Cafe 7
14101 N. May Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK

(405) 748-3354

Cafe 7 on North May Ave.

Cafe 7 has four menus (all of which offer choices in the same price range): Sandwiches, Pizza, Pasta, and Salads. The pizza is individual sized, and the pasta menu follows the trend of some national chains in offering a variety of dishes along with a “build your own pasta” selection. Cafe 7 is strictly local, though, and I think the real beauty of it is that you get individually prepared items with the type of selection that is normally available mainly in larger restaurants. They can meet all kinds of dietary needs, such as serving vegetarian and gluten free dishes, and the source of the food seems to be largely local. More than anything else I am impressed with the quality of the food.

Seasonal menus offer additional choices, some of which are higher priced. Most of my favorite items are from the regular menu, but there have been some standouts from the seasonal menu.

Cafe 7’s interior

Some of my personal feelings about Cafe 7 are that I like the dining room, I like their tea, and I think the prices are reasonable. I sometimes find it a problem that they close at 8:00 P.M., but they do not seem to mind if customers stay after this time. I thought they had the best cupcakes in Oklahoma City, but they are no longer available and the staff tells me there is nowhere else that I can buy them (meaning that they did not come from one of the local cupcake restaurants). It is not really necessary to order a dessert here, though, since the meals are filling enough.

When customers enter the restaurant they pick up one of the order sheets, fill out the choices, and go to the counter to pay. Special orders are also available, but these sometimes have a higher price (I think the soup and sandwich combination I ordered was a dollar extra). I sometimes ask for suggestions from the employees at the counter, and I really have never gone wrong with the sandwiches, pasta, or seasonal specials they recommend. If they are busy, though, I think the system of giving you the menus while you are waiting in line works very well.

Sandwiches

Turkey and guacamole sandwich

On my first visit I ordered a special that is not listed on the menu– a half sandwich with soup. The full order of Turkey and Guacamole Sandwich (pictured above) was as good as the first experience, and reinforced my idea that this is a good flavor combination. The turkey seemed to be roasted (not processed), and I think this set it apart from most turkey meat served in restaurants. The bread has changed since my first visit (not better or worse– just something different). The fact that the guacamole blended well with the turkey speaks to the art and thought that went into creating the sandwiches offered here.

The Cuban

The Cuban reinforced my opinion that the sandwiches are top quality. With pulled pork, ham, Cuban relish, onions, pickles, Swiss cheese, and Dijonnaise sauce on a toasted hoagie there was plenty about this sandwich to like. I did not notice any flavors that particularly stood out except the sauce and Swiss cheese, and all the meats were good. The sauce was a little spicy, probably comparable to most of the city’s Mexican restaurants.

Soups

Cream of broccoli soup

The Cream of Broccoli Soup sounded very good, but I thought the flavor was a little flat. The most disappointing thing, though, was that it was too salty for me. I thought the soup was fresh and good quality, but I tend to find the best soups at ethnic restaurants rather than ones that are American style.

Tomato basil soup and cobb salad

The Tomato Basil Soup was also one of my favorite items at Cafe 7, although I would not place it in the same category as the soup at some of the city’s better Italian restaurants.

Ms. Vickie’s Chips used to be served with all sandwiches, but they later dropped this in favor of the much better all natural Popchips potato chips. As of 2015 they seem to have changed the chips again, but in any case they are better than the original Ms. Vickie’s (but customers can still get Ms. Vickie’s for an additional cost if they want).

Salads
The Cobb Salad tasted very good when I sampled it, but I think it would not be filling enough to order as a meal (even though the regular salad is twice the size of the one shown in the picture). The honey mustard dressing was one of the highlights of it, after trying several less flavorful versions at other restaurants (such as Interurban).

Pasta

Rigatoni Sorrentino

Wanting to try items from the pasta section, I chose the Rigatoni Sorrentino because it sounded good from the menu. It also tasted good with a very good seasoning that I thought was not overpowered by Italian spices (one of my pet peeves in Italian restaurants). This dish contains grilled chicken, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes, all of which I thought were very good. The tomato cream sauce was also better than I thought it would be (I am not a big fan of cream sauces). This isn’t the kind of Italian food you get at Vito’s, but I thought it was very good and I enjoyed it.

Pasta maggio

Pasta Maggio was recommended by an employee at the counter, and was also very good. This had a creamy pesto sauce that I thought was not as good as the one with the rigatoni sorrentino, but the ingredients made up for it with chicken, mushrooms, and artichokes. Overall I would have to say this was the best pasta dish I have tried.

Pasta primavera

The Pasta Primavera is the one that I consider “my other favorite” (along with pasta maggio). This has a lemon flavor, and the banana peppers give it somewhat of a kick (in a good way that is not too spicy). I also like the vegetables in this one.

Pizza

Margherita pizza

Several types of pizza are served, including a “Build your own pizza” that comes with sauce, cheese, and up to three meat toppings. Margherita Pizza was one of the specialty pizzas offered (all pizzas are the same price unless you get more than three toppings). I thought the Margherita pizza was a little disappointing in the flavor of the pizza and texture of the crust. It had standard tomatoes instead of the sun dried tomatoes served in most Italian restaurants, and the flavor of the cheese was rather overwhelming compared to my perception of the way a Margherita pizza should be. The ingredients were fresh and good quality, but this was not my favorite pizza in terms of flavor.

Seasonal Menus

Fettuccine bona

Cafe 7 provides more variety by offering seasonal menus of different types of items. For instance, in Summer 2013 the Fettuccine Bona was an item I found very refreshing with green and red olives and a flavorful pesto seasoning. Another good item was the Muffaletta, which I thought was well made (with good sauce, meat, and bread). Other choices from the menu were a sirloin salad, salmon salad (both of which cost more than the standard menu items), two wraps, and an ultimate margherita pizza.

Chicken pot pie

The Chicken Pot Pie which I first had from the Fall 2016 menu (and again in Winter 2020) was an excellent version of a dish I usually order at any restaurant which has it on the menu. In case they have it in the future you may like to know that the crust and gravy were both good, it had large chunks of white meat chicken, there were plenty of potatoes, but I would say it was short of the other vegetables I usually like in a pot pie. It met my standard of not being too salty, and overall I liked it very much.

