Oklahoma Gazette

Best of OKC 2016: Food & Drink

By Greg Elwell, Ben Luschen, Laura Eastes, Candice Macis, Jennifer Chancellor and Brittany Pickering Photos Gazette staff, file and provided

Best Coffee or Tea House

Cuppies & Joe

727 NW 23rd St.

A coffee shop is more than just a place to get hot java. It’s a meeting place and a studying spot. It’s where people find laughter and heated debates. At Cuppies & Joe, drinkers become diners when they see the selection of perfectly baked and decorated cupcakes with names like Horse Bite and Mary Poppins. It also could have been voted best place to find an OCU student that isn’t OCU, because this shop packs them in day and night.

Favorites: The Red Cup, All About Cha, Elemental Coffee Roasters, Urban Teahouse

Best Local Winery

Put A Cork In It Winery

115 E. California Ave.

Oh, you want wine? Well Put A Cork In It! It’s not rude; that’s the name of the winery. Put A Cork In It Winery is an Oklahoma City establishment that makes a variety of meritage wines — blends that combine different varietals to create a more balanced flavor. With names like Dustbowl, Thunderhead and Redbud, you will savor the Oklahoma love in every glass.

Favorites: Waters Edge Winery, Tres Sueños Winery & Vineyard, Native Spirits Winery, Clauren Ridge Vineyard & Winery

Best Local Craft Beer

COOP Ale Works

4745 Council Heights Road

The competition for local beer dollars is constantly on the rise. It seems like there’s always a new brewery coming online. But this year’s winner is an original. COOP Ale Works has only been around for seven years, but it has become the de facto local beer for many in Oklahoma City. Whether it’s hoppy F5 IPA; boozy, delicious Belgian-style DNR; or another bestseller, COOP makes beer Gazette readers love to drink.

Favorites: Anthem Brewing Company, Bricktown Brewery, TapWerks Ale House, Mustang Brewing Company

Best Beer Selection

TapWerks Ale House

121 E. Sheridan Ave.

What the ale? Craft beer bars have popped up all over the city, but one of the first is still the best for Gazette readers. TapWerks Ale House is a Bricktown institution and one of the best spots in the metro to taste a wide variety of beers. Keep an eye on those taps because they constantly change. The waitstaff knows the beer selection forward and back, too, so whatever you crave, you can find it at TapWerks.

Favorites: James E. McNellie’s Public House, Oak & Ore, Republic Gastropub, Bricktown Brewery

Best Cocktail (And The Restaurant/Bar That Serves It)

Lunch Box, Edna’s

5137 N. Classen Circle

Why do people love Edna’s Lunch Box so much? Is it the sweetness of the amaretto? The tartness of the orange juice? The light and smooth Coors Light? Or maybe it’s the smile they get from Edna’s bartenders. The bar offers visitors the right mix of intoxicating libations, friendly service and raucous regulars to make any night of the week a fun one. It’s why Edna’s has sold more than 1.5 million Lunch Boxes “and counting…”

Favorites: S&B Bloody Mary (S&B’s Burger Joint), Sooner Swirl (The Mont), The Black Betty (The Pump Bar), Fire on the Pineapple (Guyutes)

Best Breakfast

Jimmy’s Egg

several metro locations

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then it’s time Mayor Mick Cornett handed the key to the city to Jimmy’s Egg, which took the Best Breakfast category again this year. There’s a reason this Oklahoma City original has captured the hearts and bellies of diners across the state (and into a few others). Whether you come in for a stack of pancakes, a gourmet waffle or just a simple plate of bacon, eggs and toast and a cup or two of hot, fresh coffee, Jimmy’s delivers every time.

Favorites: Waffle Champion, Cafe Kacao, Classen Grill, Kitchen No. 324

Best Weekend Brunch

Cheever’s Cafe

2409 N. Hudson Ave.

Make your reservations now. Actually, make them a few weeks ago because Cheever’s Cafe isn’t the kind of brunch spot one rolls into unannounced. This upscale restaurant fills to capacity for lunch and dinner, but its weekend brunches are truly crazy. With a menu including French toast bread pudding, fried chicken and waffles and the always-popular Cheever’s chicken-fried steak, the venue has earned its brunch stripes.

