My general rule for my posts is... accentuate the positive in cafes and eating establishments.

But, just to demonstrate I can go to the dark side, this post is about a reoccurring annoyance at national chain restaurants in the Norman area.

I’m talking appetizers here. You know, those little shared dishes designed to tantalize your taste buds while bridging the gap between being seated and the arrival of the entree.

To me, and call me old school here, an appetizer is a part of enjoying a more formal dinner. An appetizer is a separate course which presents an opportunity to stretch out the dinner into a dining occasion or event, rather just a feeding. It is an opportunity to linger, with a glass of wine, over some delightful morsel while engaging in conversation with you dinner companion(s).

It is not a side dish!

Last summer, in celebration of my dear wife’s birthday, we went to one of the several chain restaurants on Ed Noble Drive in Norman. To be fair, it is an establishment where we have often enjoyed dining but usually for lunch and not dinner.

After a glass of wine and great conversation in the bar, we were brought to our table and given menus. At this point, before ordering so much as a drink much less the entree, I specifically asked our waiter, “ If we order our appetizer now, will it arrive well before the meal? So we can enjoy it.”

The waiter gave the universal, “ No problem.”

Famous last words.

So I ordered our appetizer, selecting something we could enjoy with another glass of wine.

The waiter returned a little later, taking our drink and entree orders for the evening. Our drinks arrived and we sat quietly talking.

Time passed.

Our waiter returned with our salad and bread sticks.

And, our appetizer ...

... delivered as if it were a side dish to the salad and bread sticks. Even after my specifically ordering it well in advance of our drinks and entrees. Even after specifically asking the waiter if it would arrive well ahead of everything else.

And, this is not the first time this has happened, which is why I have all but given up on ordering appetizers at any of these national chain restaurants. (And, why I am not naming the restaurant, the problem is not theirs alone, it is shared among most chains who offer appetizers.) But, that evening, for some unknown reason I thought it might be okay. Well, it was the same old, same old.

Now, go to any real fine dining restaurant in Norman, say, Misal’s of India or Legends... no problem, the appetizer is actually served as a separate course. For your eating pleasure and the enjoyment of the evening. LaBaguette’s west side restaurant brings dinner rolls to your table as you wait for your brunch. Heck, at the Classen Grill in Oklahoma City, I’ve ordered beignets as a breakfast appetizer for the Bruncheros (and Classen Grill does not even pretend to have appetizers on their breakfast menu) and they can manage to bring the beignets to the table well in advance of our breakfast. And they do this in the middle of a breakfast rush!

I do not blame the servers at these national chain restaurants ... I blame the national chain restaurants. They are so interested in “turning tables” while pretending to be fine dining that they do not seem to train their servers in the little things that make it “a nice dinner”. I say this because the same servers always take their time when presenting the dessert tray and then present the selected delicacy with the sensitivity one could only wish they displayed for an appetizer.

So my advise to national restaurant chains, either learn that an appetizer is a separate course, to be savored and enjoyed, or stop offering them.

Next week, back to goodness and light (and nice).

Labels: Appetizers, Classen Grill, Ed Noble Drive, Legends, Misal, Pet Peeve

On our August trip to Tahlequah and the Illinois River, we discovered a new cafe (well, new to us, anyway) right in the middle of downtown Tahlequah.

The Boom-A-Rang is a smallish cafe located directly across from the Cherokee Nation Courthouse, one of the oldest buildings in Oklahoma. The food is good, the coffee fairly strong and ... they have gravy. More on that later.

For around $5 you can have a good down-home breakfast of eggs, meat of your choice, hash browns and bread. Nothing fancy but a really good basic breakfast.

What I love the most about the place is the fact it is there.

To explain, for many years on our trips to Tahlequah we would have breakfast at the Shack, a couple of blocks north of the Boom-A-Rang. And, it was great for all the same reasons listed above. But, then The Shack became a full time bakery (and they bake great stuff ... but that’s another posting) and there was, at least as far as we once-a-year tourists could tell, no other downtown cafe. The Shack closing of its breakfast diner left a huge hole in our annual trips, one we missed with savory memories of breakfasts past.

The Boom-A-Rang Cafe provides downtown Tahlequah with a good, basic diner. A great place to hang out, have a cup, maybe a little down home breakfast and watch folks go about their business. On the latter, one of my favorite vacation past times is to hang out in local establishments, such as the Boom-A-Rang, and listen to people talk about the goings on in their town.

