Category Archive: OKC Food Reviews

East Coast Style – In OKC

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OKC Food Reviews

January 16, 2012

by Stephanie

January 16, 2012

Since my immersion in the OKC food scene about 9 months ago, I have enjoyed some great food at restaurants I might not have normally visited. One of my favorites of recent has to be Rococos. Owner Bruce Rhinehart has brought his East coast flair to Oklahoma City and is serving up some of the best seafood and Italian dishes this side of the Mississippi.

My first experience at Rococos was a visit to their location near 23rd and Penn (which also happen to be my first “tweetup” lunch too). It was a very large group (40+) but the service was nothing short of superb. I had the steak chili and our group was treated to an appetizer of “cookies”. Now, when I heard we were getting cookies before the meal, I wondered if they just did things differently at Rococos by serving dessert before the meal. Then the cookies came to the table and I realized that cookies were actually small bite sized appetizers served on toasted baguette slices. There were a variety of flavors, but my favorite was The Gangster (Italian sausage, sweet onions, pomodoro and Parmesan cheese).  An order of this appetizer is perfect for 3 or 4 guests, and will run you anywhere from $5.95 – $8.50 depending on the toppings.

The pasta and seafood dishes offered at Rococos are impressive, and most of the “starters” are enough for an entire meal. The choices include Steamed Little Neck Clams ($12.25), Deep Fried Calamari ($7.25) and Surf & Turf on a Stick (which I had along with a salad for dinner one evening and was the perfect amount of food). But the BEST appetizer on the menu is by far the Jumbo Lump Crabcake. This little bite of heaven has a superb outer crust and large chunks of crab that are tender and flaky. I could eat three of these for dinner and call it a day they are that good. I’ve had crabcakes from some of the best restaurants in the Northeast, including The Cove Fresh Fish Market in Mystic, CT and I’m not kidding when I say these crabcakes blow away the competition. This is an OKC must try.

Jumbo Lump Crabcake - Rococos

The large dinner menu includes my personal favorite, Penne Bolognese ($17.50 for a huge bowl), as well as fabulous seafood choices like Bamboo Steamed Cod (market price), Lobster & Shrimp Risotto ($27.50) and Rhode Island Fishermans stew with plum shrimp, scallops, sole, sausage, clams & mussels that are sauteed, then braised in a saffron tomato broth (WOW).

The list of sides and add-ons is equally impressive. The saute grape tomatoes with toasted garlic is a must try, as is the wild mushroom risotto. Don’t forget about the soups and salads. Ranging from $4.25-$6.25, try a cup of the Old School Favorite New England Clam Chowder or for a vegetarian option order the Mushroom Soup, which combines leeks, shiitake mushrooms, and scallions into a velvety soup.

I have enjoyed several meals at Rococos, including the fabulous Sunday brunch (which my 7-year old would gladly choose to have every Sunday and honestly requires an entire blog post of its own), but if you really want a unique dining experience make a reservation for the Chef’s Table at Rococos Northpark. Chef’s Table is an “L” shaped booth in the corner of the main kitchen area, which allows you to see what really goes on behind the scenes in a upscale restaurant. The night we arrived to enjoy Chef’s Table just happened to be 10 days before Christmas, and a Friday night, so the restaurant was insanely packed. We were celebrating a friends birthday, so there was plenty of wine to enjoy along with amazing food that was specifically selected for us by Chef Bruce. The food was so amazing, I can barely remember anything I ate (or maybe that was because of the wine). Nonetheless, I highly recommend trying the Chef’s Table for a special night on the town.

Chefs Table Surf & Turf

Rococos has two locations, 23rd and Penn and 122nd and May in the Northpark Mall. Hours vary by location, so check out their website at http://rococo-restaurant.com/ for information or to make a reservation. Next time you find yourself craving pasta or seafood, stop by Rococos.

Rococo Northpark on Urbanspoon

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And the winner is….

