(8.0)

Mexicasa by Tom & Jerrys

 

 

 

1501 NW 23rd Street
405-524-9100
http://www.mexicasaokc.com/

For years I always promised myself that I would drop by Tom and Jerry’s after hearing so many rave reviews about the establishment.  After all it’s in my hood.  One Valentine’s day, being the ill prepared typical male that I am, I tried to make reservations with for my date and myself to no avail.   A few months back I was pissed to find out that Tom and Jerry’s had closed down; but after inquiring, I discovered that Tom and Jerry’s would be moving north and the former location will be renovated to a fun Mexican restaurant still owned by the same folks.  I also heard they brought in a chef from somewhere special and he was really good and that they were doing some pretty creative things with the dining room.  Well, I don’t know about the chef, but I can tell you the dining room is pretty cool and the food is great!

One of the stand-out items is the queso, which is served complimentary with the chips and salsa. It is über creamy and made with Monterey Jack cheese.  Everyone that I have been there with agrees that it is of superior quality and tastes much better than any complimentary queso around.  Each meal is also served with a complimentary sopaipilla. The salsa is great and they have more fiery habanero version that provides more heat.  The food is great and so is the atmosphere.  While polling some friends that have been there the following notable statements were made. “Their queso is so good it makes you want to sew your ass shut.” Also, “If their fajita steak and chicken were to marry and have a baby they would suitably name him Jesus!” To both statements I proclaimed, “How nice for you…” but I secretly agree. 

I am also told that the owners have kept some of the infamous brunch items around.  I have not tried them but they certainly have a good reputation.  Since discovering Tom & Jerry’s in its new and colorful incarnation I have been a regular and would be remised to not write a review of the place.  They have some more authentic menu options such as street tacos with onions, cilantro and lime with a gourmet twist. (pssst! Al Pastor would be great meat option!). Oh, I forgot to mention that their prices are extremely reasonable; especially the lunch menu.  I recommended Mexicasa to my co-workers who are extremely skeptical of my restaurant choices, after a few South OKC surprises. Everyone left impressed with the quite unique ambiance and great food that satisfied both the meek and the adventurous.

When driving down 23^rd street you have to pay attention as not to miss MexiCasa, not that the building is in anyway inconspicuous. I encourage all to patronize this restaurant I believe you will be impressed.

 

(9.5)

Iguana Mexican Grill-Formerly Iguana Lounge

9 NW 9th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(405) 606-7172
Map‎

There comes a time when all good things must end. Fortunately there is the rare occasion when a good thing returns and becomes even better than its original incarnation. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present back to Oklahoma City once again the Iguana Mexican Grill. It is located just east of Broadway, in Automobile Alley, on 9^th Street and offers some of the most creative Mexican Fusion in the city.

(9.0)

El Alex

 

About 5 years ago, I was introduced to one of Oklahoma City’s best kept secrets.  El Alex Restaurant on the corner of S.W. 25^th and Robinson.  Named after owner Maria’s father, Alex who recently passed.  It was a real treat to see this guy walking around the restaurant in his Pimp hat all done out just on a regular day.  El Alex is no new kid on the block, originally opening in 1981 closing for a brief time and opening back up in the 90’s through today.  Let’s not let this jewel of a restaurant close again.  Go out and patronize good cooking.

 

Now to the food.  As most are aware, the most authentic Mexican food can be found on the South Side of the city.  I will submit to you while this food is authentic.  Most of it, note I said most, is fast food and not prepared with the ingredient of time.  At El Alex, Maria takes painstaking efforts to make sure her food is well prepared and consistent.    This is not a Taqueria, but a café.  You will receive chips and salsa the salsa is a thin variety but absolutely packed with flavor.  For something hotter, try the Salsa Verde, hands down the best in the city made fresh in the restaurant.    The cheese sauce is well prepared and by those who adore queso boast this as some of the best they’ve had.  The refried beans here cannot be beat and I challenge someone to find a more flavorful and smooth version somewhere else!

 

In my many visits, I have become acquainted with Maria and have gathered the courage to ask her questions.  She explained that the style of cooking that El Alex serves is from the Juarez, Chihuahua region of Mexico, just as her mother prepared it back in Mexico.   You’ll find that the Enchiladas are nothing like the fake versions peddled at corporate restaurants.  Enchiladas are intended to be served with a slightly spicy chili sauce.  My best description for this sauce is zesty and tangy.  One thing that also makes El Alex stand out from the other restaurants is the quality of the ingredients used.  The chicken, ground beef, pork, steak etc is not waste parts.  Although this isn’t exactly authentic, it makes for an improvement in my opinion from the original. 

