Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

As the first fast-casual dining experience from the popular and well-respected A Good Egg Dining Group (the people behind Cheever’s Cafe, Iron Starr Urban BBQ, Red Primesteak and RePUBlic Gastropub), Tucker’s has understandably garnered a lot of attention. Much has been written about Tucker’s already, but I still wanted to offer my thoughts on this new staple of Oklahoma City dining.

Tucker’s menu pays homage to the kind of simplicity that made In-N-Out Burger famous. Tucker’s offers a single onion burger (4.99, $5.49 w/cheese), a double onion burger ($6.99, $7.99 w/cheese), a triple onion burger (the “Mother Tucker” – $8.99, $9.99 w/cheese), a turkey burger ($4.99, $5.49 w/cheese) and a salad (“The One Salad” – $4.99). They also have shakes made with Blue Bell ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry – $3.99).

Personally, I like the simple menu approach. It makes them efficient and allows them to stay focused on quality. Plus, I just happen to like their burgers. A lot.

These are onion burgers, of which I am a big fan (see a pic). Now, whenever one talks about onion burgers around these parts, one will inevitably compare them to El Reno onion burgers. Believe me, I get it. I grew up eating at the El Reno onion burger places. I love them, and I can tell you that Tucker’s Onion Burgers are not El Reno style onion burgers. But to be honest, I really don’t care. Who says an onion burger has to be made a certain way to be tasty? Tucker’s may not be making El Reno style onion burgers, but they are making tasty onion burgers that are located a lot closer to my house, and that gets my attention.

Tucker’s burgers are bigger than El Reno burgers and the patties don’t get smashed razor-thin like we’re used to in El Reno. That’s ok with me because while I might need to eat two (or sometimes, yes, even three) El Reno burgers to get full, a single burger and fries at Tucker’s gets me to a good level. I try to stick with the single burger at Tucker’s because I know it’s better on my pocketbook and my health, but the double burger is oh so good. I’ve never had the Mother Tucker, but I’d imagine it’s oh oh so so good. Maybe one day I’ll try it but for me the single is a great size with the double being there for an extra level of indulgence.

The quality of ingredients are a cut above here. First, they’re using fresh, locally-sourced, high quality beef that’s hand-formed into patties. The onions are cut thin and cooked on the meat to a good level. The buns are exceptional, sourced from the Prairie Thunder Baking Company and baked fresh especially for Tucker’s. I’ve heard some say the buns are a little too heavy or “roll-like” for them. I can understand that point of view as they are pretty substantial. This is another reason why I think the double burger beats the single by just an edge. On the single, you feel like there is just a little too much bread for the meat. But with the double, the balance is perfect.

The substantial bun also allows it to hold a whole lot of toppings without falling apart. Your choice of toppings is included with every burger (cheese is extra). My personal combination is always grilled onions (of course), mustard, extra pickles, and fresh grilled jalepenos. To me, the shredded lettuce and tomatoes just get in the way. But the pickles are a treat. These are thick-cut, high quality pickle slices. You can ask for “extra pickles” and I highly recommend that you do.

Tucker’s fries deserve some love as well ($2.59 - see a pic). The first time we visited, my wife said they were the best fries she’s had. I’ve experienced some slight inconsistency in the fries from visit to visit. Sometimes they’ve been a little overdone, but never enough to really bother me. And when they are on they are spot on — fresh-cut, fairly thin, cooked in peanut oil and sprinkled with a little sea salt. The amazing thing is you can get these to go and they will still be crispy when you get where you are going.

I haven’t had “The One Salad,” or the turkey burger so I can’t speak to those. I have had one of their shakes (see a pic). I’m no shake connoisseur, so to me it was just a shake. And at $3.99 it adds quite a bit to the price of a meal (not to mention the addition of calories) so I usually pass. I prefer my calories in burger form.

Speaking of price, I think Tucker’s is priced well for the most part. The fact that it’s served in a paper sack gives the feel of a fast-food restaurant and so, one might feel Tucker’s is pricey in comparison to other fast food options. But the size and quality of the meal here justifies the higher price tag. My standard single onion burger with cheese, plus fries and a drink comes in at just under $11 with tax (and there’s no tipping here). A little high, but there are a couple of tricks you can employ to lower your tab. Bring your cup back with you and you’ll save $1 on the drink. Use a KeepItLocalOK card and you’ll save another 10%.  Put that all together and my meal usually comes in at under $9 all-inclusive.

As with most every restaurant Good Egg operates, the building tells a good part of the story. Before Tucker’s ever opened, Good Egg invested a great deal in the restoration of the historical building it now occupies (see pics here and here). As a resident of this area, that makes a big impression on me. The vibe inside the restaurant is lively and it can be pretty loud when it’s full. I prefer sitting outside on their wonderful patio where things are a lot quieter.

My only real complaint at Tucker’s is the lack of options for kids. There is no kids menu and the burgers are so big that, unless you cut them into pieces to share among several little ones, there’s going to be a lot of waste. I don’t fault them for it as I’m sure they would add a kids menu if they thought they needed it to bring in business. As it is, I won’t be taking my family to Tucker’s, but that won’t keep me from frequenting by myself, with my wife, and with friends.

Overall, Tucker’s is a hit and a place that I hope will be a part of OKC’s dining scene for a long time. Have you been to Tucker’s yet? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

You can get more information and see additional photos courtesy of Nicole McDaniel Photography and others on our restaurant listing for Tucker’s Onion Burgers.

Each year, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma partners with chefs and restaurants around the metro to stage an amazing fundraiser full of culinary innovation and dedicated to the cause of feeding hungry children in our community. This year, EatAroundOKC is pleased to sponsor the Food Bank’s annual Chefs’ Feast and we want to encourage you to consider attending and supporting this great event as well.

The 2012 event takes place on March 29th from 7pm to 10pm at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The event gives you the opportunity to taste culinary creations from many of the best chefs in the Oklahoma City area, including chefs from the following restaurants:

• Big Truck Tacos
• Cafe 7
• The Coach House
• Gopuram Taste of India
• Iguana Mexican Grill
• The Mantel
• Matthew Kenney OKC
• Metro Wine Bar and Bistro
• Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs
• Nonna’s Euro-American Ristorante
• Pachinko Parlor
• The Ranch Steakhouse
• Red Prime Steak
• RePUBlic Gastropub
• Rococo
• Sara Sara Cupcakes
• Trattoria Il Centro
• West Restaurant
• Plus many more …

This is a very unique opportunity to get to meet the people behind many of  your favorite Oklahoma City restaurants and to experience their unique dining creations. Not only that, but you will know that your support of this event makes a direct impact in the fight against hunger in our community. We’re very excited to be a part this year and we hope you’ll consider joining us at this event.

Individual tickets are $120 per person and may be purchased online.  All proceeds from this event go to support the Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids programs. I have heard that these events have sold out in the past so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible.

We hope to see you there!

Usually small towns have to wait to get the attractions that large towns offer but in this case, it’s the other way around. Anyone from the Purcell area knows about Jo’s Famous Pizza, but those of us in Oklahoma City have only recently been able to experience it. They opened a location in Edmond a while back, but it wasn’t until their newest location opened near Hefner and Rockwell in northwest Oklahoma City that I discovered Jo’s. The northwest location is a bit hidden and you can’t see it clearly from the street, but now that you know it’s there, seek it out. I highly recommend that you try it.

The “Jo” of Jo’s Famous Pizza managed the Purcell location until the end of 2011. Now that location is run by Jo’s sister and her nephew, Justin Price, runs the OKC location (Justin’s father runs the Edmond store, which I haven’t ever personally visited). Justin has done a great job in training his employees to be very friendly and most helpful. Our waitress was able to meet all of our requests with a “can do” attitude that made us feel like nothing was a problem. For instance, my husband likes BBQ chicken pizza and I don’t. A lot of places won’t make a half and half pizza of this combination because of the different sauces. No problem here, though. In fact, they will even make thirds and fourths if that’s what you want. Wow! Here’s a place where a family or group of four people can each get exactly what they want on their portion of the pie.

There’s quite a large selection of interesting pizza combinations on Jo’s menu including The Sooner (bacon, chicken, sausage, hamburger, pepperoni, hot links – see a pic), The Cowboy (BBQ sauce, cheddar, hamburger, onions, bacon) and The Thunder (buffalo chicken and bleu cheese). You can also choose your own toppings from any of the twenty-seven salad and pizza toppings on the menu.

Jo’s offers four sizes of pizzas. The cheapest is the 10 inch cheese at $8.99 and then sizes and toppings go up all the way to the 16 inch “Famous Specials” at $27.99.  If the prices seem a little high, you must take into consideration the extreme amount of toppings Jo’s applies to each pie. I’ve never seen toppings piled on this thick. Even if you just get a single topping, the pie will be completely covered. I can’t stress enough how filling these pizzas are, so keep that in mind when choosing your size.

On our first visit, my husband and I shared a medium and we were full after two pieces. He had the BBQ chicken, and I had the BLT (see a pic). The BLT comes with thickly-sliced tomatoes. Next time I may order the chopped tomatoes to make it a little easier to eat.

We also ordered the Rollers appetizer ($5 – see a pic) which includes their fresh dough filled with cheese and chopped Canadian bacon. Then they roll it up, brush on garlic sauce and bake it. It was delicious, and we could have made a meal just out of this.

