Picasso Cafe
THE ART OF GREAT FOOD by James Frazier With a name like Picasso Cafe in an art-heavy district in the heart of Oklahoma City, you would start to assume a few things. You would be correct. Picasso Cafe opened its doors in 2009, and we have been opening our hearts to it ever since. The unique feel of this gem is from the imagination of owners Kim Dansereau and Shaun Fiacone, which was the beginning of HumanKind Hospitality. If you haven’t been following HumanKind, they have been creating some fantastic plays in the last few years including Frida Southwest, The Daley, and OSO on Paseo and they have a few tricks up their sleeve coming soon, hint think Tiki. Let’s take a look inside the OG of the group. Picasso Cafe has long since been known for its casual atmosphere that makes you feel at ease. It’s a comfortable space with old-world New Mexico vibes, such as is the Paseo District itself. The walls are adorned with interesting artwork. The bar is stunning with its beautiful woodwork, matched with clean lines of glass shelves and a mirrored back to give the space a feeling of openness and vibrance. The patio is soft and welcoming with its curbside seating and umbrellas, not to mention that I have never been on the patio without there being a puppy or two that needed a good scratch. The food of Picasso Cafe lives up to its motto, Great Food is Art. Chef Ryan Parrott has been killing it in the kitchen at Picasso Cafe since 2014. That is about the time that I personally fell in love with the food at this restaurant. My introduction to the menu was an Ahi Tuna Indian Taco that I am pretty sure I had at least once a week for several months. Since then, they have moved the Indian Taco to the Vegan Menu, but you can still add Ahi Tuna to it if you so choose. The Vegan Indian Taco however stands on its own with
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House Fry Bread, and the best Vegan Chili I have ever had. The menu is a great mix of Southern Comfort food, with excellent salad options, fantastic sandwiches including a world-class Cuban and killer burger, and a top-notch Vegetarian & Vegan Menu. It should also be mentioned that the Lobster Bisque is one of my favorite soups in Oklahoma. If Veggies are your thing, The monthly Veggie 5-course meal is the third Tuesday of every month and if you have ever wondered what crazy stuff you can do with Veggies, you are going to learn. We stopped in for a meal and it was nailed on every front. I had to go for the seasonal menu, and you should too. The Huli Huli Chicken Wings were a revelation of flavor and comfort. The marinated wings with Pineapple-jalapeno sauce and served with a fresh and vibrant yet thoughtprovoking Jamaican Blue Cheese Slaw was a perfect combination of flavors with its zing and savory notes. We also had to test out the Chicken Fried Portabello with Vegan Gravy, Seasoned Fries, and Seasonal Vegetables, which happened to be some amazing fresh sauteed Green Beans. The Portabello was a delightful surprise to the tastebuds with its crispy shell and absolutely put a delicious healthy twist on its meat counterpart. The fries were served with ketchup and their house spicy ketchup which now has me experimenting in the kitchen to try to match the flavor. I couldn’t get enough of it. What’s a meal without a burger? The Picasso Burger has to be a top 10 burger in OKC. Like all great food, it starts with great ingredients and black Angus is definitely a good way to
