I love a good chicken fry steak. One of my favorite foods and a state food of Oklahoma. I’ve had good ones all over the state, so I feel like I’m kind of an expert on them. The Chuck House in Oklahoma City advertises themselves as the best chicken fry steak in the state so I thought it good to check them out.
We headed to their location at NW 10th and Meridian early on a Saturday night. Got right in with no issue and placed our orders. Everything was served quickly. I was super excited but that was soon replaced my disappointment when I realized that the mashed potatoes were runny. Since I didn’t actually see them come out of the box I can’t say for sure but they sure tasted like the bland flakes from the box mashed potatoes. No flavor whatsoever, had an almost soup like consistency. The cream gravy covering them wasn’t much better. Just way too runny with no flavor at all. On to the steak. It was kind of small for a chicken fry but ok. It was good, tender, the breading wasn’t bad but it was covered in that awful gravy, so it really took away from the steak. Now Big K had their ultimate steak sandwich, which has grilled onions, cheese, and bacon. I had a bite and really liked it.
Overall I’m going to give them 3 strips of bacon. So many things could be improved and if I visit again, I’ll get the steak sandwich instead. They were friendly and service was good. The only other downside was the location, not exactly the best part of town so if you go please be careful.
We live in Oklahoma, it’s hard to find good Chicago style food around here but Cal’s Chicago Style Eatery on NW Highway come close. I have been to Chicago a few times, I absolutely love Italian beef and sausage sandwich. My favorite comes from Portillo’s, which are all over the Chicago area.
At Cal’s, their Italian beef and sausage is very similar to that at Portillo’s. Served on a French roll, the beef has been shaved thin and has a great flavor with a touch of kick to it. The sausage buried under the beef provided all the heat to this sandwich. I had mine topped with sweet bell peppers that added a touch of sweetness to offset the spicy of the sausage. Now you can have the sandwich dipped in au jus, I haven’t in the past but did this time. I’m not going to lie, it is a mess to eat that way and I’m just not sure the au jus added anything to the taste. For a side you have several options, fries, onion rings, chili cheese fries or pickle fries. I have had them all and enjoyed everything.
I haven’t tried their other menu options, they do have Philly cheesesteaks and Gyro burgers. I really need to check those out sometime. But I’ll give them 5 strips of bacon, just for trying to bring Chicago to Oklahoma City.
Address: 7005 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City. At the NE corner of NW highway and Rockwell
Forever I’ve been driving past Tacos Don Nacho on South Council, this is my usual route from my home in northwest Oklahoma City to my in-laws in south Oklahoma City. The parking lot is always full and I had been told my several people over the years that it was good. Finally Big K talked me into going and now I’m mad at myself for not stopping before.
Even at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon, the place was packed but we were still able to find a table. Heads up, you do need to know a bit of Spanish to read the menu, but I’m pretty sure you can always ask. You order at the front counter, then find a seat. The complimentary chips and salsa were brought out quickly. the chips were those thin, light tortilla chips that I love and the salsa had a bit of kick to it. I ordered the Especial 3 Tacos with asada meat. This came out pretty quick as well, the 3 tacos are served in soft flour tortillas with salsa. These were amazing, I loved the taste of the meat, seasoned just right. The beans and rice were also really good, beans weren’t too runny and the rice had a hint of lime. Big K had a burrito plate with chicken. This burrito was huge, covered in red sauce and guacamole, with the beans and rice on the sides. He loved every bite.
We were so stuffed when we left, the food was so good and filling. It will definitely be on our list of favorite places now. Wish I would have stopped years ago. Now I understand why the parking lot is always packed. Definitely 5 strips of bacon.
I had never heard of Detroit style pizza until a few years ago, truthfully it has become one of my favorite types of pizza. There are getting to be a couple of places here in the Oklahoma City metro that have good Detroit style pizza and Rendezvous Pizza is one of them.