The salads at Jo’s are impressive as well. This is far from your standard iceberg mix. All of Jo’s salads contain the same ingredients (except for the Wedge) so you just choose a size based on how many people want to share it. The salads consist of mixed greens, fresh mozzarella, chopped Canadian bacon, diced tomatoes, black olives and cheese toast. They have a great selection of housemade dressings. I chose Holli’s House, which had an oil and vinegar base, and it was a little on the sweet side. Tim has said that the Pa’s Garlic dressing is excellent.

Homemade quality is the name of the game at Jo’s. They obviously spend a good deal of time on their fresh ingredients. The meats they use are all a cut above. The pizza sauce and garlic sauce are house made and I was glad to see they use Head Country BBQ sauce, which is made in Ponca City.

Their homemade crust might just be the star of the show, though. It’s light and flaky while still substantial enough to hold up to the loads of toppings they are piling on. There are three crust options. We had the medium crust which is standard unless otherwise requested. I think next time we may try the ultra-thin as we are avid thin-crust fans. Tim says he’s sticking with the standard as he thinks it’s just about perfect for the way they construct their pizzas.

At lunch, Jo’s offers a great value in their lunch special, which gets you a six inch pizza (any combination or number of toppings – see pics) or sandwich with a small salad and drink for $9.99. They also offer a kid’s menu option any time of day which includes a cheese ($4) or pepperoni ($5) mini-pizza and a drink. And if you grab a take-out menu on your way out, there are some special coupons inside to help you save in other ways.

Speaking of kids — Tim, who has three young boys, says he considers this one of the most family-friendly restaurants around. According to him, the staff is always extremely accommodating to children. They will even bring the kids little balls of dough to play with while they wait.

Overall, I think Jo’s pizza delivers a great experience. The pricing per pizza is on the higher-end, but once you figure out just how filling these pies are, you’ll discover you can order small and eat here for a reasonable cost. Or, order big and take it home to make two or three meals out of it. I’m so glad to see a “famous” small-town, mom and pop pizza place move into the city. The fact that the Northwest OKC location is so close to my house is a nice bonus for me.

Have you tried Jo’s Famous Pizza? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see more photos on our restaurant listings for Jo’s Famous Pizza in Edmond and Jo’s Famous Pizza in OKC.

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

Over the past 10 years, I have grown to be a sushi lover. However, until the last few years or so, sushi restaurants in Edmond have been few and far between. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw the sign for The Sushi Bar right around the corner from our home.

I have had the opportunity to enjoy The Sushi Bar several times over the past year and have been fairly pleased. My most recent visit was to celebrate my future brother-in-law’s birthday.  We had a large party of twelve so I made reservations and, upon arriving, we were promptly seated. This was great, because the restaurant was bustling with activity and very full, including the bar area.

The restaurant can get pretty loud when full. On my previous visits, which weren’t on a weekend nights, the volume was quite a bit lower. The interior decor is very sleek and modern with stained concrete floors (which contribute to the noise level). I really like the dark tables and chairs and their middle seating area where the seats almost look like couches instead of booths.

With so many people on this visit, we got to sample a huge variety of items including rolls like the Captain Crunch ($9), OMG ($21) , Slippery Shrimp ($8), Naughty Girl ($14), Volcano ($13), California ($5), and Philadelphia roll ($7), among others. I love crab cakes and decided to try theirs as an appetizer, along with a huge order of edamame ($4 small, $6 large). The appetizers arrived quickly, so I grabbed my fork and went to town on the crab cakes ($13). The outer crust was crispy and cooked well and there was plenty of crab, but I thought the taste was slightly bland. Also, the cakes are served with an “avocado relish,” but it was more like guacamole and didn’t really go well with the cakes in my opinion.

On to dinner. Considering our large party and a VERY busy restaurant, our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time — and there was a LOT of it. The most impressive meal visually was the OMG roll ($21 – see a pic). It is appropriately named, because when it is set down in front of you, you quickly realize that you should have considered sharing it with someone else. It is HUGE. Twelve pieces of sushi that include tempura shrimp, cucumber, avocado, crabstick, crunchy tempura, smoked salmon, tempura fried cream cheese stuffed jalapeno, all topped with a spicy baked seafood mix and cheesy baked shrimp. The roll is a bit spicy but the creamy cheese mixture helps tame the heat.

Other big hits at the table were the Captain Crunch roll ($9 – see a pic) (tempura shrimp, crabstick, cucumber and avocado coated with crunchy tempura flakes topped with sweet sauce) and the Baja California Roll ($6) (crabstick, cucumber and avocado topped with spicy mayo, wasabi mayo and masago). My little sister is a veg head, so she choose the Old Fashioned Roll ($10 – see a pic) which had tempura fried sweet potatoes and was very good. We each ordered our own plate of sushi, but most of us shared so we could all experience the different flavors that were available. Overall, the sushi choices were a big hit with my family … at least with those who actually eat sushi.

For those who aren’t sushi-lovers, The Sushi Bar actually offers a good selection of non-sushi entrees. These are more traditional, upscale items such as a New York Strip ($28), Chicken Teriyaki ($16), Rack of Lamb ($24) and Lemon Basil Shrimp ($24 – see a pic). The selection of items was good, but the side choices were a bit unusual. The baby bok choy with shiitake mushrooms (see a pic) and wasabi mashed potatoes didn’t appeal to those in our party who came for the fellowship but weren’t particularly adventuresome eaters. I would have liked to see some simpler fare for these guests — say steamed veggies or a traditional baked potato. Nonetheless, two of my guests did order the New York Strip and it was a fantastic steak — perfectly cooked and super juicy. It was on par with many of the upscale restaurants in the OKC metro.

Overall our meal was a big success with our sushi-eaters and non-sushi-eaters alike. The sushi menu is expansive which can be a bit overwhelming. My advice is to ask your waiter or waitress to make suggestions on what dishes you may like based on the ingredients you prefer. Our waiter did a fantastic job of helping us navigate the menu to find just the right items. Of course, fish isn’t cheap (and neither is steak) so be prepared to spend anywhere from $20 to $40 per person on dinner. The strip runs $28 and the OMG roll is $21 (it is 12 pieces and could feed two people easily). My husband and I spend about $80 (excluding tip) for two beers and an appetizer along with our main entrees.

Most of my family had not been to The Sushi Bar before but all agreed it was as good or better than some of the well-known sushi restaurants in OKC. So if you are looking for a new spot to grab dinner with friends, I recommend giving The Sushi Bar a try. If you’ve already been, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!

Get more information and see more photos from courtesy of Nicole McDaniel Photography on EatAroundOKC’s restaurant listing for The Sushi Bar.

It’s that time of year again. Time to reflect on all that’s happened in the previous twelve months and take a look at what’s coming up in the new year. As I look back at EatAroundOKC in 2011, there’s one thing that stands out to me above everything else and that is our partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Thanks to overwhelming support from our followers and from local Oklahoma City restaurants, we were able to raise over $8,200 for the Food Bank this past year.

Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without your support. I want to say thank you again to all of you who follow and support us. We love being a part of the discussion with you and we appreciate every comment you leave, every email you write, every tweet you send, and every deal you purchase.

I also want to say thanks to all of the restaurants who have worked with us to make special offers through our EatAroundOKC Deals program. It is their offers and your purchases that generate the revenue we donate to the Food Bank each month. So naturally, without restaurants to make offers and an audience to purchase them, none of this would be possible.

I want to specifically recognize J. Mays and Chris Kana at Cafe 7, who not only made an offer through our program, but then matched our own donation to the Food Bank with one of their own. Because of their generosity, our Cafe 7 deal alone raised over $2,400 for the Regional Food Bank. Thank you, J. and Chris, for going above and beyond for the fight against hunger in Oklahoma.

Onward to 2012: Try More Local Restaurants, OKC!

With a great year behind us, we’re now looking forward to 2012. Our partnership with the Food Bank continues, our team of volunteer writers and photographers is larger than ever, and our excitement about the local restaurant scene in the Oklahoma City metro has never been greater.

I hope that you’ll come along with us and make a commitment to try even more locally-owned Oklahoma City restaurants this year. You can always find great places to try by checking out our reviews and our Top 100. Plus, if you subscribe to our deals program you’ll find great offers to try new local places at big discounts. Oh, and if you have a question or something to share, leave us a comment, send us a tweet, post something on Facebook, or just contact us through good old-fashioned email.

We look forward to hearing more from you in 2012!

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

There is something timeless about Elvis’s music. Regardless of what generation you are in, you know it, you can sing it, you can’t help but move your hips to it. But, following my most recent trip to S&B’s Burger Joint, my love of Elvis only grew as he shared food trade secrets with me — peanut butter and bacon … on a burger.

If you are like me, the idea of peanut butter on a burger did not sound appealing. At all. But a friend came with me and insisted I try a bite of hers. She isn’t the type of person who would lead me astray, so a bite I took. And immediately I wanted the entire burger. The Elvis is a classic example of the unique and delicious burgers you can find at S&B’s Burger Joint. Tucked inside an office building in the parking lot of the Best Buy on May Avenue, you would not expect from the exterior that such thought has been put into these burgers. The patty was moist, the bacon crisp, and it had a perfectly thin layer of peanut butter to give the entire burger a rich, nutty flavor that wasn’t overpowering. Like Elvis’s music, this burger is timeless.

And it is only one of many to choose from at S&B’s. First and foremost, this is a slider burger joint. You can get all of their burgers in slider or full-size form, which I love. They have names like The Columbian (sea salt and coffee rub anyone? see a pic) or The Frenchmen (mushrooms and French onion sauce) or The Fire (roasted green chilies and a spicy ranch that brings some serious heat). This isn’t the same patty piled up with different toppings. Each patty is handcrafted individually with flavors and toppings that complement each other very well.

