School lunch

Bites and booze on a budget

Ramen noodles, Dollar Store grocery lists, late-night pizza delivery from Pizza Shuttle (Norman’s finest cheap pie)—this is what I remember about food during my college years. Everything was generic—no name brands in the pantry of my studio apartment situated above the Mister Robert Furniture Store on Main Street.

If you’ve been to college, or if you’ve ever struck out on your own (read: most of us), you know that during this time, being frugal wasn’t a choice.

Food changed when I transferred to The University of Tulsa. Instead of working in pizza places and dive bars, I found jobs in fine-dining restaurants. By that time, I felt entitled to some swankier food experiences. I dined more, my newly acquired food-snob attitude fully intact. I shopped at “real” grocery stores and bought caper berries and organic, artisanal breads from a local bakery. I was making more money, but I was still broke. I was well-fed, but my budgeting skills were lacking.

Learning to live on a budget while you’re still in college is invaluable. It’s something that we—well, most of us, anyway—will have to do our whole lives. There are ways to dine and eat well on a slim budget, whether you crave a burger or a four-course meal. If you’re starting classes this fall, you’re welcome to these leads on budget bites. (Even if college was light years ago, you might find this offering useful.)

On the go? Try QT Kitchens. With multiple locations in the Tulsa area, QuikTrip, a locally owned chain of convenience stores that makes any other corner store seem inadequate to say the least, is now featuring made-to-order eats like toasted sandwiches, personal pizzas, pizza by the slice, coffee drinks, and smoothies in multiple locations. I was skeptical at first, but after hearing how good the pizza was for the price, I had to try it. I got two enormous slices of supreme for $5, and it was pretty darned good. Find a QT Kitchen at quiktrip.com/locations.

Burger deals rock my world, so if you offer a discount on a restaurant-quality burger, I’m there. Remember to show up early—burger night gets busy, fast. 

Crow Creek Tavern
3534 S. Peoria Ave.
On Tuesdays, a burger and fries are $4 all day long. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to catch some live music, too.

McNellie’s
1st & Elgin and 71st & Yale
Every Wednesday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m., you can get an 8-ounce burger with a choice of fries, sweet-potato fries, or tabouli for $5. Try it with the beer of the month or one of the beer flights for the ideal McNellie’s experience, part of which is the temptation of dozens of beers on tap, more than 350 brews total.

Leon’s Restaurant and Bar
3301 S. Peoria Ave.
On Monday nights it’s a $4 cheeseburger with fries—ask for a setup for an additional charge if you want lettuce and tomato. For a few bucks more you get any of Leon’s fancy specialty burgers, and every one of them is delicious.  The Green Chile Burger is my favorite: roasted chilies, pickled red onions, and white queso dress up this burger served on house made brioche.

If you’re in the mood for spicy, here are two great deals on tacos and Tex Mex.

Compadres Mexican Grill
7104 S. Sheridan Road
Every Thursday night, there is a secret special at this Mexican joint on the hill. You get a bowl of queso, two margaritas, and sizzling fajitas with two set-ups for $21.85 plus tax. Go super-early if you don’t want to wait for a table.

El Guapo’s
332 E. 1st St.
Taco Tuesday features street tacos for $1 and $2 Tecate 4 p.m.-10 p.m. On a nice day, you can dine on the rooftop patio and have a stellar experience for less than ten bucks.

Feeling fancy? For a nice dining experience on a budget:

Tavolo Italian Bistro
427 S. Boston Ave.
This downtown Italian eatery has a four-course, prix fixe (meaning ‘price fixed’) menu for $35 per person. The choices change weekly and are seasonal, and the plating is beautiful. If you are on a limited budget, this is an easy way to dine without having to do math while you are deciding what to order. For an additional $20 per person, you can get wine paired with each course.

Doc’s Wine & Food
3509 S. Peoria Ave.
When I want to feel fancy but have limited funds, I hit happy hour at Doc’s. I can get fat Gulf oysters for a dollar a pop and a glass of wine for $5. Check the chalkboard for daily specials.

Allison’s Dishes
Celebratory chews for National Sandwich Month

If there is one thing that unites all of mankind it is the common meal called the sandwich. Ranging from grilled sourdough with cheese oozing to a combination of garden-fresh vegetables wrapped in pita, a sandwich takes many forms but is familiar nonetheless. It can entertain any combination of textures and flavors and still, it is that simple, handy foodstuff we’ve been eating since we were kids.

Simply, “sandwich” is defined as, “two pieces of bread with something in between them” (not Mr. Webster’s definition, but you get my drift). The concept existed long before a name was attributed to the form. In the 18th century there was an Englishman who was known as a social butterfly with a gambling problem. His name was John Montagu, Fourth Earl of Sandwich. To eat whilst gambling, he layered bread, meat, and cheese in an orderly stack so he would have one hand free for cards. Isn’t it easy to be grateful that necessity is the mother of invention?

Here’s a list of Tulsa sandwich spots easily the best thing since sliced bread:

Lambrusco’z To Go
With an extensive menu, no guest will go unsatisfied. Try the new location downtown if you’re close.
1344 E. 41st St & 114 S. Detroit Ave.

Bill and Ruth’s Subs
There are several other locations, but the Cherry Street store is the best. If you like something a little spicy, have them add crushed cherry peppers to your ‘wich.
2404 E. 15th St.

P.J.’s Sandwich Shop
Not many people know about this little gem, but P.J.’s makes the best chicken salad in town. I hear the meatloaf sandwich is killer, too.
4307 E. 31st St.

Big Al’s
My No. 1 choice for lunch and for when I want something that’s both healthy and delicious. Beware, parking is sparse.
3303 E. 15th St.

Trencher’s Delicatessen
In the former Sproutz location, Trencher’s is the best new lunch spot in Tulsa. It opened last November and the folks there are making some of the best sandwiches in town.
2602 S. Harvard Ave.