It may be a bazillion degrees outside, but that doesn’t stop many of us from enjoying a nice, steaming bowl of our favorite soup — Pho. Now, if you’re new to Pho or if you haven’t ever heard of Pho, you should probably check out our previous review of Pho Lien Hoa which will give you a little primer on the subject and convince you why you need to care about this Vietnamese specialty that we’re so abundantly blessed with here in Oklahoma City.

But if you’re already a Pho devotee like us, then perhaps it’s time to shake things up a bit. After all, that 100th bowl of the P11 at Pho Lien Hoa, while tasty, can start to loose it’s luster. So, let’s widen our Pho landscape. We have the answers for you. Here are a couple of Pho alternatives to try at Pho Cuong.

#39, aka “Banh Tam Tom Thit Nuong” is what I order most every time I go here. It consists of thick vermicelli noodles over a bed of romaine, pan-fried shallots, cilantro, bean sprouts, peanuts and cucumbers topped with grilled shrimp and pork. It comes with coconut syrup and diluted fish sauce on the side. Mix all that together and you get something delicious and healthy for just $6.25. If you want to spice things up a bit, try adding a few squirts of Sriracha (a.k.a. rooster) sauce.

Now the #39 is not so much a soup, so it can really give you some nice variety in your Pho shop visits. However, if you still want a soup but crave something out of the ordinary, Pho Cuong offers the #28 “Bun Bo Hue” ($6.50). Tim tried this once and had this to say about it:

“My Vietnamese friends tend to get the Bun Bo Hue and one told me this was the thing to get at Pho Cuong. I have to say, it is definitely a departure from the standard Pho. It is very spicy and the broth is delicious. However, there are some items floating in this soup that I didn’t recognize, but no matter. Just eat them up and enjoy!”

Although Pho Cuong offers some nice Pho alternatives like #39 and #28, they also have standard Pho, of course. They even nicely break up their Pho menu into sections based on how “experienced”  you are with Pho dining. Section one, “for the beginners,” has items #1-#4 which include the steak/brisket Pho (#2) that would be comparable to Pho Hoa’s P11. The menu then progresses to sections titled “A little bit of fat?” and “The Adventurer’s Choice” where you’ll find all of your tripes and tendons and what nots. I think this menu layout is pretty clever and really handy for people who are just getting started, so beginners have nothing to fear at Pho Cuong.

I have tried some of these standard Pho options here and will say that they are pretty much on par with Pho Lien Hoa. Honestly, I think Pho Cuong’s cuts of meat might be of better quality. However, the portions seemed a bit smaller so I guess it’s kind of a wash. While I believe Pho Lien Hoa will likely always retain its top status in the OKC Pho world, and so we are obliged to compare most other Pho Houses to them.

Pho Cuong is small, cozy, and full of life on Sunday afternoons. I’ve never had to wait to get seats even at 12pm on weekends unlike Pho Lien Hoa which can be a madhouse sometimes. It is important to note that Pho Cuong accepts credit cards, which gives it a pretty major advantage over Pho Lien Hoa, which is still cash and check only.

Like most Vietnamese restaurants, Pho Cuong also sells a nice assortment of fresh fruit smoothies ($3.25). If you’re feeling a bit daring, go and try the avocado or durian/jackfruit smoothies.

Overall, Pho Cuong is another great Pho House in the Asian District of Oklahoma City. Their quality Pho and their tasty alternatives to the standard are both great reasons to check them out. If you’ve tried Pho Cuong, let us know what you think in the comments.

Like the neighborhood in which it resides, Picasso Cafe in the Paseo district is both quirky and intriguing. Judging by the polished, gleaming presence on its website where it bills itself as “Oklahoma City’s premier dining establishment,” Picasso Cafe appears to be shooting for a higher-end dining experience, yet on our visit we found Picasso to still be a little rough around the edges.

Picasso Cafe sits in the space previously occupied by Galileo’s, along the colorful, curved segment of Paseo Drive spanning from NW 30th to Walker. Inside, the new ownership has taken some steps to polish up the interior, but one still feels the rough-hewn, shabby-chic influence characteristic of the previous tenant in this space. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it was a little unexpected. Based on what I had seen on their website, I expected Picasso to be a little more polished in its interior, more along the lines of Paseo Grill down the street.

The food we sampled at Picasso was hit or miss. There were three of us dining on our visit, so we got to try a good variety of items. While some things were actually very, very good, other dishes were unimpressive.

Let’s start with the very, very good. According to our server, every morning the Picasso team comes in and makes up a big fresh batch of dough that I consider to be quite magical. They then use this dough in a variety of their menu offerings including the handmade pretzel appetizer ($3), the crust of their handmade pizzas ($10-12), and a new dessert item which was sort of like a tubular beignet ($5). This dessert item wasn’t yet on the menu and I don’t think it had an official name yet.

Everything made out of this dough is truly very good. The pretzel had a wonderful, crispy exterior and a soft, chewy interior. Accompanied by some spicy mustard and a blue cheese sauce for dipping, this simple appetizer pretty much makes the whole trip to Picasso worth it.

Likewise, the pizza crust, also made from the magic dough, was perfection. Not too thick, not too thin. The pizzas are a good size making a great value as you could easily split one between a couple of people. Sarah chose the barbeque chicken pizza ($12), and she claimed “it rocked.” Her full description follows:

“Good crust, tangy sauce, hand-pulled chicken (could have used a few more chunks of this), red onion slices and thinly sliced, fresh jalapeno to give it just the right kick. I was full after three of the eight pieces, so it was a good thing Tim and Sam were there to clean the plate.”

Sarah also had a salad with her meal. The Caesar is the only salad they offer in two sizes ($4/$6), so it was the natural choice for a side. But as she describes it, “this was one of the most bland, underwhelming Caesars I think I’ve ever had. The lettuce looked like the bagged, supermarket variety and I couldn’t tell if there was dressing or not.” I tried some of Sarah’s salad and have to agree on this assessment.

The dishes Sam and I tried also underwhelmed. Sam chose the Chorizo Sausage and Mushroom Risotto ($10) and here’s what he had to say:

“When the server placed the big round bowl in front of me, I looked inside expecting a nice helping of food and a nice presentation. What I found instead was a disappointing portion of risotto topped with chunks of chorizo with yellow sausage grease pooling around the edges of the bowl.