Naturally, I have my preferences. I have noted my newfound love for The Elvis. I found the Columbian good on flavor but the cilantro-lime salsa that came on it made the bun a soggy mess by the end. The Fire packed a serious spice punch that I personally enjoyed but it is not for anyone with sensitive taste buds.

The burgers can also be a little pricey. Most of the sliders are around $4.25 with the full size options costing about $7.50. That’s pretty high for a burger all by itself. Sides are all separate. Fries and sweet potato fries (see a pic) are $2.00 and $2.50 respectively (and sized for one) with their special “Smothered” fry options in the $5 range.

Price seems to always be a part of the discussion with S&B’s. Most everyone seems to love the burgers, but swallowing a tab of nearly $15 for burger, fries, and drink (with tax and tip) is tough. Fellow EatAroundOKC writer, Danielle, has said the pricing is high enough to keep her from making S&B’s a regular stop. For me personally, I feel the quality of the burgers here is worth the money and the expansion of my waistline.

There are a couple of ways to reduce the cost burden at S&B’s. First, if you have a KeepItLocalOK card, you can save 15% right off the top. Second, they do offer some specials on various days of the week, including pricing all full-sized burgers at $5 every Monday. This Monday special puts your meal back into a range that, while still not cheap, is more comparable to the other higher-end burger places around.

S&B’s recently rolled out a new menu, keeping some old favorites (does a burger named “The Fatty” really need a description?) and adding some new flavors including The Thunder Burger with ham, swiss, avocado and “thunder sauce,” which I was told is essentially a spicy Thousand Island. We also tried the new El Mexicano fries ($5) which were topped with jalapenos, cheese, avocado crème, sour cream and salsa. The fries were crisp, the toppings flavorful and the sizing was good for three people for a small bite before big burgers. In fact, those flavors make me want to try the new El Mexicano burger next time.

One disappointment for me was the frito chili pie ($5), which is made with Cincinnati chili. If cinnamon-tinged chili is your thing, you would probably love this. But as a Texas girl I prefer my chili with some heat, not sweetness, so it was a letdown for me.

A pleasant surprise was the house side salad ($3) with heaping bits of real bacon and an apricot vinaigrette dressing. This salad could easily be served at a fine dining establishment. That is, if you could ignore the fact that it is served in a high school football game nachos cardboard container.

There were surprises at every turn for me at S&B’s Burger Joint, and I always look forward to visiting and trying something new. Have you been to S&B’s? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see some fantastic photos courtesy of Nicole McDaniel on S&B’s Burger Joint’s restaurant listing.

Since I work in the Bethany area, I am thrilled to see Birrieria Diaz bringing something quite unique to the downtown Bethany area. The brightly-colored exterior of the building is enough to get your attention and the claim of “Homemade Corn Tortillas” painted on the window solidified the deal for me. I knew I had to check them out as soon as they opened. Since that time, I’ve been back often. Birrieria Diaz has become a part of my regular rotation.

First off, let’s clarify one thing — Birrieria Diaz is not Tex-Mex or Okla-Mex. What I mean by that is they don’t serve rice and beans and flour tortillas with everything. It’s important to set that expectation up front because I know this can be quite a surprise when comparing places like this to most other Mexican food restaurants in town. So, set those expectations aside and prepare for something different when you visit the Birrieria.

On my first visit, I was immediately won over by the fantastic salsa. It’s complimentary and served with a fresh basket of chips the moment you sit down. I would describe it as a red/green mix and I would go so far as to claim it’s some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Now, on my second return, it was a little watery, but on every visit since then it has been back to its original deliciousness.

When you’re deciding what to order it really comes down to this — you can go with the specialty of the house (the Birria) or you can get something else. Now, most everything I’ve tried here has been good, but when your whole restaurant is named for one particular dish and that dish is printed by itself on the front page of the menu, I’d say that’s a strong hint that the Birria is the best place to start.

Ask Tim about the Birria and he’ll tell you it “makes me glad I started a website like EatAroundOKC so I can tell people about things like this.” It really is something everyone should try. When I asked Juan, our server and the son of the owner, what I should order, I’m glad he pretty much insisted I try the Birria.

So, what is it? Well, it’s slow-cooked meat covered in a delicious, thick and spicy tomato broth, served with homemade corn tortillas and a whole bunch of other condiments — all for $5! You can get it made with either sheep or beef (this may be the only place I’ve ever seen “sheep” listed on a menu). Now, if you ask the Diaz family, they’ll tell you the only reason they offer it with beef is for those who might object to the sheep. The first time I went I chose the beef, but tried the sheep shortly thereafter and, I must say — I’m a believer. I’ll be sticking with the sheep from now on. If your first inclination is to shy away from sheep meat, I encourage you to give it a try here. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Once you order the Birria, the condiments I mentioned above arrive first. There are six or seven of them in small serving dishes including fresh-cut cilantro, limes, roasted and salted hot peppers, white onion, purple onion with chopped habanero bits, and radishes (see a pic). The homemade corn tortillas are served in a basket with some of them heavily charred and crispy and others warm and soft (see a pic). This is a great touch to give some tortilla options, I think.

I chose to fill my first tortilla with meat, onions and the roasted peppers. I should have tested the heat of the peppers before I took a big bite because the heat rose from my stomach to the top of my head in about five seconds. After two glasses of iced tea, I was able to commence eating the rest of the Birria. It is important to note that most things at Birrieria Diaz have a bit of heat to them.

All of this — the chips, salsa, Birria, tortillas and condiments — can be yours for just $5.00, making this a pretty amazing value. The Birria actually comes in three sizes — small ($5.00 – see a pic), medium ($7.00), and large ($9.00). The small is plenty for an individual. I’ve even met some who split the small size.

Once you’ve tried the Birria, I think it’s fair to move on and explore the rest of their menu. We’ve ordered or been with people who have ordered the chicken enchiladas with green sauce ($6.99), the chicken burrito (4.50), the tamales ($6.99 – see a pic) and more. We even met up with former EatAroundOKC contributors Greg and Sam for lunch once. Sam had a selection of five tacos ($1.60 each – see a pic), which he didn’t think were as good as some of the other Taquerias in town, but I’ve personally enjoyed everything I’ve had. They also have a breakfast menu and they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

The Diaz family moved here not long ago from California and their family recipes make Birrieria a very nice find in downtown Bethany. Juan, the oldest son, has a nice command of the dining area, while making sure each guest gets a special touch. He has most often been my server and my point man for information.

Bethany residents should rejoice to have this local treasure so close to home, and all OKC residents should consider giving Birrieria Diaz a try. It’s definitely worth your attention.

Have you been to Birrieria Diaz? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see more photos on the EatAroundOKC Restaurant Listing for Birrieria Diaz.

In a small, yellow-and-green-colored strip mall next to a pawn shop in Edmond stands a humble, family-run pizza place creating buttery-crusted pizzas and addicting seasoned pretzels. Humble Pie offers authentic Chicago deep-dish pizzas and thin New York style pizzas with quality results no matter which you choose.

After you’ve decided on your pie, place your order along with an appetizer of the bottomless pretzels ($5.99) because this homemade pizza takes some time to prepare. Plus, the bottomless pretzels are a very nice flavor indulgence. They are seasoned using a secret recipe that’s a great combination of salty and spicy, pairing well with the ranch dipping sauce. Our table usually eats a bowl or two of these before the pizza arrives. We also often get a refill to take home.

Chicago deep-dish or New York thin? That is the question at Humble Pie. EatAroundOKC founder, Tim, is fond of saying that Humble Pie offers Oklahoma City’s absolute best true Chicago-style pizza (see a pic), making this an easy choice for him. But Chicago-style is quite unique, with a thick, buttery crust and layers of toppings followed by the sauce on top. It’s a very, very thick and heavy pizza so it’s nice to have other options if the Chicago style is not your thing.

Both styles of dough are homemade daily. Humble Pie also makes their homemade sauce daily and it’s a well-balanced combination of fresh tomatoes and seasoning. I have tried most menu combinations and have enjoyed them all in deep-dish form, but when ordering Chicago-style, my favorites are the meat lovers or supreme ($22). The fuller, richer flavors of the heavy meats stand up perfectly with the thick, deep-dish, buttery-crust. If you love the buttery Chicago crust, but aren’t a deep-dish lover, you can also order it in a thin personal size.

If you’re not up for the heavy Chicago-style, Humble Pie’s thin crust style is another very good choice. They use the same homemade sauce on their thin pizzas, but it is found under all the toppings and cheeses the way you’ve most likely come to expect on a pizza. With the thin-style crust, I prefer trying some of Humble Pie’s more unusual menu options including the spinach-artichoke ($18) or Greek Goddess ($23 – see a pic). The spinach-artichoke is a good balance of artichoke hearts, fresh spinach and cheese that just compliments the thin yet flavorful crust. The Greek Goddess is packed with flavor from the sun-dried tomato, feta, fresh garlic, chicken and olives. It is a salty and savory combination that works.

If you’re fretting that this is all way too many carbs, do not worry. Humble Pie has a good selection of salads (see a pic of the Spinach Salad or Caesar) which feature fresh, quality greens and more and come in half or full sizes. The full size is plenty to share and makes for a good starter when paired with the seasoned pretzels.

