My wifes 30th birthday is coming up this next month. We often go to the Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters of the world. She isnt a big steak fan like me so Red Prime and stuff like that isnt that impressive. Anyone have a suggestion on a nice place to go within an hour or so drive of Bricktown?

I am thinking Castle Falls, any thoughts on it?

Cheevers? LaBaguette? Rococo? Castle Falls is non-impressive IMO.

Italianos on north lincoln and about 48th. Excellent food and a great atmosphere. Reminds you of being in good fellas or the like.
http://www.italianosokc.com/

Bella Vista, just north of SW 59th & Western. Don't be in a hurry to get somewhere else. It's very good food, but it's not a 'hi, here's your food, here's your check, oh, you're still here?' type of place. If you have post-meal plans with a hard start time, make your dinner reservation earlier than you normally would.

I'd say Jamil's but she doesn't like steak. Their steaks are excellent though, and I presume the rest is. But steak is all I ever order there.

The Mantle in Bricktown and Deep Fork Grill each have excellent food and service and many selections that aren't steak related.

Of course, we're generally just as happy in birthday jeans wolfing down a bucket of grub dumped on butcher paper at a Crabtown table as we are dolling it up for a more formal night out.

I don't think you could go wrong at any of the spots above.

Go to Manhattan:
http://www.manhattanrestaurantandbar.com/directions.htm

It's got steak for you, and pasta/yummy things for her. The atmosphere is really nice, and it won't completely break the bank.

Italianos on north lincoln and about 48th. Excellent food and a great atmosphere. Reminds you of being in good fellas or the like.
http://www.italianosokc.com/

Reminds me of a creepy movie or a morgue. Went there a few nights back, the place is massive, has 70's decor, and I was the only one in there around 7pm.

You can get frozen, breaded cutlets of pork at Castle Falls, paired with sides that have clearly been made days in advance!

Old Germany in Choctaw has an excellent menu. You can see their menu on the internet to help you decide. I have never been disappointed with the food or service.
C. T.

The Haunted House is unique, quaint and reasonable:

http://www.hauntedhouserestaurant.com/

Reminds me of a creepy movie or a morgue. Went there a few nights back, the place is massive, has 70's decor, and I was the only one in there around 7pm.

Ok,
quaint ... check.
quiet ... check.
food quality ... was it good, or was it also a tad creepy for you?

Quiet and good Italian is always a solid combo for me. i can live with creepy.

Thanks for the ideas, if you come up with any others list them also please.
We have done Bella Vista before (I really like it, but yes, you better not be in a hurry), live not to far from Old Germany (its been good, but not great when we have gone), Cheevers (guess my taste buds just arent that sophisticated, I didnt like a thing I ate). Jamils sounds great for my birthday, but not sure for hers.

Haunted House, I hadnt thought of that one. Can I get out of there for between a 100$ to 130$, they didnt have any prices on the menu. We dont drink so drink menus dont impress me that much and most places seem to all push the drinks. Castle Falls reviews made me have low expectations for the food, but I did think it might be nice just to see and walk around the gardens afterwards. Anywhere else you can think of that is as nice to look at as to eat at. Like Bricktown for the walk together afterwards, but we have done almost everything done there.

Haunted house is a maybe, anyone else think of anything let me know.

Two more from Norman:

Dinner at Whispering Pines (East of Norman on Hwy 9)
http://www.eataroundokc.com/whispering-pines-fine-dining-hidden-in-a-bed-and-breakfast/

Victoria's (Campus Corner area of Norman)
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/46/501640/restaurant/Oklahoma-City/Campus-Corner/Victorias-Pasta-Shop-Norman

Shogun

Just went to Castle Falls for the first time and was horribly disappointed. We had a table of 4 and they automatically added a 20% tip to our bill! I would suggest the Museum of Art Cafe for a birthday dinner.

WOW, have heard it for groups of 8 or more, but never 4. Thats insane. Hopefully you spoke with the manager and politely explained they seriously need to rethink that policy. Good management will address the concerns and hopefully offer to correct the situation in some manner.

Have heard good things about the Museum Cafe (but haven't been myself yet).

WOW, have heard it for groups of 8 or more, but never 4. Thats insane. Hopefully you spoke with the manager and politely explained they seriously need to rethink that policy. Good management will address the concerns and hopefully offer to correct the situation in some manner.

