Well someone answered my question about the Spagetti Warehouse in the paseo. I helped open a Cajun place on N. Western back in 1986 called Magnolia's Cafe. Amazing menu that I give a lot to have their recipes. Great etouffe, Paneed Rabbitt w a Dijon based sauce. What happened there? Thought that place had a solid concept and good product.

We at Britton and Broadway Extension this evening and remembered a restaurant that was somewhere in that area (+ or -- a few miles either way). The one thing I remember about it is the water wheel. I seem to recall that it was a early member of a restaurant group...Hal Smith, maybe? So, with that definite lack of information, can anyone tell me what it was? Hey, I wouldn't want to make it easy!!

Re the Magnolia Cafe. Loved it. I still have a menu. One of the funniest things was the pictures of naked people on bicycles in the rest rooms.

^

Believe you are talking about Joe Kelly's which was on Britton to the east of Broadway Extension and on a little lake.

It was a seafood place and owned by the same restaurant group that operated the local Chi-Chi's.

Opened in the early 80's.

i remember a restaurant built in the early 80's on the southside that had a water wheel. it was a seafood place called joe kelly's. i'm pretty certain there was one on the northside, too, but i'm not sure where it was. the southside location was on i-240 west of penn where olive garden is now. -M

argh.... too slow on the draw! -M

^

Believe you are talking about Joe Kelly's which was on Britton to the east of Broadway Extension and on a little lake.

It was a seafood place and owned by the same restaurant group that operated the local Chi-Chi's.

Opened in the early 80's.

You're right. Thanks. By using the Chi-Chi's name, I found that the company was Kelly-Johnston. The restaurants closed in 1985.

Yeah, I remember it was quite the scene for a while, especially for happy hour.

Also seemed to not last very long for some reason.

^^^^^^^^
This explains it: http://newsok.com/article/2128899

Definitely Joe Kelly's, a very good restaurant. Great steaks as well as seafood.
C. T.

I think i had my first legal mixed drink at Joe Kellys

I was never in Joe Kelly's that much, but the Chi-Chi's on the southside had a happy hour that always seemed to have a crowd. Two for one cocktails with that buffet set up with the cheese block, shredded lettuce, chips, salsa, and frijoles. Great times '80-'82.

In the mid 1950s, there was a hamburger restaurant on North May Avenue, possibly around the 5600 block, between NW 50th and NW 63rd Streets. It was on the east side, so long ago now, I cannot recall which side of NW Hiway it was on. As I recall, it was a sit down restaurant with a rustic appearance. I keep thinking "chuck wagon" something or other, but just do not recall the name now. Our family ate there often, sometimes before attending the drive in theatre nearby on NW Hiway. Can anyone help me with the name of this place, and perhaps provide memories of your own? The original building is gone; at least, if it has been remodeled, is far different than its original appearance. Sorry to be so vague, but am trying to remember back 60 years to early childhood here.

^

This is the criss-cross directory for that area from 1969.

East side of street would be even number addresses.

Might jog some memories:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/may1969.jpg

In the mid 1950s, there was a hamburger restaurant on North May Avenue, possibly around the 5600 block, between NW 50th and NW 63rd Streets. It was on the east side, so long ago now, I cannot recall which side of NW Hiway it was on. As I recall, it was a sit down restaurant with a rustic appearance. I keep thinking "chuck wagon" something or other, but just do not recall the name now. Our family ate there often, sometimes before attending the drive in theatre nearby on NW Hiway. Can anyone help me with the name of this place, and perhaps provide memories of your own? The original building is gone; at least, if it has been remodeled, is far different than its original appearance. Sorry to be so vague, but am trying to remember back 60 years to early childhood here.

The Wooden Nickle perhaps, or maybe it was a bit later{70s}.

These are restaurant ads from a magazine from the Biltmore and other hotels in 1953.

12962129631296412965129661296712968129691297012971 1297212973

Roast Prime Rib, Baked Potato, and a Salad for $2.25. Wow. Can't even get the potato for that now.

