Repeats with a Twist - The Garage, Stillwater OK

One of my favorite new restaurant finds in Stillwater is The Garage. It's located across the street from campus. When I moved here it was store that sold OSU memorabilia, but years and years ago it was a bar. Stillwater has a rule that establishments closer than 100 yards from campus cannot sell alcohol, but this place got a waiver because they have a full bar. My conspiracy theory is that it's silently owned by Eskimo Joe's, right down the street and one of the most popular restaurants in all of Stillwater. It makes sense, because The Garage is basically direct competition with a similar menu and even closer to campus. Or, the physical building was grandfathered in since it was originally a bar. Either way, I'm very happy it's here.

At The Garage, you order at the counter and they bring your food to you. Joni isn't a fan of this type of fast-casual restaurant. So when we found out that Joni and Tony wouldn't be coming to the TCU football game last week, my first thought was "perfect opportunity to eat there". We had eaten here once before. 

The restaurant is pretty big, with a snake line as you enter. You order at the counter, find a table, and then they bring your food to you. From what I've seen people do follow that rule. It's just the right thing to do. After we were seated they were out of available tables so they held up the order line until tables opened. I like that too, so that you don't run the risk of getting your food without a place to sit. The wait wasn't long, as tables were opening up about 5 minutes later. The dining room is a combination of 4-top tables, bar-height tables, and booths in the way back. There's a large bar in the center of the building. 

Water and soft drinks are self-serve at the end of the cashier, as are cutlery and napkins. If you want something from the bar, your server can get that for you. The only down side to that is you have to start a new tab to order drinks. But it's really not a huge deal.

A couple games ago, Keith turned me on to a drink called Not Your Father's Root Beer, made in Wisconsin. I was super excited to see it as a featured fall beer, so of course I had to get one

If you like root beer, you'll love this one. I've never been much of a root beer fan, but I do like this one. It is pretty sweet though. It's also got a kick, one that sneaks up on you.

Last time we had the sriracha slaw. It was delicious, but crazy spicy. Our server mentioned that the original was her favorite, so we went with that one this time

Still amazing, but this time with no spice. Really, really delicious. 

We had the garlic parmesan fries and Tijuana fries (with grilled jalapenos & onions) on our last visit, so this time we went with the regular fries and the sweet potato fries. 

The regular fries are really good. It's a generous serving, and they came to the table super hot. They weren't as crispy on the outside as I like them, but that's okay.

The sweet potato fries came out cold. I mean, it tasted like they had been in the fridge. I've never had anything like it. I'll push through with fries that aren't really hot, but no way we were eating those. We tracked down the server, who got the manager. She brought out another batch, Bob tried one, and said they still weren't up to par. About 5 minutes later we got a 3rd serving, this time straight out of the oil. Now that's the way the fries should be. In hindsight, I should have had the manager taste one of the original serving. Because when I said it was cold, she probably assumed we meant they just weren't hot. Oh well, too late now...and she fixed the problem so we were happy.

I really like that with any burger you can choose your protein. They've got Angus beef, turkey, smoked turkey, garden burger, and bison. I tasted a bite of Bob's bison burger last time and it was delicious, so I went with it this time. 

Bob got the bacon avocado ranch

Ranch, lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, Swiss, avocado, and MORE ranch

I didn't taste it, but he said it was delicious. 

I did the egg-o-nater. I didn't have breakfast, so this burger covered both meals in one bite.

Mayo, lettuce, tomato, bacon, egg, American cheese

This was fantastic. Bison meat is so much leaner than regular beef. Of course I killed that with all the toppings, but that's a whole other story. I added grilled onions, which only enhanced the flavor. I believe you could easily eliminate the mayo and cheese to save calories without sacrificing any flavor. The one down side is the bottom of the bun got really soggy as I ate. Halfway through I gave up, got some cutlery, and ate the rest without the bread.

Yes, of course I will continue to eat here. There are a lot of other things on the menu to try. We've only tipped the iceberg with burgers, and haven't even tried the sandwiches or tacos. Plus, I love the atmosphere. And I think I've even convinced Joni to give it a shot. So that we will do.