Now, I have a big appetite, but still, after eating all of my food, I had to eat half of Sarah’s pizza in order to feel satisfied. Presentation also could have been improved. If the dish had some chopped green onions to add some color and cut a bit of the oiliness of the greasy chorizo I think that would’ve been a nice touch.”

As for me, I ordered the hamburger. I know it sounds so plain, but the server told me it was his favorite sandwich on the menu. Plus, it sounded so good with bleu cheese, carmelized onion and aioli. The toppings were very good, and I thought it was a good value at $8 including a side of fries or vegetables. But the problem was the meat, which came out cooked beyond well-done, dry, tough, and with a very charred exterior. I may have caught them on an off day so I would try this one again because everything else about the burger was good.

So, our experience at Picasso was hit or miss. There are some things we really like and those things by themselves are enough to warrant a trip out here. Plus, there are sure to be lots of good things on the menu that we didn’t try. Still, the fact that about half of our choices fell short makes it less likely I’ll be making Picasso a regular stop.

Please let us know what you think about Picasso in the comments.

Alright, so I’m pretty much known by those around me as cheap. I tend to think of it more as “financially responsible” but … whatever. The point is, I always appreciate a good value when I find one.

Used to be that the $5 lunch was the marker to shoot for, but nowadays it seems that outside the “fastest” of fast food, that’s too lofty a goal. Still, anytime I can get close to $5 for a quality, local, filling meal, I feel pretty good about it. Hence, Sala Thai has won my heart with their lunch offering.

It’s not an all-you-can-eat buffet, but it’s still a buffet of sorts. At Sala Thai, the lunch special gives you the opportunity to choose three entrees from about eight available options, plus steamed or fried rice and soup, all for $5.95. When I first visited, it was $5.25, then it went up to about $5.50 and now it’s $5.95. Still, I think it’s a good value even at it’s current price. It’s not an enormous amount of food, but honestly, I like the portion size. I’d rather pay less and get the amount of food I really need than pay more for an all-you-can-eat option that makes me want to overeat in order to get my money’s worth.

Though you’ll be seated at a table when you arrive, to partake of the lunch special, you head up to the front and choose your items cafeteria style as the Sala Thai staff assembles them onto your plate for you.

The entree choices are always interesting and well-prepared. There are usually a few vegetarian options and a few with meat. There are some curries (like the chicken green curry with bamboo shoots and eggplant), some stir fries, and often pad thai is a choice as well. However, the pad thai on the buffet is a meatless variety and not nearly as good as Sala Thai’s chicken pad thai ordered off the menu. Of course, the menu version is $8.25, but is a very generous portion and very good.

Speaking of the menu, you can order off the menu instead of getting the lunch special if you prefer, though you’ll likely be spending more. And, of course, you can order of the menu at dinner as well. Most menu dishes range from $8-12. This is a great place for vegetarian and even vegan dining as there are lots of options to suit. It’s also a great place for family style dining to get a bunch of different dishes and share. Everything I’ve ever tried is extremely fresh and tasty. I’d love to here about the dishes you’ve tried in the comments.

The decor of Sala Thai is nothing exceptional but it’s comfortable and clean. What appears to have been an old Arby’s or other fast food restaurant near to the Asian district has been neatly transformed. Sala Thai has occupied the building long enough to truly call it home.

My only complaint is that there’s not a lunch special version of the regular pad thai with meat from the menu. But hey, I told you I was cheap, right?

What are your thoughts about Sala Thai? Let us know in the comments below.

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.

For some people, and especially those new to the Oklahoma City area, I’m sure City Bites is a little mundane. It’s a pretty large local chain with over 15 Oklahoma City locations. It’s lived past its days of being exciting and new and is now just a common part of the Oklahoma City life.

But I grew up just a couple of blocks from the original City Bites location and I was there when it first opened in 1986. For about four years, this tiny little shop in a strip mall on NW 23rd Street just east of Council Road was the only City Bites location, and man was it something. It overwhelmed you with zany interiors including mismatched paint and clever props like road signs that said “Keep Right” but had an arrow pointing left. And it satisfied you with a style of sandwich that was completely unique.

City Bites was quite possibly my first introduction into the value of a quality, local, neighborhood restaurant. At age eleven, I was pretty struck by the hard work of the owners who, legend has it, painted in mismatched colors because they were stretching their dollars by using whatever paint they could find laying around. And I was pretty smitten with the BBQ beef sandwich (grilled sirloin steak with grilled onions, green peppers, BBQ sauce and provolone) which they still serve today. I hadn’t had anything like that before.

Through my high school days at Putnam City West just down the road, City Bites was a staple of our “open campus” life. I also had several friends who worked there. It was just all an all around great place.

So, of course, City Bites has a lot of great memories for me, but the question now is, how has their growth impacted what they offer? Their 17 locations are, all but one, still in the Oklahoma City area, so they are very much still a “local” restaurant, though they are a chain and opening up to franchising. So, do they still offer something unique to our city?

I think they do. I still visit City Bites semi-regularly. The quality of their food remains high, in my opinion. Their pricing has gone up, naturally, and now you don’t get as much value as you used to in the early days, but they still serve a great, unique sandwich in their signature zany style.

I still love signature sandwiches like the Philly Cheesesteak with grilled sirloin, grilled onions and green peppers, crushed cherry peppers, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo. I know it’s not not an “authentic” version, but I don’t mind so much when it is so good. Another, healthier option is the California Club with fresh alfalfa sprouts, bacon, turkey, provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo and sliced avocado. They’ve kept items like these consistently good from the beginning, while adding and inventing new sandwiches and new items like loaded salads and potatoes over the years.

And of course, every sandwich comes on that amazing bread. I remember first trying the City Bites bread and realizing I’d never had anything like it. Fresh baked, sub-shaped, but flatter and easier to get your mouth around. Their bread just seems perfectly engineered to hold a ton of sandwich contents. They’ve added some neat bread options over the years, like sun-dried tomato (my favorite), and jalepeno … etc. But all of them relate to the classic City Bites style. The bread alone is worth the visit.

They’ve also got giant cookies and brownies you can’t find anywhere else. And, they’ve recently equipped all of their restaurants with reliable, free wifi. This last point has driven me back to City Bites more than anything as I know I can get good food, some good iced tea, and free wifi whenever I have the need for a working lunch or dinner.