Hatch green chile mac & cheese

The Hatch Green Chile Mac & Cheese has evolved over a couple of years to the point that this is perhaps my favorite seasonal dish served. The cheese is thin and fully melted, and along with the fresh green chile I think this is what makes it special to me. On the heat scale the chile is about four out of five (not as spicy as they usually serve in New Mexico but spicy enough to really bring out the flavor).

Desserts

Red velvet cookie

Some of their desserts have been wonderful, such as the Chocolate Mousse and the Cupcakes. However, they keep changing the desserts all the time, and I know the cupcakes are no longer available. I am not sure what is good at the moment, or if the Red Velvet Cookies, which I liked, are still available.

Additional Comments
Customers fill up their own drink cups, and there is a choice of three kinds of iced tea: black, green, and white.

Side dishes are somewhat limited, but I liked the Potato Salad (and I would have liked it even better if it were not made with mayonnaise).

When Saturn Grill had a location on Memorial Road I was able to compare a number of items there and at Cafe 7. My conclusions were that Saturn Grill had better vegetarian sandwiches overall, but that the turkey and guacamole and Cuban sandwiches at Cafe 7 were better than any of the meat versions served at Saturn Grill. I liked the pasta dishes better at Cafe 7, but overall I thought the seasonal menu was much better at Saturn Grill. I never really formed an opinion about who had better soup.

Cafe 7 has now opened a restaurant in downtown OKC, and the large number of customers on North May attests to its continued popularity. People know good food when they taste it, though, and this is certainly among my favorite places. Update Sep. 2020: According to published sources the downtown location is closing.

RATING: 23

Cuisine: Deli
Cost: $$
Hours: Closed Sunday
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking
Alcohol: Beer, Wine

Most Recent Visit: Feb. 19, 2020
Number of Visits: 10+
Best Items: Turkey and Guacamole Sandwich, Cuban, Tomato Basil Soup, Pasta Maggio, Pasta Primavera, Chicken Pot Pie (seasonal menu), Hatch Green Chile Mac & Cheese (seasonal menu)

Special Ratings

	Turkey and Guacamole Sandwich
	Cuban
	Pastrami Reuben
	Classic Turkey & Swiss
	Pasta Maggio
	Pasta Primavera
	Rigatoni Sorrentino
	Margherita Pizza
	Tomato Basil Soup
	Cream of Broccoli Soup
	Signature Salad
	Cobb Salad
	Potato Salad

Seasonal Menu

	Fettuccine Bona (Summer)
	Muffaletta (Summer)
	Green Chile Mac & Cheese (Summer)
	Chicken Pot Pie (Fall & Winter)

Menu (Feb. 2020):

Vito’s Ristorante

7628 N. May Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
(405) 848-4867

Vito’s and the next door restaurant Bacon at the old location

Update 2020: Vito’s has moved to 7628 N. May. The photos in this article are from the old location at 7521 N. May Ave. The food is still the same, and takeout orders are available (and are a good option during the virus outbreak when all Oklahoma City restaurants have been ordered to close their dine-in facilities). I have included some takeout suggestions at the bottom of the article. The Sean Cummings Irish Pub is now next door to Vito’s at the new location.

With Italian restaurants I generally find one or two dishes that stand out among the rest, and which I will usually order on return visits. At a few restaurants, though, the red sauce, cheese, and overall flavor are so good I can imagine that I would enjoy just about anything served, and so far this has been the case with Vito’s Ristorante.

Located in north Oklahoma City, Vito’s is among the several Italian restaurants I would have tried simply because of its proximity to me. Fortunately, though, I also consider it one of the better choices that can be found anywhere in the city.

The emphasis at Vito’s is all on home made food from family recipes. Cathy Cummings, the owner of Vito’s, grew up in a family that operated an Italian restaurant in Kansas City, and the food at Vito’s not only reflects the family’s traditional recipes but also some of Kansas City’s notable specialty dishes such as chicken spedini. The bread, sauces, and olive oil dipping sauce are all made in house, and the food is about as close to “home cooking” as you can get.

Vito’s is open for dinner only and dinner portions are quite large. Dinners come with either soup or salad, and of course bread. Smaller dinners are also available such as Italian sausage or meatballs (they are not on the menu but Cathy suggested this to me).

Cathy’s husband operates the restaurant next door (formerly an Irish pub but now a restaurant called Bacon), and the front door of the building can take you into either restaurant. The two restaurants work together on some items (such as the bread baking), and it has been interesting to see the two restaurant concepts unfold over time (I do still miss the Irish pub, though).

Salads and Appetizers

Complimentary bread

Customers begin the meal with complimentary home made Bread. This fresh bread and olive oil dip is addictive, running the risk that you will feel nearly full before the meal even arrives.

Tomato and basil soup

Many dinners come with a choice of soup or salad, and usually I find the soup to be a better choice. The Tomato and Basil Soup, for instance, was truly memorable for its flavor, freshness, and quality. The soups change daily and probably seasonally, but I was particularly impressed with this one.

Salad

Salad is a good choice as well, and as the photo demonstrates this is much more than the typical “house salad” served at many Italian restaurants. The salad at Vito’s has greens that are actually green, and the tangy dressing is quite good (although I still prefer the dressing at Papa Dio’s).

Lasagna

Lasagna

One of my favorite dishes at Vito’s has been the Lasagna, a wonderful concoction of beef and pork meatballs, pasta, cheese, and sauce that is not quite like any other lasagna dish I have tried. The meatballs are cooked into the sauce, but would be easy to remove if you are a vegetarian. To me, though, this is definitely one of the best parts of the dish. So far this is the best lasagna I have found in OKC.

Chicken Dishes

Chicken marsala

The Chicken Marsala was frankly not my favorite dish here, but it impressed me by having a better flavor than the cream sauces I have tried in many other restaurants.

Chicken scaloppine

Chicken Scalloppine is a relatively recent addition to the menu, and originally only veal was served. However, the mushrooms, capers, olives, and lemon butter sauce are really too good to be kept to only one dish, and I thought the chicken version was a definite winner. This dish was a good balance of flavors, and is a good alternative to the red sauce dishes (but you don’t have to miss out on the red sauce because it is served with pasta on the side).

The Chicken Parmesan was excellent as well, with tender chicken and a light sauce. The parmesan cheese slices lightly melted on top contributed as much as anything to the excellent quality of the dish (as they do with the eggplant dish).

