Oklahoma City Restaurants

I found Shartel Cafe to be a solid, neighborhood family restaurant. They have something for all tastes and something for just about any time of the day.

If you want a little something different in a colorful, but discreet, setting, try Cafe Antigua. It’s definitely worth the trip from any area of the city. They also serve their fabulous breakfast dishes at all times they are open, which is a huge plus in my book.

Green Goodies is a specialty cupcake shop with organic, vegan-friendly, and other offerings for those with special dietary needs. Though their pricing is higher than the other shops we’ve reviewed, they bring a unique approach that is worth your attention.

Primo’s offers an extensive menu that I enjoy exploring each time I visit. It may not be fancy or exotic, but its a solid place run by Oklahoma City locals with quality ingredients and good value.

Taking over the location previously occupied by the very popular Elephant Cafe, this new Thai eatery in Bethany offers a lot to the community as well. The food is good and the value for the price is excellent.

The low pricing and larger (by onion-burger standards) burger size make Robert’s a definite contender for your onion burger patronage. The only trick is finding a place to sit in one of only 14 bar stools which seem to most always be filled.

PLEASE NOTE: we’re sad to say that the Turquoise American Bistro is now closed and as far as we can tell, it is not returning.

You’ll likely need several showers and a car deodorizer to rid yourself of the onion smell after eating here, but … come to think of it … who wouldn’t want to smell like onions. Bunny’s Onion Burgers recently changed ownership but their tradition as a part of Oklahoma City’s onion burger landscape lives on.

PLEASE NOTE: Elephant Cafe has closed. Elephant Cafe, formerly Big! Rice and Noodle, has been taken over by a new owner offering many Thai, Japanese and other Asian choices. This downtown Bethany restaurant is a great spot for a quiet, relaxing meal.

Little Mike’s Hamburgers in Oklahoma City is second in our onion burger series. Try this one for a “neat-eating” onion burger with diced, rather than sliced, onions.

In case you didn’t know it, Oklahoma City (specifically, El Reno) owns the world of onion fried hamburgers. If you’ve never tried one, you should. To help you out, I’m starting a review tour of the best places in town and kicking things off with one of the originals, Johnnie’s Grill.

Neighbors Cafe in Oklahoma City is a pleasant surprise and not just for the over-50 crowd. They do a lot of business, and they even offer a few healthy menu items which is pretty rare for a diner.

JT’s Bar-B-Que is tops for pork ribs, but get there early for lunch. The line stays long and seating is limited. If you’re not a “rib-eater,” go for the smoked chicken and don’t forget the blackberry cobbler.

I’ve been itching to post this review of Meiki’s Italian American for quite some time, but I have struggled with how to describe the place even though I’m in there about every other week or so. The best categorization I can come up with is “diner-style Italian.” Diner-style describes the atmosphere more than the food, and here’s what I mean by it.

Hidden on the south end of Norman, just pushing on the edge of what we consider the “Oklahoma City area,” is a fine dining surprise. It’s a bed and breakfast that serves a beautiful dinner with a side of relaxation.

[PLEASE NOTE: We have learned that the Red Moon Cafe is closing or may already be closed]. The Red Moon Cafe and Bakery in Oklahoma City serves a creative variety of tasty food all day long. But the bank-lobby atmosphere and the inconsistent and even frustrating service could use some improvement.

It’s always a big deal when a new restaurant opens in Bethany. Big! Rice and Noodle is an interesting Thai place that adds a whole new dimension to the Bethany restaurant landscape. The food is fresh, unique and definitely worth a visit, but in our opinions, it could be made better with bolder flavors.

I have found everything I like in a restaurant at Sophabella’s – comfortable atmosphere, consistent and classy service, robust, flavorful food and great Tony Bennett-esque music. It’s the kind of place you can go to on a dressy date, but feel just as comfortable popping in after a day at the mall in jeans and a sweatshirt.

Sometimes I get in the mood for a taste of “old” Oklahoma City. You know, someplace that’s been around forever that has maintained a loyal, local clientèle. For this past birthday, we decided we would try Jamil’s Steakhouse since it originated in the same decade I was born – the 60s.

If anyone till missing Seinfeld, I have just the answer for you. Head down to Papa Angelo’s and you’ll think you’ve walked right into a Seinfeld episode. Plus, the food is great. They don’t serve anything they don’t eat!

There’s just something about seeing Mr. Salehi and his family preparing tasty Greek food behind the counter at Athens. It’s like going home for lunch. Try Athens for the best-tasting gyro meat in town.

Is there any restaurant in Oklahoma City that you will drive completely out of your way just for the cookies? Ingrid’s Kitchen is that place for us. They specialize in great German food, but their deli sandwiches and desserts are also fabulous.

A while back, Tim wrote about his Okla-mex pick, Casa Perico. I agree that his choice is a good one, but I think Poblano Grill has edged ahead of Casa Perico here lately.