My first visit was last year, we went to their Bricktown location. On that visit we ordered Italian nachos, which were outstanding, and a meat lovers Detroit style. Didn’t have a long wait and everything was good. The only downside was it was in Bricktown, parking was hard to find. I was excited when a few months ago they opened a second location near Quail Springs Mall. This is much closer to me and being a standalone building, better parking. I visited that location a few weeks ago, the only thing I was disappointed about is the fact that the Italian nachos aren’t on the menu any longer. I have checked and the Bricktown location doesn’t have them either, not sure why they aren’t on the menu but I did miss them. So I ordered the fried mozzarella instead, this was really good as well, large flat patties of fried cheese. They don’t look like regular mozzarella sticks, more like a mozzarella hash brown. We got the meat lovers Detroit style again and it was just as good as the first time I tried it. Lots of meat with crispy cheese on the edges. Detroit style pizza is similar to Chicago style, deep dish with lots of cheese. They then put the toppings on, followed by the marinara sauce. It’s called Detroit style because it did originate in Detroit and was cooked in used (but cleaned) oil pans. This is why it’s a rectangle or square.
They also have New York style pizza as well, I haven’t tried it yet but need to. Service was good and parking was easy. I’ll give them 5 strips of bacon.
The whole purpose of my Food Friday feature is to bring attention to local restaurants. I really want to be able to give 5 strips of bacon on every review but I also know it’s not always possible. Biglow’s Burgers is an excellent example. When it first opened around the beginning of the year, I was excited. I had read reviews about the food truck and it sounded great. So on a cool Friday night we visited.
They had been open for about a month and I had heard about the issues they were having, I had hoped those had been worked out. It took 10 minutes just for us to place an order for dine in, and the cashier wasn’t exactly the nicest person, not even able to answer basic questions about the menu. So we took a seat near the back, the whole interior looked unfinished and the tables look like they had been used and abused. There we sat, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, then at 27 minutes someone realized they had forgotten to make our order. We were brought some complimentary egg rolls which turned out to be cold in the middle. And we continued to sit. By this time I had noticed that it was really cold in the restaurant, I don’t think they had the heat turned on. Finally after 40 minutes we got our order. The burger was just ok, I wasn’t blown away by it. The fries were awful, way too much salt. We finished and left. Back near the end of March we decided to try again, even though the hours on the building and online said they closed at 8p, the restaurant was dark. It was 6:30p on a Friday night and they were already closed. Some other potential patrons were sitting in their car nearby and told us that a very rude employee locked the door in their face when they tried to enter.
I’m giving them 2 strips of bacon, I hope they improve in the future but with 3 other really good burger places within a mile of the restaurant I just have no reason to attempt another visit.
Address: 12309 N Council Rd. Suite 1, Oklahoma City.
You ever drive by a restaurant and think “I need to try this place”? I have done that for years driving by the big green burger sign for Barry’s Grill on North May Aveune. It even smells good when I stop next door at Bedford Camera, after years of thinking about it I stopped and truthfully I wish I hadn’t.
First thing I noticed when I walked in wasn’t the old time menu sign, it was the dirty unvacuumed floors. I got over it and ordered a bacon cheeseburger with a side of tots. The guy behind the counter took my order but didn’t seem friendly. As I took a seat I noticed a old musty smell that permeated the restaurant. The tables were clean but obviously had some age to them. The whole vibe was 1960’s cafeteria. The pictures on the wall were faded to blue and the “greenery” in between the tables was older than me. Before my burger was ready I took a quick trip to the bathroom, indoor outhouse is a good description. A couple minutes after I returned to the table my order was ready. It did bother me that the tray was sticky. The tots were just plain tots, nothing really special. The burger was the same, nothing special. The veggies were fresh and crisp and the bacon was cooked perfectly. It was just ok though. I wasn’t blown away, really along the lines of a fast-food burger. I finished my food and left. The odd smell was still there and really permeated my experience.
