I already mentioned Buco di Beppo, but besides that place I wish Bahama Breeze could return.
(of course, I know that it won't but I can wish for it anyway =)

Ruths Chris for me please.

Ruths Chris for me please.

...count me in too.

I am surprised how many people want branches of national chains here! I LOVE the restaurant scene here and think we have a wide variety of very high quality restaurants. I have lived in all four corners and the middle of the country and this city has a great dining scene. And many of my visitors from across the country have said the same.

But I digress, if there was one restaurant I could have here (although having it here would take away something I look forward to when traveling!) it would be Columbia Restaurant - Florida’s Oldest Restaurant (http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/) a regional chain from central Florida. Delicious Spanish/Cuban food. So unique. I scratched the itch last March when I returned to Celebration for the first time since moving here. Soooo good. But I don't want them to open here because I don't want to see the homogenization of our nation's restaurant scene.

I am surprised how many people want branches of national chains here! I LOVE the restaurant scene here and think we have a wide variety of very high quality restaurants. I have lived in all four corners and the middle of the country and this city has a great dining scene. And many of my visitors from across the country have said the same.

But I digress, if there was one restaurant I could have here (although having it here would take away something I look forward to when traveling!) it would be Columbia Restaurant - Florida’s Oldest Restaurant (http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/) a regional chain from central Florida. Delicious Spanish/Cuban food. So unique. I scratched the itch last March when I returned to Celebration for the first time since moving here. Soooo good. But I don't want them to open here because I don't want to see the homogenization of our nation's restaurant scene.
Spanish/Cuban food, never had it, but, sure sounds like something that would be off the chart good.

A place like Mile End deli would kill it in Midtown, but that would make too much sense. Because we need more burgers, obviously. This is a city without a decent deli. How that happened, I have no idea.

I agree that it would be great to have a fake Real Jewish deli. If they are kosher I can't have cheese on my sandwich. But I'm curious, given the people saying they would like a Ruth's Chris, have you all eaten at any of our superb local steak restaurants? My two favorites are Red and the Ranch and I'll put them up against any of the chain steak houses.

I suggested Xoco. If you're in Chicago, have one of their meal in a bowl lunches.

We had a kosher deli where Hollywood Video was at Northwest 63rd and May (NE corner next to Sprouts) and I didn't realize it until I ordered a pastrami and swiss on rye. The lady prepared my sandwich and handed it to me with a separate plate with a slice of swiss cheese. I asked why and she informed me that it was a kosher store and she couldn't mix dairy with meat. That was back in the late 70's/early 80's. It was only there for about a year. It was a good place and I hated to see it close.
C. T.
I agree that it would be great to have a fake Real Jewish deli. If they are kosher I can't have cheese on my sandwich. But I'm curious, given the people saying they would like a Ruth's Chris, have you all eaten at any of our superb local steak restaurants? My two favorites are Red and the Ranch and I'll put them up against any of the chain steak houses.

I suggested Xoco. If you're in Chicago, have one of their meal in a bowl lunches.

Mine would be any restaurant that isn't a chain. :cool:

I don't know about others on this thread but when I go to another
city I look for local flavor and not a chain I can get anywhere.

I agree but you can end up eating some pretty awful food but on the other hand you can score some great eats. And I like that roulette aspect of it.

A place like Mile End deli would kill it in Midtown, but that would make too much sense. Because we need more burgers, obviously. This is a city without a decent deli. How that happened, I have no idea.

Remember, there was the Midtown Deli in the location now occupied by Louie's.

But by all accounts it was poorly executed on lots of fronts and failed rather quickly.

I agree but you can end up eating some pretty awful food but on the other
hand you can score some great eats. And I like that roulette aspect of it.
No kidding. Part of the risk. I've won more times than lost.

... The lady prepared my sandwich and handed it to me with a separate
plate with a slice of swiss cheese. I asked why and she informed me that
it was a kosher store and she couldn't mix dairy with meat.
C. T.
The deli was keeping in line with Jewish dietary laws. I thought meat
and dairy could be served together if they, Kosher Jews, weren't going
to eat it.

Swiss instead of Provolone?

Jerry's Famous deli on Ventura Blvd, LA. Good food.

The deli was keeping in line with Jewish dietary laws. I thought meat
and dairy could be served together if they, Kosher Jews, weren't going
to eat it.

Swiss instead of Provolone?

Isn't Provolone made from sheep's milk?
Unless one was having a Lambburger what's the problem?
Somebody call a rabbi.

Nevermind. It's made from cow's milk.
(so I guess it would be okay on a Lambburger)

In some kosher delis you can't get cheese on your sandwich whether you're Jewish or not.

