Nic’s Grill now open Friday nights, Saturdays at lunch
Nic’s Place Diner and Lounge, 1115 N Robinson Ave., is joining the city’s group of restaurants hosting Thanksgiving service this year, but that’s not the biggest news that came out of my latest visit with owner Justin “Nic” Nicholas.
In two decades behind the griddle at the original Nic’s Grill, 1201 N Pennsylvania Ave., neither lunch on Saturday nor dinner has ever been available. That’s all changed. “We’re open now Friday nights from 6 to 9,” Nicholas said. “And Saturday from 11 to 2.”
Nicholas said he did do breakfast on Saturdays at Nic’s Grill when he first opened two decades ago next week.
He also mentioned Nic’s Grill had hosted Thanksgiving that first year.
“I opened three days before Thanksgiving when I first opened,” he said. “I told one of my customers I was thinking of serving a free Thanksgiving dinner and he called one of the radio stations.”
Nic said he ended up serving 150 to 200 people that day for free back in 1997.
Don’t expect a free meal at Nic’s Place on Thanksgiving, but Nic promises a traditional feast, with plenty of options, in a comfortable setting. The basement lounge will be open, too.
Nic’s Place isn’t the only place open on Thanksgiving. Since the list ran last Wednesday, we’ve added two new options and deleted one. Got a polite note from O’Connell’s to let us know that this year the iconic Norman watering hole will close and is encouraging its employees to spend time with family.
This list will run again tomorrow. If you own a restaurant that’s open
Thanksgiving and would like it added to the list, email dcathey@oklahoman.com.
Bellini’s Underground, 6305 Waterford Blvd No. 100, Thanksgiving prix fixe, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., reservations required, call 848-1065.
Bricktown Brewery, Remington Park location only, all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., must be 18 or older, call 419-4449.
Chequers, 1009 S Air Depot, Midwest City; 10:30 to 3 p.m.; serving regular menu plus traditional Thanksgiving feast of turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, and pumpkin pie; 736-6944.
E.S. Founders, 741 N Phillips Ave (Embassy Suites Hotel), 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thanksgiving buffet including turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, green-bean casserole and dessert; 239-3900.
Flint, 15 N Robinson Ave. (Colcord Hotel), open regular hours with regular a la carte menu plus a special turkey dinner with choice of two sides, served family-style, 605-0657.
Grand House, 2701 N Classen Blvd., special Dim Sum service, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 524-7333.
Ingrid’s Kitchen, 3701 N Youngs Blvd.; Thanksgiving buffet seatings at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.; 946-8444.
Legend’s Restaurant, 1313 W Lindsey, Norman; seatings at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m.; 329-8888.
Mary Eddy’s Kitchen and Lounge in 21c, 900 W Main St., noon to 7 p.m., special three-course Thanksgiving menu from chef Jason Campbell centered around Nashville Hot Turkey, 982-6960.
Nic’s Place Diner & Lounge, 1116 N Robinson Ave., special Thanksgiving
menu, 601-9234.
R&J Supper Club, 320 NW 10, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., Thanksgiving favorites from staff’s family recipes, 602-5066.
Panda Grill, 1700 S Morgan Rd., Suite C; 2 to 9 p.m., full menu will be available.
The Pump Bar, 2425 N Walker Ave., 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., serving full turkey dinner and two tailored craft cocktails, 702-8898.
Rococo Restaurant and Fine Wine (Northpark location only), 12252 Northpark Mall, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 212-4577.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 8339 Riverside Pkwy., in Tulsa; noon to 8 p.m.; regular menu plus Thanksgiving fare: turkey, sausage stuffing, cranberry relish, gravy and a choice of sides.
Saltgrass Steakhouse, locations in Norman and Oklahoma City, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Skirvin Hilton Hotel Park Avenue Grill, 1 Park Ave.; breakfast buffet 6:30 to 10:30 a.m.; 11 to 2 p.m. prix fixe menu; 5 to 9 p.m., complete meal at a fixed price and regular menu. Grand Ballroom: buffet, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 702-8444.
Sooner Bowling Center, 550 24th Ave. NW, Norman; 6 p.m. to midnight; burgers, pizza and regular snack bar menu. Bowling reservations recommended.
Szechuan Bistro, 1010 W Memorial Road, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., dinner menu all day, 752-8889.
