City Bites

[Martin]

'cocina de mino' means mino's kitchen... it's hard to imagine such a popular restaurant existed on se 29th & stiles. the only one i know of still in existence is in the old grocery store spot in the strip center at sw 59th & western.

haven't been to city bites in a while... really hope it doesn't follow the same path to extinction. given how pc the world has become, i wonder if they still have the restrooms done up the same way?

-M

[Jim Kyle]

It meant "Mino's Kitchen" and according to the legend posted in the restaurant, Mino was the (very) young son of the owners, much as the Stevens family named "Dolores" for their young daughter (who outlived the restaurant, passing away this past summer).

The original Mino's was located just off May avenue, in the building later occupied by Ted's, and was still run by the family when it then moved up to NW 122 and May...

[Martin]

The original Mino's was located just off May avenue

i don't think so... i'm pretty sure that the little building on se 29th was the first one. -M

[bluedogok]

I know that Ted's was the May Cafe prior to being Ted's, that is what it was called when it was originally built. I think it came into Ted's hands because the family business (Curtis Restaurant Supply) was a major creditor. This was after Ted had sold his recording studio (Studio 7) and I guess was looking for something new to do.

[Easy180]

i don't think so... i'm pretty sure that the little building on se 29th was the first one. -M

+1

[RadicalModerate]

Wasn't the original Cocina de Mino in a white building on 29th St. right across from the old Carey Lumber? I used to buy a lot of lumber at Carey and there were always lines out the door of that restaurant . . . Never ate there myself because I was always in a hurry to get somewhere else...with the lumber. I seem to recall that the next time I notice a Cocina de Mino was up in Edmond near that nice wine store.

[Debzkidz]

Wasn't the original Cocina de Mino in a white building on 29th St. right across from the old Carey Lumber? I used to buy a lot of lumber at Carey and there were always lines out the door of that restaurant . . . Never ate there myself because I was always in a hurry to get somewhere else...with the lumber. I seem to recall that the next time I notice a Cocina de Mino was up in Edmond near that nice wine store.

There's a Chelinos by the wine store on Boulevard. Don't know if there's ever been a Cocina de Mino there. It's been Chelinos as long as we've been here, about 5 1/2 years.

[RadicalModerate]

Chellinos. Dang. I always get those places mixed up. =)
For all I know it may have been the original Chellinos down there on 29th.
Thanks for setting me straight.

Does anyone remember a Submarine Sandwich Shop (from back in the '70s) across the highway (to the north) from what used to be Baptist Hospital? I would swear that it was a Subway, but it was way more like a deli than the Subways of today. I also seem to recall that the sandwiches were even a little better than what you can currently get at Subway . . . Plus they had potato salad. And lots of hanging plants. BTW: The BMT at Subway is one of the best values around. Now if they would only add Olive Salad (the famous Muffelata topping) as a garnish option.

[Martin]

i'm pretty sure that the first chelino's was on sw 36th (grand blvd) & walker in an old dairy queen... it's still operating there! -M

[okcisok]

Chellinos. Dang. I always get those places mixed up. =)
For all I know it may have been the original Chellinos down there on 29th.
Thanks for setting me straight.

Does anyone remember a Submarine Sandwich Shop (from back in the '70s) across the highway (to the north) from what used to be Baptist Hospital? I would swear that it was a Subway, but it was way more like a deli than the Subways of today. I also seem to recall that the sandwiches were even a little better than what you can currently get at Subway . . . Plus they had potato salad. And lots of hanging plants. BTW: The BMT at Subway is one of the best values around. Now if they would only add Olive Salad (the famous Muffelata topping) as a garnish option.

Our family ate at the sub shop you remember quite a bit. I'm pretty sure that it was owned by Paul Seikel and a friend of his. Yes, the Paul Seikel of Pearls fame. He and his wife were almost always there. It was great!

[ctchandler]

mmm,
You are correct sir. I ate there several times on weekends. I worked near Baptist hospital and when they opened on May, I was thrilled.
C. T.

i don't think so... i'm pretty sure that the little building on se 29th was the first one. -M

[ctchandler]

okcisok,
Yes, it was owned by Paul Seikel and called Subway Deli. After a few years they moved West between MacArthur and Rockwell. I believe they were on the property that is now the fast Italian food. The name escapes me at the moment. Same style, his wife was there all the time and was pregnant for part of that time. They opened the last Subway Deli on S. Meridian.
C. T.

Our family ate at the sub shop you remember quite a bit. I'm pretty sure that it was owned by Paul Seikel and a friend of his. Yes, the Paul Seikel of Pearls fame. He and his wife were almost always there. It was great!

