2014
Salsa A good salsa can make dreams come true. Certainly, it was the wish of owners to see Los Cabos Mexican Grill & Cantina become the successful franchise it is today, and it all starts with the zesty red concoction served every time one sits down to eat. Mi Cocina also boasts good salsa. Folks have raved about Café Ole’s salsa for years. Iguana Mexican Grill serves a mean salsa in Oklahoma City, and for its peppery perfection, the salsa was named best. Close by, the recipes at Ted’s Café Escondido get the nod, along with the creative mix at 1492 New World Latin Cuisine.
Seafood When they talk about freshness where seafood is concerned, it does make the difference. But where restaurants go from there is the line dividing these kitchens from the pack. Bodean Restaurant & Market is the Tulsa pick for its contemporary décor and refreshing take on cuisine. Readers also voted Bonefish Grill tops in this category for many reasons pulled from the deep sea. White River Fish Market & Restaurant also gets the nod for its serious attitude to seafood done home style. Another Hal Smith enterprise, Hefner Grill’s expansive seafood offerings are worth diving into head-first, which is why voters named it best in Oklahoma City. The excel-
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lent Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse also gets some love for its diverse entrees along with the fun, aptly named Pearl’s Oyster Bar.
Steakhouse It takes expert precision to cook a good steak. The chefs at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar are the best, according to readers, at getting it right along with the service and other refinement expected at this Tulsa favorite. Mahogany Prime Steakhouse comes highly recommended; one bite of the skillfully seasoned and charred steaks, and one understands why. Tulsans also heavily favor relative newcomer Prhyme in the Brady Arts District as well as the honorable elder statesman of the group, Sapulpa’s Freddie’s Bar-B-Que & Steakhouse. Ask anyone in Oklahoma City where to find the best steak, and you’re most likely to hear Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse. Don’t expect an assortment of ballpark standards – Mickey Mantle’s is all about perGUERNSEY PARK, fection and BEST STYLISH NEW fine tastes. RESTAURANT PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS. Oklahoma City readers also appreciate Red PrimeSteak and Boulevard Steakhouse for their great skills in the kitchen. Mahogany Prime Steakhouse and the old school charm of Junior’s of Oklahoma City also take their sizeable shares of readers’ votes and approval.
Stylish New Restaurant Just like those places to be seen, these new restaurants are the epitome of cool and modern, and who doesn’t want to be welcomed in? Tallgrass Prairie Table opened to great fanfare in 2013, and for good reason. Japanese cuisine spot Zanmai made its entrance on a tide of praise for its precision in the kitchen, show on the hibatchi and a restaurant that made the most of its view of
downtown Tulsa. Tavolo moved into downtown Tulsa and brought a bit of Italy. Bricktown gets all the cool restaurants, right? Many times, yes. Oklahoma City Thunder baron Kevin Durant fulfilled his promise to open a restaurant in Oklahoma City, and Kd’s Southern Cuisine was born serving fried green tomatoes unlike any you’ve ever had. Guernsey Park is the hottest new restaurant for Asian fusion dining and sushi. Empire Slice House is still making waves in the Plaza District with some of the most imaginative pies in town.
Sunday Brunch Brunch is more than 11 a.m. mimosas at restaurants like Palace Café, which features a sumptuous menu of breakfast-into-lunch entrees that delight the palate. Tulsa’s favorite place to take guests is also its favorite Sunday brunch spot on cheery Cherry Street and anywhere else in town. Another place for surefire brunch goodness, Polo Grill brings creative, bright cuisine to the table along with a great drinks menu. If you’re very lucky, you’ll find a table at Lucky’s Restaurant for its amazing bruch. Rococo Restaurant and Fine Wine and its classic American bistro fare do Sunday brunch nicely. Syrup is well-practiced on the art of brunch. The breakfast boutique that’s also open for lunch is a Norman favorite. Kitchen No. 324 is known for its rustic favorites, genious creations, great coffee and fresh-made pastries.
Sushi After you get over the initial caution that sets in when you’ve had your first bite of sushi, you start to scan the menu to see which combinations of rice, seaweed, fish, veggies and unexpected ingredients you can try next. In The Raw has made an art of sushi and made itself Tulsa’s top pick in the category. Better yet, take sashimi-phobic dining partners with you since the menu has plenty of cooked dishes, too. Fuji carries some of the more traditional rolls you’ll find in Japanese cuisine, but the inventive and colorfully named creations are fun, too. Newcomer Zanmai and Blue Dome District heavy Yokozuna complete Tulsa’s list for best sushi each for their location, creative cuisine and selection. Sushi Neko knows how to keep the spotlight and favor in Oklahoma City. Colorful rolls as tantalizing in the mouth as they are to look at on a plate, plus a shouting sushi chef and chic presentation, are hard to miss. In The Raw shows up on the Oklahoma City list, too, for the cool atmosphere, a great menu and optimal Bricktown location. Fans of Okura Sushi & Grill and its menu gave it high marks, placing it on our list.