Vast, 333 W Sheridan Ave. (Devon Tower); 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thanksgiving buffet, 702-7262.
Virginia’s Place, 100 E 15 St. in Edmond, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day; full menu plus traditional turkey and dressing, specializing in homemade desserts; 697-5343.
Viceroy Grille, 1200 N Walker Ave. (Ambassador Hotel); multicourse dinner with entree options, 600-6200.
Western Sizzlin’/Mackie’s Steakhouse, locations in Oklahoma City, Moore and Chickasha; 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Serving regular menu plus traditional Thanksgiving fare: turkey, dressing, ham, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, cranberry salad, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie.
Whiskey Barrel Saloon, 4120 Newcastle Rd., 10 to 2 a.m. Regular menu plus Thanksgiving buffet of turkey, ham, yams, rolls, okra, gravy, pumpkin pie and more.
Lunch returns to The Drake
In the summer of 2015, A Good Egg Dining opened The Drake, 519 NW 23 St., its first seafood restaurant, to large crowds and enthusiastic response.
Despite initial crowds so strong reservations were required for lunch, the midday enthusiasm quickly waned. Weekend brunch stayed strong, but lunch crowds dwindled enough the organization decided to suspend lunch service during the week and concentrate on dinner.
Shortly after the restaurant celebrated its anniversary, management also found the original family-style full-service approach employed wasn’t resonating with diners so they adjusted the menu to emphasize individual entrees over shared plates. It’s been a year since that decision, and now The Drake is serving lunch once again.
The revived lunch menu contains six “sandwiches,” which include a burger and fish tacos. But let’s face it, if you’re going to The Drake for lunch you’d be doing yourself a disservice not to have the Lobster Roll. I suppose those other options are for when you lunch at The Drake on consecutive days and you don’t want to seem like an addict. Lunch also includes pasta options and a strong group of entree salads, anchored by the BLT.
Rockford takes part in cocktail ‘Miracle’
Miracle, a Christmas pop-up bar launched in 2014 in New York City, returns this week, and among the more than 50 locations around the world participating is The Rockford Cocktail Den.
Starting Friday, Miracle locations will offer seasonally themed cocktails in a festive setting through Christmas Eve.
The roster of Christmas concoctions available include the Snowball Old Fashioned (Gingerbread Bourbon, Wormwood Bitters, Lemon Zest) to newcomers including How The Gimlet Stole Christmas (Gin, Sage, Pine & Caraway Cordial) and the Run Run Rudolph (Blanco Tequila, Coffee Liqueur, Iced Hot Chocolate, Mexican Spices). All cocktails will be served in Cocktail Kingdom’s custom Miracle glassware, from mugs to coupes, highballs and rocks glasses.
The concept for Miracle was born four years ago, when, on the advice of his mother, Greg Boehm decided to halt construction of what was to be his new East Village cocktail bar called Mace and transformed the unfinished space into a popup bar serving holiday-themed drinks among festive décor. As crowds swarmed the NYC location, Boehm’s friends throughout the bar industry asked how they could recreate the holiday magic on their own turf and expansion became inevitable. The following year, Miracle expanded to four locations, and in 2016, it went worldwide with pop-ups in Greece, Montreal and Paris.
Tasty television
ABC Television will premiere “30 Years: A Celebration of the James Beard Foundation” at 3 p.m. Sunday. The one-hour special is hosted by chef Marcus Samuelsson, with appearances scheduled by chefs Mario Batali, Daniel Boulud, Tom Colicchio, Traci des Jardins, Carla Hall, Emeril Lagasse, Jacques Pepin, Ming Tsai, food journalist Gail Simmons, and Martha Stewart.
Samuelsson will take viewers on a culinary journey through the history of the James Beard Foundation while creating a 30th anniversary dinner at the Beard House. The dinner serves as a springboard to inform viewers about JBF’s history, cooking or dining at James Beard House, a peek into the world-renowned James Beard Awards, firsthand insights from the students of JBF’s scholarship programs, and chefs’ involvement in the JBF Impact Programs.
The program will air locally on KOCO-5.
Quick bites
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Torchy’s Tacos opened to the public on Tuesday. This is the second Oklahoma location, the first opening last year in Norman. The new gourmet taqueria is at 13002 N Pennsylvania Ave.