#199 - Main Street Noodle, Stillwater OK

Last week I took off work Monday & Tuesday for my birthday. I never used to do that, but you know what? Life's too short. So my feeling is, as long as I don't have a work responsibility on my birthday, I'm not coming to work. My original plan was to do a whole lot of nothing both days. But Monday I ended up meeting Shawn for lunch in Tulsa and running a bunch of errands. And then Tuesday morning I drove to Guthrie and hit several thrift/antique shops. I had thought about eating lunch in Guthrie, but honestly there aren't a whole lot of options, and nothing jumped out at me. 

When I first moved to Stillwater I think there was just one restaurant and a lot of closed down businesses in the heart of downtown. Over the years they have worked hard to revitalize the area, bringing in several restaurants, a wine bar, and several new shops. They also host monthly Fridays, Food Trucks & Tunes in the summer & fall, a Christmas parade, and a Halloween festival and parade. 

One of the more recent restaurant additions was Main Street Noodle. It has gotten great reviews online, and I've heard friends rave about it. So I decided to try it out. It's not a very large place, seating maybe a total of 50 people. There is a small patio out front; and as you walk in the door there are booths along the right wall, a few tables on the left side, the kitchen takes up over half of the left wall, and then a semi-private dining space towards the back with 3 tables. 

The menu isn't huge. They've got appetizers, Pho, ramen bowls, and noodle bowls. I've never tried Pho, which is a Vietnamese noodle soup. I also hadn't eaten ramen since I think college, so this was going to be an adventure. They also have a substantial sushi menu, but since I ate my weight in sushi the day before, I passed.

I like how they have chopsticks and spoons out on the tables, so you don't have to ask for anything.

I had absolutely no clue what to get, and when I told my server that this was both my first visit and that I'd never tried Pho, she got so excited. She sat down and went over every single item with me, with complete patience for my questions. And she really knew her stuff. I was super impressed. 

I definitely like that they have pictures of a lot of the dishes on the menu, to help you decide. That's how I selected my appetizers, and went with the croquettes and crunchy shrimp rolls. I don't usually get apps, but I was absolutely starving. And besides, the pictures drew me in

The croquette was outstanding. Freshly fried, screaming hot, super crunchy outside, creamy mashed potato inside. I like that they add corn, peas & carrots so it's like you're getting 2 food groups at the same time.

The shrimp was just okay. It wasn't bad at all, it just didn't do anything for me. The sauce, on the other hand, was delicious.

It took me a really long time to decide what to get for the entree, going back and forth between a ramen bowl or Pho. I finally decided on Pho

Also at the table was an array of sauces and spices

Hoisin, sriracha, sweet chili oil, white pepper,
Nanami Togarashi (traditional Japaense mix of spices), soy sauce

My server put a mix of everything together for me. She explained as she went along, but honestly I was kind of mesmerized so I just watched. The dish also comes with a side of bean sprouts, jalapenos, basil & lime

And finally, the pho

I got a half serving, and was stunned at the size. You would have to be absolutely starving, and not eat any apps, to even attempt the full. 

I have to say, I wasn't a huge fan of the meat. I'm such a visual person, the color of the meat was kind of unappetizing, and it just didn't have a lot of flavor. But that's because of how they cook it, by pouring the boiling broth over the meat. On the flip side, the broth and noodles were awesome. The broth had amazing flavor, and it was made even better when I poured the sauce into the bowl. I added the bean sprouts and a couple of jalapenos. I didn't even think of squeezing any lime in or adding basil until after the fact.

I tried, but I couldn't finish the bowl. The server offered me to take the rest of the broth to go, but I have no clue what I would have done with it. I'm going to have to look into that in the future, because I could have definitely eaten the rest later.

Will I go back? Most definitely. I really enjoyed the Pho, and want to try the Ramen noodle bowl as well. 

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Repeats with a Twist - Boba Fusion Cafe, Stillwater OK

When my dad was here in August, I made my first trip to Boba Fusion Cafe. It's on the east side of town in a strip mall next to the older Wal Mart. For a long time I didn't even know it existed because it's towards the back of the strip mall. And then it always looked sketchy from the outside. But then my friend Ming always raved about it, and I knew he would never steer me wrong when it comes to food. So we took a chance, and were super impressed.

Ming and I made plans to go in early September, but I should have known better than to even try to take that long for lunch right at the start of the season. Most days it was all I could do to run out and grab a quick to-go meal somewhere. Two weeks ago we finally made a date to meet for lunch.

