New Oklahoma restaurants and menu items, cool deals for summer and more in food & dining
Summer is on the way and while you may be looking for a chance to slow down and take it easy, things are never slow in Oklahoma food and dining.
New restaurants are opening and as temperatures are heating up, so are deals and new menu items all across Oklahoma. But don't worry, a number of businesses are offering up summer boredom busters and ways to keep things cool.
The Social Order opens newest Spark location
Retro-inspired burger joint, Spark, opened an additional location at 1332 W Memorial Road in Chisholm Creek on Tuesday, marking the second iteration of the concept, with a third set to open soon in Nichols Hills.
The Chisholm Creek location features the same burgers, fries, frozen delights and more as Scissortail Park, all available for dine-in, patio dining, pick-up, delivery, and online ordering.
But the brand also launched new menu items ahead of the opening like Rumble Fries and Queso Fries, plus drinks on tap including Moscow Mules and various beers, as well as five Frozen Club Special flavor options including blackberry sage and pineapple jalapeno, which will only be available at Chisholm Creek and Nichols Hills.
ND Foods announces closing plans
The owners of ND Foods, a local deli known for its great baked goods, sandwiches and more and found inside of Room 3 Vintage, 2632 W Britton Road, have announced that Memorial Day weekend will be their last in business.
"After more than three decades of serving delicious meals and creating countless memories, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of ND Foods. This Memorial Day, we will open our doors for the last time," the restaurant wrote in a Facebook post. "If you want that favorite cake or pie one more time, you can order it and pick up now through Monday."
Natural Grocers offers savings and recipes ahead of Memorial Day
While Natural Grocers locations will be closed on Memorial Day, they're open all weekend and extending savings to customers alongside a curated list of recipes on their website at https://www.naturalgrocers.com/memorial-day-recipes to help shoppers prepare for the holiday.
Recipe options include everything from drinks and snacks to mains and desserts and there is even an entire page of deals you can browse before shopping to help menu plan at https://www.naturalgrocers.com/memorial-day-deals.
la Madeleine offers Memorial Day weekend meal deal
French bakery chain la Madeleine, 1954 24 Ave. NW in Norman, has a family meal deal for Memorial Day. Starting at $42.99 carry out a signature picnic lunch package which includes chicken salad, butter croissants, fresh fruit salad, tomato basil pesto pasta, and four chocolate chunk cookies.
ONIE Project invites Oklahomans to 'Choose Homemade' at farmers markets
The Oklahoma Nutrition Information Education Project is providing Oklahomans with education and tips for budget-friendly and healthy meal options. The group is working with farmers markets statewide to provide access to recipes in both English and Spanish through its "Choose Homemade" campaign.
The campaign provides recipe options that include healthy ingredient swaps in mealtime favorites including ways to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, an area which Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation for, according to the Center for Disease Control, with only 8% of adults meeting USDA’s daily consumption recommendations.
Oklahomans can visit the ONIE booth at the following markets to receive free recipes and more information on affordable groceries:
May 25 — Norman Farm Market, 210 James Garner Ave. in Norman
May 25 — Lawton Farmers Market, 77 SW 4 in Lawton
May 29 — Muskogee Farmers Market, 425 W Okmulgee Ave. in Muskogee
May 29 — Scissortail Park Mid-Week Farmers Market, 1423 S Robinson Ave.
Oklahoma chef Shannon Smith to release cookbook
Tulsa-based chef Shannon Smith is set to release her independently-published cookbook "The Hidden Table," on June 1.
The book features recipes honed through Smith's travels to more than 50 countries for more than 20 years. The cookbook is a culmination of six years of work chronicling these adventures across 12 chapters.
Pre-orders for signed copies are available at www.chefshannon.com through the end of May, and a portion of proceeds from every book sold will benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
Wayback Burgers offers National Hamburger Day deal
Wayback Burgers, 3301 SW 104 and 3217 S Broadway in Edmond, will offer all guests a deal for National Hamburger Day on May 28. Guests using the who use the Wayback Rewards program and order online, in the app or in store can receive buy one, get one Classic Burgers. The offer is not available for use with third-party delivery services like DoorDash or UberEats.
