In the magazine, Distinctly Oklahoma, Oct. 2009, there is an article titled "Johnny's Lunch Box and Other Historic Eateries." pgs 72 to 76.

Jack Sussey introduced pizza to Okc. Same pizza is being served at the Nomad II and is considered by many to still be real east coast pizza.

Included in the article are Beverly's: During its peak, there were eight okc locations-Downtown, the Stockyards, Lincoln Blvd, 23rd and Classen, 16th and May, 31st and May, 12th and Walker, and NW Expressway and Independence. (I remember one at SW 29th and May).
Beverly Osborne and the restaurants were featured in a "Time" mag article. By 1950 he had franchised 250 outlets including 1 in South Africa.
The current owner, NW Expressway and Independence, says they recently located the recipe for "Beverly's famous tamales" and are searching for the halibut recipe since there are customers that still ask about them.

Ann's Chicken Chicken Fry House:

Began in 1966. Former name- "Three Bulls Steak House." In 1971, was bought by the 4 Burchett brothers. Needing a name change they put all family members name into a hat and drew one. Ann is wife of one of the brothers.

There is another section on Johnny' s Lunch Box on Sheridan. I like their corned beef and and homemade pies.

In past issues are articles about: Jamil's, The Haunted House, Cattleman's and Junior's.

and sections on places that are no longer with us: Fuzzy's, Herman's Glen's Hickory Inn, and Dodson's, Nicolosi's and the Anna Maude, Bishop's and Sleepy Hollow.

================================================== ========
Didn't know there were four Burchett Brothers....I knew Jerry (USG 1961) passed away from a heart Attack. Still know Alvin...(USG 1964) he too has had some heart problems....onery little cuss.....Their Onion Rings are great as well as their Chicken Fried Steak and Steak Sandwich....

... In the magazine, Distinctly Oklahoma, Oct. 2009, there is an article
titled "Johnny's Lunch Box and Other Historic Eateries." pgs 72 to 76.

There is another section on Johnny' s Lunch Box on Sheridan. I like their
corned beef and and homemade pies.
I ate many a meal at Johnny's! He'd cook and Julia, his wife, would run the
cash register and waitress. He made the pies himself, too. I mostly
remember when he moved to southeast corner of N.W. 12th and N Hudson,
catty corner from the Sieber Hotel.

They were wonderful people. I can't remember Johnny ever saying more
than a handful of words, except order up, etc...

Is the Little Red Barn mentioned?

How can we get a copy of that magazine?

Remember Priddy's? How about the Smoke House at 10th and Harvey? Mable's Cafe at 11th & Harvey? Shipman's? (those yeast biscuits were great)

I ate many a meal at Johnny's! He'd cook and Julia, his wife, would run the
cash register and waitress. He made the pies himself, too. I mostly
remember when he moved to southeast corner of N.W. 12th and N Hudson,
catty corner from the Sieber Hotel.

They were wonderful people. I can't remember Johnny ever saying more
than a handful of words, except order up, etc...

Is the Little Red Barn mentioned?

How can we get a copy of that magazine?

Even though he has sold it Johnny II still comes in everyday. He was still making the pies for sometime but retired his baker status.

email address for Distinctly Oklahoma distinctlyOKLAHOMA - Home (http://www.distinctlyoklahoma.com)
phone 405-286-2050

I almost said you could get a copy at Taylor's but Taylor's News Stand is no more.

The eateries on the initial entry are the only ones mentioned in this article. I was just going to do the Sussey's piece since the original place to first have pizza in Okc was mentioned not so long ago. Then I thought, what the heck. The other listings might be fun to throw around.

The following were not in this issue but may have already been mentioned or might be in the future:

Remember Priddy's? How about the Smoke House at 10th and Harvey? Mable's Cafe at 11th & Harvey? Shipman's? (those yeast biscuits were great)

Does anyone remember Beverly's having tamales?

Remember Priddy's? How about the Smoke House at 10th and Harvey? Mable's
Cafe at 11th & Harvey? Shipman's? (those yeast biscuits were great)
I hanged out at N.W. 12 and N. Hudson in the 60's. Mabel's was a favorite.
Priddy's was great! Their pimento cheese was fabulous. Then it became
Martin's. The Sieber had an an all you could eat buffet. It was about $1.15.