As I said earlier, it looks pretty sketchy from the outside. For a long time I honestly thought it wasn't a space that wasn't even open. It's actually a pretty big restaurant, seating maybe 75. The owners and staff are very friendly, and last time the cashier was really accommodating, helping us decide what to order. You order at the counter, and then they bring the food to  you. They do daily specials, but when they run out, they run out. This is the first place I've been to like that, but I like it. 

They make their most of their food from scratch, including the dumplings. Last time they were already out by the time my dad and I got there, so I was on a mission to get some this time. They do both pork and veggie, and we went with the pork

These were fantastic. lightly fried, full of flavor, and scorching hot. The sauce was delicious as well.

Ming said he always gets the fried noodle roll. I had never heard of it, but who am I to question something fried?!

Phenomenal. Freshly fried, huge puffs of noodles. I seriously could have eaten all of them myself. They come with condensed milk, which I had never seen as a condiment before. When I was a kid and my mom baked a lot, she would always let me eat what was left in the can of condensed milk when she was done. It's so sweet and rich and yummy. It was super tempting to eat all of this one with a spoon, but I held back.

Each entree is served with 2 sides of the day. You don't get to choose, you just get what they're serving. One of the sides was a mix of sauteed bok choy and carrots. We really weren't sure what the other side was. We went back and forth trying to decide if it was zucchini or cucumber. But either way, both were very good.

Ming got the sesame chicken

Sesame chicken is almost always fried, so I really like that this one wasn't. I tasted a piece, and it was excellent.  A little spice heat, but not overpowering.

I went with the spicy chicken

Again, not fried. And again, awesome. Ming said that many of their main dishes aren't fried, which I like. The sauce was very spicy, but had a great flavor as well, and the rice helped tone it down. I loved the big chunks of peppers and onions. The chicken was extremely tender, so I think they used thighs instead of breast. 

Ming asked for a large side of rice. I didn't think about it until after the fact, but I should have done that too so I would have more to take home to make fried rice. We had enough to eat that I was able to save most of the rice though. But next time I know: get the bigger bowl.

Ming is friends with the owners. Let's be honest...Ming is friends with everyone, and he eats here pretty much weekly. One of the staff was giving him grief for not ordering the special. But his normal time to show up is about 2pm, and by then the special is gone. I don't know how he does that, because if I'm not eating by 12:30 I'm about to gnaw my arm off. 

So our next visit will be during regular lunch hours. And I'm getting the special. And of course the fried noodle rolls.

#198 - The Garage - Stillwater, OK

Home football game weekends are crazy busy for me. Friday is long, Saturday is a lot longer and I walk about 10 miles from start to finish. So Sunday I'm as lazy as I possibly can be. I sleep in, go to lunch with Bob, Joni & Tony, then go back home and take a nap. In reality, it's a pretty good day. 

Sunday we normally go to Louie's or Brooklyn's for lunch. But Joni & Tony weren't with us this time, so we decided to try something different, and went to The Garage. It's a fast-casual restaurant concept with 7 locations in Oklahoma and one in Arkansas. The Stillwater location opened just a few months ago. I was kind of surprised about the location for 2 reasons. First, it's on the same block as Eskimo Joe's. Joe's is a Stillwater institution. It's always packed, especially on gameday and in the summer. I wouldn't think they wanted the competition. There's also a law that restaurants within 100 feet of campus cannot serve liquor. And The Garage is right across the street from campus. So we figure either they got grandfathered in because it was a bar years ago, or maybe the Joe's is the silent owner so they got an exemption. Either way, I'm happy it's here because we need more good restaurants in town.

You wait in line to order, then sit and they bring your food out to you. The very front portion of the restaurant is the line and the order counter, with a partial wall separating the line from the seating area. There's a large bar in the middle of the restaurant with barstools around 3 sides of it, and then a mixture of short tables and high tops around 3 sides as well. Plus tons of TV's throughout the restaurant. At the back of the restaurant is another seating area, through an open doorway. The interior has very unique decorations, with a little bit of everything: old signs, large superhero figurines, and lots of pictures.

