Sushi Neko

My review for Sushi Neko is in two parts due to making visits around 2005-2006, and again in 2017. In that time the menu changed, prices increased, and I felt that it had become more upscale (I think they just dropped some of the less expensive items from the menu). This is a fairly common trend with restaurants, and it seems to fit the neighborhood along North Western Avenue which is known for having some of the city’s most popular upscale restaurants.

Sushi Neko offers both sushi and grilled items, and in this respect has not changed since its early days. Musashi’s across the street (owned by the same people) has a different concept by putting on a knife show and cooking the food on a grill in front of your table, so there is a choice if you are looking for a Japanese-themed restaurant.

Rear entrance to the restaurant

A change in the menu items was really the biggest difference I noticed between the early and later visits to Sushi Neko. Earlier I saw quite a bit of similarity between Sushi Neko and Tokyo Restaurant, offering a wide variety of cooked items that made them similar to West Coast Izakaya style restaurants. However, there now seems to be a distinct difference between these restaurants with Tokyo keeping its emphasis on both cooked items and sushi, while Sushi Neko has now streamlined its menu of cooked items and seems to have added more sushi items, particularly the popular “rolls” (such as California rolls).

I have not tried the standard sushi (nigiri, sashimi, etc.) recently, but on previous trips it was one of Oklahoma City’s best. The cooked food I tried was good on all of my trips.

Tea

Green tea

The Green Tea was expensive and did not seem to have a corresponding special quality that elevated it above other green teas. It was very good, though, and they gave me a to-go drink in a very nice paper cup that I ended up using for the rest of the day (so I really got my money’s worth).

Appetizers

Edamame

The Edamame was better than most I have had, but to me it was hard to justify paying extra for this when some restaurants (such as Tsubaki Sushi) give it to you free with the meal.

Miso

Miso

Miso comes free with the meal, and I wrote in my notes that it had a “thick and flavorful broth” (a rare enough occurrence at restaurants that it is noteworthy when I find it).

Sushi

Philadelphia roll

The Philadelphia Roll I was able to sample was really quite good, and I won’t make any comments other than this was one of the better ones I have encountered.

Grilled Salmon

Grilled salmon

I came here expecting the salmon teriyaki I had ordered on a previous visit, but found that it is no longer on the menu. Instead I was able to order Grilled Salmon from the lunch menu which was somewhat comparable because it came with a glaze that was a good substitute for the teriyaki sauce. I thought the salmon here was probably more impressive than at Tokyo (where I usually like to get salmon teriyaki) and the presentation was very nice (I especially liked the bok choy). This was quite a good lunch although a little expensive compared to places that serve teriyaki salmon (such as Tokyo).

Overall Assessment
The salmon was really so much better than at most other restaurants I thought it was well worth paying a higher price for it. At the same time, though, I cannot afford this often so I treat this restaurant as a “special occasion” place (there was really not very much on the menu that would be any less expensive).

The thing I missed, though, was the “box lunch” concept they have at restaurants such as Tokyo where the lunch comes with side items such as a salad, tempura, or gyoza.

The service was good here, and I was glad I was able to experience the “new” Sushi Neko.

RATING: 23

Asian Food Details

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

 

Special Ratings

	Grilled Salmon
	Miso
	Philadelphia Roll

 

Das Boot Camp
229 E. Main St.
Norman, OK
(405) 701-3748

Das Boot Camp

The official name of this restaurant is Das Boot Camp Restaurant & Bar, and I think the key part of it is the “Bar.” When I visited late at night on the way back from Dallas it was one of the few restaurants in town that was even open, and they were running a special on large servings of beer in a boot shaped glass (they could not have been making a huge profit from the prices charged for the beer but it seemed to also get people in to try the food).