Favorites: Picasso Cafe, Kitchen No. 324, Cafe Kacao, Packard’s New American Kitchen

Best Lunch Spot

Empire Slice House

1734 NW 16th St.

Lunch has always been bitter about the way people fawn over breakfast. It’s truly the middle child of the Daily Meal family. But that was before lunch found Empire Slice House, which Oklahoma Gazette readers agree is the best lunch spot in Oklahoma City. A great place for a couple pieces of pizza in a hurry or a long, luxurious lunch with a fine selection of beers, Empire captured a place in our hearts by making itself at home in our stomachs.

Favorites: The Mule, Cafe 501, Saturn Grill, Thai House Restaurant

Best Late-Night Eats

Beverly’s Pancake House

3315 Northwest Expressway

When Beverly’s Pancake House says it serves breakfast all day, it means all day. There are locks on the doors, but good luck finding this 24/7/365 diner closed even for a minute. Whether it’s 3 p.m. or 3 a.m., there’s always a friendly face inside Beverly’s, waiting to take orders for pigs in a blanket, ham steak and eggs or the famous Chicken in the Rough fried chicken. The location has changed over time, but Beverly’s is always a winner.

Favorites: Empire Slice House, Waffle Champion, The Pump Bar, Guyutes

Best Hamburgers

The Garage Burgers & Beer

several metro locations

Throw a rock in Oklahoma City and it’ll probably hit a contender for the city’s best hamburgers. This year’s winner is no surprise — The Garage Burgers & Beer is opening new locations to meet the demand for the restaurant’s menu of specialty burgers and fries. Those who haven’t been should fire up their engines and pull into The Garage for a Huevos Rancheros burger and a big ol’ basket of Thunder Fries.

Favorites: S&B’s Burger Joint, Nic’s Grill, Tucker’s Onion Burgers, Irma’s Burger Shack

Best Sandwich Shop

The Mule

1630 N. Blackwelder Ave.

Visitors to Oklahoma City who skip a visit to The Mule will kick themselves for missing out on this gourmet grilled cheesery. Don’t be fooled by the laid-back feel of this restaurant and bar — as fun and free as it is in the dining room, the kitchen staff are pros at making delectable sandwiches. Take a bite of Macaroni Pony and customers will find themselves melting like cheese for The Mule’s tasty treats.

Favorites: City Bites, Someplace Else A Deli & Bakery, Neptune Submarine Sandwiches, The Sandwich Club

Best Barbecue Restaurant

Iron Star Urban Barbeque

3700 N. Shartel Ave.

It may have lost an “R” when it recently updated its name, but Iron Star Urban Barbeque kept the most important thing: high-end smoked meats. Party planners should check out the full racks of ribs and family-size sides of decadent macaroni and cheese. And those looking for a lighter option need Iron Star’s salmon salad in their lives. As winter comes, be sure to remember the best warm-up deal in town is Iron Star’s $6 bowl of Range Chili.

Favorites: Earl’s Rib Palace, Swadley’s Bar-B-Q, Backdoor Barbecue, Bedlam Bar-B-Q

Best Pizza Place

Hideaway Pizza

several metro locations

King James’ editorial team did a real number on The Bible. Not only did they cut an additional eight disciples and delete the part where Noah’s ark fights pirates, but they put apples in the Garden of Eden instead of the only food tempting enough to get Adam and Eve kicked out: pizza! Even so, anyone interested in experiencing the pleasures of pizza need look no farther than Best Pizza winner Hideaway Pizza. It makes pies so good, it ought to be a sin.

Favorites: Empire Slice House, The Wedge Pizzeria, Upper Crust Pizza, Pizzeria Gusto

Best Steakhouse

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

1309 S. Agnew Ave.

Want to meet the meat? Head down to Stockyard City, where ranchers bring cattle to market. Then make a more personal connection with a stop at readers’ choice for best steakhouse: Cattlemen’s. This venerable beef base has been serving metro diners the finest steaks since 1910. There are steaks for every budget, including some fancy dry-aged prime beef for connoisseurs. It’s been open this long for a reason, folks.