Their menu is pretty simple: appetizers, burgers, hot dogs, tacos, salads, and sandwiches. Sides are sold separately. I'm not really a huge fan of that concept, but it does also allow you to create your own meal. For the burgers you can choose from Angus beef, turkey, smoked turkey, garden burger or bison. Then your options of bun are regular, whole wheat, or lettuce wrap for a gluten free option. Pretty much every burger already has stuff on it, but you can also add "regular" or "premium" toppings for an extra charge. They've got 4 types of fries, 2 types of slaw, housemade chips, and an assortment of dipping sauces.

I had seen earlier that morning that it was National Vodka Day. So of course we had to join in on the fun. Bob did the BLT bloody mary, and I got the pineapple club special

I don't do bloodys so I didn't try Bob's, but he said it was really good. The bartender had warned him that it was pretty spicy so he asked them to tone it back some. And they listened. My club special was really good.

Allen was a rebel and got the fish & chips

I didn't try any, but he said it was good. 

Bob and I ordered the sriracha slaw, garlic parm fries, and Tijuana fries

They were NOT kidding with the heat on this slaw! My mouth was absolutely on fire. But the flavor was excellent, which made it hard to stop eating it.

My students had brought me an order of these garlic parm fries the week before. They were good, but had gotten a little steamed and also not that hot from being in the to-go container. So I got these to give them another chance. Sadly, I was disappointed, because they weren't hot. Just kind of warm. With how crowded the place was, I thought for sure there's no way that could happen. I was wrong. 

The Tijuana fries were good, but SPICY. They don't fry the jalapenos with the fries, so I can't figure out how they absorb so much of the heat. But they most certainly do. Again, mouth on fire.

Bob got the Hawaiian burger, and got bison meat

Honey mustard, Swiss, pineapple salsa, bacon

I tasted a bite, and it was awesome. I had never eaten bison meat before, and was very pleasantly surprised. It has really good flavor. The pineapple lent a really good hint of sweetness to the burger, without being overpowering.

I decided not to be adventurous with bison meat this time, and stuck with Angus beef. I did the grilled jalapeno bacon cheeser on a wheat bun

Garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, onion, grilled jalapenos, bacon, American cheese

The burger was awesome. Cooked perfect medium, juicy, and full of flavor. However, I had asked for grilled onions and an egg on top...and didn't get either. It was way too busy to send it back, so I just ate it as is. In the grand scheme of things, not having the egg wasn't a bad decision, because I really didn't need it. The burger was plenty on its own. Looking back, I have no clue why I got a burger with jalapenos. Clearly I had a death wish that day. I ended up taking about half of them off because by that point I couldn't do more spice.

This place was packed when we arrived, and by the time we sat down there was a line out the door and heading down the street. I know part of that is that it's new, and another part is that people who don't want to wait to be seated at Joe's (which can be a really long wait during popular times) have another close-by option.

We will definitely be back.  Besides the mess-up on my burger, the food was awesome. We're going to try the regular slaw next time, and avoid anything with jalapenos. My friend Tia had just gotten her food as we were leaving, and I tasted one of her sweet potato fries. They were amazing...we're getting those next time. I'm also getting bison meat for my burger. We were also discussing how to get Joni to eat there. She doesn't do restaurants where you have to stand in line to order. But we figure if we order when they're leaving the hotel, she'll be able to just come and sit with us by the time they get there. And they have alcohol, so she can get her Sunday mimosa.

Repeats With a Twist - Cherokee Strip BBQ, Stillwater OK

You don't have to live in Oklahoma very long to know their BBQ is legit. In Stillwater alone there are several really good BBQ restaurants. When I first moved here I ate lunch at home every day. Then after a couple months I started eating out a couple times a week with co-workers. One place that often came up as a lunch option was Cherokee Strip BBQ. 

The restaurant is just minutes from campus, in a strip mall that also has one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in town. The only down side to eating at a BBQ place is that you smell like it the entire day. But let's be honest. There are worse things to smell like. Brett, the owner said they do tons of catering on gameday during football season, and that's no surprise. When we used to do Recruit Roundup, we used them for cole slaw and baked beans, and were never disappointed.

I still can't believe I haven't done a review on this place. Brett, the owner, gave me grief when I began the blog about not doing a review. But at the time, I was only doing brand new restaurants. And for whatever reason, even after I added repeat restaurants a few months later, I didn't go back. One of the rules of my repeats was that I had to try something different on the menu. But there are a few exceptions, and this is one of them. 