Spaghetti

Spaghetti and meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs were memorable not only for the meatballs, but also for the sauce. The meat seemed to be the same as the one used in the lasagna, only formed into larger balls (two meatballs were served with the order). The sauce had thick chunks of tomatoes and vegetables that made it delicious and filling. It had a noticeable sweet flavor, but I think it is the same sauce used in all the dishes at Vito’s. It just seemed sweeter with the spaghetti due to a lack of distractions such as cheese that would offset the sauce’s flavor. A generous amount of basil was used, but this seems to be the case with all the dishes at Vito’s. I was particularly impressed with the spaghetti for being a very satisfying dish with no cheese (although the server will add parmesan cheese if desired).

Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant parmesan

The Eggplant Parmesan is one of the best in the city, and on an earlier menu it was listed as “Vito’s specialty” (now there are three dishes listed as specialties). I think the eggplant truly qualifies as a specialty because they have everything down right, including the breading, the eggplant, and the sauce. This is one of the two or three eggplant parmesan dishes in the city that I think is definitely worth trying. Of special note is the fact that Vito’s has avoided the temptation to overcook the eggplant.

One further note is that I frequently share this dish and I feel that the quantity is more than adequate for two persons (but when sharing I order an extra soup or salad).

Kansas City Specialties

Italian sausage

Italian Sausage is one of the items at Vito’s that is well known for being authentic and one of the best examples that can be found in Oklahoma City. Since some time passed between sampling the meatballs and the Italian sausage, I cannot say for sure which is better. It seemed, though, that both were excellent. The spices in the Italian sausage were so unique that this appears to be the reason the sausage is especially sought out. The sausage shown in the photo was a side serving, and it is available in the number of pieces desired or on a dinner.

Chicken spedini

The Italian sausage is one of the several specialties Cathy brought from Kansas City, and which is popular in the restaurants there. Another is the Chicken Spedini, a breaded and highly seasoned grilled chicken dish with no tomato sauce, but which comes with a side of pasta that gives a balance of flavors. I enjoyed this dish not only because of the flavor, but also because it is not often I find something I like to order at Italian restaurants that is a departure from the normal dishes served at every restaurant.

Desserts

Spumoni

Vito’s does not have as many dessert choices as other Italian restaurants (I think it is because very few customers ever have room for dessert). One that is good, though, is the Spumoni ice cream which is much like the three-flavored Neapolitan ice cream found at ice cream shops (except that these flavors are a little different).

Chocolate cake

If your appetite can handle, it, though, I really recommend the Chocolate Cake which is so rich I think one piece can be shared by everyone at your table no matter how many are at the table.

Takeout Orders

House salad for takeout

Dinners come with soup or salad, and the house salad is usually my choice.

Caesar salad

I think this is one of the best Caesar salads in town.

Eggplant parmesan for takeout

Eggplant parmesan is one of the House Specialties, and is one of my favorite dishes.

Takeout order of ravioli

Ravioli does not have broccoli or pasta on the side, but it does come with a salad. This is a good choice for takeout because it keeps well and reheats well (in case you cannot eat all of this at one sitting as I seem to not be able to do).

Takeout order of chicken scaloppine

Chicken scaloppine is one of my favorite items here.

All of the items I have tried for takeout have had the same flavor and quality as in the restaurant. Cathy provides her home made bread to go with the meals (just as you get in the restaurant).

I think the ravioli is a good choice if you want to reheat the dinner and get more than one meal out of it (I did not get to try the chicken scaloppine as a leftover so I do not know how it comes out). With the eggplant parmesan the only thing that I thought suffered as a leftover was the texture of the eggplant (eggplant is not one of my favorite vegetables to begin with, but I do like the way Cathy makes it).

Closing Comments
Vito’s is a small family run operation, and it is obvious that much care is taken to assure high quality. Probably the biggest drawback is that the menu is smaller than other Italian restaurants, but there is no shortage of good choices. Some items have been added over time, and if you don’t see what you want chances are that they can still cook it for you. Pizza is really the only item I might have expected the restaurant to have that is not served.

Vito’s is a dinner-only restaurant (in 2008 it began serving lunch but this has now been discontinued). I like the limited hours, though, because this is one way they maintain the high quality (and every time I have gone I have seen Cathy there).

Wine is available from the wine list or the house wines. My information also says they have a full bar, but I am not sure about this.

The bottom line about Vito’s is that it and Papa Dio’s are my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. I order different items at each restaurant, though (here it is usually eggplant parmesan and at Papa Dio’s it is usually chicken cacciatore or a pasta dish with cacciatore sauce). In my opinion these two restaurants are co-winners of the chicken parmesan contest.

RATING: 25

Cuisine: Italian
Cost: $$$
Hours: Dinner only (closed Sun.)
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking
Alcohol: Wine

Most Recent Visit: Feb. 12, 2020
Number of Visits: 10+
Best Items: Eggplant Parmesan, Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Italian Sausage, Chicken Scaloppine, Chocolate Cake

Special Ratings

	Eggplant Parmesan
	Chicken Parmesan
	Chicken Scaloppine
	Lasagna
	Spaghetti and Meatballs
	Chicken Spedini
	Italian Sausage
	Spaghetti and Meatballs
	Chicken Marsala
	Tomato Soup
	Salad
	Chocolate Cake

Menu (Oct. 2016):

Sean Cummings Irish Pub

7628 N. May Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
(405) 841-7326

The old location at 7523 N. May

Update 2020: Sean Cummings Irish Pub has reopened and is located next to his wife’s restaurant (Vito’s) at 7628 N. May. The interior photos in this article are from the old location at 7521 N. May Ave. Both Vito’s and Sean Cummings Irish Pub have takeout orders available even when the dine-in facilities have been ordered to stay closed during the virus outbreak.

When I was visiting England it seemed that neighborhood pubs were a reliable source of good food, and although it was not fine dining it was enjoyable. For some items, such as fish and chips, I found it better to go to larger restaurants that specialized in that item. Although Sean Cummings’ Irish Restaurant and Pub would not want to be accused of committing the heresy of serving English food, the concept of Irish pubs is very similar to the English variety. At Sean Cummings’ Restaurant the atmosphere is relaxed, drinks are an integral part of the menu, and the food served is what I would call comfort food. Because of this, when I went to Sean Cummings’ Restaurant I felt right at home.