Though my personal feelings for City Bites are influenced heavily by my long history with them, I still feel they continue deliver a quality, unique Oklahoma City dining experience almost 25 years later. I’m sure many of you have tried City Bites at one time or another. Tell us what you think 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.

In the search for the best Chinese food in town, I think I’ve narrowed my choice down to three restaurants: Chow’s, Golden Phoenix and the newly reopened and relocated Fung’s Kitchen.

In what was last Crawdaddy’s and before that Pizza Hut, Fung’s Kitchen has done a fine job of renovating the interior, but they still need to do something about the out-of-place pier decking in front. Perhaps they can expand to have some outdoor dining when the weather is nicer.

As one of our readers mentioned in our comments section on another post, you can tell a good Chinese restaurant by the quality of its chopsticks.  I’m glad to report that Fung’s Kitchen has nice chopsticks and even goes so far as to include a ceramic stand for the spoon and chopsticks.

Before I go any further in this review, I must mention that the best way to truly enjoy restaurants like this is by coming with your entire family or a large group of friends. I made the mistake of ordering just the Bitter Melon Spare Ribs Hot Pot ($9.95) for dinner the other day. It was served with a bowl of rice and was good up until I was halfway done when the bitterness really started to shine through. If this were shared along with 4-6 other dishes I’m sure I wouldn’t have had the same flavors stagnating in my mouth. The dish is made of slow-cooked pork spare ribs in a black bean sauce with ginger and an herb garnish and the pork was quite tasty. I also liked how the ginger helped break up some of the bitterness towards the end.

Another time I went to Fung’s I was with just one friend. We ordered the Crab Meat and Asparagus Soup ($7.95) to start and had the Roast Duck and Roast Chicken 2 Choice BBQ Combo ($9.95) and Soft Shell Crab in Salt and Hot Pepper ($12.95). I’m not sure if the chef had a cold that day or something, but all the food seemed really bland. What made things worse is that the salt and pepper shakers have such miniscule holes that I had to literally use my entire body to get a few crystals of salt and specks of pepper out of them. Being a somewhat sodium-conscious person, I like how the food wasn’t overly salted and that I can flavor my food to taste. However, for my own sanity, I hope my next visit doesn’t require me to look like I’m having convulsions to add salt and pepper to my food.

Even with the two of us, I felt that we didn’t have the variety of dishes I typically enjoy at family-style places like Fung’s. The soup was large enough to feed at least four people. The asparagus in it isn’t your typical grocery store variety. This is the more yellowish variety and is more bitter in flavor. I’m hoping to try the West Lake Beef and Egg Swirl Soup ($6.95) the next time I visit.

The BBQ combo comes out as a plate of just meat. No sauces or garnishes, just straight meat. While on the topic of BBQ meats, this place is similar to Golden Phoenix where they have a glass display showing off the hanging cuts of pig, duck and chicken. Some might be turned off by it, but it makes me salivate every time I pass by the display.

I was really looking forward to the soft shell crab, but was a bit disappointed because it wasn’t what I was expecting it to be. I was hoping for the dish to be a like a saucy-spicy garlic mixture with salted and fried crabs like I’ve had before in San Francisco and L.A. Instead, it was just salted and fried soft shell crab with slivers of hot chili peppers. Despite my failed expectations, this was by far the most flavorful of the dishes I had that day.

Now, the biggest treat is that Fung’s also offers Dim Sum on the weekends. To get in the mood for dim sum, I like to play this song on my way to eating it. It’s really all about the dim sum carts if you’re going to eat dim sum. Not only do those carts help keep the food warm, but they also keep the food moist. At Grand House, servers bring the plates out directly from the kitchen, and if they’re walking around the whole place with no interested diners, the food gets old and stale — not very appetizing. Because of this, I never even bothered eating dim sum in OKC because it tended to be cold, dry and way too salty. Now that Fung’s Kitchen is offering a dim sum alternative with carts, I’m pretty sure I’ll be eating it more often.

If you’re not into the whole dim sum thing and you decide to crave some food here, don’t worry, you can order off the regular menu as well.

Well, that’s my Fung’s experience. In spite of a few disappointments here and there, I still consider it one of my favorites for authentic Chinese in OKC. I look forward to returning with a larger group to experience a larger sharing of different tastes. Have you been to Fung’s? How was your experience? Tell us what you’ve tried and what you thought about it in the comment 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!

Lately, I’ve been tired of cooking for myself and have had an insatiable desire for Asian food.  I have a string of Asian restaurant reviews coming soon and hope I don’t have a heart-attack from all the MSG I feel like I’m consuming (just so you know, it makes food much more delicious despite what critics of the flavor enhancer say).  Anyway, several people have dropped the name Lido around me so it sparked my curiosity enough to give it a try.  Legend says that Lido was the original Vietnamese restaurant to open up in Oklahoma City with success.  The influx of new immigrants, however, has allowed newer and better restaurants to open up around Oklahoma City. In my experience, Lido is an ok option, but there are many other places that offer better Chinese/Vietnamese food, often for less money.

If you look at the sign outside of Lido, it says “Vietnamese, Chinese and French Cuisine,” but when you look at the four items found in the “French Specialties” section on their 164 item menu, you’ll see Diced Filet Mignon, Mushroom Pork Chop, Mushroom Garlic Shrimp . . . and then you’ll notice Korean BBQ Beef ribs.  The last time I checked, Seoul is about 5,500 miles from Paris.  I don’t know about you, but I was scratching my head on that one.  I was hoping that the food wasn’t going to be plagued with the same sense of culinary confusion.

Besides the frog leg dishes, all the menu items were typical of most Chinese/Vietnamese restaurants. Nothing really stuck out.  However, conveniently located under the tabletob glass are various specials that actually caught my attention.  For $12.95, I had the Sizzling Fish Special.  You can choose from various types of fish, so I went with salmon in the mushroom garlic sauce (mushroom black bean and sweet & sour sauce are also available).  It also comes with your choice of steamed or fried rice and soup (egg drop or hot & sour).

