The ‘za is fire

Yes, we did need another pizza joint—and Prairie Fire Pie is it

James Shrader, Palace Café owner and well-loved local chef, is checking a long-time passion project off his list: opening a pizza joint. Prairie Fire Pie (1303 E. 15th St.), his second Tulsa restaurant, opened late last month.

“We were shooting for a West Coast vibe, where we could offer a nice place to eat at a casual price point,” Shrader said.

Indeed, it feels different from many Tulsa eateries—with an elevated, wooden communal table, oversized vintage letter board, exposed subway-tiled kitchen, and modern light fixtures. It’s clean and classy. Though it’s housed next door to the upscale Palace Café, PFP couldn’t feel any more different from its sister restaurant. Where the Palace is darker and more intimate, PFP is open and airy.

James and I sat in the front corner of Prairie Fire, overlooking Cherry Street, during our chat.

“I’ve been in Tulsa since ‘96,” Shrader said. “It’s where my dad was living, and I met my wife here. Tulsa is home. It has been so good to me. All the food I enjoy cooking has been well-received.”

James’s wife, Brooke, juggled many roles while opening the restaurant, serving as CFO and directing interior design of the small space.

“Brooke is incredible,” Shrader said with a smile. “She played a huge role in Palace Café, but it was really cool to see her style come to life in this space.”

One of the fun, can’t-miss design choices is a set of prints of West Coast rappers Snoop Dog and Tupac, designed by Oklahoma artist Tim Hearne.

Prairie Fire’s menu is short and to the point. Normally you’d spot appetizers at the beginning of a menu, but James intentionally starts with pizza.

“I wanted to send the message: We are definitely a pizza place,” Shrader said. “The difference in our pizza is really in the details. We use high-quality ingredients, and those details add to the unique flavor and texture.”

The sweet fennel sausage pizza—James’s favorite—features roasted peppers, pecorino, and red sauce. It was excellent. The crust had the perfect amount of crunch to it. I also tried one of the bartender’s favorite pizzas, the Yukon gold potato pie. It was a bit unconventional, with rosemary, pancetta, soft egg, sea salt, and white sauce. She’s a vegetarian and insisted this pizza was just as special even without the pancetta.

Pro tip, thanks to another server: Ask for the homemade Tabasco sauce.

The roasted carrot starter was also sensational. Fresh carrots are cooked in the wood-fire oven and paired with harissa, pistachio, yogurt, and mint—and it’s only eight bucks.

Prairie Fire Pie is set to be a happy-hour hotspot. They are open seven days a week, offering half-size, half-price personal pizzas from 4–6 p.m. and after 10 p.m.