Oh, and the candy machine at Hand's Sinclair! Okay, maybe not.

Don't forget Herman's and that incredible cold slaw. Oh yeah!

I hanged out at N.W. 12 and N. Hudson in the 60's. Mabel's was a favorite.
Priddy's was great! Their pimento cheese was fabulous. Then it became
Martin's. The Sieber had an an all you could eat buffet. It was about $1.15.

Oh, and the candy machine at Hand's Sinclair! Okay, maybe not.

Don't forget Herman's and that incredible cold slaw. Oh yeah! Is that the Priddy's pimento cheese that was sold in stores?

Is that the Priddy's pimento cheese that was sold in stores?
The same. Also, chicken salad and roast beef spread. Roast beef spread?

================================================== =========
Yeah and some of them WEAR Homecoming Corsages....(40 years old)...

Hahahahahahahahaha.... all you boys (Frisky, Prunepicker, Gens64) are soooooooo funny!!

~~~

Hahahahahahahahaha.... all you boys (Frisky, Prunepicker, Gens64) are soooooooo funny!!

~~~If only we could figure out how to get people to laugh with us...instead of at us. :doh:

The same. Also, chicken salad and roast beef spread. Roast beef spread? Do they still sell it? Man.. I tell people how good that stuff was. When I lived in Penn. I had to make my own.

Do they still sell it? Man... I tell people how good that stuff was. When I
lived in Penn. I had to make my own.
Nope. It's been gone for years. I think the secret was to keep it simple. I
don't know how they made their pimento cheese spread, but if I remember
correctly, the chicken salad had chicken, mayo and some relish that
contained some pimentos!. It was probably the same with the roast beef
spread.

We knew everyone in that corner of the world but never once thought
about asking them about their recipes. What's funny, even if they told you
the recipe, you wouldn't make like they did. Beasly's BBQ was a prime
example. "How do you do it?" He'd say, "salt, pepper and hickory." Did
anyone do it? Probably not. Pulliam's and Leo's was probably just as
simple!

A waitress at Herman's, Mary Babbitt?, I'm not sure, knew how to make the
cold slaw. It was her job. She'd make it on occasion after Herman's closed.

We canned a bunch of slaw last summer and it comes close to Herman's. I
still can't tell what's missing.

Nope. It's been gone for years. I think the secret was to keep it simple. I
don't know how they made their pimento cheese spread, but if I remember
correctly, the chicken salad had chicken, mayo and some relish that
contained some pimentos!. It was probably the same with the roast beef
spread.

We knew everyone in that corner of the world but never once thought
about asking them about their recipes. What's funny, even if they told you
the recipe, you wouldn't make like they did. Beasly's BBQ was a prime
example. "How do you do it?" He'd say, "salt, pepper and hickory." Did
anyone do it? Probably not. Pulliam's and Leo's was probably just as
simple!

A waitress at Herman's, Mary Babbitt?, I'm not sure, knew how to make the
cold slaw. It was her job. She'd make it on occasion after Herman's closed.

We canned a bunch of slaw last summer and it comes close to Herman's. I
still can't tell what's missing. Well..Prune..I make my own coleslaw and I have never tasted better. Ya gotta make sure that you have bellpepper and onion, also garlic powder involved. (hint) Use a liltle Italian dressing and always use miracle whip.

Well..Prune..I make my own coleslaw and I have never tasted better. Ya
gotta make sure that you have bellpepper and onion, also garlic powder
involved. (hint) Use a liltle Italian dressing and always use miracle
whip.
That sounds reasonable! I've just been able to put bell pepper in my mouth.
Roasted red is okay but green tastes like a green persimmon.

ick...

I hanged out at N.W. 12 and N. Hudson in the 60's. Mabel's was a favorite.
Priddy's was great! Their pimento cheese was fabulous. Then it became
Martin's. The Sieber had an an all you could eat buffet. It was about $1.15.

Oh, and the candy machine at Hand's Sinclair! Okay, maybe not.

Don't forget Herman's and that incredible cold slaw. Oh yeah!

