The Tavern

Native Tulsan who lives in Austin now. We went here twice during our visit and were VERY pleased.
Highlights would be the Angry Mac and Cheese for sure! AWESOME. Not over cooked pasta and so cheesy.
Good burgers, steaks and cocktails.
Highly recommend. Sit back, try the apps (popcorn and deviled eggs) some cocktails and go from there.

As a native Tulsan and self proclaimed foodie, any time friends visit or need help deciding what to have for dinner The Tavern is ALWAYS among my top 3 suggestions. It’s my go-​to destination for upscale pub food. I love it all. The décor is dark, moody and a little romantic. It’s nestled in the heart of the Brady district close to Cain’s, Guthrie Green and a number of bars. They serve artfully prepared cocktails, a thoughtfully curated wine list and a host of craft beers. And the food… it’s hard to name a favorite. The Tavern touts a rotating seasonal and locally focused menu featuring many of your favorite comfort foods but always with a surprising twist. I credit Thr Tavern for resorting my faith in ordering pork chops from restaurants. Regardless of the preparation or season, they make sure your chop (usually double bone-​in) has the perfect char, a little pink center (I swear it’s safe), and oozing juices with every bite. If you’re any sort of burger fan, The Tavern’s will immediately become your Tulsa favorite. Imagine a house-​ground beef patty medium rare, topped with Stilton bleu cheese and a mushroom cognac sauce sitting decadently on a freshly baked buttery brioche bun that just melts in your mouth. Actually, forget imagining and grab this heavenly burger anytime for $ 13 or only $ 9 after 9pm! Such a steal! Other popular regular menu items are the bacon popcorn, deviled eggs and angry Mac and cheese!

The Tavern and its super secret Bull in the Alley serve up some of my favorite foods in town. Sundays come for the family style fried chicken, it will leave you stuffed but in a damn that was some good food way. The singular item that keeps me coming back the most however is their burger. It is my favorite gourmet burger in town and it not only hits the spot but it finds a few more spots and manages to fill those too. The melty Stilton cheese with the juices of the medium rare beef… amazing. Let’s not forget the craft beer and cocktails here as well, a lot of choices that wont disappoint.

As much as I want to give The Tavern a higher rating, I can only muster 3 stars. Here’s the scoop…
Let’s start with the good: I had the Tavern Burger which was fabulous AND is 50% off after 9pm (only $ 6.50). It was cooked perfectly and the lightly seasoned shoestring fries which accompanied it were excellent. I also had a Tavern Salad which was a decent size, had a nice blend of greens, tomatoes and radishes and was not overly dressed. They have a good selection of beers (albeit overpriced in my opinion) and what looked to be an extensive selection of spirits & wine.
Now for the so-​so: my buddy ordered the Fried Pig Ears. They weren’t bad, but were incredibly chewy. I had never had them before (not sure whether he had either), but we both agreed it was a daunting task to choke down more than 3 – 4 pieces. Definitely a let down.
We both ordered the bacon infused old-​fashioneds (one of their featured offerings). The first sip had a nice smokey flavor with a hint of bacon. However after the 2^nd or 3^rd sip any hint of bacon was gone and all I was getting was a rather overwhelming sickly smokey flavor. When I finally got the the bottom I was greeted by a pool of maple syrup. Not sure if that was intentional or the drink wasn’t mixed properly, but either way it was not pleasant.
Lastly, we sat at the bar and were served by the bartender. When we first arrived there were very few people and the service was good. However after about an hour things picked up and he was clearly overwhelmed. We opted to split our check (after he offered). I paid cash and he brought me my change immediately, but then left my buddy’s credit card sitting by the register for a good 10 – 15 minutes while we patiently waited for him to wait on a full bar. He did apologize, but the damage was done.
Perhaps we were there on an off night, but given the slightly high prices on everything (excluding my burger which was a great deal being half off) I expected much better.

I had been wanting to go here for several years. Décor, dark wood and pictures for a pub feel. I went after noon, the dining area is pretty loud when ²⁄₃ full, the bar side quieter. Nice people working there. Large portions. Liked the Tavern Burger, I was afraid of the Stilton on the burger, but it was good went with everything to make a delicious burger. Loved the Challah bun, it held up to the mushroom sauce. The flavor was good, but the outside was charred when cooked medium well. I really enjoyed the first half, it got cold fast and the second half wasn’t as good. Fries were like potato match sticks. They were nicely fried with slices of garlic. They got cold fast too. My husband’s Soprano was good the first fall and the second half got cold and the fat from the Italian meats was kind of hard to get down. I am glad I went and enjoyed it, but probably will not go back. They have too large or portions and that kind of food is not good as left overs. I don’t like throwing food in the garbage either. They do have lunch specials. I saw a slice of Quiche with nice greens. I love salt, good thing, the food is very salty.

