R-Way-Cafe: stick with the breakfast and burgers.
by Andrew | December 2, 2007 | 20 Comments
(votes: 6, average: 3.50) 
Loading ...R-Way-Cafe is located at 5900 West 39th St in Bethany, Oklahoma (map). R-Way-Cafe is open 7 days a week for breakfast lunch and dinner.
PLEASE NOTE: R-Way-Cafe is no longer in business. A new business has opened up in this location called Maggie’s Cafe. However, we don’t have a review of Maggie’s yet. The article below is not about Maggie’s.
On 39th St, in between car lots (the perfect place for a diner), sits R-Way-Cafe. This building has had two or three different names over the last couple years. The latest is R-Way-Cafe. R-Way-Cafe is in a very diner-esque building and has breakfast, lunch and dinner. I went into it hoping it would be a great place, since it is so close to my house, and it wasn’t all that bad.
The atmosphere at R-Way-Cafe is unlike any diner I had ever been in. The decor is warm, soft, and a little overplayed for what the place is. It is decorated in Pottery Barn type colors with empty picture frames, book ends, and other “modern” type decor. I’m used to my diners having tin signs, white walls, and dirty, tile floors.
R-Way-Cafe serves breakfast until 2PM on Saturday and Sunday. Other times, they serve burgers and diner specials such as chicken fried steak, chicken, pork, meatloaf, catfish, etc. I chose the chicken fried chicken, and the reason may sound like sacrilege, but I’m just not a fan of Oklahoma chicken fried steak. I know, I know, it’s practically the state dish, and there are loads of loyal chicken fry nazis that will more than likely come after me now. It just seems that every place I’ve had it, from Cattlemen’s to Classen Grill to Ann’s Chicken Fry, have had enough breading on their steaks to cover an entire cow. I don’t like that much breading. I guess I like the pan fried version best rather than the deep fried version, similar to how I like my squirrel cooked. I guess it’s a Tennessee thing.
Anyway, back to R-Way-Cafe. The burgers are hand-made patties, and the vegetables are fresh, no fake potatoes, and dinners come with a salad bar. The salad bar was not bad for a diner. Not a lot of “trimmings”, but it was cold, and better than the very anemic lukewarm salads you get at a typical diner. The mashed potatoes were OK. A little chunky and dry for my taste. I like mine with a little more cream. The corn was not good at all. It had a very watery flavor going on with it.
The chicken fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and fork tender. I was pretty excited about it. However, my excitement died down as I slowly began tasting everything they had fried in the past week. Flavors of catfish, pork, garlic, onions, and other fried goodies began to dance across my palate. Not bad flavors in and of themselves, but not what I expected my chicken to taste like. Another very strange flavor was that of a tandoori masala spice. For those not familiar with this popular Indian seasoning, it is a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cumin, cayenne, and whatever else the Indian chef feels like tossing in at the time, before throwing it into a tandoor oven. Again, not a bad flavor. I love a good goat masala dish here and there, or chicken tandoori, but not what I want on my fried chicken. Apparently, at R-Way-Cafe, everything is fried in the same place, and the oil is probably not changed that often.
My wife gave the burger a pretty high review. It did look good, maybe a bit overcooked, but it was definitely a hand-made patty, and was paired with lightly hand-breaded onion rings. The kids had grilled cheese and pancakes. It all looked great. I think the way to go here is breakfast or burgers. Like I said earlier, I really wanted to like this place, and I think I still will, I’ll just stick with what works.
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So far, 20 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?December 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
The only place for a good Chicken Fry is Clanton’s Cafe, in Vinita. The rest are pale imitations.
December 7th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
OK WAIT! If you eat or did ever eat squirrel, I’m not sure I will be able to trust your restaurant reviews.
Just because there is that oh so very rare person who both eats squirrel and has sufficient computer skills to post a recipe for squirrel in gravy on cooks.com, doesn’t make it a right.
A useful rule of thumb is that any animal that is also a popular cartoon, should not be served as food. For example, Mickey Mouse, Scooby Doo, Spongbob Squarepants, Tony the Tiger, Tom or Jerry, Rocky or Bullwinkle, Chip or Dale. Notable exceptions to the rule: Daffy the Duck and Porky the pig.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I loved it! And, the cook (David) is awesome! I have NEVER had anything like him! I plan on attending all my church dinners there!
February 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
i recently had breakfast at r-way cafe, was great, a very good breakfast not greasy, and just the way i ordered it. dinner is good, chicken fry you can cut with a fork. the santa fe chicken is out of this world. catfish is the best i’ve had in awhile. everything is made from scratch, all hand breaded. give it a try, you won’t be sorry.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I think the restaurant is by far the BEST in Bethany! The burgers are to die for! Outstanding!
I give it a 10+
February 24th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
oooooh wonderful food!
