When reviewing a restaurant, I always try to go either really early for lunch or rather late in the hopes of being able to have a conversation with the owner when things aren’t quite as busy.  When Mom and I walked into Prairie Thunder, the owner John McBryde walked right out from the kitchen and asked what he could do for us.  What luck, I thought, as I began my interrogation.

First things first, of course. I must eat lunch and sample food before really getting down to business.  John’s friendly employees made some suggestions from the mostly soup, salad and sandwich menu. After standing over the bakery display for longer than needed, I finally went with the tomato-based chicken tortilla soup and veggie sandwich lunch combo ($8.25) which consisted of greens, red onions, ricotta cheese, roasted peppers, capers and homemade balsamic vinaigrette, served on their fabulous homemade bread.  Mom went with the special lunch quiche of the day ($5.75) which included a side salad.  The main thing she said made it so good was the ultra-thin, homemade crust, obviously not something frozen from a restaurant supply.  Each of our entrees also included a homemade roll.  John said they pride themselves in everything being homemade, from the salad dressing on up.  The bakery case was full of beautiful and delicious looking pastries and treats, many of them decorated and packaged for a quick gift for Valentine’s Day.

As soon as we were finished with our lunch, John said he would love to take us on a tour of the bakery behind the scenes.  We took him up on the offer and ended up spending over two hours learning the fascinating art of making and baking artisan bread.  The kitchen is divided into two large areas, one for bakery items and the other for bread.  Much of his equipment comes from Europe. The standing oven is so big, he can roll entire racks of bakery items into it.  After spending almost 30 years in the oil and gas business, John spent a year researching equipment and methods for bread baking.  According to him, if he was going to do this, he was going to do it right, and that drive is evident in the equipment he has in place.

Prairie Thunder has been open two years now, and business is great.  They do much of the bread baking and delivery to lots of locally-owned restaurants in the metro area.  There were several huge bread racks in the middle of the kitchen, and each shelf was labeled with the name of the restaurant they service.

It was quite warm in back, and soon I discovered why.  In the middle of the kitchen stands the Frigand bread oven, which hails from France.  There are only 150 of them in the U.S., and, of course, only one in Oklahoma.  It weighs 18,000 lbs, and is stacked with three decks and nine doors.  There is 150 square feet of baking space.  It arrived in a 53 foot semi truck and took three weeks of 12-hour days to assemble, with the help of a man from Austria.  It’s quite a site to behold, and even though it had been turned off for several hours, the heat still radiating from it made it feel like a summer day.  John said they recently celebrated the oven’s birthday by serving free mini-baguettes and cream puffs to customers.

The other side of the kitchen is where the bread is made, and it was stacked with huge sacks of King Arthur flour and crowded with enormous mixers from Germany.  Some of the breads take anywhere from 24-48 hours to make, so there are two overnight bakers who arrive at 10pm before John comes in at 5am.  Several other fancy machines that control temperature and humidity line the walls.  John’s tour was a fascinating education for me and certainly gave me a new appreciation for each delicious bite of bread I sampled that day.  It also said a lot for the cleanliness and neatness of the kitchen, as John had no idea I was coming when he invited me back for the tour.

John also designed the front part of the restaurant and did all of the woodwork himself.  He thought the name Prairie Thunder was quite appropriate for a restaurant with Oklahoma roots, and his dining room centers around a sign that reads, “Man, for all his progresses, posturings, and high-minded opinions of himself, owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”  He said the flour he uses comes from both Oklahoma and Montana.  I just can’t say enough how delicious the bread is.

I think this a great little place for breakfast, lunch, or just for bread. It’s in a wonderful, historical building in the mid-town area.  I hope Prairie Thunder sticks around the OKC landscape for a long time.  It’s a great addition to our town and definitely unique.

What do you think about Prairie Thunder? Let us know in the comments.

I knew pretty much right away I was going to like The Shartel Cafe as I approached the beautiful, dessert-laden counter to place my order.  But with my New Year’s willpower still i tact, I bypassed those desserts, placed my order, filled my cup with tropical herbal iced tea and made it to the table.  I was safe.  I had no idea this place was a bakery, too.  Why didn’t someone warn me?

My attention was soon drawn from the dessert display to the displays of fresh flowers sitting around the counter tops.  My trusty sidekick, Mom, began her visual appraisal and critique of the dining area while we waited on lunch, and the flowers were the first things she praised.  I agreed — fresh flowers add class and beauty to any place. In fact, I’ve been known to purchase a bouquet — to me, from me — on occasion, for my stuffy office.

Soon, the owner served us our entrees, and it was great to have a discussion with her between bites.  Mom’s Greek Veggie Salad ($7.25) arrived first, all fresh, crunchy and appetizing.  It consisted of fresh greens, roma tomatoes, Greek olives, red peppers, pepperoncini, cucumbers, red onions, artichokes and feta cheese, accompanied by a nice, thick, Greek dressing.  The lady next to us said she eats this salad here every day.  My Island Jerk chicken wrap ($7.25) arrived a few minutes later.  It consisted of jerk-marinated chicken, pineapple cream cheese, onion and lettuce on a whole wheat honey wrap.  Although it was good, I think I might have added a little something else for moistness and extra flavor, say like sliced tomatoes or a warm, pineapple compote.