Roast Prime Rib, Baked Potato, and a Salad for $2.25. Wow. Can't even get the potato for that now.

That's $20.28 adjusted for inflation.

So that's where Wile E got his potato chips....

^^^ Cute. That's the kind of remark I would make.

Without a doubt, a couple that I recall fondly, that are now consigned to the history bin. . .

Harry Bears on Mosteller drive. Fried peaches were great. They had a salad that I would drive across town for my lunch break from classes at Rose State college for. . . Really hated it when they pulled up steaks, (so to speak!)

El Fenix at Crossroads, was another frequent stop. Thank goodness you can still get their salsa and it has started to appear in Wally world of all places! If only someone would reopen an El Fenix in the city.

Ouy Lin was the first Chinese I remember. First attended probably about '65 or so. Made the mistake of visiting again before they closed, their AC was out, the food was hideous.

Not to mention, any of the great cafeterias. . . Hermans, Der Dutchman, Beverly's. . . or even Shakey's pizza, which had its own unique ambience.

Ouy Lin was the first Chinese I remember. .

We used to go there in the late 80's and was very good. My first real introduction to Chinese also.

Anyone old enough to remember these diner-type operations:

1956 thru 1970s, Gone but not forgotten...


Grady's Hamburgers small old fashion diner operation, located at 8th & Laird. You could smell those burgers lightly diced with grilled onions a block away.

Butlers Barbecue (6th & Stonewall--s.e. corner, adjacent to Page-Woodson). ...served great BBQ ribs, scraps & rib ends, smoked links & hot dogs with chili--both served on a hamburger size bun.

Krispy King Country Fried Chicken (2101 NE 23rd Street), served up some really great fried chicken, beans, potato salad

Pulliam Bar B Q Pit, (538 NE 4), they had the best ribs & sauce west of the Mississippi. Served ribs on butcher paper. Always suit & tie doctors, nurses & professionals in that shack.

It's Close To Original Pulliam's: http://newsok.com/article/2541476

Anyone old enough to remember these diner-type operations:

1956 thru 1970s, Gone but not forgotten...
Pulliam Bar B Q Pit[/B], (538 NE 4), they had the best ribs & sauce west of the Mississippi. Served ribs on butcher paper. Always suit & tie doctors, nurses & professionals in that shack.

It's Close To Original Pulliam's: http://newsok.com/article/2541476
[/INDENT]

Laramie,
Pulliam's was very good. Inside a detached garage with seating around the walls and blood red sauce. Excellent sauce by the way.
C. T.

I loved going to Pulliam's. I recall the ribs being served on Wonder Bread wrappers. There was a coin operated coke machine for drinks. Some of the group I usually accompanied were acquainted with the owners and there were hugs all around. But I remember observing many of the customers getting hugs and being treated like family or old friends. I think a lot of people felt that way.

Outside on the streets were cars of all kinds and inside were people of all kinds as well.

It is still one of those really happy memories of my early working life in Oklahoma City. I think I was really fortunate to go there although at the time I am certain I failed to appreciate just how special it was.

Laramie,
Pulliam's was very good. Inside a detached garage with seating around the walls and blood red sauce. Excellent sauce by the way.
C. T.

Yep, you were there if you remember facing those walls C.T. His 'blood red sauce' was killer. That's what was missed in that Oklahoman recipe about Pulliam's sauce--the tomato sauce.

I recall as a kid when we played in that area the large cans of Del Monte tomato sauce cans outside the establishment in the trash.

Roast Prime Rib, Baked Potato, and a Salad for $2.25. Wow. Can't even get the potato for that now.

Isn't that the truth...

I don't remember when they closed, but I was going there between 1968 and 197?. Maybe as late as 1975 but I just don't remember.
C. T..