Now, here is the gravy connection. Or should I say, gravy challenge. I have been going to Eastern Oklahoma and the Tahlequah / Illinois River area for the better part of 25 years. As a little boy in Tulsa my family took trips to the Illinois River and in later years, I rediscovered it on one of my “blue highway” sojourns through rural Oklahoma. I’ve been coming back every year since, sometimes several times a year.

As you have gathered from previous postings, I like Biscuits and Gravy. I even entitled one of my vacations, years ago, the “Biscuits and Gravy Tour”.

Yet, it seems, and I’m the first to admit this could be entirely me, that every time I was anywhere near Tahlequah or the Illinois River, the cafes did not serve biscuits and gravy or, worse, they charged extra for it ... like it was some rarified dish or something. One time, at a place to remain nameless but up along the river, I ordered biscuits and gravy with my breakfast. The B&G cost almost as much as the meal!

So, you can imagine how happy I was when I saw biscuit (singular) and gravy as an option in the breakfast menu at Boom-A-Rang. On top of that, it was good gravy!

So, Boom-A-Rang Cafe, my hat is off to you for providing an essential public service ... biscuit and gravy with your breakfast... no extra charge. For this, if for nothing else, I salute you!

The fact you dish up a great and affordable breakfast along with the B & G just makes it all the better.

After breakfast, Tahlequah has no shortage of things to do. There is the Illinois River or Lake Tenkiller, of course. But, I would suggest a walk around downtown and /or the NSU campus. Take in the Christmas Store, the small arts galleries and other shops. If you want something sweet, nothing could be better than a short walk to the aforementioned Shack Bakery. Freshly baked donuts, cinnamon rolls, and danish, as well as breads and cookies of all descriptions beckon you. When you have walked off breakfast consider The Shack, Kelley’s, the Iguana Cafe or Sam & Ella’s (of a previous post) for lunch. Or, you can just go back to the Boom-A-Rang, which also serves lunch.

Tahlequah is one of the most interesting, and often overlooked, communities in our state. Take a morning or a day and get to know this community. Its a great pl-ace with great people.

Labels: biscuits and gravy, Boom-A-Rang, Iquana Cafe, Kelly's, Tahlequah

Tahlequah, OK is one of my favorite communities. Nestled in the Cherokee Hills of Eastern Oklahoma, the beautiful Illinois River flows adjacent to the town, forming its Eastern boundary, and draws thousands of visitors, including yours truly, every summer. Tahlequah is also the capital of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, home to the Cherokee Heritage Center and Northeastern State University.

It was also voted, a few years back, as one of the “Best 100 Places to Live in America”. In short, it is a great community with a heritage that predates our state by decades (as does much of Eastern Oklahoma).

This week’s post adds one more attribute to its many positives.

It all started innocently enough. We were in Tahlequah for our annual summer trip to the Illinois River. After an afternoon on a beautiful rock shoal at Peavine Hollow (the Illinois is festooned with hollows... No Head, Round Head, Stunkard...) we retired to a hotel room at the Oak Hill Inn, rather than our usual tent at Eagle’s Bluff (hey, its hot in August in Oklahoma and I’m past my “sweating through the night” phase). At some later date I will submit a full post on the Illinois River but, suffice to say, since I was a little boy growing up in Eastern Oklahoma this is one of the best summer places to be.

So we decided to go out to dinner. I was secretly endeavoring to steer us toward the Echota House (a great steak house and the subject of yet another future post), but, in a moment of implied fairness, I said, “ Let’s walk around downtown and see what there is...”

Famous last words.

We noticed Sam & Ella’s (okay, say it fast and you get the joke) Chicken Palace and thought, “Chicken’s good.”

The moment we walked in the door we knew something was not quite right here. It did not smelled like chicken (unless, of course, it was Chicken Cacciatori)!

But,then the Pizza paddles hanging on the wall were something of a give- a-way.

Even after we were seated we did not fully comprehend. We looked at the menu and considered the sandwiches, which looked interesting and were very reasonably priced.

Then a pizza went by...

... and that, as they say, was all she wrote.

