Guyutes offers a wide spread of inventive fare

click to enlarge Guyutes offers a wide spread of inventive fare
Garett Fisbeck
Tequila Sunfryz at Guyutes, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.

The following are some facts about Phish:

Phish is a jam band.

They’re kind of like the Grateful Dead.

Abbi on Broad City loves Phish.

Ben & Jerry’s made an ice cream called Phish Food inspired by the music act.

Guyutes, 730 NW 23rd St., got its name from a Phish song.

Congratulations, readers. You all have now achieved the kind of base-level Phish knowledge necessary to enjoy Guyutes. That is to say there is no prior jam band education needed to hit up this unique Oklahoma City dining experience.

Guyutes’ menu is chock-a-block full of other delightful dishes. There’s no better place to start than a wrap that will steal your heart: The Poutine ($9).

click to enlarge Guyutes offers a wide spread of inventive fare
Garett Fisbeck
The Poutine at Guyutes, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.

A bar food staple in Canada, poutine is a dish of french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds, sometimes with other toppings.

Guyutes’ version marries beef gravy and pulled pork — an odd combo that works incredibly well — in a wrap with waffle fries, cheddar and green onion for texture. It’s like eating a nap.

The pork and gravy lend a savory weight to this handheld marvel. The fries give it crunch, and the tangy taste and melting texture of the cheese make each bite a mystery. It’s a race against the clock to solve it fast because it’ll take a miracle to stay awake after eating The Poutine.

The Good-Good ($8) is much lighter because it’s a salad.

click to enlarge Guyutes offers a wide spread of inventive fare
Garett Fisbeck
The Good-Good at Guyutes, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.

With a base of spinach and arugula, The Good-Good is, like most salads, about the toppings. Pickled cranberries and cherry tomatoes bring a welcome zip to the earthiness of the spinach and arugula. The feta cheese has plenty of tang and gives the dish a creaminess to balance the crunch of fried garbanzo beans.

This is a filling salad, but it could use a bit more flavor. “23rd” St. dressing comes with it, but it might be nice to ask for something sharper, like a vinaigrette, or add some pepper to the mix. The spinach and arugula, while good, almost overwhelmed the salad.

The same is not true for Wide Spread Panic ($12), which is kind of an anti-salad. Instead of lettuce, it’s served on a bed of dough. The dressing is a marinara sauce, and the toppings are sliced meatloaf, salami and house-cured bacon under a layer of melted mozzarella and Gruyere cheeses.

click to enlarge Guyutes offers a wide spread of inventive fare
Garett Fisbeck
Wide Spread Panic at Guyutes, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.

Okay, it’s a pizza, but if anyone expected a salad and this showed up, they’d be pretty stoked.

Wide Spread Panic is a very meaty, kind of greasy, super-filling little pizza. Do not plan to share this with the table unless it’s literally just a table, because it’s not that big. It makes up for what it lacks in size with the flavor of 10 pizzas.

If there’s a crowd at the table, a good option to try is a plate of Tequila Sunfryz ($10). The spelling shouldn’t distract anyone from ordering this must-have appetizer. The waffle fries are cooked perfectly and come topped with a murderer’s row of delicious toppings. Spicy pico de gallo adds a nice heat and pulled pork has heft, and the tequila queso ties it all together. On top is a perfect over-easy egg and avocado crema for a taste that is decadent and irresistible.

Or go a little lighter with Gimme the Beat ($7), which pairs freshly fried sweet potato chips with a creamy roasted beet hummus. Catch Guyutes on the right day and the chips will be light, crisp and hard to put down. Occasionally, the chips have been a tad on the greasy side, but they’re still delicious paired with the slightly sweet hummus.

click to enlarge Guyutes offers a wide spread of inventive fare
Garett Fisbeck
Gunne the beat at Guyutes, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.

It’s a challenge to improve upon a simple hamburger, but The Return of the Mac ($11) makes a good case for itself. This burger includes chopped tomatoes, green chili macaroni and cheese and two big beef patties. It’s a glorious mess and one every hamburger aficionado ought to try.

But the restaurant saved the best for its eponymous dish, The Guyute ($13).

click to enlarge Guyutes offers a wide spread of inventive fare
Garett Fisbeck
The Guyute at Guyutes, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.

Three delicious towers of food await those who order this masterpiece. At the bottom of each is a pile of mashed potatoes stacked with collard greens. On top of that is a sumptuous hunk of spicy honey-braised pork belly so tender it can be eaten with a spoon. A sweet crisp holds a mound of garlic basil whipped cream to finish it off. This is a treat for the senses. The presentation is gorgeous, and the flavors are spot-on.

Now, the bad news. During the writing of this review, word came down from restaurant owners that they will temporarily remove Ramen Rap ($9) from the upcoming menu. A mix of braised pork belly, noodles, red cabbage and hoisin sauce in a tomato-basil tortilla, Ramen Rap was what I recommended whenever anyone asked about Guyutes.

Please join me in a moment of silence to commemorate its passing. Thank you.

I still don’t know anything about Phish, but if the music is half as good as the food at Guyutes, it might just be my new favorite band. 

Print headline: Prize pig; Far from an ugly pig, Guyutes serves gourmet twists on late-night comfort food.

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