamon rolls.

There’s a lot to enjoy here, but I mainly come for the baked omelettes and monster cinnamon rolls. I have every intention of trying all seven omelettes on the menu, but I can’t get past the spinach and bacon ($7.59 – see a pic) which includes mushrooms, onions and mozzarella cheese. It comes with your choice of hashbrowns or grits and a biscuit and gravy or toast and jelly. The hashbrowns are great — crispy and fluffy at the same time.  And something about baking the omelettes gives them a unique taste and texture.  They’re delicious and they take up half of a plate.

The biscuits are also homemade and very light.  Dessert at breakfast must include one of their cinnamon rolls ($2.79 – see a pic).  If you order it with your meal, your waitress will wait until you’re ready for it, then she’ll butter it and heat it up before serving.  Personally, I think it’s a little too much butter and I ask them to hold it.  But if you like to see it oozing down the sides, by all means enjoy!

The burgers are pretty good. My husband had The Hinden-burger which comes with mushrooms and swiss cheese ($5.99 – see a pic).  Other burgers include the Charles Lind-burger (your basic cheeseburger), the Red Baron (hickory burger), the Barn Stormer (chicken fried steak sandwich) and the When Pigs Fly (bacon cheeseburger).  Last time we were in, I tried The Mile High club sandwich ($7.29 – see a pic). I have to admit I’ve probably had better club sandwiches, and that’s why I mostly stick to breakfast when I come here.

One reason why Runway Cafe has become such a draw for young families is that small children get a huge kick out of going outside to see the planes while waiting on breakfast or lunch.  Even if there is not much air traffic, there is usually a student plane parked right in front of the restaurant.  I’ve also noticed there is much more air traffic on Saturdays than during the week.

It’s quite nostalgic to sit in a small, regional airport named for a famous Oklahoman who had such a direct impact on aviation history. That, plus the chance to take it all in with some tasty homemade treats makes for a very unique dining experience that’s worthy of your attention. So try it out, and let us know what you think about Runway Cafe in the comments below.

Get more information and see more photos on our restaurant listing for Runway Cafe.

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

As the first fast-casual dining experience from the popular and well-respected A Good Egg Dining Group (the people behind Cheever’s Cafe, Iron Starr Urban BBQ, Red Primesteak and RePUBlic Gastropub), Tucker’s has understandably garnered a lot of attention. Much has been written about Tucker’s already, but I still wanted to offer my thoughts on this new staple of Oklahoma City dining.

Tucker’s menu pays homage to the kind of simplicity that made In-N-Out Burger famous. Tucker’s offers a single onion burger (4.99, $5.49 w/cheese), a double onion burger ($6.99, $7.99 w/cheese), a triple onion burger (the “Mother Tucker” – $8.99, $9.99 w/cheese), a turkey burger ($4.99, $5.49 w/cheese) and a salad (“The One Salad” – $4.99). They also have shakes made with Blue Bell ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry – $3.99).

Personally, I like the simple menu approach. It makes them efficient and allows them to stay focused on quality. Plus, I just happen to like their burgers. A lot.

These are onion burgers, of which I am a big fan (see a pic). Now, whenever one talks about onion burgers around these parts, one will inevitably compare them to El Reno onion burgers. Believe me, I get it. I grew up eating at the El Reno onion burger places. I love them, and I can tell you that Tucker’s Onion Burgers are not El Reno style onion burgers. But to be honest, I really don’t care. Who says an onion burger has to be made a certain way to be tasty? Tucker’s may not be making El Reno style onion burgers, but they are making tasty onion burgers that are located a lot closer to my house, and that gets my attention.

Tucker’s burgers are bigger than El Reno burgers and the patties don’t get smashed razor-thin like we’re used to in El Reno. That’s ok with me because while I might need to eat two (or sometimes, yes, even three) El Reno burgers to get full, a single burger and fries at Tucker’s gets me to a good level. I try to stick with the single burger at Tucker’s because I know it’s better on my pocketbook and my health, but the double burger is oh so good. I’ve never had the Mother Tucker, but I’d imagine it’s oh oh so so good. Maybe one day I’ll try it but for me the single is a great size with the double being there for an extra level of indulgence.

The quality of ingredients are a cut above here. First, they’re using fresh, locally-sourced, high quality beef that’s hand-formed into patties. The onions are cut thin and cooked on the meat to a good level. The buns are exceptional, sourced from the Prairie Thunder Baking Company and baked fresh especially for Tucker’s. I’ve heard some say the buns are a little too heavy or “roll-like” for them. I can understand that point of view as they are pretty substantial. This is another reason why I think the double burger beats the single by just an edge. On the single, you feel like there is just a little too much bread for the meat. But with the double, the balance is perfect.

The substantial bun also allows it to hold a whole lot of toppings without falling apart. Your choice of toppings is included with every burger (cheese is extra). My personal combination is always grilled onions (of course), mustard, extra pickles, and fresh grilled jalepenos. To me, the shredded lettuce and tomatoes just get in the way. But the pickles are a treat. These are thick-cut, high quality pickle slices. You can ask for “extra pickles” and I highly recommend that you do.

Tucker’s fries deserve some love as well ($2.59 - see a pic). The first time we visited, my wife said they were the best fries she’s had. I’ve experienced some slight inconsistency in the fries from visit to visit. Sometimes they’ve been a little overdone, but never enough to really bother me. And when they are on they are spot on — fresh-cut, fairly thin, cooked in peanut oil and sprinkled with a little sea salt. The amazing thing is you can get these to go and they will still be crispy when you get where you are going.

