Rococo: east coast style
by Tim | July 22, 2009 | 21 Comments
(votes: 17, average: 4.18) 
Loading ...Rococo is located at 2824 N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Oklahoma City (map). They are open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday, and Sunday for brunch from 11am to 3pm. You can get all of the information you need about them on their website.
If you’ve read many of our reviews, you know that we’re always searching for the unique things restaurants offer to the Oklahoma City landscape. So, when Andrew and I visited Rococo’s, there was one thing that stood out to us above everything else — east coast style.
You feel it from the moment you walk in. The rich, dark, almost swanky decor is absent the southwest influence that we’re accustomed to around these parts. The seafood-rich menu and extensive wine list add to the vibe. But you really find out what this place is about when owner/chef Bruce Rinehart stops by your table, which he is almost certain to do. Spend just a moment conversing with Bruce and you’ll understand what is unique about Rococo.
Bruce spent a lot of time opening and running restaurants on the east coast, so you can understand where the style comes from. If you are from that region, I’d imagine Rococo would feel a lot like home. If you’re not, Rococo is still worth your attention for its other great strength — fresh seafood.
We actually get a lot of questions about where to get good seafood in Oklahoma City. Now that I’ve been to Rococo, I can say I think it’s a worthy seafood contender. There aren’t a great many places I know of that offer simple, fresh seafood presentations. Most of the time around here, seafood is fried or blackened or spiced up in some other southwestern or cajun-influenced way. But at Rococo, we had a beautiful presentation of their Petrale Sole filet ($18.75), lightly dusted with flour, sauteed in butter and served with capers, lemon pulp and tiny, delicate croutons. It’s rare to get to taste the actual fish as much as you could in this presentation, and the fish tasted great.
We also had the crabcake (market price) that Rococo is happy to claim as the best in the city. That might seem haughty to you, but I’d have to say that I agree with the claim. This is not a mixture of crab and other fillers pressed into a patty. This is a heaping mound of huge chunks of crab meat topped with a few types of breadcrumbs and baked. You order crab and you taste crab — and again, the crab tastes great.
In addition to the on-menu seafood items, Rococo offers off-menu specials that vary daily as they overnight fresh seafood from the coast as available. That’s right, here is a place where you can literally taste fresh seafood from the east coast. If you want to stay up on what’s fresh, subscribe to their email newsletter on their home page, or follow them on Twitter. We’re seeing a lot of restaurants really utilize Twitter lately and Rococo is one that does a great job communicating that way.
Alright, so I’ve given you a glowing picture of what I think Rococo does best — seafood with an east coast flair. But their menu doesn’t stop there. In fact, their menu is widely varied with steaks, chops, pastas, and even some sandwiches at lunch. It might even be a bit too varied in my opinion. Personally, I’d like to see them expand their seafood options and limit the other things, but that’s just me.
I mean, I haven’t tried all that many things, but I had a bit of the Penne Bolognese ($15.75 at dinner) and, while it was fresh and perfectly fine, it was lighter on flavor than I would typically expect from the rich Italian dish. There are other places I would put above Rococo for Italian food, at least based on what I experienced.
Andrew had the filet ($25.25 and $34.75), which was very well-cooked and flavorful with a really nice sauce that didn’t overpower. I had a bite of it and thought it was good as well. Nothing wrong with it and it’s a decent price, I’m just thinking there are lots of other places you can get steaks done at least as well.
One thing to keep in mind is that Rococo offers a pretty reasonable lunch menu. Sandwiches and smaller entrees are offered anywhere from $7-$15 making a good value when you’re looking for lunch.
So, my bottom line on Rococo is that they offer a lot of options and they do it all pretty well, but if you want to try the thing they do exceptionally well and that’s unique here in our fair city, go for the seafood, especially the crab cake and whatever seafood specials Bruce is flying in on the day you visit. This is where Rococo shines and can provide you with something you’re not likely to experience anywhere else in town.
What are your thoughts on Rococo? Let us know in the comments.
(4.74 out of 5)
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So far, 21 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?July 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Great review! I was really impressed with Rococo’s food, too. The crab cake really is one of the best I’ve ever had.
One thing that I have mixed feelings about is the live music that they have on occasion. I love the groups that play there, but the restaurant is just too small. The music is overwhelming at times. Only a small downside, but worth mentioning…
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I love the food at Rococo. It is such warm and inviting restaurant and the food is delicious. I don’t think that I have had a single bad dish there. You hit the nail on the head regarding the seafood. The crab cakes are delicious, so are the whole belly clams which they have flown in on occasion from the east coast. My absolute favorite dish however is the lobster risotto. If you are not confident with choosing a wine to go with your dish there is always someone there who can help you find something to go with your dish that is agreeable with your palate. It is a really great restaurant and if you haven’t been there yet you really need to give them a try.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 am
Thier breakfast/brunch is excellent. I have never had the seafood, only the lamb. The lamb was good, but the portions were smaller than expected. If/When I go again, I’ll try the seafood.
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Love Bruce, love the crab cakes, and love the sauce on their escargot, but do not get their lobster or as he calls it ‘a great piece of tail.’ My lobster was way too overcooked making it extremely chewy and unpleasant in texture and flavor. I have had better seafood and food at other restaurants here in OKC, but this is a pretty decent place, and Bruce makes sure to make you feel welcome.
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Good review, Tim. Rococo is a pleasant place with nice staff. I love the cool, dim, but welcoming interior — the bar is a real refuge on cloudless summer days when the blazing hot Oklahoma sun is beating down outside.
Their food is good, but not quite on par with competitors like The Metro (consistently excellent!) or the Museum Cafe. Also, I find Rococo’s prices to be on the high side — esp. for beer or wine.