I honestly can't even tell you the last time I ate here. National Burger Day was last month, and I really wanted something other than fast food. That's when Cherokee Strip sprang to mind, and I knew this was the perfect opportunity to go back and do a review.

Cherokee Strip is a local place, really kind of a hole in the wall, with no frills. But that's a big part of the charm. You order and pay at the counter. If you're getting brisket, ribs, sides, etc, you pick it up as you walk through the line. And then they have all the condiments on another table

Whenever we would come to lunch here, I would be the rebel of the group and get a burger. I know that sounds weird to be eating a burger at a BBQ place, but I loved it so I didn't care. The thing is, they cook the burgers to order so my food would always be the last to come out. My friend Chase worked there though, so as soon as he saw me come in the door, he would put on a burger for me, so that cut down significantly on the wait time.

I was by myself this time, and Chase hasn't worked there in a couple of years. But I arrived before the lunch rush, so it was okay. Brett gave me a sample of their burnt ends, their Thursday special

O...M...G. Phenomenal, melt in your mouth.  Such a deep flavor. I know many people don't like the ends because they're burnt. But that's the best part! I devoured them as I waited for my burger.

As I mentioned earlier, they cook burgers to order. I really don't mind the wait, because you know it's going to be screaming hot and fresh, and cooked just the way I want it.

I always get fries with a burger. I mean, that's really the only way to go. And here, they cook them to order as well. Brett didn't hear me say fries, but he threw some in the fryer as soon as he delivered the burger to me.  That's another thing I love about this place. When they cook stuff to order, they bring it out to you. A few minutes later my fries arrived

I almost never get 1/2lb burgers because it's too much food. But I make 2 exceptions: Cherokee Strip, and a place right off campus at U of Maryland that we used to go to occasionally.

This burger is so juicy and flavorful. I don't know this for a fact, but I'm quite sure they use locally raised beef. There's just an instant difference between burgers that come from who knows where and locally raised fare. This one was slightly saltier than I remember, and I'm thinking maybe a little too much seasoning. But I didn't let that stop me. The fries were fantastic as well. Scorching hot, crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside.  

I need to remember to eat here more often. And now that I've experienced the burnt ends, that will definitely be my twist. 

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#186 - Pie 5 Pizza Co., Stillwater OK

One of the first things I learned when I moved to Oklahoma was that everyone is like family. Even when you're an outsider, they quickly welcome you into the fold. So even though I'm living 1900 miles from my "true" home, I have also made a home here.

About 2 months ago Pitt, our football video coordinator was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Pitt has worked at OSU for over 30 years, so he knows everybody and everything. He can be one of the surliest guys you'll ever meet, and if you don't know him it can be off-putting. But that's his personality, and that's why we all love him.

Pancreatic is one of the worst types of cancer. It's rarely caught early, and once it reaches stage 4 there's not a whole lot you can do. Pitt isn't going down without a fight though. He's going through chemo, and we're all praying for a miracle. I can't even begin to imagine what he, his wife Bonnie, and their families are going through. What keeps my hopes high is that my friend Michele's mom was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2001, and was given 3 months to live; she survived until January 2007. I know everyone and every cancer is different, but still.

Pie 5 Pizza Co. and Firehouse Subs are local restaurants in Stillwater. There's actually a lot of Pie 5 locations around the country, but I had never heard of them until this one opened within the last year. Both restaurants are owned by former OSU football players; Billy Bajema owns Pie 5, and Josh Fields owns Firehouse Subs and is part owner of Pie 5. It's so awesome that they have opened these restaurants in Stillwater. To help raise money for Pitt's treatment, they both did fundraisers, and all the proceeds for that Saturday went directly to Pitt and his family.

My dad was in town, and my original plan had been to run errands in OKC that Saturday. But once I heard about the fundraisers, I knew we had to stay in town and support the cause. We went to the office that morning and I put him to work. About 1:30 we were both starving. I had already been to Firehouse Subs, so the food blog won out and we went to Pie 5.

I figured since we arrived so late it wouldn't be that crowded. Boy, was I wrong. There was a line all the way to the front door, everyone OSU staff and/or friends, everyone there supporting Pitt. Goes back to that whole family thing.

Pie 5. is kind of a combination of the Chipotle and Quizno's concepts. You walk through a production line and build your pizza.

