The results are in – and then some. We asked readers to vote in åour 6th annual Best of the 405 survey, and they responded with enthusiasm, obliterating the previous record for highest number of responses. And when more people register their opinions, the results are even more of a vote of confidence for the winners. We’re delighted to share with you this summary of readers’ top picks for the highlights of life in OKC, Edmond, Norman and surroundings … and we added a few of our own Editors’ Choice selections, as well.
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 New Restaurant
The Press
1610 N Gatewood, OKC, 405.208.7739, thepressokc.com
How much deliciousness can you pack into an area that can’t be more than half a square mile, anyway? The pull of the Plaza District grew even stronger in 2017 thanks to the addition of this thoroughly tempting comfort food haven, the third restaurant from the team behind The Mule and Anchor Down. It gets extra points for offering brunch options all day, and for including several vegetarian options alongside its fried chicken and pork belly. (Vegetarians need comfort food, too!) Overall, the environment is cozy, the portions are large and the food is delicious. What more could we want?
► Readers’ Choice
Coffee shop
Elemental Coffee Roasters
Craft brewer
Anthem Brewing Co.
Breakfast
Hatch
Weekend brunch
The Jones Assembly
Casual dining
Charleston’s
Fine dining
Mahogany
Desserts
Pie Junkie
Food truck
Big Truck Tacos
Out-of-business Restaurant You'd like to make a comeback
Molly Murphy’s
Burger
The Garage
Barbecue
The Butcher BBQ Stand
Pizza
Hideaway
Seafood
The Drake
Steak
The Ranch
Sushi
Sushi Neko
Vegetarian
Loaded Bowl
Italian
Stella Modern Italian
Asian
Chae Modern Korean
Mexican
Ted’s Cafe Escondido
Ethnic restaurant (not Italian, Asian or Mexican)
Cafe Kacao
Chef
Jason Campbell, Mary Eddy’s
Caterer
Aunt Pittypat’s
Customer experience
The Jones Assembly
Bartender
Michael O’Hara, Mary Eddy’s
Cocktail bar/ Watering hole
The T Room at The Jones Assembly
Place to take visiting friends/relatives
Cattlemen’s
► Editors’ Choice
Favorite Future Food News
Sean Cummings’ Irish Restaurant
As Best of the 405 time approaches, our staff tends to converse about the readers’ choice categories – hey, we read the magazine, too – and one of our evergreen topics has been the out-of-business restaurant we wish would make a comeback. Turns out we’re going to need a new selection, because the oft-lamented loss of chef Sean Cummings’ eponymous pub is being rectified by the universe. Look for Guinness, boxty and black pudding in a joyfully noisy community atmosphere when it opens in just a couple of months … and for several of us to be front and center. Coming soon to 7628 N May, OKC
Okies
► Readers’ Choice
Elected official
Mayor Mick Cornett
Nonprofit organization
Positive Tomorrows
Celebrity
Russell Westbrook
Musician
Kyle Dillingham
Bar band
My So Called Band
Local actor
Susan Riley
Artist
Corbyn Rhodes
Filmmaker
Lance McDaniel
Photographer
Marshall Hawkins, Sundance Photography
Author/writer
S. E. Hinton
► Editor's Choice
Favorite New (Old) Full-Time Artist
Terry Clark
Painting isn’t a new pastime for Dr. Clark; he’s had 18 years of practice and has exhibited watercolors in Santa Fe and Oklahoma City. However, he does have more time to devote to that endeavor these days. After 27 years of helping students develop and hone their journalistic skills as a professor and former chair of UCO’s Mass Communications department, as well as assisting grads in getting journalism, PR and advertising jobs, the distinguished Dr. Clark retired in May 2017. He’s unlikely to stop writing – it’s a hard habit to break after a lifetime of contributing to newspapers and magazines – but now the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Famer should be free more often to blog (Coffee With Clark), tweet (@okieprof), play chess, paint … and drink coffee. Black.
Blogger
The Lost Ogle
Comedian
Spencer Hicks
Meteorologist
David Payne
News anchor
Kelly Ogle
Investigative journalist
Scott Hines
Sports journalist
Berry Tramel
Radio personality
Ferris O’Brien, KOSU
Ambassador who makes you proud to be an Oklahoman
Mayor Mick Cornett
► Editor's Choice
Favorite Passing of the Torch
Mick Cornett to David Holt
In OKC’s century-plus history, the average length of a mayoral term is a shade under four years; a child born on Mick Cornett’s first day in office would be finishing up his or her freshman year of high school right about now. The only person to be elected OKC mayor four times is leaving some pretty big shoes to fill.