Returning to the menu we decided to economize with one of their single topping mediums, half pepperoni and half Italian sausage. When it arrived it was a thick, bubbling beauty with the meat just peeking through the quiche deep layers of cheese.

We both took one bite and just looked at one another...

Wow!

“ Its crisp like I like it and chewy like you like it, “ Sheryl said, “How’d they do that?”

As always, Sheryl was right on the mark. It had the crisp crust of a thin pizza but with the chewy, thick crust of a deep dish. My guess, a really, really hot oven.

And, then, there were the cheeses. I’m not sure, but I know, at the least, I tasted Mozzarella, Provolone, and Parmesan (maybe more) perfectly balanced with a tangy basil and oregano tomato sauce. The sauce tasted made-from-scratch, but I honestly do not know if it is or not. The whole package was a delight with every bite.

We could not finish it. We took part of it back to the hotel and I’m here to tell you, its almost as good cold as hot. And, I am not a big fan of cold pizza but this one would easily pass the “morning after” breakfast pizza test, if there had been any left over the next morning.

Bottom line, you can walk into Sam & Ella’s and have more pizza than you can eat in one sitting for about $11 to $12. The sandwiches, which we almost ate, are only $5.95. They also offer the usual array of combination pizzas with multiple items for more than the $12 we paid. Given how good the one item pizza was, I can only imagine how good one of the combos would be to eat.

Sam & Ella’s is a fun place to just sit and enjoy downtown Tahlequah as well. It has large windows which look out over a city park. It is also only a block from Northeastern State University and the Town Branch Creek, which meanders through the central part of town. The night we were at Sam & Ella’s there was a picnic of some sort in the park. The hot summer air was filled with grilling smoke. From our vantage point we watched people come and go, as well as folks just out for the evening. The people watching would have made it a delightful evening, the pizza, however, made it a memorable one!

The restaurant itself lives up to its name (its real name, not the inference). There are drawings of chickens, paintings of chickens, chicken ceramics, and even chicken trivets. But, at least to the best of my memory, except for one of the sandwiches, there are no chickens on the menu.

My kind of place. Nice environment, no pretensions, efficient and attentive staff, a great inside joke with the name, and, most of all, the best pizza you have every laid your lips upon.

After dinner, you might want to cruise down to either the River City Players at the University Theater(in the summer time) or the NSU Jazz Lab, both within walking distance. If you don’t mind a short drive, and its a summer weekend, take in the play at the Cherokee Heritage Center on the outskirts of Tahlequah. Or, if you have room for coffee and dessert, take in the Iguana Cafe just across the street. Great Americano and brewed coffees.

There will be more posts of Tahlequah in the future, but suffice to say, if you love pizza a pilgrimage to Sam & Ella’s should be on your list of religious experiences. Fall foliage drive time is coming to Eastern Oklahoma. Sam & Ella’s would make a great lunch or dinner stop on such an outing.

I could not find a website for Sam & Ella’s but their phone is (918) 456-1411 and they are located at 419 W. Okmulgee, Tahlequah, OK 74464. Give Sam & Ella’s a try, it will be worth the stop.

“Stop! Turn here! You’re passing it! That’s Meers!” exclaimed my wife Sheryl as we hurtled down Oklahoma Scenic Highway 115, having just left the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge a few miles back.

“ That’s it?” I stammered as I made a quick left turn into a gravel parking lot.

The Meers Store and Restaurant looks like the front of a general store in almost anyplace Oklahoma. I came to find out it was once a general store and post office as well as a number of other incarnations before becoming the Meers Store and Restaurant.

The Meers Store and Restaurant is the last remaining remnant of Oklahoma’s Gold Rush (yes, I said “Gold Rush”). Long story short, legends of old Spanish mines in the area fueled a short lived gold rush in the late 1890s. In 1901 a group of miners formed the town of Meers. In 1905 a University of Oklahoma geologist found there was “ ... not ore in sufficient quantity to justify extracting the minerals...” translation... no gold.

We were here to find a different kind of treasure, the legendary Meers Burger.

I have heard of the Meers Burger since my college days at the University of Oklahoma, when friends who spent part of their summer in the Wichitas would tell me stories of “... the largest burger I ever ate.” at this “ ...little store north of Lawton.”. In more recent years, my wife, Sheryl, recounted her own story of the Meers Burger on her return from a tour with the Oklahoma Children’s Theatre.

