James D.
Yelp
We were treated so phenomenally well the other night at Red Rooster. First impressions were an incredibly welcoming and cozy atmosphere: very unpretentious for a bar, beautifully furnished, well lit, and not too loud (looking at you, Bar Arbolada, love you though). We had the Rooster burger, and the fish and chips. The burger was quite good, though I would say I've had better. The ingredients were noticeably high quality, especially the meat and that amazing bun, but personally, I could have used some more sauce, since it was slightly on the drier side, and even though I adore gruyere cheese, I was surprised to find that I could have done without it. Its distinct flavor was cutting through in a way that was almost too noticeable. Minor complaints though. The fish and chips, though, was unbelievable: a delicate breading on top of fish that literally melted in your mouth. Fantastic housemade tartar sauce, with an herb in it that I couldn't identify but really elevated the flavor. If there's more perfectly cooked fish out there, I haven't had it.
What really made the experience so wonderful, though, was the quality of our service. We walked in with no reservation on a Friday night, and to our dismay saw a packed dining room with no open tables. We weren't too interested in sitting at the bar, so I quickly made a reservation for about an hour later in the evening. When we came back, we were greeted by a woman we'd spoken to earlier, who recognized us and said she was glad we'd been able to make it back. But the person who really amazed us was our server Tilly, who truly went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and to engage with us. She even went out of her way to specially prepare a cocktail for us the way she liked it, and was so incredibly kind every time she passed by. To be honest, it was a level of care that I don't think I've experienced at many restaurants before, if any. As someone who works a customer service job, I truly understand how challenging it can be to look after every single person, especially on a busy evening, but it really felt like our presence in the restaurant was valued. The food was delicious, but ultimately it was the experience Tilly gave us that made our night. This place is a real gem in OKC and I can't wait to go back.