For most people (in Oklahoma, at least) it does not take much persuasion to get them to order some good German food, and of course it is a natural to go with beer. Das Boot Camp happens to be an outgrowth of Royal Bavaria, a standard dinner style restaurant in Moore, and the German food at these restaurants is well known as being the real deal. The menu at Das Boot Camp is scaled down from the larger restaurant, and is more of a bar menu, but there are still enough choices for a full meal.

When I went to Das Boot Camp I did not have a huge appetite and I was not looking for the type of full meal that is served at Royal Bavaria, so for me Das Boot Camp was perfect.

Schnitzel

Wiener Schnitzel

Wiener Schnitzel was one of the six or so items that are served as dinner items (the rest are sandwiches, soup, appetizers, etc., although they also have bratwurst plates). I thought that this was as good as any schnitzel I have had in Oklahoma, with good meat and a good breading.

The more disappointing part of the meal was the spätzle (I have had others with a better flavor). I ended up ordering fries, the side that normally comes with the schnitzel (they substituted the spatzle for me), which I thought went better with the dish. Overall this was a very satisfying meal and still at a good price.

Other Comments
If you go to Royal Bavaria instead of here you will have other dinner choices such as Hähnchenbrust and cordon bleu. Das Boot Camp advertises that all of their items are under $10, so you just get basic German food here (although it is the same as Royal Bavaria in terms of being authentic).

I think one of the biggest advantages of going to Royal Bavaria is in the side dishes. Royal Bavaria has items such as Bavarian potato salad which I thought was excellent (and may be the same as the potato salad served at Das Boot Camp), but the large menu at Royal Bavaria makes me fairly certain that whatever you want you would be able to get there.

I need to try more items at both restaurants to make a fuller comparison, but it seems that the main difference between the two restaurants is that Royal Bavaria Restaurant has a larger menu with more expensive and fancier items.

Das Boot Camp definitely serves my basic needs for German food, though.

RATING: 23

Cuisine: German
Cost: $$
Hours: Open Daily (food served until 11 PM)
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking
Alcohol: Beer

Most Recent Visit: Nov. 28, 2017

Number of Visits: 1

Best Item: Wiener Schnitzel

 

Special Ratings

	Wiener Schnitzel
	Spätzle

Beverly’s Pancake House

3315 Northwest Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK
(405) 848-5050

Beverly’s Pancake House

Beverly’s is one of the longest continually operating restaurants in Oklahoma City, and in fact was one of my favorite restaurants when I was growing up. I think their fried chicken, pancakes, and other popular items served as my version of fast food–something that was a special treat but it was not so expensive that my dad would have to severely limit the number of times we went.

For many years Beverly’s was a chain, with the restaurant at Northwest Highway (before it became an “Expressway”) and Pennsylvania Avenue as the one with which I was most familiar. This was known as Beverly’s Chicken In The Rough, a restaurant that specialized in pancakes and fried chicken in the days before these two items were put together and served in the same meal. As a restaurant/diner/coffee shop that is now open 24 hours a day and may have been then as well, it tried to satisfy people’s appetites at different times of the day. There was actually a wide range of good items, and not just pancakes or fried chicken.

Sometime after 2000 I remember the restaurant on Northwest Expressway being the only one left and rumored to be closing, but it then moved to its present location with what I assume to be new owners. I was not a regular enough customer to say that the new restaurant is exactly the same as before, but I know that it has kept the same concept. Beverly’s is probably most popular at breakfast, but it offers what people would expect in a coffee shop.

Breakfast
I was able to try the Pancakes at the new Beverly’s, and I can report that they are still good. In fact, as one of the few dishes I can successfully prepare at home, the pancakes in restaurants are increasingly becoming a disappointment to me (mainly because of the cooking oil they use). I thought everything about the flavor of Beverly’s pancakes, including the oil, were good.

Holiday Meals

Special Thanksgiving dinner

As a restaurant that is open 24 hours and open on holidays, I found out that it also has a special menu on certain holidays. This includes a special Thanksgiving meal which includes most of the items I used to find at the now-closed Luby’s Cafeteria. Compared to the majority of times I had Thanksgiving dinner at Luby’s, though, I found Beverly’s to be better.