For my part, I have often traveled to the Wichitas, either on business as a consultant to nonprofit organizations in Lawton or Altus or to camp with friends who own land adjacent to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. But, somehow, despite my love of hamburgers, barbecue and down home cooking, I had always passed on driving a few miles north to Meers and having a burger.

What was I thinking?

All those wasted years! All those wasted trips!

So this summer I decided that finally, in my advancing middle age, I was finally ready. I got up one fine morning during my August vacation and proclaimed to Sheryl, “ I think I’m ready... let’s go to Meers.”

It was not a hard sell.

We decided to drive through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge first, to work up an appetite and, hopefully, not have to stand in line during the lunch hour. To paraphrase our state song, “ All the buffalo (and longhorns) were standing like statues” and that was about it that hot, August day. At a couple of different points we passed a lone buffalo standing, like a statue, at the turn in the road. The Prairie Dogs, of Prairie Dog Town fame, had the good sense to escape the almost century mark heat by staying in their holes. Nor did stop at the Holy City, site of an annual Easter Passion Play. As I told Sheryl, “ I read the book, seen the movie(s) and have pretty good idea how the story came out.”

So, when we drove over to Meers around 2 pm on a Wednesday, I thought it would be like most cafes, not busy after the lunch rush.

Well, there was no line, but there were a lot of people standing out front and the place was still very busy, in the middle of the afternoon.

The Meers Store and Restaurant is what could best be described as ... eclectic. Any place a table and chairs, of any size and description, could be stashed it had been. You actually walk up as you enter on to what I assume is the second floor, and there is another level built above that floor with a similar eclectic array of tables.

The menu is another newspaper style affair, similar to the one I described at the Rock Cafe in Stroud. This menu also contains a great deal of history on the restaurant, the history of the area (from which I gleaned the historical information in this posting), and, of course, information on the meat raised to make the Meers Burgers (more on that later).

The menu contains a wide assortment of items, including Bar B-Q of all descriptions, various sandwiches, chicken fried steaks, ordinary hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, bake potatoes, chicken wings and even a grilled cheese. But, I was not to be detoured, I was here for the Meers Burger.

When it comes to the Meers Burger, you have a choice. There is the original Meers Burger, the MeersCheeseburger and the Seismic Meersburger. The Seismic is 16 ounces, one full pound, of burger and is named for the seismograph installed at the Meers Stores by the Oklahoma Geological Survey. As you enjoy your Meers Burger, you are sitting atop the Meers Fault. a 15 mile crack in the planet.

Knowing my limits, I settled on the middle ground, the MeersCheeseburger (along with some Onion Rings and an Ice Tea).

When it arrived, the burger was the size of the plate, literally. Seven inches across the waitress told us. It was presented in a camping tin plate, the kind any of us have eaten out of on camping trips, or, more accurately the type of tin plate a miner would have used in the old days.

And the taste, now I know what all the stories were about. It was succulent, without being at all greasy, and filled with the full flavor of the meat. It was medium well done, just the way I like my burgers, and obviously cooked by someone who knew how to achieve the fine balance. The fresh onions, pickles, tomatoes and leaf lettuce compliment the burger’s incredible taste.

I’ve eaten burgers from the Diner in Norman to Carl’s in Tulsa to JM’s in Eufaula and I’m here to tell you the Meers Burger one of the best, if not the best, burger I have ever eaten.

After reading the “Mount Sheridan Miner”, the Meers menu, I understood why it was so good. Its the meat. Meers Burgers are the product of lean grass fed Longhorn cattle from the restaurant’s own herd. The burger has very little shrinkage in cooking and retains the natural flavor of the beef. Combined with cooking it medium well done this produces, in my humble opinion, one great burger.

A Meers Burger will set you back between $6.85 and $7.35, before tax. A more modest hamburger is only $3.75 and the Seismic Meersburger, 16 oz. of longhorn with bacon, jalapenos, and purple onions is $10.65. Bring someone to share it with! (And bring cash, they don’t take plastic at the Meers Store and Restaurant.)

