Places that deserve more business

[Pete]

Thought it would be interesting for people to highlight some of their favorite bars and restaurants that might be a bit overlooked or forgotten about due to the constant stream of new places.

Here are some of mine:

Yuzo. Perhaps my favorite restaurant in all of OKC. I really like the bar and beer selection and their happy hour food menu is excellent and reasonable.

3Sixty. They have expanded the bar area all the way to the windows, so you can go up any time after 4PM and grab a table with a view, have a drink and order from their bar menu which is more than reasonable. The restaurant itself is very good IMO and suitable for a nicer occasion without breaking the bank.

Slaughter's Hall. Absolutely love the setting as it feels more like Brooklyn than OKC. Great patio, extensive beer list and pretty much everything on their menu is very good.

Rococo on Penn. This place is a real gem. Love the cozy bar area, another place with good happy hour food selection. Everything I've had there has been quite good and the staff is great.

[Roger S]

Have not been to the other 3 for lunch but I agree with Slaughter's Hall.... Was over there for lunch the other day with one of the owners of Black Mesa and when we walked in there was just one table seated and while we were there I think one other person came in..... I would say it's the location but I know The Wedge right down the street is always packed. So I can't say that.

[AP]

Rococo on Penn. This place is a real gem. Love the cozy bar area, another place with good happy hour food selection. Everything I've had there has been quite good and the staff is great.

This is sooo close to me, and I have still never been. I'll put it on my list to go soon.

[Dustin]

Bell Isle Brewery. It could use a remodel, but the food is really good.

[Swanky]

I would like the second the suggestion for Rococo on Penn! Came in here to say that. Glad it's already on the list

[FighttheGoodFight]

Gaberinos in Norman. Simple menu and very friendly staff. Good prices on all food and they even have a deal where you can get a take home and bake lasagna. My wife and I go there at least once a month.

[bchris02]

With all the new bars/restaurants in walkable environments these days, I can definitely understand some of the older trendy suburban places being overlooked. I have gotten to the point where if I am going to be drinking, I don't even want to deal with driving and its nice that you can now do that in OKC. I like places like Belle Isle Brewery (excellent atmosphere there) but you cannot walk there so you either have to drive or take an uber. It's the same deal for other places on NW Expressway like 3Sixty and Groovy's.

I am surprised to see Slaughter's Hall listed here as it was extremely popular back when it opened. Hopefully the new STAG is as successful as WSKY was when they allowed smoking and that business overflows into Slaughter's Hall.

I want to add that I hope places like the Flea and the Union at Sosa can hang on until the number of people living in that area catches up. I have a feeling that is why the Fat Dog didn't make it.

[Pete]

Places fail for a million reasons.

The Flea has a sweetheart deal, did most the work themselves and survived for quite a while with not much business. Now it seems they've hit their stride a bit.

Fat Dog spent a ton of money on a place they didn't even own. They never had a strong identity and quit after only a year or so.


There is so much competition now places have to constantly be adjusting, trying new things, promoting themselves, etc. Even a decent start out of the gate is not nearly enough; have to sustain it over the longer term.

[CloudDeckMedia]

Had dinner at 3Sixty last night, a beautiful, foggy evening with the full moon peeking through gaps in the clouds. A pretty quiet house as one would expect on a rainy weeknight. An apprentice server was on her first night (she left Jones Assembly because they had too many servers and nobody was making money in tips), and there were no specials due to a new chef in the kitchen, but the experience was very good. We were immediately seated, our service was attentive & professional, food was served promptly, and it was good. We had tuna and salmon, a cocktail and glass of wine. The bathroom was clean but the TVs were not turned on above the urinals (that's a strange thing to write!).

[Richard at Remax]

Picassos On Paseo

[Timshel]

In addition those that have already been named I'm always nervous about Patrono staying open whenever I go in, but hear that its very busy at times so I may just be going at odd hours. I also hope Esca Vitae succeeds and that its wholesaling business keeps it afloat. I would have put Savings and Loan on this list prior to its demise. I'd be shocked if Powerhouse isn't doing really well, but I think their pork chile verde is some of the best food in the city and until it starts winning all sorts of awards I'll consider it underrated!

Lastly, not food related, but I hope the new(ish) ownership of TRADE Men's Wares succeeds for its own sake and to prove that more locally owned/small mens clothing stores can succeed in OKC.

[Pete]

Powerhouse kills it. Go late on a Friday or Saturday night and they often have huge crowds, especially in the nicer months when they have DJ's and/or live music.

And they stay pretty busy during weekends in general.

They could probably use a bit more business during the week but that's true of almost every place.

[Bullbear]

Lastly, not food related, but I hope the new(ish) ownership of TRADE Men's Wares succeeds for its own sake and to prove that more locally owned/small mens clothing stores can succeed in OKC.

How recently did TRADE change ownership? I might give them another try if recent. earlier in the year the guy promised to order shoes for me TWICE and never did and I ordered them online for a better price.

[Timshel]

Powerhouse kills it. Go late on a Friday or Saturday night and they often have huge crowds, especially in the nicer months when they have DJ's and/or live music.

And they stay pretty busy during weekends in general.

They could probably use a bit more business during the week but that's true of almost every place.

Agreed. I'm there more than I should be and don't think and wasn't trying to say their business is struggling, merely that their pork chile verde (and all of their food, really) is deserving of even higher praise than it already receives. Especially compared to most "bar food" around town.

[Pete]

Agreed. I'm there more than I should be and don't think and wasn't trying to say their business is struggling, merely that their pork chile verde (and all of their food, really) is deserving of even higher praise than it already receives. Especially compared to most "bar food" around town.

100% agree with that.

It's one of my favorite dishes in all of OKC and I get it almost every time I go.

[stjohn]

Patrono and Yuzo might be the two best restaurants in town. Hope both are doing well.

[Pete]

Patrono is a place I should have mentioned as well.

Only been a couple of times and tend to forget about it myself.

[AP]

I went once and it was really good. There are just so many places now, it's hard to get to everything.

[sixkiller]

Picassos On Paseo

I think this place is doing just fine. Always a wait for Sunday brunch and busy weekend nights.

[Jeepnokc]

Patrono is a place I should have mentioned as well.

Only been a couple of times and tend to forget about it myself.

The couple of times I have tried to go...there were no reservations available.

[easternobserver]

GRUB, on Sooner Road at I-40. This may not qualify for this topic as it’s nearly always packed for the lunch rush, but I think it is still very much under the radar for most. Crispy chicken sandwich with side of Mac and Cheese....

John Curtis brought a for real restaurant to an area that tends toward fast food and chains....and a number of others have followed suit of late....

[Thomas Vu]

GRUB, on Sooner Road at I-40. This may not qualify for this topic as it’s nearly always packed for the lunch rush, but I think it is still very much under the radar for most. Crispy chicken sandwich with side of Mac and Cheese....

John Curtis brought a for real restaurant to an area that tends toward fast food and chains....and a number of others have followed suit of late....

+1 for GRUB

[Pete]

GRUB, on Sooner Road at I-40. This may not qualify for this topic as it’s nearly always packed for the lunch rush, but I think it is still very much under the radar for most. Crispy chicken sandwich with side of Mac and Cheese....

John Curtis brought a for real restaurant to an area that tends toward fast food and chains....and a number of others have followed suit of late....

Curtis is also the owner / manager of 3Sixty.

[TheirTheir]

Picasso is doing just fine...

[warreng88]

Bella Vista in SW 58th and Western. I get why people don’t go there, cause of the location and what it looks like from the outside, but holy crap is this place good. Hands down my favorite Italian place in the metro.