Mod’s Coffee & Crepes - Downtown

Hugh and I ventured downtown one evening to sample the fares from one of Tulsa’s newest cafes, Mod’s Coffee & Crepes. Finding a parking place not too far away around a corner, we made our way to the café, which is very casual with a contemporary feel. Table space was available not only in the restaurant, but also on the sidewalk in front of Mod’s and in the hallway of the Building where the café is located (very handy for folks who work downtown).

We then looked over the selections on the board behind the counter and ordered our food. Hugh ordered the Baked Apple and Ham crepes and I ordered the Sesame Salmon with dill sauce. The crepes were prepared quickly and brought to our table. Hugh’s crepes were filled with plenty of ham and a slightly sweet concoction of apples (which were not quite as baked as promised, nor was the ham hot in the middle), but he enjoyed the dish. I tried my salmon crepes and found that the salmon would have been more agreeable to someone who enjoys sushi (not me), since the salmon was just barely done. The dill sauce turned out to be more of a cream cheese filling, which seemed a bit heavy. The crepes were of a generous proportion, but no sides were served with the crepes, which would have been nice. (Personally, I would have preferred a small portion of flaky – well done – salmon with a true dill sauce that squished around in the crepe. Ooh! And, a small green salad, or asparagus, or green beans, would have been pleasant, too.)

So, even though a bit disappointed in the entrée, we decided it was only right to try a dessert crepe. We split a chocolate covered strawberry, whipped cream crepe. Ummm! Good. No fancy presentation, but the chocolate was very tasty, with plenty of strawberries and cream.

They offered only a small selection of entrees, including spinach and artichoke, which I will try next time we visit Mod’s. They did several salads as entrees, too. We didn’t try the gelato or coffee, so we’ll have to offer our opinion of those some other time. Mod’s is across the street from Elote’s and is open many evenings. Going downtown to dine (or watch baseball) is always fun and Hugh and I truly hope that the restaurants continue to have enough patronage from Tulsa residents and visitors to be successful.

Junkyard Dawg - 51st & Mingo

A cut above your average hotdog place, Junkyard makes a terrific chili cheese dog (which they call the 'TulsaPup') and offers an amazing variety of choices beyond that including Brats, Hot Links, Italian Sausage, Chicken Sausage and more.

Phoebe and I got Tulsa Pups, plus Phoebe got a Brat dog. We were accompanied on this trip by our dear friends, Harald and Hortense. Harald ordered the "Spitfire" which is a hot links dog with hickory sauce and jalapenos. A few moments later, he turned red in the face and began perspiring. We inquired if the dog was hot (we are highly prescient, after all) and he replied, "No. Well. . . maybe a little." Yes indeed. A little.

The walls are painted black with chain link fencing in front, barbed wire above and auto parts attached to it for an authentic "junkyard" ambience lacking only the smells and the dirt. The Tulsa Pups were $1.47 and some of the "fancier" fare ran all the way up to $4.77. Open 10 am to 8 pm Monday-Saturday.

Good food and great conversation with friends. It was a delightful evening.

Magic Acres Steak House - Beggs

You won't accidentally come across this place, and if you did, you might not want to go in. But then you'd miss a fine eating experience. It's a relatively small, windowless room at the back of a biker bar in Beggs. Actually a mile north of Beggs on Alt. 75. And it's really not as attractive as this photo makes it look, but the food is top-notch.

Phoebe and I went there with a large group of friends and it was universally praised by the group. We both got the Salmon and it was perfect, with a delightful herbed butter sauce. Others around the table got an 8 ounce filet, a chicken fried steak, top sirloin, prime rib (a huge slice) and grilled chicken breast. Not a single complaint or disappointment was to be heard. Our compliments to the chef!

A few opted for the bread pudding and left with smiles on their faces.

The restaurant is operated by Marie and Ron L'Heureux. Ron has taught culinary classes for 15 years at OSU in Okmulgee. Beggs is about 15 miles south of Glenpool and this food is worth the drive. Prices range from about $15.00 to $24.00 for the steaks (with your choice of two sides) and they also have burgers.

Elote - 514 S. Boston

Elote is located in the spot where Nelson's Buffeteria operated for many years and I predict that Elote will be there for quite a while, too. While it is a "Mexican" restaurant, Elote is definitely different from most in this category. In fact, they do not offer items regularly seen on other Mexican menus. They feature a lot of local, organically grown produce and meat, they compost their waste and use biodegradable containers on to-go orders. These people are really green, and they really care about the food they're serving. You have to admire that.

