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The largest city in Oklahoma State, Oklahoma City, or OKC as it is affectionately known, has a lively dining scene, which offers anything from new American food to German delicacies. With some of the city’s best restaurants located in the thriving Paseo Arts District, eating out here is a truly cultural experience. Here are nine of our favourite restaurants in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Skyline

Vast

Restaurant, American

Buratta Buttered Cheese and Heirloom Tomato Salad
Image courtesy of Picasso on Paseo
Serving fine American cuisine at 726.2 feet, Vast certainly offers fantastic views to go alongside the great food. This elegant restaurant is housed within the Devon Tower and gives diners a birds eye view of the city from the 49th and 50th floors. Alongside their standard lunchtime menu, diners can enjoy a Daily Table buffet selection. Executive Chef Patrick Williams and his team strive to deliver world class American cuisine in stunning surroundings, using the finest ingredients to serve tantalising dishes and modern cocktails. Seafood lovers can try the succulent seared Scottish salmon, vegetarians can gouge on a rainbow of vegetables in the Vegetarian Menagerie and meat lovers can sink their teeth into the succulent Ancho chilli and coffee rubbed strip steak.

Picasso on Paseo (The Picasso Cafe)

Cafe, Restaurant, American

Fish & Chips
Image courtesy of Picasso on Paseo
A hive of culture, Picasso on Paseo believes ‘great food is an art’ and the restaurant specialises in casual cuisine with a unique twist, sold at reasonable prices. Nestled within the Paseo Arts District, Oklahoma’s melting pot of culture since the 1920s, the restaurant epitomises the county’s cultural scene. The menu uses locally sourced ingredients to handcraft a delicious selection of pizzas, seafood, vegetarian, vegan and meat dishes, along with enticing brunch suggestions. The chef unveils unique specials on a daily basis, following the seasonal availability of ingredients. The Picasso Cafe doubles up as an arts venue, hosting local art exhibitions, food and musical event, making the restaurant an exciting place to be.

The Cellar at Castle Falls

Diner, Restaurant, European, German

Castle Falls, Oklahoma City
Image courtesy of Red PrimeSteak
Established in 1945, Castle Falls has repeatedly won awards for being one of the most romantic spots in both Oklahoma, and the United States as a whole. The venue is an authentic castle situated in the centre of Oklahoma City and is adorned with somewhat old-fashioned, charming elements. The food at Castle Falls has been recognised as some of the finest in the state, winning the Diner’s Choice Award; the restaurant serves European and German-inspired cuisine in a historical environment. Some of the favourites include delicious treats such as beer cheese soup, spätzlenoodles and pretzels with tongue-tingling dipping sauces, but there are also fresh salads available. A vast selection of meat dishes completes the menu with sauce-infused stroganoff, tender jaeger pork and chicken, and mustard-spiced Bratwurst waiting to be consumed.

Red PrimeSteak

Restaurant, Steakhouse

Red PrimeSteak, Oklahoma
Image courtesy of Red PrimeSteak
This red-hot restaurant specialises in beef steaks. With dry-aged beef, prime Midwestern beef, Kobe beef and even buffalo, there is plenty here to tempt meat lovers. Each of these succulent cuts have their flavours enhanced by fragrant rubs and spices, making these steaks some of the tastiest in the city. Red PrimeSteak also offers a selection of mouthwatering alternatives to beef steaks, with the juicy Southern-style fried chicken, the flavoursome chop salad, and the delicious Warm Fudge Spoon cake as some of the taste bud tingling highlights on the menu. The building that houses the restaurant was designed by award winning architect Rand Elliott and is known as the Buick Building, a former automobile showroom built in 1911.