The hot & sour soup I had was disappointing.  I’ve had Chinese delivery soup with much better flavor.  But I held out hope that the sizzling fish would surely change the course of this meal.  It came out similar to how Mexican fajita dishes are presented, nice and sizzling hot on a metal skillet. The sight of it definitely whetted my appetite.  It had a nice array of vegetables (baby corn, cilantro, peas, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, celery, bell peppers and spinach) with deep-fried, crusted fish covered in sauce.  Unfortunately, it looked a little better than it tasted, but it was alright. At least it satisfied my big appetite.

I’d heard that the vermicelli noodle dishes are the best thing to get at Lido, so I decided to visit one more time.  I ordered the charbroiled shrimp bowl ($8.95 dinner, $7.55 lunch).  The dish includes your choice of meat or shrimp, with cucumbers, carrots, and peanuts on a bed of thin vermicelli noodles, plus bean sprouts and shredded lettuce.  This includes a small bowl of Nuoc Mam (watered-down fish sauce) that you pour in the bowl to add flavor, and to help loosen up the noodles.  This dish was ok, but the shrimp was overcooked and the flavors didn’t really pop out to me.  It’s worth adding a few squirts of Sriracha sauce (Vietnamese chili sauce) to give it a little kick if you like a bit of spice. I’m not saying it was bad, but I just think many places, including Pho Cuong (3016 N. Classen Blvd. – review to come) up the street, offer better, and cheaper, variations of this dish with more flavor.

Since I haven’t even come close to making a dent in the massive selection of dishes, I know I can’t give a fully comprehensive review of Lido, but based on the few things I have tried and the less-than-satisfied comments from a few friends of mine, I know there are several other restaurants that do a much better job with Chinese/Vietnamese food.

That’s my take. What’s yours? If you’ve had a better (or worse) experience at Lido we’d like to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

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.

Isn’t it weird how sometimes you overlook places to visit that are the closest to you?  Having lived in the Deep Deuce for a few years, I’ve only visited the Deep Deuce Bar and Grill just twice, which seems odd. Not only that, but Sage has been open for a few months now and I haven’t been able to push myself to eat there until just recently.   I don’t know if it’s the fact that dining in Bricktown typically costs an arm and a leg or if the view of the wall full of alcohol through the windows made Sage seem more like a bar than a restaurant, but something has kept me away … until now.

The fact that Sage is also a ”market” did peek my interest since OKC has a dearth of healthy, organic markets (Whole Foods are you reading this?!).  I put market in quotes because the market section at Sage probably isn’t much bigger than my kitchen.  In spite of its size, they do offer a selection of goods that can’t be found at your normal supermarket or Wal-Mart.  They feature locally grown organic foods, a nice selection of cheeses, gourmet dressings, organic coffee, oils, and even beer.  Speaking with the sous chef, I found out that the owner has plans to expand the market in the future once the other tennant in the building ends their lease, but that’s still a few years in the works (unfortunately).

So, how’s the food?  Well, Greg visited on a separate occasion and had this to say:

“I had the 3-cheese mac and cheese ($9 for lunch and $11 for dinner) and thought it was wonderful. The gorgonzola gave the whole dish a great tang that really differentiated it from “normal” mac and cheese. The dish was very heavy, though, so I could hardly imagine it as an entree. I really thought it worked best when shared. It might be too rich for me to eat all alone.

I also tried the roasted seasonal vegetables ($7.50), which were pretty good. I was less impressed by the eggplant, but the green tomatoes were a revelation. Sweet and tart, warm and crisp. I would get this dish again in a heartbeat. Also great was that it came with a small side of hummus, which was thicker and tastier than some I’ve found locally.

Wrapping up my appetizer meal were the Greek turkey meatballs with tzatziki sauce ($7.50). They were dense, but flavorful, and the sauce really added a nice, fresh burst. The best part was, by sharing with friends, my bill was only $9 — pretty good for a fancy lunch.

Looking around, I saw some giant sandwiches that I am eager to go back and try. The roast beef was piled high and the portobello sandwich was really calling to me as well. Almost any sandwich topping is also available on a salad and the Ahi tuna salad looked pretty appetizing, but I’ll have to go back for a taste before I can pass judgment.”

I have to agree with Greg about the mac and cheese dishes, they’re pretty good.  I had the Grilled Shrimp Pesto version ($10.50 for lunch and $13 for dinner) and was definitely satisfied with the taste.  The accompanying waldorf salad (celery, apples, walnuts, grapes in a light mayo sauce) matched well with the mac and cheese and kind of helped to break up the heavy creamy flavor. I just wish it came with a bit more salad.  If you’ve ever read the menu and wondered why their mac and cheese is called “The Original” it’s apparently because (they believe) Sage is one of the original and only restaurants in OKC to offer gourmet mac and cheese.  I’m interested to see if there are any other readers or restaurants out there who might debunk this claim.

Talking about original offerings, Sage also has a salt bar where you choose from three of their eleven premium salts from around the world for $2.  I honestly don’t know what these different salts will do to change the flavor of my food, but it’s definitely something I’d like to try out another time.

On a subsequent visit during happy hour (everyday from 2-6pm) I was happy to find the $3.50 margaritas and mojitos.  I think everyone needs to try out the mojitos because they come in an awesome mason jar!  Honestly, it’s a nice touch.  I also made a meal of the $3.50 appetizer selections.  The grilled chili lime chicken wings and greek turkey meatballs are definitely enough to share with several people.  If you want to enjoy this happy hour deal, make sure you place all your food orders before the cutoff because the computer will automatically adjust prices at 6pm sharp.

Now, for the bad news. If you’re looking to visit Sage with a large group, be advised — I had a birthday party with a group of 13 and I must say the service was less than stellar.  I reserved our spot a good week ahead of time so I feel the staff had plenty of time to prepare for our party.  To start, those ordering mac and cheese dishes were told that they were out of the accompanying waldorf salad (disappointing news), but then one of my friends got some other person’s dinner and it came with the waldorf salad (aggravating news). In addition, I think our server took everyone’s orders about 3 or 4 times and blamed the ticketing system that was acting funny (this is the second visit on which I’ve encountered issues with the computer system). As a result, we all sat around waiting much longer than we really wanted.

I know big groups are always a challenge, but at a higher-end establishment like Sage, you expect them to be a bit more prepared, especially with advanced notice. My friends were pretty disappointed with the service, but I still think the quality of the food might bring some of them back again.

