Poblano Grill
2701 S. Interstate 35 Service Road, Moore 759-7371
Management said this location of Poblano Grill has great food and great service in a family atmosphere. There’s even a hamburger on the menu just for kids. New items include a tilapia Mexicana with a dusting of Southwest seasoning with sautéed spinach and its pollo fundido, a chicken dish presented with jalapeño cream cheese. This is one of the many successful ventures of Emerging Brands.
$$ Mexican
Picasso Café
3009 Paseo 602-2002
First off, just looking at the sign outside the place is a hoot, a takeoff on the artist Pablo Picasso himself. Inside, Picasso probably would have loved the appetizer trio, its popular homemade pretzel and would have flipped over its prosciutto and fig pizza. The crust is just right — not too thick and not too thin — plus, it is hand-tossed.
$$$ Contemporary American
Republic Gastropub
5830 N. Classen Blvd. 286-4577
This is under the umbrella of the highly successful Good Egg Dining Group. Not only can you order beer from a huge selection of both tap and bottles, its menu features some interesting pub food such as the traditional Scotch egg with linguica sausage from Portugal, bratwurst, bangers and mash and homemade sauerkraut. And hang on; they’ve got burgers and nachos, too.
$$ Gastropub
Underground Bistro
2915 N. Classen, Suite B-10 778-8469
Jill Lawson and Cory Lawson are the only full-time employees at Underground Bistro (they have part-timers, too), and they are brother and sister-in-law. Big deals here are the grilled chicken club served on white or wheat roll with avocado and bacon, the Mediterranean chicken wrap or its BLT done with — get this — strawberry jam and avocado. There are varying daily specials every day, and it could be tomato basil soup or peach cobbler.
$$ Bistro
Mama E’s Wings and Waffles
900 W. Reno 424-0800
The original Mama E’s was at 3838 Springlake Drive (which is re-opening on Jan. 15, 2011). The phone number now answers at its second location on Reno and Classen. The story goes that people didn’t know if they wanted breakfast or dinner, so they combined it. Now customers eat wings and waffles all day. The soul food selections include neck bones, crisp fried chicken, catfish, meat loaf and juicy pork chops.
$$ Soul food
Banana Island
1500 N.W. 23rd 601-1888
Best bets here are the stir-fried flat noodles (chow kueh teow) and the homemade Indian pancake (roti canai), with a nice listing of desserts such as red bean pancakes or the mango sticky rice. Appetizers include the unique baby oyster omelet and coconut calamari. Also on the menu is barbecue fish, curry red snapper with okra and steamed fish in Thai sauce.
$$ Chinese, Malaysian and Indian
Cha Cha’s
3720 W. Robinson, Norman 928-5250
Cha Cha’s, in west Norman, is finding fame as part of the Hal Smith Restaurant Group. The menu is a blending of Tex- Mex and Baja flavors. You can’t miss with the street tacos, the fish tacos, fajita quesadillas and even blackened tilapia and shrimp. Try the enchiladas with chicken with a green chili sour cream sauce for a real treat.
$$ Mexican
—Carol Smaglinski, photos by Mark Hancock, Shannon Cornman and Marianne Pickens
$$: Up to $15
$$$: $15-$30
$$$$: Above $30