When Levita Anderson died I was surprised nobody mentioned it on OKCTalk, and now another lady from way back has just passed away. For those of you that don't know, Levita Anderson is the mother of Rick and Skip Bayless and she and her first husband (he died in 1974) started The Hickory House Barbecue on SW 25th and Western. I think that was the first barbecue that I had ever had. It was started in 1951. Made me a barbecue lover from then on. Sometime in the late 60's we started going to a place called El Rancho Sanchez on about SW 57th and Western. I was young and don't remember a lot but it was the first Mexican restaurant in town (that we knew of) with a buffet. As a family of four we all enjoyed eating there. One of the founder's, Hope Sanchez died about a week ago. For me, a lot of good memories.
C. T.

C.T.'s post reminded me to post this, don't think it's been mentioned here yet. Just finished the "Classic Restaurants of Oklahoma City" book by Dave Cathey and it was quite informative, brought back lots of memories (born here in 1965, lived around NW 63rd/May until 18, then family moved to Edmond and I moved back to OKC after a few years, then left OKC in 1995, came back in 2009). Writing is really bad in spots (no address listed, partial info, choppy flow, etc.) and editing isn't very good either (both me and my copy-editor wife almost threw it at the wall a few times), but the info and pictures are very worthwhile.

https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467119214

It sounds interesting, I will have to get a hold of a copy. Thanks for the information.
C. T.

Was this related to the El Fenix restaurants in Texas?

I haven't read all the replies, but in the mid 80's through the '90's I really enjoyed Harrigans ( great Hawaiian chicken and nachos), Black Eyed Pea, the Village Inns, Harry Bears (especially the fried peaches). The Queen Ann Cafeteria (next to Founders Tower) had really good food, and I mean really good. The Charcoal Oven was excellent until maybe the late 90's or early 2000's, the food taste quality and portion size just detiorated. Fred Gangs Steak House on NW 39th, and who can forget Steak & Ale. Big Beef BBQ on the old Classen Circle.

In the late 70's to really early 80's there was a really good Chinese restaurant named Chung King on NW 23rd just about a block or so west of Penn. A wonderful Oriental guy named Kenny ran it and might have been the owner. As a student at OCU and resident of the area I loved the food and ate lunch there probably 3 times a week. Kenny treated me so well, then it was a shock to hear he passed away and it closed up. RIP Kenny, you were a good man.

And that triggers another memory, the food at the OCU cafeteria was ok but I also really liked the lunch special at Stones IGA on the east end of Shepherd Mall, next to TG&Y. $1.49 for a LOT of food, very tasty and good quality, drink and desert.

Wow what memories. Thanks.

Does anyone remember the Subway Deli? Not to be confused with Subway. It opened across the street from Baptist Hospital, then moved West between MacArthur and Rockwell into the building that is now Fazoli's and their last location was on South Meridian in the building that was Pearl's Cajun Kitchen and is now Zapatas. I'm curious about the company that owned them, wasn't it (or didn't it become) The Good Egg Group?
C. T.

It was owned by Paul Seikel of Pearl's. His wife ran it when it was on Meridian.

I miss Cajun Kitchen, we ate there quite often and would go often when we're back in town.

It was owned by Paul Seikel of Pearl's. His wife ran it when it was on Meridian.

I miss Cajun Kitchen, we ate there quite often and would go often when we're back in town.

Bluedogok,
The minute I saw "Paul Seikel" I had my answer. His wife ran it on Northwest Expressway and when they were in the building that's now Fazoli's she was pregnant. It was on our rotation for lunch and we went there weekly. We enjoyed Cajun Kitchen too. Thanks for helping my memory.
C. T.

Alfredo's on NW Expressway was a place we would go for pizza all the time when I was a kid. I don't recall if it was a full Italian restaurant or just pizza, but it was between MacArthur and Meridian.

Does anyone remember Oui Lin's on N Penn and about NW 12th? There was
something about having the food served on silver platters. Most Chinese
restaurants did that in the 50's and 60's.

They also served hot rye bread and butter. Loved it.