Favorites: Ranch Steakhouse, Red PrimeSteak, Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse

Best Sushi

Sushi Neko

4318 N. Western Ave.

Meow! Literally translated as “sushi cat,” Sushi Neko once again tops the polls for Oklahoma City’s best sushi. It’s a posh spot to gobble the freshest fish in the city. The service is purr-fect and the menu gives sushi fanatics pause as they peruse the entrees, both cooked and raw. Just be sure to reserve your seats, because Sushi Neko is popular with all the cool cats in OKC.

Favorites: Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, The Sushi Bar, In the Raw Sushi Bricktown, GoGo Sushi

Best Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Or Healthy Menu Options

Coolgreens

several metro locations

Goldilocks and the three bears put on a lot of porridge weight over the years, so it’s no surprise they started looking for a healthier option. Hotgreens was too hot. Coldgreens was too cold. But Coolgreens? As Gazette readers will tell you, it’s just right. Salad, soups, sandwiches and flatbreads are on-point and the results are easy to see on-scale. No matter your diet, this fast-casual eatery has something for you.

Favorites: Picasso Cafe, The Loaded Bowl, The Red Cup, Guyutes

Best Patio Dining

The Bleu Garten

301 NW 10th St.

The menu is always changing at The Bleu Garten because there are always new trucks parked inside, serving up the best in mobile meals to hungry diners. Even during the hottest swaths of the summer, crowds grow inside the Garten. Voted the city’s best patio dining venue, it’s a fine spot for parties big and small. And those who get tired of talking will have plenty of fun with giant Jenga sets and a people-watching.

Favorites: Sauced on Paseo, The Pump Bar, The Mont, Flint

Best Liquor Store

Byron’s Liquor Warehouse

2322 N. Broadway Ave.

If Lord Byron were still with us, no doubt he would gladly write an Ode to Byron’s Liquor Warehouse. The Best Liquor Store winner inspires loyalty as well as verse with great prices on a ridiculous variety of liquors, beers and wines. The parking lot always seems full. Anyone who is thinking about drinking is probably planning a trip to Byron’s in the near future.

Favorites: Sam’s Warehouse Liquor, Broadway Wine Merchants, Freeman’s Liquor Mart, Moore Liquor

Best (National Or Regional) Restaurant You Wish Was Locally Owned

Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar

1845 Northwest Expressway

Even though Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar isn’t locally owned, it is still locally sourced with plenty of produce. Heck, the restaurant even grows herbs for dishes and drinks in its outdoor garden. The small chain is opening up new stores all over Texas, but Oklahoma City remains the only current Oklahoma location. Cocktail lovers can find an ever-evolving menu of drinks and plenty of great food to enjoy with them at Whiskey Cake.

Favorites: Panera Bread, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, The Cheesecake Factory, Chili’s Grill & Bar

Best Seafood Restaurant

The Drake Seafood and Oysterette

519 NW 23rd St., Suite 111

Like its namesake, Sir Francis Drake, The Drake Seafood and Oysterette attacked Oklahoma City’s appetite for fresh seafood like a pirate ship. Buckles were swashed and oysters were shucked as the restaurant that tells customers to “Stay Gold” took the city’s local fish game to the next level. One of The Drake’s signature features is an always-rotating lineup of fresh oysters, giving diners a chance to taste the world right here in OKC.

Favorites: Pearl’s Oyster Bar, Hefner Grill, The Shack Seafood & Oyster Bar, Off the Hook Seafood & More

Best Dessert Restaurant, Shop Or Bakery

Pie Junkie

1711 NW 16th St.

Once again, readers voted this Plaza District favorite as their top spot for desserts. Just like nearby Empire Slice House, Pie Junkie offers fans a chance to enjoy a slice or take home an entire pie. The selection is impossible to beat, with creamy chocolates, luscious fruits and even some savory quiches thrown in for good measure. Those who love food on a crust will find Pie Junkie a must.