Patrick and Deneen Nault opened Shartel Cafe three years ago and haven’t had time to look back (one can see Patrick serving as chef back in the kitchen).  Deneen says the brisk business stems from surrounding areas such as the OU Medical School and area high schools during the week.  Then, families from surrounding neighborhoods meet there on weekends.  It’s gotten to be a rather homey place for many of their customers, including Betsy, who has created her own special of a hamburger steak with mushroom gravy and the veggie of the day.  Although it’s not located anywhere on the menu, anyone is welcome to ask for it.  The Naults are also happy to cater to any special dietary needs that they can.  Some of their customers come for breakfast, get a to-go order for lunch to take to work, then call in dinner to pick up on the way home.  This is exactly the type of place I wish would open somewhere in far Northwest Oklahoma City.

Deneen saw that Mom and I hadn’t ordered dessert and insisted that we try something. So, of course, I immediately agreed, happily waving goodbye to any non-dessert resolutions I had earlier possessed. In fact, I watched them fly right out the big windows that line the front of the store.  I sent Mom to the counter and she returned with a slice of lemon creme cake ($2.95), a monster cinnamon roll ($1.95), and a white chocolate, cranberry walnut cookie ($1.50).  All delicious.

Deneen went on to say that lots of people come just for the Shartel Mac and Cheese ($7.95), the Oh, My Reuben ($7.25) and any of the burgers, which all looked great.  The Mac and Cheese is tossed with sweet peas and ham, and the Reuben is served on their homemade swirled rye bread.  The breakfast menu is loaded with options — everything from oatmeal, yogurt and granola to pancakes, breakfast quesadillas and quiche.  Pretty much anything is available for a wide variety of tastes.

They also serve several flavors of Java Dave’s coffee, hot and iced teas, smoothies and cappuccino.  And they provide catering.

I found Shartel Cafe to be a great neighborhood restaurant. They have something for all tastes and something for just about any time of the day. Have you tried it? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Several of our readers have clamored for a review of Cafe Antigua recently, so happily I set out to accommodate. It can be a little tricky to spot at first. I drove by it three times before I even saw it.  It’s hiding in an old strip of shops right on 19th and Classen, and it’s well worth the search.  Look for the name of the restaurant painted on the windows, as that’s the only sign.

Once again, my faithful sidekick and Mom tagged along for another new restaurant experience.  Upon entering, she was immediately thrilled to see the employees cleaning the tables with a real bottle of spray cleaner and a clean cloth, as opposed to a wet dish towel “has laid around on the floor for who knows how long”  (her words).  Score one for the restaurant.

Cafe Antigua serves both breakfast and lunch the entire time it’s open, so that’s nice.  I know I like breakfast food better at other times of the day than breakfast time.  So for lunch, I ordered the “signature breakfast” entree of Motulena Eggs ($5.75), which consisted of two corn tortillas and black beans topped with two eggs smothered in chirmol (charred tomato and mint sauce) and sliced avacado, queso fresco (fresh cheese), queso seco (a dry Nicaraguan cheese), parsley and chips.  It was delicious, and the portion was just right.  Most of the portions here are not huge, which I appreciate.  Most of the entrees are also served with their homemade jalapeno sauce on the side, which is hot, but yummy.

Mom chose the Enchilades Guatemaltecas ($5.25).  This consisted of a tostada with lettuce, picadillo (chopped beef), topped with viniagrette, cabbage and beets, salsa roja, slice of hard egg, parsley and queso seco.  She’s usually not a meat-eater, but she loved this dish for two reasons. First, she could taste the tangy veggies, and second,  it matched her outfit that day (does anyone else have a cute little mother who loves to wear purple and chartreuse green together?).  She also got to know a couple of the other patrons while we waited on our food.  I think most everyone in there was either a lawyer who had a business on Classen or a sweet, little retired couple who lived nearby in one of those big houses just east of there.  At any rate, everyone Mom talked to was a regular customer.  The Valdez family of five has owned this place the last two years.

I wanted a return engagement before I wrote this review, so last week my trusty sidekick and I kidnapped two co-workers and told them where we were headed.  They were game.  This time I tried the special of the day, which was the Mayan Rice ($8.49).  It consisted of rice, black beans, onion, tomato, cilantro, parsley and chicken or beef (I chose the chicken).  I loved it and wish somebody would fix this for me every night at home.  This is one of their larger entrees, and I could have split it with someone had I known.

Mom chose the Omelette Chapin ($7.49) which was mixed with tomato, bell pepper, chives, onions, chirmol and cheddar, accompanied with a side of sour cream and plantains (or “plantations” as she called them).  This is a great dish for vegetarians.