From my research, this business has been at the location since at least 1996. I think it does a good job attracting a lunch crowd not looking for anything fancy. Personally I don’t think I’ll return. I give them 2 strips of bacon.
A few weekends ago, I got the pleasure of touring the 1937 mansion of Dr WH Slaughter in northeast Oklahoma City. Situated on a 7 acre piece of land on NE 50th Street, just to the east of I-35, this home is a hidden gem and home to a vital member of Oklahoma City history.
Wyatt Hardy Slaughter was born in Alabama in 1872 and attended Walden University, then later Meharry Medical College, both in Nashville, TN, graduating around 1892. He arrived in Oklahoma City in 1903and became the first African American doctor in the new city. He worked with Dr WL Haywood to build the Utopia Hospital on NE 1st and later they established the Great Western Hospital in NE Oklahoma City. He practiced medicine in his own personal office in the Deep Deuce area of Oklahoma City, placing his Slaughter Buidling at 327 NE 2nd. This 3-story building was used for retail, housing his wife’s family’s pharmacy as well as the home of the Dunbar Library. Side note, none of these buildings are extant any longer, most succumbing to the wrecking ball in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was also active in real estate, banking, as well as oil and gas. A public servant for many years, he was on many boards and committees. After retirement in 1949, he dedicated himself to building a YMCA on the NE side as well as a new school (current Frederick Douglass High School). He passed away in 1952, buried in Trice Hill Cemetery along side family. In 1907, he married Edna Randolph, the daughter of Jefferson Davis Randolph, the first African American Teacher in in Oklahoma City who founded the first black school at California and Harvey (what is now right in the middle of the Myriad Gardens).
Dr Slaughter purchased a 40 acre plot on NE 50th Street near Bryant Avenue in 1916 and built this home in 1937. The drive to the house is a old meandering paved trail that gives you a beautiful view of the mansion before leading you to a parking area next to the home. Being perched on a hill, the home dominates the landscape. The large stones that have been used in the construction also draw your eye to the home. Massive arches frame the east side of the house, these also provide a beautiful view of the countryside from the porch as well.
I wasn’t able to take pictures inside, but the home has been restored. After entering the home, you are in a foyer that to the left leads to the living area and to the right, a den or office, plus a hall to a bedroom suite. The dining is off the living area and also leads to a small kitchen. Upstairs are bedrooms, bathrooms, and storage areas. The two bedrooms that were open both had spacious bathrooms attached to them. One bathroom also led to an open air porch that is right above the front doors. There is a third floor but there was no access for guests. On the grounds are the remains of a well house and windmill. A functioning garage and small storage building are also original to the home and have been updated.
Over the years, parcels from the original 40 acres have been sold off. The house was empty for a time and vandals did hit the property. The home is in private ownership now and used for various events also rented out as an Airbnb. The property has also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as of 2018. If you see a chance to visit this beautiful home, I highly recommend it.
Nic’s Grill is known around the country, several tv shows have featured it, many magazines have done stories on it. My first visit was a few years ago, at the time it was only open during the week for lunch. Even though we got there early, my claustrophobia set in and we got the burgers to go. Now after a 30-minute drive back home I wasn’t really impressed with the burger. But I wanted to give them another chance, I just needed to work through being in such a small place.
While passing it a few months ago, I found out that they are now open on Saturday as well. So I took a long breath and went in. To say this place is tiny is an understatement, there is a long counter with 9 stools overlooking the grill, a shorter counter near the window on one side of the door and 2 small tables on the other side of the door. I felt it best to sit in the corner with one window behind me and another I could see out. The menu was pretty straightforward, burger or cheeseburger, by themselves or in a combo. You do get a selection of cheese and can get add ons like bacon or mushrooms. The only sides are curly fries.
