Best of the 405 - 405 Magazine

The results are in – and election fatigue is apparently not a factor around central Oklahoma, because for our 5th annual Best of the 405 survey, readers responded in record numbers. We’re delighted to share with you this compilation of the voters’ top picks for the highlights of life in OKC, Edmond, Norman and surroundings … augmented by a few selections of our own in the Editors’ Choice categories. These are the places, people, taste sensations and overall examples of greatness that you (and we) love best about the 405. Enjoy!

Dining

►Editors’ Choice

Favorite Place to Bring the Heat

Eddie’s Bar & Grill

930 E 2, Edmond | 405.285.7725 | Eddie's Bar & Grill FB

Look, it’s easy to make a dish spicy to the point of discomfort. But what good does finding the very hottest of sauces do you if the result tastes like vinegar and napalm? When you order the Scorpion sauce with your Buffalo wings (which are grilled, not fried, and delicious in their own right) at this cool Edmond hangout, yes, it’s likely to make your eyes water a little and your voice get a little snuffly and raspy, but it also has a genuinely appealing flavor – if you’re anything like us, you’ll finish a wing, clear your throat a few times and reach for another.

Favorite New Restaurant

Hatch Early Mood Food

1101 N Broadway, OKC | 405.609.8936 | hatchokc.com

On the one hand, you might suspect that Hatch got a bit of a handicap in this race because we love breakfast. On the other hand, the odds are excellent that it’ll become your favorite meal of the day, too, after giving this Automobile Alley eatery a try. The atmosphere is bright and bustling, service is excellent and the menu ranges from classics such as a Denver Omelet and biscuits and gravy to more creative options in the vein of the Southwest Royale Benedict or an Oklahoma-shaped sweet cream pancake with Bourbon maple glaze. They’re open for lunch, as well, but consider the wisdom of “Parks and Recreation” sage Leslie Knope: “Why would anybody ever eat anything besides breakfast food?”

►Readers’ Choice

Favorite Burger

The Garage

Multiple locations | eatatthegarage.com

Coffee shop

Elemental Coffee

815 N Hudson, OKC | 405.633.1703 | elementalcoffeeroasters.com

Craft brewer

Anthem Brewing Company

908 SW 4, OKC | 405.604.0446 | anthembrewing.com

Breakfast

Hatch Early Mood Food

1101 N Broadway, OKC | 405.609.8936 | hatchokc.com

Weekend brunch

Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge

900 W Main, OKC | 405.982.6960 | maryeddysokc.com

Workday lunch

Fat Dog Kitchen & Bar

1234 N Western, OKC | 405.609.3647 | fatdogokc.com

Casual dinner

Chick N Beer

715 NW 23, OKC | 405.604.6995 | chicknbeerokc.com

Fine dining

Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse

1101 N Broadway, OKC | 405.212.3949 | broadway10okc.com

Desserts

Pie Junkie

1711 NW 16, OKC | 405.605.8767 | piejunkie.com

Food truck

Big Truck Tacos

450.505.8226 | bigtrucktacos.com

Al fresco dining

Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes

1000 N Hudson, OKC | 405.702.6922 | barriosmexicanokc.com

Out-of-business restaurant you wish would make a comeback

Charcoal Oven

Barbecue

Earl’s Rib Palace

Multiple locations | earlsribpalace.com

Pizza

Empire Slice House

1734 NW 16, OKC | 405.557.1760 | empireslicehouse.com

Seafood

The Drake

519 NW 23, OKC | 405.605.3399 | thedrakeokc.com

Steak

Ranch Steakhouse

3000 W Britton, OKC | 405.755.3501 | ranchsteakhouse.com

Sushi

Sushi Neko

4318 N Western, OKC | 405.528.8862 | sushineko.com

Vegetarian

Red Cup

3122 N Classen, OKC | 405.525.3430 | theredcupokc.com

Italian

Stella Modern Italian Cuisine

1201 N Walker, OKC | 405.235.2200 | stella-okc.com

Mexican

Ted’s Café Escondido

Multiple locations | tedscafe.com

Ethnic restaurant (not Italian or Mexican)

