I’m taking a couple days off, so let’s do some coffee talk, shall we? My question today is, if you could bring back one favorite restaurant from the past that no longer exists and reopen it downtown, what would it be? And what existing available space or location would you seek for it to get a new start on life?
I’ll start first: I’d seek a Molly Murphy’s (no surprise here) to be opened by the Hal Smith Group, and I would try to either build a new place from scratch in either MidTown or the Arts District, or I would try to find the funkiest building imaginable.
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Glen’s Hickory Inn
One of the old greats!
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Ok, where do we open it? I’m thinking MidTown for sure - maybe in the empty Able Rents building at NW 8 and Walker?
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:55 am
Glen’s was the 1st that came to my mind, too.
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Didn’t OKC used to have a Casa Bonita? I know they still have one out in Denver. I just vaguely remember a waterfall being inside and as a child being completely fascinated.
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
They did: on 39th (aka Route 66) east of Portland. The one in Tulsa closed in 2005, though supposedly it’s going to be reopened this summer.
August 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am
I have to agree with Molly Murpheys.
August 4th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Yummmm Casa Bonita. I sure do miss that even though we have a TON of Tex-Mex already. I think Molly Murphy’s would do tons of business downtown.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:57 am
ForgOt to answer the 2nd part of the question:
It should be in Bricktown. A touristy restaurant would be a perfect fit for a toursit destination. Let’s keep Midtown vibrant but local and low-key. No gimmicks.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Vintage eats
The Oklahoman’s Steve Lackmeyer is looking for ideas for restaurant revivals: places that are gone and that you’d like to see brought back to life. He’s already tossed out one suggestion: Molly Murphy’s, with Hal Smith running the show in…
August 4th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I remember as a kid we would go to the Anna Maude cafeteria that used to have a location at Penn Square Mall. I still have a fondness for cafeterias, even if they’re going by the wayside. I think with Queen Anne’s closing, the Boulevard is the only game left in town…
August 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Good call on Casa Bonita!
I miss Full Moon Cafe on Western, pre-dating Iguana Lounge. I’d re-open it further south on Western or elsewhere in midtown.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I’m dating myself, but I still think about Ned’s Pizza. That was the best pizza I ever had. Since I rarely go downtown or to Bricktown, I haven’t a clue as to a suggested location, but I bet it would be a hit!.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Shakey’s Pizza from the 70’s. Best pizza around and great fun.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Although I have only lived in OKC for 3 years and didn’t know there was one here. I have eaten at the Casa Bonita’s in Denver and that would get my vote!
August 6th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
How bout just bringing back Windy City. Same location.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I would bring back Underwoods BBQ, like the one that was on SW 59th street years ago, I can still taste it ,nothing compares with it today. I would not put it in Bricktown, no parking. I would put it in fast growing Moore on I 35 and 19th street. My second choice would be Casa Bonitas.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I’m sure many of you remember “My Pie” pizza on 63rd & NW Expressway. I think they would be a huge hit in Bricktown. To me,that was the best deep-dish pizza around & I sure have missed it since they closed. They still have them in Chicago.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:17 am
My first thoughts were Glen’s Hick’ry Inn and Ned’s Pizza. I still think of them fondly and often pine away for a great pizza from Ned’s. They were the best and most authentic in Oklahoma City back in the late 50s, and on until they closed sometime in the 80s. We loved it so much we would drive from Tuttle round trip to get one. Ned’s was located on May across from NW Classen High School, so it was a fur piece to drive! Oh, and the salad bar and steak at Glen’s were to die for. I believe Glen’s had the first salad bar here. It was wonderful. I would put both restaurants somewhere on Broadway, around the NW 5th to 10th area. That way they wouldn’t be right in Bricktown, but would be accessible to everyone in the city and close to hotels and Bricktown and Midtown. Hopefully there would be free parking.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:08 am
How about Cornucopia. It use to be round 10th and Walker It had great subs and curly fries. Also I don’t know if anyone will remember Nicks Imports on Western and 23rd. The had great Muffalletta Sandwiches and Italian Sausage Sandwiches.