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I can’t believe you guys didn’t try or comment on the “cookies”…so savory!
I really liked the bolognese…I think because it was so hearty and not all sauce like many restaurants that also seem to water down their sauce. My husband had the filet as well.
I do have to recommend the Jumbo Shrimp appetizer…it has the most wonderful sauce with it and the shrimp was cooked the best that I had ever had in oklahoma city.
I do agree with the price of the wine as mentioned above. I find it difficult to find the wine I usually drink in restaurants, Relax Riesling. But when I do its about 5 to 7 bucks a glass, not an expensive wine. The wine at Rococo’s was a little pricey for me which is saying a lot because I am willing to spend money on drinks, but for some reason I just wasnt feeling it.
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Yeah I visited this place a few months ago and must say I wasn’t too thrilled. For one, it’s located next to a strip mall and liquor store and I the curb appeal isn’t all that great. Also, there’s something about going to a place and being like one of 4 people in the entire restaurant…and this was prime dinner time in the middle of the week. We decided to be a little daring and ordered the escargot and from the last time I remember having it, it seemed not very fresh. Overall the food was pretty bland and the server was really upselling everything she could and it got pretty annoying. Anyway, that’s what I thought….but Bruce WAS very nice and cordial.
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
crabcakes, lobster risotto and petrale sole? I’m SO there…
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Great review on Rococo. Very fair and honest. This I one of my top five places to eat dinner in OKC. The owner is very personable which is a big plus for me and the food and atmosphere are amazing. Crab Cakes are the best (at least this side of the mountains).
Love it! Great job guys.
July 24th, 2009 at 11:51 am
I had the Pesto pasta without any meat on it, and my boyfriend had the ribeye steak. His steak was delicious as expected but the pesto pasta is what really surprised me. I’ve made and had a lot of pesto pasta and this was really different than any other. It was very nutty, based in alfredo cream sauce, and had sun dried tomato in it.
Best pasta I’ve ever had, hands down.
An additional note, the wine flights are such a good idea! Our waitress picked out the wine selection. Very good choices.
July 26th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Made it here for brunch today. Not REALLy busy, but not empty either. I had the crab cake app for my main. It was $15.95 market price for today. It came w/a small mixed green salad. Small meaning two bites. However, perfectly acceptable as it is an appetizer. Definitely the best crab cake that I have had in the Okc and Dfw area. My mom had the gangster sausage sandwich and she raved. She said it could have had a little more sauce; I’m sure they would have gladly provided some on the side if she would have asked. I tried the sausage and it was very good. Right up there with krebs. No Bruce this time, but we will try dinner soon! I’m also wanting to try the crab cake benedict.
July 27th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Have to agree on the crabcakes. The absolute best I’ve had since I left FL.
July 29th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Thank you for the wonderful review. My wife and I love going to Roccoco for special occasions and we have never been disappointed. As echoed many times before – the crab cake is just fantastic. We love the neighborhood location even though we live miles away. It just wouldn’t be the same place if it was on a restaurant row or in a trendy area – it is simply good food by good people. What hasn’t been mentioned is the simple things that they do so well. The soups are wonderful and even the ice tea is perfect, which many restaurants don’t pay attention to. On the lunch menu in the past they have had a Chicken Piccata that was the best we have ever had – totally classically prepared and perfectly balanced. And it is always a blessing to be able to meet the owner of a restaurant and know your money is going right back into our own local economy. They are truly a jewel among our OKC restaurants.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Rococo’s is housed in the old “Tony’s” location which was a family tradition for us for close to 20 years, a little home brewed, under the counter Chianti anyone?
No, Rococo’s isn’t carrying on that tradition, this is something completely different.
Fresh seafood is a rarity in this region and will change your understanding of “seafood” if you haven’t experienced it before.
I found the staff attentive to detail and though I haven’t met the owner in person yet, his presence and concern for our experience was evident.
I look forward to introducing my grandchildren to a new family tradition.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:05 am
very nice crabcakes indeed. Go if you haven’t been, go back if you have.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I took 16 people there for lunch today. It was fantastic. Bruce may make the best Pesto cream sauce ever. And that shrimp risotto was ridiculous. We already know Bruce is a legend for fresh fish in this area, but he makes a name for himself with pasta as well.
August 1st, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Having lived in OK for over 20 year(mostly in Tulsa but now OKC) I can say that Rococo has the best crab cakes I have ever had and I am from the crab cake capital of Maryland originally. Rococo– a great restaurant with a fantastic chef/owner Bruce Rhinehart. Go there and keep this place thriving. It enhances the quality of life in OKC for many people.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
The wife and I love Rococo. I can eat fish dishes there that I normally dodge in other establisments because they are so fresh and well prepared. Bruce and his staff are always great. My wife is a bit of a wine snob so if she likes it…
In fact, one of her favorite wines had gotten scarce enough that Bruce hadn’t been able to get it. A French Burgandy such and something this year and whatever(I’m not a wine fan). She happened to know that the liquor store, Modern Liquor, the one just across the parking lot north had two bottles. We gave the waiter the money and he ran over and got them. Where else would you get that kind of service? I never leave Rococo with out a full belly and a big smile.
August 9th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I forgot to mention, make sure to get the Godiva cheesecake! It’s not made there, but it’s amazing!
August 21st, 2009 at 9:14 am
You aren’t kidding, I used to live in DC and often traveled to Maryland for the crab cakes. These are just as good. Lobster and shrimp risotto was also delicious. Pricey, of course, but great for a nicer occasion or special treat.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Beware of the beer prices. I was shocked after an evening of drinks so see my tab: $8.00 per pint of Guinness, which is way too much.
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