One of the best late night deals is the half price burger at the Tavern. They have incredible burgers and after 9pm they are had price! I love a good burger and at that price it’s a no brainier. Additionally, their angry Mac and Cheese is INCREDIBLE!
Came here for Dining out For Life supporting HOPE! I love a local business that supports non– profits!

We came for dinner before a concert at the Brady Theatre on a Sunday night. Immediately upon walking in, we were greeted by a restaurant that felt like it was 90° inside. When I asked about it, I was answered with a «yeah, were having trouble with our AC…» We sat down and shortly thereafter heard a comotion at the dining room door to the sidewalk. They were opening the doors in order to get a breeze at the insistence of a guest.
We ordered the Pickle Pot ($ 8) and we’re served a pot of pickles and baby carrots that honestly didn’t taste like anything you couldn’t buy at the grocery store… and for $ 8, we felt that it should have had something unique about it, like flavor.
My husband ordered the burger and I ordered the Trout with polenta and asparagus. His burger patty was devoid of flavor. Apparently, they didn’t use any salt or pepper. He said the grease just tasted like ground beef grease, nothing else. The burger had some sort of mushroom reduction and was supposed to have blue cheese, as well. Apparently, the blue cheese made it into a single bite, nothing more. Overall, very… meh
My trout wasn’t any better. The 3 pieces that were on my plate were the tail end of the trout, were extremely thin, and were just… meh. The polenta was dry and just… meh. The asparagus was small and not very plump. It was… you guessed it… just…meh. The plate ended up being a small amount of food to boot. For $ 27 I would have expected something with more substance and quality.
Out waitress had an air of superiority from the second we sat down. Very unfriendly. Very uninterested in our table. Very annoyed that we didn’t already know what drinks we wanted. Very annoyed that she had to wait on us.
Overall, it feels like the place is just trying to hard. It’s just too.hipster.

We went to the Tavern yesterday for Sunday brunch with my parents. What a wonderful experience! They weren’t busy at all but we had a reservation just in case. The interior is an old school kind of look with lots of dark woods and antique looking décor — very neat. Our waiter was incredibly sweet and personable — I secretly wanted to be friends with him. They have a full bar and serve hearty meals of all sorts — I can’t wait to return so we can try their dinner menu. They are also open late so this place seems to serve a wide variety of dining and drinking needs. As is true for most places in Tulsa, you can definitely go casual but it also feels like an appropriate place to dress up a bit for a date night.
I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato bisque with one pancake on the side. WOW! The grilled cheese and tomato bisque were perfect, definitely a home cooking/​comfort food taste. The pancake was giant (of course, I should have known) and it also was great. I took about half home for leftovers. Others in our group ordered the biscuits and gravy, steak hash, and carnitas burrito. We also took advantage of their brunch libations — mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. Everyone loved every bite!
The Tavern is a fantastic ‘upscale yet still approachable’ downtown staple. Tulsa is lucky to have this gem!

I really enjoyed this place. Its in a neat part of town and and appreciated the ambiance.
Me and my girlfriend tried a bunch of the starters, a few I recommend were the Mac and cheese (amazing and spicy), the frites (thin, stringy and delicious) and a cup of the tomato soup (I could have done without it)
For main courses I had the asparagus, fried pancetta, and almond salad that was excellent.
I would come back and try a few main dishes and some of their cocktails.

Half-​off the unputdownable Tavern Burger on Tuesdays (Stilton is a dominant note on this burger, so if that’s not your jam, consider yourself warned)!
People go nuts about the bacon popcorn, and it is in my humble opinion not worth a quarter that hype.
However, if you get the chance to do what diners sensibly avoid doing these days – namely, leave room for dessert – they do have a flourless chocolate torte that is quite rich and quite good.

