Hideaway Pizza
901 N. Broadway
796-7777
If you’ve never had the famous fried mushrooms ($6.95), you must start with those. They’re always served piping hot with some ranch. The pesto bruschetta ($6.95) is a delicious blend of tomatoes, onions, fresh basil and olive oil. If you mean business, attempt the Mob Boss pizza ($11.95-$20.65) with sausage, pepperoni, salami and smoked bacon. If you have room, try the frozen lemonade pie for dessert ($1.95).
Steak and Catfish Barn
305 N. Walker
601-7477
Your family can’t decide between steak, seafood and Italian? Here, you don’t have to. Start with a shrimp cocktail ($11.99) or hushpuppies ($4.99). For dinner, have a 16 ounce T-bone ($22.99), ravioli ($10.99-$13.99) or fajita salad ($10.99). Get the catfish and shrimp ($8.99-$14.99), which comes with two sides.
Meiki’s Italian American
6916 Northwest Expressway
721-5522
Try the antipasto ($5.25) or the cheese fries ($4.95) to start. The chicken club salad ($6.95) is no namby-pamby salad. It comes with bacon bits, black olives, tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, cucumbers and strips of chicken. The Meiki’s chicken pocket ($7.95) or rigatoni ($9.95), with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, sausage and pepperoni, make for flavorful and filling meals.
Louie’s Grill & Bar
9401 Lake Hefner Parkway
751-2298
Finger-food friendly is the best way to describe most of the menu. Chips, queso and salsa ($6.99) is a generous portion and enough for three or four people. If you upgrade to the macho chicken nachos ($8.99), just call it a meal. The pizza ($6.99-$9.99) feeds up to three people and comes from from a brick oven. Keep it light with the ultimate turkey burger ($7.99), complete with chipotle ranch, veggies and cheese.
Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant
1331 Alameda, Norman
447-8050
This is the perfect spot if half the groups wants Mexican fare and half wants some traditional American food. Cheeseburgers ($6.99) with all the fixings and french fries or chicken strips ($7.99) will keep one half happy. Meanwhile, costillas de puerco ($11.99), pork ribs served in a skillet with onions and peppers; and guiso especial ($11.99), Mexican beef tips marinated with secret spices and topped with an egg, will keep the other half happy.
Earl’s Rib Palace
216 Johnny Bench Drive
272-9898
Barbecue can be messy, so it’s always great when you can indulge and not have to worry about cleaning up the place. The Smokestack ($6.99) has chopped brisket, a hot link and is all topped with cole slaw. It also comes with a side of your choice. Extra hungry? Package No. 3 ($10.99) gives you a choice of three meats from the chopped brisket, hot link, bologna, chicken, sausage, ham, pork or turkey and three sides. Save room for cobbler or a brownie ($3.29).
Chequers Restaurant & Pub
1009 S. Air Depot, Midwest City
736-6944
If you’re into potatoes, you’ll love this joint. Chequers baked potato ($4.50) is loaded with spinach dip, ham and cheese or try the best of both words: Mexi-style baked potato ($4.50), which is basically a taco in a baked potato. Craving something other than starches? Opt for the steak and shrimp dinner ($8.95) or a bacon guacamole burger ($4.95-$5.95). For dessert, split the fried ice cream ($3).