Over my lifetime it seems that American restaurants in Oklahoma City have largely disappeared. There is still an abundance of hamburgers and fried food, but it is difficult to find places that serve food that taste like home cooked meals. Although Sean Cummings’ Restaurant is European, there are enough similarities to the home cooked meals I have experienced to say that this is a good place to satisfy these cravings. Like many European style restaurants, it is not as much the exotic nature of the food that attracts me as its familiarity, and the feeling that this is the type of food that I really like.

Salads and Appetizers

Bread served as an appetizer

Meals start out with a serving of bread. At the old restaurant I was not overly impressed with the bread, but now I find it to be one of the highlights of the meal. In fact, this bread is so good that I use any portion that manages to remain uneaten as a supplement to my breakfasts.

Soup and salad

A soup and salad plate are also available, such as the one pictured. I do not know the full list of soups offered, but the emphasis is on traditional varieties that taste home made. The Clam Chowder was very good, and Sean Cummings’ Restaurant is one of the few sources of it in Oklahoma City (and as at Sean’s former restaurant Boca Boca, seafood items are some the best that can be ordered here).

Irish Stew

Irish stew

My initial visit to Sean Cummings’ Restaurant was at the original location in The Village after Boca Boca had been turned into the Pub. Now after two location changes and a time when the Irish Pub was not open at all, the Irish Stew I tried at the first location is still my favorite item at the restaurant. This is a classic stew with meat, potatoes, and vegetables thrown in, but I have had very few stews that taste as good as this one. Stew is a dish that I commonly associate with American restaurants, but it is one of the reasons I have found most American restaurants in the city to be so disappointing (and Sean Cummings’ Restaurant, by contrast, to be so good). This dish is not a traditional American dish, but I think it is something that helped inspire American cooking when much of it was better than it is now.

Shepard’s Pie

Shepard’s pie

Shepard’s Pie is another traditional comfort food, made with ground beef, carrots, green beans, cheddar cheese, and a liberal amount of mashed potatoes. I thought it had a flavorful sauce, and was another good dish. It may also be the most filling dish that the restaurant serves.

Fish and Chips

Fish and chips

To judge Fish and Chips my standards are primarily the ones I ate in London and secondarily the ones on the Oregon and California coast. I know Oklahoma City should not and probably cannot be held to the same standards, but the ones at Sean Cummings’ Restaurant were quite good nevertheless. They were good fish with a good batter, and this is about all that is involved in the fish. The chips (french fries) were about the same quality, but this is the area where I felt the ones in London were noticeably better. The dish was missing cole slaw or something to accompany it to balance the flavors and to offset eating so much fried food, but this can be ordered as a side dish.

Bangers and Mash

Bangers and mash

The Bangers and Mash (Irish sausage links) dispel the idea that Irish food might be bland, with a very spicy sausage and peppery gravy for the mashed potatoes. The sausage tasted a little like bratwurst and the gravy was very much like I would expect brown gravy to be, except that it had quite a lot of pepper. The mashed potatoes were a little disappointing in taste, but at least the texture was good and I did not believe them to be instant.

I am used to spicy Asian food, but I am not used to the kind of spiciness found in the bangers, so they were not quite as enjoyable as German bratwurst or other sausages would have been that do not have as much kick to them (I also do not care for the hot links served at barbecue restaurants). This is just my personal preference.

Other Items
This section is for items I did not order but for which I have had reports that they are very good:

Corned beef

The corned beef looks appetizing, but I have not had a chance to try it.

Desserts

Creme brulee

Several desserts were offered, and the Creme Brulee I tried was good but I thought was overpriced, and better ones are served at other restaurants.

Takeout Orders

Bread comes with takeout orders

Bread is not only excellent with the meal, but is great with breakfasts at home. The bread was freshly baked, but was still good for three or four days after I had it at home (although it was a struggle to keep it around this long without eating it).

Shepard’s pie

I enjoyed the takeout version of Shepard’s Pie with no noticeable diminishing of quality from the dine-in version.

The Pub has been known for its live music and relaxing environment, but at times when you cannot dine in, at least the food seems to be just as good as it is when you eat in the restaurant.

Closing Comments
Sean Cummings’ Restaurant offers a good choice of items, but my favorites are the ones I consider to be the more healthy options such as the Irish stew. Other dishes are available that I have not yet been able to try, and they all look interesting. Based on my experience here and at Boca Boca (Sean’s previous restaurant), I would not be hesitant to try anything on the menu. There is an overall freshness and good quality to everything served that I think makes this an excellent restaurant.

RATING: 23

Cuisine: Irish
Cost: $$
Hours: Dinner only (open daily)
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking
Alcohol: Beer and Drinks

Most Recent Visit: Jan. 26, 2020
Number of Visits: 5
Best Items: Irish Stew, Bread

Special Ratings

	Irish Stew
	Shepard’s Pie
	Fish and Chips
	Bangers and Mash
	Creme Brulee
	Bread

 

Ranch Steakhouse

3000 W. Britton Rd.
Oklahoma City, OK
(405) 755-3501

Ranch Steakhouse

Growing up in Oklahoma I never realized that other parts of the country did not enjoy the same abundance of good quality steaks as here, but in recent years it has been much harder even in the Southwest to find the same kind of beef I remember as a youngster. I am not sure where along the supply chain much of the beef seems to have lost its flavor, but I have learned to distrust many of the claims made by restaurants that they serve a great steak.

Ranch Steakhouse on the north side of Oklahoma City, though, goes a long way in my quest to find steaks that live up to my expectation of the way I know they can be. I do not know if Ranch Steakhouse has the best steaks in Oklahoma, but I believe it is close. I cannot afford to go to all of the steak restaurants to find out which one is actually the best, but at Ranch Steakhouse I am pretty sure people will be satisfied that this is about as good as it gets.

Even though Ranch Steakhouse is quite upscale, blue jeans are about as common here as they are at Cattlemen’s at the Stockyards. It is expensive, but I think people will consider it a bargain for the quality of meat served, especially when compared to upscale restaurants in large cities (although I say this without having much first hand experience with them).