My friend Beth chose the Chili Rellenos ($7.75), which was two small, poblano peppers with beef and veggies, rice and a house salad.  The peppers were very tender, not with a deep-fried crunchy coating like a lot of Tex-Mex places serve, and she described the meat as having a good, earthy taste.  But I’m not sure she was really sold on this dish.  It might warrant another review and opinion.

My friend Susan tried the Carne Asada ($9.99), which was grilled beefsteak, two green onions, rice, black beans, house salad and avacado.  It looked really good, and she said it was, eating every bite.

Cafe Antigua serves a variety of Guatemalan coffees and fruit drinks.  When asked what we wanted to drink, Mom asked if they had Guatemalan tea, which puzzled our waiter for a moment, as he proceeded to explain the different kinds of coffee.  She then asked for an explanation of the fruit drinks, which he pleasantly and patiently provided. Then, of course, she ordered water.  It was like being in a Seinfeld episode with Kramer and George ordering at the cafe.  Our waiter just smiled like he was used to this with all the other sweet, little old customers.  The episode continued after lunch, at which point Mom wanted to try the “Plantations in Glory”  (sigh).  I ordered her the Plantains in Glory ($3.25) and just smiled at the waiter.  These were cooked in brown sugar, cinnamon and kahlua, topped with sour cream, and they were fantastic, especially after the spicy entree I just had.

So if you want a little something different in a colorful, but discreet, setting, try Cafe Antigua.  I know I’ll be back, even though it’s not anywhere close to where I live or work. It’s definitely worth the trip.  Let us know what you think in the comments!

In the almost three years since I started EatAroundOKC.com, I can’t remember another restaurant that has generated as much buzz around its launch as Big Truck Tacos. I feel strange writing this article as it almost seems superfluous to have yet another online page dedicated to discussing it. But at the same time, I’ve received enough email from readers asking, “Why don’t you have a review of Big Truck Tacos?” to motivate me to get this article published. So, here we go.

I truly love the idea of Big Track Tacos. It represents the epitome of what I tend to look for in restaurants. That is, a place that offers something truly unique to the Oklahoma City restaurant landscape. On this front, Big Truck Tacos excels, bringing a gourmet and hip spin on the authentic taqueria experience both indoors (at their restaurant location) and on the street (via their actual taco truck). The ownership of this restaurant has experience in high-end dining, and the idea of taking something as awesome as a taqueria-style taco and sprucing it up with culinary creativity is extremely exciting to me.

While their focus right now appears to be on the restaurant location, it seems they have plans to turn their taco truck into a Twitter-driven mobile dining experience akin to Kogi in Los Angeles. Time will tell how this plays out but it could be a very unique and successful offering. For now, it seems that their static location is keeping them busy enough as crowds have been overwhelming and consistent since their opening.

When you visit their restaurant location, you’ll find a small, nicely redone old drive-in diner. There’s not a lot of space inside, but in the warmer weather they have good outdoor seating on colorful picnic tables which can even be used in the rain since they’re covered by the old drive-in roof. Getting to know the people dining next to you is the standard MO here as most anywhere you sit you will be sharing space with others. But hey, that makes it all the more fun and gives it a true “hang-out” kind of feel.

Take a look at the menu and you’ll find a lot to love. The in-depth descriptions of their tacos, burritos, tortas, salads and more are inspiring with exciting combinations of ingredients like “ground bison picadillo,” “fried avocado,” “spice-rubbed beer can chicken,” and the like.

However, when my eyes wandered across the page to the pricing, I was a bit disappointed. Tacos are $2.75-$3.00 each. “That’s cheap!” you may say, but keep in mind that even the smallest appetite would likely need two of these tacos to feel satisfied (I could easily eat three without over doing it). Having frequented some of OKC’s best southside taquerias where amazing tacos of the same size are served up for $1.50 or less each, the price tag on BTT’s offerings let me down. Sure, I know it’s a gourmet spin and I would expect to pay more than the norm, but twice as much? With prices like these, they had better deliver on taste.

But in the taste department, I’ve been let down a bit. Most everything I’ve tried at lunch sounded better on the menu than it actually delivered. I’ve had four different lunch tacos. Two of them have been good. The other two have been average at best. None of them have been what I would consider amazing.

On the positive side, the slaw on “The Okie-Baha” (fish taco) was the best I think I’ve had and “The Rancher” offered a great combination of flavors with slow-braised brisket, potatoes, queso, and a pickled relish that really livens things up. On the disappointing side, the verde pork at BTT was unexciting in both texture and flavor, and the beef al carbon was tough with a “coffee-rubbed” flavor that was quite overpowering and not all that appealing. Even though “Urban Coffee Company – rubbed grilled skirt steak” had my mouth watering when I read it on the menu, it was less than satisfying to my taste.