"What? You have something against ham?"
http://jewishmuseummd.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Buster_Keaton_Levy_Jewish_Rye.jpg

The best restaurant in general I've eaten at recently was Tupelo Grill in Whitefish, Montana.

Tupelo Grille & Fine Wines specializes in Cajun and Southern cuisine, fresh sea food, steaks and pasta. Fine Dining in the heart of downtown Whitefish Montana. (http://www.tupelogrille.com/)

Wish we had a decent seafood place.

The best restaurant in general I've eaten at recently was Tupelo Grill in Whitefish, Montana.

Tupelo Grille & Fine Wines specializes in Cajun and Southern cuisine, fresh sea food, steaks and pasta. Fine Dining in the heart of downtown Whitefish Montana. (http://www.tupelogrille.com/)

Wish we had a decent seafood place.

Have you ever had McCormick's & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks ? We could actually have a chance at getting one here in downtown OKC, as this is their kind of market.

Seafood Restaurant Kansas City, MO - Steakhouse Kansas City | McCormick & Schmick's (http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/Locations/kansas-city-missouri/kansas-city-missouri/west47thstreet.aspx)

Have you ever had McCormick's & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks ? We could actually have a chance at getting one here in downtown OKC, as this is their kind of market.

Seafood Restaurant Kansas City, MO - Steakhouse Kansas City | McCormick & Schmick's (http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/Locations/kansas-city-missouri/kansas-city-missouri/west47thstreet.aspx)

I haven't. Looks good!

Prunepicker,
The lady was Jewish from New York if I'm not mistaken and I assume she knew what their "laws" required. Provolone is for other favorites of mine, but pastrami and Swiss on rye is what I prefer over all of them. I learned to enjoy them when I lived in the Northeast for 3 1/2 years.
C. T.
The deli was keeping in line with Jewish dietary laws. I thought meat
and dairy could be served together if they, Kosher Jews, weren't going
to eat it.

Swiss instead of Provolone?

Prunepicker,
The lady was Jewish from New York if I'm not mistaken and I assume she knew what their "laws" required. Provolone is for other favorites of mine, but pastrami and Swiss on rye is what I prefer over all of them. I learned to enjoy them when I lived in the Northeast for 3 1/2 years.
C. T.

Maybe we're long lost brothers, C.T.....I, too, LOVE those!

Zookeeper,
Good to see you "brother"! I really like the way they prepare them in a good NYC deli, or a Washington, D. C. deli. I'm not sure if they steam the bread but it's not grilled, and as much as I like grilled sandwiches, I prefer the pastrami and Swiss with the soft, hot rye. I also like to get my rye at the bakery in Uptown Grocery or Sky Bread on North Western. I suspect Ingrid's has good rye as well, but like Sky, they are a little too far just to go for bread.
C. T.
Maybe we're long lost brothers, C.T.....I, too, LOVE those!

Either Wards House of Prime (Milwaukee) or House of Prime Rib (San Francisco).

I am surprised how many people want branches of national chains here! I LOVE the restaurant scene here and think we have a wide variety of very high quality restaurants. I have lived in all four corners and the middle of the country and this city has a great dining scene. And many of my visitors from across the country have said the same.

But I digress, if there was one restaurant I could have here (although having it here would take away something I look forward to when traveling!) it would be Columbia Restaurant - Florida’s Oldest Restaurant (http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/) a regional chain from central Florida. Delicious Spanish/Cuban food. So unique. I scratched the itch last March when I returned to Celebration for the first time since moving here. Soooo good. But I don't want them to open here because I don't want to see the homogenization of our nation's restaurant scene.

I have been to Columbia Restaurant in Celebration. I thought it was good. I would not call Columbia a chain since there are only a few locations. Celebration creeped me out. It was a town created by Disney from scratch that reminded me of the Truman Show or the Stepford Wives. The houses had to be one of a few designs. Disney does not own the town anymore. A parent told me that a lot of people were pulling their kids out of the school in Celebration because they were trying to use a lot of trendy methods of teaching that were not working. That was in the year 2000. I do not know what it is like now.

Bigray in Ok

We lived in Celebration for 8 years. We loved it. (But we love it here even more!) There actually is a lot of architectural diversity in town and it is all very attractive. The whole town is very pedestrian friendly with lots of preserve areas and lots of walking trails. It is all really well thought-out. The school there is a public school and is now operating at a high level of stability and effectiveness. It wasn't weird living there at all. We loved it because once you get outside town, Kissimmee isn't much to speak of for permanent residents. Well worth a stop if you are visiting Walt Disney World--it is about 10 minutes off property, so really close. And go eat a meal at Columbia, it is delicious and unique.