Favorites: La Baguette Bistro, Ingrid’s Kitchen, Brown’s Bakery, Cuppies & Joe

Best Mexican Restaurant

Ted’s Cafe Escondido

several metro locations

Hola, amigos! It’s time to give the Best Mexican Restaurant honors to Ted’s Café Escondido again. This popular local restaurant does fajitas, enchiladas and tacos so well, it’s almost loco. With a focus on Tex-Mex-style food, Ted’s kitchen loves to drape silky sour cream sauce and chunky chili sauce over meat- and veggie-packed tortillas. As difficult as it is to put down that last bite, you’re almost legally required to save room for a sopapilla.

Favorites: Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant, Abel’s Mexican Restaurant, San Marcos Mexican Restaurant, Cultivar Mexican Kitchen

Best Latin Restaurant

Cafe do Brasil

440 NW 11th St. Suite 100

If the Rio Olympic Games have inspired a craving for the cuisine of Brazil, the best Latin restaurant winner is the perfect spot to visit. Cafe do Brasil is home to a bevy of authentic Brazilian dishes and drinks. Some flavor combinations might seem unusual until you try them. Trust owner Anna Davis to present dishes that are as beautiful as they are tasty. Start the meal with a caipirinha for a boozy kick from the Southern Hemisphere.

Favorites: 1492 New World Latin Cuisine, Cafe Kacao, Zarate’s Latin Mexican Grill, Chiltepe’s Latin Cuisine & Bar

Best Italian Restaurant

Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria

5801 N. Western Ave.

Readers would have flipped their lids if last year’s returning champ didn’t make a return appearance. Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria is an old-school Italian restaurant with one of the city’s best patios. Sip a glass of Italian wine and look out as Western Avenue rumbles past. Slurp some whole wheat spaghetti marinara or order a crispy thin-crust pizza and enjoy the ambiance and camaraderie that has made Flip’s a favorite since 1985.

Favorites: Gabriella’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria, Stella Modern Italian Cuisine, Vito’s Ristorante, Victoria’s the Pasta Shop

Best Western European Restaurant, Not Italian (Danish, English, French, German, Irish, Scottish, Spanish, Etc.)

Ingrid’s Kitchen

several metro locations

Say “Ingrid’s Kitchen” and watch the ears perk up around you. That’s a group well-versed in one of the city’s best spots for European breads, sausages and schnitzels. The ever-popular restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the weekends are when it really gets hopping, with The Silvertops jazz sets 2 p.m. every Saturday and a boisterous brunch buffet offered every Sunday.

Favorites: Fassler Hall, La Baguette Bistro, Old Germany Restaurant, Royal Bavaria

Best Mediterranean Restaurant

Zorba’s Mediterranean Cuisine

6014 N. May Ave.

Zorba’s serves so much more than gyros. It’s unfortunate that Mediterranean cuisine is so often written off as gyros and kebabs, but that’s only because other cuisines would kill to have a top two like that. And then, out of nowhere, comes falafel. It’s like the 1992 Dream Team of delicious foods. So maybe you’ll keep getting a gyro at Zorba’s, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Favorites: Basil Mediterranean Cafe, Mediterranean Imports & Deli, Couscous Cafe, NuNu’s Mediterranean Cafe & Market

Best Indian Restaurant

Gopuram Taste of India

several metro locations

A shocking number of Oklahomans first experienced Indian food with Gopuram Taste of India. Some are introduced at Festival of the Arts. Others walk into the eatery to see a massive buffet of delights both sweet and spicy. The uninitiated need only visit once before they’re hooked on delicate jasmine rice, spicy chicken tikka masala and pliant, pillowy circles of naan.

Favorites: Taj Cuisine of India, Himalayas Aroma of India, Sheesh Mahal, Ajanta Cuisine of India

Best Japanese Restaurant

Musashi’s

4315 N. Western Ave.

The air is filled with the scrape and sizzle of spatulas moving steak, shrimp and chicken across the blazing-hot teppanyaki table, but listen a little closer. Hear that crinkling sound? Those are the smiles of everyone at Musashi’s when they watch the chef prepare their dinner in front of them. Yes, the best Japanese restaurant winner is so good, it makes smiles audible. That sounds like a place everyone needs to try.