Overall, Sage offers unique dining, a convenient gourmet market and mini-deli, a pretty nice bar and some pretty good desserts choices. Aside from sub-par service with a large group, I can’t offer much complaint.  I will continue to anticipate the expansion of their market or just hope for a Trader Joes or a Whole Foods to open up.  If you’ve had a good (or bad) experience at Sage, we would like to know your thoughts.  Please leave us a comment below.

PLEASE NOTE: Mexicasa is no longer in business.

Expectations can be a horrible thing. When I go into a movie, I try and convince myself that it’s going to suck before it even starts. Why? Because when it’s just so-so, I’m not disappointed. And if it turns out to be good, well, I leave feeling like it was a special treat.

Unfortunately for Mexicasa, the opposite can also work. People like us who fondly remember Tom and Jerry’s (see our past review of T&J’s) might visit looking for a fine-dining twist on Mexican food, the way Iron Starr has worked on barbecue. After all, Tom and Jerry still have their name and brand firmly on this new place (just check out the website). But high expectations are bound to be crushed and Mexicasa ends up disappointing.

There were a couple of highlights, which ought to be mentioned before the mediocrity begins. They do a pretty good chips and salsa at Mexicasa. That may not sound like much, but compared to some other spots around town, it’s a nice surprise. The chips were freshly fried, crisp and light, but hearty enough to stand up to the salsa (if you want something with more kick, ask for the hotter salsa, which is tasty, fiery and offers a more interesting flavor).

Also surprising, a pretty nice queso, free of charge. This wasn’t the “cheese jelly” you often get — it was real melted cheese, with a mild flavor. Not as good as queso you pay for, but the best of the freebies, by far. In fact, if free queso is the primary requirement for your Mexican dining experience, you should run, not walk, to Mexicasa.

Another good thing mentioned by Tim and Sam was the ranchero beans, which can be substituted for the refried variety. According to them, they were above average and offered a great alternative to the normal sides.

But sadly, the rest of the meal was just … average. My shrimp fajitas ($13.99) were fine. The shrimp was cooked and came in a good portion. But I was hoping for a bit more, honestly. A little seasoning — just a touch — could have done wonders for the dish. Again, this is the problem with high expectations. Anywhere else I would have said, “Mmmm, shrimp fajitas.” At Mexicasa, I kept feeling like a little innovation would have put them over the top.

And it’s something that is apparent all over the menu. From the standard enchiladas, tamales and tacos, I kept wondering where the vision was. Certainly, if you’re opening a new Mexican restaurant in a region where Mexican restaurants are in abundance, you’re going to have a point of view or an opinion expressed through the food. Other than a couple of pork stew dishes (like the Carnitas de Puerco for $12.99), the “street tacos” ($11.99 dinner, $7.99 lunch) which Sarah had and found pretty tasty, and the aforementioned chip set-up, I didn’t see anything to distinguish Mexicasa from Chelinos or Nino’s or any of the other ok-but-not-great Okla-Mex restaurants out there.

Andrew’s chimichanga ($9.99 dinner, $7.99 lunch) was pretty soggy. Sam’s enchiladas ($8.99 dinner, $7.99 lunch) were decent (he recommends the shredded chicken over the shredded beef). Tim’s tamales ($10.99 dinner, $7.99 lunch) were pretty dry and lifeless. And to top it off, we had pretty poor service. We don’t give too much weight to service since it can vary greatly day to day, but it’s worth a mention this time as it was noticeably off.

If we’d had the same experience anyplace else, we’d have said, “Meh. It was fine, but nothing to write about.” The difference here, and the reason we’re writing, is that we hoped for so much more from Mexicasa. It has the pedigree to be better and we wish it were.

As it is, if you’re close by and looking for some decent Mexican food, Mexicasa is good. If you’re thinking about making a trek across town for a special visit, you would probably be better off visiting your own local good-but-not-great Mexican restaurant and saving the gas.

Of course, we always want to know what you think, whether you agree or disagree. So, please let us know in the comments.

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.

Let’s start off by clarifying that we — myself, Sarah and Tim — went to Sauced in February (yes, it’s taken us that long to publish this review). We know that February isn’t the greatest month for sitting out in the ample patio, drinking a beer and eating a slice. So, if that’s what the charm of Sauced is really about (and we suspect it is), we clearly missed out.

But at the same time, a restaurant can’t be completely about atmosphere and experience. They do, after all, serve food as well, and the the food just didn’t strike us as all that memorable.

Now, it’s not the worst thing in the world for food to be “OK.” The worst thing is when it out-and-out sucks and it’s expensive. The food at Sauced does not out-and-out suck and is maybe only a little expensive, so it doesn’t have everything going against it — it just doesn’t have that much going for it.

Sauced is fine. It’s OK. It’s good. The food is just not memorable. And that’s unfortunate for a place that has so much going for it in the “experience” department.

The pizza ($16.50 for cheese plus $1.50 per topping) — we split a half-pepperoni and sausage and half-garlic, mushrooms and brocolli pie — was on the dry side. It’s a big pie with a very thin crust, but that crust was quite bland and there was very little sauce on it (ironic, considering the name of the restaurant). We did appreciate the availability of some unique toppings, like broccoli and carrots, but overall, it just fell short. That, plus the hefty price tag, make this a poor pizza value in our opinion.

You might see the large diameter of the pizza as improving the value, but the super-thin crust means that, even at a large size, it’s not very filling. The three of us easily finished every last bite of our large (which cost $21) and could have had more. Put it all together and it’s average pizza at a pretty substantial price.

We also tried the hummus and chips appetizer ($3.10). It wasn’t anything to write home about, either. These were ballpark-style tortilla chips and some pretty bland hummus with a little seasoning tossed on. Frankly, I didn’t taste anything.

The one thing I did have that was great was the coffee and I’d gladly get another cup of that. Again, this adds to the appeal as a hang-out or coffee shop as opposed to a dining establishment.

If I lived in or near the Paseo, I would go to Sauced because it’s a neighborhood kind of place. I like the funky art on the walls. I like that it has a great beer list and a place to sit outside. But I don’t live right there and I don’t know that Sauced has enough to pull me back for another taste. A restaurant needs to make that first impression count and while I wouldn’t necessarily ward anyone away from Sauced, I am not going to push people in that direction.

I have a feeling we’ll get some pretty spirited comments on this one. Please, let us know what you think in the comments, whether you agree or disagree with our review.