They offer 10 pre-set pizzas, but you can also build your own from the crust up. The crusts are artisan thin, whole grain thin, or classic pan. I like that for the pre-set pizzas they include a crust recommendation on the menu. Once they build the pizza, they run it through a conveyer belt oven to cook it. I wondered how they made it so fast. I got the thin so I'm not sure if the classic pan pizza takes a little longer to make. I would think so, since it's a thicker dough.

My dad got the Farmer's Market pizza

Tuscan marinara, onions, spinach, red & green peppers, red onions, roasted tomatoes

I got the Tuscan Chicken,and added caramelized onions

Olive oil, sundried tomatoes, minced garlic, spinach, grilled chicken

I didn't try any of my dad's pizza, but he said it was good.  Mine was delicious. All the ingredients worked really well together, and was bursting with flavor. The crust was a little thin for my taste, but it was good. When I first saw the size of the pizza I thought it looked kind of small, but it was just enough as a personal pizza. Anything bigger would have been too much.

Back to the whole family thing...our assistant equipment manager, as well as the video and equipment students, were all there as busboys. Billy was there, back behind the counter, helping the staff. And Pitt and Bonnie made an appearance. I was thankful I got to see him, even though it was just for a few minutes. 

I'll definitely be going back. There are other pizzas I want to try, and I passed when my friend Wade, who is the GM, tried to convince me to get the dessert. So of course I have to go back and get one.

#185 - Boba Fusion Cafe, Stillwater OK

Normally when I go back to Maryland to visit my family, I fly back to Oklahoma alone and then my parents fly out a couple of weeks later.  This year, my dad flew back with me, and my mom was driving out with 2 of her sisters a couple weeks later. I take vacation as close to football season as possible...kind of like a last relaxing hurrah before the chaos begins. So when I get back, I hit the ground running.  It's normal for me to get to work before dawn and stay until dark, and also work all weekend. Since my dad was here by himself, I tried to get back home a little earlier. It worked a few times.  Most of the nights I cooked dinner, but one night I wasn't in the mood, so we headed out for Asian food.

My original plan was Thai Cafe, one of my favorite restaurants in town. My dad had eaten there before and liked it too. We walked in, and it was like an ice box. I really didn't want to spend the whole meal trying to stay warm, so I decided we would eat someplace else. I started looking around, and then remembered about Boba Fusion Cafe. When I first saw it a few years ago, I had no desire to go there, because it looks super shady from the outside. And I didn't know anyone who had ever eaten there. Then I learned my friend Ming was a huge fan. He's Malaysian, so I figure if it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me.

The restaurant is in a strip mall on the East side of town. The strip mall is perpendicular to the main road and the restaurant is at the back. So unless you know it's there, or unless you happen to see it going to another store or the Wal Mart next door, you'll completely miss it.

They always say don't judge a book by its cover. So that's what I told my dad as we walked in. The inside isn't fancy by any stretch either, but it's a local place in a college town. It doesn't need to be fancy. The food is what matters.

As you walk in, there's a dessert counter and ordering counter on the left. The kitchen is behind the counter, and then at the back wall is a beverage station where you can get specialty juices and drinks.  You order your food at the counter and they bring the food to you. 

Our cashier was really helpful, making recommendations of their most popular and her favorite dishes. I tried to start with the dumplings (made from scratch daily), but they were already out. And since the restaurant was closing in about 45 minutes they weren't making any more.  Bummer. She said the second most popular appetizer was basil fried veggies. 

I'm not sure what I was expecting it to look like, but it definitely wasn't this. However, it only took one bite and I was completely sold. Mushrooms, pumpkin and broccoli, fried perfectly and served scorching hot from the fryer. I don't even eat pumpkin, but I could have devoured all of it. I scalded my mouth on the mushroom because it's whole and exploded in my mouth. I'm not sure exactly what they coated the veggies in, but it was awesome. The basil added so much flavor.

My dad got the Teppanyaki tofu

I love the presentation on the hot plate. The tofu and chunks of veggies were huge, and it came sizzling to the table. I tried a bite of the tofu, and it was really good. I would say that it was a little greasy though. When he took the leftovers there was quite a bit left. But then again, grease is flavor right?

I went with the 3 cup chicken, one of the most popular dishes on the menu.