I will start by reporting that on my visit in 2017 the Thanksgiving Dinner was $12.99 (I believe this did not include the drink or dessert). Everything on the plate was good, and the turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy were the items that I particularly thought were better than at Luby’s (they all tasted home made to me although I am not going to say they were exactly the same as if you cooked it yourself). The sweet potatoes, dressing, and pumpkin pie were on par with Luby’s, and are items I particularly liked at Luby’s as well as here. The green beans were good but I would say not special or memorable.

The main thing I can say about the Thanksgiving dinner is that they made a good effort, and I thought everything was good. The restaurant was busy when I went but not crowded, and we were served promptly.

Desserts

Pumpkin pie

The Pumpkin Pie was pretty much the way I like it. Beverly’s has a large pie case with multiple flavors, and I assume ones like pumpkin are seasonal.

Summing It Up
I am aware that any restaurant open 24 hours per day is going to have different shifts, different managers, and probably different qualities of food at various times. Beverly’s is what I would classify as a diner, and even though I thought the food was good, the restaurant is very casual. The old Beverly’s was the definition of a 1960’s coffee shop with what seemed to include the requisite amenities (I do not remember all the details but I think it included things like baskets of jellies and other condiments on the table, better than average seating and decoration, a view out the front window to a landscaped patio, etc.).

Some reviews I have read on other websites describe Beverly’s as not having the best food in Oklahoma City, but it is an old standby that is always there where you want it. I think this is a good description, and I would add that the food is better than much of which I would consider to be its competition.

At the moment, though, I have only tried a small sample of the food here.

RATING: 22

Cuisine: American
Cost: $$
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking
Alcohol: No

Most Recent Visit: Nov. 23, 2017
Number of Visits: 1
Best Items: Pancakes, Holiday Meals, Pumpkin Pie

Special Ratings

	Pancakes
	Turkey (from the Holiday menu)
	Green Beans
	Mashed Potatoes
	Pumpkin Pie

 

Oklahoma Heart Hospital North Campus

I am willing to look in unconventional places for good food, and a number of on-line reviews led me to try the cafeteria in the Heart Hospital in far north Oklahoma City (located just east of Mercy Hospital).

I had once done a pretty thorough sampling of the hospital food in El Paso, Texas, finding at the time that only Sierra Hospital made my “return visit” list (and this was because of their Mexican food).  Hospital cafeterias are a good way to save money, and if you can find good food to go along with it this can be a good choice.

A La Heart Cafe is located just inside the entrance

The short answer about A La Heart Cafe is that there is reason for the good reviews. Not only did I like the food, but there is a very good selection of items. Much of it is geared toward hospital employees who need to eat on the run, but many of the items are more on the gourmet side (although already prepared and ready to eat when you get there).

A La Heart has a changeable menu, with certain days of the week being “Mexican,” “Italian,” or “Asian” days. The soups, sandwiches, and salads, though, seem to be constant, and do not change from day to day. A La Heart publishes their daily menu on the Internet.

Some of my family has tried the Mexican food from the cafe on the “Mexican” day, and advised me against ordering it (mostly knowing that I would be disappointed after having the El Paso version).

I will also make the disclosure that I purposely tried A La Heart on a day when they served chicken pot pie, knowing that this would likely be one of my favorite items here.

Chicken Pot Pie

Iced tea, chicken pot pie, minestrone, and cobbler

The Chicken Pot Pie was not only good, but I would say it exceeded my expectations. Visually it was similar to the frozen pot pies you get at the grocery store, but the one here was freshly made, full of flavor, and was not loaded with salt. The good thing about this is that it was “normal food” (and not, as I had feared, something devoid of flavor so as to be “healthy”). The only thing this was missing was the “processed” flavor that you get in the store-bought pot pies, and to me this is a very good thing.