For me, Herman's equals deviled crab.

Der Dutchman equals frog legs. (and hush-puppies)

Hahahahahahahahaha.... all you boys (Frisky, Prunepicker, Gens64) are soooooooo funny!!

~~~

Gee! I'm offended....:sofa:

Do they still sell it? Man.. I tell people how good that stuff was. When I lived in Penn. I had to make my own.

Was that the Oklahoma State Penn?????:LolLolLol

For me, Herman's equals deviled crab.

Der Dutchman equals frog legs. (and hush-puppies)
Funny you should mention that. My Dad and a doctor used to go to Herman's
one day a week and order the "Frog Legs" special for $1.59. Maybe it was
the Wednesday special. Who knows? It was all you could eat. They'd sit
there for 2 hours stuffing frog legs in their mouths.

Hahahahahahahahaha... all you boys (Frisky, Prunepicker, Gens64) are
soooooooo funny!~~~
Believe me, all your secrets, that everyone knows about, are safe with me. I
won't tell anyone. Not even myself.

Send the money in a plain brown sack to the usual address and don't trust
Gen64 or Frisky for anything. Don't worry, I'll protect you... until the money
runs out...

:LolLolLol

Nope. It's been gone for years. I think the secret was to keep it simple. I
don't know how they made their pimento cheese spread, but if I remember
correctly, the chicken salad had chicken, mayo and some relish that
contained some pimentos!. It was probably the same with the roast beef
spread.

We knew everyone in that corner of the world but never once thought
about asking them about their recipes. What's funny, even if they told you
the recipe, you wouldn't make like they did. Beasly's BBQ was a prime
example. "How do you do it?" He'd say, "salt, pepper and hickory." Did
anyone do it? Probably not. Pulliam's and Leo's was probably just as
simple!

A waitress at Herman's, Mary Babbitt?, I'm not sure, knew how to make the
cold slaw. It was her job. She'd make it on occasion after Herman's closed.

We canned a bunch of slaw last summer and it comes close to Herman's. I
still can't tell what's missing.

================================================== ======
Herman..................

Excuse me for barging into the conversation, but I was wondering what the name of the seafood restaurant was on the north side of 39th expressway just west of (I think) Penn. I haven't lived in OKC in 23 years, but I remember it had large windows and was up on a hill. Was that Herman's?

I also remember back in the oil field days, the Marlow Cafe had the best chicken fried steak. What was weird is, if you ordered it ala carte, you got your choice of slaw, fries, salad, mac and cheese or whatever. I never tried it as an entree.

Excuse me for barging into the conversation, but I was wondering what the
name of the seafood restaurant was on the north side of 39th expressway
just west of (I think) Penn. I haven't lived in OKC in 23 years, but I
remember it had large windows and was up on a hill. Was that Herman's?

Except for the hill you're describing "House of Chan". It was a great
Chinese restaurant. The city virtually eliminated any access to the
restaurant for over a year in order to improve the ramp the expressway.
House of Chan had to close.

I don't remember a seafood restaurant on N.W. 39th Expressway.

Herman's was on the N.W. corner of N.W. 16th and N. Classen Blvd.

^^^Please don't ever think you are barging into a conversation. This is a public forum and we request and encourage EVERYONE to share their questions and memories.

The only restaurant I can think of was named something like "Black Gold". It was on the south side of 39th Expressway west of Pennsylvania. I never ate there, but could see the sign while east bound on the Expressway.

Where was the Zider Zee?

Where was the Zuider Zee?
I think there were 2. One was on N.W. 23rd just west of N. Pennsylvania. It
later became a "Chung King" restaurant. The other I know of was on the
southside of N.W. Expressway west of Baptist hospital. It became Der
Dutchman but I don't remember the food changing.

I miss the heck out of Piggys. In Bricktown before there was a Bricktown.

I miss the heck out of Piggys. In Bricktown before there was a Bricktown.

Where and when was Piggy's? I don't remember it.

Orginally it was in the little building where Bricktown Burgers is now. Back when the ONLY thing around was the rail station across the street. Which is now the police station/parking lot. There was nothing in the area at the time. It was only open weekdays at lunch. When Bricktown took off they moved into the big building where Crabtown is now.