Have heard good things about the Museum Cafe (but haven't been myself yet).

I know the owners of Castle Falls but haven't talked to them for a couple of years. They are very nice, reasonable people and I'm sure they would be receptive to comments about problems with that policy.

Well, Castle Falls still sounds nice. I would go there not expecting much from the food, but just a nice place to go see and walk around. But, Whispering Pines looks just as nice and has good food reviews. I still have a few weeks before i got to make a decision, but it seems like i will be hitting one of these soon.

...
food quality ... was it good, or was it also a tad creepy for you? ...


I've answered my own question. We stopped in last night about 8:30 for a late dinner. There was another couple and a family at another table. Both tables finished up about the time our salads arrived, leaving us and a minimal, but very friendly and competent, staff.

The salads were colorful and delicious, not some small wilted hunk of iceberg. The dressing was excellent. The bread sticks about as yummy as any I've enjoyed anywhere. The lasagna was heavenly. As we planned a lot of strolling post-dinner, we skipped off on appetizers and desserts this time. Service was friendly, and prompt, with no attempt to rush you through and out the door, not even with us being late diners. We'll definitely go back.

I'd put in almost on par with Bella Vista. Faster service than Bella, a bit friendlier as well, but on the food quality I would still give the edge to Bella Vista, but not by much.

I'm happy this place came up in the discussion. The table cloths may be straight out of a 70's Pizza Hut, but the seats are comfortable and the food is very good and so are the staff.

You went strolling after Italianos? Where did you go walking on Lincoln at?

Well, Castle Falls still sounds nice. I would go there not expecting much from the food, but just a nice place to go see and walk around. But, Whispering Pines looks just as nice and has good food reviews. I still have a few weeks before i got to make a decision, but it seems like i will be hitting one of these soon.

I fail to see how Castle Falls sounds nice in any way. Hasn't everyone told you their food is terrible? I would rather go to the Coach House and have a decent meal and walk around the Nichols Hills shopping center parking lot, if I needed to go for a walk. Or, I could go to Castle Falls and pay absurd prices for microwaved garbage before walking around a crummy wedding facility. Your choice.

I fail to see how Castle Falls sounds nice in any way. Hasn't everyone told you their food is terrible? I would rather go to the Coach House and have a decent meal and walk around the Nichols Hills shopping center parking lot, if I needed to go for a walk. Or, I could go to Castle Falls and pay absurd prices for microwaved garbage before walking around a crummy wedding facility. Your choice.

Everyone has opinions and you have given yours. Just be aware that not everyone agrees with you.

You went strolling after Italianos? Where did you go walking on Lincoln at?

My apologies. I could have been more clear. After dinner, we drove downtown and enjoyed a stroll through MBG and some other spots and then hopped a trolley like a couple of tourists. Not the most comfortable of rides, but the a/c was artic level and it felt good.

Signature Grill in Edmond, make reservations and ask for the table by the chef's window.

http://www.signaturegrilledmond.com/

Rococo or Coach House. You can get your steak and she'll have a lot of other choices. You're going to get great food at any of the fine dining in OKC but these two (to me) are on another level. Both places have great ambiance, character and service at these two places will never fail you. I cant say that any other places would fail on service but these two are rock solid. Since you don't drink, you should be fine at around $100-130. If your wife is a fan of crab cakes, she's got to try them if you go to Rococo.

Good luck!

We took it to Whispering Pines for dinner. Didnt stay there overnight, and glad we didnt this time. The food was wonderful and so was the waiter. Probably the best overall experience we have had in the OKC area. The grounds, not so nice, they need to pay some attention to upkeep of the place, but as i said everything else was great. Thanks for all the tips from everyone, i have most my weekends planned out for the summer with all the suggestions you offered. If anyone is planning a nice evening out with the spouse I would highly encourage the food and service that was offered at Whispering Pines, but dont plan for a lot of scenery, heck it was hard to just find the front door. Once we did though the rest was great. Nicest folks i have ever had wait on me for sure.

I've not heard much good about Rococo's service of late, but I haven't set an eve to find out for myself recently either.


on edit: Glad to hear the OP enjoyed Whispering Pines