Taj Cuisine of India

1500 NW 23, OKC | 405.601.1888 | tajokc.com

Chef

Chef Jason Campbell, Mary Eddy’s

900 W Main, OKC | 405.982.6960 | maryeddysokc.com

Caterer

Abbey Road Catering

405.360.1058 | abbeyroadcatering.com

Customer experience

Bleu Garten

301 NW 10, OKC | bleugarten.com

Drinksmith

Kristin Weddendorf, Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails

132 W Main, Norman | 405.801.2900 | scratchnorman.com

Cocktail bar

Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar

1100 N Broadway, OKC | 405.421.0203 | sidecarokc.com

Watering hole

Bleu Garten

301 NW 10, OKC, bleugarten.com

Place to take visiting friends/relatives

Bleu Garten

301 NW 10, OKC, bleugarten.com

Kid-friendly restaurant

Hideaway Pizza

Multiple locations | hideawaypizza.com

Diversions

►Editors’ Choice

Favorite Landmark Rescue

First National Center

120 N Robinson, OKC | First National Center FB

It was almost a disaster. Built in 1933, containing more than 1 million square feet including the spectacular Art Deco beauty of the Great Banking Hall, the First National Center was deteriorating rapidly, with tenants leaving its office space, potential owners clashing over legal issues and essential services shutting down. The grand old building went into receivership in 2015 and its future was murky at best – until local developers Gary Brooks and Charlie Nicholas finalized its purchase in January. By the time the renovations – which are projected to take about three years – are complete, the landmark should be bustling again with retail, dining, housing and hotel space, and an especially beautiful piece of the city’s history will be living rather than lost.

Favorite Musical Milestone

NMF X

April 27-29, Downtown Norman | NormanMusicFestival.com

It’s a little difficult now to remember some of the elements of the first Norman Music Festival. Not the powerhouse performances from British Sea Power and the Polyphonic Spree, those were great – but the surprise that accompanied the new day of free concerts, and the uncertainty surrounding the prospect of it happening again. Those aspects seem hazy now because a decade later, the event has swelled from one day to three; from 15,000 attendees to nearly 100,000 last year; from a few dozen bands that first year to roughly 350 lining up to turn downtown Norman into a maelstrom of music later this month. And it’s still free. Creating this massive spectacle has been a huge undertaking from the organizers, so from those of us about to be rocked, we salute you.