I also wish the tortillas at Big Truck Tacos brought more to the party. As it is, they’re fine, but they’re nothing special. You have your choice of flour or double-corn tortillas on each taco you order. Livening up the tortillas with something homemade or otherwise unique would really go a long way toward fulfilling the gourmet expectations set by their pricing.

Now, I’ve heard from many people who believe breakfast is the better offering at Big Truck Tacos. I’d have to agree. The pricing is a little lower, which is nice, and the flavors I had were better as well. All of the breakfast tacos are “build your own,” allowing you to select from their list of ingredients. For $2, you get two ingredients but … oh yeah … eggs count as an ingredient. Add a quarter or so for each additional ingredient you want.

I had an egg, avocado and flank steak breakfast taco that was very good. It was heavy on the pepper, which I like. The steak was a little tough, just like the lunch steak, but it had a better flavor than its coffee-rubbed lunch sibling. I also had one with egg, spinach and ham.

You can also build your own breakfast burrito. In fact, this the best value I’ve found so far at Big Truck Tacos. For $4 you get your choice of three ingredients wrapped up in a 10 inch tortilla. It’s a decent amount of food for the price. I had the egg, avocado and flank steak in a burrito and thought it was even better than the taco version. I also thought the tortilla on the burrito was better than the ones on the tacos.

I wish they would open earlier for breakfast. I also wish they would include a few of their own taco creations at breakfast like they do at lunch. Come to think of it, adding a “build your own” option at lunch might be nice as well. Why the separation? And, why not offer breakfast tacos all day. That would really rock.

Alright, so there are some things I wish were different, but at the bottom line, Big Truck Tacos is definitely worth your attention. Give them a try. You’ll find that they run a great operation and they’re very concerned about customer satisfaction. Send them your feedback through Facebook or Twitter and I can almost guarantee they’ll be quick to respond and react.

I’m sure I’ll be visiting them again, though I can say I’d be visiting them a lot more frequently if pricing were a little lower or if there were some lunch combo that could get me three tacos for around $6 instead of $9. As it is, my visits may be infrequent but I do look forward to seeing how they continue to change and improve.

Please let us know what you think about Big Truck Tacos in the comments.

A quick glance at the unimpressive, slightly run-down exterior of Classen Grill and you won’t be expecting much more than an average greasy-spoon. Walk inside to find a mix-matched, unpolished interior and your expectations will be reinforced. Try the food, however, and you’ll most likely be impressed. The folks at Classen Grill appear to be masters at managing expectations, setting you up for run-of-the-mill food and surprising you with an edge of quality you don’t expect.

Take the orange juice, for example. I’m not sure you can get a fresher glass of OJ anywhere. They’ve got an orange juicing machine right in the dining room where the juice is squeezed right into pitchers which are then brought to your table to serve. You’ll pay up for it, of course, but if freshness is what you’re after, you’ll love it.

The surprises don’t end there. Read down the menu and you’ll see that this isn’t average diner fare at all. You’ll find creative ideas all across the breakfast and lunch menus.

For an appetizer, I like the chips with red and green salsa ($2.29). There’s nothing special about the chips, but the salsas impress me. There’s a tasty, tangy red one and, my favorite, an unusual green salsa, served warm, that’s not too hot but has a little kick. It’s not that these are the best salsas I’ve ever had, but they are good, and much better than I would expect at an average diner. Plus, they’re a great value as one order can easily satisfy a party of 4-6.

For my meal, I almost always get the jalepeno swiss burger. It’s not on the menu, but it was a special one time and every time I go back I’ve just asked for it and they’ve made it for me. They’ve always charged me $5.99 for it, which is a great deal considering it comes with home fries. Their home fries are thick-cut chunks of potato encased in a very tasty batter, but for some reason, they just don’t seem very greasy.

I think the burgers here are very good. They’re served on a very good bun, which is slightly toasted and a little crispy on the edges. The burger patty is thick with a seared exterior and very juicy inside. It’s always well done with no pink but never, ever dry. On the jalepeno swiss burger, the toppings are fresh and the jalepenos are hot and whatever sauce they put on it is fantastic. Of course, there are several other burger options to choose from and all are good.

Lots of people love the breakfast here, which I can understand. They’ve got things like the Biscuit Debris ($6.89), which is three biscuits topped with ham, sausage, gravy and cheddar cheese and served with hashbrowns. It’s definitely a conversation starter, but for me, it’s just too much. I’ve also tried the migas ($6.99) and the pancakes for breakfast. Both are fine, but for some reason, I’ve never been as wowed with the breakfast as others I know have. For me, lunch is the time to go.

Whenever you choose to go, Classen Grill is worth your attention. You’ll find interesting dishes that almost always exceed your expectations.

Have you been to Classen Grill? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think.