Favorites: Sushi Neko, Shógun Steak House of Japan, Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, Shiki Japanese Restaurant

Best Chinese Restaurant

Dot Wo Garden

6161 N. May Ave.

If nobody has registered Garden.Wo, they’re missing out on a great opportunity. After all, Dot Wo Garden is one of Oklahoma City’s premiere Chinese restaurants, which might be why readers have once again crowned it best Chinese restaurant. Since 1989, Dot Wo has been Dot Wowing customers with a menu of American classics like beef with broccoli and true Chinese favorites, including clay hot pots.

Favorites: Grand House Asian Bistro, Golden Phoenix, Fung’s Kitchen, Chow’s Chinese Restaurant

Best Thai Restaurant

Thai House Restaurant

500 NW 23rd St.

Thai-red of the same old food? Then it’s time to make your way to Thai House Restaurant, even though the name is misleading. Yes, it serves great Thai food. Yes, it’s a well-run restaurant with happy servers and a fully-stocked lunch buffet. But if it’s a house, would anyone look askance at someone who shows up wearing pajamas and fuzzy slippers? Thai House Restaurant is a tasty place to be.

Favorites: Thai Kitchen OKC, Panang Thai Restaurant, Sala Thai, Tana Thai Bistro

Best Vietnamese Restaurant

Lido Restaurant

2518 N. Military Ave., Suite 101

Which came first: Lido or Oklahoma City? Sure, the elites up in their ivory towers will say that Oklahoma City was founded in 1889 and Lido didn’t appear to be here during the Land Runs. Whenever it got here, there’s a reason this Asian District mainstay has long been a resident of Best of OKC lists. There’s traditional Vietnamese food alongside Chinese favorites and even a small menu of French cuisine if you’re so inclined.

Favorites: Pho Lien Hoa, Mr. Pho, Golden Phoenix, Pho Cuong

Best Pho Restaurant

Pho Lien Hoa

901 NW 23rd St.

Eating a punch bowl-sized serving of pho from Pho Lien Hoa is basically mandatory for anyone new to Oklahoma City. Volunteer community patrols are stationed at every intersection on the outskirts of town, stopping motorists and asking if they’ve been to Pho Lien Hoa. Though it’s the perfect dish for fall and winter, it’s not hard to find people craving a piping-hot bowl of beef and noodle soup in the middle of the steamiest summers. It’s just that good.

Favorites: Mr. Pho, Pho’ever, Pho Cuong, Pho’Nomenal Vietnamese Noodle House

Best New Restaurant To Open Since 6/1/15

The Drake Seafood and Oysterette

519 NW 23rd St., Suite 111

A Good Egg Dining Group did plenty of research before opening The Drake Seafood and Oysterette in Oklahoma City last year. The long-awaited restaurant paid off dividends quickly as diners went wild for its assortment of seafood options, oysters and the impossible-to-resist squid ink “black mac.” The brightly lit sign beckons customers at night, and its wonderful service and immaculately cooked menu keeps them coming back.

Favorites: Guyutes, Sunnyside Diner, Chae Modern Korean, Cultivar Mexican Kitchen

Best Fine Dining Establishment

Cheever’s Cafe

2409 N. Hudson Ave.

Cheever’s Cafe is a beloved institution of finer dining in Oklahoma City, and its menu is affordable. What readers voted for was an enduring quality that started with Keith and Heather Paul back in 2000. Cheever’s is the rare restaurant that serves as a both a special occasion spot and a place to enjoy a great weeknight dinner with friends. It’s more proof that dining doesn’t have to break the bank to be fine.

Favorites: Red PrimeSteak, Vast, Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse, The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro

Best Neighborhood Pub

The Pump Bar

2425 N. Walker Ave.

There’s plenty of parking behind The Pump Bar, and even though it’s a destination spot for many, it’s also common to see crowds rolling in from nearby neighborhoods. Located at the top of the Uptown 23rd District, this come-as-you-are bar serves strong drinks and tasty meals with a smile. It’s not a place people go just to be seen, but it’s almost impossible not to run into someone friendly when you pull up a chair on the patio.

Favorites: James E. McNellie’s Public House, Henry Hudson’s Pub, Saints Pub, Guyutes

Best Dive Bar