Most needed restaurant concept in OKC?

[foodiefan]

oops!! forgot to mention PTBC. . .fantastic breads and food. . . but not nearly as complete a menu as La M.

[metro]

. . .what are the "others' you mentioned? I do love La Baguette, but I also love La Madeline's, and with it's "cafeteria" style food line, it's a very different venue than La Baguette. Bring 'em on!! Along with WF and/or CM!!

Raspberries and Creme has a decent bakery/french brunch on weekends. There is another one closer to La Baguette but the name escapes me.

[tuck]

la Madeleine has opened up here in Austin in the past few years, they have had one on North Lamar for quite awhile but have recently opened up new locations. They are now up to five here.

I always saw La Baguette (North May location) as a "similar" type of place, not a copy but enough commonality between them to see them in the same kind of light.

Remember Ground Floor Cafe? I still think they have one location left in Leadership Square. They were trying to pull off a La Madeline...Nicholls Hills Plaza did a pretty good job of it until they sold. La madeline is nowhere near the same quality they were in the mid-1990's.

[bluedogok]

Remember Ground Floor Cafe? I still think they have one location left in Leadership Square. They were trying to pull off a La Madeline...Nicholls Hills Plaza did a pretty good job of it until they sold. La madeline is nowhere near the same quality they were in the mid-1990's.

Yep, I knew some of the people involved in Ground Floor back then. I agree that la Madelaine seems a bit different than when I ate there when I lived in Dallas in the early 90's. We just don't really think of it that often, in fact the first time that my wife ate there is when we had breakfast at one in Plano when we were up there visiting her cousin in the hospital in Frisco.

[metro]

Yes, Ground Floor Cafe is still in Leadership Square and their food is awesome. Some of it they get from La Baguette daily. I love their Chicken Salad on a Croissant and their chocolate cigars (pastry item).

[Norman>Edmond]

You mean Gaucho's Grill.

I think we need a chain effort for our churrascaria, such as Texas de Brazil or Fogo de Chao.

Gaucho's was nowhere near the quality of Texas de Brazil or Fogo de Chao.

[JuJuBeans]

Most desired wants in OKC:
Vegan/Vegetarian restaurants
Raw Foods Restaurant
Upscale French Dining
Late night dessert bars
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Chocolate Buffet

[John1744]

We drastically need more open late places.

[MikeOKC]

A 1940s concept with big band music, Bogart and Bacall on the wall, the lounge could even be Rick's Redux (from Casablanca). I've been to some in other cities and have often thought about how this would be big in OKC.

[ksearls]

Dumpling & Noodle joint.

[lasomeday]

Juju beans we have most of what you listed.

105 Degrees has a world famous chef and school for the ultimate vegan raw foodies.

Welcome to 105degrees.com - Oklahoma's premiere Raw & Living Foods destination

We have SaraSara Cuppies and Joes for cupcakes.

Sara Sara Cupcakes, gourmet cupcakes in Oklahoma City
Home | Cuppies & Joe Cupcakes in Oklahoma City

We even have an organic gluten free cupcake place Green Goodies by Tiffany.

home2

We have CocoFlow for chocolate. It is not a late night place like you mentioned, but it is a start. It did move due to the owners getting assaulted.

Welcome to COCOFLOW Online!

and we had Soileil in the Colcord, but it was too upscale French for OKC, but they have La Baguette there now. It is French owned downtown, on May and in Norman.

La Baguette Bistro

I think OKC has come a long way in just a few years. Looking at all the old posts on this thread just shows how many new restaurants we have gained in the last year and a half! OKC is the BLC! Have you guys been to Big Truck Tacos! That place is so good! I thought I was in Austin!

We have so many local new restaurants. I don't think that we need any chains. Well, I do love Emeril's restaurants, so that would be good. Maybe we could convince the guy that won Top Chef All Stars Rick Bayless to come back to OKC and open a restaurant here. That would be great for OKC.

I am so proud of OKC. Maybe a few fusion restaurants would be cool. I have been to some really cool ones in Portland and Seattle. The French Thai fusion would be insane! I also went to a Sushi Southwest fusion restaurant that was insane! Cilantro belongs in sushi!

[jbrown84]

Actually the La Baguette restaurants in Norman are not affiliated with the ones in OKC owned by the Buthion brothers.

[metro]

Most desired wants in OKC:
Vegan/Vegetarian restaurants
Raw Foods Restaurant
Upscale French Dining
Late night dessert bars
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Chocolate Buffet

you do realize we have all those, except maybe late night dessert bars? 105 degrees is probably the most respected raw foods restaurant and school in the world.

[lasomeday]

They may not be affiliated, but I didn't say they were. I just said they have French food.

[jbrown84]

This is true. My apologies.

[JuJuBeans]

I like La Baguette, but it's not amazing French cuisine. I LOVE 105 Degrees, but I said that I wanted 'more' raw vegan/vegetarian restaurants, not just one or two. Not a fan of sara sara except for their coconut cupcakes are pretty decent, and I frequent Green Goodies although, I still prefer Sprinkles even though it's a chain (sorry, it's a texture thing for me) I have been to CocoFlow about 4x when it used to be on Western Avenue, and I didn't like any of their handmade truffles way too grainy, not smooth, and too sweet. Sadly, I prefer Godiva in OKC which I consider average chocolate, and miss Cocoa Bella in SF, Vosges, and some other local Chocolate places in NYC and Chicago. I'm not complaining, Oklahoma is getting more businesses, but it's just a 'want' and I'm patient. Thanks for all the information though~ Another want would be more specialty cheese markets like Forward Foods in Norman. I read on this site not too long ago they are planning to open another location on Western later on this year? So, I'm excited for that since, it would be a closer drive from MWC.