I know I missed the Shady Restaurant of the Month for April.  To make up for it, I am going to make a strong recommendation for this month’s shady offering. I’m even making a bold proclamation that you won’t find better authentic tacos anywhere else in the city.  I have probably eaten at every authentic taqueria in town and there is none better than Los Comales.  It lies on South Agnew just south of the Stockyards.  They are cash only (note: they now accept visa and mastercard), but if you are in a pinch, you can go next door to a particularly shady gas station where there is an ATM and some slot machines.  Does anyone really know what goes on with these gas station slot machines that say “for entertainment purposes only?” There is no way these dudes are in here on Friday’s spending their paychecks unless there is a chance to win some malt liquor … but I digress.

Los Comales is a taqueria, in true form.  That means no chips and no insulting cheese jelly.  While I am on the subject of insulting cheese jelly, why do Okla-Mex restaurants all over town serve this mysterious, watered down, clearly-not-cheese-based, jelly-like substance?  I would prefer they just come out and say “we don’t serve cheese dip for free you cheap-skate, pay for some good stuff” rather than to serve up these ramekins of puke-orange-colored flavorless goo. Oh, look, I digress again. Ok, back to the restaurant.

Los Comales has tacos, burritos, gorditas, tortas, enchiladas, quesadillas, and a few other specials that sometimes change.  I made a claim that they have the best tacos in town, and I think I am mostly correct.  Max Burgerprobably has the best “al pastor” tacos, but Los Comales has the best asada and lengua, plus their breakfast tacos are out of this world.

That’s right, I said breakfast tacos.  You don’t know what you are missing until you try some chorizo, potato, and egg tacos from this place.  What’s even better is that they serve them all day.  The breakfast burritos are fantastic as well.  Seriously, how can you top fried potatoes, onions, cheese, chorizo, and egg wrapped up in a tortilla?  I’ll tell you how — by dousing it in their delicious red sauce.

Tacos here price out a bit higher ($1.50) than the taco stands that occupy shady corners all over town, but hey, they have to pay rent, you know.  Plus, you get air-conditioning, cool tile floors, and graffiti-covered bathrooms, all of which come in handy on hot summer days when you don’t feel like standing in the hot sun to get your lengua fix.

The quesadillas here may be my favorite in town as well.  It’s hard to beat tasty carne asada chopped up, smothered in cheese, and fried on a griddle in a fresh tortilla.  I know, quesadillas may not be what you think of when you think authentic Mexican food, but who cares, these are good.  The only quesadillas in town that can compare are from Max Burger, and also Chef Parrott’s at Iguana Mexican Grill.

The gorditas are my favorite in town as well.  Theirs are on the thin side versus the thick and crispy side — more like what you would see from a street vendor or Tacos Los Desvelados.  I really like this style, though.  There isn’t anything here that isn’t good.  Just pick your meat (carne asada, pollo, lengua, chile verde or rojo, carnitas, or machaca; your method of delivery (taco, torta, gordita, etc.); and your garnish (red sauce, green sauce, lime).  I had not heard of machaca before. I discovered it is actually a re-hydrated, shredded beef and it is very tasty.  Thanks to my Hispanic food expert and friend, Aswado, for educating me on this one.

Los Comales is worth the trip to Stockyard City for those wanting a good taqueria experience.  If you are tired of being insulted by other “Mexican” joints in town offering bland flavors and “cheese” jelly, this will be a breath of fresh air (assuming there isn’t a cattle auction going on down the road, in which case you shouldn’t breathe too deeply).

I love a good burger, and am actually pretty picky when it comes to burgers. I also like shady, hole-in-the-wall-type places.  Nic’s combines the best of both worlds with a fantastic burger prepared in a little building, a shack actually, just off NW 10th on Penn.

I like my burgers thicker than onion burgers, greasy, and full of meaty flavor. The problem with griddle-fried burgers is that often times they are very bland when they are not squashed down to typical onion burger thickness. In fact, I hate watching Oklahoma City’s onion fry chefs (I hear they are better in El Reno, but I don’t know from personal experience) get their big spatulas and then squish every last morsel of juice out of every patty they fry. I also hate watching friends do this when they are grilling burgers at home. My favorite part of a burger is all the flavorful beef juice that explodes into a cholesterol and fat-laden flavor bomb with every bite. Nic has figured out how to serve a big, beefy (dare I say manly?) burger without murdering it while it cooks.

I have actually been meaning to experience a Nic’s burger for myself for a long time now. The problem is that every time I drive by there are people lined out the door and there is no place to park. There are only 15 seats in the entire place — nine at the bar, where you get a front row seat to all the cooking action, and 3 two-seater tables along the back wall. I went at 11:20am and had no trouble claiming 2 bar stools, although Nic did say it was one of his slower days in quite some time.  By the time we left, it was standing room only. My advice is get there early, before the big lunch rush.  Apparently there is major to-go and call-in business here as well, so you have options.