Pot Roast

Pot roast

I did not try the Pot Roast myself, but I was told it was excellent, and should be on the “best items” list (and it is so listed). If you are expecting meat and vegetables mixed together, be advised that they sell the potatoes and vegetables separately (the entire serving with vegetables was about $5).

Honey Salmon

Honey soy salmon

The Honey Soy Salmon is not like anything I have seen before in hospital food, but it shows why this is one of the better hospital cafeterias. The salmon was very good, although more white than red. The sauce was even better, reminding me of the teriyaki sauce they serve in Japanese restaurants.

Chicken with Asparagus

Chicken with asparagus and sweet potatoes

The Chicken with Asparagus in reality was the best dish I have tried at A La Heart, although for the time being I am still not giving up the chicken pot pies whenever I can get them. The chicken with asparagus, though, provides such a blend of excellent flavors it is hard to resist (everything was fresh, and it was even topped with a non-yellow cheese which is always a good thing).

The sweet potatoes were a side dish (always sold separately), but I don’t think I have ever had a meat and vegetable combination that was over five dollars (unless you get more than one side dish).

Minestrone Soup
The Minestrone Soup was excellent, and I liked the fact that it was a little on the spicy side (it’s better to have too much flavor than to have too little). It seemed to be freshly made and healthy without tasting like “hospital food” that was prepared for patients on a special diet.

15 Bean Soup
The 15 Bean Soup was also quite good, but like the minestrone only comes in one size (about double what I consider as a normal soup serving). Again, this does not taste like typical hospital food.

Asian Beef Noodle Soup
The Asian Beef Noodle Soup served on the same day as the honey soy salmon was not very appealing to me, with an abundance of bean sprouts but not much else that made it taste Asian.

Side Dishes
I am just beginning to compile a list of items I have tried, but the Mashed Potatoes were quite good. I would rate them as having an excellent flavor and texture. The only thing that was somewhat of a miss was the gravy (brown gravy) that I thought could have been more flavorful.

The Peas and Carrots did not have much salt or flavor. The first part I liked, because I can add my own salt if needed (but it really was not needed). The flavor was actually all right, just not as robust as some that are probably less healthy (I am just making an assumption here).

Green Beans had a good texture and were not too crunchy. I give them a good rating for the flavor.

The Sweet Potatoes were lacking some of the condiments found in most cafeterias that make them taste better but probably less healthy. I am happy with the food at A La Heart, including the sweet potatoes, but diners need to keep in mind that the food is purposely made more healthy with a slight loss of some of the flavors normally found in restaurant food.

Salads
A La Heart has a salad bar in which you take whatever you want, and they charge you according to how much it weighs. I wasn’t sure how expensive this would turn out to be, but it was reasonably priced, and I would not hesitate to “load up”

Not all of the salad items were very memorable, but I did like the Three Bean Salad very much.

Desserts
The Cobbler I ordered was not one of the most special ones I have ever tried, but it was fine, and like the other items, did not break the bank.

The Chocolate Cake was also good, but of course is not like the one you will get at La Baguette. It is also a lot cheaper than La Baguette (and makes a satisfying dessert).

Recommendations
If you are coming here strictly for the food (and you will likely be in good company), check their on-line menu.  The main items change daily, and my family has found that some are better than others.  Although it is a cafeteria, some of the items (such as the chicken pot pie) really exceed what you would think you would get in a cafeteria, and are more like restaurant food.

I was not sure if they would run out of the “special items” quickly, but apparently they prepare an adequate supply, and keep serving the food until closing time (which I think is 10:00 PM).

One note about the rating is that it is somewhat of an average between some dishes which are home runs and others which are somewhat lackluster. The problem is that each day the menu is very limited, and it changes frequently (for instance, the chicken pot pie seems to be served only once or twice a month). The best bet is to check the on line menu before you go.