When I originally wrote this review, I was excited to tell you about Humble Pie’s great lunch special, but they have recently announced they are no longer open at lunch on weekdays. According to their Facebook announcement, this is planned to be a temporary change, so there is hope they will bring back the weekday lunch. When they do, I hope they’ll also revive their personal sized deep-dish (deep six – see a pic) pizza priced from $4.95 with 1 topping up to $7.44 with 6+ toppings, and the chance to add a drink for only .93 cents. I found this to be a great lunch value and look forward to its return.

Humble Pie is a small restaurant with simple décor. Whether in a booth or at a table, you can watch pizzas being made through the kitchen window, check out the wall of decorated pizza boxes and consider adding your dollar to the collection hanging from the ceiling (money contributed is sent to Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans (O.A.T.H.), a cause Humble Pie actively supports). All this while you relax, indulge in amazing pretzels and wait patiently for your pizza.

Have you been to Humble Pie? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

You can get more information and see more photos in EatAroundOKC’s Restaurant Listing for Humble Pie Pizzeria.

Has it really been four years since we published our review of Red Prime Steak? Why yes, it looks like it has. Must be time to take another look at this now-well-established steakhouse in downtown Oklahoma City.

Since I wrote the original review (still listed in full below), I thought providing a second perspective would be good. So, my wife and I joined up with EatAroundOKC writer Sarah Sutton and her husband for a delightful evening out at Red Prime Steak. This was their first trip to Red Prime and here’s a bit of what Sarah had to say:

“This would be our first visit, so I wanted to peruse the menu beforehand to see what was going on. If I have one complaint, it’s that the online menu is practically hidden. I had to poke around and never did find it. Finally, Tim had to send me a link.

“But, once you find the menu, it’s pure delight just to read it. I knew my over-40 brain was going to have trouble narrowing down a selection, as it all sounded fabulous.

“Of course, carnivore husband knew immediately what he was going for — the 7 oz prime filet ($31) with a brown sugar and sea salt crust. He said it was cooked absolutely perfectly. I had almost settled on the same cut of meat with the bleu cheese crust until I heard about the seafood special of the evening — grilled sea bass over an onion risotto, grilled asparagus, bacon-wrapped scallops and a bacon relish drizzled on the plate ($36 – see a pic). They had me right there and it was perfectly delicious.

“We all split a few side dishes and I got to try the green chile mac, the sweet potato-bacon hash and the fresh seared green beans (see a pic). All had a unique flavor and was something to savor with each bite.

“As an onion lover, one of the things I appreciated about the evening was the variety of ways Red Prime used onions. First, in our appetizer of fried green tomatoes (see a pic), they adorned the tops with sweet, caramelized onion. Then, on top of my salad (see a pic), they sprinkled a type of french-fried onion with a bit of a kick. And finally, the onion risotto was mild and very tasty.

“The atmosphere at this restaurant is about as cool as it gets. It’s in an old building on Automobile Alley which has, of course, been refurbished and updated. But I love how the character of the original structure still shines through.

“Every employee we interacted with was extremely knowledgeable and professional, knowing right when to be at our table without being overly helpful. It was a delightful experience all around. We can’t wait to take the steak-lovers in the family back to visit.”

As you can see, Sarah had a very positive experience at Red Prime. I, too, must admit that the experience for me was even better than my original trip so many years ago. My filet, encrusted with guajillo chile ($31 - see a pic), was just about as good as it gets and I enjoyed trying some of the very creative side dishes and appetizers I hadn’t had before.

Something Red Prime has added since our original review is their Prix Fixe menu. For just under $40, one gets to choose an appetizer, entree, side and dessert from a pretty decent set of options. Given that steaks by themselves range from $30-$45 on the regular menu, the Prix Fixe option is certainly attractive. Of course, even at $40 per person, Red Prime is still, for me, very much a special occasion restaurant. But it’s a good one, and one to which I hope to return soon.

Have you been to Red Prime Steak? Please let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and see more pictures from Red Prime Steak, including photos from our most recent visit (courtesy of David Sutton Pictures), on the Red Prime Steak restaurant listing.

Original review from October of 2007:

I recently got to check out one of Oklahoma City’s newest restaurants. Red Prime Steak is a new upscale steakhouse brought to you by the folks behind Cheever’s and Iron Starr. I love their first two restaurants so expectations for this new place were high.

One thing I love about Red Prime Steak is the location. It’s downtown, but not in Bricktown. It’s in the old Buick building at 4th street and Broadway. I love to see new places opening up in this area. Let’s hope they can sustain and continue to encourage more growth and revitalization downtown.

The restaurant brings a couple of things that are extremely unique.

First, the interior renovations really stand out. They are the reason for my inclusion of the word “ultra-hip” in the title of my post. It’s not that I’m 100% sure you would really categorize it has ultra-hip if your job were classifying interiors, but when you compare it to the landscape of restaurant interiors we currently have in Oklahoma City, Red Prime’s look definitely sets itself apart in the ultra-hip direction.

Concrete flooring, exposed 18 foot ceilings, and a smattering of very thin, brilliant, red lighting instruments set the stage. An enormous floor to ceiling wire mesh serves as a wine rack and requires the wait staff to utilize a home-depot-like aisle ladder to retrieve certain vintages. Also intriguing is the use of enclosed, circular leather booths which provide a few “private” dining areas amidst the rest of the “open” seating. So, if you are looking for a lively atmosphere, stick with the open tables, but if you want something a little more private (and quiet) ask for one of the booths.

The second unique treatment Red Prime brings is their use of crusts and sauces. With each steak, you can choose up to two crusts or sauces (more are available for an extra charge). Now, I’m not much for putting sauces on really good steaks. I mean, what’s the point in paying for a quality steak and then drowning out the flavor with a pungent sauce? The crusts, however, are very intriguing and tasty.

You can choose from a list of crust options — everything from black pepper to unique chile peppers — to be encrusted onto your meat as it is cooked. I chose the guajillo chile crust and I highly recommend it for a little kick that doesn’t overpower the flavor of the meat.

Now for my complaint — I have just one. There’s no brewed iced tea. If you ask for iced tea, they bring you a bottle of something. Now look, I’m all for trying to be fancy, but I’ve been to some really nice restaurants in a lot of really large cities and most everywhere I’ve been, even the highest of the highest end, has served fresh brewed iced tea. Not only that, but even my favorite restaurant of all time, the Gotham Bar and Grill in Manhattan, provides iced tea with free refills, and it doesn’t get really any more upscale than the Gotham.

So, I would recommend that Red Prime make fresh brewed iced tea with refills an option. I mean really, it’s just about as common as water. Sure, you won’t make as much money on it as the bottled stuff, but really, is that a reason to withhold something so basic?

Speaking of money, you will spend a good bit visiting the Red Prime. I was fortunate enough to be treated by my parents on my visit (thanks mom and dad), and I would have to reserve any future trip for a pretty special occasion as the price is a bit prohibitive for me to make it a regular stop. But if you are looking for a high-end experience in OKC, I definitely think Red Prime offers a unique and modern flair that you won’t find at any other “steakhouse” in this city.

Photos courtesy of

Nicole McDaniel

There’s a new food truck in town. Well, it’s more like a food trailer. And in case you’re wondering how to find it — just look for the bright orange.

Patty Wagon opened up a few months ago to some pretty rave reviews. Naturally, when I hear that kind of buzz about a new restaurant, I can’t wait to try it. I found them first at their original location in a parking lot on North May near Britton Road. They have since moved a little farther north, to where they are just south of Hefner Road.

Please note: as with any food truck or trailer, Patty Wagon’s location is subject to change. I advise checking their Twitter or Facebook pages to verify their location before heading out.

But whenever you find them, you’re in for a tasty burger. Patty Wagon keeps it simple on their menu. They have burgers and fries. That’s about it (I think they occasionally may offer a dessert). You can take your burger to go or eat it on one of their picnic tables if the weather is nice. Weather is the trick for any food truck. With Oklahoma’s extreme highs and lows it can be challenging to find a good time of year to “dine-in” with Patty Wagon. But, you can always get it to go, rain or shine.

The burgers I’ve had at Patty Wagon have been excellent. The 1/4 lb. patties are griddle-cooked with a nice, crusty exterior and a juicy interior. They splash them with a little barbeque sauce at the end of cooking, I think, which gives them an extra kick of flavor. Patty Wagon is using locally sourced, all-natural, grass-fed beef that’s 90/10 lean. This is high-quality meat and you can taste it. I was pretty amazed that the burger was still juicy with lean beef like that.

Patty Wagon also has two homemade sauces you can choose for your burger. They conveniently label them “PW Sauce 1: For Mayo Lovers!” and “PW Sauce 2: For Mustard Lovers!” I always go for sauce 2 which adds a nice, peppery flavor to the mix. You can get all the standard vegetables and a selection of cheeses added to your burger if you like. The veggies are crisp and fresh.

One of the things I like best about Patty Wagon is how they put the burger together. Each one I’ve had seemed like it was meticulously assembled with everything in it’s place. And it holds together very well for a large burger.

Part of the reason it holds together so well is the bun they are using. It’s a sweet, sourdough roll that can hold a lot of toppings without falling apart — and it’s quite tasty. The bun is great and really helps their burger stand apart from the crowd.

Patty Wagon’s handcut fries are equally well-crafted. They are fairly thick-cut, crispy on the outside, tender inside and heavily peppered, which I like. Unlike a lot of hand-cut fries, they hold up well even over time which is good if you get them to go.

Quality ingredients come at a price and Patty Wagon is certainly more expensive than some. But a single burger combo with cheese including fries and a drink can be had for $7.75. Honestly, I think that’s a good value for what you’re getting here. A double burger combo is $9.25. I tried the double once but decided that I prefer the single. The balance of ingredients seems better on the single and those patties are pretty thick by themselves.