[pickles]

Jersey Mike's rules!

My sandwich shop preferences go...

1. Lee's
2. Jersey Mike's
3. Subway
4. Someplace Else (only ranks below Subway because of the single location)

I agree with this, but I'm willing to make an out of the way trip to go to Someplace Else before I'd go to a Subway. If it's down to City Bites, I would just as soon skip the meal and munch on some granola in my office. Worst sandwich place ever.

[ctchandler]

Pickles,
To make sure there is no misunderstanding, the place we were talking about in the last couple of posts was not the chain "Subway", it was a local store called Subway Deli. I guess we have gotten off the subject, City Bites.
C. T.

I agree with this, but I'm willing to make an out of the way trip to go to Someplace Else before I'd go to a Subway. If it's down to City Bites, I would just as soon skip the meal and munch on some granola in my office. Worst sandwich place ever.

[RadicalModerate]

Based upon all of the responses on this thread so far, I would say that the answer to the question "City Bites Having Problems?" is a resounding "Yes" . . . "Yes it is." =)

[TheTravellers]

Based upon all of the responses on this thread so far, I would say that the answer to the question "City Bites Having Problems?" is a resounding "Yes" . . . "Yes it is." =)

Ha, indeed it is... Oh well, at least they had a good long run, have to start scouting out other sandwich places now, will probably try some of those suggested in this thread (except Which Wich - tried it (NW Expwy location) and it's just too small and crowded to eat there comfortably), thanks to all for the info.

[Thunder]

Last time I ate there....I think last year...or very early this year...the one in MWC didn't have chicken strips like Subway does, but went ahead with the rounded chicken slices. Dunno if they had SW Chiptole or not...can't remember. Used to eat there a lot when younger...now dangerously rare. I think its still good and I would eat there if the time is right. They are not widespread like Subway is.

The bathroom is still the same with the mirror window. People can still see inside if they look close enough. Never understood how they got away with it.

[SoonerDave]

huh

This. JM is the absolute worst and also the most expensive. JM is bland, stale bread, and have the weirdest menu.

Wow. You must have gone to a lousy JM's, because my experience with them has been stellar, with their sandwich dressing making their offerings anything but bland. My mom tells me they remind her of the old sub shops she visited in New York when she lived up there several years ago. No way they'd be that successful if they were as universally bad as you indicate here..

[soonerguru]

Forward Foods has some of the best sandwiches around. Go there at lunch and they usually have three or four sammies with unbelievably good, fresh, innovative ingredients and combinations. Yummo.

[MikeOKC]

huh

Wow. You must have gone to a lousy JM's, because my experience with them has been stellar, with their sandwich dressing making their offerings anything but bland. My mom tells me they remind her of the old sub shops she visited in New York when she lived up there several years ago. No way they'd be that successful if they were as universally bad as you indicate here..

I agree. Metro must have gone on a bad day or something. These restaurant threads always make me laugh though. People forget that everything is subjective when we're talking what food and tastes people like and don't like.

[oneforone]

I eat at whatever place is close and reasonably priced. The eat local movement is a good thing however, people need to understand that not every national chain is ran by the corporation. The majority of chains are franchises owned by people that were born and raised here. 60% of all brand named restaurants and hotels are branded under one name and owned by another company sometimes their local sometimes their regional or national. US Beef corp out of Tulsa owns several Arby's stores in Oklahoma and neighboring states. They just recently started a Taco Bueno franchise.

[SoonerDave]

I agree. Metro must have gone on a bad day or something. These restaurant threads always make me laugh though. People forget that everything is subjective when we're talking what food and tastes people like and don't like.

Absolutely true. And, as they say, on any given day, a great place can be bad, and vice-versa.

[OKCDrummer77]

Forward Foods has some of the best sandwiches around. Go there at lunch and they usually have three or four sammies with unbelievably good, fresh, innovative ingredients and combinations. Yummo.

Rachael Ray? Is that you?

[Roadhawg]

Jersey Mike's rules!

My sandwich shop preferences go...

1. Lee's
2. Jersey Mike's
3. Subway
4. Someplace Else (only ranks below Subway because of the single location)

I haven't tried Lee's or Jersey Mike's yet... I'll give them a try soon

[Jim Kyle]

My experience (somewhat limited) with JM's is that the one on Memorial between May and Penn is great, the one on NW Highway between MacArthur and Rockwell not so much so...

And I'd rank Someplace Else at the top of the list, having known Peggy since she quit the insurance industry to open it up back in 1976. They do their own baking and nobody has topped their Snickerdoodle cookies...