After a lunch or dinner at the Meers Store and Restaurant, I would suggest you take in the sights at Medicine Park, just a few miles away on the Meers-Porter Hill Road along Lake Lawtonka. This little cobble stone community surrounds Medicine Creek and is an interesting anomaly in a part of the state filled with anomalies (and will be the subject of a future posting). The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, the Meers Store and Restaurant and Medicine Park make for a very full (in more ways than one) day trip to Southwestern Oklahoma.

More information on the Meers Store and Restaurant is available at meersstore.com.

Labels: Long Horn Cattle, Medicine Park, Meers, Meers Store and Restaurant, OK, SeismicMeersBurger, Wichita Mountains

If it is Tuesday, September 4 (or after), then I am back to the work-a-day world after my European length August vacation.

And, if it is a workday it begins with with a cup of Cafe Americano at my favorite coffee establishment, Cafe Plaid on the very southwest corner of Campus Corner in Norman. Located at 333 Boyd Street, Cafe Plaid sits across from the University of Oklahoma’s original campus, known today at the North Oval, with a view of the beautiful university landscaping visible through Plaid’s windows.

Let’s face it ... coffee is the mainstay of modern American existence. We love our coffee and we have become a nation of coffee drinkers, in all of its variations... cappuccino, lattes, breves, americanos, or just plain brew or drip ( or maybe a press pot ... but I begin to digress...).

I am a fan of Cafe Americano, basically a shot or two of espresso in a cup of hot water. Done right, it has the flavor and body of espresso without the intensity, and brevity, of drinking a single shot. And, by done right, for me that must include the crema, a creamy head, floating on top.

You drink the Americano through the crema.

Heaven.

And, at least for me, Cafe Plaid does it right.

They also do an incredible morning business in lattes of all variety. My usual spot is right by the coffee bar, clarifying the issues of the world with my coffee mates, and, from what I hear, every other to-go order is a latte.

In addition to espresso coffees, Cafe Plaid offers three brewed coffees ever morning, available in endless supply from pump pots on the bar. The stalwart French Roast is the anchor of the offerings, both fully caffeinated and decaf, along with a flavor coffee of the day, hazelnut, pecan, etc. to round out the three pump pots. Of the flavor offerings, which are frankly not-my-cup-of tea, I would recommend the Monday brew, Blackwatch. Blackwatch is a combination of French Roast and Hazelnut and, unlike many flavored coffees, it has a very strong body with just a hint of hazelnut. (And, just so you know, it is named for the original Highland Regiment of the British Army, the Blackwatch. Remember, this place is called Plaid, after all.)

There are two secrets to Cafe Plaid’s coffee success. The first is its proprietary training for its baristas. Because it is proprietary I can not tell you the details, but each barista is taught the Cafe Plaid way of “pulling” espresso. I believe this technique is what distinguishes Cafe Plaid from other coffee houses in that it extracts the highest degree of flavor, without bitterness, from the coffee.

The other “secret” is, frankly, the coffee. Cafe Plaid buys its coffee (fair trade, by-the-way) from a micro roaster, which is quickly evolving past “micro”, called Prima Cafe in Oklahoma City. Prima Cafe’s roasting is the secret to the rich flavor of all Cafe Plaid’s coffees. It is strong and flavorful but not burnt tasting like certain national chains. I have visited other coffee houses ( the Red Cup in Oklahoma City among them) which offer Prima roasts and have been equally impressed with the taste.

Unfortunately, Plaid does not offer breakfast but they do offer some nice bakery items, including a huge cinnamon roll which I highly recommend and muffins of several fruit flavors which are always favorites. (For the Cafe Plaid full breakfast experience, come on Sunday when they offer a great brunch.)

But the thing I like best about Cafe Plaid has nothing to do with the coffee or food, it is the atmosphere of the place. As I cited earlier, my weekdays begin here with a cup and conversation with my coffee mates, a collection of friends from many walks of life who converge on our table by the door. We discuss it all, art, business, nonprofit organizations, movies, travel, football (not my fav but hey, we live in Oklahoma), politics, more politics and then more politics. We share a common passion for the good of our community (Norman, OK) and are not shy about expressing our concerns on local, state and federal government as well as the University, which is an all but a constitutionally divined city- state in its own right.

And we are not alone. Several other tables of folks gather, most only once a week, at Plaid to have a cup of coffee and share their thoughts with one another.