Patty Wagon is doing it up right. The only downside is the convenience factor, especially on bad weather days. But it’s worth braving the elements to give this one a try. And when you do, let us know what you think of Patty Wagon in the comments below.

Get more information and see some fantastic photos courtesy of Nicole McDaniel on Patty Wagon’s restaurant listing.

Despite its so-so location and reincarnation from a former fast food restaurant, Basil Mediterranean Cafe is worth your attention, offering delicious food at a good value. While I’ve enjoyed all the food I have tried at Basil, I’m hooked on the Tzatziki sauce. It is lick-the-container good. They do sell the sauce separately, but I never buy it to take home because I don’t trust myself not to eat it all! Compared to other Greek restaurants their sauce is rather thin, but the crisp herb and yogurt flavor more then makes up for the consistency.

The gyro ($3.95) and gyro platter ($8.75 – see a pic) are both top picks at Basil. The tender gyro meat is spiced very well and cooked just right. The gyro sandwich is so packed full of meat there is barely room for any lettuce, tomato or onion. The western version ($4.25 – see a pic), which adds sautéed onions and peppers, makes for a tasty change from the original. The platter is large enough to share and includes fries or rice along with pita bread, lettuce, and a huge bowl of tzatziki sauce. The fries are average; I prefer the rice but it can get dry.

My favorite appetizer is the falafel. It is crispy on the outside and the seasoned chickpeas, while soft inside, still have texture. The falafel can also be ordered wrapped up in gyro form. Basil serves a lot of good appetizer choices, but if you can’t decide between hummus, falafel, or spanakopita (good but greasy) a great option is the veggie sampler ($7.95 – see a pic) which includes these three favorites in addition to grilled asparagus, dolma and tzatziki sauce. The sampler is large enough to share with several people and can be a good meat-free meal option.

The décor at Basil is a bit stark; however, they have at least made some effort to improve upon the former fast food feel. The interior has murals on the walls, curtains on the windows, and a television — all to provide a more welcoming sit-down experience. If you dine in, everything is served on real plates with real silverware and they bus your table when you are finished. This is a very nice touch and ensures that the tables are clean. Whether dine-in or take-out all drinks are in Styrofoam cups.

I have found the ordering process to be a bit frustrating; however, after a few visits it becomes easier. The difficulty is with the lack of detail on the large menu over the ordering counter. To find out what comes on a platter or gyro you must view the smaller menu that is taped down to the front counter. The problem is you can’t see that smaller menu until you are at the front of the line and once you are there, you are holding up the line of customers while trying to make your decision. It can be a pressure-filled moment, so one good option is to get familiar with the different choices using their online menu before you go.

It’s no surprise that Basil Mediterranean Cafe usually has a line, because a line is a sure sign of great food. Between the crispy falafel, overstuffed gyros and flavorful tzatziki sauce, you’re sure to find something you’ll love here.

Have you been to Basil Mediterranean Cafe? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

You can get more information and see more photos of Basil Mediterranean Cafe on their EatAroundOKC Restaurant Listing.

This is part two in my series exploring some of the best places to eat in what I consider to be one of greater OKC’s most awesome shopping and dining districts — Campus Corner in Norman (see part one covering Victoria’s Pasta Shop here). Today we take a look at Pepe Delgados, a place I’ve been wanting to try for a very long time.

First off, let’s clear up one important thing — Pepe Delgados is not Okla-Mex. “What is Okla-Mex?” you ask. Well, as defined in our review of Casa Perico, it’s the type of place where you get chips, salsa, cheese sauce and sopapillas free with every meal. We’re so accustomed to this in Oklahoma that I fear sometimes we may be disappointed when we visit a place that doesn’t conform to this model. I’m not opposed to Okla-Mex. On the contrary, I enjoy many Okla-Mex places, but I also appreciate the opportunity to explore things that are unique and Pepe Delgados offers a different take on Mexican food that I have really enjoyed on my visits.

Let’s just start with that Mexican food staple — the chips and salsa (see a pic). Pepe’s chips and salsa aren’t free, but here’s the thing — they are homemade. That’s right, they make their own chips and they make four different, fresh salsas (two red and two green) and you can try it all for $2.75. Now, there are very few places in town that make their own tortilla chips. Some of the taquerias we’ve reviewed do (such as Taqueria La Original), and I’ve always enjoyed trying them. I’m not aware of any place that makes their own chips and gives them away for free.

While I’m probably the cheapest … I mean, most thrify person I know, I think $2.75 is a great price for Pepe’s chips and salsa offering. The chips are thick and with a hearty corn flavor. They’re not salted much, if at all, and they don’t need to be because the natural flavor is enough. The salsas were all very fresh and flavorful with a range of heat levels to suit anyone’s palette.

Fresh and flavorful is really the name of the game at Pepe’s. They don’t use anything out of a can, not even tomatoes. On my first visit, I spoke with a few regulars standing next to me in line about what to order and they all said “pick one of the daily specials. You can’t go wrong.” So, I looked over at the specials on the board and went for the Puerco en Salsa Verde (see a pic). When it came to my table I knew I had made the right choice. There were chunks of pork nearly the size of my fist, slow-cooked in a smooth, green sauce. The pork was so tender it easily came apart with a nudge from my fork. I wished the sauce would have had a little more heat, but the textures, the flavors … they had me at first bite. It came with Pepe’s standard rice and refried black beans, which are very good for rice and beans. It also came with tortillas which were great for building my own tacos out of this amazing meat. As you can tell, I really enjoyed the whole dish.

Side note, I don’t think that Pepe’s makes their own tortillas. I failed to ask about that. I could be wrong, but both the flour and corn varieties struck me as pretty standard. They do, however, serve them nicely warmed and wrapped in foil.

On my second visit, I found yet another winner in the Rajitas en Salsa Chipotle ($7.75 lunch, $8.75 dinner – see a pic). This is a standard menu item and offers a choice of chicken or steak. I chose the steak and it was, you guessed it, very good. The sauce on this dish was a smooth, spicy red sauce made from fresh Chipotle peppers. The strips of meat were flavorful and tender. Again, it came with tortillas, cilantro, rice, beans and a bit of spicy salsa allowing me to assemble some of the best-tasting tacos I’ve had. Win #2 for Pepe’s.

One of the highlights of dining at Pepe Delgados is getting to talk with Emilio, who has owned and operated the restaurant since he opened it in 1992. He’s almost always walking about the restaurant talking with his guests. This is how I know so many details about the food. He’s very passionate about his food and very proud of the fact that they made everything with fresh ingredients. He really seems to enjoy his work. It was a lot of fun talking with him.

Pepe’s is a counter-service restaurant so the service is limited. After you order, they bring your food to you, but that’s about it. You get your own utensils, drinks, to-go containers for leftoevers … etc. This is another difference between the standard Okla-Mex places which tend to be full service. Still, I found the staff I did encounter to be very friendly and efficient.

They also have a great covered patio out back. I love dining outside so that’s another plus for Pepe’s. And, they have a whole section of their menu dedicated to vegetarians, which is not something you see too often at Mexican food places.

I guess the only thing I don’t like about Pepe Delgados is that it’s located so far from my house. Of course, that makes it something that will remain for me an occasional special treat. And that’s the bottom line for me with Pepe Delgados — it’s a special place. It stands out from the crowd of Mexican places with its very fresh, unique and affordable approach to Mexican food.

Have you been to Pepe Delgados? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Get more information and photos in EatAroundOKC’s restaurant listing for Pepe Delgados.

News of another sports bar and burger joint in Norman isn’t exactly groundbreaking. So, I certainly didn’t expect The Garage to be worth a drive from Oklahoma City unless it was game day. But I was wrong! The Garage is a tasty and unique addition to the dining scene in this heavily sports-bar-laden town.

The atmosphere at a place called The Garage could easily become over the top or cliche, but I didn’t feel that here. Rather, I enjoyed the decor which lends itself to a hip retro setting — the kind of place you would love to create in your own garage to watch games and hang out.

The building is somewhat divided into two sections. The front entrance off Main Street puts you directly into the bar end with pub tables, lots of televisions and funky retro décor. This end is filled with lots of dark wood and low lighting which is in contrast to the well-lit, almost diner-like atmosphere toward the back of the restaurant.

The menu does bring in the heavily garage-themed terms, categorizing it’s offerings into “First Gear” (appetizers), “Second Gear” (burgers), “Third Gear” (tacos), “Fourth Gear” (sides) and then “Other Stuff,” which includes salads and other sandwiches. The menu is small but contains many tasty and unusual choices that set The Garage apart from the standard fare one expects at a sports bar.

One quick look over the menu and I knew exactly what I had to try first — the BLT with a fried egg and cheese on Texas toast ($5). Wow, why hadn’t I thought of this before? I loved it. The bacon and toast were crispy and the extra flavor from a perfectly fried egg and melty American cheese was mouthwatering; it was a sinful treat.

The burgers at The Garage are a focus of their menu. I appreciate the burger options they provide. Every burger concoction can be ordered as an angus burger, turkey burger, garden burger, or buffalo burger ($2 extra). These are all fresh, hand-made patties cooked to order. They also provide the option of wrapping your burger in lettuce instead of using a bun.