Over the last several years, Oklahoma City has become home to a number of fine dining establishments, each with their own charms. High-end sushi? We’ve got it. Gourmet Italian? We’ve got it.

But if you want to know where Oklahoma City has really flourished, look no further than the prime steakhouses. We have a bounty of wonderful restaurants that serve top-of-the-line steaks at top-of-the-line prices. And Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse is no exception.

Located in Bricktown, Mickey Mantle’s (not to be confused with The Mantel, just down the street) has been serving great steaks for nearly a decade. It’s a classy establishment, featuring a well-worn bar that is at once cozy and lush and a dining room where white tableclothes and candles wrap everything up in sophisticated elegance.

But let me tell you, if you strip all of that away, what you’ve got is still a great restaurant. An expensive restaurant, but great nonetheless. They could seat all of their guests cafeteria-style and it wouldn’t matter. The food is that good.

I tried a couple of appetizers. The Baked Herb Boursin Cheese ($13) was good, especially with whole roasted garlic cloves on top. The combination of flavors was excellent, though I was a bit let down by the toast points that came with it. Had they been just a little thicker or a little less crisp, the dish would have been much better.

By far my favorite appetizer, and the one I have been raving about to my friends, was the Maryland Style Crab Cake. At $22, it is expensive enough to be an entree, but it’s also big enough to be an entree. A lot of crab cakes, especially around here, are cut at least 50-50 with bread crumbs or some other filler. I swear to you, I think the crab cake at Mickey Mantle’s had to be at least 95% crab. It towered above the plate, seated on a beurre blanc with a piece of lump crab at the top. Flavorful, decadent, delicious — I was blown away by this thing.

For a lighter start to a meal, I also recommend the Insalata Caprese ($9). There was no big twist to this classic salad — thick-cut tomato slices and fresh mozzarella covered in basil, olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette — it was just executed perfectly. The mozzarella was tender and flavorful, the tomatoes (out of season, I might add) were full of flavor and it all came together wonderfully.

Now, I recently saw a complaint about Boulevard Steakhouse from a diner who said the prices were too high, especially when sides must be ordered a la carte. I, as a man on a budget, certainly sympathize with the sentiment, but that’s how it’s done at top-end steakhouses all over the country. Chili’s and Applebees will give you a steak and potatoes and a side of mealy vegetables, but that food just doesn’t compare. If you don’t feel like the flavor of the food and the experience of dining at Mickey Mantle’s or Red Prime matches the price you must pay, then I wouldn’t spend the money to eat there.

While I can’t afford it every week or even every month, I think the food and the atmosphere is worth the cost every once in a while. Mickey Mantle’s serves most of their steaks this way, with side dishes available at an added cost. One exception was the Mesquite-smoked filet ($34), which came with a sweet potato mash and crispy fried onion strings.

If I’m being honest, the onions were kind of bothersome and got in the way. I’d have them for an appetizer, maybe, but when the steak comes, I want the steak. And believe me, I wanted this steak. They cold smoked it for 6 hours, but the end product had no bitterness, just a sweet, woody flavor that played off the quality beef. It was tender, but cohesive. And paired with the sweet potato mash? Excellent.

They also have plenty of seafood options (crab, tuna, lobster, etc.) and about every cut of steak imaginable. The cheapest on the menu is the sirloin at $22, while the most expensive is a big-old porterhouse at $50. They also serve veal and rack of lamb, but I didn’t try those so I can’t tell you how they rate.

If you are a vegetarian, it’s not that Mickey Mantle’s doesn’t want your business, it’s just not their top priority. About the best you can do is get fettucine alfredo, sans chicken or shrimp.

But the sides are great for vegetarians and anybody else who likes food. Aside from the basics — au gratin potatoes, rice pilaf, fresh asparagus — there are treats like mac and cheese, sauteed mushrooms and (my favorite) the mushroom risotto. There’s also a lobster risotto, but I only tried the mushroom variety. It was great.

For a dessert, I tried the homemade chocolate cake, which was kind of a German chocolate variety. It was OK, but I kind of expected more after everything else I’d had. Maybe the problem was that I was so stuffed with food I had to take the cake home and eat it later. Still, I’d probably opt for the chocolate mousse or the creme brulee next time.

If price is no barrier, then I suggest giving Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse a shot. Despite a few very minor quibbles, I think everything I ate there was delicious and well-prepared. It may only be for special occasions for most of us, but it will certainly help make your occasion more special.

Do you remember that band you used to like? They were totally cool until everybody else found out about them and then, suddenly, they were much less cool. And then their song was on an iTunes commercial and then the radio started playing them (and radio almost never plays the good stuff) and you started to wonder if, since everybody else liked them now, maybe they weren’t as good as you thought.

Welcome to Falcone’s. People raved for the last few years about the New York style pizza, the authentic sandwiches with meats you’ve only heard about on The Sopranos and the owner who seems like he arrived in Oklahoma via the witness protection program. But once word got around, suddenly people seemed less interested.

Let me tell you — that’s bunk. Falcone’s may have expanded from just one tiny storefront to three locations, but the pizza is just as good as ever. Better yet, there’s probably tons of stuff you never took the time to try.

The problem with pizza, especially if you’re eating alone or have a short time frame, is that you can’t wait for an entire pizza to show up, nor can you (or maybe you can, but you shouldn’t) eat one all by your lonesome. In that respect, Falcone’s has you covered. Their mammoth by-the-slice business is perfect.

Now, I like a “supreme” pizza from most places, but don’t recommend it at Falcone’s. What you want, even if you don’t know it yet, is a slice of cheese pizza. It’s all of $2.50 for a big slice. If you do want a topping, you’ll pay an extra 50 cents.

If, for some reason, pizza is not your thing, I suggest a sandwich. Some like the calzones ($5.50 for cheese, $6.50 with pepperoni or sausage) but, in my opinion, they aren’t as tasty as the pizza. The sandwiches, on the other hand, will give you something you’re not likely to find elsewhere — variety.

Try the capicola ham ($7.99), sweet or spicy, with fresh mozarella, and enjoy. Fresh mozarella really is something to experience and it will put you off the stuff they sell at the grocery store for good. Cold sandwiches run between $7 and $8, but they’re worth it. Hot sandwiches are all $8 and include chicken parmesan, meatball, sausage and pepper and a few other specialties. I prefer the cold sandwiches myself.