I had one of their specialties, called "Puff Tacos." These are basically tacos wrapped in something that looks a lot like pita bread. Maybe it's a fat tortilla, I don't know. But they are tasty. The beef is like pulled roast beef and has a nice texture as well as flavor. The tacos were accompanied by a mild rice which was nice. Not as good as Andales, but good. For my other side I chose sweet potatoes. They are cut into cubes, then fried, sort of like "cottage fries" in some restaurants. Not typical mexican fare, but a nice side.

Phoebe had a salmon taco and rated it very good. The peach daiquiris were refreshing and welcomed on this hot, muggy night. Our dear friend, Hyacinth, had a burrito and pronounced it "excellent!"

On a Thursday evening, I was surprised to find the restaurant rather full. Our waitress inquired if we were going to stick around for the wrestling. Hmmmmmm. We declined this opportunity. When I told my son, Carlyle, about the crowd, he said, "Well sure. It's Mexi-fight-night." Ah, now I get it: a cultural attraction to pull in the diners.

Elote is brightly decorated, with warm and friendly people, terrific food and it even offers an opportunity to expand your cultural horizons. Go for it.

Joyner's - 8151 East 21st Street

Down home comfort food and plenty of it! Fried chicken, pork chops, fried catfish and lots more. The evening we went to Joyner's with a group of 12, we all went through the buffet line although I believe they do have a menu as well.

On the buffet, you get two meat items and 3 sides with endless refills. I got a smothered porkchop that just about covered my plate and then, on top of that, I got a quarter rotisserie chicken that nearly covered the pork chop!! For sides I had sweet potatoes, corn and spinach. I can't believe I ate the whole thing.

All twelve of us had two, yes two, desserts to celebrate a birthday and an anniversary: chocolate cake and lemon cake. Both of them delicious. If you're really, really, really hungry and just don't give a damn about your health, this place is heavenly.

The White Lion - 6927 S Canton Ave

The White Lion is a hidden jewel. Tucked away in a row of office buildings off of 71st street, it's easy to miss. Inside the "office building" exterior you'll find the closest thing in Tulsa to a real English pub. Small, crowded, dark, broken up into several small rooms with mismatched antique tables and chairs and an ambiance that is authentically European. I love this place which is surprising since the food is authentic English food.

Which is to say, pretty bland, unexciting, English. But not bad. Their beer selection, on the other hand, is outstanding. They have Shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, fish and chips and some items they will have to explain to you. The cheese board is a great appetizer and SO European.

We highly recommend this very surprising bit of Europe in Tulsa, but remember: it IS English food.

Chimi's - 5320 South Harvard

I mentioned in a previous blog how the process of food blogging interferes with appreciation of the food because Phoebe and I have become more analytical about the food we're eating. It seems to happen more frequently with Mexican food than with others. Our most recent victim was Chimis.

We went there for a working lunch with a small church group. Phoebe got the Southwest Salad which she has liked for years and still does. I got the chicken chimichanga which I order infrequently, but I had enjoyed it so much at Andales, that I couldn't resist revisiting it. Oh my, what a disappointment. The chicken didn't have much flavor and there was almost no cheese on it. I didn't finish eating it because I simply didn't care for it.

I have eaten at Chimi's for years and always enjoyed it but even the rice was disappointing. I wonder if it would have been OK if I weren't comparing it with Andales. I'm not giving up on Chimi's, but I won't order the chimichanga again.

Baker Street Pub & Grill - 66th & Memorial

Located across the street from Woodland Hills Mall in what used to be a Mervyn's, Baker Street is a real surprise. Decorated in English Pub style, of course, the restaurant has a nice comfortable feel with a hint of "Sports Bar." The menu is surprisingly diverse. While they do have Bangers and Mash, they also have tacos, burgers, shrimp, steak and much more. . .at surprisingly low prices.

At lunchtime, they have 13 items under $7.00. Evening entrees range from $7.99 to $16.99 with most under $9.99. Despite the low prices, the food is quite good. On our first visit, I and our oldest son, Clapton, home for a while from the Middle East, ordered the Chicken Alfredo Pasta, with blackened chicken. NOT your average pub fare. It was terriffic and only $6.99! Phoebe got the grilled salmon with potatoes and green beans for $7.99 and it, too, was excellent.

On our first return trip I got a half club sandwich (large and tasty) with a cup of tortilla soup which was excellent for only $5.99! While this is a chain restaurant (out of Texas) they seem to be doing things right. Two thumbs up!