I remember them well! The thing that stands out in my mind is their egg rolls tasted like peanut butter! They probably used peanut oil for frying… do you remember a Chinese restaurant on North May Ave., around 27th-30th street, on the west side? It was a storefront type, in a building with other businesses… not the one that was in the old IHOP…

I remember them well! The thing that stands out in my mind is their egg rolls tasted like peanut butter! They probably used peanut oil for frying… do you remember a Chinese restaurant on North May Ave., around 27th-30th street, on the west side? It was a storefront type, in a building with other businesses… not the one that was in the old IHOP…

Golden Pheasant Restaurant at 2911 N. May.

The strip center is still there.

EXCELLENT!!! That’s it! Thanks!!!

Oui Lin's, yes I recall it, the storefront remained until several years ago. I imagine the peanut butter flavor came from adding peanut butter to the egg roll contents. Many years ago there was an Asian restaurant on West Main Street in Norman where I worked, the House of Dragon. North side of Main, currently Brown's Shoe store.
Mr. Chan (owner) added peanut butter to the cabbage mixture that went into all homemade eggrolls, to improve the consistency. Also served Rye bread and butter along with meals. They opened in the mid- 70s. Trivia, but their head chef was Paul Wong and he moved to Ardmore and successfully operated a Chinese restaurant there for years.

Oui Lin's, yes I recall it, the storefront remained until several years ago. I imagine the peanut butter flavor came from adding peanut butter to the egg roll contents. Many years ago there was an Asian restaurant on West Main Street in Norman where I worked, the House of Dragon. North side of Main, currently Brown's Shoe store.
Mr. Chan (owner) added peanut butter to the cabbage mixture that went into all homemade eggrolls, to improve the consistency. Also served Rye bread and butter along with meals. They opened in the mid- 70s. Trivia, but their head chef was Paul Wong and he moved to Ardmore and successfully operated a Chinese restaurant there for years.

I moved out here in the late 70's and thought one of the oddest things was Chinese restaurants serving rye bread with the meals. Pastrami or corned beef on rye makes sense. With Chinese food, not at all. Rye goes with Central/ Eastern European fare.

The eggrolls at Fantasy Chinese Cuisine in Norman have a slight peanut butter taste but it's almost more like they are adding a peanut butter powder to them.

huh... i have NEVER seen the rye bread and butter at an asian restaurant. it's always interesting to hear about quirky traditions like that.

my earliest memories of an asian restaurant are from the early 80's... my folks would take us to a place on 5th street in moore called bobo's. my menu preference was 'garlic chicken' since (to me) it was very similar to fried chicken. obviously i had a very refined palate as a kid. : )

huh... i have NEVER seen the rye bread and butter at an asian restaurant. it's always interesting to hear about quirky traditions like that.

my earliest memories of an asian restaurant are from the early 80's... my folks would take us to a place on 5th street in moore called bobo's. my menu preference was 'garlic chicken' since (to me) it was very similar to fried chicken. obviously i had a very refined palate as a kid. : )

Right... That was my favorite as a kid too..... My friends and I would save up money just to go in to the Mandarin in Del City to eat the chicken there in high school..... I've been back a few times as an adult and it's still good there but not as good as I remember it being when I was a kid.... LOL

I also always thought it was amusing that so many non-buffet Chinese restaurants usually had a PB&J sandwich on their menu..... Always made me wonder how many they actually ever sold.

I also always thought it was amusing that so many non-buffet Chinese restaurants usually had a PB&J sandwich on their menu..... Always made me wonder how many they actually ever sold.

I have a young child. A restaurant not being able to serve a grilled cheese or a cheese quesidilla is a dealbreaker. Fortunately, for us, our kiddo enjoys orange chicken, a/k/a sugar chicken. But if we're doing Indian carryout, we're making a second stop.

I moved out here in the late 70's and thought one of the oddest things was Chinese restaurants serving rye bread with the meals. Pastrami or corned beef on rye makes sense. With Chinese food, not at all. Rye goes with Central/ Eastern European fare.

