Cafe Antigua

[Hawk405359]

Has anyone tried it? I first found saw it the other day and it was closed, but I've never had Guatemalan food before. Is it normal Tex-Mex or closer to real Mexican food?

[buckt]

Has anyone tried it? I first found saw it the other day and it was closed, but I've never had Guatemalan food before. Is it normal Tex-Mex or closer to real Mexican food?

YES! Their breakfast is really, really good!!

[CCOKC]

It is not Tex-Mex and I am not sure what authentic Mexican food truly is since I have never been to Mexico. But it has become a standby for my family on Saturday mornings. If you like oatmeal get the Mosh which is a sweet soupy oatmeal which sounds disgusting but is fantastic.

[mecarr]

It is not Tex-Mex and I am not sure what authentic Mexican food truly is since I have never been to Mexico. But it has become a standby for my family on Saturday mornings. If you like oatmeal get the Mosh which is a sweet soupy oatmeal which sounds disgusting but is fantastic.

By the way, this is not a mexican restaurant and doesn't pretend to be. It is a Guatamalan restaurant. Just because two countries speak the same language doesn't mean they can just be grouped into the "mexican" category. I don't find much, if any, similarties between the food Cafe Antigua offers and mexican restaurants. I love this restaurant by the way.

[Prunepicker]

I just noticed this on my Google Reader and thought it may be of use
to some.

Cafe Antigua: a great taste of Guatemala

from EatAroundOKC.com by Sarah

Cafe Antigua is located at 1903 N. Classen Blvd in Oklahoma City (map).
Call them at 405.602.8984. Hours are 8am to 5pm Monday through
Saturday.

Several of our readers have clamored for a review of Cafe Antigua recently,
so happily I set out to accommodate. It can be a little tricky to spot at
first. I drove by it three times before I even saw it. It’s hiding in an old strip
of shops right on 19th and Classen, and it’s well worth the search. Look for
the name of the restaurant painted on the windows, as that’s the only
sign.

Once again, my faithful sidekick and Mom tagged along for another new
restaurant experience. Upon entering, she was immediately thrilled to see
the employees cleaning the tables with a real bottle of spray cleaner and a
clean cloth, as opposed to a wet dish towel “has laid around on the floor
for who knows how long” (her words). Score one for the restaurant.

Cafe Antigua serves both breakfast and lunch the entire time it’s open, so
that’s nice. I know I like breakfast food better at other times of the day
than breakfast time. So for lunch, I ordered the “signature breakfast”
entree of Motulena Eggs ($5.75), which consisted of two corn tortillas and
black beans topped with two eggs smothered in chirmol (charred tomato
and mint sauce) and sliced avacado, queso fresco (fresh cheese), queso
seco (a dry Nicaraguan cheese), parsley and chips. It was delicious, and
the portion was just right. Most of the portions here are not huge, which I
appreciate. Most of the entrees are also served with their homemade
jalapeno sauce on the side, which is hot, but yummy.

Mom chose the Enchilades Guatemaltecas ($5.25). This consisted of a
tostada with lettuce, picadillo (chopped beef), topped with viniagrette,
cabbage and beets, salsa roja, slice of hard egg, parsley and queso seco.
She’s usually not a meat-eater, but she loved this dish for two reasons.
First, she could taste the tangy veggies, and second, it matched her outfit
that day (does anyone else have a cute little mother who loves to wear
purple and chartreuse green together?). She also got to know a couple of
the other patrons while we waited on our food. I think most everyone in
there was either a lawyer who had a business on Classen or a sweet, little
retired couple who lived nearby in one of those big houses just east of
there. At any rate, everyone Mom talked to was a regular customer. The
Valdez family of five has owned this place the last two years.

I wanted a return engagement before I wrote this review, so last week my
trusty sidekick and I kidnapped two co-workers and told them where we
were headed. They were game. This time I tried the special of the day,
which was the Mayan Rice ($8.49). It consisted of rice, black beans, onion,
tomato, cilantro, parsley and chicken or beef (I chose the chicken). I loved
it and wish somebody would fix this for me every night at home. This is one
of their larger entrees, and I could have split it with someone had I known.

Mom chose the Omelette Chapin ($7.49) which was mixed with tomato, bell
pepper, chives, onions, chirmol and cheddar, accompanied with a side of
sour cream and plantains (or “plantations” as she called them). This is a
great dish for vegetarians.

My friend Beth chose the Chili Rellenos ($7.75), which was two small,
poblano peppers with beef and veggies, rice and a house salad. The
peppers were very tender, not with a deep-fried crunchy coating like a lot
of Tex-Mex places serve, and she described the meat as having a good,
earthy taste. But I’m not sure she was really sold on this dish. It might
warrant another review and opinion.

My friend Susan tried the Carne Asada ($9.99), which was grilled
beefsteak, two green onions, rice, black beans, house salad and avacado.
It looked really good, and she said it was, eating every bite.

