Jeff S.
Yelp
Note: Moving my previous review, which was tagged at the Bixby location, to this one, now that they have a Yelp! page.
Let me preface this review by saying that this is for the NEW Apple Barrel Cafe location on 61st and Mingo, where the Cookhouse used to be, and before that, The Bros Houligan.
Now, that said.... this place is stellar.
We went in for a late lunch this last Saturday, while in the neighborhood, having wanted to try them out since they opened.
Due to the time, a pretty light crowd was in the dining area, so seating was plentiful. We were cheerfully seated and given menus, with our drink order taken.
Being first timers, we took a while to peruse the menu, which, while not overly large, is still able to accommodate almost any taste.
The Kid went with..... wait for it...... spaghetti and meatballs.
The Son went with a Chicken Fried Steak and Fries, having already had their Chicken Fried Chicken on his own (which he said was pretty much the bomb).
The wife threw me a curve and chose the Philly Steak Sandwich, and I decided to live on the wild side and chose the fried cod and fries.
Three of us had a side salad ahead of the entrees, which were all fresh, flavorful and well put together. As with another review, the dressing is indeed in a little cup w a lid, and it was a really good ranch. I can't say that the dressing cup was a distraction in the least.
In a really short time (as in we were just finishing up the salads), our entrees arrived.
The Kid's spaghetti was generous and covered with shaved parmesan... not the cardboard cheese. She pretty much loved it and said is was as good as any other place she gets spaghetti.
The Son's CFS was really, really good. He offered me a bite for the sake of my review. Breading was flavorful and light, without overpowering the meat, which was a generously thick slice of really tender beef. This fries, like mine, and those in the pictures were a really unique type of fry. They were big enough to have a slightly crispy exterior, and still have plenty of fluffy, hot interior. In other words, they were pretty darn good, even if they did look different.
The Wife really enjoyed her Philly, offering me a bite as well. The meat was flavorful and well seasoned, the veggies cooked perfectly. It also had a good balance of meat to bread, which is always nice.
The fried cod, usually a risky proposition in Tulsa, turned out to be a well placed gamble. Thin an slightly flaky, they weren't the usual cod loins one thinks of, but rather planks of cod in a nice, well flavored batter, perfectly fried. The cole slaw side was your basic run of the mill cole slaw with nothing to really distinguish it, but seriously... it's cole slaw.
Service was spot on, with our server being there when we needed her and not when we didn't.
I sampled a little of everything on the table, and loved every bite.
The Apple Barrel is for sure on our list of new favorites.