Memory palate

Food and drink highlights from 2015

2015 was downright delicious for the Tulsa food scene. We welcomed new concepts and bid adieu to a few that had run their course (some in the same breath), sipped painstakingly-mixed libations at bars many thought would never survive in Tulsa, heralded the facelift of the Reasor’s markets across the city, and sampled dishes from some of our region’s finest culinary talent. To put together a complete look back would take far more than a thousand words, so here’s a brief taste of where we’ve been—and, hopefully, where we’re headed. 

Most Unique
Millicent Brasserie is Tulsa metro’s first multi-sensory restaurant concept 

Broken Arrow’s Millicent Brasserie was quite possibly the most exciting (and peculiar) opening of the year. With LED light shows, video montages, sweeping musical numbers and haute cuisine, it’s hard to find a concept that rivals Millicent Brasserie in experimentation or novelty. The food is very good—a meal at Millicent Brasserie is a fun way to ease newbies into the prix fixe world. Call ahead to schedule reservations for one of their Thursday or Saturday seatings.  

Best Bar Opening
Saturn Room revives Tiki culture 

If you think sticking a Tiki bar in downtown Tulsa is random, don’t tell Noah Bush; the co-owner of The Saturn Room (alongside John Gaberino and Jeremy Reed) has always loved the festive touches and Polynesian flavors of the classic Tiki bar, and thought they’d be right at home in downtown Tulsa. With flaming cocktails served in hand-carved coconuts, collectable mugs, floating luau lanterns and thatch-covered walls and booths, the Saturn Room’s south Pacific atmosphere is perfect for a breezy summer day, or a night when you’d just like to channel one. Niche or not, it’s one of the most inventive additions to the Tulsa bar scene in years.  

Most Memorable Dish
Chimichurri Octopus at Temp Tavern 

One of my fondest memories of 2015 involves standing in the middle of the McNellie’s Harvest Beer Festival drunkenly sharing bites of octopus with strangers out of a Styrofoam to-go box, and I have The Tavern to thank for that. During its run as the Temp Tavern (the name for the restaurant’s temporary pop-up location off Archer that operated while the Main and Brady site was updated), each week welcomed a new themed menu from around the world. Most exciting me was the Chimichurri octopus—a sweet and spicy Mexican/Mediterranean combo plated in October. It was only featured on the dinner menu, but after hearing some crazy woman at table five beg desperately for a cool pound-and-a-half of octopus at 11:30 in the morning, the kitchen staff said ‘why not?’ and made me one for brunch.  Sweet and rich with a salted-honey bath and spiced chimichurri glaze, I’ve never tasted anything else quite like it in town. Here’s hoping Chef Ben Alexander brings the dish back to the Tavern’s home location.  

Best Transformation
The Bramble becomes Bramble: Breakfast and Bar 

This time last year, Tallgrass’s sister restaurant was making waves with flavor-packed spheroid jello shots, tapas-style small plates, and hand-shaken cocktails. Today the Bramble beckons an earlier crowd to the table, dishing up short order breakfast creations and gourmet donuts daily. The signature snout-to-tail cooking approach is still in practice, and the bar creations are as creative and rich as ever (a pickled quail egg in a cocktail? Try anything once…). And now Bramble’s resident breakfast maven Michelle Donaldson is even being considered for a James Beard award nomination (think of it as the Oscars for food), which would be a first for an Oklahoma chef.

Best Upgrade
Antoinette Baking Co. opens new space 

Marie Antoinette was on to something; Tulsans want cake, and the gals at Antoinette are letting them eat as much as they want. With daily pie and pastry selections, decadent cakes, glam-dusted macarons, and a host of other epicurean delicacies, Molly Martin and Andrea Mohn have become the treat-touting darlings of the Brady Arts District. A far cry from the bakery’s first home on Brookside, the new space at 207 N. Main reflects the luxury of their dishes with Victorian decor, lux lighting fixtures, and big, gleaming windows with tons of natural light. 

Best New Project
Kitchen 66 launches Tulsa’s first Kickstart kitchen 

Tulsa boasts a powerful portfolio of food trucks, bakeries, and locally owned small food businesses. The Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation is on a mission to protect and cultivate these businesses; enter Kitchen 66, Tulsa’s first ‘kickstart kitchen’ for aspiring food entrepreneurs. Kitchen 66’s incubator program aims to connect business-minded food-preneurs with the resources, training, and mentorship necessary to launch food businesses at scale. Late 2015 marked the first open application cycle for locals with ideas, and the inaugural class will kick off early this year in facilities located in the Sun Building. Locals not in the program can support Kitchen 66 by dining in their cafeteria, where K66 businesses will prepare and sell dishes for lunch, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the program.  

Most Needed
Eritrean & Ethiopian Cafe brings African cuisine to Tulsa 

When it comes to representation of ethnic cuisine, Tulsa’s been lacking. Aside from several delicious Mexican offerings, a few Mediterranean eateries, and some strong Asian contenders, it’s hard to pinpoint much in the way of world food. Thankfully, Eritrean & Ethiopian Cafe opened earlier this year. The name says it all with this one: traditional Eritrean and Ethiopian food takes center stage on the plate. Inerja, sambusas, and dero wot are all favorites, and leave little need for utensils (don’t worry—you’ll get used to eating with your hands).

Other significant happenings:
The Park in the Pearl, Tulsa’s first permanent outdoor food truck park, opens
The Rooftop brings a new buzz to Broken Arrow’s Rose District
The Tropical plates locally grown produce in Asian creations
Savoy’s Kelamis family celebrates 90 years of business
Doe’s on Cherry Street closes 
Coney Island moves to the Brady District
Living Kitchen adds seats to heralded farm table dinner schedule
The unnamed ‘Lounge’ opens as Tulsa’s first secret steakhouse and bar
Lone Wolf Food Truck opens a carryout spot at 37^th and Harvard
Hoot Owl Coffee opens in the Kendall Whittier District, then, sadly, closes 
Justin Thompson Restaurant Group opens Tavolo Market in downtown
Dilly Deli closes, remodels, re-opens as the new and very improved Dilly Diner

For more from Megan, read her article on The Vault's cocktail class.