Even though I know longer live in OKC, I would like to see OKC land a Ruth Chris. A very established, venerable steakhouse with a big city feel as you find RC in such big time cities of Atlanta, Houston, Tampa, Dallas, Boston etc..... I think that OKC should also support a nice fresh seafood restaurant with emphasis on fresh, grilled and not the usual fatty fried seafood. I think Classen Curve would be a great location for Ruth Chris!!

Even though I know longer live in OKC, I would like to see OKC land a Ruth Chris. A very established, venerable steakhouse with a big city feel as you find RC in such big time cities of Atlanta, Houston, Tampa, Dallas, Boston etc..... I think that OKC should also support a nice fresh seafood restaurant with emphasis on fresh, grilled and not the usual fatty fried seafood. I think Classen Curve would be a great location for Ruth Chris!!

CC is supposed to be getting one

Even though I know longer live in OKC, I would like to see OKC land a Ruth Chris. A very established, venerable steakhouse with a big city feel as you find RC in such big time cities of Atlanta, Houston, Tampa, Dallas, Boston etc..... I think that OKC should also support a nice fresh seafood restaurant with emphasis on fresh, grilled and not the usual fatty fried seafood. I think Classen Curve would be a great location for Ruth Chris!!

When I went to Ruth's Chris in downtown Atlanta, I was quite impressed with the feel, although you should expect big city feel out of stuff located in big cities.

Even though I know longer live in OKC, I would like to see OKC land a Ruth Chris. A very established, venerable steakhouse with a big city feel as you find RC in such big time cities of Atlanta, Houston, Tampa, Dallas, Boston etc..... I think that OKC should also support a nice fresh seafood restaurant with emphasis on fresh, grilled and not the usual fatty fried seafood. I think Classen Curve would be a great location for Ruth Chris!!

Have you been to Red Prime? That's got a bigger city feel, IMO, and better steaks. While it doesnt have a big city feel, Ruth's Chris steaks aren't better than those at The Ranch. And we're getting a fresh seafood restaurant from the Good Egg Group as well. I just don't get the interest in higher end chains when we've already got better local restaurants here.

I understand the gist of this thread and there's nothing wrong with it.

I believe we need to encourage new restaurants created and owned by
locals rather than bringing in chains. A city can't be unique if it isn't any
different than the others.

Pappadeaux

+1 for Pappadeaux ... I'd try to get a part time job just to eat up my paycheck

Its not a Restaurant but I would love to see Bojangles in the OKC area.

Agree I would for Pappadeaux to come to town.

Agree I would for Pappadeaux to come to town.

They are coming to Oklahoma! Opening this year in Tulsa.

Fast Food - White Castle
Chain - Ruby Tuesday
Small Private - Danna's Bar-B-Que and Burger Shop (Branson MO)

Pappadeaux's will open in Tulsa ??? Wow !!!

Pappadeaux's will open in Tulsa ??? Wow !!!

I-44 just east of Yale. In the Midtown village shopping center.

Agree I would for Pappadeaux to come to town.
I've seen them in Texas but never dined at one.

It doesn't surprise me that Tulsa will be Pappadeaux's first and perhaps only Oklahoma location. It's actually expected. Meanwhile, as good as it gets down here is Red Lobster.

OKC will have turned a corner when upscale national establishments start opening here first rather than Tulsa.

It doesn't surprise me that Tulsa will be Pappadeaux's first and perhaps only Oklahoma location. It's actually expected. Meanwhile, as good as it gets down here is Red Lobster.

OKC will have turned a corner when upscale national establishments start opening here first rather than Tulsa.

It has been pointed out previously that you are incorrect about upscale national establishments always opening up in Tulsa first.

It has been pointed out previously that you are incorrect about upscale national establishments always opening up in Tulsa first.

Pappeadaux is a pretty big deal and considering the fact that Tulsa already has other upscale seafood restaurants and OKC doesn't makes it an even bigger deal.

Pappeadaux is a pretty big deal and considering the fact that Tulsa already has other upscale seafood restaurants and OKC doesn't makes it an even bigger deal.

Which doesn't change my point at all.

Which doesn't change my point at all.

I am not going to derail the thread by bringing up a list of the countless retailers already in and/or announced for Tulsa. This is a HUGE win for Tulsa however. Pappadeaux doesn't usually do small cities so its unlikely there will ever be an OKC location. As a matter of fact it really surprises me they are going to Tulsa.