RATING: 22

Cuisine: American
Cost: $
Hours: Open Daily
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking

Most Recent Visit: Nov. 2, 2017
Number of Visits: 5
Best Items: Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken with Asparagus

Minestrone Soup

Special Ratings

	Chicken Pot Pie
	Chicken with Asparagus
	Honey Soy Salmon
	15 Bean Soup
	Asian Beef Noodle Soup
	Green Beans
	Three Bean Salad
	Chocolate Cake
	Cobbler
	Lemon Cake

Brown’s Bakery

Brown’s Bakery is one of the few food establishments in Oklahoma City that is older than I am, but it also has a special significance to me in that it was the source of most of my birthday cakes while growing up. Just because it is old does not make it good, but I believe the fact it is so good is what has kept it around for so long.

Brown’s is located in the heart of Midtown, and the fact that it has its own parking lot means it is one of the few places you can find parking when you go there. Of course it is for takeout only unless you consider donuts as being a good breakfast, but still I think this is important because it pretty much ensures the bakery’s survival in an otherwise evolving neighborhood.

The Displays

One of the displays at Brown’s Bakery

The overwhelming feeling I got upon entering the store was its sheer size and the variety of baked goods sold. In square feet and amount of display cases it dwarfs other bakeries such as Ingrid’s and La Baguette. I am not saying that any of these bakeries is better overall than the others, but Brown’s does hold the edge on the variety of items and the number of choices you have.

Shown here are the number of pastries they still had at noon, but several empty spaces indicate items that had been sold out, and other displays not shown in this picture have other types of pastries.

My Sample Package

An assortment of items from Brown’s Bakery

This box contains what I took home to sample, and I can assure readers it was a hard choice being able to narrow it down to these items. Shown here from left to right are the Traditional Cinnamon Roll, Peach Danish, Applesauce Doughnuts (4 so that I would have enough), Peanut Butter Cookies, Lemon Cupcakes, and a paper plate inserted so the items would not slide around in the box. Not included this time was a birthday cake like I used to enjoy when I was young, but perhaps at some time I can report on this also.

An Assessment
I honestly put these items into two categories: (1) absolutely amazing that you must try, and (2) very good but about the same as you can get at other bakeries.

Foremost on the list was the Peach Danish, which I thought was one of the best I have ever had. To me this is a must try.

The Lemon Cupcakes were also quite exceptional, although they are so sweet a little bit goes a long way (I’m glad I was able to share them).

One of my personal favorites was the Applesauce Doughnut. They tasted like these doughnuts should, and from that standpoint are not “must try” standouts. Compared to many I have tried in Oklahoma City, though, I thought they were a standout.

In the “comparable to other bakeries” category I would put the Peanut Butter Cookies and the Cinnamon Roll. I cannot state a reason for this, only that this was the way they tasted to me.

RATING: N/R

Cuisine: Bakery
Cost: $
Hours: N/A
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking

Most Recent Visit: Jul. 27, 2017

Number of Visits: N/A

Best Item: Peach Danish

 

Special Ratings

	Peach Danish
	Lemon Cupcakes
	Applesauce Doughnuts
	Peanut Butter Cookies

1492 at Casady Square

One of my biggest gripes about restaurants is when they try to mislead people about their food, so I have to give 1492 credit for being up front about what they serve. My experience in 2016 (and my review) indicated that this was possibly the only restaurant in Oklahoma City with authentic food worthy to carry on the tradition of the now closed Adobe Grill.

On my return in 2017, though, the waiter indicated that they had changed the menu, and that it was now largely just Tex-Mex food (which had always been their most popular cuisine). Not only had the item I tried before (pollo azteca) been removed from the menu, but the one I intended to try (chicken and mole) had been removed as well. I found few possible substitutes that were southern Mexico style alta cocina dishes, and in fact I am not sure there are any. The menu has always consisted mainly of Tex-Mex items but I am sorry that some of the other choices are now gone.