After a remodel and announcement of a new menu, rumors could be heard about a super secret, undisclosed classic lounge. So secret that no menu was ever posted. So classified that the powers that be removed or consolidated any online reviews with that of The Tavern.
Well until last night, I used to wonder about these rumors myself. Thought it was a bunch of mumbo-​jumbo-​magical power holding together good, evil, the dark side and the light. Crazy thing is, it’s true. The Force, the alley, the green leather booths, the table side martini cart that makes the best traditional martinis I’ve ever had, the delicious appetizer of escargot, the perfectly cooked and butter basted porterhouse, the slice of chocolate cake that could feed a household, the Jedi, all of it. It’s all true.
True to previous notes everything was great. The only thing not making this a 5 star outing was the issue with the strip side of our porter house being a bit grisly, which was unexpected and disappointing for the price. Was also a bit sad that no piano player this evening and the 90s R&B/middle school dance music kind of killed the atmosphere. Also not for the feint of heart when it comes to cost, but well worth a visit for the bar for a reasonable priced drink or special occasions for dining.

I feel like I have just tasted the tip of the iceberg when it comes to The Tavern. When two of my dearest friends came to Tulsa for a visit, this is where we went to dinner, and we were not at all disappointed.
First, reservation was a must. Smart thinking on my part.
The ambiance is, gosh, is «smooth» the right word here? It’s just so dang cool. I felt almost out of place, like the owners would know I am just not up to par with the level of sophistication The Tavern has.
Being vegan most of the time, I ordered a salad. I know. But it was a REALLY great salad! Kale goodness. My friends rolled their eyes and ordered steak. Which they devoured. I was told the frites were exceptional. I’ll never know.
I’m looking forward to returning and seeing what other tasty concoctions The Tavern can surprise me with.

I honestly LOVE The Tavern. I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed myself when I go. I love the décor and space. It’s in a great location of downtown (parking can be hard to find though so use the valet). They have a great wine/​beer/​drink menu. I can always be talked into getting their burger but every thing I’ve tried on the menu was delicious. This is a place I would take friends/​family or clients for work.

Excellent quality food in a fun area of town. We stopped into Tulsa just for lunch as we were passing through and this place is a gem! It’s got easy access to the highway, settled in a cute and fun industrial area. It’s got a cool, sophisticated décor and a nice feel to it.
Lunch was superb. I’m a sucker for dates and the bacon-​wrapped-​herbed-​goat-​cheese-​stuffed ones here are the best I’ve had. My farmers market quiche was also delicious and the greens were fresh. Slightly more expensive than your average lunch but well worth it!

Absolutely love this place. It is becoming one of my favorite spots. We tried the Bacon Popcorn after a strong suggestion from a co-​worker and loved it. It had a great maple flavor that totally worked. I also tried the Fish & Chips for my entrée and was blown away by some of the best fried fish I have ever had.

There’s a secret lounge in downtown Tulsa.
And this speakeasy style steakhouse is all about quality, family style meals, all ensconced in yesteryear kitsch.
There’s certainly an air of secrecy associated with the experience. Access is via the alley behind the building. A lone bull hangs sentry, above the entry. Otherwise, there’s no indicator of the lush interior behind the green door.
Large, comfortable, circular booths surround the room, with tables in back. Bombastic starburst chandeliers are strewn throughout, setting the mood with ambient color temperature.
The motif reminds me a a sorely missed bar/​venue from the Blue Dome district, The Continental. As is The Lounge, it was a McNellie’s Group venture. A welcome progression.
Inside The Lounge’s circular bar, pianist Jon Glazer performs some familiar selections. Eliciting irregular applause, he channels the supper club lounge singer of days passed.
A roving martini cart visits each table, once seated. Mixed table side to your liking. I tend to prefer them filthy. And my martinis are no different.
The Lounges’ specialty is prime steak, grass-​fed. Not aged, contrary to current trends.
The menu is deliberately simple. I’m always impressed when I see minimal selections. It suggests a mastery of the dishes. A concentration of purpose.
After drinks, we started with the wedge salad with blue cheese, and lobster bisque. Both were excellent examples.
This was followed by the escargot; which were delicious. The best prepared i’ve experienced in Tulsa. On par with any i’ve had in Paris.
Our porterhouse for two arrived, cooked exactly as requested. Each of the cuts were pre-​sliced to facilitate easy sharing. Centerstage is a sear-​iously delicious salt and pepper micro crust; a product of it’s high temp (1400°) preparation. This steak is more tender than an angel that just fell out of heaven. This steak is the best i’ve had.
Served alongside the main course, were the delightful burgundy mushrooms and Potatoes Egan. The starch was a novel take, inspired by David Egan of Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. A lemony outer crunch encases the twice-​fried payload. Excitement is warranted.
They serve a foot tall «slice» of chocolate cake. Very good. It comfortably feeds around six people.
The Lounge has a fresh, but familiar quality. You may recognize a few faces that helped develop the greatness of it’s progenitor, The Tavern. They’re now putting the same energy into this Brady District hotspot.
The Lounge is open for dinner Monday through Saturday until 1am.
TL;DR version:
Get The Porterhouse.
Get the Potatoes Egan.
Done.
Delicious.
Best Ever.
#lookforthebull
201 N Main Street
(918) 949‑9803

