Monty’s Gyro & Subs
1208 N. Eastern, Moore 799-1440
With the evocative fragrance of fresh herbs and lemons, Greek food is so healthy. And it’s ancient; Greeks were perfecting the Mediterranean food we love today thousands of years ago. In fact, ancient Greek poet Archestratus wrote the first cookbook in 320 B.C. At Monty’s, it’s the gyros that are bringing them in, along with chicken tenders and good saffron rice.
$$ Greek food
Cha Cha’s Grille y Cantina
3720 W. Robinson, Norman 928-5250
For a flavorful enchilada dip and other authentic food from several regions in Mexico, look no further than the diverse menu offered at Cha Cha’s, a Hal Smith restaurant. The drinks are fun, like the beer margarita, which comes in a goblet that is big enough for two people.
$$ Mexican food
Taste of Thai
1801 S. Air Depot, Midwest City 732-1519
Food that is substantial and memorable is being served at Taste of Thai in Midwest City. Thai food has hints of other Asian cuisines and sometimes even some French influences. Pad Thai has become as much a part of the American scene as burgers, providing just the right pungency to be appreciated. Order the full-flavor fish, the panang salmon, pon yum shrimp and the green curry.
$$ Thai
Samurai
1630 n.W. 23rd 525-8886
Japanese
cuisine is food served with natural grace. It is one of the world’s
most elegantly simple cuisines that can be plain and frugal while still
delicious. At Samurai, sushi specialties reign. Samurai also does
teriyaki, hibachi, grilled food and soup.
$$ Japanese
Tandoor
1901 E. Reno 270-0379
The
food from India offers infinite combinations of herbs and spices, along
with several different ways of cooking meat and vegetables. In India,
that usually means eating lots of veggies, and at Tandoor, you may order
vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It also has curry, rice dishes and
tandoori chicken. This is inside JRS Travel Center, and the restaurant
stays closed on Mondays.
$$ Indian
Trattoria il Centro
500 W. main 601-5858
At Trattoria il Centro, a patron will discover great ingredients married to great skill. It has added three new desserts, one a semifreddo (Italian
for “half cold”) with a blueberry compote. On the appetizer list,
Trattoria has added veal meatballs that are served with a spicy marinara
and house-made mozzarella. Hey, the sidewalk is finished and part of
the road is finished out front.
$$ Italian
Basil Mediterranean
6620 E. Reno, Midwest City 736-0500
With
all those healthy ingredients, there’s a reason Mediterranean food is
considered one of the healthiest diets to follow. In Midwest City, head
to Basil Mediterranean. Try the gyros or, better yet, call ahead and
have them fix it for you to carry out. Basil still has the tomato and
artichoke soup every day, plus chicken piccata for Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, which makes it pretty special.
$$ Mediterranean
—Carol Smaglinski
$$: Up to $15
$$$: $15-$30
$$$$: Above $30
photos by Mark Hancock, Shannon Cornman and Lindsey Cooper
This article appears in Aug 3-9, 2011.