Longevity is a good sign in a restaurant. You dont want some fly-by-night operation making you a sandwich. A solid restaurant will stick around for years, sometimes changing hands, but always remaining focused on what made it so successful in the first place. Here are just a few of Oklahoma Citys longest-lived eateries.
By Greg Elwell
Photos by Garett Fisbeck
Browns Bakery
1100 N. Walker Ave.
405-232-0363
Its hard to say who exactly invented doughnuts, but it probably wasnt the good folks at Browns Bakery. But while it wasnt the originator of one of our top three circular foods (pizza, doughnuts, cheese wheels), the crew there has just about perfected the art. Browns doughnuts are classics and youll need more than a dozen to try each variety. And if your morning calls for something more savory, the sausage rolls are unbeatable.
Castle Falls
820 N. MacArthur Blvd.
405-942-6133
Once known as Keller in the Kastle, elegant Castle Falls is the setting for a staggering number of engagements. Romance-minded Oklahomans who dont want to travel all the way to Europe have found the local castle a perfect place to pop the question for years. Even if youre not ready to put a ring on it, Castle Falls is still a pretty classy joint in which to enjoy steaks, seafood and a few German classics.
Jamils Steakhouse
4910 N. Lincoln Blvd.
405-525-8352
In an old house at the corner of NW 50th Street and Lincoln Avenue is Jamils Steakhouse, where you can find lawmaker types and other food lovers eating broiler steaks and fried bologna sandwiches. You wont need a lobbyist to buy you dinner either. This family-owned Lebanese steakhouse opened in 1964 and turns out food that is both delicious and affordable. If you havent tried them yet, Jamils cabbage rolls are a treat that will bring you back time and again.
Juniors
2601 Northwest Expressway
405-848-5597
Theres nothing bad on the menu at Juniors, a restaurant that has food, drinks and decor straight out of Mad Men, minus the casual sexism. But the main event has always been the Caesar salad prepared tableside by your server with a showmanship that only builds anticipation. Egg, lemon juice, olive oil and anchovy are whipped into a frenzy and stuffed with romaine leaves and Parmesan cheese for one of OKCs best salads.
Jims Diner
7950 NW 39th St., Bethany
405-495-5105
Step into yesteryear at Jims Diner and have a seat in those storied booths for classic diner fare from 1978. Theres nothing frou-frou or fancy about Jims its all right there in front of you. Big breakfasts of eggs, bacon and pancakes are served up fast, and the chicken-fried steaks and open-faced roast beef sandwiches are hard to beat. Best of all, theres always a slice of homemade pie waiting at the end.
Cocina De Mino
6022 S. Western Ave.
405-632-0600
Dont try to pretend youre not into fajitas because no ones buying it. Strips of beef and chicken, seasoned and seared, served on a scalding-hot cast-iron skillet with slowly melting peppers and onions its a nigh irresistible combo. Tex-Mex might not be cool, but when its done well (as it has been for many a year at Cocina De Mino), it can pierce any hipster foodie facade and reveal the sour cream enchilada lover inside all of us.
Dons Alley Restaurant
4601 SE 29th St.
405-677-9049
The Mafia would like to extend a formal apology to Dons Alley for any confusion caused by trial of head gangster Don Sally. While Don Sally Salvatore was a vicious killer bent on ruling the five families by any means necessary, Dons Alley has remained a respected and well-loved restaurant in Del City. While both Don Sally and Dons Alley are known for pork cutlet sandwiches, only one of them is spending life in prison for racketeering.