I initially came to 1492 because of the opening of their second location in Casady Square at Britton Rd. and N. Penn (Pennsylvania Ave. for those who are searching for it on a map). The original location on North Walker in Midtown had been known as being expensive but better than most Mexican restaurants in town. The reviews were skewed between those who loved it and those who felt let down, but I was more in the first camp when I was able to experience it for myself.

1492 New World Latin Cuisine at 1207 N. Walker

The “New World” cuisine concept of 1492 covered everything from Mexico to South America. The old menu described the geographic origin of several of the dishes, including Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and even Tex-Mex.

The menu now prominently features fajitas and other Tex-Mex dishes. There is a Venezuelan Pabellon (brisket marinated in red wine “ropa veja”) and a Cuban puerco criolla. I am not sure, though, that I could say the restaurant overall is representative of Latin American cuisine.

The Bar

The spacious bar at the Casady Square 1492

The new restaurant at Casady Square takes up the space originally occupied by Pancho’s Mexican Buffet and then by Hunan Chinese Restaurant. These former restaurants were designed to accommodate a large number of tables, and in comparison 1492 seems that it is using a very large building for a relatively small number of seats. A large portion of the space, though, is taken up by 1492’s upscale bar. I did not sample anything from the bar, but I thought it was noteworthy enough to provide a photo.

Chips and Salsa

Chips and salsa

1492 serves excellent chips and salsa. The salsa was flavorful but not terribly spicy (but it didn’t taste like watered down tomato sauce either).

My Dinner from 2016

Pollo azteca

A visit in 2016 allowed me to try an outstanding dish–the Pollo Azteca. I thought this was very close to alta cocina style food from Mexico, and really filled the void left when Adobe Grill closed.

I can provide details about the pollo azteca, such as that it had crema along with some tomato and cilantro on top, but there are many restaurants that use these ingredients and do not have food that tastes the same. This was not a spicy dish, and the garnish on top did not have the spiciness of pico de gallo, but it was every bit as satisfying as many dishes which have a higher spice level.

The Black Beans served on the side were very good as well, and I would say better than at most restaurants (I believe the black beans are still served and have not been discontinued).

Chicken and mole is also on the “discontinued” list, and I am disappointed I did not get to try it.

The New Menu

Mole enchiladas

The menu in 2017 did not seem to have new items, but only omitted certain dishes that had been served before. The one I ordered was the Mole Enchilada de Carnitas which actually contains two enchiladas. My favorite way to eat mole is usually not on enchiladas, but I will take it any way I can get it. The dark mole here is normally my favorite, and the one here was good. The waiter informed me, though, that they had changed the recipe of the mole from last year so this explains why I did not think this was one of the best moles I had tasted. If I could still order the pollo azteca I would definitely recommend it over the mole enchiladas if your goal is to eat the best Mexican food available.

Other Suggestions

Tacos

Although I did not sample the tacos I thought it would be worthwhile including a photo to show their obvious high quality (and it was reported to me that the flavor was very good as well).

Overall Impressions
The restaurant is expensive, and the overall quality has been very high. What you probably do not get is a lot of choice in menu items. The biggest choice is in Tex-Mex items, but other restaurants in town such as Abuelo’s also give you very good Tex-Mex food (thus I am not terribly excited about the items served at 1492).

The portions were generous, but not huge. The atmosphere was quiet and attractive. Although I am disappointed about losing some of the authentic Mexican food choices, the restaurant at least is honest in telling you which items are authentic and which are Tex-Mex.

RATING: 23

Cuisine: Mexican
Cost: $$$
Hours: N/A
Accessible: Yes
Smoking: No smoking

Most Recent Visit: Jun. 21, 2017

Number of Visits: 2

Best Item: Pollo Azteca (but it is no longer on the menu)

Mexican Food Details

Chile Index:

 

Special Ratings

	Mole Enchiladas
	Rice
	Black Beans
	Chips
	Salsa

 

Discontinued Items

Pollo Azteca