They had great BBQ. The beans were awesome. Good stuff.

I think there were 2. One was on N.W. 23rd just west of N. Pennsylvania. It
later became a "Chung King" restaurant. The other I know of was on the
southside of N.W. Expressway west of Baptist hospital. It became Der
Dutchman but I don't remember the food changing. Thanks, Prune.

Excuse me for barging into the conversation, but I was wondering what the name of the seafood restaurant was on the north side of 39th expressway just west of (I think) Penn. I haven't lived in OKC in 23 years, but I remember it had large windows and was up on a hill. Was that Herman's?

I also remember back in the oil field days, the Marlow Cafe had the best chicken fried steak. What was weird is, if you ordered it ala carte, you got your choice of slaw, fries, salad, mac and cheese or whatever. I never tried it as an entree.

Catfish Cabin?

Catfish Cabin? I really liked Catfish Cabin.

Does anyone remember Monterey House? I remember the sign, but don't remember eating there. Maybe there wasn't even one in OKC. I may be remembering a matchbook cover from my mom's collection. Anyway, there's still two in Beaumont, TX. I may try it someday.

There was a Monterey House at N.W 39th Expressway about a block west of Meridian on the north side of the street. There was one on the south side somewhere too. I really liked their salsa. There was a seafood restaurant in the building where House of Chan was off 39th and Penn. I do not remember the name. There is an Aikido studio there now. Zuider Zee is what became Der Dutchman by Baptist Hospital. There is a Henry Hudson's there now. Henry Hudson's is owned by Adair's which owned Der Dutchman. Grant Baily, who managed Der Dutchman, owned Harbour House in Bethany. The food was similiar to Der Dutchman. Unfortunatley, he closed it down last year to concentrate on catering. Falcone's went into the same spot and only lasted about four months.

Bigray in Ok

Does anyone remember Monterey House? I remember the sign, but don't
remember eating there. Maybe there wasn't even one in OKC. I may be
remembering a matchbook cover from my mom's collection. Anyway, there's
still two in Beaumont, TX. I may try it someday.
There were two that I know of. They were great. One was on N. May and
on the east side of the street. South of W. Wilshire.

The one I went to, at least once a week, was on N.W. 39th Expressway.
West of N. Meridian and on the north side of the street. About a half dozen
of us hippies invaded it every Friday night. It was the second purchase made
after cashing our pay checks.

Anyone know if those buildings are still alive?

I really liked Catfish Cabin.
Catfish Cabin (http://www.catfishcabinokc.com/Site/Welcome.html) is still open at the same location that it has always had at NW 63rd & Meridian.


Does anyone remember Monterey House? I remember the sign, but don't remember eating there. Maybe there wasn't even one in OKC. I may be remembering a matchbook cover from my mom's collection. Anyway, there's still two in Beaumont, TX. I may try it someday.

Anyone know if those buildings are still alive?
The one on NW 39th west of Meridian was Meiki's Route 66 for quite awhile after Monterey House closed. Meiki's moved to the old Village Inn on NW 39th between Portland and I-44 when the land was sold. The old Monterey House location is now an Advance Auto Parts.

There was a location on North May between Grand Blvd. and Wilshire as Prune stated, the building is still there and is now Sophabella's Italian Restaurant (http://www.sophabellasrestaurant.com/).

Those were the two locations that I knew of, Monterey House was the first place that I ate Mexican food (the May Ave. location). We also ate at El Chico/Cafe Ole quite a bit where Zorba's is located now on North May.

One of my favorites was El Rancho Sanchez where the Oklahoma Baptist Vatican is located on May between NW. 36th & I-44. The big burrito on the hot metal plate (like the plates that Sirloin Stockade used) with a drink was like a 3.95 lunch special.

There once was a Catfish Cabin at S.W. 29th & May. (N.E. Corner)

The Sofabellas building is probably where I remember seeing the Monterey sign. I always enjoyed the car rides to the Target at NWX and May for my Star Wars figures.

We used to eat at the 39th street Montery House all the time. I miss it.

Catfish Cabin is still there but it is strickly buffet now.