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OKC Food Reviews

December 30, 2011

by Stephanie

December 30, 2011

Being a self-proclaimed foodie, I enjoy eating meals cooked by real chefs vs. those that come from an assembly line or fryer. So I was disappointed to see that the top performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (aka the “Stock Market”) for 2011 was none other than McDonalds. (Stock Ticker: MCD ).

McDonald’s stock price is up almost 31% for the year – beating out companies such as American Express, Pfizer and even Kraft foods. So what does this say about Americans and their eating habits? A lot, and none of it is very good. As of the most recent study (2009), approximately 17% of (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled. (source: CDC.gov) Adults are no better, with almost 1/3 of Americans (or roughly 72 MILLION) of us overweight or obese. And if trends continue on their current path, 100% (yes you read that right) of the US population will be overweight or obese by 2048.

So how can we correct this growing trend? It’s really pretty simple. It’s called eat less and exercise more. That doesn’t mean starving yourself or go on crazy diets. It means eating HEALTHY, well balanced meals. Can you splurge on a nice dinner? Of course? Are french fries ok sometimes? Absolutely. But looking at how well McDonalds did this year in the stock market, I am going to take a guess and say that most Americans aren’t eating french fries every once in awhile – they are eating them every other day.

Do yourself (and your family) a favor. Make a choice to begin 2012 with healthier eating habits. Here are three EASY and simple steps to get you going in the right direction.

1. Cook at home. It doesn’t have to be a 3-course meal. In fact, simpler is better. Use your crock pot, dutch oven or stock pot and make a healthy, one-dish meal. Cooking at home allows you to control the ingredients your putting in your families bodies rather than leaving it up to the local fast food joint.

2. Turn off the TV. The average American family has the television on for 6 hours and 47 minutes PER DAY. Take a walk with your kids. Go on a bike ride. Play the Wii. Kick the soccer ball around in the backyard. The less time you spend in front of the tube – the more time you’ll spend doing things that will get your body moving.

3. Know the facts. Do you REALLY know what’s in a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese? Or the caloric count of the regular-sized Bean Burrito from Taco Bueno? (it’s 604 calories for ONE burrito by the way). Knowing what you are eating is crucial. It’s completely unrealistic to avoid eating out (whether it be fast food or your local bistro), but knowing nutritional information about the food you are considering ordering can help you steer clear of high fat or high calorie items in favor of ones that are just as flavorful, but much better for you. If you are smartphone user, check out some of the latest apps that track calories in fast foods, such as MyFitnessPal.com, which is free. I downloaded it last year and was shocked at the things I was eating.

Good Luck, and Happy Eating.

 

 

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Review on Nic’s Grill

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OKC Food Reviews, OKC Must Eats

December 19, 2011

by Stephanie

December 19, 2011

A couple of months ago, the topic of burgers came up on Twitter. I love a good burger, and living in Oklahoma we are lucky to have a lot of great greasy spoons with fabulous burgers. But I had never heard of Nics Grill. This gem was featured on Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri back in 2009, but somehow I completely missed it.

Now that I had caught wind of this place, I HAD to try it. First, let’s talk about the location. Sitting right off of 12th & Penn, it is a VERY small (translation, there are 10 seats at the counter, 4 seats at an opposite counter and 3 tables. That’s IT) joint that often will have a line extending out the door. Once inside, it is tight quarters, but grab a bar stool and gaze in amazement at the speed and efficiency of the staff. Once you are inside, the staff will take your drink order (even if you don’t have a seat yet!) and ask you for your order. And Nic’s side kick has an unbelievable memory for detail…

GFB and I ordered drinks and realized quickly that these burgers were no ordinary burgers. You see, they are GIGANTIC. I mean that in the best possible way, but they are huge. Therefore, it made sense for us to split one (along with some fries). They do charge a fee to split a plate – $2.50 as I recall – but its totally worth it.
When the burger came, it was a sight to see. Juice oozing from the meat, cheese melting down the side of the patty and perfectly grilled onions stacked a half-inch or more high on top. Perfection.

I cut the masterpiece in half, gave GFB his part and dove in. I was speechless. The meat was cooked about medium (pink in the middle) and was spectacular. The onions were caramelized and fabulous and the fries were cooked perfectly. This was one of the best burgers I had ever had.