I haven’t had “The One Salad,” or the turkey burger so I can’t speak to those. I have had one of their shakes (see a pic). I’m no shake connoisseur, so to me it was just a shake. And at $3.99 it adds quite a bit to the price of a meal (not to mention the addition of calories) so I usually pass. I prefer my calories in burger form.

Speaking of price, I think Tucker’s is priced well for the most part. The fact that it’s served in a paper sack gives the feel of a fast-food restaurant and so, one might feel Tucker’s is pricey in comparison to other fast food options. But the size and quality of the meal here justifies the higher price tag. My standard single onion burger with cheese, plus fries and a drink comes in at just under $11 with tax (and there’s no tipping here). A little high, but there are a couple of tricks you can employ to lower your tab. Bring your cup back with you and you’ll save $1 on the drink. Use a KeepItLocalOK card and you’ll save another 10%.  Put that all together and my meal usually comes in at under $9 all-inclusive.

As with most every restaurant Good Egg operates, the building tells a good part of the story. Before Tucker’s ever opened, Good Egg invested a great deal in the restoration of the historical building it now occupies (see pics here and here). As a resident of this area, that makes a big impression on me. The vibe inside the restaurant is lively and it can be pretty loud when it’s full. I prefer sitting outside on their wonderful patio where things are a lot quieter.

My only real complaint at Tucker’s is the lack of options for kids. There is no kids menu and the burgers are so big that, unless you cut them into pieces to share among several little ones, there’s going to be a lot of waste. I don’t fault them for it as I’m sure they would add a kids menu if they thought they needed it to bring in business. As it is, I won’t be taking my family to Tucker’s, but that won’t keep me from frequenting by myself, with my wife, and with friends.

Overall, Tucker’s is a hit and a place that I hope will be a part of OKC’s dining scene for a long time. Have you been to Tucker’s yet? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

You can get more information and see additional photos courtesy of Nicole McDaniel Photography and others on our restaurant listing for Tucker’s Onion Burgers.

Each year, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma partners with chefs and restaurants around the metro to stage an amazing fundraiser full of culinary innovation and dedicated to the cause of feeding hungry children in our community. This year, EatAroundOKC is pleased to sponsor the Food Bank’s annual Chefs’ Feast and we want to encourage you to consider attending and supporting this great event as well.

The 2012 event takes place on March 29th from 7pm to 10pm at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The event gives you the opportunity to taste culinary creations from many of the best chefs in the Oklahoma City area, including chefs from the following restaurants:

• Big Truck Tacos
• Cafe 7
• The Coach House
• Gopuram Taste of India
• Iguana Mexican Grill
• The Mantel
• Matthew Kenney OKC
• Metro Wine Bar and Bistro
• Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs
• Nonna’s Euro-American Ristorante
• Pachinko Parlor
• The Ranch Steakhouse
• Red Prime Steak
• RePUBlic Gastropub
• Rococo
• Sara Sara Cupcakes
• Trattoria Il Centro
• West Restaurant
• Plus many more …

This is a very unique opportunity to get to meet the people behind many of  your favorite Oklahoma City restaurants and to experience their unique dining creations. Not only that, but you will know that your support of this event makes a direct impact in the fight against hunger in our community. We’re very excited to be a part this year and we hope you’ll consider joining us at this event.

Individual tickets are $120 per person and may be purchased online.  All proceeds from this event go to support the Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids programs. I have heard that these events have sold out in the past so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible.

We hope to see you there!

Usually small towns have to wait to get the attractions that large towns offer but in this case, it’s the other way around. Anyone from the Purcell area knows about Jo’s Famous Pizza, but those of us in Oklahoma City have only recently been able to experience it. They opened a location in Edmond a while back, but it wasn’t until their newest location opened near Hefner and Rockwell in northwest Oklahoma City that I discovered Jo’s. The northwest location is a bit hidden and you can’t see it clearly from the street, but now that you know it’s there, seek it out. I highly recommend that you try it.

The “Jo” of Jo’s Famous Pizza managed the Purcell location until the end of 2011. Now that location is run by Jo’s sister and her nephew, Justin Price, runs the OKC location (Justin’s father runs the Edmond store, which I haven’t ever personally visited). Justin has done a great job in training his employees to be very friendly and most helpful. Our waitress was able to meet all of our requests with a “can do” attitude that made us feel like nothing was a problem. For instance, my husband likes BBQ chicken pizza and I don’t. A lot of places won’t make a half and half pizza of this combination because of the different sauces. No problem here, though. In fact, they will even make thirds and fourths if that’s what you want. Wow! Here’s a place where a family or group of four people can each get exactly what they want on their portion of the pie.

There’s quite a large selection of interesting pizza combinations on Jo’s menu including The Sooner (bacon, chicken, sausage, hamburger, pepperoni, hot links – see a pic), The Cowboy (BBQ sauce, cheddar, hamburger, onions, bacon) and The Thunder (buffalo chicken and bleu cheese). You can also choose your own toppings from any of the twenty-seven salad and pizza toppings on the menu.

Jo’s offers four sizes of pizzas. The cheapest is the 10 inch cheese at $8.99 and then sizes and toppings go up all the way to the 16 inch “Famous Specials” at $27.99.  If the prices seem a little high, you must take into consideration the extreme amount of toppings Jo’s applies to each pie. I’ve never seen toppings piled on this thick. Even if you just get a single topping, the pie will be completely covered. I can’t stress enough how filling these pizzas are, so keep that in mind when choosing your size.