There once was a Catfish Cabin at S.W. 29th & May. (N.E. Corner)

There was a MWC location as well. N.E. 10th near Douglas Blvd.

The one on N.W. 63rd closed for a period of time not long ago.

There is a old drive in sort of west of the old downtown district of Edmond where cars would park in a circle around the building and the order stands were like sonic`s , ecept for the fact a little train came out on a rail and delivered your food......what was the name of this burger joint?

Does anyone remember Monterey House? I remember the sign, but don't remember eating there. Maybe there wasn't even one in OKC. I may be remembering a matchbook cover from my mom's collection. Anyway, there's still two in Beaumont, TX. I may try it someday.

Our Spanish Club at NE High School went to Monterrey House as an excursion (70 or 71) and I was not impressed. Of course I was weaned on the original El Charrito.

There once was a Catfish Cabin at S.W. 29th & May. (N.E. Corner)


There was a MWC location as well. N.E. 10th near Douglas Blvd.

The one on N.W. 63rd closed for a period of time not long ago.
The NW 63rd location was the only one that I knew of, my grandparents loved the place. I know they closed for awhile when the old location was torn down to build the new one but that was quite a few years ago.

Not a restaurant, but does anyone remember Gordan's Hot dogs, Gordon was a elderly Blackman that sold the best hot dogs I ever tasted, he drove around the inner City in a white van, stopping at pre-determined locations daily. This would have been in the mid 60's to mid 70's.

Pick's Fine Foods on Britton Rd near Western. Cherry's Drive on NW 23 near OCU, at one point they had go-go dancers in cages by the street. El Charrito was the only Mexican place we went to, their pralines were heavenly, great lunch platters, all I can remember is The Sonoran but they had great names. The Coachman on N Western had a great Coachburger, 3 buns like Kips or a Big Mac...and Kip's on N May, had a combo plate wth burger fries and a salad and a superb chocolate cake ice cream dessert. The Split-T before it was remodeled, Johnnie (of Johnnie's) took your order, there were pieces of OU-TX goalposts over the counter and portraits of Bud Wilkinson and Cliff Speegle. I loved the Pink Kitchen at 23rd and Lottie, had the best spinning stools at counter a 5-yr old could desire. The Villager in Casady Square had a great breaded veal cutlet. And who remembers the trip to Dallas before I-35, it required a stop at Pick's Tamales in Davis, and, Pauls Valley, pecan pie from, Field's.

And someone should have preserved that rotating Hik'ry Pit sign at NW36th & May, as I recall it was an Indian chasing a pig with a tomahawk or cleaver. How 'bout an ice cold Triple AAA root beer at that great barrel stand at 13th & N Broadway...enough for now, but I could go on http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2852

Pick's Fine Foods on Britton Rd near Western. Cherry's Drive on NW 23 near OCU, at one point they had go-go dancers in cages by the street. El Charrito was the only Mexican place we went to, their pralines were heavenly, great lunch platters, all I can remember is The Sonoran but they had great names. The Coachman on N Western had a great Coachburger, 3 buns like Kips or a Big Mac...and Kip's on N May, had a combo plate wth burger fries and a salad and a superb chocolate cake ice cream dessert. The Split-T before it was remodeled, Johnnie (of Johnnie's) took your order, there were pieces of OU-TX goalposts over the counter and portraits of Bud Wilkinson and Cliff Speegle. I loved the Pink Kitchen at 23rd and Lottie, had the best spinning stools at counter a 5-yr old could desire. The Villager in Casady Square had a great breaded veal cutlet. And who remembers the trip to Dallas before I-35, it required a stop at Pick's Tamales in Davis, and, Pauls Valley, pecan pie from, Field's.

And someone should have preserved that rotating Hik'ry Pit sign at NW36th & May, as I recall it was an Indian chasing a pig with a tomahawk or cleaver. How 'bout an ice cold Triple AAA root beer at that great barrel stand at 13th & N Broadway...enough for now, but I could go on Hik'ry Pit BBQ - OKCTalk Photo Gallery (http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2852)

================================================== =======
