Help! 2 More weeks in Tulsa. Out of places to eat!

Im about a week into a 3 week job in Tulsa. I've already eaten at 3 of the 5 Roadfood.com listed restaurants (Coney I-Lander, Hanks Burgers & Wilsons BBQ). I've got a feeling Im going to get out of work too late tonight to make it to Cancun or White River Fish Market to grab dinner so I'll probalby just the the Wattaburger up the street from the hotel (Havent had a wattaburger since I was a kid & they're open 24 hours). But I'll still end up with about 12 dinners left in Tulsa & nomore Roadfood suggestions. What else do I have to hit up before I leave? I plan on going to Killkenny's Irish Pub one night next week (mainly for the beer selection there, not really the food). So come on Okies, tell me where to eat!
 
Thanks
Memphis Mitch
Bella Caffe Coffee Concessions

Ok--first---Talking drum---  www.ekoingdrum.com/show_page.php?page_id=86

Great food but especially the African menu page---Chef Monday Thomas is cool---sak him to make you some Peri Peri Chicken!!!--6946 S. Lewis St

Weber's Superior Root Beer! www.webersoftulsa.com/ Check out the LOW FAT BURGERS!!!--made with Peidmontese cattle -natural less fat per oz then skinless chicken and GOOD!--oh and GREAT---no SUPERIOR Root Beer!

www.hebertsmeats.com/
Hebert's Meats!!!!! like a min trip to Norlins!!!!  Genuine Cajon cookin  with lunches every day 11 till 2;30 and take home stuff till 6   Turduken and dirty rice on thursday for 7.95  Killer!! and ettoufe,gumbo and red beans and rice daily  and on Sat 10 to noon beinet and cafe au lait!

and check out the deli at Whole Foods---LOTS of great goodies--i am partial ti the artichoke fritters!--and a great salad bar and soups!--and cheeses!!! with a hunk of local bread from the Ferral Family Organic Breads!!!   1401 E 41st St

Happy Eating!

tiki


Ok--first---Talking drum---  www.ekoingdrum.com/show_page.php?page_id=86

Great food but especially the African menu page---Chef Monday Thomas is cool---sak him to make you some Peri Peri Chicken!!!--6946 S. Lewis St

 
Bad news - Talking Drum is gone! I, too, was a huge fan of the restaurant's Afro/Carribean food and of Chef Thomas himself. You could never want to meet two more darling people than Monday and Sarah Thomas but unfortunately their restaurant never really caught on here.
 
I'll post some other suggestions a bit later. Mitch, let me know what you prefer to eat and maybe I can tailor a list to your likes. 

Oh no!! That's sad---Monday and Sarah are great folks---any idea what they are up to? I am really going to miss the Peri Peri!!!

A while back I tried emailing their business email address to ask about their whereabouts but received no reply. My guess is that Monday is cooking somewhere in town but I haven't found out where yet.

Tiki's suggestions are on the money and you definitely need to hit Cancun and White River:
 
Cancun - Huge, delicious burritos (my favorite is the Chili Verde), along with numerous tasty Mexican platters and soups (posole and menudo served on the weekends only). Tulsa has many very good Mexican restaurants (Costa Azul and El Rio Verde are also excellent) but Cancun is the one to which I always return.

White River Fish Market - White River is a retail fish market on one side and a seafood restaurant on the other. Although primarily known for their fried fish platters, White River does great grilled fish, wonderful Red Beans and Rice (uniquely served with a dollop of Chili on top) and my favorite Gumbo this side of New Orleans. I rarely have enough room (more a testament to the large portions than my small appetite) but White River also has fine NY Cheesecake and very tasty Sweet Potato Pie.
 
Some additional recommendations:
 
Mario's NY Style Pizza - 51st Street and Harvard - Excellent slices and Calzones along with top-notch Sausage, Onion and Pepper and Meatball (or Eggplant) Parm Heros make this Tulsa's number one hangout for NYC ex-pats.

Ron's Burgers and Chili - 71st Street and Mingo - As the name indicates this place is all about burgers and chili and every possible combination thereof. Ron's also serves their fine chili in 3-ways that can give the Cincy joints a run for their money. A side order of Spanish Fries (fries with fried (not breaded) onions and jalapenos mixed in) are a special Ron's treat.
 
Hmong Cafe - 31st Sreet and Garnett - Great Pho, Pad Thai and Curries are the stars at this family run Asian gem. They also serve numerous flavors of bubble teas and slushies.
 