Jersyey Boss, The rye bread was common everywhere back in the 60's, I first had it in Maryland. I remember it in OKC in the 70's to early 80's. It was steamed and covered with a cloth napkin. Don't know the history, but I miss it.
C. T.

FYI, Casa Bonita currently trending at #7 on Twitter.

RJ's Cafe on North Santa Fe and about NE 46th St. The lunchtime "Hotline" and the owner Rick Strack working the register: "What's the bill?" "Not sure, have you been here before? Did you like it? Do you plan on coming back? What did you have? ... Okay, let's say ... five dollars, does that sound okay?"

RJ's Cafe on North Santa Fe and about NE 46th St. The lunchtime "Hotline" and the owner Rick Strack working the register: "What's the bill?" "Not sure, have you been here before? Did you like it? Do you plan on coming back? What did you have? ... Okay, let's say ... five dollars, does that sound okay?"

Oh man, does that ever bring back memories. When I worked for the OK House, one of my committee chairs loved to eat there. He wore a loud tie so if he spilled on it no one would ever know.

Does anyone remember a place called Reuben Rugby's on the northwest corner of NW Expressway and NW 63rd? It was owned by Bob Clift, who later became the head of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, and was open in the early '80s until about 1985. It had a huge salad bar and the menu was basically American food - burgers, sandwiches, steaks and chicken.

Does anyone remember a place called Reuben Rugby's on the northwest corner of NW Expressway and NW 63rd? It was owned by Bob Clift, who later became the head of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, and was open in the early '80s until about 1985. It had a huge salad bar and the menu was basically American food - burgers, sandwiches, steaks and chicken.I do remember that. It was an amazing salad bar and I love a good salad bar.

As I recall, Reuben Rugby's didn't last very long.

It opened in the early '80s and I believe it closed around 1986.

As I recall, Reuben Rugby's didn't last very long.

It opened in the early '80s and I believe it closed around 1986.That sounds about right. There were a lot of 80s restaurants that didn't last long.

^

The economy in Oklahoma really tanked around 1982 (Penn Square Bank collapse was both a symptom and cause) and was pretty bad well into the '90s.

And when things started to pick up again, NW Expressway was no longer the hot spot... Most the bigger places went to Memorial Road then the core started to come back (thanks to the first MAPS) and NW Expressway west of 63rd really stalled, at least in terms of sit-down restaurants and bars.

Does anyone remember Circus Time restaurant at SW 74th and Pennsylvania?

I just really miss the Harrigans on NWY Expressway/Highway, between MacArthur & Rockwell. The food was very good and the place was very popular.

That place, and Harry Bears.

Times move on, things change.

Are there any pictures of the restaurants along the SW 74th and Pennsylvania area in the 1970's era? My wife worked at Circus Time in the late 70's and would like to have a picture of the restaurant. Can someone provide a picture? I posted earlier, but I guess nobody remembers it?

Are there any pictures of the restaurants along the SW 74th and Pennsylvania area in the 1970's era? My wife worked at Circus Time in the late 70's and would like to have a picture of the restaurant. Can someone provide a picture? I posted earlier, but I guess nobody remembers it?

I found this photo.

I know the spot at Penn & I-240 used to be a Howard Johnson's.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/circustime99.jpg

that's awesome. the building in the background is still there, albeit it's a check cashing place now.

2121 SW 74th St - Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3917176,-97.5491081,3a,19.3y,46.47h,91.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgxruls1P3SVp4q5JKyDI1g!2e0!7i1 6384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0)

Oh man, does that ever bring back memories. When I worked for the OK House, one of my committee chairs loved to eat there. He wore a loud tie so if he spilled on it no one would ever know.

Your post reminded of a place somewhere on the Southside of OKC called Applewoods--can't remember its exact location. The OKC Public School District used this restaurant as well as one in Lincoln Plaza for a number of conferences; so did OKC-AFT (teachers). The food was really delivious--both restaurants had al la carte sections for desserts and fruit dishes.