The Spicy Sriracha Bleu Burger ($5.50) wasn’t as hot as one might expect, in part because of the cooling effects of the flavorful blue cheese. We substituted buffalo on this burger and found it to be nicely cooked and juicy. The original fried onion burger ($4.99) was good as well with onions that were well-caramelized. These are good burgers. The only downside in our opinion was they were a bit smaller than we expected for the price.

We also tried the Crispy Fish Tacos ($6.50 including chips and salsa). These had large pieces of breaded fish and lots of fresh coleslaw inside three warm flour tortillas. They were a little messy but satisfying and we thought they made a very generous serving. Two people could share an order of these tacos as a light meal or snack.

In my opinion, some of the biggest highlights of the menu were the side items. They are priced well and sized to share. The garlic/parm fries ($2.75) smelled wonderful and tasted great too. This is definitely a side that everyone in the group needs to share so nobody notices your garlic breath! The Tiajuana fries ($2.75) were also just-right crispy and served with sautéed jalapeno and onion on top providing just the right amount of extra heat and sweet. The chips and salsa ($2.50) offered under the appetizer or “First Gear” section of the menu were also good with a roasted tomato salsa that had just the right amount of heat for me.

The Garage’s location in downtown Norman can make it a little challenging to find parking out front, but thankfully there is an entire parking area off Gray Street behind the building with an easily accessible rear entrance. From this back door you walk immediately into the dining / restaurant area. Once inside, look for the line where your order and then take your number to a table and they bring you your food.

With an intriguing menu, solid food, reasonable prices and a nice vibe, The Garage delivers much more than your average sports bar. Have you been? If so, let us know what you think about The Garage in the comments below.

For more information and pictures, see the EatAroundOKC Restaurant Listing for The Garage.

As the newest concept from The Deep Fork Group, Home Run Sliders garnered a lot of attention when it opened in the summer of 2011. I was, of course, very interested to try it as well. But, I have to say, I’ve never been a huge fan of the “slider” concept. To me, it’s always just seemed like a clever way for a restaurant to maximize revenue by charging a premium for a very small burger. So, I approached Home Run Sliders with a bit of skepticism.

Fortunately, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by every visit to Home Run Sliders. They’ve provided some pricing options that still allow a person to get a good value. And, most importantly, the taste of everything I’ve had makes it hard to deny Home Run Sliders its due accolades.

Though they may be small, these burgers are some of the tastiest I’ve had. Each comes with about 3oz of fresh, never-frozen beef. It’s good-quality meat, well-seasoned, juicy and cooked just right every time I’ve been. The meat has some thickness to it so you don’t feel like you’re just getting a tiny little portion. I also really love the bun. It’s a split-top roll and it’s just the right size for the amount of meat. The whole thing is very well balanced and it holds up very well.

Because of the quality of the meat and bun, I’ve never felt like I had to dress the burger up with crazy amounts of toppings to enjoy it. Home Run Sliders does offer some “premium” toppings and combinations, but I have almost always preferred just to get the “build it yourself” variety. This option allows you to choose from a wide selection of cheeses and dress it up with any of the standard toppings for $3.25. That’s a pretty good value, but even better is the “Grand Slammer” which gets you four of these sliders for $9.75. If you’ve got enough people, this is a great way to enjoy their burgers at a very good value.

Of course, Home Run Sliders does have some additional premium toppings like Bacon, guacamole, jicama slaw, tabasco rings and the like which you can try out for just a bit more. They also offer some “non-burger” sliders that feature chicken, meatballs, a veggie option and, my favorite, the “Walk Off” which has thin slices of Prime Rib with swiss cheese and a horseradish sauce. I do recommend trying this one if you’re in the mood for something different.

Another great value at Home Run Sliders is the fact that you can add a side order and a drink to any slider for $2.50. If you order the Grand Slam, you can add up to four sides and drinks for $2.50 each. The sides at Home Run Sliders are very good as well, including regular fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots, kettle chips, onion petals, and some super creamy mac and cheese. Sides purchased by themselves range from $1.50 to $2 and most of the sides are sized to share.

So, as an example, I took my wife and oldest son and we split the Grand Slam with four sliders, three sides and three drinks. It was a ton of good food for right around $17. That’s a value I can get behind, especially given the quality of the food.

I also consider this restaurant very kid-friendly. Though they don’t have a dedicated kid’s menu, every burger is really kid-sized already. It’s also hard to go wrong for kids with the sides and they even offer soft-serve ice cream in a miniature baseball helmet cup.

Though the baseball theme is a bit heavy-handed for me, the atmosphere at Home Run Sliders is very clean and comfortable. There’s free wifi and lots of TVs for watching games. It’s a fun place. Oh, and I also should mention the ketchup bar. They provide about twenty different flavors of ketchup — everything from Dr. Pepper ketchup to Ancho Chile ketchup and the list goes on and on. Though I probably would just as soon have regular ketchup, it is fun to try the different varieties and it’s fun for the kids as well.

I do have one complaint about Home Run Sliders. I’m not a fan of the containers in which they serve their sides and drinks. The baskets with the burgers are sturdy enough but the sides are served heaped up high in very flimsy cardboard and the drink cups are about as thin as can be. I suppose this may also be due to the baseball theme — serving things like they would be served at a ballpark. But given the “premium” quality of the food and the nice environment, I would expect something a little more substantial. It makes the sides especially hard to eat as pulling one fry out of the pile without spilling can be a challenge. It’s a small thing, but something I hope they’ll consider changing.

UPDATE (10/8/2011) — Since publishing this review, I’ve returned to Home Run Sliders and have noticed they have improved their serving containers. Burgers and most sides are served together in the baskets now and they now have reusable drink cups you can take home with you. Much improved!

But even if they don’t change anything, I’ll still return to Home Run Sliders. This is quality food served at reasonable prices in a nice, fun environment. Have you been? If so, let us know what you think in the comments below.

But we kept on publishing and over the years we’ve been blessed with what I consider to be the most fantastic group of readers and followers around. We’ve been honored to have a group of writers who have voluntarily contributed reviews to our site. What started as a small hobby has now turned into a large and time-consuming hobby. It’s a hobby that I dearly love because of the great people I have met and the great conversations we have had about local Oklahoma City restaurants.

If you’ll be so kind as to indulge me a trip down memory lane, I’d like to lay out a brief outline of some of the significant milestones and statistics related to EatAroundOKC and its first five years.

Milestones:

• September 7, 2006 – site launched and first post published for Thai Kitchen
• September 30, 2007 – published first “Shady Restaurant of the Month” feature for Sydney’s Restaurant.
• November 10, 2007 – added restaurant rating capabilities allowing readers to cast their own ratings.
• March 16, 2008 – launched new design (v2) on EatAroundOKC.com
• May 3, 2008 – launched EatAroundOKC on Twitter
• June 10, 2010 – launched EatAroundOKC on Facebook
• August 9-14, 2010 – created inaugural “Local Restaurant Appreciation Week” encouraging everyone to show their appreciation to local restaurants in Oklahoma City.
• November 8, 2010 – launched current design (v3) on EatAroundOKC.com
• December 2, 2010 – launched EatAroundOKC Deals with offer for The Cow Calf-Hay.
• May 24, 2011 – began EatAroundOKC’s partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
• August 18, 2011 – launched restaurant listings database to allow restaurants the opportunity to list themselves on EatAroundOKC for free.

Stats:

• 1.5 Million Pageviews
• 350,000 Unique Visitors
• $6,000 Raised for Regional Food Bank
• 4,508 Reader Comments
• 4,270 Tweets
• 3,661 Twitter Followers
• 3,204 Facebook Fans
• 191 Restaurant Reviews
• 35 Deals Offered

If you would have told me five years ago that a simple, hyper-local, niche website about places I like to eat in Oklahoma City could turn into this, I would have never believed it. I am truly grateful for all of your support and participation. Thank you all so much. I look forward to the next five years and beyond!

Sauced on Paseo’s slogan reads “Patio, Pizza, Beer.” They had me at hello. In all honesty, I am a simple pizza kind of girl. Not because I am picky, but just because I think the basic pizza can’t be beat. I mean, cheese and pepperoni is pretty dang tasty. This is why (emphasis on just my own personal preference here) I don’t particularly like places that specialize in what I call “fancy pizzas.”

The beauty of a place like Sauced on Paseo is that you can get whatever you want … on a single slice. Yep, you heard me right. Pizza to order and by the slice. No longer are you doomed to take whatever has been sitting under the heat lamp at other pizza-by-the-slice establishments.

Slices are $3.50 each for plain cheese, pepperoni, or Italian sausage. Additional toppings can be added at $0.25 each. It’s not cheap pizza, but the slices are big, New York style and begging to be folded over and eaten sideways. Most recently my husband and I tried four different slices, and let me say up front — that is a lot of food.

I got a slice of the chicken enchilada pizza (see a pic) which was completely unique and tasted like the real deal. Green chili sour cream pizza sauce? Count me in! All I needed was some Tapatio and I would have been in heaven.

I also ordered a piece of what my husband calls “The Jennifer” — green peppers, red onions and mushrooms (see a pic). This slice offends his meat-loving sensibilities so I don’t get to order it often (again, I emphasize the beauty of ordering pizza by the slice). The crust was crisp, toppings were fresh, and cheese was gooey. In other words, it was perfect.

My husband had a slice of The Full Monty. This slice included pepperoni, Italian sausage, cappacola, bacon, meat this, meat that, more meat … oh, and some cheese and red sauce (see a pic). He thought it was a little heavy on the meat (which is fairly surprising for him) but enjoyed the flavors. He preferred his slice of the Spartacus, which sports feta cheese, roma tomatoes, banana peppers, artichokes, kalamata olives, green peppers, fresh oregano and romesco sauce (see a pic). This Greek concoction loaded on the toppings, but was worth the effort to eat.