August 24th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I think this place closed down.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Now it is Maggie’s Cafe, I think. 4th change in ownership in just a couple years. Is it the owners, or the location?
September 16th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I don’t think it is the location. The Harbor House does a pretty healthy amount of business and it is about 100 yards away. Has anyone eaten there since it changed to Maggie’s?
October 8th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
yah, it re-opened about a month ago with the new owner maggie. now its better then ever, the foor is great and cleaner, really good breakfast and a few good polish lunch dishes. its only on till 3pm now. very good food, you should try it.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I went in there a week ago and the youg man that waited on me said he co-owned the place with his mother. I was not at all impressed with his low class serving skills. Had it not been for him, I would have enjoyed it. He was definately over the top and conceited.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Maggie’s Cafe is great. Wonderful Polish food and great standard diner and breakfast food. They also make great specialty cakes. The staff is super friendly and the place is very cozy.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I went in there last week, and the guy that waited on me was VERY immature and quite annoying. He was boasting about co-owning with his mother. I agree with the poster above, if it weren’t for him, it might be an alright place.
BUT, I have lived in Bethany over 30 years and I know that place has had several different names. Nobody will even compare to Jim’s down the road. I honestly believe that that place will NEVER make it as a restaurant. Especially when there is an unprofessional kid running the show. I mean, if PIZZA HUT didn’t make it, it’s comical to think that that place would. LOL.
I will say this though, the food is outstanding! I can give it that! It’s my understanding that they have had the same cooking staff for at least 2 years or so, no matter who’s name it falls under. I’d say to them, find a place to buy and call it your own. Really good cooks they have.
My son worked there when it was a Pizza Hut and couldn’t believe all of the things it has been. I did find the restaurant to be very comfortable. Except for when the waiter came around. LOL
December 9th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I know This resturaunt has had a lot of new owners, but it is a very good resturaunt. I am and have been a waitress there since it became Maggies and let me tell you something. I have worked a lot of places before and this is the best I have worked at. Everyone there is very caring and unlike most of the places Maggies is Clean. Sure we may have some problems with the waitstaff but I promise come there and you will have a wonderful meal. David is a very very good cook and I will make sure you get the service you deserve.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:36 am
It’s an alright place except for the waiter they have there. He was bragging about owning it at such an early age. Pfft. The food was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. the only thing I would change is the wait staff.
January 17th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
So, supossedly I’m full of myself and bragging about owning the restaurant. Hm. It’s funny how a few competiters can slander on you.
1. I have never said I owned the place–It is however, a mother son operation.
2. Providing great customer service is what I do
3. Why would I even bring that up? is that a selling point Im just not seeing?
4. No one can compare to Jims Restaurant because it has the blandest food AND the cheapest prices..how can you go wrong?
Just because people are jealous of a restaurant being fully managed by someone young, doesnt mean that we are terrible. Its clean, the atmosphere is wonderful, and people open up and talk to me wanting to know how everything is going. I would ignore those who wish poorly on me as a person(not a server) and please try some of our unique cuisine. They say the waiter came around and ruined it? I have never had a customer leave without a smile and I have plenty of request for me as a server. In conclusion, my former employees have gone behind my back in order to hurt business. Please please please give it a try. Youll notice they are when you get outstanding service, great food, and all at an affordable price.
Peter
March 6th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Peter said, “No one can compare to Jim’s Restaurant because it has the blandest food….”
That, my friend, is slander. I work at Jim’s restaurant, and have worked there for SEVERAL years. Our restaurant has exceptional food. That’s why we are CONSTANTLY busy….unlike your place.
I expect for your place to be closed down shortly, like it ALWAYS has been. The ONLY way your place will EVER make it, is by giving away free food. Can you afford that? I highly doubt it. I have had so many customers come into Jims after leaving your restaurant, saying, “I will never go back there.”
You might try turning that place into something else OTHER than a restaurant. Did you do ANY investigating prior to investing in that location? That would have made good business sense. Don’t you think?
I guess some people have to learn the hard way.
Good luck with that.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Wasn’t this a discussion about food? I had some former friends go on and make fun of me and somehow the discussion is about this? The food people. Try Jim’s. Try us. Don’t listen to servers fight over who is cooler…if you want peace and quiet paired with a good lunch, try us. If you want a Jimmys Egg or a Jims…which is essentially the same food…then go there. Until then, there definitely needs to be a new thread.
August 10th, 2009 at 1:31 am
I’ve eaten there several times and the food and service was always top-notch. I’ve had breakfasts and once had a burger for lunch. I also shared a piece of cake, which was to die for. I was definitely impressed and will return.
The only thing I don’t like about this place is that sometimes whoever opens the place doesn’t turn on the “open” signs so it’s hard to tell whether they are there or not.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I ate there once, and will never go back. The waitress was a hateful hag, and the guy managing the dining room was a jerk. The food was alright, but the service sucked!
Please tell us what you think.