Big Daddy's BBQ - Main St. in Jenks - All of the que is good but the go-to item here is the Big Big Daddy Potato (that's the dish's name, not a typo). Huge potatoes are smoked (not baked) until cooked all the way through, split open and topped with a mixture of butter, bacon bits, a generous shake of dry rub seasoning, ranch dressing and 4 or 5 types of smoked meat. Add one of Big Daddy's 3 homemade barbeque sauces and you are in for an incredible treat.
 
Tulsa also has many very fine upscale but casual eateries that might stretch some's definition of roadfood but they are individually owned and most offer excellect value for your dining dollar. Local Table, Oscar's Gastropub, Michael V's and Rick's Cafe Americain are good examples of this type of place. 
 

whatever happened to the place run by harrison ford's son?
Ford filling Station?

Hopefully Cancun is open on Sundays (seems like most restaurants never close) cause Im hoping to grab a burrito tonight after I get off. Def. feeling some Pizza & always like a good burger and the Big Big Daddy Potato sounds intriging. I'll have to start putting those joints into my GPS & plan on hitting them all up. This is the best part about a long business trip. I cant cook & I've got to eat!

Looks like theres a couple Big Daddy's & Rons. Are they all the same?

Alright, these suggestions give me about 12 more dinners (including the upscale but still comfortable suggestions that I'll have to try & get to on my early off work nights). Since Im working a horse show I should probably try to hit the hotel before dinner so I can shower & change before those "Upscale ones"! Any other suggestions? Still need a few more to fill up my nights. I drive by a burger place up on Harvard every morning coming into the Expo Square. Is that a Rons? I know it's some dudes name. And if its Ron's which should I hit, the one on 71's/Mingo or that one?

Also I've got a aquintance back in Memphis that moved there from Tulsa but 5 years ago. She gave me some suggestions (dont know if they're still open) Any responses to these:

Cheddars on 71st street 
Charlestons on S Yale
Hideaway Pizza on 15th st
Ti Amo on Sheraton
Tucci's Italion on e 15th
Wild Fork  at Utica Sq
Kilkenneys Irish  Pub on 15th st
Ri lee's on 91st st

I dont know her taste in restaurants so I dont know if these are any good although I planned on hitting Kilkenney's if nothing more than their beer selection. If someone thinks the food sucks, I'll grab some beer there & then grab dinner somewhere else on Cherry.

Also I had heard of Alisee Momo as a coffee house but when I drove by there the other night on the way to Wilsons BBQ It looked like it was a restaurant (soul food & burgers) anyone had any experience there?

Bella Caffe


Looks like theres a couple Big Daddy's & Rons. Are they all the same?

There are few of each but the Jenks Big Daddy's and the 71st and Mingo Ron's are very consistent so they have become my faves.

Bella Caffe


Also I've got a aquintance back in Memphis that moved there from Tulsa but 5 years ago. She gave me some suggestions (dont know if they're still open) Any responses to these:

Cheddars on 71st street 
Charlestons on S Yale
Hideaway Pizza on 15th st
Ti Amo on Sheraton
Tucci's Italion on e 15th
Wild Fork  at Utica Sq
Kilkenneys Irish  Pub on 15th st
Ri lee's on 91st st

I dont know her taste in restaurants so I dont know if these are any good although I planned on hitting Kilkenney's if nothing more than their beer selection. If someone thinks the food sucks, I'll grab some beer there & then grab dinner somewhere else on Cherry.

 
Cheddar's and Charleston's are chain places so I rule them out. Hideaway is a very good regional chain pizza joint (which started near OK State Univ. in Stillwater) but I prefer Mario's. Ti Amo is a very good Italain upscale casual restaurant and is owned by a buddy of mine Medhi Khezri. Tucci's makes good pizzas and serves a very light lemon-y Caesar Salad. Wild Fork is another very good place that belongs on the list of upscale casual restaurants. Kilkenny's has okay food and does the faux Irish pub thing well but if you are looking for a great beer selection in Tulsa I would try McNellie's downtown. RiLe's serves wonderful, fresh Vietnamese food but these days I find myself preferring the more eclectic Hmong Cafe.    
.

Bella Caffe


Hopefully Cancun is open on Sundays (seems like most restaurants never close) cause Im hoping to grab a burrito tonight after I get off.

 
Cancun is open Sundays but inexplicably closed on Wednesdays.