Now, I also heard Nic’s does a mean breakfast, but I haven’t had a chance to experience it yet. However, if you are anywhere near the vicinity of 12th & Penn, I deplore you to stop and try Nic’s. Even if there is a wait, it will be totally worth it. I promise.

Nic's Grill Oklahoma City

Nic's Grill on Urbanspoon

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With or Without?

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OKC Food Reviews

December 9, 2011

by Stephanie

December 9, 2011

I posted this important question on Twitter and received quite a few responses, so I thought I would write a quick blog post and see what you all thought.

Question 1: Should chili be made with or without beans?

Beans or No Beans, that is the question...

Question 2: Do you prefer brownies with or without nuts?

Nuts or no Nuts?

Answer below!

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Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggety Dog

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OKC Food Reviews

December 5, 2011

by Stephanie

December 5, 2011

Cally Johnson and Kathryn Mathis have attained almost celebrity status since opening their popular Big Truck Taco restaurant in Oklahoma City back in July of 2009. The restaurant, known for its street tacos and other Mexican-style delicacies has become a popular destination for locals and out-of-town guests alike.

And now, they’re at it again. Opened in May, 2011 Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs  is a unique concept in casual eating. The menu contains over 25 different varieties of hot dogs, ranging from the tried-and-true Boardwalk (think chili-cheese dog) to the very unusual Hot Wing Dog (chicken fried chicken dog, green habanero, blue cheese and celery).  To complement your dogs, Johnson and Mathis offer sides including potato salad, baked beans and cole slaw, as well as a fan favorite duck fat fries.

I’m gonna be honest here. I am not a huge hot dog fan. But being a regular of Big Truck Tacos, I had to trust the culinary creativity of Cally & Kathryn to create items that were above and beyond the usual. GFB (my fabulous hub) and I decided to hit Mutts for lunch for the first time back in early October. Upon arriving, we scoured the menu for our first choices of items. GFB was set on ordering a dog, but I happened to notice the special that day was a Oyster Po’ Boy with a side of fries. Bingo. I selected that, and he choose the Boardwalk. (Now, I had heard amazing things about the duck fat fries, and *thought* that was what I was getting with the Po’ Boy. I should have clarified – because it was served with regular fries. Bummer.)  My sandwich was VERY good. The bread was chewy, the fried oysters were perfectly cooked in cornmeal batter and the sandwich was topped with lettuce, tomato and a great homemade aioli. GFB’s choice was ok – nothing really stood out – but it was good.

Now, the experience was good- (I liked the decor – especially hot dog shakers at the cash register) but I have one suggestion. Hot dogs are messy. And some of us eat them with a knife and fork to avoid getting chili (or slaw, mustard, you name it) down the front of our (insert name brand designer here) blouse or shirt. I chose to eat my Po’ Boy this way since the sandwich was huge and difficult to eat with my hands. Here’s where the problem lies. They use plastic baskets lined with sheets of wax paper to server their sandwiches and dogs. After several cuts into your item and subsequently through the wax paper, the paper begins to shred and you end up picking out bits and pieces of wax paper from each bite.

 

As a rule, I try to visit restaurants at least twice before writing any review on them. So, a few weeks later, GFB and I hit Mutts again to sample different menu items, along with the duck fat fries I missed the first time. This visit, I choose the Sweet Caroline, and GFB had the Boardwalk (again) and of course, the famous fries I’d heard so much about. Since I ordered a chili/slaw dog, I ran into the same problem as last visit with the wax paper (maybe even more so this round), but, I was so mesmerized with the duck fat fries that I’m not sure it bothered me too much. I like fries, but these are NOT your average fries. The flavor is spectacular. Although they are a bit pricey at $5.00 per order, I recommend trying them at least once, and add the truffle oil for an extra .75 so you can experience the entire dish as it is meant to be served.

If you love hot dogs, you will enjoy Mutts. But if you are a french fry coinesseur, then you better haul your rear down to 23rd and order the fries. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Mutt's Amazing Hot Dogs on Urbanspoon

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