As baseball games and cookouts dominate calendars through summer, Americana cravings for hot dogs and hamburgers reach a fever pitch. At Curveball Kitchen, a newer addition to OKANA’s recently launched Boardwalk, guests can hit a home run—literally—with gourmet hot dogs and baseball simulators. Along with wings, nachos and patty melts, the menu features all-beef foot-long hot dogs topped with the likes of mac & cheese, pico de gallo and Texas chili.
With a food truck and an outpost inside Parlor food hall, Monte’s Gourmet Dogs is another go-to for inventive takes on summery nostalgia. The menu is as enormous as it is inventive, featuring items like the Big Thunder—a hot link and all-beef sausage topped with sautéed onions, BBQ brisket, cole slaw and BBQ sauce—and the grilled andouille Brunch Dogg, with cheesy scrambled eggs, guacamole and buffalo sauce.
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When it comes to burgers, the ones that feel the most summery are those that taste like they just came off the grill at a backyard cookout. Kissed with a bit of char, and ever so crispy around the edges, we’re talking about the kinds of burgers you’ll find at institutions like Patty Wagon, New State Burgers and, of course, any of the legendary onion burgers along Route 66 in El Reno.
But few places exemplify summer in the city like Bar Arbolada. With its airy, plant-filled motif, and a smattering of pink sidewalk tables, the downtown haunt has earned national acclaim for its smash burgers—and rightfully so. Fresh off the grill, the best summer order is a double-patty burger with pimento cheese fries and a juicy paloma. And you can’t go wrong with a classic grilled cheese and espresso martini while you’re at it.