 

The signature dish in my opinion is the Mole de Polo.  This dish is chicken stewed in a brown gravy sauce that has dark chocolate as a key ingredient.  I know most think this is weird by it is a great sweet and spicy dish.  When coupled with rice, beans, beans, tortilla and a little Salsa Verde one has entered the pearly gates of flavor heaven.  Chicken Mole can also be ordered as a gordita.    Other Items that are better than found at other restaurants are the barbacoa, which is to be eaten with lemon and lime, fajitas and horchata.

 

So if you haven’t been here you owe it to yourself to stop by and give this place a try!   Be aware though that they are only open Thursday through Sunday before venturing out of your way.

One of the more entertaining aspects of this place is the juke box.  For those of you, like me, who didn’t have the forsight to minor in Spanish during your undergraduate years can enter into a frenzie of picking songs that you’ll never understand….

(6.0)

1492 New World Latin Cuisine

The Highly Anticipated 1492 New World Latin Cuisine 

There is so much to say about Oklahoma City’s newest Latino eatery that three of the four OKCbites staff have decided to contribute to this review. 

Overview

Located in OKC’s up and coming Midtown area directly across from the highly acclaimed Café do Brasil sits 1492 New World Latin Cuisine.  The restaurant has converted one of the historic Beverly’s Pancake house locations, specifically the Walker site.  The renovation and launch for 1492 has been in the works for a year and garnered the attention of myself and numerous others all over the city.    The ambiance is great.  One can be seated next to the large picture windows and view the hustle and bustle of lower walker while relazing in the dining room.  With a large bar area, swank chandeliers, and a soon to open patio; 1492 has positioned itself to offer an upscale dining experience to the city’s affluent and young hip crowd.   

Read more

(8.5)

Anne’s Chicken Fry

What could be better than settling in for some home cooked, fried food after a weekend spent at upscale sidewalk cafés in Dallas?  I was asked to choose a restaurant of my choice to dine at for my birthday.     Having heard wonderful things about Anne’s Chicken Fry I decided to give this place a shot.  I also thought it would be a good place to spoil myself, since I’m always going to eat healthier tomorrow and this was the perfect excuse to binge on some good southern cooking.  I do have one suggestion for the owner; and that is maybe “All Things Fried” might be more descriptive name for the eatery. 

The staff at Anne’s, from what I can see, are all overweight women that are quite efficient with no emphasis on customer service.  They most likely live in a trailer or possibly a van down by the river.  In most cases one would view this as negative aspect of a dining experience.  In this case, the crude pushy service only made the experience better. 

During this visit I ate Jalapeño Poppers as an appetizer; Chicken Fried Steak with Navy Beans and Green Beans as sides; a side of Chicken Fried French Fries.  Also ordered was a bowl of Navy Beans and Fried Shrimp.  Overall I thought the food was well prepared and lacking Seasoning, namely salt.  That was easily fixed with the shaker at the table.  One possible Scenario that I have for the lack of salt is that the median age there was probably 76 so the restaurant probably responds to the needs of its customers.  Of course if you have blood pressure issues I have no clue why one would go to a chicken fry house…I digress.

The Chicken Fried French Fries were nothing short of brilliant.  I was hesitant about ordering these because I knew I was now being glutinous.  The waiter frankly informed me that they “keep well”.  After I was muscled into ordering them I was amazed at how good they were, with a little salt.  The main attraction, Chicken Fried Steak, was very tasty and as I have been told, you CAN cut the steak with a fork.  The green beans were flavorful but the Navy beans, also referred to as Senate bean soup was lacking flavor, Louisiana hot sauce would have done the trick.  As if we have not had enough grease, we ordered the Fried Peaches.  The waitress mentioned that it was accompanied with a special sauce.  I inquired about the flavor of the sauce; the waitress replied “If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.”  I for some reason believed she had no problem following through with her threat.  Nevertheless, the peaches were awesome.

The Décor is corny Route 66 Memorabilia the walls are adorned with pictures of Elvis, which is not too cool in my book along with some pretty cool antique type thingies.  I encourage everyone who is a little low on grease to stop by Anne’s for a fill up.  It’s pretty freaking wonderful.

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