For the first time in a decade, Urban Teahouse’s owner arrives for a meeting fresh off doing some volunteer work with Restore OKC, a nonprofit working to bridge the city’s poverty gap. After opening Urban Teahouse at its original location at May and Grand avenues 10 years ago and opening its current location at 519 […]
Food Features
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Cicchetti-style
One print of art on the second floor of the combination lounge and dining space of Bar Cicchetti — the former Urban Johnnie location in Deep Deuce — depicts a Victorian-era lord in fancy clothes, but it has a tiger for a head. The print next to it depicts a high-class lady with a dog […]
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Lebanese taste
After growing up in Lebanon, Charlie Khalaf’s schooling and career in marketing has taken him to Dubai, New York, Tampa and eventually Tulsa. At each stop, he searched in vain for a restaurant that could replicate the flavors he grew up eating. He had to move to Oklahoma City to take matters into his own […]
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Northpark speakeasy
Entrance to The Hamilton Supperette & Lounge doesn’t require a password, but the new restaurant and bar from the owners of Café 7 does feel like a speakeasy with its secluded location on the back side of Shoppes at Northpark. Located at 12232 N. May Ave., on the eastern end of the mall, The Hamilton […]
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Pork dreams
The smell of burning Oklahoma hickory wood has been in Owen Wilson’s life for so long that he hardly notices its distinct smell anymore. The grandson of O.C. Blackwell, longtime pitmaster for Oklahoma City’s Tom’s Barbecue, Wilson got an early start on continuing the family tradition. “Growing up as a kid, everybody has a little […]
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To the plate
The plates come out steaming, piled with homemade pasta under generous dustings of Parmigiano-Reggiano. A portion of ricotta- and fontina-filled ravioli is served with a walnut pesto on a dark, rustic plate, which provides a striking visual. On another dish, crispy salmon rests on a garlicky bed of risotto. These are just a few selections […]
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COVER Review culture
Whether the platform is Google, Yelp, Facebook or Travel Advisor, the public-facing digital billboard for businesses is now its rating out of five stars. The influence of online reviews is growing. Yelp, which was founded in 2004, crossed its 100 millionth review in 2016 and is already currently over 190 million reviews, according to Julie […]
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Masa momentum
When Masa Ramen & Sushi co-owner Leo Chen told the other owners his idea for a grand opening would be four days of free-food giveaways, it took some convincing that it would be a good idea. “I wanted to make a big splash,” Chen said. “It was like an advertisement so that more people would […]
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Designer tacos
The rainbow canopy over the patio at Mexican Radio — the newest restaurant from A Good Egg Dining Group — serves both practical and aesthetic purposes. It provides shield from the rain and allows the outdoors to be warm during the cold, but the bright colors also connect the restaurant to its home in 16th […]
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Unpredictable pizza
Pizza Planet 1621 N. May Ave. pizzaplanetokc.com 405-778-8850 What works: The melted cheese and crispy pasta edges from the oven bake were fun. What needs work: The restaurant has a long wait time and inconsistent hours. Tip: Make sure it’s actually open because advertised business hours appear to be a suggestion. I ate a pretty […]