Ranch Steakhouse’s web site includes the following information about the steaks:

Every evening you’ll find an extraordinary menu featuring 100% USDA Certified Prime tenderloins, strips, and ribeyes being skillfully prepared and cut by hand for each guest who dines with us. Our exceptional chef-driven cuisine consists entirely of custom aged hand cut Prime Beef from Nature Source that is never exposed to antibiotics or hormones and fed on grass up until just before being processed. We also offer a selection of Grade 12 Japanese Wagu Filets, 100% Grass Fed Filets and Dry Aged Ribeyes.

In ordering a filet the waiter informed me that there were three levels that could be ordered: the filet I ordered from the regular menu was about $50, the 100% grass fed filet was about $80 (this one is more tender), and the Japanese Wagyu was $30 per ounce (and is the most tender). The latter two are not listed on the menu, and the difference with the 100% grass fed meat is just the amount of time they are fed grass (the regular beef is grass until the time of processing).

The bottom line is that even the “regular” steaks are what I consider to be a special treat, and these are the ones I am saying are among the best in Oklahoma. I ordered the grass fed filet in 2010 when it was not as expensive as it is today, and I would say my enjoyment level of both types of steak was about the same.

Also in 2010 they were saying that their most expensive steak was “Kobe beef,” and I think they had to change this to “Wagu” because of the the term “Kobe” being a trademark for only certain beef which comes from Japan (and there were about a dozen restaurants in the entire United States that served genuine Kobe beef). I did not ask them on the last visit what they mean by “Japanese Wagu,” but I think this is the same steak they were selling earlier as “Kobe.”

For my taste Ranch Steakhouse is top quality, but there may be other levels of top quality available at a few restaurants in the country that are at a higher level then here.

Salads and Appetizers

Chop House Salad

Even though I thought the steaks were top notch, I did not feel the same way about the Chop House Salad. This was a good salad, but it did not seem to me to reach the same level as the salads at Boulevard Steakhouse, Cheever’s, or a number of other good restaurants. The fact that it was topped with cheddar cheese was not a good sign to me, and I was underwhelmed enough by the other ingredients to think that maybe putting cheese on top was actually an improvement. Still, it was not bad, just a little below the level I would expect in a very good steak restaurant.

There are quite a few other choices for salads and appetizers, so I do not know if I would have a better opinion overall if I tried some of the other items.

Steak
Of course steak is the main reason to come to Ranch Steakhouse. All of the steaks are “Prime,” are grass fed until just before the time they are processed, and are hormone and antibiotic free. I believe being grass fed is the most important factor in the good flavor I find in the steaks here.

Strip

The menu has changed somewhat since an earlier visit I made in 2010. At this time the regular menu was not being advertised as being grass fed, but you could get grass fed beef at a higher cost. At this time I ordered a grass fed Strip at the higher cost. This cut, though, had extra fat and slightly different flavor that has since made me stick with the filet.

Tenderloin filet on a recent visit

My most recent order of a Filet was quite good, but was cut into bite-sized pieces which was quite surprising to me (but I think in a good way). I had eaten a filet on a previous visit, and this continues to be my first choice when coming here.

They now offer the filet at three different sizes (7 oz., 10 oz, or 16 oz.). The one pictured is ten ounces (which I shared, and both of us found it to be the right size).

Steaks are available with a choice of toppings for an extra charge, but with beef this good I am not sure it could be improved upon.

Side Dishes

Side sampler

A Side Sampler of vegetables is available for $20 as of the time of this writing, consisting of two vegetables plus a baked potato. The choices of vegetables can be made from their list of about eleven items (I am not including the various types of potatoes). My plate had two baked potatoes because the waiter said the potatoes were small that evening, but normally you get one (also I think the waiter did us a favor because there were two of us). In any case, I cannot complain about what you get for your money.

I have not found all of the side dishes to be equally enjoyable, though. The two in the photo (asparagus and carrots) are among the best I have tried. Probably my first choice on any visit, though, would be the baked potato. It came with all the toppings I like, and the potato is always cooked the right way.

Au gratin potatoes

The Au Gratin Potatoes surprised me, though, by not matching what I consider to be the overall quality of the restaurant (although I felt the same way about the chop house salad). I thought the potatoes had too much garlic, too much cheese in relation to the other ingredients, and potatoes that were not crispy enough with a texture I did not enjoy (other than that it was good, of course).

My choice of broccoli and carrots was on the suggestion of the waiter, and I might advise this tactic when coming here for the first time or when not knowing what you would like from the vegetable menu.

Dessert

Dulce de leche cake

One feature that does seem to be as good as the steaks, though, is the desserts. The Dulce de Leche Cake I tried was one of the best after dinner treats I have had in Oklahoma City. I also understood from the waiter that this is the only dessert Ranch Steakhouse makes in house, so this may be the only one about which I would have such a high opinion. This particular dessert, though, was well worth the money.

Other Comments
After several visits I have concluded that Ranch Steakhouse probably has the best steaks I have tried in Oklahoma City (or in the case of Red Prime, which also has excellent steaks, Ranch Steakhouse seems to be less expensive). The problem, though, is that many of the side dishes at Ranch Steakhouse do not match up to the steaks. Ranch Steakhouse is my personal choice for “best steak,” but for a whole meal experience, including salad and side dishes, other restaurants such as Boulevard Steakhouse or Red Prime might be a better choice.

Ranch Steakhouse is located in north Oklahoma City away from the popular tourist areas (but just down the street from the popular “restaurant strip” on Lake Hefner), so it does not seem to be on the tourist radar for out of town visitors. I think, though, that it offers an excellent taste of Oklahoma steak. It is certainly popular with locals, and it usually seems that even when I go on weekdays, I end up getting one of the few tables available. I think there is good reason the locals make regular visits when they want a fine dining experience.

I think reservations would be a good idea on weekends, but so far I have done fine by going and taking my chances (all of these visits were on weekdays).

They have valet parking here, but for me this would not be something I would want to consider since the entire parking lot seems like a short walk to me.