Too early in the morning to be talking like this....Ricky's Mexican Restaurant in Moore has the El Charrito menu goods...Jalisco...The Sonoran...some of the other El Charitto menued items....great Mexican food...good prices....The old Hikry Inn parking sign on N. May was still there not too long ago. My Dad drove a truck forever and he would always stop at Fields....Back when Mrs. Fields just baked the pies for their restaurant. I know her Pecan Pie was and still is wonderful but, she used to bake a mean Banana Cream pie with a topping to die for and, if you were a little boy with your dad on a trip from Ardmore to OKC and knew how to sweep the floor....free pie and Ice cold milk....Now, those were and are great memories.... Pick's in Davis was the family stop when we would go to visit in Ardmore....Until my Uncle told me there were No More Cats in Davis, Oklahoma after they opened the Tamale stand....One small lie caused me to miss out on years of great Tamales....

Does anyone remember when El Rancho Sanchez on Western was such a good place to eat????

Does anyone remember when El Rancho Sanchez on Western was such a good place to eat???? I do! And it was one of the best mexican joints in town. Not to many people seem to remember this place but, Moore's Little Mexico was also great. (Been gone a long time)

Any "old timer's" remember Salami's hot dogs on s.w. 29th a few yards east of Douglas Blvd. on the Southside of the street!!! (early fifties)

Not a restaurant, but does anyone remember Gordan's Hot dogs, Gordon was a elderly Blackman that sold the best hot dogs I ever tasted, he drove around the inner City in a white van, stopping at pre-determined locations daily. This would have been in the mid 60's to mid 70's.

I worked at Fred Jones Ford when i tasted the first gordons hotdogs and i didn't miss getting one very many times. They used to fix'em and throw them from the front of the van to the rear while you were paying out. I think it was in the 90's last time i had one.

Speaking of trips on old 77, remember the cider stands in and around Davis?

Speaking of trips on old 77, remember the cider stands in and around Davis?

We would stop every time we passed by. Coming and going.
Thanks to the food police we no longer can enjoy that old time pleasure.

We would stop every time we passed by. Coming and going.
Thanks to the food police we no longer can enjoy that old time pleasure.

Oh yes, and watermelon stands, too.

Oh yes, and watermelon stands, too.
I remember Dad picking up a 100lb Black Diamond near Ardmore. It was
incredible. There's a photo of him and a neighbor with handkerchiefs over
there faces so they looked like surgeons. That was one big 'melon.

I remember Dad picking up a 100lb Black Diamond near Ardmore. It was
incredible. There's a photo of him and a neighbor with handkerchiefs over
there faces so they looked like surgeons. That was one big 'melon.

One thing about them Black Diamonds back in the day, you couldn't miss the seeds. (huge)(good spitters)

Does anyone remember when El Rancho Sanchez on Western was such a good place to eat????
I posted somewhere here about the one on North May across from Dub Richardson Ford. Missed it when the building sold.

One thing about them Black Diamonds back in the day, you couldn't miss the
seeds. (huge)(good spitters)
:LolLolLol
Sometimes you could paint 12 of them red and play checkers with 'em.

August is still the Rush Springs Festival.

A funny thing about Rush Springs watermelons.

A couple of years ago there was a truck on a corner with a sign that said
"RUSH SPRINGS MELONS". That wasn't too unusual. BUT the tag on the
truck was from Minnesota.

I wish I had had a camera. That would be a good one to have.

Another funny thing is that in August every 'melon between Maine and
California is from Rush Springs.

Down here we have the Luling Watermelon Thump (http://www.watermelonthump.com/) the last weekend of June.

A funny thing about Rush Springs watermelons.

A couple of years ago there was a truck on a corner with a sign that said
"RUSH SPRINGS MELONS". That wasn't too unusual. BUT the tag on the
truck was from Minnesota.

I wish I had had a camera. That would be a good one to have.

Another funny thing is that in August every 'melon between Maine and
California is from Rush Springs. Dem damn yankees!

Down here we have the Luling Watermelon Thump (http://www.watermelonthump.com/) the last weekend of
June.
We're talking about watermelons that are grown in the 47 contiguous
United States. NOT Baja Oklahoma!


:Smiley181