Taste of the Town

TASTE of theTown

Grand Cafe for Breakfast or Lunch

Story & Photos Contributed by Nancy Laffey

There is something special about dining at The Grand Cafe, the little restaurant on the corner of Fifth and Grand Avenue in Ponca City. In all my 36 years in Ponca City it has been there, under several different names and owners, but in my mind and memories it has always been The Grand Cafe. It is a great spot for breakfast or lunch in our busy downtown. I pop in regularly for one of their fresh grab-and-go salads with a nice portion of homemade ranch just the way this Okie likes it. They are made daily for busy folks like me. It’s a real treat to slow down a bit and take in the newly remodeled space that is very clean and inviting. Grab a tall table in the corner and take in the big picture window views of our beautiful downtown architecture in the Library or City Hall while the friendly staff dotes on you. The cute little restaurant has a nice menu of staple dishes, but when I dine out, I always consider “The Special” or ask my server about his or her favorite thing on the menu. I assume if a restaurant has a special, it means they take pride in the dish and want to make it your next favorite food. The Grand Cafe has a large chalkboard on specials for every day of the week. There are plenty of specials to try and keep you coming back for more.

The Saturday special this particular day was The Reuben served with my choice of fries, and I chose curly. I like to order food that I wouldn’t usually make myself, and those hand-cut, fresh curly fries were the right amount of curl, cooked to just the right bite. They were seasoned with salt and pepper, which I loved, but still required ketchup; I just can’t eat a fry without it. The specials, and I do best part of the special was the Reuben itself; it was excellent. The marble rye bread was perfectly buttered and toasty, and the meat to cheese to kraut Grand Cafe 423 E. Grand Avenue Ponca City Open: Monday - Saturday 7am - 2pm have favorites that keep me coming back. I think the most unique special they offer is the fried tacos. These are flour tortilla shells that have ratio was just right. I love biting been deep fried into a crispy into a sandwich that’s not so crammed full of stuff that I struggle to look presentable while trying to eat! No, this sandwich was delightful, special, tasty and easy to enjoy while maintaining my manners! vehicle for the freshest taco filling staples. Next time you are shopping or working downtown, make a plan to enjoy this Ponca City staple and let them make you feel special with their friendly staff and I have tried almost all the delightful dishes!