RATING: 26

Cuisine: Steaks
Cost: $$$$
Hours: Dinner Only (Open Daily)
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking
Alcohol: Full Bar

Most Recent Visit: Jan. 9, 2019
Number of Visits: 4
Best Items: Filet, Baked Potato, Broccoli, Carrots, Dulce de Leche Cake

Special Ratings

	Filet
	Strip
	Baked Potato
	Carrots
	Asparagus
	Chop House Salad

Someplace Else A Deli & Bakery
2310 N. Western Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK

(405) 524-0887

Someplace Else Deli

Someplace Else Deli is too well known, has reviews that are too good, and has been around for so long that it should not have taken me until 2019 to try it, but it did. The problem is that it is located in one of the foremost Asian Districts in the United States, and when I am in the area I am usually on the hunt for some excellent Asian food. My first visit to Someplace Else happened as part of a “crawl” with a friend where we split an Asian meal and then went to Someplace Else to do the same thing. I am glad I did it this way, and I found out that all the good reviews about Someplace Else are true.

Someplace Else actually predates the Asian District, and it was in operation before the first Vietnamese refugees settled in Oklahoma City, sparking the early development of what later became the Asian District. The age of Someplace Else is also the reason I like it. This is not one of fancy new sandwich shops where you make your own sandwich and choose from their exotic ingredients. Someplace Else has a menu, and they make each sandwich one way. You have the option of omitting any topping or ingredient, or adding them, but my experience is that the way Someplace Else makes a sandwich seems to be hard to improve upon.

They also have a very large bakery with mostly pastries and sweet goods (brownies, chocolate cookies, etc.). There are several good bakeries in town with similar items, but what distinguishes the ones here is that they are more affordable than others, yet I think just as good (based on my sample).

Reuben

Reuben

It is hard to see from the photo what is inside the Reuben but it was quite good, and was a combination that I would never have compiled on a “make your own” sandwich. This was because the key ingredient to it was the thousand island dressing which the person taking my order recommended, and for some reason I had enough trust in him to follow his suggestion. It was their house made dressing, so of course I should have known that it would be far better than the thousand island you would find in the average restaurant. The meat was corned beef, as would be expected, and it came with Swiss and sauerkraut. This combination works very well, and I think the reason is largely because of the thousand island.

I am now in a dilemma about whether to recommend Someplace Else or Ingrid’s for a Reuben sandwich. All I can say is that they are different, and they are both good. I like Ingrid’s for the sauerkraut. Someplace Else has sauerkraut on the sandwich, but not as much of it. Both sandwiches are good, and I would not argue with anyone who says it is better at one place than the other.

The Bakery
There is a large selection of pastries and goodies from the bakery. The brownies and chocolate cookies I tried were enough to convince me that this bakery can compete with anyone in town. It did seem to be less expensive than other bakeries, though, so this is a definite plus.

Other Information
Most of the meats for sale in the deli were the Dietz & Watson brand.

Someplace Else is open for breakfast, and has items such as sausage biscuits.

Parking in front of the store is very limited and is on the street.

According to Google the hours are Mon-Fri 7:00 am to 6:30 pm, Sat 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.

RATING: N/R

Cuisine: Sandwiches
Cost: $
Hours: Breakfast & Lunch Only (Closed Sun.)
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking

Most Recent Visit: Jan. 9, 2019
Number of Visits: 1
Best Items: Reuben, Brownies

Special Ratings

Reuben

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

My impression of Tokyo Japanese Restaurant is that it is trying hard to provide the most authentic Japanese food in Oklahoma City. The heart of Japanese food is fish, and I know how difficult it has been throughout the years to get fresh seafood to the Great Plains (although Oklahoma has never lacked for its own version of fresh water fish). Tokyo has stuck with it, though, and now I think the state has a much better supply of fish and seafood that is worthy of the experienced chefs here.

Of course, Japanese food also includes dishes made with chicken, beef, and pork, and these have always been among the best choices at Tokyo. It is really a “full service” restaurant that serves sushi and all the important dishes generally found in Japanese restaurants.

I can tell from looking at Tokyo’s converted old house that it is not trying to be trendy, it is just concentrating on good food. People might be surprised how pleasant the interior is, though, from looking at it from the outside. The wood floors and Japanese decor in the dining room remind me of the better west coast Japanese restaurants.

Appetizers
The Miso Soup is fresh, and one of the best. Nowadays many restaurants have good miso, and I almost take it for granted. Tokyo seemed to be the first one to set the standard in OKC, though, so it remains my sentimental favorite.

House salad and miso soup served with the dinner menu

A large side Salad is also available on the dinner menu (usually at no extra cost), and the Japanese style dressing is excellent. I did not think the lettuce rated it as a five-star salad, but with the dressing served it is definitely one of my favorites. The “Happy Lunch” comes with a small serving of salad, and I find this to be one of the highlights of eating lunch at Tokyo.

Lunch Menu

Tokyo Box lunch with sushi and salmon teriyaki

About 90% of my visits to Tokyo have been at lunch, when I not only experience lower prices but I can also get some of the most flavorful and healthy lunches in town. An outstanding feature of Tokyo is the “Tokyo Box” combination plate served with some of the restaurant’s best dishes. The box lunch is probably the most substantial lunch served in terms of the quantity of food, and it consists of the customer’s choice of foods from two groups (one of which has sushi as one of the choices). The sushi is whatever the chef wishes to serve, but a California roll can be ordered instead of nigiri or sashimi. The box lunch comes with miso soup, usually making it the best deal for lunch even though it is more expensive than the other plates.

Happy Lunch with salmon teriyaki

The “Happy Lunch” comes with one main item and kakiage (shredded vegetable tempura), rice, and salad, but no soup. This offers a cost saving if you do not want sushi, and between the salad and the kakiage this makes an excellent and satisfying lunch.

The choice of lunch entrées is almost as large as on the dinner menu, and comes at a lower price. I do not know which items have a salad (although the Happy Lunch has a small salad), and other than the Tokyo Box I do not know if anything else includes miso. I would expect, though, that in some way the lunches include less food and therefore have a lower price.

My favorite item to include in both the Tokyo Box and Happy Lunch is Salmon Teriyaki with a very thick and flavorful teriyaki sauce. Atlantic salmon is most common in Oklahoma, but other varieties may be available at times. I was told that the chef buys the best fish available at the market, so that there is not just one type of salmon that is served. Tokyo is arguably the best place in Oklahoma City to get salmon teriyaki (and this is not even counting the excellent sauce to top it off). Unfortunately I cannot say that the salmon is one of Tokyo’s best items because Oklahoma is very far from the source. It is by far my favorite item for lunch, though, because I love salmon and Tokyo serves the best that is available.

