Since opening in November, West has proven it satisfies with both a great location and its ability to please guests. Scores of satisfied peeps already have discovered the restaurant and are gobbling up the many interesting menu items that combine comfort food with modern cuisine.
In particular, diners are stuffing themselves silly on the onion rings ($4), which are simplicity on a plate — and they may just remind diners of the rings at another restaurant. Those homemade onion rings diners find at West come from the comfy, laid-back Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler, which is owned by brothers Rick and David Haynes. That shared recipe is no coincidence; West is the brothers’ latest concept.
At West, the Haynes brothers are offering up familiar food with a twist.
For example, the seasonal bread pudding ($7) won us over with the soaked up whiskey sauce. Bits of goat cheese sprinkled on top increased the depth of richness.
Another star on the menu is the appetizer zuccha chips ($5), which are thinly sliced zucchini, dusted with flour, flash-fried and sprinkled with sea salt. We scarfed them down.
And those piled-high onion rings? I have had a love/hate relationship with those salty, crunchy rings for years. I love to eat them, but dread the thought of wearing them on my butt. But we couldn’t resist and ate those, too.
Although I have dined at West several times, I have been won over by its grilled cheese ($8) — beloved by all — that is done with rich, fresh ricotta cheese. (And ricotta, by the way, is made from the whey left over from making mozzarella and provolone.)
We tried the thick tomato basil soup ($6) that had grilled cheese croutons on the top for an interesting twist. The gazpacho ($6) was also appealing.
The first courses on West’s menu provide a range of tastes. For vegetarians, West has a lovely entrée called A Simple Plate of Seasonal Veggies ($13). Containing a colorful mix of cooked asparagus, sliced zucchini, tomatoes and a mound of couscous, it was a nice balance of flavor, texture and seasonality finished with a balsamic glaze.
For another opener, we also tried the smooth and creamy hummus that came with the purée trio ($9) done on French bread topped with shredded Parmesan cheese that nicely rounded out the appetizers.
Great
servers seem to have eyes in the back of their heads, and ours, Harvey
Elkins (who always seems to be called Harvey Wallbanger), must have
anticipated every need that we had. He said the bow-tie pasta with
salmon ($16) was most popular.
I loved it. It was done with smoked
salmon and grilled onions, with an addictive vodka cream sauce. The
bow-tie pasta is best reserved for Saturdays, when napping afterward is
possible. Attempt it alone, and you will have leftovers for another
meal. I did.
We
also tried the large, filling and flavorful pork tenderloin ($19) paired
with luscious and peppery whipped sweet potatoes, grilled asparagus and
an apricot demiglace. We also opted for the chicken pot pie ($12). It
was smooth and creamy, done with mashed potatoes and a lid of puff
pastry.
The
West decor is modern, revolving around the can’t-miss-it bar, and the
room is softly lit with a warm ambience. Service has been excellent
every time I’ve visited — professional, informative and above all, most
friendly.
Manager Andy Dixon said that valet parking is available most nights, and it was on the Saturday night when we visited.
It bodes well for West to hop to the front of local dining and stay there for several years.
Oklahoma
Gazette’s restaurant review policy is to highlight the positive
aspects, and include constructive criticism regarding food, ambience or
service when appropriate.