Next time we go I really want to try the Suicide Pie which has eight pieces representing each of the restaurant’s eight favorite pizzas. While my husband was a little disturbed that the suicide didn’t include every topping piled onto every piece (a true suicide, he claims) I love the idea of getting one pizza and trying multiple combinations.

Sauced is the most recent venture of Joe Jungmann and Lesley Rawlinson, who operate Paseo Grill across the street, a private dining space The Reserve (also in the Paseo neighborhood) and the Whole Enchilada Café downtown. The restaurant has existed in the neighborhood since 2007 under different management. In 2010, Jungmann and Rawlinson bought the space intent on keeping the community vibe Sauced has always had, but upping the quality and variety of the food.

The atmosphere at Sauced on Paseo is truly unique. From the red-checkered tablecloths to the board games piled in the corner to the graffiti art walls, it is clear this is a place people like to hang out. The night we were there most recently (a Wednesday night) the place was packed with an eclectic crowd, many of whom were there for live poetry readings. Honestly, the best way to describe it is that it is exactly the kind of place you would want to and expect to find in a city’s arts district. Small and quirky with a mix of people from all walks of life.

Sauced has a nice drink offering, including a number of hot teas, coffees, Italian sodas, wines, and an awesome beer selection including some microbrews. I have had a few of their appetizers and have been less than impressed. The star here is clearly the pizza. The place is also a little hot on summer days. I’m not sure if it is always that way or if they were just having A/C problems on the days I went.

Best of all, we were told that they are starting delivery in September of 2011, with boundaries from Penn Ave. to Broadway and 50th St. to Reno Ave. In other words, I will soon be able to enjoy Sauced on Paseo in the comfort of my own home, delivered directly to my door. My husband and I may never have to argue over pizza toppings again.

Have you been to the new Sauced on Paseo? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

See more photos in the photo gallery in our restaurant listing for Sauced on Paseo.

If you love greasy, double-meat burgers dripping with cheese or over-sized breadsticks soaked in garlic butter then read no further. Green and Grilled is not the place for you. If, however, you are are constantly looking for someplace healthy to eat, this is your place and you may commence rejoicing.

Green and Grilled opened very recently in a shopping center on North Rockwell. It is an interesting and polished concept, but it is one-of-a-kind and locally owned. We typically wait a bit before publishing reviews of new restaurants, but I was so excited about my first visit, I just had to spread the word about this new place.

I visited Green and Grilled with a group from work I like to call my “new restaurant tasting crew” so we were able to try lots of different things.  While the name “Green and Grilled” on its own was enough to make me want to try it, the meat-eaters in our car were skeptical.  I have to admit, I was worried for their sake that there might be no meat entrees so when we entered, I was relieved to be greeted by the words “Grilled Meats” on the menu.

Most of us ordered from this grilled meats section of the menu. There are about five of meat choices and they each come with half of any salad plus one side item. James, the only man in the group (brave, brave James), chose the grilled steak ($7.99 – see a pic) with brown rice and the seasonal fruit with yogurt dip. The steak was a 6 oz. top sirloin marinated overnight in green onion and spiced adobo sauce. He gave it “two thumbs up.”

Ali and I went with the grilled chicken ($7.65 – see a pic) with the bacon spinach salad (see a pic). She chose the steamed potato, and I chose the spinach rice. Both dishes were tasty and served steaming hot on large oval platters.

To me, the food here epitomizes healthy eating. For example, the salads were served with just a small side of honey-mustard. I have to admit, the small container of salad dressing freaked me out at first, but I was able to calm down after I saw that it was plenty. I’m the type that likes a little salad with her dressing, thereby making most salads unhealthy and full of extra fat. Green and Grilled is serving their salads with an adequate but small amount of dressing, helping people like me to actually experience a healthy salad. As another example, Ali’s potato was sprinkled with a very small amount of cheese and salt. Period. No globs of butter, bacon and sour cream to be found here, and no unlimited bread baskets either.

Mom and Susan went with the full Bacon Spinach Salad ($5.49 – see a pic) and the Grilled Tofu ($7.65 – see a pic), respectively. All of the entree-sized salads are the same price, and the tofu dish is listed among the grilled meats (I guess they should call it “grilled proteins”) and also came with half a salad and one side. It was marinated in the same sauce as the steak.

When it cools off, I plan to try all of the soups ($4.39) – portobello mushroom, butter squash, cauliflower, broccoli cheese, vegetable, creamy spinach, carrot, pureed lentil and sweet corn. Sounds yummo!

They also have a kid’s menu ($3.99) which includes a meat, two sides and a drink.

The decor here has a very clean feel with white and lime green accents (see a pic). It is a very polished look which could almost make one thing it’s a part of a chain. But it’s not. It’s a locally owned treasure and I’m happy that the only location (for now) is located so close to my house!

The owner of Green and Grilled, Juan Suarez, joined us at our table upon completion of our meal to get our feedback. He’s originally from Columbia and has over 20 years experience working with chain restaurants, the most recent being Chipotle. He and his wife have always wanted to open their own place offering healthy, well-balanced meals at a reasonable cost. I think they have done just that. Juan says some of their items are organic, and the plan is to become fully organic as they are able. I also enjoyed the fact that they run an open kitchen where you can see everything being prepared.

So, try it and let me know what you think. I’m thrilled to have such a place in my corner of town!

See more photos from Green and Grilled in our Facebook photo album.

Cafe Kacao opened up earlier this year in a small building along Classen Boulevard that was formerly occupied by a tire shop. I watched with interest as this building was converted and became especially intrigued when their sign went up, billing themselves as a “Guatamalan Breakfast House.” Now, Guatamalan food is one of my favorite cuisines and breakfast is one of my three favorite meals of the day, so I was intrigued early on and was eager to try them out once they opened their doors.

Though the building isn’t much to look at on the outside, they’ve done a decent job polishing it up, and the interiors are very comfortable and clean. There are several tables and even a couch and some chairs for a coffee shop feel in part of the space. They’re obviously working to create a place that welcomes you to sit back and stay awhile. The atrium-style glass front brings a lot of sunlight into the dining area which is nice at breakfast time and, at least the times I’ve been, their air conditioning units have, quite remarkably, been able to keep the temperatures comfortable in spite of all the sun.

I’ve been to Cafe Kacao a couple of times at lunch and once for Saturday breakfast / brunch and every experience has been enjoyable. The food is fresh, colorfully presented and very tasty. It has a feel of Guatemalan home cooking kicked up just a notch in creativity. Though they offer lunch and dinner fare, I have always made my selections from the extensive breakfast menu.

On my first visit, I had the Tikal Breakfast ($9.99 – see a pic), recommended by my server as an opportunity to try lots of things. It comes with scrambled eggs, thin sliced grilled flank steak, Longaniza (a Guatemalan sausage), refried black beans and fried plantains. It’s also served with what is perhaps my favorite food item in all of the world – thick, homemade corn tortillas (see a pic). If you haven’t had Guatamalan-style corn tortillas, you must try them sometime. I’ve mentioned the tortillas at Cocina Guatelinda many times before and these are similar. Cafe Kacao also makes a “red tortilla” which has some Guajillo Chili mixed into the batter. You can ask if they have them available.

The Tikal was great. I cut up my steak and loaded it, along with some eggs, beans, and a bit of their spicy green sauce, into the warm tortillas, making some wonderful breakfast tacos. The sausage was also very unique and enjoyable. Obviously, this was enough food for two people to share or to at least take home some leftovers, but as I am prone to do, I ate most all of it myself.

On my second visit, I found a dish that’s going to be hard for me to get away from – the Huevos Rancheros ($7.50 – see a pic). Beautiful and colorful, this dish combines whole black beans, sunny-side-up eggs, those amazing corn tortillas (lightly fried), sour cream, ranchero sauce, pico and avocado slices. The textures, flavors and colors of this dish just make me happy. It’s sort of a good thing that Cafe Kacao isn’t open early enough for me to stop by each morning, or I would likely be consuming way too many of these.

On my third visit, I brought my wife for Saturday breakfast. I had the Huevos Rancheros again and she had an omelette, which she said was one of the best she’s had. But the real treat was discovering the available-only-on-Saturdays french toast ($6.99 – see a pic). I am not a big french toast fan but this won me over. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it’s topped with whipped cream cheese, strawberries, apples, bananas and powdered sugar. The whole thing is served in a beautiful, tall presentation. I loved it. I just loved it.

So, I’m really sold on Cafe Kacao as you can tell, but another one of our writers, Sarah, also tried it with her husband and I wanted to share some of her perspective as well. Sarah says:

“Hubs ordered the Breakfast Sandwich ($6.99 – see a pic) for his entree, which was served with grilled sourdough bread stuffed with a mountain of scrambled eggs, bacon and cheddar cheese. They were happy to substitute their fresh, white cheese instead of the cheddar for him. It also came with a cup of mosh (Guatemalan oatmeal) and fresh fruit topped with their passion fruit and raspberry sauce. He had never had mosh and he liked the sweet taste but wished the consistency had been a little thicker.

“I chose the Migallas ($7.25 – see a pic), which include scrambled eggs mixed with tortilla chips, onion, tomatoes, cilantro and jalapeno. It came with a side of refried black beans and fresh fruit. The Migallas were good, but heavy on the tortilla chips, which I found somewhat greasy. I could have used about half the chips and a lot more eggs and veggies. The green salsa served on the side was was delicious poured over the eggs.”