Gotta say I wasnt to impressed with Cancun. I must have picked a bad night to come, I guess they had the Taco Bell cook in the kitchen. It was a big burrito, I'll give it that. But it was 90% rice & I dont like rice in burritos. Its just filler. Plus they did the typical Taco Bell thing where basically I was eating a rice burrito, then I got a few bites of touch flavorless Carne Asada & then at the end I had a few bites of a bean burrito. Nothing was mixed up. And overall, the only flavor I got was black pepper. So I guess I should have gone on a different night.

I haven't eaten at the one in Tulsa, but how about Doe's Eat Place?  My experiences at the Little Rock, Greenville and Starkville locations have all been excellent!
 
http://www.doestulsa.com/

Bella Caffe


Looks like theres a couple Big Daddy's & Rons. Are they all the same?

Most Ron's I've been to are near equals. On the other hand at Big Daddy's in BA I was served the worst rib dinner I've ever been served. The ribs were dry and very chewy, mostly skirt meat. It was a very small portion to boot(3 ribs maybe 4" long). The sides were okay but the ribs were obviously left over from the day before and thrown in the microwave. I've never been so insulted with a rib dinner. I was the only customer yet they still took their sweet time. The guy at the register could not figure out how to run the register. The guy in back came out to help after 2-3 requests for help, 4-5 minutes after the initial request, and no he was not busy putting my order together. He must have been having lunch because he was picking his teeth when he came out. I sure hope BD's in Jenks has better food and service than the BA location. 

If you like Vietnamese there is Saigon Palace at 21st/Garnet and also Viet Huong at 21st/Sheridan. Both have VERY good traditional Vietnamese food.
I agree on Cancun for traditional Mexican.
Kilkenny's has a great deal on fish-n-chips on Tuesday or Wednesday but I can't remember which day.
Stonemill BBQ on 145th in BA is an upscale place that has very good Que IMO.

BR


On the other hand at Big Daddy's in BA I was served the worst rib dinner I've ever been served. The ribs were dry and very chewy, mostly skirt meat. It was a very small portion to boot(3 ribs maybe 4" long). The sides were okay but the ribs were obviously left over from the day before and thrown in the microwave. I've never been so insulted with a rib dinner. I was the only customer yet they still took their sweet time. The guy at the register could not figure out how to run the register. The guy in back came out to help after 2-3 requests for help, 4-5 minutes after the initial request, and no he was not busy putting my order together. He must have been having lunch because he was picking his teeth when he came out. I sure hope BD's in Jenks has better food and service than the BA location. 

Stonemill BBQ on 145th in BA is an upscale place that has very good Que IMO.

 
I am closer to the Broken Arrow Big Daddy's but go to Jenks due to the issues that you discuss (poor, disinterested service and inconsistent food).
 
I really like Stonemill's ribs and if they are still doing their All-You-Can-Eat Ribs (Tuesday night?) it offers an excellent value.  

 

Whats up with restaurants in this town clsing so early! Seems like they all close between 6:30 & 8:30. Makes it hard for someone that's usually not done will after 8 every night!

It's hard to roll up the sidewalks if people are still eating in the restaurants.

I went to Mario's tonight. Called them first to see what time they would close (they said 9). I head that way but I need to make a Sams run first to restock for tomorrow. Its looking like I'll barely make it in time (Sams closes at 8:30 putting me at Marios about 8:40) so I skip Sams & decide to just make grocery run after dinner. Get Marios about 8:20 & order. At 8:40 they close & some people came in & they turned em away! If I had gone to Sams first I would have been turned away for a to go order & I would have been upset. Whatever, I got there on time (barely) and it was a great calzone. Hit Stonemill last night during the storm & had a platter (Ribs, chicken, turkey, brisket, & onion rings) It was great. Ribs sucked but I didnt expect much out of them. The dinner was wonderul. I was pleased.

Is Herberts open for dinner? The webpage says Herberts serves Lunch but doesnt say anything about dinner & it says the retail store is only open till 6.

About dinner at Hebert's-I dont think so.

Youve had some excellent suggestions IMHO.  White River is a must.  But, two you missed...

Goldie's Hamburgers, location at 51st and Lewis.  Must get Goldie's "special" with double meat and cheese.  Slaw is a must also!!

Second, Elmer's It Be Bad BBQ at 43rd and Peoria.  Some oustanding pork ribs.  Sweet sauce is great.  Beans are good. If you want to try it all, get the "Badwich", chopped beef sandwich with a slice of bologna with a rib on top.

I'm from Jenks and when I'm home, these are the two musts.

