Cafe Antigua

[Prunepicker]

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.

I don't hate it. I don't like it.

You're welcome to my opinion.

[Hawk405359]

good for you, moving on, what are the prices like for it?

[flintysooner]

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.

I know this is off topic but the not Tex-Mex made me think of it.

I really wish we had Javier's or something like it.

[Hawk405359]

I know this is off topic but the not Tex-Mex made me think of it.

I really wish we had Javier's or something like it.

I would too, it'd be a good change of pace from all Ameri-Mex out there. The menu actually looks different and an interesting spin on Latin-American food (as opposed to seeing how many different ways they can get people to pay for stuffing everything in a tortilla calling it an entree).

[Prunepicker]

I've heard that Cafe Antigua is moderately priced. I'm not sure what that
means. $10 for an entree'?
I'm going to try it, but it will have to be after the first of the year. Too much
music going on right now. Maybe it's good. Maybe it's really southwestern
cuisine, not Tex-Mex.

P.S. I'm sorry to everyone for disrupting this thread. I didn't mean to do it.
I'm jes' opinionated and tend to make it known.

[flintysooner]

I would too, it'd be a good change of pace from all Ameri-Mex out there. The menu actually looks different and an interesting spin on Latin-American food (as opposed to seeing how many different ways they can get people to pay for stuffing everything in a tortilla calling it an entree).

It really is unique and you know it from the time you arrive. Valet parking is encouraged and there are lots of expensive cars. Guests are dressed up for the most part - at least for Dallas. Reservations have always been pretty well handled for me but people wait in line a long time.

The interior is also unique although it is a little dark for me and I don't care much for the animal heads. But even I have to admit it has a certain "old world" flavor that comes across and I think that's the intention.

The service staff is old fashioned formal to me and I've always had exceptional treatment. The food is just outstanding and the first time I was there I had never experienced anything like it (Not hard for a little barefoot Oklahoma boy to be impressed though).

There's a cigar lounge, too, that is very popular.

They used to make this flaming drink that I really enjoyed about once a year but I am not sure that's done anymore. It was always a little scary but amazingly good.

[trousers]

[QUOTE=Prunepicker;281971]I've heard that Cafe Antigua is moderately priced. I'm not sure what that
means. $10 for an entree'?
I'm going to try it, but it will have to be after the first of the year. Too much
music going on right now. Maybe it's good. Maybe it's really southwestern
cuisine, not Tex-Mex.

Its not southwestern or tex-mex, its guatemalan.

[CCOKC]

Cafe Antigua is very casual, not fancy at all. I only go for breakfast so everything I have ever gotten is less than $10.

[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!