So it feels like a good sign that his successor will enter office on a tide of public confidence: Former State Sen. David Holt won the mayoral election by a margin of more than 60 percentage points, receiving 78.5 percent of the vote. That’s a solid mandate, and hopefully the beginning of a similarly long and illustrious tenure.
Shopping
► Readers' Choice
Jewelry store
BC Clark
Luxury auto dealership
Jackie Cooper BMW
Furniture store
Mathis Brothers
Home accessories store
Plenty Mercantile
Florist
Tony Foss
Women’s clothing store
Mode
Men’s clothing store
Blue Seven
Bike shop
Schlegel’s Bicycles
Gift boutique
Blue Seven
Shoe store
Betsy King
► Editor's Choice
Favorite Place to Remember That Print Is Alive and Well
Commonplace Books
You can walk in and buy a book, yes, but much of the appeal of Commonplace is that it’s uncommon in the best way a bookstore can be: It’s more concerned with individuals, experiences and conversations than moving the most possible copies of a mass-market paperback. Depending on when they arrive, visitors may find live music, kids’ storytimes, an unscheduled group conversation about the difference between spiritualism and religion … or just a quietly snoozing dog. Throughout, the store is permeated with genuine thought and care for the printed word and its power to affect our lives. We’re big fans of Full Circle and Best of Books, but more thriving local bookstores are unequivocally a good thing. 1325 N Walker, OKC, 405.534.4540
Vintage store
Bad Granny’s
District shopping
Plaza District
Eyewear source
Midtown Optical
Health club
Four Star Fitness
Personal trainer
Ryan Few
Crossfit box
Crossfit 405
Yoga/pilates studio
405YOGA
Family doctor
Dr. Castel Santana, Morfit Medical
Family dentist
Nathan Guilford, Toothbrushers Dental
Cosmetic dentist
Dr Corbyn Rhodes
Cosmetic surgeon
Dr Erik Nuveen, Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates
Hair stylist
Elyssa Jones, His and Hairs I
► Editors' Choice
Favorite Completed Municipal Project
Lindsey Street, Norman
This was not an overnight success story. Widening Lindsey between the interstate and Berry took more than a year to complete (and the state’s revamp of the I-35 exit stretched on longer than that), and navigating the area ranged from difficult to impossible for much of the duration – which had a severely painful effect on local businesses suddenly stuck in virtually inaccessible areas. But if you haven’t been by lately, go look at Lindsey Street now. Extra lanes, new streetlights, medians, clearly delineated bike lanes, adequate drainage … it’s a whole new road, and one that should be good for the city going forward. Plus, it gives some hope to those of us currently creeping around traffic cones along the new OKC streetcar’s route.
Barber
Chad Grounds, Midtown Barbershop
Salon
The Cut Salon, Yukon OK
Spa
Udånder
Veterinarian
Dr. Leonardo Baez, Midtown Vets
Bank
BancFirst
Wealth management firm
Align Wealth Management
Home builder
Homes by Taber
Real estate firm
Keller Williams
Law firm
Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C.
Hospital
Mercy Hospital
Interior design company
Emory Anne Interiors
Landscape design company
Modern Environment
Diversions
► Editors' Choice
Favorite Vintage Theater for Vintage Movies (and more)
Tower Theatre
New things are great. Sometimes giving vintage things a new lease on life is even better. The efforts to revitalize OKC’s classic 1930s-era Tower Theatre have encompassed a decade and then some, involving multiple combinations of people and principals; that means the operating trio of Stephen Tyler, Chad Whitehead and Jabee Williams can’t quite take all the credit. But in their hands, the venue is humming again with concerts and community events, and it’s difficult to overstate what a boon the impressive results have been for the Uptown 23rd area and beyond. When a November screening of 2001 marked the first film shown here in 32 years, it cemented even more strongly Tower’s triumphant return from squalor to splendor. 425 NW 23rd, OKC, 405.708.6937
► Readers' Choice
Art gallery
JRB Art at the Elms
Museum
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Cultural event
Festival of the Arts
Performing arts venue
Civic Center Music Hall
Event season tickets
Lyric Theater
Outdoor festival
Festival of the Arts
Charity event
Red Tie Night
Live music venue
The Jones Assembly
Casino
Riverwind Casino
Movie theater
Warren Theatre
Sporting event
OKC Thunder
Tourist attraction
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
Hotel
21c Museum Hotel
Wedding venue
21c Museum Hotel
Family excursion
Riversport Rapids
In-state getaway
Beaver’s Bend
