Though a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Broken Arrow is a city in its own right and has a vibrant dining scene to match. Here is our guide you to the city’s best culinary hotspots.
Apple Barrel Café
Following the success of its first restaurant in the neighbouring town of Bixby, the owners of Apple Barrel Café set up another successful joint in Broken Arrow in early 2012. Offering patrons breakfast, lunch and dinner alongside a number of daily specials, the Apple Barrel Café provides a homely, friendly atmosphere and a menu defined by high quality ingredients, hearty portions and traditional American classic dishes. Go for breakfast and opt for a pecan waffle of Spanish omelette or go for dinner and try an appetiser of fried green tomatoes followed by the fried catfish entrée served with tartar sauce, hush puppies and coleslaw.
Bruhouse Grill
One of Broken Arrow’s most recent additions, the Bruhouse Grill opened in late 2013 in a prime downtown location in the scenic Rose District. Owned by restaurateur Travis Burton, the restaurant is located in a former drugstore and the stylish, modern space features original terrazzo floors, exposed brick and a beautiful granite bar in its interior, while on warmer days guests can enjoy their evening outside on Bruhouse Grill’s sidewalk patio. The menu presents a mix of traditional and contemporary American fare with a variety of salads, sandwiches and burgers available alongside dishes like blackened seared tuna and handmade lobster ravioli.
Los Cabos
An upscale Mexican grill and cantina, Los Cabos was established by the Blacketer family who recognised a gap in the market for fine Mexican fare. With three locations in Oklahoma, including its Broken Arrow venue – a hacienda-style space located on the edge of a picturesque manmade lake – Los Cabos is fast becoming one of the most popular eateries in the region. With sophisticated starters like fried avocado or sweet corn tamales and entrées like seafood enchilada with crab, shrimp and scallops complemented by an award-winning margaritas and live music, Los Cabos is perfect for diners looking for a fun evening of spicy, south-of-the-border fare.
Main Street Tavern
Though it has a bit of a sports bar vibe with its live American football screenings, Main Street Tavern is a cut above your average neighbourhood pub. Located in a smart redbrick building in downtown Broken Arrow’s historic Rose District, the gastro pub opened in 2011 and its stylish, contemporary interior is home to a lively ambience and a menu brimming with hearty, classic American dishes. Start with saucy boneless buffalo strips available mild, medium, hot or extra hot with celery and blue cheese salad followed by a comforting entrée of puff pastry chicken pot pie accompanied by one of Main Street Tavern’s 28 draught beers.
Merritt’s Bakery
Originally established by Larry and Bobbie Merritt back in 1999 as The Café Box, Merritt’s Bakery today is a group of four eateries spread across the Tulsa Metropolitan Area and serves some of the best-loved baked goods in the region. The newly renovated Broken Arrow branch opened in 2001 and is the company’s largest venue – a delicatessen and café open for breakfast and lunch selling a range of sweet and savoury pastries, baked treats and sandwiches that also has a catering and custom cake making arm. Go in the morning and treat yourself to an apricot Danish or banana nut muffin or lunch with a filling Cuban meat pie followed by a mini key lime tart.
Smokies Hickory House BBQ
‘Eat the meat’ is the mantra of Smokies Hickory House BBQ and with its tasty tried-and-tested family recipes and traditional hickory smoked meat, lovers of barbecue won’t be disappointed with a trip to one of Broken Arrow’s best-loved restaurants. Owned by the Latsos family, Smokies opened in 2012 in a little log cabin made from reclaimed 1930s barn wood with a laid-back, casual vibe, while all its meat cooked in an old-fashioned smoker built by family patriarch Freeman Latsos in 1979. Though its menu is concise, it features all the necessary ingredients for a great barbecue feast – starters and sides include onion rings and fried pickles with options like brisket, ribs and hot link sausages as the main event.
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Ted’s Café Escondido
Serving tempting Mexican fare all day, every day, Ted’s Café Escondido is a popular native Oklahoman restaurant group with a number of locations across the state. Offering guests a satisfying mix of traditional dishes alongside more contemporary Tex-Mex fare, Ted’s prides itself on serving authentic Mexican cuisine in a vibrant, welcoming space. Lunch menu items include a number of specialty dishes like burritos, chimichangas and tamales available with fillings that include chilli con carne beef or chicken with crema sauce while dinner options include pork chilli verde – slow-cooked pork tenderloin in a homemade tomatillo sauce served with rice, steamed corn, pinto beans and guacamole.
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