On our first visit, my husband and I shared a medium and we were full after two pieces. He had the BBQ chicken, and I had the BLT (see a pic). The BLT comes with thickly-sliced tomatoes. Next time I may order the chopped tomatoes to make it a little easier to eat.

We also ordered the Rollers appetizer ($5 – see a pic) which includes their fresh dough filled with cheese and chopped Canadian bacon. Then they roll it up, brush on garlic sauce and bake it. It was delicious, and we could have made a meal just out of this.

The salads at Jo’s are impressive as well. This is far from your standard iceberg mix. All of Jo’s salads contain the same ingredients (except for the Wedge) so you just choose a size based on how many people want to share it. The salads consist of mixed greens, fresh mozzarella, chopped Canadian bacon, diced tomatoes, black olives and cheese toast. They have a great selection of housemade dressings. I chose Holli’s House, which had an oil and vinegar base, and it was a little on the sweet side. Tim has said that the Pa’s Garlic dressing is excellent.

Homemade quality is the name of the game at Jo’s. They obviously spend a good deal of time on their fresh ingredients. The meats they use are all a cut above. The pizza sauce and garlic sauce are house made and I was glad to see they use Head Country BBQ sauce, which is made in Ponca City.

Their homemade crust might just be the star of the show, though. It’s light and flaky while still substantial enough to hold up to the loads of toppings they are piling on. There are three crust options. We had the medium crust which is standard unless otherwise requested. I think next time we may try the ultra-thin as we are avid thin-crust fans. Tim says he’s sticking with the standard as he thinks it’s just about perfect for the way they construct their pizzas.

At lunch, Jo’s offers a great value in their lunch special, which gets you a six inch pizza (any combination or number of toppings – see pics) or sandwich with a small salad and drink for $9.99. They also offer a kid’s menu option any time of day which includes a cheese ($4) or pepperoni ($5) mini-pizza and a drink. And if you grab a take-out menu on your way out, there are some special coupons inside to help you save in other ways.

Speaking of kids — Tim, who has three young boys, says he considers this one of the most family-friendly restaurants around. According to him, the staff is always extremely accommodating to children. They will even bring the kids little balls of dough to play with while they wait.

Overall, I think Jo’s pizza delivers a great experience. The pricing per pizza is on the higher-end, but once you figure out just how filling these pies are, you’ll discover you can order small and eat here for a reasonable cost. Or, order big and take it home to make two or three meals out of it. I’m so glad to see a “famous” small-town, mom and pop pizza place move into the city. The fact that the Northwest OKC location is so close to my house is a nice bonus for me.

Have you tried Jo’s Famous Pizza? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see more photos on our restaurant listings for Jo’s Famous Pizza in Edmond and Jo’s Famous Pizza in OKC.

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

Over the past 10 years, I have grown to be a sushi lover. However, until the last few years or so, sushi restaurants in Edmond have been few and far between. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw the sign for The Sushi Bar right around the corner from our home.

I have had the opportunity to enjoy The Sushi Bar several times over the past year and have been fairly pleased. My most recent visit was to celebrate my future brother-in-law’s birthday.  We had a large party of twelve so I made reservations and, upon arriving, we were promptly seated. This was great, because the restaurant was bustling with activity and very full, including the bar area.

The restaurant can get pretty loud when full. On my previous visits, which weren’t on a weekend nights, the volume was quite a bit lower. The interior decor is very sleek and modern with stained concrete floors (which contribute to the noise level). I really like the dark tables and chairs and their middle seating area where the seats almost look like couches instead of booths.

With so many people on this visit, we got to sample a huge variety of items including rolls like the Captain Crunch ($9), OMG ($21) , Slippery Shrimp ($8), Naughty Girl ($14), Volcano ($13), California ($5), and Philadelphia roll ($7), among others. I love crab cakes and decided to try theirs as an appetizer, along with a huge order of edamame ($4 small, $6 large). The appetizers arrived quickly, so I grabbed my fork and went to town on the crab cakes ($13). The outer crust was crispy and cooked well and there was plenty of crab, but I thought the taste was slightly bland. Also, the cakes are served with an “avocado relish,” but it was more like guacamole and didn’t really go well with the cakes in my opinion.

On to dinner. Considering our large party and a VERY busy restaurant, our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time — and there was a LOT of it. The most impressive meal visually was the OMG roll ($21 – see a pic). It is appropriately named, because when it is set down in front of you, you quickly realize that you should have considered sharing it with someone else. It is HUGE. Twelve pieces of sushi that include tempura shrimp, cucumber, avocado, crabstick, crunchy tempura, smoked salmon, tempura fried cream cheese stuffed jalapeno, all topped with a spicy baked seafood mix and cheesy baked shrimp. The roll is a bit spicy but the creamy cheese mixture helps tame the heat.

Other big hits at the table were the Captain Crunch roll ($9 – see a pic) (tempura shrimp, crabstick, cucumber and avocado coated with crunchy tempura flakes topped with sweet sauce) and the Baja California Roll ($6) (crabstick, cucumber and avocado topped with spicy mayo, wasabi mayo and masago). My little sister is a veg head, so she choose the Old Fashioned Roll ($10 – see a pic) which had tempura fried sweet potatoes and was very good. We each ordered our own plate of sushi, but most of us shared so we could all experience the different flavors that were available. Overall, the sushi choices were a big hit with my family … at least with those who actually eat sushi.

