Oklahoma City Restaurants

Tom and Jerry’s is located at 1501 NW 23rd in Oklahoma City (map). They are open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner only, and Sunday for brunch. Call them (405.524.9100) or visit their website.

PLEASE NOTE: Tom and Jerry’s no longer exists as described below and has been reopened as Mexicasa. It is operated by the same people but with a completely different cuisine.

Anytime I am asked about my favorite restaurants in Oklahoma City, I am stumped. I have several “favorites.” I usually have the person clarify the question to narrow down the results. If the inquisitor is in search of finer dining options, I will tell them that Tom and Jerry’s Steak and Fish Grille is near the top of my list. It is fine dining, but not too expensive or snooty. They have diverse menu options, and they can customize their service to adapt to your schedule if needed.

I like to eat well at a finer establishment on occasion. Sure, I have been known to brave the not-so-well -known places throughout the city, but I can also go for an upscale meal — something without blaring music or flat panel TVs where there is not a ketchup bottle or one of those insulting steak sauce bottles anywhere in the building. Tom and Jerry’s is just the place. It is not a kid-friendly place. So, if you are like me (and the old woman who lives in a shoe) you’d better call the babysitter before you set out for Tom and Jerry’s.

Fresh flowers and candles adorn every table. The sound of the resident jazz sax player fills the air (at a soothing level), and the artwork of Thomas Batista (one of the owners) decorates the walls and invites patrons to purchase their favorites and take them home for themselves (I’ve noticed a lot of restaurants in the area do this from Cheever’s to Classen Grill, but do the artists ever sell anything? Just wondering). The atmosphere is one of elegance and sophistication. They also have a nice patio area with a small water garden. It’s great for those warm spring evenings.

The waitstaff here really caters to your needs, but in a way that isn’t abrasive or pushy. I had a reservation the other night, and I had to keep calling and pushing it back and finally Scott, the maitre d’, told me to quit worrying about it and just get there when I could and he would make sure he had a table ready. This was on a Friday night too, not a dead Tuesday evening. I found this level of accommodation refreshing.

Once you order and you’re waiting on your main course, Tom and Jerry’s likes to present you with an “amuse bouche,” French for “mouth amuser.” It’s a small little tease, normally with a concentration of flavor, to spark the appetite and prepare the palate for the main event (Deep Fork also always seems to do this well). This time we were presented with a roasted pepper and radicchio something or other on a small sliver of roasted potato. I could have eaten a tray of these but my wife didn’t like it at all. She doesn’t like roasted pepper, though.

When you look over the dinner menu, you don’t get four pages of options but rather a single page consisting of 8 to 10 main dishes, a handful of appetizers, and a tapas menu. I like this. This allows the chef to concentrate on making a few dishes very well, which can really translate to higher quality. The menu rotates, but typically features a couple steak options (normally a filet dish and a strip, T-bone, or Ribeye), a fish dish or two, duck breast, and a couple comfort-food-type choices like a fried chicken with truffle sauce, or a gourmet meatloaf. Tapas and Paella are also served for those wanting a Spanish experience. I’m not aware of another restaurant in town offering tapas or paella. Tapas are the new rage, especially among the urban youngsters hopping from restaurant to restaurant for cocktails and these small, Spanish-influenced appetizers. I’m not sure if it is catching on in Oklahoma City yet (there’s not a lot of restaurant hopping involved here), but if it ever does, Tom and Jerry’s is ready to lead the charge.

On my most recent visit, I chose the green peppercorn New York Strip with a cognac glaze, and my wife had the seared Ahi Tuna. Both were fantastic. The strip was perfectly cooked medium-rare and decorated with garlic and green peppercorns. Green peppercorns can really be a nice accent to a steak. They are very aromatic and they have a completely different, and brighter, flavor than their fermented brothers, black peppercorns. The cognac sauce was sweet and flavorful. You could smell the cognac reduction and it was particularly good on the sauteed potatoes that were served al dente along with some roasted asparagus.

My wife’s tuna was served on a bed of thin rice noodles. I have had their pasta before as well, and these guys can make a great cream sauce. I’m a big fan of sauces and Tom and Jerry’s goes the distance with some interesting sauces and reductions often featuring exotic Spanish and even South American influenced flavors. This is definitely not your average steakhouse.

I think Tom and Jerry’s fills a role in Oklahoma City as a comfortable yet fine dining experience. It has a smaller, more independent feel than some of the larger restaurant groups. So, next time you are looking for that nice yet comfortable evening out with a local flair, give Tom and Jerry’s a try. It won’t break the bank or insult the taste buds. Let me know what you think.

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This article was posted by Andrew Littleton on Thursday, May 15th, 2008. It is filed in Central OKC, Fine dining, Steakhouse, Upscale Grill. Please leave your comments below (we'd love to hear from you), or trackback from your own site.

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