I am not going to derail the thread by bringing up a list of the countless retailers already in and/or announced for Tulsa. This is a HUGE win for Tulsa however. Pappadeaux doesn't usually do small cities so its unlikely there will ever be an OKC location. As a matter of fact it really surprises me they are going to Tulsa.

Thank you for not derailing the thread and my point is still entirely correct as has been pointed by a number of posters, including Pete.

They are welcome to them. I'm keepin it local.

They are welcome to them. I'm keepin it local.
Where is the "LIKE" option? I don't like the new attributes of OKC Talk.

In the mean time LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE! (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/LIKE?s=t)

I don't mind change. I just don't like being there when it happens.

They are welcome to them. I'm keepin it local.

Being in a landlocked state, we are not likely to get a local fresh seafood restaurant that compares to what you can get on the coast. That's why everything here except for Red Lobster is of the cajun/fried variety. It will have to be a chain that fills the niche. I agree...lets keep it local on most genres, but seafood is different because of our location.

We'll see how the Good Egg group's new seafood restaurant is. Meanwhile, Rococco does a mean crab cake and I've tried a lot of them. Also, having recently eaten freshly caught fish in Bora Bora, I might eschew seafood not right off the boat altogether.

Tarantino's Restaurant Fisherman's Wharf


Tarantino's Full Menu of Seafood specialties - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF4XTRD4EZA&list=PLFPYgvJ8ATAJqeHZTJsE7Z1tnhaSsLbvn)

Whats the status on the Pappadeaux in Tulsa? Anything official yet?

Bump

I would normally say Mortons and it is still my favorite go to restaurant but since they were bought by Landry's last year, it has lost some of the Old Chicago basement steakhouse feel. Still the best key lime pie and crabcakes I have had anywhere. I agree that the steaks at Red Prime are as good but different vibe. Imagine Juniors being taken up a notch in sophistication and adding red prime's food. I like the feel of Red Prime also but prefer the vibe of Mortons' I am hoping the chophouse that is coming has an old school feel to it.

Let's dust off this old thread. OKC has enough pizza, burger, and taco joints. A lot of chains I used to love ~10-ish years ago have gone downhill to the point where I rarely eat there anymore (Torchy's, Smashburger, Panera, etc).

That said, I think a place like Flying Saucer would do really well here. Pretty good quality bar food, decent brunch. They focus on local beers pretty heavily and partner with breweries for pint nights.

Why the hell does The First National Bar not offer Stella Artois?

I would normally say Mortons and it is still my favorite go to restaurant but since they were bought by Landry's last year, it has lost some of the Old Chicago basement steakhouse feel. Still the best key lime pie and crabcakes I have had anywhere. I agree that the steaks at Red Prime are as good but different vibe. Imagine Juniors being taken up a notch in sophistication and adding red prime's food. I like the feel of Red Prime also but prefer the vibe of Mortons' I am hoping the chophouse that is coming has an old school feel to it.

Funny that someone dusted this tread off some 8 years later Mortons has completely tanked imho. Red Prime went downhill but has started coming back as far as steak quality. The Ranch is best steak in town. Few new entries into the game with B10 and Bobs

I'll rep my Philly roots and say that Rita's Water Ice would be *fantastic* to have for all the hot days we have.

Also we need Wawa to show Buc-ee's fans what a real gas station/convenience store looks like.

Two that have multiple locations in Dallas and would kill it here would be Yard House and Blue Sushi! I love that these chains have lots of vegan options. They would do well in an inner core area like Uptown,
Midtown, or even in the new OAK center coming in across from Penn Sq.

Look out now, I grew up in San Antonio and would love to have a Mama Margies, Chacho's, Las Palapas, and Salsalitos Cantina Mexican Restaurant.

Even Taco Cabana is awesome in San Antonio and before you say otherwise you have better eaten at more than 1 TC in SA. There is a reason SA has 20 TC's. The one that was in OKC was always horrible.

IMO SA has the best tex-mex in the U.S. and Austin has the best breakfast tacos in the country.

Would love to see Juan in a Million come to OKC

Let's dust off this old thread. OKC has enough pizza, burger, and taco joints. A lot of chains I used to love ~10-ish years ago have gone downhill to the point where I rarely eat there anymore (Torchy's, Smashburger, Panera, etc).

That said, I think a place like Flying Saucer would do really well here. Pretty good quality bar food, decent brunch. They focus on local beers pretty heavily and partner with breweries for pint nights.

I totally forgot about flying saucer, I grew up in San Antonio and ate there several times and the one in nashville which I believe closed down and it was always solid.

Capital Grille or an Oceanaire would be welcomed