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.

I recently posted about how I wish I could find a decent wiener schnitzel in this town and then it dawned on me that I had been told to visit Royal Bavarian Restaurant and Brewery in Moore. I loaded up the wife, the kids, and a friend from Switzerland (to help interpret if need be) and took the long drive to Moore. Actually, if you live in the heart of Oklahoma City, I guess a drive to Moore is only 10 minutes or so.

What we found when we arrived was a neat, old world structure, with brew kettles that could be seen from the road. Really a pretty cool building. Inside it is a European cabin-style layout with bench seats, large wood tables, and a hint of hops and yeast in the air. The walls were decorated with cuckoo clocks, antique steins, and various German trinkets and signs. The first thing you notice on the menu are the fairly high prices. What was strange is that the clientèle didn’t match the dollar. When you are spending upwards of $20 per person you might expect to see people that are put together in business casual attire with a sophisticated demeanor. What I saw at Royal Bavaria were guys in OU hoodies, backwards caps and flip flops. I’m guessing they were there for the home brews which were flowing quite freely.

Now for the food. The menu is written in both German and English, and has quite a few offerings. Probably the most disappointing thing is that the bread is not complimentary, you pay $2.50 for a basket of three pieces of bread that includes a hard roll, a pretzel stick, and a pretzel. It was served with a slice of what appeared to be homemade butter. It was all very good, but to feed 5 people you need a couple baskets which adds up pretty quickly. We tried several things: schnitzels of a couple varieties, oven roasted chicken, frankfurters, spatzle, and salads. They also offer several varieties of sausages, a few cuts of steak, roast beef, veal schnitzel cordon bleu (which I wish I had ordered), several varieties of potato, and pork chops showcased in a handful of different ways.

If you have never had a wiener schnitzel that is quite unfortunate. It is an Austrian / German dish consisting of a tender cut of pork or veal pounded thin, dredged in bread crumbs, and sauteed until golden brown and delicious in a generous amount of clarified butter. I felt their schnitzels were done pretty well. They were crispy, golden, and tender on the inside.

The jager schnitzel pairs this butter-fried goodness with a creamy mushroom gravy for a real rustic feel, then serves it with a generous portion of spatzle noodles. The spatzle was a little overcooked for my taste, but they were homemade noodles which I definitely appreciate. I thought the jager schnitzel was pretty good, but my wife did not like it at all. Part of the problem with her is that my father-in-law makes the best wiener schnitzel on the planet and she grew up eating that her whole life so her expectations are impossibly high. The other thing is they have bacon in their gravy which she was quite angry about. It wasn’t the best gravy I’ve ever had, but I thought it was pretty good.

The frankfurters are an imported German-style sausage that I’m 90% sure are the same ones you can buy for yourself and take home from Oma’s Pantry. They feature a little tougher casing than we Americans are accustomed to (thanks to Oscar Mayer) but they have a great flavor. My Swiss friend was not impressed with the rotisserie chicken and fries he ordered. He said it was OK, but felt it was under-seasoned and dry.

Overall, I thought the food was good but overpriced. In fact, Rene remarked in his thick German accent, “these German’s are still mad about losing World War II so they steal all your money in revenge.” He says the same meal in Germany is a third of the price. My $90 bill was a bit of a punch to the gut, and the food wasn’t worth the price, or the drive. If it were in the middle of town I would go back several times and try different offerings, but I probably won’t make the half hour drive again when I can make a schnitzel at home that is better. Although you can’t find decent veal in Oklahoma City’s pathetic excuses for grocery stores. My guess is the college frat boys that followed us in were there for sausage and beer. If that is your hankering, I don’t know of another place in town.