Before I dive into the burger and fries I experienced, let me go over the menu.  Breakfast, burgers, and chicken fried steak.  No frilly salads, no fruit cups, no yogurt and raisin parfait, just different slabs and hunks of meat and eggs thrown on a griddle. That’s my kind of place. He does have a daily special of pork chops, meatloaf, or fried chicken, depending on the day. I can’t wait to say that I have tried them all. I love a griddle or pan fried chicken fried steak, so I can’t wait to try Nic’s. He seasons, lightly flours, then throws it on the griddle. Once it’s done it is plated, and then he goes around to a back room where he finds mashed potatoes and white gravy to cover everything in.  I have to admit, my eyes started to well with tears of joy when I first saw him do this.

The burgers are thrown on the grill in what appears to be 1/3 to 1/2 pound of meat.  I didn’t ask the exact weight as I was feeling a little verklempt after watching the chicken fry and the precision with which Nic fielded orders from patrons in seats, over the phone, and from standing, waiting to-go orders. The burger was covered with cheese, grilled onions, dressed to my specifications, and then piled onto a toasted bun. It was huge, sloppy, and extremely hot.

He also has hand-cut curly fries that are fried to each order. Sure, lots of places serve hand-cut fries, but Nic’s look better. They aren’t mushy and brown like you so often see.  They are crispy, golden, and fresh.  He doesn’t care about letting them sit and drain. He believes that hotter is better and throws them straight from the grease directly onto your plate.  The portion of fries is the size of a small child, and when paired with a burger it is a daunting task just to finish everything.

Nic, always looking to help curb coronary disease, does not serve a double burger.

A few comments I and my lunch companion made really help to sum up the experience.  My companion thanked me for making him experience a place like this. He had no idea the treasures you can find if you just take a risk and jump into some of these little dives to experience true Oklahoma City culture.  He is obviously not a regular shady companion, but after this experience, he may well be. My reaction to Nic’s was equally sincere. I believe I muttered something about this burger changing my life as I wiped tears from my eyes.

I would call Nic’s shady, but not so shady as to deserve the prestigious designation of “Shady Restaurant of the Month.”  To me, it has shady characteristics, but falls more into hole-in-the-wall status. We don’t want to cheapen the title given monthly to those truly shady places, so let’s just call Nic’s a great hole-in-the-wall with fantastic food.  Prepare yourself properly before going so you can maximize your experience. Arrive early, skip breakfast, and be prepared to either sneak a nap at work afterwards or to at least have access to a highly caffeinated beverage. I have a feeling you, like me, will agree this is the best burger in town.  Let us know what you think in the comments.

Not everyone realizes it, but Oklahoma City actually has a very large and thriving Vietnamese population. The numbers I have seen show over 20,000 Vietnamese in the city. If you live where I do, this comes as no surprise as Oklahoma City’s Asian district demonstrates ample evidence of this vibrant culture. In fact, you can’t drive a block in nearly any direction from NW 23rd and Classen without passing multiple Pho restaurants.

Yet, how many people in our city know what Pho is, let alone have ever tried it? I think that Oklahoma City is blessed to have such a unique Asian culture thriving in its midst. So, come on everyone. Let’s take advantage of the opportunity to experience what I consider to be one of the best meals available. Pho is inexpensive, healthy, hearty, flavorful, unique, and good at any time of day.

If you’re looking to experience Pho in this city, I think Pho Hoa is a great place to start. My co-writer, Andrew, is also a frequenter of Pho Hoa, so I’ve asked him to add his impressions in here too. You’ll being seeing some quotes from him mixed in.

Pho Hoa sits in a somewhat run-down strip mall along 23rd street. On the inside, it is far larger and far nicer than what you expect from the exterior. There’s nothing really special about the interior. It’s pretty sterile, in fact, with all-white surfaces lit up by florescent lighting. But, it is clean and bright, with a lot of sunlight pouring in through the large street-facing windows (at least during the day, when I’ve been there).

What do they serve? Well, Pho, mostly. So, let’s talk about Pho, because I have found that not everyone knows what it is.

Pho is Vietnamese noodle soup. It generally consists of long, skinny rice noodles in a light broth with thinly-sliced pieces of meat that are often dropped rare into the scalding-hot liquid and, because they are so thin, they cook thoroughly in only a few minutes as the dish is prepared. The soup is then presented to the table alongside a dish of fresh herbs (mint and basil), limes, jalepenos, and bean sprouts that you can add at will to your own bowl. There are also a few sauces (hoisin sauce and Sriracha hot sauce at least) on the table that you can use to customize the flavor of your dish.

Andrew says, “The broth at Pho Hoa is fantastic. Chock full of star anise (my favorite under-utilized spice), it really has a unique flavor that is very filling. I like to load my bowl up with sprouts, a little basil, and a couple healthy squirts of Sriracha Hot Sauce. If you are suffering from a head cold, go get a big bowl of this, squirt in a little more Sriracha than you would normally dare, and watch your head clear and your symptoms fade. Magic.”

Now, the menu at Pho Hoa is large and you might get a little overwhelmed when you first look at it, because it’s got a lot of different kinds of soup. There are different kinds of noodles and different combinations of meat. Don’t worry, though. We have a recommendation for you.