Sushi

Tokyo’s sushi bar has some of the freshest offerings in OKC. Items in center are fresh water eel and salt water eel.

The chefs at the sushi bar are probably the most experienced in Oklahoma City, and I would certainly say they are among the best. To me they exhibit all the characteristics of a good sushi chef: they find the freshest fish available, they know how to prepare it correctly, and they will be honest with the customer to recommend the “chef’s choice” for the best sushi (whether or not it is listed as a special).

Sushi can be ordered from the sushi menu, on combination lunch or dinner plates, or from the “chef’s recommendations of the day.” Sushi on the box lunch usually includes tuna and salmon, while the sashimi option includes a couple of additional choices such as a crab stick and octopus. The “chef’s recommendations” (the fresher, higher quality sushi) are sometimes included on sushi plates, but it is best to ask. I have found the tuna to usually be the best sushi served in the box lunch.

Philadelphia roll

Of course the chefs here can prepare California rolls and other types of rolls, but I am not a big fan of these and would not judge a sushi chef’s talent based on these dishes. The Philadelphia Roll (made with cream cheese) was good, but not what I consider to be traditional Japanese sushi.

Yellowtail sushi was the Chef’s Recommendation

One advantage of going for dinner is that there seems to be a more extensive sushi selection, and I usually have more time to experiment with it. For one of my dinner starters I ordered the “Chef’s Recommendation” of Yellowtail Nigiri, which was quite fresh and just about the same as can be found on the west coast. Sushi is a food that I like but only order occasionally, and so far Tokyo has been on the top of my list of places to order it in Oklahoma City. I find Tokyo to satisfy the test for having fresh fish and knowing how to prepare it.

For nigiri the rice is supposed to be as important as the fish, but I am afraid I would have to say the fish is much more important. Still, though, I would rate the rice here as being very good, and does not come apart as easily as some others served with sushi.

The Salmon Sushi also has impressed me with its flavor and red color, and is one of the varieties served in the lunch box (but tuna is probably my favorite).

Dinner Menu

Katsu don

Katsu Don is a dish that is very traditional, filling, and reasonably priced. This was made with a fried pork cutlet with an egg omelet and onions over steamed rice (but it is filling even without the rice). The egg was placed around the edge of the meat (and is the lighter colored substance in the photo). A red colored ginger was added for flavor. I thought everything about this dish was very good, although the flavor was not as exciting as with some other dishes.

The Chicken Katsu had one of the best sauces I have found in any restaurant, and the breading was quite good. This is one of the choices for lunch (in the Tokyo Box), or is available on the dinner menu (in the dinner Tokyo Box or as a separate item).

Tempura udon has a rich, dark broth

A bowl of Tempura Udon I tried from the dinner menu was outstanding, with a dark, rich broth and good noodles. The shrimp and vegetable tempura was the same excellent quality as the one served at lunch. I have always enjoyed Tokyo’s tempura dipping sauce (if you order tempura separately or on the side).

For lunch a bowl of Udon is available without the tempura. This soup is not much more expensive than the miso (if you order the miso a la carte), but the udon is more filling.

Nabeyaki Udon comes with chicken, shrimp tempura, fish cake, egg, carrot, and shitake mushrooms. I think this dish is very “Japanese style,” and is a good alternative to tempura udon.

Vegetable Tempura is one of the options for lunch or dinner and is excellent. I think the plates normally offer a combination of shrimp and vegetable tempura, but it is so seldom that I find restaurants that can make good vegetables that I like to order this at Tokyo.

Beef and chicken teriyaki

Beef Teriyaki is possibly the best dish at the restaurant when judging it as a food reviewer (although I probably like the salmon teriyaki better just because I like salmon). The beef teriyaki seemed to be done perfectly in terms of the quality of the meat, the mushrooms, and the sauce. The sauce had a little bit of sweetness, but was not overly so as I think is done in some of the more Americanized restaurants.

The order of teriyaki shown in the preceding photo shows beef mixed with chicken. I thought the Chicken Teriyaki was also good, but not as flavorful as the beef. The bowl in the middle is for dipping the kakiage. A small bowl of seaweed on the side provides extra flavor and nutrition.

Tea

Miso and tea

Green Tea is on the house and served in a cup (when you need refills they will come around and serve you). Because of what most restaurants charge for either iced or hot tea, I think it is a very good deal when you do not have to pay for it (and the tea here is very good).

Desserts

Plum ice cream

This section reveals one of my secrets–I like to come to Tokyo on my birthday because they give me a free dessert. Actually, it started out the other way around–I went to Tokyo on my birthday because I considered it a special treat, and I did not know they gave free desserts. In any case, they can always count on my business whether it is my birthday or not.

Tempura ice cream

The Tempura Ice Cream is one that I particularly enjoyed, although I do not know if this is normally a “free” one (but birthday desserts are denoted by a candle on top and are always free). Sometimes, though, the regular ice cream is just as interesting such as the plum ice cream shown above (which is not one of their normal flavors).

I have found all of the desserts to be more than I want to eat and sufficient for sharing (which works out great for my “birthday parties”).

Overall Assessment
Tokyo is a friendly, comfortable, and moderately priced restaurant where you can feel at home, especially if you are a regular customer. The sushi chefs are among the most experienced I have met, and this is one of the key factors that makes a good sushi restaurant.

I would have to say, though, that the regular menu offers the food I order most often, and enjoy the most. I do not think I can point to any single item that is the “best I have ever eaten,” but Tokyo has a consistent quality of which everything is good, and some are hard to match even in larger cities.

The sushi at Tokyo has always been surprisingly good compared to other restaurants in OKC and the Southwest, and I think even though the fish here is not the same as in seaport cities, the sushi chefs know how to find the best that is available and to make the most of it.

I do not place great importance on a sushi restaurant having more variety than other places just for the sake of saying it has a “large menu,” but it is good to know Tokyo has a relatively large selection. This, along with its quality, make Tokyo a winner. The fact that much of the cooked food is as good if not better than the sushi keeps Tokyo as my choice for “best Japanese in OKC.” If this ever changes it will probably not be because Tokyo will have gone downhill, it will be that someone else has the skills and makes the effort to provide the same quality. Such skills seem to be all too rare in the Japanese restaurant business.