For those who aren’t sushi-lovers, The Sushi Bar actually offers a good selection of non-sushi entrees. These are more traditional, upscale items such as a New York Strip ($28), Chicken Teriyaki ($16), Rack of Lamb ($24) and Lemon Basil Shrimp ($24 – see a pic). The selection of items was good, but the side choices were a bit unusual. The baby bok choy with shiitake mushrooms (see a pic) and wasabi mashed potatoes didn’t appeal to those in our party who came for the fellowship but weren’t particularly adventuresome eaters. I would have liked to see some simpler fare for these guests — say steamed veggies or a traditional baked potato. Nonetheless, two of my guests did order the New York Strip and it was a fantastic steak — perfectly cooked and super juicy. It was on par with many of the upscale restaurants in the OKC metro.

Overall our meal was a big success with our sushi-eaters and non-sushi-eaters alike. The sushi menu is expansive which can be a bit overwhelming. My advice is to ask your waiter or waitress to make suggestions on what dishes you may like based on the ingredients you prefer. Our waiter did a fantastic job of helping us navigate the menu to find just the right items. Of course, fish isn’t cheap (and neither is steak) so be prepared to spend anywhere from $20 to $40 per person on dinner. The strip runs $28 and the OMG roll is $21 (it is 12 pieces and could feed two people easily). My husband and I spend about $80 (excluding tip) for two beers and an appetizer along with our main entrees.

Most of my family had not been to The Sushi Bar before but all agreed it was as good or better than some of the well-known sushi restaurants in OKC. So if you are looking for a new spot to grab dinner with friends, I recommend giving The Sushi Bar a try. If you’ve already been, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!

Get more information and see more photos from courtesy of Nicole McDaniel Photography on EatAroundOKC’s restaurant listing for The Sushi Bar.

It’s that time of year again. Time to reflect on all that’s happened in the previous twelve months and take a look at what’s coming up in the new year. As I look back at EatAroundOKC in 2011, there’s one thing that stands out to me above everything else and that is our partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Thanks to overwhelming support from our followers and from local Oklahoma City restaurants, we were able to raise over $8,200 for the Food Bank this past year.

Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without your support. I want to say thank you again to all of you who follow and support us. We love being a part of the discussion with you and we appreciate every comment you leave, every email you write, every tweet you send, and every deal you purchase.

I also want to say thanks to all of the restaurants who have worked with us to make special offers through our EatAroundOKC Deals program. It is their offers and your purchases that generate the revenue we donate to the Food Bank each month. So naturally, without restaurants to make offers and an audience to purchase them, none of this would be possible.

I want to specifically recognize J. Mays and Chris Kana at Cafe 7, who not only made an offer through our program, but then matched our own donation to the Food Bank with one of their own. Because of their generosity, our Cafe 7 deal alone raised over $2,400 for the Regional Food Bank. Thank you, J. and Chris, for going above and beyond for the fight against hunger in Oklahoma.

Onward to 2012: Try More Local Restaurants, OKC!

With a great year behind us, we’re now looking forward to 2012. Our partnership with the Food Bank continues, our team of volunteer writers and photographers is larger than ever, and our excitement about the local restaurant scene in the Oklahoma City metro has never been greater.

I hope that you’ll come along with us and make a commitment to try even more locally-owned Oklahoma City restaurants this year. You can always find great places to try by checking out our reviews and our Top 100. Plus, if you subscribe to our deals program you’ll find great offers to try new local places at big discounts. Oh, and if you have a question or something to share, leave us a comment, send us a tweet, post something on Facebook, or just contact us through good old-fashioned email.

We look forward to hearing more from you in 2012!

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

There is something timeless about Elvis’s music. Regardless of what generation you are in, you know it, you can sing it, you can’t help but move your hips to it. But, following my most recent trip to S&B’s Burger Joint, my love of Elvis only grew as he shared food trade secrets with me — peanut butter and bacon … on a burger.

If you are like me, the idea of peanut butter on a burger did not sound appealing. At all. But a friend came with me and insisted I try a bite of hers. She isn’t the type of person who would lead me astray, so a bite I took. And immediately I wanted the entire burger. The Elvis is a classic example of the unique and delicious burgers you can find at S&B’s Burger Joint. Tucked inside an office building in the parking lot of the Best Buy on May Avenue, you would not expect from the exterior that such thought has been put into these burgers. The patty was moist, the bacon crisp, and it had a perfectly thin layer of peanut butter to give the entire burger a rich, nutty flavor that wasn’t overpowering. Like Elvis’s music, this burger is timeless.

And it is only one of many to choose from at S&B’s. First and foremost, this is a slider burger joint. You can get all of their burgers in slider or full-size form, which I love. They have names like The Columbian (sea salt and coffee rub anyone? see a pic) or The Frenchmen (mushrooms and French onion sauce) or The Fire (roasted green chilies and a spicy ranch that brings some serious heat). This isn’t the same patty piled up with different toppings. Each patty is handcrafted individually with flavors and toppings that complement each other very well.

Naturally, I have my preferences. I have noted my newfound love for The Elvis. I found the Columbian good on flavor but the cilantro-lime salsa that came on it made the bun a soggy mess by the end. The Fire packed a serious spice punch that I personally enjoyed but it is not for anyone with sensitive taste buds.