Cafe Antigua serves a variety of Guatemalan coffees and fruit drinks. When
asked what we wanted to drink, Mom asked if they had Guatemalan tea,
which puzzled our waiter for a moment, as he proceeded to explain the
different kinds of coffee. She then asked for an explanation of the fruit
drinks, which he pleasantly and patiently provided. Then, of course, she
ordered water. It was like being in a Seinfeld episode with Kramer and
George ordering at the cafe. Our waiter just smiled like he was used to this
with all the other sweet, little old customers. The episode continued after
lunch, at which point Mom wanted to try the “Plantations in Glory” (sigh). I
ordered her the Plantains in Glory ($3.25) and just smiled at the waiter.
These were cooked in brown sugar, cinnamon and kahlua, topped with sour
cream, and they were fantastic, especially after the spicy entree I just
had.

So if you want a little something different in a colorful, but discreet,
setting, try Cafe Antigua. I know I’ll be back, even though it’s not
anywhere close to where I live or work. It’s definitely worth the trip. Let us
know what you think in the comments!

[Journey]

I happened to be in Cafe Antigua today and they had a sign up announcing that they would be staying open until 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, beginning this Thursday, Feb. 18.

Good news!

[Prunepicker]

YES! Their breakfast is really, really good!!

Unfortunately, it's closer to real Mexican food. Good, but nothing to rave
about.

Real Mexican is so blah.

[Prunepicker]

Unfortunately, it's closer to real Mexican food. Good, but nothing to rave about.

Real Mexican is so blah.

I meant to respond to hawk's post, i.e. the first one.

[Prunepicker]

I don't mean to denigrate Mexican food. I'm a big fan of bi-cultural food, or
southwest cuisine. The so-called real Mexican food leaves me wishing I had
a bowl of Cheerio's. The same goes with Guatemalan cuisine.

By the way, don't give me the usual crap that real Mexican is fresher. It's
not. They're going to use whatever is in the 'fridge and pantry, just like us.

[MoeStooge]

So-called real Mexican food?

How about Oaxacan? Michoacan? Sinaloan? the wonderful street food of Mexico City? the seafood of coastal areas like Veracruz and the Baja and Yucatan peninsulas?

"Real" Mexican food isn't blah- it's pretty damn tasty. So is Cafe Antigua for that matter, along with the other Guatemalan restaurant we have. Which reminds me I need to go on a pupusa run.

[Hawk405359]

Unfortunately, it's closer to real Mexican food. Good, but nothing to rave
about.

Real Mexican is so blah.

I disagree, I much prefer food that isn't covered with two days worth of melted cheese and menus in which every item isn't made from the same five ingredients.

I do understand that real Mexican food is just different and not suited to everyone's palates. It's hard to get used to if you're used to overly salted and cheesy tex-mex that gets passed off as Mexican cuisine. It's a lot more subtle with more focus on individual ingredients.

[Prunepicker]

I do understand that real Mexican food is just different and not suited to
everyone's palates. It's hard to get used to if you're used to overly salted
and cheesy tex-mex that gets passed off as Mexican cuisine. It's a lot
more subtle with more focus on individual ingredients.

I don't like Mexican or Central American cuisine. I like Tex-Mex, Cali-Mex,
Ariz-Mex, Okie-Mex, New Mex-Mex.

Overly salted cheesy Tex-Mex. I don't see how you get that. The idea that
Mexican is more focused on individual ingredients is, well, I laughed.

[JohnDenver]

...The idea that
Mexican is more focused on individual ingredients is, well, I laughed.

If you have nothing to offer about THIS restaurant, then you shouldn't be responding. You are always looking for attention, it is sad. Why do you thread jack nearly every thread? No one asked "Hey, dick, how do you feel about Mexican food?" No one, not a single person, asked how you feel about all things Mexican food related.

[Hawk405359]

Overly salted cheesy Tex-Mex. I don't see how you get that.

The same place where you got your opinion that real Mexican food is bland.

The idea that Mexican is more focused on individual ingredients is, well, I laughed.

Feel free to laugh and enjoy the cup of cheese melted over everything that constitutes an entree. I'm not really interested in your opinion on the cuisine of central and South America, I was merely inquiring if this restaurant was any good.

[funky977]

I had the Mayan Rice with Chicken, fantastic. Great place for something different...and get the Horchata.

Matt

[JohnDenver]

I can only speak for their breakfast, but it is very good.

[Caboose]

Breakfast there is amazing. Dang... I think I'll go soon.

[icecold]

agreed....their breakfast is good....i have only been twice, need to go back....odds are if you go you will see tuck inhaling a #7.

[tuck]

agreed....their breakfast is good....i have only been twice, need to go back....odds are if you go you will see tuck inhaling a #7.

Could have witnessed it yesterday...#7!

[Midtowner]

100% fully recommend.

[SavageDigital]

We've eaten there several times, including this morning - fantastic food.

Is it normal Tex-Mex or closer to real Mexican food?

Closer to the latter, but really most of the menu (esp. breakfast) is unique, in a good way.

[okclee]

Good recent (dec 3, 09) review here @ eat around okc.com

Cafe Antigua: a great taste of Guatemala | Oklahoma City Restaurants

[PennyQuilts]

I love cheese.

[Prunepicker]

I love cheese.

I do to. It was in reference to the melted cheese-goo that some places pour
on Mexican food.

[soonerguru]

Prunepicker,

You seem very committed to ensuring everyone on OKCTalk realize just how much you hate interior Mexican cuisine -- in all of its permutations. And while I have reasons to doubt that you've every tasted competently prepared examples of Mexican regional cuisine, I must say, "Congratulations!" for successfully letting us know your opinion.