OKC by the Districts: The Plaza

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Hello fellow Okies! Can I get a hip-hip-hooray for the beautiful spring weather we've had this week? It has me wanting to play hookie and patio hop...can ya blame me? Last month I started a new series called OKC by the Districts where I pick a district and share all of my favorite spots...basically a roadmap for how to spend a day in that area! You can view my post on Midtown here.

Today we're heading to The Plaza! The Plaza is located on NW 16th Street between Classen and Penn. It is home to galleries, studios, retail shops and some amazing local restaurants. It is very quirky, eclectic and artsy. It is super walkable since it's only a few blocks wide and on one main street. The only downfalls of The Plaza are the parking (very limited) and the neighboring areas (some are a bit rundown). However, they have a lot of fun events like the monthly Live on the Plaza! art walk and the Plaza Festival. I love that there is a "Little Free Library" where you can borrow and/or exchange books to read!

If we're being honest, I'm not the biggest art gallery fan in general, but I LOVE good food and the Plaza has some of my absolute favorite restaurants in town! As I put this post together I realized all I really do in the Plaza is eat. There are so many stores and shops that I haven't been into, yet. I need to make it happen soon!

Breakfast & Brunch
Aurora - my FAVORITE breakfast spot in all of OKC! It has the cutest most instagrammable interior, the best [lavender] lattes and the yummiest food. I highly recommend the BLT and the banana pancakes but honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I believe they serve breakfast every day of the week (and lunch, too). They have a great backyard patio area, as well.

The Press - I haven't eaten brunch here personally but I REALLY want to! It looks so good and I'm a huge fan of homestyle cooking. I hear it's like Cracker Barrel but craft food instead of chain food if that makes sense. They serve other meals, too, not just brunch.

Also serving brunch: The Pritchard, The Mule and Oak & Ore (all listed below)

Breakfast for Two at Aurora

Lunch & Dinner
GoRo Ramen - best ramen in the city! I've had ramen in NYC and Cole has had it in Tokyo and both of us agree that GoRo is just as good. I always get the Spicy Miso ramen (I love the corn and meatballs). The Tebasaki (wings) are the BEST appetizer and I love the mochi cake dessert, too. The desserts often rotate depending on the season, just FYI. GoRo also does a Monday night special which always sounds amazing!

Oak & Ore - C and I have spent SO many weekend afternoons here. They have a great rotating draft beer collection, yummy cocktails, and DELICIOUS food. Just thinking about the cuban sandwich and hottt fries makes my mouth water. I've never had their brunch, but I am sure it is wonderful. I love the wood walls, exposed pipes and subway tile!

The Pritchard - I went here for my birthday this year and loved it! It is the cutest little wine bar and bistro. They have a velvet couch that stretched the entire length of the restaurant with little tables all along it - it almost feels like you're in NYC or at a European Cafe. Their menu is slightly more upscale than other restaurants in the area but not over the top at all. Their charcuterie boards are good but the mussels and truffle fries are where it's at! Also, the Frico Friulano appetizer is like a fried potato pancake stuffed with cheese and it is the most homey delicious fatening but wonderful thing I've ever tasted. They serve brunch, but I've never tried it.

The Mule - if you like crazy grilled cheeses with interesting toppings this is the spot for you! I love the Okie Poutine app, but be ware it will do a number on your stomach if you usually eat clean (LOL, speaking from experience). They have a great beer and cocktail menu, too! I hear they serve brunch but I've never been during that time.

Empire Slice - P-I-Z-Z-A, gimme pizza!! One of the better local pizza establishments in OKC. Their crust is just the right thickness and I love that you can order pizza by the slice. I don't have a favorite on their menu (everything is good) but I love me some of the Pink Secret Sauce!!

Maple's BBQ - BBQ is one of my all time favorite foods but it murders my digestive system so I don't eat it very often. Thanks, gallbladder, for ruining it for me! Needless to say, Maple's is delicious and they styled their cooking/smoking skills off of Franklin's BBQ in Austin, Texas (the best of the best). Every time I walk by their restaurant, the smell makes my tastebuds go crazy!!

GoRo Ramen

The Pritchard

Maple's BBQ

Dessert
Roxy's Ice Cream - I love Roxy's so much I had them bring their food truck to my wedding in lieu of a groom's cake! One of my first ever blog posts was dedicated to Roxy's haha and I believe the owners knew me by name for a while there.....they definitely knew my "usual" (salted caramel) and probably started getting it ready when they saw me pull up outside the food truck (I literally used to chase them down!!). Since then, Roxy's has opened a handfull of storefronts across the metro. The Plaza location was the first one! I love the salted caramel, but the specialty/seasonal flavors are always good, as well! All of there stores are decorated with stripes (most of them pink and yellow) and a giant painting of their dog, Roxy, who the company was named after!

Pie Junkie - this cute little pie shop is so yummy! All of their pies tastes handmade (not gonna lie, I've purchased some to take to events and impressed everyone with what a good baker I was haha). I LOVE the Drunken Turtle pie (graham cracker, chocolate, salted bourbon caramel and pecans) and the Peanut Butter Chocolate pie but literally every pie they make is fantastic. They also make savory pies! Note that they close kind of early and are closed certain days each week, so always check to make sure they are open before you go (I've made that mistake before and there's nothing worse than having your heart set on a certain pie and not getting it haha).

Sasquatch Shaved Ice - I'm pretty hard to please when it comes to snow cones but Sasquatch is where it's at! They have some great, unique flavors and their ice is so soft and smooth and fluffy (not crunchy like some). If you're lucky they'll top your snow cone with a gummy! They are located in a giant turquoise container on the edge of the Plaza.

Roxy's Ice Cream

Sasquatch Shaved Ice

Drinks
The Pritchard - great wine bar - see description above! It's perfect for a girl's night.

Oak & Ore - great rotating craft beer menu - see description above! Great afternoon drinking spot with amazing bar food.

Anatomy Wine Club - I haven't been here personally, but I've heard great things and it looks amazing! Wine and cheese, YES.

Oak & Ore

Shopping
Tallulah Lou - I stumbled in to Tallulah Lou a few weeks ago and LOVED it! Their clothes are so in style....very boho/Free People...and they have the cutest accessories, gifts and home goods. They are a touch on the pricey side, but the quality looked and felt amazing. They also have a men's store attached called Jackson Dean + Co that is totally my husband's style (or at least the style I tell him to wear): preppy with a touch of hipster.

Out on a Limb - handmade accessories, gifts and home goods

Bad Granny's Bazaar - a unique store selling collectibles, gifts, and upcycled retro & vintage clothes

The Plaza Walls 

Services & Activities
The Plaza Walls - there are tons of painted murals throughout the plaza, just like the one in the photo at the top of this post! If you go behind the buildings on the north side of 16th Street, there is a whole alley that has been painted. The murals are constantly changing and rotating, so if you see one you like you better snap a picture before it gets painted over with something new!

Paint N Cheers - because everyone loves a paint and wine party!

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma - Oklahoma's leading professional theatre company! The product classic and contemporary musicals and plays.

Well Beauty Studio - I haven't personally been here, but I've heard wonderful things about their manis and pedis. They have a "thoughtful approach to green beauty" and do amazing nail art!

Locals, are there any places in The Plaza that you would recommend? I really need to pop into more of the boutiques next time I'm there!

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