►Readers’ Choice

Art gallery

IAO Gallery

706 W Sheridan, OKC | 405.232.6060 | individualartists.org

Museum

OKC Museum of Art

415 Couch, OKC | 405.236.3100 | okcmoa.com

Cultural event

Festival of the Arts, April 25-30, 2017

500 Couch, OKC | artscouncilokc.com

Performing arts venue

Civic Center Music Hall

201 N Walker, OKC | 405.297.2264 | okcciviccenter.com

Non-sports season tickets

OKC Philharmonic

201 N Walker, OKC | 232.7575 | okcphil.org

Outdoor festival

Festival of the Arts, April 25-30, 2017

500 Couch, OKC | artscouncilokc.com

Charity event

Red Tie Night, March 2018

okaidscarefund.com

Live music venue

The Criterion

500 E Sheridan, OKC | 405.840.5500 | criterionokc.com

Casino

Riverwind Casino

1544 Highway 9, Norman | 405.322.6000 | riverwind.com

Movie theater

Warren Theatre

1000 S Telephone, Moore | 405.735.9676 | warrentheatres.com

Sporting event

OKC Thunder Basketball

nba.com/thunder

Tourist attraction

OKC National Memorial & Museum

620 N Harvey, OKC | 405.235.3313 | oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org

Hotel

Skirvin Hilton

1 Park, OKC | 405.272.3040 | skirvinhilton.com

Wedding venue

21c Museum Hotel

900 W Main, OKC | 405.982.6900 | 21cmuseumhotels.com/oklahomacity

Family excursion

OKC Zoo

2000 Remington, OKC | 405.424.3344 | okczoo.com

In-state getaway

Beaver’s Bend State Park

Near Broken Bow | 580.494.6300 | beaversbend.com

Okies

►Editors’ Choice

Favorite Assault on History

Russell Westbrook

Russell West Brook on FB

Westbrook makes the dazzling look reliably familiar. As we went to press, he was passing Wilt Chamberlain for 2nd most triple doubles in a season with 32 (his previous season high was 18), and was still on pace to be the only player in the history of the league besides the great Oscar Robertson to average at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game over an entire season. OKC Thunder fans already knew that Westbrook is among the best current players in the NBA, but after this offseason’s unexpected roster upheaval, even more responsibility fell on his shoulders … and he has responded by demonstrating that he’s one of the game’s all-time greats.

Favorite Dynamic Diner Duo

Nic & Jovon

Nic’s Grill, 1201 N Penn, OKC | Nic's Grill FB

Technically, that’s “Justin Nicholas and Jovon Bunkley” … but one of the reasons these two excel at what they do is that they make first-time guests feel like regulars almost immediately. Nic’s Grill is a legend among OKC burger connoisseurs, and deservedly so, but it’s also tiny. There’s a lot of pressure inherent in running a two-man restaurant operation with barely enough room to move around and a line perpetually out the door, and these two have been making it look easy for years. With the recent opening of Nic’s Lounge in Midtown, they have more demands on their time, but they’re still working together to keep the city fed and happy, with cheese and everything.

►Readers' Choice

Elected official

Mayor Mick Cornett

Mayor Mick Cornett on FB

Nonprofit organization

Infant Crisis Services

4224 N Lincoln, OKC | 405.528.3663 | infantcrisis.org

Humanitarian

Laura Franklin

Celebrity

Russell Westbrook

OKC Thunder

Musician

Kyle Dillingham

kyle-web.com

Bar band

Annie Oakley

theannieoakley.com

Local actor

Susan Riley

Lyric Theatre and Pollard Theatre

Artist

Mike Wimmer

mikewimmer.com

Filmmaker

Lance McDaniel

Photographer

Andrea Dillingham

andreadillinghamphotography.com

Author/writer

Lou Berney

louberney.com

Blogger

The Lost Ogle

thelostogle.com

Comedian

Aaron Wilder

Aaron Wilder FB

Meteorologist

David Payne

News9

News anchor

Abigail Ogle

KOCO 5

Investigative journalist (any medium)

Scott Hines

KFOR-TV

Sports journalist

Berry Tramel

The Oklahoman

Radio personality

Joey and Heather

98.9 KISS FM

Ambassador who makes you proud to be an Oklahoman

Kyle Dillingham

kyle-web.com

Non-elected community official

Tom McDaniel

American Fidelity Foundation

Shopping

►Editors’ Choice

Favorite Place to Go Looking for Love

Central Oklahoma Humane Society

7500 N Western, OKC, 405.286.1229, okhumane.org

The old, old adage says that money can’t buy love – but that doesn’t mean there aren’t workarounds. For a comparatively meager fee, you can enrich your life considerably with some animal companionship from among the furry critters waiting at the Humane Society. During its first decade of operation, the nonprofit (which receives no government funding nor tax dollars) has spayed or neutered nearly 90,000 cats and dogs, and helped more than 20,000 pets get adopted by loving families, including a few members of our staff. The adoption center is open to the public, so you’re welcome to stop by and scratch a few ears. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself falling in love.

Favorite Place to Get Inked

Altered Images

12325 N May, #111B, OKC, 405.751.7060, alteredimagesokctattoo.com

An inspirational motto, a tiny Celtic cross, an impeccably detailed and vivid sleeve or backpiece … if you’re in the market for an eye-catching piece of body art of any scope, check out this parlor on the north side. Their assembly of artists can reproduce a wide variety of visual styles, and in addition to the finished product, they also excel at the amenities that improve the process, with an emphasis on comfort and cleanliness. Talk with Chad Pelland or one of the other artists about making your idea into a reality you can wear.