Cowboy Chicken embraces the sweet side with fruit forward menu items
New menu items at Cowboy Chicken have rolled out, featuring two classic summer fruit flavors — strawberry and watermelon — and are available through Sept. 1.
The $12 strawberry pecan chicken salad also features bacon, feta and a tangy strawberry poppyseed dressing. As a great accompaniment to any meal, diners can try the watermelon cucumber side salad for $4.50.
For dessert, guests can indulge in strawberry shortcake featuring soft pound cake, sweet strawberries, and whipped topping for just $5.50. To add to the fruit-centered summer treats, Cowboy Chicken also has sparkling strawberry lemonade and watermelon tea to complete your meal.
Fuzzy's Tacos launches summer menu offerings
From a frozen margarita that invokes a childhood favorite summer treat to three Baja-inspired food items, the summer menu at Fuzzy's Tacos has dropped for those looking for something new.
Fuzzy's new Cali-Style Steak Taco, Cali-Style Steak Burrito, and Birria Queso Fries are available through June 30 and guest can even try the Cali-Style Steak Taco and a 32-oz soft drink for just $5.
The Bomb-a-’Rita! — a signature frozen margarita layered with strawberry puree and blue curacao, and the eye-popping cocktail is garnished with a classic red, white and blue frozen popsicle — has also returned to the restaurant, available now through July 7.
Summer specials at Main Event
Main Event has launched specials for kids and adults alike to help keep things cool this summer at both of its Oklahoma locations, 1441 W Memorial Road in Oklahoma City and 7830 S Santa Fe Ave. W in Tulsa.
Grab a Summer Season Pass available through Sept. 2 and enjoy the launch of new Summer Splashers mocktails and margaritas topped with freeze dried skittles.
Mocktails are just $4.99 and are featured in three flavors: Dragon Fruit, Green Apple and Blue Rasberry, while the Spiked Splasher-Rita is a tropical margarita topped with freeze-dried skittles, blue sugar rim and a sour candy strip skewer for $9.99.
Summer Season Passes are available at Basic ($32.99) and Premium ($57.99) price levels. Both passes include unlimited bowling and free bowling shoe rental. Basic passes also include 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages. Premium passes include the addition of All You Can Play billiards, laser tag, gravity ropes, and more, plus 20% off food and non-alcoholic beverages and a 5% bonus with the purchase of any fun card.
Celebrate National Iced Tea Day with HTeaO on June 10
The Texas-based purveyor of tea by the glass and gallon will offer up happy hour pricing on all teas all day long on June 10. That means you can get any sized cup of tea for half price at any HTeaO location.
With 19 current Oklahoma locations from Ponca City to Ardmore, Duncan to Bartlesville, plus a mobile truck in OKC and three more locations in the metro area on the way, treating yourself to iced tea from HTeaO isn't hard.
Quick Bites
Arby's locations across the nation have adopted new late-night hours, operating until 11 p.m. To celebrate, the fast food chain is offering any sized crinkle or curly fry for $1 after 8 p.m. through June 30.
The Jones Assembly, 901 W Sheridan Ave., brings back its annual Hot Bingo Nights beginning at 8 p.m. May 30. Every Thursday, all summer long, guests can enjoy bingo and dine on the full Jones menu.
7Brew Coffee, an Arkansas-based drive through coffee chain, opened a location in Edmond, 7 Brew, 2840 NW 178 on May 15. The brand capped off the opening with a $1,500 donation to the Oklahoma Children’s Health Foundation.
Kansas-based breakfast and lunch chain The Big Biscuit will continue its growth in Oklahoma with the opening of its first location in Oklahoma City proper at 6406 N May Ave this fall. The Oklahoma City store will join six other Oklahoma restaurants, including two metro-area Big Biscuits in Edmond and Midwest City, and four Tulsa-area locations, including two in Tulsa, as well as Broken Arrow and Owasso.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Summer food and dining news, deals and more from around Oklahoma