This is perhaps what I love the most about mornings at Cafe Plaid, this wonderfully informal sense of connection and community played out before my eyes. In the old days Plaid, along with many other coffee and breakfast establishments, would have been called a salon, a place to meet and discuss the issues of the day.

Today, we just call it “ going to coffee “.

Most people only know Cafe Plaid for its excellent lunch offerings (which is another blog entry), where the place is packed and the pace just below frantic.

They would not recognize the Cafe Plaid I know, a place of quiet awakening to the aroma of excellent coffee and great conversation.

You can obtain more information on Cafe Plaid at cafeplaid.com

Take a few moments some morning and drop by Cafe Plaid. I think you will enjoy it.

Labels: Americano, Breves, Cafe Plaid, Campus Corner, Coffee, Espresso, Lattes, Norman, OK

Copia on the Corner tiptoed into Norman, Oklahoma much like Carl Sandberg's fog: on little cat feet. No large "coming soon..." banners, no "grand opening" festivities, no jazz band. Just a little storefront on Main Street that transformed, seemingly overnight, into a posh little haven of deliciousness. Sandwiched (pardon the pun) between tattoo parlors, the exterior is also less than remarkable. No flashy signs, no neon. But once inside all senses awaken. The interior is elegant enough that you feel special eating there; casual enough that you won't feel uncomfortable in jeans and sneakers. The paint is bright and cheery, the lighting dark and cozy. Tables are round and inviting.

The food is also a lovely mix of casual and sophisticated. For light lunchers the warm duck salad and the salad Nicoise are exceptional choices. It is rare to find a good salad nicoise anywhere in Oklahoma and this one can hold its own. And for a much more reasonable price than you are likely to find anywhere (if I recall, salad prices are in the $6-7 range). Some of the ingredients may trouble purists: grilled corn is used in place of the traditional potatoes, for instance, but for me the substitution gave the dish a delicious southwestern splash that worked well. The warm duck salad was also good, though perhaps better in its idea than its execution. Duck can be heavy, and with the goat cheese and dressing it became a little too rich for a lunch salad. (And dear me! the spinach was not as fresh as it should have been. Things like this make your delicate southern correspondent hyperventilate. Properly tended salad greens are the basis of modern civilization and all that.)

In addition to the salads, the menu also offers heartier fare: enchiladas, sandwiches and everything in between. Entrees are still in the same very reasonable price range ($6-9). So far I've explored the rotisserie chicken sandwich (yum! but also a bit heavy as it is topped with goat cheese and a bechemel type sauce), the calamari appetizers (yum yum!) and the towering chocolate extravaganza of death for dessert (yum yum yum!).

After one visit one of the owners came out for a visit and offered us a free sample of chocolate mousse as well. Not only was he a most genial host, the mousse was a knockout. So by all means, go visit Copia. Not only do we need to support, elegant, affordable dining in Norman, we also want to encourage places like this to stay on Main street where town and gown folk (meaning university types) can stroll in for a culinary getaway. Unfortunately, the hours are a bit limited. They are only open from 11-2, though will periodically open at night for special dinners and wine tastings.

My niche in our little circle seems to be diners in Oklahoma. I love traveling our state and stopping into local diners, cafes, coffee houses and restaurants is one of the joys of those travels. One of my fascinations is the diversity, and sometimes collision, of cultures represented in our diners. When you eat in an Italian restaurant in Krebs you may find southern fried chicken served up along side ravioli, or, like this blog’s subject, where you can find Jagersnittzal & Spaetzle next to the okra and tatter tots in the menu.

One of my wife and mine’s favorite, and regular, stops on old Route 66 is the Rock Cafe in Stroud, OK. On a recent vacation trip, we began and ended our vacation dining at this landmark diner. Opened in 1939 the Rock Cafe, according to the official history in the menu, was constructed from stones removed to carve Route 66 through nearby Kellyville laid upon a concrete foundation which was mixed and poured by hand.

The cafe is a living history of Route 66, Stroud and the Rock Cafe itself. When you enter your eyes are immediately drawn to the various Route 66 paraphernalia on the walls. You will also notice references to the animated Disney/ Pixar movie “Cars”. Dawn Welch, the owner of the Rock Cafe, was the inspiration for the character of “Sally” in the movie. When you arrive at your booth (or you can sit at one of the two counters) you receive a copy of the “Rock Reader” which serves as menu and official history of the Rock Cafe.