The burgers can also be a little pricey. Most of the sliders are around $4.25 with the full size options costing about $7.50. That’s pretty high for a burger all by itself. Sides are all separate. Fries and sweet potato fries (see a pic) are $2.00 and $2.50 respectively (and sized for one) with their special “Smothered” fry options in the $5 range.

Price seems to always be a part of the discussion with S&B’s. Most everyone seems to love the burgers, but swallowing a tab of nearly $15 for burger, fries, and drink (with tax and tip) is tough. Fellow EatAroundOKC writer, Danielle, has said the pricing is high enough to keep her from making S&B’s a regular stop. For me personally, I feel the quality of the burgers here is worth the money and the expansion of my waistline.

There are a couple of ways to reduce the cost burden at S&B’s. First, if you have a KeepItLocalOK card, you can save 15% right off the top. Second, they do offer some specials on various days of the week, including pricing all full-sized burgers at $5 every Monday. This Monday special puts your meal back into a range that, while still not cheap, is more comparable to the other higher-end burger places around.

S&B’s recently rolled out a new menu, keeping some old favorites (does a burger named “The Fatty” really need a description?) and adding some new flavors including The Thunder Burger with ham, swiss, avocado and “thunder sauce,” which I was told is essentially a spicy Thousand Island. We also tried the new El Mexicano fries ($5) which were topped with jalapenos, cheese, avocado crème, sour cream and salsa. The fries were crisp, the toppings flavorful and the sizing was good for three people for a small bite before big burgers. In fact, those flavors make me want to try the new El Mexicano burger next time.

One disappointment for me was the frito chili pie ($5), which is made with Cincinnati chili. If cinnamon-tinged chili is your thing, you would probably love this. But as a Texas girl I prefer my chili with some heat, not sweetness, so it was a letdown for me.

A pleasant surprise was the house side salad ($3) with heaping bits of real bacon and an apricot vinaigrette dressing. This salad could easily be served at a fine dining establishment. That is, if you could ignore the fact that it is served in a high school football game nachos cardboard container.

There were surprises at every turn for me at S&B’s Burger Joint, and I always look forward to visiting and trying something new. Have you been to S&B’s? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see some fantastic photos courtesy of Nicole McDaniel on S&B’s Burger Joint’s restaurant listing.

 

Since I work in the Bethany area, I am thrilled to see Birrieria Diaz bringing something quite unique to the downtown Bethany area. The brightly-colored exterior of the building is enough to get your attention and the claim of “Homemade Corn Tortillas” painted on the window solidified the deal for me. I knew I had to check them out as soon as they opened. Since that time, I’ve been back often. Birrieria Diaz has become a part of my regular rotation.

First off, let’s clarify one thing — Birrieria Diaz is not Tex-Mex or Okla-Mex. What I mean by that is they don’t serve rice and beans and flour tortillas with everything. It’s important to set that expectation up front because I know this can be quite a surprise when comparing places like this to most other Mexican food restaurants in town. So, set those expectations aside and prepare for something different when you visit the Birrieria.

On my first visit, I was immediately won over by the fantastic salsa. It’s complimentary and served with a fresh basket of chips the moment you sit down. I would describe it as a red/green mix and I would go so far as to claim it’s some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Now, on my second return, it was a little watery, but on every visit since then it has been back to its original deliciousness.

When you’re deciding what to order it really comes down to this — you can go with the specialty of the house (the Birria) or you can get something else. Now, most everything I’ve tried here has been good, but when your whole restaurant is named for one particular dish and that dish is printed by itself on the front page of the menu, I’d say that’s a strong hint that the Birria is the best place to start.

Ask Tim about the Birria and he’ll tell you it “makes me glad I started a website like EatAroundOKC so I can tell people about things like this.” It really is something everyone should try. When I asked Juan, our server and the son of the owner, what I should order, I’m glad he pretty much insisted I try the Birria.

So, what is it? Well, it’s slow-cooked meat covered in a delicious, thick and spicy tomato broth, served with homemade corn tortillas and a whole bunch of other condiments — all for $5! You can get it made with either sheep or beef (this may be the only place I’ve ever seen “sheep” listed on a menu). Now, if you ask the Diaz family, they’ll tell you the only reason they offer it with beef is for those who might object to the sheep. The first time I went I chose the beef, but tried the sheep shortly thereafter and, I must say — I’m a believer. I’ll be sticking with the sheep from now on. If your first inclination is to shy away from sheep meat, I encourage you to give it a try here. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Once you order the Birria, the condiments I mentioned above arrive first. There are six or seven of them in small serving dishes including fresh-cut cilantro, limes, roasted and salted hot peppers, white onion, purple onion with chopped habanero bits, and radishes (see a pic). The homemade corn tortillas are served in a basket with some of them heavily charred and crispy and others warm and soft (see a pic). This is a great touch to give some tortilla options, I think.

I chose to fill my first tortilla with meat, onions and the roasted peppers. I should have tested the heat of the peppers before I took a big bite because the heat rose from my stomach to the top of my head in about five seconds. After two glasses of iced tea, I was able to commence eating the rest of the Birria. It is important to note that most things at Birrieria Diaz have a bit of heat to them.

All of this — the chips, salsa, Birria, tortillas and condiments — can be yours for just $5.00, making this a pretty amazing value. The Birria actually comes in three sizes — small ($5.00 – see a pic), medium ($7.00), and large ($9.00). The small is plenty for an individual. I’ve even met some who split the small size.

