Justin A.
Yelp
Cheever's Cafe is an upscale Southwestern & Southern cuisine restaurant in Oklahoma City. I went on recommendation from some locals. The restaurant was extremely busy on a Wednesday night, but they had open bar seating where they served the full menu. I was greeted by Cameron, the bartender, and he told me all about Cheever Cafe's history.
In 1938, the Cheever's Cafe location was originally a flower shop that was run by the Cheever family for multiple generations. By 2000, the location transformed into the restaurant you see today. The new owners, Heather and Keith Paul, kept the former flower shop intact as much as possible. There's a stylish Deco storefront built of limestone and black glass with huge plate glass windows and terrazzo floors. There is also a 20-foot flower display cooler in the middle of the cafe where they currently use it for their wines.
According to Cameron, the restaurant is known for Cheever's Chicken Fried Steak and Shrimp and Grits. He mentioned that Oklahoma City is a new hub for filming Hollywood movies, and Leonardo DiCaprio actually came in to try the Cheever's Chicken Fried Steak before. For dessert, Cameron had recommended the Roasted Pecan Ice Cream Ball and the Giant Carrot Cake. I wanted to try as much as I could:
[COMPLIMENTARY BREAD]
+Bread and Butter - The bread was incredible; it was so fluffy and warm. Highly recommend coming here for the bread! - 5/5
[CRAFTED COCKTAILS]
+Summertime Smash (Buffalo Trace Bourbon, strawberry hibiscus tea, strawberry-agave syrup, and basil leaves) for $12 - This was great on a hot, summer day! It was sweet and had a fresh basil aftertaste. - 4.5/5
[MAIN PLATE]
+Cheever's Chicken Fried Steak (jalapeño cream gravy and garlic red skinned mashed potatoes) for $26 - I don't like chicken fried steak typically. It's something I have always avoided ordering. However, after being told this was what Cheever's Cafe was known for, I had to give it a try. To my surprise, I enjoyed it. It came with two large pieces, and it was quite filling. The jalapeño in the cream gravy was subtle and tasty. I would have to say this was the only chicken fried steak I have ever enjoyed in my life. - 4.5/5
[DESSERTS]
+Roasted Pecan Ice Cream Ball (vanilla ice cream rolled in brown sugar, roasted pecans, and red chile - smothered in chocolate sauce) for $5.50 (quarter-size) - I love vanilla ice cream in chocolate sauce. With the roasted pecans and other additions, this was a great way to end the meal. - 4.5/5
Overall, Cheever's Cafe was a fun experience in Oklahoma City. My favorite part was definitely the complimentary bread and butter. It was like biting into a warm cloud. If I ever came back to Cheever's Cafe, I would try the Shrimp and Grits as my main and the Giant Carrot Cake for dessert. I would recommend checking this place out, but definitely grab a reservation if you come with multiple people!