I love food. I love cooking (and travel) more than most things in life. Some readers may not know that in my other life, I am a chef. I have been a food journalist in various media for many years, but long before that, I am a chef, culinary instructor, and cheesemonger. On days when I am not wearing my "Historic District Lifestyle hat" (and some that I am), I am usually in a kitchen. A lot of my friends are chefs, instructors, servers, bartenders, and restaurant owners.
One positive thing that I have noticed about the recent "shelter at home" situation is that people are finding comfort, entertainment, and even family time in their kitchens. They are cooking with their kids, and trying out recipes they clipped out of a magazine a year ago and never made time to prepare. I love this. I also know that there comes the point when all we (myself included) want to do is let someone else cook for us. To relax and enjoy the amazing talent we have in Oklahoma.
I look forward to the day I can sit happily (and worry-free) in my favorite restaurants and enjoy my favorite dishes from so many of my chef friends.
One concern many of us in the hospitality industry (and many others) have right now is whether or not our favorite establishments will see the other side of this still in business. Employers had to make the heartbreaking decision to lay off staff, many whom they considered like family to ensure the employees' ability to get unemployment, and to increase the odds that there would be a job waiting for them when restaurants reopen.
The restaurants that are still operating under the delivery/take-out rules are on skeleton crews in the kitchen, and many have reassigned staff to delivery drivers and carry-out attendants. They need our support right now, just as we need them to stay in business.
Fortunately, we can help the situation. We can help one another. Our talented restaurants and chefs can help us find comfort in eating well. We can help them make it through these trying financial times.
I have compiled a list of restaurants in the urban core that are offering delivery and take-out services to give you a break from cooking, and to bring back just a little bit of the "normal" that we've all been missing.
For more options, Lifestyle Publications offers local listings at CityLifestyle.com, and the Oklahoma Restaurant Association has put together a list of restaurants statewide at CarryOutOK.com
***Please note that all information is current as of press time. Please verify with the restaurant that their status remains the same***
The Manhattan - Downtown OKC
210 Park Avenue, Suite 150
405-605-5300
Hours: Monday - Friday 11 am - 6 pm
To-go, curbside, and delivery through Postmates and GrubHub
themanhattanokc.com
Picasso Cafe - Paseo Arts District
3009 Paseo
405.602.2002
Hours: 11 am - 9 pm, seven days a week
Curbside & free delivery available
PicassosOnPaseo.com
Gorō Ramen - The Plaza
1634 N Blackwelder Ave # 102
405.606.2539
Hours: 11 am - 10 pm, seven days a week
Curbside & delivery available, also offering a limited menu from Gun Izakaya.
GoroRamen.com
Social Deck & Dining - Uptown 23rd
1933 NW 23rd ST
405.602.8705
Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 6 pm. Saturday and Sunday are 11 am to 2 pm
Curbside, DoorDash, & large catering deliveries available, as well as to-go food in select Homeland stores throughout the OKC Metro area.
BeSocialOkc.com
New State Burgers - The Plaza
1705 NW 16th St. Suite A
405.724.7524
Hours: 8 am - 7 pm, seven days a week
Curbside & delivery available
NewStateBurgers.com
Empire Slice House - The Plaza
1804 NW 16th
405.557.1760
Hours: 11 am - 10 pm, seven days a week
Carry-out, to-go, and delivery through Postmates
EmpireSliceHouse.com
Stella Modern Italian - Heritage Hills
1201 N Walker Ave
405.235.2200
Hours: 4 pm - 8 pm
Limited menu available for curbside & delivery by Postmates. Free delivery to Heritage Hills, The Edge, and The Ambassador by availability.
Stella-OKC.com
OSO Paseo - Paseo Arts District
603 NW 28th St
405.309.TACO (8226)
Hours: 11 am - 9 pm, seven days a week
Curbside & free delivery available
OsoPaseo.com
Rococo - Shepherd Historic District
2824 N Pennsylvania Ave
405.528.2824
Penn- Tuesday-Friday lunch 11 am-2 pm Tuesday- Thursday 4 pm-8 pm Fri/Sat 4 pm-9 pm dinner
Curbside & delivery available.
Rococo Northpark is open for delivery & carry-out as well.
LoveRococo.com
i2U Culinary Solutions at Homeland
1108 NW 18th St
i2U: 405.242.6448
Homeland Hours: 7 am - 9 pm
Packaged meals and fresh bread available at Homeland
i2UCulinary.com
Osteria - Nichols Hills Plaza
6430 Avondale Dr.
405.254.5058
Hours: 11 am - 9 pm, seven days a week
Curbside & free delivery through Toast Takeout App
OsteriaOKC.com