Once you’ve tried the Birria, I think it’s fair to move on and explore the rest of their menu. We’ve ordered or been with people who have ordered the chicken enchiladas with green sauce ($6.99), the chicken burrito (4.50), the tamales ($6.99 – see a pic) and more. We even met up with former EatAroundOKC contributors Greg and Sam for lunch once. Sam had a selection of five tacos ($1.60 each – see a pic), which he didn’t think were as good as some of the other Taquerias in town, but I’ve personally enjoyed everything I’ve had. They also have a breakfast menu and they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

The Diaz family moved here not long ago from California and their family recipes make Birrieria a very nice find in downtown Bethany. Juan, the oldest son, has a nice command of the dining area, while making sure each guest gets a special touch. He has most often been my server and my point man for information.

Bethany residents should rejoice to have this local treasure so close to home, and all OKC residents should consider giving Birrieria Diaz a try. It’s definitely worth your attention.

Have you been to Birrieria Diaz? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see more photos on the EatAroundOKC Restaurant Listing for Birrieria Diaz.

In a small, yellow-and-green-colored strip mall next to a pawn shop in Edmond stands a humble, family-run pizza place creating buttery-crusted pizzas and addicting seasoned pretzels. Humble Pie offers authentic Chicago deep-dish pizzas and thin New York style pizzas with quality results no matter which you choose.

After you’ve decided on your pie, place your order along with an appetizer of the bottomless pretzels ($5.99) because this homemade pizza takes some time to prepare. Plus, the bottomless pretzels are a very nice flavor indulgence. They are seasoned using a secret recipe that’s a great combination of salty and spicy, pairing well with the ranch dipping sauce. Our table usually eats a bowl or two of these before the pizza arrives. We also often get a refill to take home.

Chicago deep-dish or New York thin? That is the question at Humble Pie. EatAroundOKC founder, Tim, is fond of saying that Humble Pie offers Oklahoma City’s absolute best true Chicago-style pizza (see a pic), making this an easy choice for him. But Chicago-style is quite unique, with a thick, buttery crust and layers of toppings followed by the sauce on top. It’s a very, very thick and heavy pizza so it’s nice to have other options if the Chicago style is not your thing.

Both styles of dough are homemade daily. Humble Pie also makes their homemade sauce daily and it’s a well-balanced combination of fresh tomatoes and seasoning. I have tried most menu combinations and have enjoyed them all in deep-dish form, but when ordering Chicago-style, my favorites are the meat lovers or supreme ($22). The fuller, richer flavors of the heavy meats stand up perfectly with the thick, deep-dish, buttery-crust. If you love the buttery Chicago crust, but aren’t a deep-dish lover, you can also order it in a thin personal size.

If you’re not up for the heavy Chicago-style, Humble Pie’s thin crust style is another very good choice. They use the same homemade sauce on their thin pizzas, but it is found under all the toppings and cheeses the way you’ve most likely come to expect on a pizza. With the thin-style crust, I prefer trying some of Humble Pie’s more unusual menu options including the spinach-artichoke ($18) or Greek Goddess ($23 – see a pic). The spinach-artichoke is a good balance of artichoke hearts, fresh spinach and cheese that just compliments the thin yet flavorful crust. The Greek Goddess is packed with flavor from the sun-dried tomato, feta, fresh garlic, chicken and olives. It is a salty and savory combination that works.

If you’re fretting that this is all way too many carbs, do not worry. Humble Pie has a good selection of salads (see a pic of the Spinach Salad or Caesar) which feature fresh, quality greens and more and come in half or full sizes. The full size is plenty to share and makes for a good starter when paired with the seasoned pretzels.

When I originally wrote this review, I was excited to tell you about Humble Pie’s great lunch special, but they have recently announced they are no longer open at lunch on weekdays. According to their Facebook announcement, this is planned to be a temporary change, so there is hope they will bring back the weekday lunch. When they do, I hope they’ll also revive their personal sized deep-dish (deep six – see a pic) pizza priced from $4.95 with 1 topping up to $7.44 with 6+ toppings, and the chance to add a drink for only .93 cents. I found this to be a great lunch value and look forward to its return.

Humble Pie is a small restaurant with simple décor. Whether in a booth or at a table, you can watch pizzas being made through the kitchen window, check out the wall of decorated pizza boxes and consider adding your dollar to the collection hanging from the ceiling (money contributed is sent to Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans (O.A.T.H.), a cause Humble Pie actively supports). All this while you relax, indulge in amazing pretzels and wait patiently for your pizza.

Have you been to Humble Pie? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

You can get more information and see more photos in EatAroundOKC’s Restaurant Listing for Humble Pie Pizzeria.

Has it really been four years since we published our review of Red Prime Steak? Why yes, it looks like it has. Must be time to take another look at this now-well-established steakhouse in downtown Oklahoma City.

Since I wrote the original review (still listed in full below), I thought providing a second perspective would be good. So, my wife and I joined up with EatAroundOKC writer Sarah Sutton and her husband for a delightful evening out at Red Prime Steak. This was their first trip to Red Prime and here’s a bit of what Sarah had to say:

“This would be our first visit, so I wanted to peruse the menu beforehand to see what was going on. If I have one complaint, it’s that the online menu is practically hidden. I had to poke around and never did find it. Finally, Tim had to send me a link.

“But, once you find the menu, it’s pure delight just to read it. I knew my over-40 brain was going to have trouble narrowing down a selection, as it all sounded fabulous.