There’s more than just breakfast at Cafe Kacao. You can see their full and extensive menu on their website. I’m just not sure that I’ll ever get past the breakfast items because they are just so tasty. With friendly service, a comfortable atmosphere and tasty Guatemalan dishes creatively prepared and presented, Cafe Kacao is a great addition to the Oklahoma City restaurant landscape and a must try for weekend brunch, in my opinion.

Have you been to Cafe Kacao? Have you tried anything other than breakfast? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

See more photos from Cafe Kacao in our Facebook photo album.

Chances are you’ve heard of Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs. If you haven’t heard of Mutt’s, you’ve likely heard of Mutt’s sister restaurant, Big Truck Tacos. If you haven’t heard of Big Truck Tacos … well, you’ve likely been living underground for awhile. For if restaurant popularity were gauged solely by number of Facebook fans, Big Truck Tacos, with nearly 19,000 presently, would likely be the most popular local restaurant in Oklahoma City.

And with this overwhelming wind of support at their backs, the folks at Big Truck Tacos have launched a new restaurant which, in my opinion, is one of the most unique restaurants in our fair city.

I’ve been to Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs about five times now in the past few weeks. This is pretty unusual for me. As a person who makes an ongoing effort to try new places, it’s rare for me invest so many meals at a single place in such a short amount of time. But Mutt’s keeps drawing me back. There’s so much on the menu I want to try. It’s the type of place you can keep visiting over and over and always try something new.

Plus, there’s good value to be found here. Sure, there are some specialty hot dogs with exotic meats and toppings (see below) that cost close to $10 each, but there’s also the “Best in Show,” where you have your choice of a beef, chicken, or falafel dog (that’s right, falafel!) on a very tasty, grilled artisan bun dressed up how you like it for $3 (see a pic). In my opinion, this is one of the best values in town. One hot dog each plus a generous side of fries for $2.50, and you’ve got dinner for two for less than $9.

Of course, if you’re up for spending a little more, the options are, quite literally, limitless. There are over ten “standard dogs” which all start with a beef frank dressed up in an incredible variety of ways. There are “stretch dogs” which use a longer, 10″ beef frank. And then there are nearly 15 “specialty dogs,” which are built on franks made from chicken, andouille sausage, wild boar sausage, spam, rabbit sausage, kobe beef, lamb sausage, bison, falafel, italian sausage, duck sausage … etc. At Mutt’s, dogs are prepared in just about every way imaginable from bacon-wrapped to chicken-fried, and they’re topped with some of the most creative concoctions you’ll find anywhere.

No, this is not your standard hot dog place. There’s nothing like it in Oklahoma City.

Now, since I’d never had a Kobe Beef dog before, and since it was one of the most expensive on the menu, I gave the Ardee Dog a try just to see how a $9 hot dog tastes. The Ardee is topped with truffle aioli, potato salad, blue cheese, and fried onions. It is truly something to behold (see a pic) and definitely a knife and fork type of hot dog.

The Ardee was good with a truly unique flavor combination and I really enjoyed it. But, to be honest, I don’t think I’d spend $9 on it again when there are so many other great options available for less. On the other hand, I highly recommend the Slum Dog for $5.50 (see a pic). The chicken dog used is quite spicy and filling and the curried cabbage with apple-sriracha aioli brings a flavor I truly enjoyed.

On the “standard dog” side of the menu, I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve tried. The S’noran ($6 – see a pic) offers a bacon-wrapped beef frank with cheddar-jack cheese, pico de gallo, mayo, chipotle ketchup, pinto beans, sliced avocado, and mustard. Great flavors and beautifully presented. The Windy City ($4.50 – see a pic) is an excellent Chicago-style classic, and The Pitbull ($4.50 – see a pic) is definitely the hottest hot dog I’ve ever eaten with serrano, habanero, jalepeno and poblano peppers, onion, cilantro-lime aioli, and pepper jack cheese. Yes, it is very, very hot. Consider yourself warned.

When I first heard about Mutt’s opening, I read an article indicating they would be serving some house-made franks. But in talking with one of the owners on opening night, I found this is not true. At least for now, the franks are being sourced. Honestly, when I first saw their menu, I couldn’t imagine how they could possibly make all of those franks in-house, so this makes much more sense. However, I was told they do have the equipment needed to make their own and there may be some house-made specials in their future. I look forward to seeing if that comes to pass as it could become a pretty exceptional treat.

In addition to the vast selection of hot dogs, Mutt’s offers a good line up of side orders as well. I was really excited to try their Duck Fat Fries ($5 – see a pic) to see how they compared to regular fries. My opinion — I prefer the regular fries, especially since they cost half as much. At $2.50 and sized to share, Mutt’s regular fries are excellent (especially enjoyed the bit of sea salt sprinkled on) and I appreciate that they truly are sized for two people. Again, a great value. The duck fat version was fine, but I didn’t feel it warranted the extra $2.50.

I really enjoyed the fried pickles ($4 – see a pic), which in Mutt’s case are pickle spears, not slices. They come six to an order which is enough to share with two or three. Other sides include Deviled Eggs, Red Skinned Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Chili, and Veggie Chili.

When a place has such an extensive menu, it’s hard to do it justice in a short review, but suffice it to say I have been really impressed with Mutt’s. I always enjoy something unique and Mutt’s has that nailed. But beyond that, I feel they’ve done a great job creating a balanced menu which offers some great value options as well as some opportunities to splurge. This makes it a very easy place to visit again and again, knowing that you don’t have to break the bank to try something truly unique to Oklahoma City.

Have you been to Mutt’s? Please tell us what you’ve tried and what you think in the comments below.

See more pictures from Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs in our Facebook photo album.

Our first stop on the Campus Corner Round-Up is Victoria’s, The Pasta Shop. This place has been on my radar for a long time, but I had never visited until recently. I’m really glad I finally got to try it. Victoria’s offers some excellent, no-frills pasta dishes at great prices in a quintessential college-town environment.

My visit was in the summer, so I imagine the vibe is a little different than when school is in full swing. Still, things were hopping on a Friday night. The house was full. We found a seat right away at just after 6pm, but shortly thereafter, people were having to wait for tables.

The building is old and it has a lot of character and charm, with aged hardwood floors and high ceilings. These features also make for a pretty loud room when full. I don’t mind the lively atmosphere, but it is something to keep in mind. My wife and I had a bit of trouble hearing each other throughout our meal.

The more distracting thing about the environment, though, was the heat. Again, we went on a hot summer evening and Victoria’s offered little relief from the high temperatures outside. I thought maybe they were having a/c trouble, so I asked around and found that this is typical on warm nights. It’s definitely not the end of the world, but it was uncomfortable enough for me to mention so that you can be aware. UPDATE (7/7/2011) – Victoria’s has informed us that they’ve installed a new a/c unit to resolve the heat issue. So, this may be a non-issue now.

But even with the noise and the heat, I have no trouble recommending that you give Victoria’s a try. There’s so much to enjoy here, it’s worth enduring a few minor inconveniences.

For starters, it’s one of the only places in OKC serving fresh pasta. Their noodles are prepared by a mom and pop operation in Oklahoma City and delivered fresh to their store several times a week. The difference between fresh and dried pasta is huge. I love the texture you get in every dish here.

I also like the “no-frills” approach. The dishes here are simple combinations of a few pastas, sauces and toppings. Presentations are nothing special — just mounds of pasta loaded on plates. I might not be a fan of this approach if they were charging hefty prices for it. But I tried a bit of the basic spaghetti with classic marinara, and I’ve got to say, I’d take this simple combination of fresh spaghetti with tangy marinara served in a decent portion for $5.79 any time.

Of course, you can get a little fancier at Victoria’s if you want. You can build your own pasta with a choice of noodle, two toppings and a sauce for $7.99. Or start with a basic combination and add any number of toppings ala carte. Plus, Victoria’s has a few specialties like Tortellini, Cheese Lasagna, Shrimp Scampi, and the one that made me very happy — the Black Pepper Linguini.

Victoria’s Black Pepper Linguini ($8.69 – see a pic) is one of those dishes that’s so simple you wonder why everyone isn’t serving it. It’s just a pasta (black pepper linguini) with two toppings (snow crab and spinach), and a lemon-garlic butter sauce. The textures were perfect. Again, there’s no substitute for fresh pasta and they dice the crab into small chunks that blend in so well. The flavors are subtle and fresh and again, so simple, but I really enjoyed everything about this dish. If I lived closer and if I didn’t have to visit all the other local, campus corner restaurants for the series, I would definitely be braving the heat to have this again soon.

My wife tried what our server told us they are known for — the Lasagna Rolls. These have shrimp, spinach and cheese rolled up in fresh lasagna strips and served with marinara and alfredo sauces. You get two of them for $8.69 or get two of them and a pasta for $10.99 (see a pic). The rolls were great. Again, just a very simple dish in a simple presentation, but good quality for a good price.

I think you get the picture about my take on Victoria’s. It’s not fancy, and it may be a little hot in the summer, but it’s very good and very affordable. Enjoy a fresh take on classics or try some of their specialties. I know that I’ll be back to explore more of the menu.

Service was also great on our visit. Our waiter was very friendly and always there when we needed him. He even split our Caesar Salad into two portions for us to share ($3.99 - see a pic), which I appreciated.

Have you been to Victoria’s? Please let us know what you think in the comments below.

See more pictures from Victoria’s The Pasta Shop in our Facebook photo album.