Wow, this chicken was amazing. Screaming hot, tons of flavor, quite spicy. The sauce was really delicious. Most restaurants you get so much food you could easily take home half. This was a much more realistic portion. Without the appetizer I could have eaten the whole thing, but I ended up taking a little bit home. 

With every entree you get 2 sides of the day. And it's whatever sides they make. This day it was pickled cauliflower and potato salad. I have to say potato salad is a very unique and interesting side for an Asian restaurant. But the potatoes provided a nice cooling contrast to the spicy chicken. The cauliflower was delicious. I'm really becoming a big fan of pickled veggies.

Will I go back? No question. The food was excellent, and I definitely have to try the homemade dumplings. This place has jumped up into one of my top 5 restaurants in town.

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Repeats with a Twist - Sushi House, Stillwater OK

A couple weeks ago my friend Bob was in town. We've become really great friends over the past couple of years. As a matter of fact, some people have asked if he's my boyfriend/husband. Nope, none of that. Just fantastic friends. 

Bob was craving sushi, and of course I'm always up for sushi. One of our favorite places in town is Sushi House, which is only a few miles from my house. Once again, no clue how I still haven't done a post. I've lost count of the number of times I've eaten there over the past 5 years.

It's located in a strip mall that's kind of off the beaten path. Since Gatsby's wine bar opened next door, we do spend more time over in that area. Before becoming Sushi House, the space was a liquor store we used for suite stocking. I was really bummed when the store closed down, but Sushi House is an outstanding replacement.

I've tried all kinds of sushi there. Joni doesn't eat sushi, and neither do my parents, but they have non-sushi items as well so we can still go there. The restaurant itself is a decent size. There's table and booth seating, as well as chairs around the large sushi bar in the middle. There's also seating in the outdoor patio out back, but I've honestly never eaten out there.

Depending on the time and day you go will determine whether or not there's a wait. During the school year, we avoid that place like the plague on weekend nights, especially home football game weekends. But on most weekdays, and definitely in the summer, it's usually not very crowded. This was fortunately the case that Friday night Bob and I went.

When Bob and I do sushi, we like to experiment and try lots of different things. And we have very similar tastes, so it works out well. We decided to start with the lettuce wraps. We always thought they were beef, but it turns out they are chicken

The meat is so tender, and seasoned really well. It’s that seasoning that makes it look like beef, because the color so deep. Beef/chicken, doesn’t matter. Because it’s awesome. And they give you a good amount of lettuce leaves. 

Next was Orange Power roll

Bob and I both don’t do raw, so this one was a little adventurous. But the pieces of raw fish were so small that it was okay. Bob and I both really liked the salmon. Bob wasn’t a huge fan of the tuna, but I liked it. The spring mix was an interesting topping, but kind of boring. I would have been happier with more tuna/salmon, or maybe another type of fish.

We also got the Ferry roll

We’ve both had it before, and it’s one of our favorites. Yes, it’s deep fried. No, that’s not the healthiest option. But it’s so good, and served warm, that we couldn’t help it. The sauce on top is delicious, and adds great flavor.

Next up, we went off the sushi grid with teriyaki chicken. Our server had mentioned that they have a spicy fried rice that’s really delicious, but also said that it’s not available to substitute as a side with the teriyaki chicken. So we just went with the regular

The chicken was fantastic, very tender and moist. The sauce was rich and thick. The only down side to the sauce, as is often the case with teriyaki, is that it was very salty. But the rice did help tone that down. The broccoli was really good, huge pieces that were steamed and still tender-crisp. The fried rice was very good. I wish they would let you swap out a different fried rice, even at an upcharge. 

Next came the scissor roll

I’ve had this one before, but Bob never had. This salmon was seared not raw, and he was a big fan. I really like the crunch on top, as it adds a new texture to the dish. 

As if we hadn’t had enough, we decided to get some ice cream. We figured it would be light and refreshing, and a good way to end the meal. After some back and forth decisions, we went with the green tea ice cream.

The ice cream was very light and really delicious. And, just as we thought, a refreshing way to end the meal. It wasn’t an overpowering flavor at all. In fact, we didn’t taste much green tea at all. I liked that it was topped with a little mint. The whipped cream was okay, but I could have done without it.