RATING: 25

Asian Food Details

Tea:	Green (brewed) house
MSG:	No
Buffet:	No

 

Special Ratings

	Chicken Katsu
	Katsu Don
	Nabeyaki Udon
	Tempura Udon
	Tempura
	Beef Teriyaki
	Chicken Teriyaki
	Salmon Teriyaki
	Miso Soup

 

Sushi Ratings

	Chef’s Recommendation
	Tuna
	Snapper
	Tilapia
	Salmon
	Philadelphia Roll

 

Menu (Jan. 2019):

 

Royal Bavaria

3401 S. Sooner Rd.
Moore, OK
(405) 799-7666

Royal Bavaria

Oklahoma has traditionally had a hard time bringing in authentic and truly good ethnic restaurants such as Asian and Mexican, but with a large number of German immigrants it seems to excel in this particular genre of food.

Royal Bavaria is one of the premier German restaurants in the state, and as good as the food is, it is an even more memorable experience for many because of the home brewed beer that is served. I have eaten German food from Washington, DC to Washington State, and the offering here is near the top in quality of the food and the atmosphere.

I should point out that I have been to Royal Bavaria when it had its original owner, and there were quite a few changes I noticed in 2009 with the new management. In my opinion these changes were for the good, but the restaurant did not go from bad to good– it went from good to better.

One feature I really appreciated was that the restaurant is now totally non-smoking. This may be due to a state law rather than customer demand, but I found the previous non-smoking section to be inadequate. There is an outdoor patio that I think now serves as the smoking area for those who prefer it.

The new owner was a long time employee at Royal Bavaria before taking over, and I would say the food is really the same as it has always been. It was explained to me, though, that he felt it to be important to have an extended stay in Germany where he lived with a German family and learned many aspects of home made (as well as restaurant style) German food. Perhaps some would not fully appreciate the commitment made to preparing the food here, but I got the feeling that this was about as authentic as one would find in a German restaurant in the U.S.

I do not need help in determining what food I enjoy, but a dining companion confirmed that the “new” restaurant was authentic and served high quality German food (from having a German background). Being authentic is not a substitute for serving good food, but in the case of Royal Bavaria I think customers get both.

Salad

Salad

I think the Salad selection here is not as extensive as at Ingrid’s, and certainly would not match Castle Falls, but the quality here seems to be as good as anyone’s. The salad shown in the photo is the house salad that comes with some dinners (and I think you can substitute a dinner side dish such as sauerkraut for the salad if you wish).

Hähnchenbrust

Hähnchenbrust with a “beer sampler”

One entrée I sampled at both the “old” and “new” restaurant was Hähnchenbrust in Cognacsause (chicken breast in cognac gravy with mushrooms). This was outstanding both times, and I think may be the best item served. One thing I enjoyed about this dish was that it was good without the breading that comes on many of my other favorite German dishes. I cannot attest as to how healthy this dish is, but it certainly seems to be.

Cordon Bleu

Cordon bleu

Cordon Bleu is a breaded dish stuffed with cheese and ham for a delicious, traditional dish. Different types of meat are available, and the veal I sampled was very good. In terms of flavor this was probably as good or better than the chicken dish I rated as my favorite, but chicken is something I prefer to order when I can. My dining companion thought the cordon bleu was prepared well and was an excellent example of German food.

Schnitzel

Jägerschnitzel

The Jägerschnitzel here was excellent, and although the mushroom sauce was something I liked very much, probably the meat itself along with the breading made it better than at many other restaurants (this was a pork loin). Fried potatoes were served on the side, and they are partially covered with the gravy, so this photo might make the schnitzel look larger than it actually it (but it was ample enough).

This is one case where I think the photo makes the dish look as good as it actually is, and I think it will sell itself (I can only say that for me it did not disappoint).

Other Meat Dishes
The Sauerbraten on my first visit was good but not outstanding. However, I have not tried it recently. I would also give it a favorable rating compared to others I have tried.

Special Dishes

Frankfurters from the sausage sampler

My dining companion on one visit discovered a feature of the restaurant I had not known before–you can make special requests. In this case he saw the Sausage Sampler on the menu, but only wanted the frankfurters from it. They accommodated this request, and it also came at a cheaper price than what customers would pay for the full sausage sampler.

With the German mustard they provided I thought the Frankfurter was quite good (that is, the small portion that I sampled).

Side Dishes
Side dishes were good, but the most notable was the Bavarian Potato Salad I tried on my first visit.

One feature I would probably rate as a minus with Royal Bavaria is that customers have to pay extra for a basket of bread. I tried the bread on my first visit, and thought it was good. On a later visit, though, I skipped the bread, and found the meal to be quite filling enough without the bread.

Desserts

Black forest cake

Black Forest Cake is one of the dessert items available, and I thought this was a good treat after an equally delicious dinner. My dining companion thought this was the only item we had that was not really similar to ones served in Germany, but we enjoyed it anyway.

Additional Information
I do need to mention that Royal Bavaria serves home brewed beer, and sample glasses are available (as shown in the photo of the Hähnchenbrust). I am not a good judge of such things, but a lot of people seem to think the beer is one of the best features of Royal Bavaria. I can say that I enjoyed it, but I will have to let the reader decide how the beer would rate compared to other restaurants.

Royal Bavaria also owns Das Boot Camp in Norman, which is a more casual restaurant that does not serve some of the high-end dishes such as Hähnchenbrust. It is also open for lunch (Royal Bavaria is not), and the Norman restaurant serves as a late night hangout for students and others who like to hang out late at night.

Royal Bavaria is open late enough, though, that customers will be able to enjoy the food and the beer. As of now Royal Bavaria is still in a rural setting, although I see urban development getting closer every time I go out there.

RATING: 25

Cuisine: German
Cost: $$$
Hours: Dinner Only (Open Daily)
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking
Alcohol: Beer, Wine

Most Recent Visit: Jan. 7, 2019
Number of Visits: 3
Best Items: Hähnchenbrust, Jägerschnitzel, Bavarian Potato Salad

Special Ratings

	Hähnchenbrust
	Jägerschnitzel
	Cordon Bleu
	Sauerbraten
	Sausage Sampler Plate
	Bavarian Potato Salad
	Fried Potatoes
	Red Cabbage