I'm originally from Tulsa and you absolutely have to eat at Cafe' Ole' on Brookside.  That on Peoria for people who don't know what Brookside is.  The BEST white queso, black currant iced tea and spinach enchiladas!  Oh my!  Their breakfast is as equally yummy.  another breakfast option is BBD (brookside by day) on peoria or First Watch on Lewis.

ABrickhouse


I'm originally from Tulsa and you absolutely have to eat at Cafe' Ole' on Brookside.  That on Peoria for people who don't know what Brookside is.  The BEST white queso, black currant iced tea and spinach enchiladas!  Oh my!  Their breakfast is as equally yummy.  another breakfast option is BBD (brookside by day) on peoria or First Watch on Lewis.

COOL--i live down by Checotah and usually dont get up to TUlsa for breakfast and didnt know a decent place to get one---so now--nest trip i will just do coffee and leave early and try my am meal there! Thanks for the tips.

It closed.  It is now Leon's Grill

bill voss


whatever happened to the place run by harrison ford's son?
Ford filling Station?

If you want the most wonderful casual fine dining experience, go to The Palace at 15th and Peoria.  It is to die for! 

You need to try Savoy for Breakfast.  It's in the shopping center at 61st and Sheridan.  It beats BBD.  I live in Brookside. : )

ABrickhouse


I'm originally from Tulsa and you absolutely have to eat at Cafe' Ole' on Brookside.  That on Peoria for people who don't know what Brookside is.  The BEST white queso, black currant iced tea and spinach enchiladas!  Oh my!  Their breakfast is as equally yummy.  another breakfast option is BBD (brookside by day) on peoria or First Watch on Lewis.

Alright, here I am back in Tulsa for a few more nights. Any new suggestions? Need some good BBQ This time. Never made it up to Elmer's last time so I might hit it this trip. The Palace Cafe sounds like a winner but I dont know if I brought the right clothes for a place like that.

Welcome back Bella. I missed this post the first time around.
 
Albert G's has great "Q" It is and old converted filling station.  I like the ribs, tabouli and beans. Good brisket and pork.
The smoked turkey is tasty and moist. Smoked half chicken special on Wednesday and Saturdays while it lasts.
2748 So Harvard http://www.albertgs.com/
 
Give Elmers a try. I ate only the Famous Badwich or the first 15 years or that I was a regular. The badwich sandwich has chopped beef, bologna, hot link or smoked sausage and topped with a rib. Then switched to the Nelson's Taste-a-plate for two or four people for the last 10 years or so. Elmer died in 2003 and was reopened and food and service was inconsistent for a while for me. Seems they have it all worked out now as they get good reviews from most folks now.   4130 So Peoria 918-742-6702 http://www.elmersbbq.net/index.html
 
If you have a sport shirt on you can hit the Palace Cafe for lunch or dinner. Not roadfood but great food for Tulsa.
 
A lot of other good roadfood places already mentioned:
 
Weber’s Root Beer Stand. Good cheese burgers, Great hommade onion rings, good fresh cut frys and homemade root beer in a frosted mug.
Hebert's Meats has and awesome Cajun lunch just like you are in Cajun country. As tiki mentioned a different lunch special everyday. Check it out. 
 
White River Fish Market as Howard mentioned. Gumbo, Fried fish and shrimp. Lobster special on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Pretty good homemade onion rings.
Ron’s hamburgers and chili.  I like the chili cheese burger and Spanish frys. Chili three way with Good sausage hamburger also.
My favorite Ron’s is at 4909 S Peoria Ave  (918) 749-9779 since I work near here. I like the 71^st and Mingo location also.  
 

Doe’s Eat Place is great steak and tamales as Buffet Buster mentioned. Not as good as the Original Doe’s in Greenville Mississippi which is fantastic! On par with the Fayetteville Arkansas Doe’s and Little Rock Doe’s that I have tried. 
   
     
 Johnny
 
 

Let me revive this topic. Im headed back to Tulsa for another couple of weeks. Anything new in town to check out? Anything that closed down so I dont bother trying to get out there. I know I'll rehit most of the places I hit last year but if theres anything new I should look into let me know. Im bringing folks with me this time so I'll also be adding some bars to my list of places to visit.

I guess nothing new. I'll try to hit a few of the places I missed last time. And of course rehit some of the good ones. If anyone things of anything new that hasnt been mentioned, let me know.

Tried to goto Ri Le's last night & couldnt find it. Is it still open? Unless the address on Google Maps is wrong. I did find a shut down Chinese restaurant in the area that Ri Le's was supposed to be. Then tried to goto Viet Huong & it was closed. This town shuts down too early!! 8:15 & 2 other restaurants I went to where closed already!!