While you’re at it, do yourself a favor and try a rice ball ($2.50). It’s a big ball of rice mixed with cheese and seasonings, then fried and covered in marinara. I love them and it’s a struggle not to get one every time I go in.

There are some problems with Falcone’s, which you probably know if you’ve been. It’s chaotic, for one. I think the Bricktown location has the easiest set-up while my visits to the Edmond store are mostly exercises in patience. Once you’re in line, you’re probably good, but the servers can get a little short with customers. They expect you to know what you want, which can be daunting for pensive orderers.

And if you’re thinking of ordering a pizza to go, I’d defer to the wisdom of my fellow reviewers, who say the pizza deteriorates quickly. It’s like some sort of Indiana Jones plot — the pizza is perfect, unless you leave the store. On the other hand, their deli offers a variety of Italian meats, cheeses, and even some prepared foods by the pound. That may be a better option if you’re looking to take something home.

So I say choose wisely, grab a chair, and eat some of the finest New York style pizza you’re going to find in Oklahoma City. If you’ve experienced Falcone’s, let us know what you think in the comments.

I love those moments in life that are totally hyped up and then actually live up to the expectations.  That doesn’t happen often.  Sure, I’ve had those moments like the Broncos winning the Super Bowl, my first Metallica concert, and successfully potty training a child.  But in the world of shady dining, most often you are simply celebrating the small things like not getting hepatitis, or learning a new gang sign.  However, Florence’s was one of those shady moments that really lived up to the high expectations I had.

I first heard about Florence’s from a co-worker who said it was “as good as Mama E’s.”  I know, I told him to stop the crazy talk, but still, I had to see for myself.  I headed over the next day to find it just east of the Capitol between Kelly and MLK drive.  I nearly missed the building the first time by.  It has a very small sign, and the actual building itself looks more like one that would house a variety of liquors rather than tasty fried chicken.  The windows are iron-clad, the door is solid wood, the bricks are stained a nice shade of dingy, and the whole place lies right in the heart of one of the most crime-ridden streets in the city (according to OKCcrime.com).  In other words, it’s the perfect setting for some fantastic shady dining.

It’s what is inside the restaurant that got me excited.  Nice tables that have a certain country dining room feel, southern paintings and decorations, a dark green, hand-painted drop ceiling, and the heavenly smell of iron skillet cooking.  The menus are laminated descriptions of what can be cooked up from scratch for you complete with how long some of the dishes take to prepare.  Also striking is that every person in there (except me and my companions) were known by name — another sign of a great place.  I also like the blast of heat you get on a cold day when you open the door, but take note — the bathrooms are not heated.  I think the bathrooms are awesome, though.  They are the skinniest little rooms, and they are decorated like the bathroom in someone’s home.

All of this was exciting, but what I was anticipating most was skillet-fried chicken.  At Florence’s, you can get chicken, skillet fried steak (chicken fried), catfish, spaghetti, and a variety of sandwiches and burgers. Nearly everything has the option of fresh pan gravy. Yum.  I got the smothered chicken which is fried chicken with pan gravy poured all over it.  I was originally just ordering fried chicken, which is mentioned as their best seller. Then our waiter mentioned that smothered chicken is the same thing, just covered in gravy.  I nearly gave him a hug.

Of course, no soul food joint is complete without those lard-injected sides and cornbread.  I’m not a big cornbread fan, but theirs is moist and delicious.  Crumbly and moist seems like it would be impossible to create, but it truly has both traits.  Other options for sides are mashed potatoes, rice, greens, creamed corn, yams … etc.  I hate yams, but one of my shady companions swears these are the best he’s ever had.

I like that Florence’s offers reasonable portions, affordably priced.  Mama E’s is fantastic soul food as well, and a great value if you are feeding two. But, at Florence’s you can get an actual meal for one (meat and 3 sides) for $7.  No all you can drink Kool-Aid, but you can get sweet tea. Well, only if they haven’t had a rash of diabetics eating there as they said they had the day we were there.  We had to sweeten our own tea that day.  Well, I say “we,” but I had Dr. Pepper, of course.  And to further digress, the radio was playing all the favorite R&B hits of the 90′s.  I hadn’t heard “Somebody Rockin’ Knockin’ Da Boots” since 9th grade.  I kept anxiously awaiting the Humpty Dance, but sadly it never came on.

Anyway, I love skillet fried chicken.  If you haven’t ever had it then go to Florence’s and try it.  Actually, you should go regardless, but especially if you have never had skillet fried chicken.  There is something about food fried in a skillet.  I think part of it is when you cook in a skillet you are forced to make small batches so quality and attention to each order are required.  Also, pan frying eliminates the cross contamination of flavors that can happen in old oil.  There’s nothing worse than french fries that taste like fish.  Of course, the best part about a pan fry is that homemade pan gravy!  That’s right, gravy from the grease, not from a package or a jar.  I can’t help it, I love the little things in life.

If you are looking for some shady dining and some good, old-fashioned soul food, give Florence’s a try.  You will find that this place is as shady as they come on the outside, but like a true worthy winner of the Shady Restaurant of the Month award, it’ll win your heart when you step inside.  Sure, there is an element of danger here, but that’s just part of the fun.  With this place being so close to the Capitol, you might even see a shady politician or two.  Go try Florence’s for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments.

Table One is not a restaurant. The new collaboration of chefs Ryan Parrott and Jonathon Stranger is an experience built around food. The food is very good to be sure, but you’ll want to try it for the uniqueness it offers as much as anything.

All images provided by Table One

“I don’t want people to think of it as a restaurant,” Parrott said. “Think of it like you’re coming over to my house for dinner. You don’t come over and order food. You allow me to cook for you and come up with something for you to enjoy.”

That’s about the best way to describe this one table wonder. You and a group (up to eight) sit around a table inside an industrial kitchen and watch the chefs prepare your meal while you drink wine, chat with the chefs and each other, and enjoy a unique experience. Think culinary immersion. It’s a fun journey and, as far as we know, there’s nothing else like it in Oklahoma City.

The restaurant is located … well, I’m not going to tell you where it is. That’s because its current location is only temporary, as they are planning a move to the downtown area along automobile alley later this year. Plus, if you’re going to dine at Table One, you’re going to have to contact them first, and they can tell you how to get there once you make your arrangements.