“Of course, carnivore husband knew immediately what he was going for — the 7 oz prime filet ($31) with a brown sugar and sea salt crust. He said it was cooked absolutely perfectly. I had almost settled on the same cut of meat with the bleu cheese crust until I heard about the seafood special of the evening — grilled sea bass over an onion risotto, grilled asparagus, bacon-wrapped scallops and a bacon relish drizzled on the plate ($36 – see a pic). They had me right there and it was perfectly delicious.

“We all split a few side dishes and I got to try the green chile mac, the sweet potato-bacon hash and the fresh seared green beans (see a pic). All had a unique flavor and was something to savor with each bite.

“As an onion lover, one of the things I appreciated about the evening was the variety of ways Red Prime used onions. First, in our appetizer of fried green tomatoes (see a pic), they adorned the tops with sweet, caramelized onion. Then, on top of my salad (see a pic), they sprinkled a type of french-fried onion with a bit of a kick. And finally, the onion risotto was mild and very tasty.

“The atmosphere at this restaurant is about as cool as it gets. It’s in an old building on Automobile Alley which has, of course, been refurbished and updated. But I love how the character of the original structure still shines through.

“Every employee we interacted with was extremely knowledgeable and professional, knowing right when to be at our table without being overly helpful. It was a delightful experience all around. We can’t wait to take the steak-lovers in the family back to visit.”

As you can see, Sarah had a very positive experience at Red Prime. I, too, must admit that the experience for me was even better than my original trip so many years ago. My filet, encrusted with guajillo chile ($31 - see a pic), was just about as good as it gets and I enjoyed trying some of the very creative side dishes and appetizers I hadn’t had before.

Something Red Prime has added since our original review is their Prix Fixe menu. For just under $40, one gets to choose an appetizer, entree, side and dessert from a pretty decent set of options. Given that steaks by themselves range from $30-$45 on the regular menu, the Prix Fixe option is certainly attractive. Of course, even at $40 per person, Red Prime is still, for me, very much a special occasion restaurant. But it’s a good one, and one to which I hope to return soon.

Have you been to Red Prime Steak? Please let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see more pictures from Red Prime Steak, including photos from our most recent visit (courtesy of David Sutton Pictures), on the Red Prime Steak restaurant listing.

Original review from October of 2007:

I recently got to check out one of Oklahoma City’s newest restaurants. Red Prime Steak is a new upscale steakhouse brought to you by the folks behind Cheever’s and Iron Starr. I love their first two restaurants so expectations for this new place were high.

One thing I love about Red Prime Steak is the location. It’s downtown, but not in Bricktown. It’s in the old Buick building at 4th street and Broadway. I love to see new places opening up in this area. Let’s hope they can sustain and continue to encourage more growth and revitalization downtown.

The restaurant brings a couple of things that are extremely unique.

First, the interior renovations really stand out. They are the reason for my inclusion of the word “ultra-hip” in the title of my post. It’s not that I’m 100% sure you would really categorize it has ultra-hip if your job were classifying interiors, but when you compare it to the landscape of restaurant interiors we currently have in Oklahoma City, Red Prime’s look definitely sets itself apart in the ultra-hip direction.

Concrete flooring, exposed 18 foot ceilings, and a smattering of very thin, brilliant, red lighting instruments set the stage. An enormous floor to ceiling wire mesh serves as a wine rack and requires the wait staff to utilize a home-depot-like aisle ladder to retrieve certain vintages. Also intriguing is the use of enclosed, circular leather booths which provide a few “private” dining areas amidst the rest of the “open” seating. So, if you are looking for a lively atmosphere, stick with the open tables, but if you want something a little more private (and quiet) ask for one of the booths.

The second unique treatment Red Prime brings is their use of crusts and sauces. With each steak, you can choose up to two crusts or sauces (more are available for an extra charge). Now, I’m not much for putting sauces on really good steaks. I mean, what’s the point in paying for a quality steak and then drowning out the flavor with a pungent sauce? The crusts, however, are very intriguing and tasty.

You can choose from a list of crust options — everything from black pepper to unique chile peppers — to be encrusted onto your meat as it is cooked. I chose the guajillo chile crust and I highly recommend it for a little kick that doesn’t overpower the flavor of the meat.

Now for my complaint — I have just one. There’s no brewed iced tea. If you ask for iced tea, they bring you a bottle of something. Now look, I’m all for trying to be fancy, but I’ve been to some really nice restaurants in a lot of really large cities and most everywhere I’ve been, even the highest of the highest end, has served fresh brewed iced tea. Not only that, but even my favorite restaurant of all time, the Gotham Bar and Grill in Manhattan, provides iced tea with free refills, and it doesn’t get really any more upscale than the Gotham.

So, I would recommend that Red Prime make fresh brewed iced tea with refills an option. I mean really, it’s just about as common as water. Sure, you won’t make as much money on it as the bottled stuff, but really, is that a reason to withhold something so basic?

Speaking of money, you will spend a good bit visiting the Red Prime. I was fortunate enough to be treated by my parents on my visit (thanks mom and dad), and I would have to reserve any future trip for a pretty special occasion as the price is a bit prohibitive for me to make it a regular stop. But if you are looking for a high-end experience in OKC, I definitely think Red Prime offers a unique and modern flair that you won’t find at any other “steakhouse” in this city.

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

There’s a new food truck in town. Well, it’s more like a food trailer. And in case you’re wondering how to find it — just look for the bright orange.

Patty Wagon opened up a few months ago to some pretty rave reviews. Naturally, when I hear that kind of buzz about a new restaurant, I can’t wait to try it. I found them first at their original location in a parking lot on North May near Britton Road. They have since moved a little farther north, to where they are just south of Hefner Road.