Of course I’m going to continue to eat here. The food is always delicious, the service is prompt even when it’s really busy, and every time I try a new roll I’m impressed.

Repeats with a Twist - Rancher's Club, Stillwater OK

Last week I had lunch with a donor couple in Stillwater.  They had originally recommended Panera Bread, but that's just kind of boring for me.  So I tossed out a number of other recommendations, and they came back with The Rancher's Club.  I haven't been there in forever, so I agreed. 

I honestly never remember about Rancher's Club.  It's in the Student Union at the Atherthon Hotel.  I think I've been to the Atherton once in 8 years.  And when I go to the Union, it's usually for a specific purpose.  Combine that with the fact that I avoid the Union like the plague during the school year around lunchtime, I've probably only eaten at the Rancher's Club 3-4 times.

The Atherton is a hotel run by students in the Hotel & Restaurant Management (HRAD) program.  OSU has one of the top HRAD programs in the country.  HRAD students also run Taylor's Dining Room (mid-range dining, catering primarily to faculty & staff) and West Side Café (quick-service restaurant catering primarily to students) in the Human Sciences Building.  I met friends at Taylor's one day in the winter and literally had to ask 4 people how to get there. I'd never been to the Human Sciences building and had no clue where I was going. HRAD students also host a Distinguished Chef Series.  It's a very unique fine dining experience featuring guest chefs from around the country.  The quarterly event has a waiting list, and brings in the who's who of Oklahoma State alumni and friends. I was lucky enough to attend the dinner in the winter, and Michele and I had such a fantastic time. I need to find a way to attend again so that I can do a blog post about it.

In good weather I always walk to the Union because it's not too far from my office.  But that day it was threatening heavy storms, and the last thing I wanted to do is get stuck in the pouring rain.  So I drove, and luckily found a parking spot pretty close.  That is one of the key selling points of a university in the summer.  You can easily drive around town, and you're likely going to find ample parking.

If you don't know where you're going, you might have a tough time finding the restaurant.  From the parking garage on the south side of the Atherton it's easy to walk right in.  But I of course parked on the east side, across the street from the Union and behind the Alumni Association building. Once I was inside I saw my friend Dylan and even had to ask the quickest route to get there.  But eventually I found it.

The Rancher's Club is very unique in that they recognize some of their top donors with their favorite cowboy hats and favorite wines in the entry foyer right by the host stand.

The hostess said that guests will occasionally ask if they can select one of the wines in the case. However, those are the wines for those donors... not for us little people.  They also feature prints of the ranches of those same donors, on the wall above their own table.  So basically, whenever the donors want to eat there, they get to sit at their own table.

There's a mixture of seating, including half booths, small 4-top tables and larger round tables for larger groups. All of the decor is Cowboy inspired.  I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the space, so the below pics are courtesy of The Rancher's Club website:

I like that the plates have the Rancher's Club name on them.  I think it's a great touch when restaurants do that

The menu is pretty substantial for lunch.  They've got appetizers, salads, fresh pasta, sandwiches, slider, entrees, and dessert.  And each category has a few items.   As we decided, our server brought rolls to the table.

They were nice and warm, and delicious.  It was tempting to accept our server's offer for another batch, but we were  good and stopped at one each.

I knew I would be eating a lot of deliciousness over the weekend in Dallas, so I wanted to make a good lunch decision.  But then of course I came across the Vegas cut steak. We asked, and it's the shoulder chuck that is cut a certain way so that it is very tender. Raleigh tried it, but I decided to stick with my original choice of blackened rainbow trout

Served with a warm Yukon potato and green bean salad with lemon vinaigrette

This was really delicious.  The blackening wasn't very spicy at all.  It just added flavor and a mild heat.  Although the piece of fish was large, it wasn't very thick. The server reminded me that the skin was still on the bottom.  Good catch, otherwise I would have been eating the skin.  And believe me, fish skin is not tasty. The vinaigrette worked very well with the potatoes and green beans, and wasn't overpowering at all. It just lent a brightness to the dish.  

As we walked out after our meal, I remembered that Rancher's Club grows a lot of their own vegetables and herbs and recycles rainwater just outside the restaurant, next to the outdoor patio

I'll definitely be back, as I already have another donor lunch scheduled here next week! And I need to do a better job of remembering to come here on other occasions as well. They're one of the few places in Stillwater that does a good steak.