Get the rare steak at the top of the first side (it’s #11, I think). It’s rice noodles with thinly sliced beef that is added rare and cooked in the broth. This meat is very lean and very fresh and tasty. I love it.

Andrew also gets the rare steak, but he has an alternative suggestion on how to experience it. “I always ask to have the meat served rare and separately on a plate,” he says. “That way you can cook it yourself to your liking. My liking is sprinkled with salt and pepper, and then I roll it up with a bean sprout and a basil leaf, dunk it for about 5 seconds (just long enough to kill any weird lingering bacteria), and eat it very close to rare.”

If you’re looking for a little variety, you can also go with the Vermicelli dishes. These are like Pho without the soupy broth part. They include noodles and meat and other stuff mixed together in a bowl and topped with a chopped fried egg roll.

Pho Hoa also serves spring rolls that are very tasty and extremely fresh (2 come in an order for $1.99). They are the chilled kind, not the fried kind and contain shrimp and a mixture of herbs and vegetables. I really like them and Andrew agrees. “Pho Hoa makes the freshest spring rolls I have ever had. They have a great peanut sauce to dip them in,” he says.

Finally, if you’re looking for a dessert, Pho Hoa offers a very interesting option. Sesame balls ($1 per order) are a type of semi-sweet bean curd rolled up and encrusted with sesame seeds. I ike them because they are not really sweet, and I’m not a fan of super-sweet desserts, but Andrew disagrees. “They aren’t bad,” he says, “they just aren’t good. Definitely an acquired taste. They aren’t quite sweet enough for me, and they are extremely chewy.”

In conclusion, Pho is a great culinary tradition from an Asian culture with deep roots in Oklahoma City. I highly recommend that you get out and try some. It’s a dish that can be eaten any time of day (notice that Pho Hoa opens at 8:30am every day making Pho for breakfast an interesting option), and it’s something that’s healthy, hearty, affordable, and tasty every time. Give Pho Hoa, or any of our city’s Pho places a try soon.

And let us know what you think in the comments.

Is there any place in Oklahoma City that you will drive completely out of your way just for the cookies? Ingrid’s Kitchen is that place for us. We can be clear on the north side of Edmond, and my husband (the founder of Sweet Tooths of America United), will have a sudden and uncontrollable urge for the chocolate thumb print cookies made famous at Ingrid’s. So we make our way to the corner of Youngs and NW 36th Street in OKC, before driving home way back on the far west edge of town. It’s nuts. But it’s worth it. These cookies are the creamiest, most fudgy and totally illegal things you will ever enjoy. And an inside tip from my Mom – request the ones from the non-refrigerated case. They’re better, she says.

My mom and my husband are the self-appointed dessert connoisseurs of the family. You know, the type that look at the dessert menu first, before deciding on a main dish. They also choose restaurants based on how good the crunchy, burnt topping on the creme brulee is. The conversations in the car as we try and decide where to eat are mind-numbing. Mom will smack her mouth and tongue trying to decide what taste is on her pallet for the evening, kind of like when Johnny Carson used to put that huge turban on and place the card to his forehead to see what answer would ultimately come to him. And the funny thing is – Mom can’t smell or taste, so does it really matter? She says yes, because now texture is everything. And thus, the love for the creamy thumb prints.

Anyway, Ingrid’s specializes in a variety of German foods and dishes. Their official name is Ingrid’s Kitchen – European and American Bakery and Delicatessen/Restaurant. They also have their own catering company, Lee’s Gourmet To Go.

Every time we go to Ingrid’s, I tell myself I’m going to try the German food since it’s something they specialize in, but I have yet to make it past the grilled Turkey Reuben sandwich on the menu. I will leave the German review to Andrew, my co-hort in tasting. He will post his findings soon.As for me, I can tell you that the Turkey Reuben is hot, stacked high with meat, cheesy, bubbly and delicious. And I’m sure it’s not legally on my diet. If you’re not a big meat eater, you could easily split it with someone else and add a side of their tabouli or German potato salad. Or, you could order it as a part of the half sandwich and cup of soup. I recommend these options as ordering the whole reuben for myself, plus a side salad and drink set me back over $10 for lunch, which is a little more than what I like to pay here around town.

If you’re ever in the mood to see old guys playing live music on a Saturday, then Ingrid’s is the place. Go for breakfast or lunch, then grab your partner and hit the dance floor for a number or two. We like to go for the brunch buffet on Sundays. You can always count on a nice variety of main dishes, salads and “a full dessert table featuring pure concocted indulgence,” with “more outstanding creations” offered on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Easter. They even take reservations for large parties. The buffet is $13.95 for adults (less for kids) but it is a good value with all of the offerings they provide.

The counter help is part of the fun, as they are all talky and very helpful, especially the man at the cash register. Part of the Oklahoma City charm of this restaurant.