Came last Friday after the Art Crawl to finally get a half price burger (half price after 9pm!!). A medium rare burger with frites for $ 6.50? Worth it. It definitely hit the spot.
Despite the restaurant being pretty busy and surprisingly full (apparently everyone was there for the half priced burgers), we managed to get in and out in a little over an hour. Shout out to our awesome server, Paloma. She was the epitome of what a server should be — quick and efficient, polite, attentive, but not overbearing. The table next to ours ordered dessert and it was taking the kitchen a long time to bring it out. I overheard Paloma explaining the situation and comping the dessert since it was the restaurant’s fault for taking so long. Very professional. Tavern management, if you’re reading this, give her a raise!
Also, this was my first time back at The Tavern after their renovation. Honestly, I don’t know what they did. Everything looks the same to me…

I would be hard pressed to find a better burger deal than The Tavern’s burger after 9 pm! $ 6.50 for an upscale burger and frites? I’m sold.
The burger is great; the patty was thick, beefy, and cooked to the requested medium rare. The fries (or, rather, frites) were also delicious. They were crispy, perfectly salted, and sprinkled with chopped, fresh rosemary, which I loved.
Also, our server, Paloma, was awesome! She really took care of our table; she kept our waters refilled, and checked on us without being intrusive. When I asked for a to-​go box, she offered to box it for me, and had a little speech about how it was her job to look after us while we were there. I declined the offer, but it was nice to hear how earnest she was about making sure we were taken care of.
TL;DR: This is a great burger, so if you’re up late, stop by and snag one. Shout out to Paloma for excellent service!

Some coworkers and I came here after an event just a few blocks over at Guthrie Green. It’s located in a great part of town where all the great bars, venues, and parks were in walking distance.
Our table ordered all the appetizers to try. There was bacon popcorn (who doesn’t love bacon?), a deviled egg trifecta (my faves), and 3 more that I didn’t have a chance to get in on because my mom called and I had to take the call outside… thanks mom.
For the main event I had the Tavern Burger (half price after 9!), and the angry mac. I think I cried twice that night. the first was tears of joy because of the great deal on the burger, and the second because the angry mac was so spicy. It hurt so good. That dish of angry mac could serve as an actual meal for a person, regardless of what the restaurant labels it as, and my coworkers say. There’s just so much.
Our waiter was great and kept our drinks full and us happy. Bookmarking this now so I can make it my new spot each time I’m in Tulsa!

Holy moly. Half price burger after 9PM? Yes please. Luckily I don’t live in Tulsa or I’d get fat from eating here at 9pm every time I go out for this amazing deal.
Starters:
–Pickled dish – It was okay but not my thing
–Bacon Popcorn – Yes my thing, and very good.
–Deviled Eggs – Emmm duhhh. Sooo good.
I got a barrel-​aged Manhattan that was super strong and AMAZING. Just what you’d expect form a barrel aged cocktail, rich, mixed perfectly, and had a kick. I tried my Sarah M’s bacon infused old fashioned and it was the most disgusting drink I’ve tasted in a very long time. It wasn’t even palatable and I’m pretty liberal when it comes to booze. I don’t know if they refunded it but they should have because it was awful. It had way too much bacon/​smokey flavor. It made it taste like cold bacon grease. Hopefully that drink mixed incorrectly because IDK how it stays on the menu.
Back to the food…
The burger comes topped with all the fixings, amazing fries, and bleu cheese. It’s the perfect line of greasy and fancy. I shared a side of angry mac n’ cheese… the best decision I made all night. I’m not very good with spicy food, and these PACKED A KICK. Like, the angry mac n’ cheese is a bold menu item that is 100% worth the order. It’s a must try in my opinion. I want to come back just for this dish… if you weren’t very hungry it’s big enough to take on a full meal, too!
I’m going to go try and replicate it now…