Driving along Western Avenue, past the neon lights of the historic Will Rogers Theatre and the boutiques of Classen Curve, travelers will find a long stretch of local restaurants and bucket-list dining destinations. From upscale to casual and from Americana comforts to fresh seafood, there’s fun to discover in one of Oklahoma City’s most vibrant dining districts.
Special Occasion Dining
From creative tasting menus to fine dining spots, Western Avenue is full of special occasion restaurants.
Inspired by milo sorghum, a heritage grain and major Oklahoma export, Milo at the Ellison is beloved by hotel guests and locals alike. Locally sourced and seasonally driven, the chic restaurant offers all-day menus that tinker with tradition, like pimento cheese tots, rib-eye steak with roasted tomato butter and cast-iron catfish with grits and fennel aïoli. The drink list sports creative cocktails, a curated wine list and some of the most inventive non-alcoholic mocktails in town.
A culinary choose-your-own-adventure, The Crown is chef Eric Smith’s singular homage to Pacific Rim cuisine, infused with eclectic flavors and techniques, like butter-poached lobster cakes with miso and saffron, hoisin-glazed chicken thighs with truffle mayo and Chilean sea bass two ways: tempura-fried and curry-crusted. The chef also offers all-you-can-eat tasting menus, based on his creative whims, for adventurous diners, as well as tastings for private groups in the on-site private dining space, The Crown Room.
Since 1988, The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro has been an upscale cornerstone in OKC and a long-time staple for classic American fare with European influences in a romantic, cozy setting. The wine list is among the best in the city, perfectly paired with the likes of parmesan risotto with Burgundy-braised beef and buttermilk fried quail in sherry cream.
For a taste of the East Coast, Rococo is a bustling local favorite that serves steaks, pasta and seafood, especially New England-inspired dishes like Rhode Island fisherman stew, lobster rolls, and bucatini with clam sauce. Be sure to try the signature crab cake.
Coastal Flavors, Local Favorites
For more seafood, you don’t have to go too far. Nestled inside the Will Rogers Theatre building, Sushi Neko reigns as one of the most acclaimed Japanese restaurants in OKC. The popular eatery, with a lively sushi bar and outdoor booths along the sidewalk, sports a lengthy menu of fresh seafaring favorites, including spicy scallop handrolls, uni shooters and the Sea Monster roll with tempura lobster, crab and flying fish roe.
Across the street, Musashi’s is a Japanese steakhouse where teppanyaki chefs sizzle food table-side, including seafood dishes like sake lobster, grilled salmon and teriyaki snapper.
At Pearl’s Oyster Bar, a welcoming restaurant with New Orleans-inspired decor, influence comes from far and wide. In addition to fresh-shucked oysters, the vast menu offers everything from crabby guacamole and coconut shrimp to fried alligator and cioppino.
Although Western Avenue only spans a few miles, its culinary inspiration draws from around the globe, offering a world of flavor at some of OKC’s top dining destinations.