[JuJuBeans]

I agree Rick Bayless needs to open up a Frontera here in OKC, not sure if it would do well though, but my boyfriend is taking me to Frontera next year when we go back to Chicago to visit his family.

NOOOO!! Cilantro does not belong in sushi, lol!!

I also do not understand how people think C&J are the best 'cuppies' it's not bad, but I think Market-C, Green Goodies, and SaraSara are much better. I actually just had a Market-C chocolate coconut cupcake Friday night, it was pretty good.

I try not to support chains, but I just really really really really love Sprinkles. Never been to Emeril's, but I hear many raves about his banana cream pie, yum!

[lasomeday]

Yeah, the best cupcake I have had in OKC was at Cafe 7. It was their red velvet cupcake. It had tiny little chocolate chips in it. It was great!

Yeah, Forward Foods is supposed to in where Coco Flow used to be on Western. I love Forward Foods! I go there about once a week! They have a lavender cheese that is insane.

The Mexi Roll I had in Park City, Utah was the best little roll I have ever had!
Oishi Sushi Bar & Grill Park City Utah Restaurants on Main Street Best Sushi in Town!
MEXI ROLL
White fish tempura with cilantro & spicy sauce

If you think about it, there is a lot of overlapping in sushi and Mexican food. They both use avocados and spicy sauces. Just add a few more flavors and the sushi can hit another level.

We tried to get into Frontera the last two times I was in Chicago and they were booked solid for a week. You may want to make reservations now! I think it might be easier to get in there around lunchtime.

Yeah, I think having 105 degrees here in OKC will spark more vegan restaurants around OKC in the future. Them having a school is a huge plus! I think them and the ACM in bricktown will bring a lot of new interests to the city.

As far as French cuisine goes. I agree we need more. We had Soilel which was my favorite, but at least it is still French food.

Wow, I am getting so hungry! The perks about OKC, is we do have a great diversity that most cities don't have. We have great cajun, Tex-Mex, Thai, sushi, BBQ, etc. Most cities surprisingly don't have any good cajun, BBQ, or Tex-Mex.

[progressiveboy]

I agree Rick Bayless needs to open up a Frontera here in OKC, not sure if it would do well though, but my boyfriend is taking me to Frontera next year when we go back to Chicago to visit his family.

NOOOO!! Cilantro does not belong in sushi, lol!!

I also do not understand how people think C&J are the best 'cuppies' it's not bad, but I think Market-C, Green Goodies, and SaraSara are much better. I actually just had a Market-C chocolate coconut cupcake Friday night, it was pretty good.

I try not to support chains, but I just really really really really love Sprinkles. Never been to Emeril's, but I hear many raves about his banana cream pie, yum!

As far as Sprinkles is concerned, the founder is from OKC and a graduate of Casady, if I remember correctly. The more people that EM their corporate site about future locations maybe they will take notice. I know they even had a voting contest as to where the next Sprinkles CC should be located. The one hear in Dallas in Preston Center has lines constantly out the door.

[potsy]

so whats the news now on cocoflow? did they move from western ave? where are they now? are they good..? n whats the best chocolate boutique here in okc?

[JuJuBeans]

Yeah, the best cupcake I have had in OKC was at Cafe 7. It was their red velvet cupcake. It had tiny little chocolate chips in it. It was great!

Yeah, Forward Foods is supposed to in where Coco Flow used to be on Western. I love Forward Foods! I go there about once a week! They have a lavender cheese that is insane.

The Mexi Roll I had in Park City, Utah was the best little roll I have ever had!
Oishi Sushi Bar & Grill Park City Utah Restaurants on Main Street Best Sushi in Town!
MEXI ROLL
White fish tempura with cilantro & spicy sauce

If you think about it, there is a lot of overlapping in sushi and Mexican food. They both use avocados and spicy sauces. Just add a few more flavors and the sushi can hit another level.

We tried to get into Frontera the last two times I was in Chicago and they were booked solid for a week. You may want to make reservations now! I think it might be easier to get in there around lunchtime.

Yeah, I think having 105 degrees here in OKC will spark more vegan restaurants around OKC in the future. Them having a school is a huge plus! I think them and the ACM in bricktown will bring a lot of new interests to the city.

As far as French cuisine goes. I agree we need more. We had Soilel which was my favorite, but at least it is still French food.

Wow, I am getting so hungry! The perks about OKC, is we do have a great diversity that most cities don't have. We have great cajun, Tex-Mex, Thai, sushi, BBQ, etc. Most cities surprisingly don't have any good cajun, BBQ, or Tex-Mex.

Thanks for the info about Frontera Grill, I'll make sure to reserve two weeks or sooner just in case when we visit.

[JuJuBeans]

so whats the news now on cocoflow? did they move from western ave? where are they now? are they good..? n whats the best chocolate boutique here in okc?

I think they moved into a hospital or near a hospital on the north side of OKC.

[nik4411]

do we have any good fish and chips shops? nothing extravagant, just a small chipper like i used to hit once a week back in scotland....gotta love fried haddock and chips smothered in malt vinegar and a side of mushie peas

[Chance23]

more late night places, a true 24 hour local diner, the type that you can go to at 3 a.m. that can become an institution.

[MsDarkstar]

They're in Deaconess Hospital...I didn't realize that they'd moved their entire business there. It's just a little booth type thing there, one small case & that's it. Quite a difference between that & an entire store.