Paseo Grill

Restaurant, Spanish

For a sophisticated dining experience, visitors should take a stroll through the Paseo Arts District to enjoy the contemporary American cuisine on offer at Paseo Grill. The menu features international takes on American favorites including juicy meats, fish and crisp salads. The award winning restaurant also has a vast wine list that complements the numerous dishes on offer. On warmer days, visitors can take advantage of the fine weather and sit outside on Paseo Grill’s relaxing patio, which offers city views. Blended drinks and other alcoholic beverages can complete an evening spent admiring the picturesque Spanish villa-esque art galleries on the ground below.

The Coach House

Restaurant

Generally regarded as one of the finest restaurants in Oklahoma, this is a restaurant that acted as a culinary saviour during the economic downturn in 1985. After purchasing the small building, The Coach House was opened by Chris Lower, against the advice of others. Determined to develop the restaurant into an international fine dining venue, chef Kurt Fleischfresser successfully created the high-quality dining experience that customers today have come to know and love. The Coach House has used a Guest Chef programme that mutually benefits the chefs, who can exchange skills and techniques, and the guests, who get to try exciting new meals on a regular basis. The current winter menu includes a selection of modern American-style dishes including the exciting pecan cornbread crusted salmon with tomato butter and the mouth-watering seared duck breast and confit with sauce rouennaise.

Annie Okies Runway Cafe

Cafe, Restaurant, American

Baked Salmo
©Alpha
For those travellers seeking something a little different for their dining experience, this gem gives a peak into the lives of Oklahomans and fellow visitors alike. Annie Okies Runway Cafe is located in the terminal building, beneath the control tower of Wiley Post Airport, on the west side of the Oklahoma City metro. This makes it a popular destination for locals and aviation enthusiasts, who can sit and watch small aircraft take off and land. A family friendly restaurant with children’s toys, this restaurant serves delicious breakfasts with aviation-related names such as The B-2 Bomber. The menu includes large, tasty omelettes and breakfast favourites, a selection of fresh sandwiches, moist burgers and thirst quenching drinks.

Cheever’s Cafe

Restaurant, Cafe, American, North American, Soul Food, Fast Food, Vegetarian

This modern restaurant offers diners ‘contemporary comfort food,’ or American cuisine with an original twist. Cheever’s Cafe has gained a reputation as one of the city’s favourite restaurants since its opening in 2000. It’s housed in a historical building that was used as a family owned flower shop for generations. The menu includes succulent steaks, fine seafood and fresh salads, all prepared in a contemporary American style, with a Southwestern twist. The crisp avocado quinoa salad and the sumptuous Cheever’s chicken fried steak are highly recommended. The restaurant has a reputation for delivering fresh, tasty food, with attentive and polite service staff catering to the needs of small intimate dining sessions, or large party groups. Diners can also enjoy a selection of sweet desserts and refreshing coffees to complement their comforting dining experience.

Museum Cafe

Cafe, Restaurant, American

This contemporary full service restaurant is housed within the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and offers diners international cuisine in a unique, artsy ambience. Museum Cafe uses fresh, seasonal and local ingredients to craft its dishes, and boasts a well stocked wine list. As well as a revitalising brunch menu on Sundays, diners can also experience the delights of metropolitan cuisine based on Chicago, San Francisco, and London nuances. In warmer months, patio dining ensures that visitors can enjoy the finer weather while they eat, and make the most of refreshing teas, coffees and alcoholic beverages. The cafe is well situated in downtown Oklahoma City, with the Civic Center Music Hall, and local churches within a hand’s grasp.

About the author

A Cardiff-born writer, James Norman is a professional wordsmith, creating content across several different sectors. A BA English (Hons) graduate, James has interviewed key figures in Welsh communities relating to the environment, health and tourism. His passion for writing began at an early age, contributing to collections of poetry published throughout his childhood. A keen traveller and photographer, James is equally happy trekking through historical ruins, or dining inside neon-dipped skyscrapers. His travel highlights include journeying through the People’s Republic of China and working in Edinburgh and Brussels. James’ cultural highlights include walking the Great Wall of China, and standing face-to-face with Munch’s masterpiece, The Scream, in Oslo. Follow James on Twitter @jamesnorman7_ for more of the above.

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