My order was taken quickly even though they only have 2 employees, one on the grill and one doing everything else. I didn’t wait long for lunch to be delivered. The curly fries were the first thing I tried, freshly cut, fried, and lightly salted. They were really enjoyable and a reminder that simple can be good. Then the burger, it was huge. Lettuce, tomato, pickles, lots of fried onions and melty cheese all piled on top a nice sized patty with a soft bun. I was pleasantly surprised how good it was, juicy, needed to use both hands to eat it. I really wish I had tried it fresh years ago, was much better experience this time around.
I keep mentioning it was a small place, it really is. No place for large groups or small children (I did watch parents realize this when they opened the door). It’s just an old time burger stand, not seen like this in many years. Only open for the lunch crowd and still closed on Sunday. I will go back as long as I can sit near the windows again, I’ll give them 5 strips of bacon.
I say all the time, there are lots of burger places in the Oklahoma City metro but only a few have been good. Burger Punk is one I’ve heard about but hadn’t tried until last weekend.
What started as a food truck, has now evolved into a brick-and-mortar location on the east side of the Paseo District. Painted all in black, it looks like an interesting place to try. The black theme continued inside, with pink and purple lights accenting the tables and bar. We took a seat near the window and immediately had someone there to help us find their online menu and take our drink order. We both tried their March special- Mushroom Whiskey Burger. This nice sized burger had truffle mayo, lots of mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and a sauce called Whiskey-A-Go-Go. Our orders came out pretty quick, and this burger was outstanding. The meat had a nice flavor and was juicy. The mix of the truffle mayo and the whiskey sauce really worked on this burger. There was a small pool of sauce that had run off the burger and I was dipping it in the sauce because it was so good. It wasn’t strong with the whisky flavor and had more of a honey type texture. I love truffles and the mayo was perfect, had the right truffle earthiness to it. I got the lil macaroni as a side, this mac and cheese had large rigatoni smothered in a tangy cheese sauce. Add in some roasted jalapenos and top it off with some panko breadcrumbs, this really complimented the burger. Big K got the crinkle cut fries, also doused in what they call “liquid gold”.
I’m excited to try them again, the service was great. The dining room and bar area were a bit small but there’s also a patio area which will be good now that spring and summer are about here. Not going to lie, not a lot of parking. I got lucky and got a space right up front but I know it can get crazy in that area. Overall I really enjoyed my first trip, 5 strips of bacon.
I love new restaurants, but I love them more when they’re close to home so I was excited to hear about the opening of Taqueria El Camino a few weeks ago. They originally opened in the Edmond Railyard back in October 2019 and business was so good they now have their own location on North MacArthur in Oklahoma City.
Being an introvert, I was apprehensive about going in, I could see they were really busy with the Friday night crowd but Big K wasn’t going to let that deter us. He went in and found out they had tables open, so in I went. They mostly specialize in tacos but have a few other items as well. We started with just basic chips and queso. These were awesome. The chips were fried flour tortillas with seasoning on them and the queso had a tang to it, I would have these everyday if I could. I went with the coconut shrimp taco and brisket barbacoa taco with the sides of waffle fries and cilantro lime rice. The tacos were good sized, the coconut shrimp taco had a nice pile of slaw on top, gave it a beachy type feel. The brisket barbacoa taco also had the slaw with some cotija cheese on top, the brisket was cooked perfectly, melted in my mouth. The cilantro rice was really good, had a light flavor to it. And the waffle fries were perfect, not those sad ones you get from Chick-fil-A. These were fried crip with seasoning over them that gave them a great flavor. I also had a lavender berry margarita, this was a real treat, sweet with a touch of lavender flavor. Big K had the chorizo guac taco and a quesa carnitas taco with the sides of zesty slaw and elote. He loved both tacos, they had crispy cheese fried onto the tortillas. He thought the slaw had a flavor that was different, and he fell in love with the elote (elote is grilled street corn, I tried a bite and it was good).
The only real downside is that it did take a bit to get our entrees. Like I said at the beginning, they were really busy. They just opened at this location in December and getting a lot of attention. I will be going back to try more of their menu offerings and will give them 5 strips of bacon.
The Fat Okie 