I’m also going to refrain from recommending the dishes you should try. That’s because the dishes I ate might never be made again, at least not in the same way. Your menu will be built specifically for you (and sometimes around you, if you’re picky) based on the best ingredients available and the price you’re willing to pay.

Assuming you have eight people, your minimum price is going to be $75 per person (drinks and gratuity will be extra). That will probably get you around five courses. Spending more will allow their team to create more dishes and use more expensive proteins … etc. The bottom line is this is a completely custom-made deal. Just contact them and work out the experience you want to have.

You may think “why would I want more than five courses?” That’s a valid question, but remember the experience is the product here and more courses means more preparation going on in the kitchen. You’re not just eating, you’re watching the entire process. Each and every course is prepared and plated in front of you. So, the more courses you have, the more interesting stuff you get to watch.

That said, I do think there is such a thing as too many courses. Our experience had fifteen (yes, fifteen). While I enjoyed trying each of them, I can’t remember most of them. I was in mental and gastronomical overload. So, personally, I would recommend honing in somewhere around seven to nine courses. But hey, it’s your meal, and you can have it however you want.

Table One is not for everybody. If you’re a control freak or if you don’t like trying new things, you’ll probably want to pass. To really get into the vision for Table One, you need to let the chefs do what they do best — create. Certainly let them know if you have a food allergy or a specific food you want to include, but outside of that, try and let go and leave yourself open to trying things you never thought of trying before.

Another warning I’d give is that you shouldn’t go in planning for a lot of conversation. The thing is, it’s loud in the room most of the time with the noises and blowers from the kitchen. Plus, the chefs are coming over every little while to introduce the next course. Sure, you’ll talk to each other and to the chefs about the food and the experience you’re having, but don’t plan on having the time or opportunity to really dig into many other subjects.

Though the dishes we had won’t likely be the ones you try, I’ll go ahead and describe a few things on our menu so that you can get an idea of what the food is like. The bar on quality is high here, and everything is well-prepared with fresh, high-quality, and often local ingredients.

My favorite (and a favorite for most of us) was the duck confit and duck breast (known as Duck Duck), served with chunks of sweet potato and figs. Tim’s favorite was the masterfully prepared braised shortribs served with potato puree and sprouts. Everyone also enjoyed the sea scallop with corn chowder and truffle. Andrew gives top honors to the Chilean sea bass accompanied by a whimsical play on peas and carrots (that carrot risotto really was quite good).

Another treat for me was the deconstructed lobster Cioppino with littleneck clams in a peppery tomato broth. This is the kind of thing I see on “Top Chef” and lament, “I’ll never get to try something like that.” Well, Oklahoma City, you can try it and it’s outstanding.

Of our fifteen courses, three were desserts (four if you count the Wensleydale cheese with blueberries, fig and pear). The saffron Panna Cotta was very intriguing and definitely fell into the “never thought of that before” category. Then there was the “Study of Chocolate” and the White Chocolate Souffle. Yes, we were all quite full by the end.

Not everything was a favorite for everyone in our group. But, all of us were glad to try everything and experience new, interesting flavors in a very unique setting. And that’s the bottom line here — the food is excellent, but even better is the fun you’ll have sharing in the activities of the kitchen with a group of chefs and assistants who truly make you feel at home.

If you’re up for a very special experience, call Table One at least a week in advance to schedule the meal and discuss prices. Put your tastebuds in their hands and you will be rewarded with a singular meal you won’t ever forget.

This is part two of Greg’s Oklahoma City Cupcake Smackdown. If you recall, we’ve had two cupcake bakeries open up here in the city in relatively short order, so we’re taking a close look at them both. Here, we’ll take a look at the newly opened Cuppies & Joe. Click here for the review of Sara Sara Cupcakes.

The first thing I’ll say about Cuppies & Joe is that you should go to Cuppies & Joe. Even if you don’t like cupcakes. Even if you don’t like Joe (but who doesn’t like Joe — I mean, what did he ever do to you?).

Why? Because Cuppies & Joe is a great place to hang out. It’s like if your friends invited you over, but instead of bedrooms, they all just decided they wanted a bunch of tables and chairs and somebody on a keyboard playing easy-going music.

The restaurant is owned and operated by the Diefenderfer family, who, I was told, just really like making cupcakes. And pies, too. You can check out their online menu to get an idea of their full selection.

At $2 a piece ($22 per dozen), the cupcakes aren’t break-the-bank expensive, but they’re also not that big. Unlike Sara Sara Cupcakes, Cuppies & Joe serves the size of cupcake your mom probably makes. But let me tell you, you only wish your mom’s cupcakes tasted this good.

While Sara Sara does a host of specialty cupcakes, Cuppies focuses on some basics with a few twists thrown in. You can have chocolate or vanilla cake with chocolate or buttercream frosting and any combination therein. The Boomerang is chocolate with mocha frosting. The Neverland is peanut butter cake with chocolate frosting.

All of them are good. And if you want something a bit different, the Horsebite (carrot cake with cream cheese frosting) and the Roman Holiday (tiramisu) are great.

But the one that knocked me off my socks was the Sassafras. Here’s a short story about it:

My brother loves Red Velvet cake. I am indifferent toward Red Velvet cake. Every year for three years, my mom forgot that my brother was the one who loved it and got me a Red Velvet cake for my birthday. Then, remembering it again, would get him the same cake for his birthday. Thus began my fiery hatred of Red Velvet cake.

The Sassafras is a Red Velvet cupcake with buttercream frosting. On paper, I should hate this thing. In reality, I’m surprised I’m not at Cuppies & Joe right now, half-naked and smearing whatever I can’t fit into my mouth all over my body. It was great.

My wife would also like to point out that if you like Starbucks, but don’t like paying crazy money for Starbucks, Cuppies & Joe has some of the best coffee around at very low prices.

My only worry for Cuppies & Joe is the parking issue, which can be hairy. There’s a few street spots out front, but they’re on a very busy stretch of 23rd street which can make for some nail-biting parallel parking. A better bet is to take the little alley around back where there’s a private parking lot available.

If you can find a place for your car, you won’t have any trouble finding a place in your stomach for some of their delicious cupcakes.

Now, where else can a guy get some cupcakes? Let me know and I’ll be there soon. Oh, and let us know what you think about Cuppies & Joe in the comments.