Last year, I even ordered my entire Thanksgiving meal from Ingrid’s. Being someone who enjoys cooking, I was a little wary of a holiday restaurant meal. But Ingrid’s didn’t disappoint. And I will not hesitate to order more holiday food from them again if needed. It sure beat sitting in Denny’s eating one of those skillet meals with nine million fat grams.

We like Ingrid’s as much for the atmosphere as we do the food. But we wouldn’t drive clear across town if the food wasn’t worth the price of the gas to get there. One of my co-workers’ favorite things to do is eat lunch at Ingrid’s, then go next door to shoe shop at Linda’s Birkenstock. >Men, take note – you won’t find a faster way into a woman’s heart than a tasty meal she didn’t have to cook and new pair of comfy shoes.

As I’ve said before, I much prefer local restaurants. But I’ve got to give credit when a chain restaurant really goes above and beyond. In the case of Panera Bread, I feel like I pretty much owe them some recognition considering that they’ve given me thousands of hours of great office space, virtually rent free.

You see, I’m actually at Panera right now, working on my laptop on their free wireless internet network. I like to get up early every day and get some personal work done before heading into the office. A while back, I was self-employed, and I’d spend even more time here, sometimes using their space for entire days at a time. Sure, I’d buy lunch here, but that’s a pretty good rate for 8 hours of rent. Especially when the rest of the time I’m just working and making use of free iced tea refills.

Since moving back to Oklahoma City, I’ve looked around for a local alternative to fill my early morning office / cafe need. But I haven’t found anything better than Panera yet. And here’s why:

Hours of Operation. Panera opens at 6am every day and stays open until 8pm or 9pm. It’s just hard to beat that availability. I have yet to find a local alternative that opens at 6am. The closest I’ve found is 6:30 and when you’ve only got until 8, that extra 30 minutes makes a world of difference.

Food. As opposed to Starbucks or other coffee shop options, Panera serves real food. And the food is great. The multitude of bagel options for breakfast are creative, made with quality ingredients and prepared well everyday by someone who must get here at 3am or something to get all of this baking done. Even better, if you’re around for lunch or dinner, there are great sandwiches, soups, salads and now some artisan pizza in the evenings. It’s nice to have a place that can satisfy at any time of day.

Free wireless internet. A few years ago, someone up at Panera headquarters must have made what I consider to be the most brilliant decision ever — to offer free wireless internet in their stores. It’s not only free, there’s even a support number to call if you have trouble (ask for the internet brochure). Now that’s service! A reliable, high-quality wireless network at no cost. This single offering has earned them my loyalty and repeat business and I’m sure there are many others out there who feel the same way. Way to go, guys!

Iced tea. Their tea is great, and they fill up two huge containers of it on their drink station so they never run out. When you’re officing at Panera, $1.50 or so buys you a whole days’ worth.

I’d love to find a local alternative that can rival these offerings for my morning ritual. If you know of one, leave a comment and let me know. But even if I find one, I doubt I’ll leave Panera completely. I’ll have to visit them at least once a week. They’ve just been too good to me.

      

Just about everyone around here has heard of the Cattlemen’s Restaurant and it’s widely known as one of Oklahoma City’s best local dining experiences. But maybe not everyone has tried it for breakfast. And if you haven’t, you should.

The truth is that I’ve never been to the Cattlemen’s for anything other than breakfast, and always on a Saturday morning. It just gets the weekend started off right.

First of all, on Saturday and Sunday mornings, Cattlemen’s offers a breakfast buffet at a very reasonable price ($5.95). Now, I never personally order the buffet as I’ll explain in a minute, but allow me to let you in on one of the greatest restaurant values of all time — the Cattlemen’s buffet is free for kids. That’s right, absolutely free. I’ve been told by one waitress that it’s free for all kids all the way to 12 years old. We only have one four year old, so I haven’t experienced it first hand, but that’s what I’ve been told. What a rare and unbelievable value for families!

While the kids are enjoying everything on the buffet for free including eggs, bacon, sausages (link and patty), biscuits, gravy, home fries, hashbrowns, and mounds of fresh fruit; You can order off the menu if you like. And that’s just what I do for one very important reason — steak.

At Cattlemen’s for breakfast, you can order any steak and get it served up with eggs, potatoes and a biscuit. My personal favorite is the breakfast steak. It’s a small steak and probably not the prime cut of meat, but it doesn’t matter. Cattlemen’s prepares it wonderfully seasoned, tender, and mouth-watering every time. Together with home fries, scrambled eggs and a biscuit, it’s just about the perfect amount of food and an incredible value of taste at $7.95.

Of course, my wife tells me that there are a lot of other options on the menu that you can also order (she really likes the pancakes). And for that matter, there are a lot of other people I know who say that Cattlemen’s is also open at lunch and dinner. But so far, I haven’t found a compelling reason to try anything other than the breakfast steak and eggs on a Saturday morning. It’s just the way things ought to be.