Please note: as with any food truck or trailer, Patty Wagon’s location is subject to change. I advise checking their Twitter or Facebook pages to verify their location before heading out.

But whenever you find them, you’re in for a tasty burger. Patty Wagon keeps it simple on their menu. They have burgers and fries. That’s about it (I think they occasionally may offer a dessert). You can take your burger to go or eat it on one of their picnic tables if the weather is nice. Weather is the trick for any food truck. With Oklahoma’s extreme highs and lows it can be challenging to find a good time of year to “dine-in” with Patty Wagon. But, you can always get it to go, rain or shine.

The burgers I’ve had at Patty Wagon have been excellent. The 1/4 lb. patties are griddle-cooked with a nice, crusty exterior and a juicy interior. They splash them with a little barbeque sauce at the end of cooking, I think, which gives them an extra kick of flavor. Patty Wagon is using locally sourced, all-natural, grass-fed beef that’s 90/10 lean. This is high-quality meat and you can taste it. I was pretty amazed that the burger was still juicy with lean beef like that.

Patty Wagon also has two homemade sauces you can choose for your burger. They conveniently label them “PW Sauce 1: For Mayo Lovers!” and “PW Sauce 2: For Mustard Lovers!” I always go for sauce 2 which adds a nice, peppery flavor to the mix. You can get all the standard vegetables and a selection of cheeses added to your burger if you like. The veggies are crisp and fresh.

One of the things I like best about Patty Wagon is how they put the burger together. Each one I’ve had seemed like it was meticulously assembled with everything in it’s place. And it holds together very well for a large burger.

Part of the reason it holds together so well is the bun they are using. It’s a sweet, sourdough roll that can hold a lot of toppings without falling apart — and it’s quite tasty. The bun is great and really helps their burger stand apart from the crowd.

Patty Wagon’s handcut fries are equally well-crafted. They are fairly thick-cut, crispy on the outside, tender inside and heavily peppered, which I like. Unlike a lot of hand-cut fries, they hold up well even over time which is good if you get them to go.

Quality ingredients come at a price and Patty Wagon is certainly more expensive than some. But a single burger combo with cheese including fries and a drink can be had for $7.75. Honestly, I think that’s a good value for what you’re getting here. A double burger combo is $9.25. I tried the double once but decided that I prefer the single. The balance of ingredients seems better on the single and those patties are pretty thick by themselves.

Patty Wagon is doing it up right. The only downside is the convenience factor, especially on bad weather days. But it’s worth braving the elements to give this one a try. And when you do, let us know what you think of Patty Wagon in the comments below.

Get more information and see some fantastic photos courtesy of Nicole McDaniel on Patty Wagon’s restaurant listing.

Despite its so-so location and reincarnation from a former fast food restaurant, Basil Mediterranean Cafe is worth your attention, offering delicious food at a good value. While I’ve enjoyed all the food I have tried at Basil, I’m hooked on the Tzatziki sauce. It is lick-the-container good. They do sell the sauce separately, but I never buy it to take home because I don’t trust myself not to eat it all! Compared to other Greek restaurants their sauce is rather thin, but the crisp herb and yogurt flavor more then makes up for the consistency.

The gyro ($3.95) and gyro platter ($8.75 – see a pic) are both top picks at Basil. The tender gyro meat is spiced very well and cooked just right. The gyro sandwich is so packed full of meat there is barely room for any lettuce, tomato or onion. The western version ($4.25 – see a pic), which adds sautéed onions and peppers, makes for a tasty change from the original. The platter is large enough to share and includes fries or rice along with pita bread, lettuce, and a huge bowl of tzatziki sauce. The fries are average; I prefer the rice but it can get dry.

My favorite appetizer is the falafel. It is crispy on the outside and the seasoned chickpeas, while soft inside, still have texture. The falafel can also be ordered wrapped up in gyro form. Basil serves a lot of good appetizer choices, but if you can’t decide between hummus, falafel, or spanakopita (good but greasy) a great option is the veggie sampler ($7.95 – see a pic) which includes these three favorites in addition to grilled asparagus, dolma and tzatziki sauce. The sampler is large enough to share with several people and can be a good meat-free meal option.

The décor at Basil is a bit stark; however, they have at least made some effort to improve upon the former fast food feel. The interior has murals on the walls, curtains on the windows, and a television — all to provide a more welcoming sit-down experience. If you dine in, everything is served on real plates with real silverware and they bus your table when you are finished. This is a very nice touch and ensures that the tables are clean. Whether dine-in or take-out all drinks are in Styrofoam cups.

I have found the ordering process to be a bit frustrating; however, after a few visits it becomes easier. The difficulty is with the lack of detail on the large menu over the ordering counter. To find out what comes on a platter or gyro you must view the smaller menu that is taped down to the front counter. The problem is you can’t see that smaller menu until you are at the front of the line and once you are there, you are holding up the line of customers while trying to make your decision. It can be a pressure-filled moment, so one good option is to get familiar with the different choices using their online menu before you go.

It’s no surprise that Basil Mediterranean Cafe usually has a line, because a line is a sure sign of great food. Between the crispy falafel, overstuffed gyros and flavorful tzatziki sauce, you’re sure to find something you’ll love here.

Have you been to Basil Mediterranean Cafe? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

You can get more information and see more photos of Basil Mediterranean Cafe on their EatAroundOKC Restaurant Listing.