Oklahoma City Restaurants

This month’s pick, Macy’s Pancake House, was actually recommended by one of our shady-lovin’ readers. The only thing is, Macy’s Pancake House was sold, and the name changed. It is now 44th Cafe Pancake House. Nonetheless, there is shadiness and tastiness to be found here.

It’s time once again to bestow the honor of “Shady Restaurant of the Month” to another questionable establishment serving good food to Oklahoma City’s food adventurists. There were several nominees that had compelling arguments as to why they should be chosen. But this month’s winner is 50′s Cafe.

Once you get in the vicinity, it’s easy to spot Barry’s and its giant, green sign with a picture of a burger on it. Though the food may not be as remarkable as the sign, it’s still a good, quasi-shady burger place worthy of your attention if you’re in the area.

Just the name of Big Johnson’s Highway Grill and their world famous trucker burger was like music to my shady-loving ears. I was anticipating my lunch all morning. Unfortunately, the burger and the rest of the lunch fare left a lot to be desired at this wonderfully shady location.

Caesar’s Grill brings shady elements, and not so shady elements, to deliver a total Oklahoma City restaurant package that gets mixed reviews.

I know, March came and went without a Shady Restaurant winner, but I’m making up for it with a strong April recommendation brought to me by a loyal Shady reader. There may be shadier places in town, but Choice Cafe definitely combines great taste with plenty of shady surroundings and snatches up this month’s award.

A quick glance at the slightly run-down exterior of Classen Grill and you won’t be expecting much more than an average greasy-spoon. Try the food, however, and you’ll most likely be impressed.

Aside from the obvious dangers of consuming fatty foods wrapped in pastry and deep-fried, I can’t say anything bad about this place. There’s no doubt that tasty, unique morsels can be found inside including pies for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

Since I feel it is my duty as an American to notify the public when my lunch time adventures cause me to stumble across a tasty hidden treasure, then it would also be my duty to inform the growing legion of Shady Restaurant fans of those places they should avoid.

Deep in the heart of Capitol Hill lies a little known gem of a restaurant called Jamie’s Grill. Although the line spilling out into the street on a Friday around noon would argue that it’s hardly “little known.”

That’s right, I’m going out on a limb and claiming Jimmy’s as the best chicken fried steak in town. But that’s not the only thing that’s good here. Jimmy’s is all around family friendly, work lunch friendly, and very friendly to your stomach and taste buds.

Have you ever wondered what “soul food” is? Visit Mama E’s and they will be glad to educate you. If you have never had soul food you are missing out on a passionate art form, tasty food, and some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

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.

If you can manage to score a place to sit (which requires arriving early), you are in for a treat at Nic’s. As I left my first Nic’s burger experience, I was wiping tears from my eyes, realizing that my life had just been changed.

Pappy’s food is unlike any other diner I have visited in Oklahoma City. Sometimes you just need a good fried pork chop. Pappy’s Diner fulfills that need. It also fulfills your need for fried veal cutlets, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, goulash, catfish, and burgers.

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. It wasn’t all that bad, but to enjoy it, I think you have to stick with the breakfast or the burgers.

The Red Brick Restaurant brings southern-style country cooking to downtown Oklahoma City. Although the food is decent, I was a little disappointed with the limited menu options and the fact that I couldn’t seem to find anything healthy to try.

Starting today we will start highlighting the Shady Restaurant of the Month. This will be a monthly award given to that restaurant with poor lighting, bad curb appeal, questionable clientele, dangerous parking lots, but good food.

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.