Be aware, though, the Rock is a small cafe. The five booths will seat five to six very friendly folks each (and they have enlarged them since the last time I was there). In addition there are a number of seats at the counter and a table which looks as if it was constructed from a previous counter, complete with bar stools. Like every good cafe the Rock has an “employees table” and the counter / table seems to be that table at the Rock.

The same personal craftsmanship is evident in the offerings of the Rock Cafe. From hearty breakfasts, incredible burgers (of all strips) for lunch and a diverse dinner menu the Rock Cafe offers an astonishing assortment for a cafe of its size, particularly when you see the size of the kitchen.

Personal favs for me...

Breakfast: The plain ol’ one or two egg breakfast and any of the omelets. The sausage or bacon is spicy and cooked right. Most importantly, at least for me, any breakfast comes with a choice of biscuits and gravy, toast or silver dollar pancakes. For this brunchero there is only one choice ... biscuits and gravy. The Rock Cafe passes the Norman’s Own gravy test, nice and thick with a hint, and sometimes actual pieces, of sausage. I also have it on good authority, in fact the authority I trust the most, my wife Sheryl, that the silver dollar pancakes are great too. Plus, you get Hash Browns or, for the most Southern among us, grits. I can testify the hash browns are done right, crispy on the outside, steaming soft on the inside. I don't do grits.

The coffee is good standard cafe coffee, not to strong, not to weak. And, they give you a big Rock Cafe mug of it.

Breakfast prices are very reasonable, ranging from a $2.35 one egg (no meat) to $5.99 for the steak, two egg. Omelets range from $3.99 to $5.99.

Other breakfast offerings include Crepes (yes, crepes), breakfast burritos,pancakes/waffles and beignets. $1.99 to $5.50.

Lunch: Any of the burgers are great. Personal favorites for me are the Small & Big Burger, the Bacon Cheeseburger and, a real Oklahoman indigenous special, the Buffalo Burger. All are well grilled, the buns toasted on the grill and presented piping hot and steaming. The Buffalo Burger is particularly well prepared, not overcooking a lean meat such as Buffalo is an art form in and of itself.

Two other lunch offerings I have never tried, but which intrigue are the Alligator Burger and the Shrimp or Crawfish Po-Boy. The Alligator Burger is prepared much like the salmon patty many of us ate as kids. The po-boys sound interesting just because of their ingredients. The menu also includes Oklahoma standards such as BBQ sandwiches (pork & brisket), Patty Melts, Guac Burgers, Grilled Cheese and a few northern influences such as Philly Swiss and Ruben.

Sandwich and burger prices range from $1 (for the Small Burger) to $4.50 for some of the sandwiches. The Big Burger is $2.80 and the Buffalo and Alligator Burgers are $4.15.

We’ve never come through Stroud at dinner time but the menu sounds great, ranging from good ol’ chicken fried steak to stir fry(chicken or shrimp) to a shrimp and crawfish entree and finally to our ol’ friend Jagersnitzal & Spaeztle (which, by the way, is nothing more than a fried pork cutlet with a bacon, onion and mushroom sauce over handmade (hand cut) noodles. (Yum!)

Another nice touch at dinner is the fact the Rock Cafe offers Oklahoma wines and an Oklahoma beer. The beer is good old Choc Beer, from down Krebs way. Anyone who ever ate at Isle of Capri or Eddy’s in Krebs may have been treated to a pitcher of Choc with their meals. Today, you can buy it by the bottle (is this a great country of what!). The wine is very local, from Stapleridge Vinyard and Winery right there in Stroud. I’ve had the pleasure of stopping off at Stapleridge for a tasting on several occasions and would whole heartedly recommend this local vintner, especially their Pinot Grigio.

After a lunch or breakfast at The Rock Cafe I would suggest a walk through downtown Stroud. There are a number of good antiques shops and a tasting room for Stapleridge, if you did not get enough with you meal.

The Rock Cafe gets a thumbs up from this brunchero. It is one of the most down home but diverse diner I have every visited. Well worth the drive from where ever. For more information on the Rock Cafe go to rockcaferoute66.com/.

Enjoy!

Labels: Breakfast, Burgers, cafes, Choc Beer, Oklahoma landmarks, Route 66, Stapleridge Vineyard, Stroud