The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

This weather is making me crave some comfort food.  Who has the best chicken fried steak in the area?

Pretty hard to beat the chicken-fried prime rib at McGill's.  It's not a menu item, you have to request it.  I think it was about $19 the last time I had one, but worth every penny, and the risk of heart disease.

For something a little more run of the mill, try Brother's Houligan on 15th east of Lewis or 61st & Mingo.

The best ever was Nelson's.  There is no argument.

Three that are decent:

Bros Houlighan

Atlas Grill

The Brooke

No argument there on Nelsons.  I believe Barry Rogers is about to put Nelson's back on the map.  Stay tuned...

Don't BS me on that Conan . . . you're talking about a place that made this town what it is.  I can't tell you how many times I've been walking to work downtown and had someone stop me and ask where the buffeteria is.  Just re-opens the wound.

I was one of the great fans of the place.  Went at least twice a week up until the end.  And through my line of work, I sort of saw the inside scoop of what happened in the end.  Part of Tulsa seemed to die for me that summer.

Few places really distinguished what makes our community unique like that place.  It wasn't as good in the end, but it had something about it you can't find anywhere else.

Nelson's
Brother's Houligan
Texas Roadhouse

Some other Oklahoma Notables:
Del Rancho - Greasy and thin as paper, but good.
That place in Weleetka that just burned down - Best and largest CFS in the state (was)

Nelsons "Hello chicken fry!" buffeteria..... You're right Gold, the wound has not healed.

I really want to say Twin Peaks....


But instead I think I will go with Savoy.

Listen to him

He knows of what he speaks

Someone told me that the CFS at Twin Peaks was good, haven't tried it yet.

I'm surprised since it was a recent topic that no one has mentioned Shiloh's.  Their Chicken Fried Chicken/Steak is top notch.  The rolls help it along.

Yeah. I've eaten more Chicken Fried Steak than Joe Mommas Pizza.. which is saying something.

The best CFS was at the old Route 66 Diner (now the Dilly Deli) downtown.  As much as I loved the ambiance of Nelson's (and the way your plate was flung, as if shot from a cannon, to land neatly at the next server's station...), Route 66 was a far better meal.

Sadly, they're both gone. 

These days, I'd vote Brother's Houligan...and probably Phil's Diner.  But it's not something I eat that often anymore.  (I don't bike enough to justify it!)

If I were to historically rate CFS, I think the old Silver Dollar Cafe in Bixby had the best.  For about $7, you get the CFS, mashed potatoes and green beans in quantities that could feed a small city.

And the cinnamon rolls they made on Sunday mornings that you had to call in for were the best I ever had.

I'd never BS on something as beloved as Nelson's.  I was fortunate to get to know Nelson Jr. and Suzanne in the early '90's.  Terrific people.  This is word I got last week from someone who had spoken with Barry that day (Okay, might have been his brother).

Caz's Chowhouse
Charlestons (for a chain to offset Texas Roadhouse)

I'm sorry, I cannot contribute to this thread in any positive way.  I used to love CFS, then ate some at a little diner in southern lousiana.  It was so good CFS has been ruined for me ever sense.  Even made my mom mad the next time I had some of hers and told her that sorry, still didn't compair.....  Maybe I'll try a few suggested here just to see if I can find a flavor for it again.

Where at?  I will be down that way in a couple of weeks.

I can't remember the name of the place, though I would know it as soon as I saw it.  It was in a town named Houma.

I forgot about Caz's, that's lunch and dinner, it's freaking huge.

Caz's CFS is full of FAIL everytime I've had it. Had less flavor than what my elementary cafeteria served.

I'll 2nd Charleston's & Bros. Houligan

...of all days to bring a salad for lunch.

 ;D

It's a bit of a drive, but one of the best chicken-fried steaks I've ever had was in the little town of Fairfax, in an old place called Jump's.

Pics or it didn't happen.  ;)

lol I'll make sure I get the google sat image and post it when I get home... if I can find it that way.  That town had a street layout that would confuse anyone.

+1 for Bros. Houligan.

No one has mentioned Tally's yet.  I love that CFS--dry flour batter with black pepper.  Mashed potatoes and peas on the side please, and I don't save room for pie; I make room for pie.

Well tonight I went to Shiloh's for the first time just to try to chicken fried steak and it didn't live up to the billing. I still think both Brother's Hooligan and Goldie's make a better CFS, however I will keep going back to Shiloh's to find something I like because the rolls and bread pudding were so good. I would have to say my all-time favorite CFS was had at a small restaurant in Kayenta, AZ it was amazing.

The Black-Eyed Pea had a really good one back in the day.....

Shilohs for me, although, it is not as good as it was when they first opened, new cook? something changed it, but its still good.

My alltime favorite is still Nelsons, I miss that place, and I hope the rumor is true, that it will come back in some form, but they have to get those 2 old men that worked the line, wouldnt be the same without them.

"C'mon, whatcha gonna eat, you waitin on me? you backin up."

Well, went to Twin Peaks today for lunch for the first time.  I have never seen a place (including D&B's) so crowded for lunch, even in the semi-heavy rain.

I had the Country Club sandwich with their 'fire fries'.  Not bad.  The bread at wasn't toaster toasted, it had a bit of butter and was seared, so the bread looked a little like French Toast without the egg on it.  The fries aren't bad but reminded me of a steakhouse with Tony Chachare's seasoning on it.

But, then again, you don't go for the food to that place.  Right?

And is it me, or has the 'tramp stamp' gone out of fashion?  I am noticing fewer and fewer of these girls donning the lower back tat, although our server had one that was so low on the front of her hip I could just make out the top of it over the shorts...

 ;D

Better than Hooters, where the girls there are made to wear those ridiculous flesh colored pantyhose with their shorts...

While at Twin Peaks, though, I felt a little like I was watching a real-life Lil' Abner comic strip.

Brothers Houligan for me. Though this thread makes me think I need to try some other places, too.

Caz's CFS never did it for me. Not bad...just underwhelming. Sadly I've felt this way most of the times I've been to Caz's lately.

+1 Bros. Houligan  - I think we have a winner.

Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive-ins, Dives profiled Clanton's in Vinita (yes, its a bit of a drive) and thought their CFS was "off the hook" or something. I've been there and agree. In Tulsa, I vote Brothers Hooligan.

Three pages and not one mention of the CFS from the Metro Diner?

Best CFS in town.

Rumor is that the owner of the Metro Diner now operates the Quizno's on 13th and Harvard.  Someone needs to get it and post it online.

I think folks are inclined to post about chicken-fried steaks from restaurants that are actually operating.

Metro sucked.  I know not a person with a clue that mourned it leaving.  Seriously, they were waiting to be bought out.

Back in the old days when the Davis family (U.S. Beef/Arby's) owned it, the food was worth a crap.  CFS and Monte Cristo were worth eating.  The menu suffered after they sold it, but it had the proximity to TU and Rte. 66 tourism going for it even though it wasn't an "authentic" Rte. 66 relic.

Their breakfast fare wasn't too bad right before it closed, but it's pretty hard to screw up eggs, toast, & sausage.

Probably right on.  I remember it being much more popular about a decade or longer before it closed.  But it was getting rough.  After every trip I'd ask why I went. 

I do recall watching a fight for gas break out at the QT across the street on 9/11.  When my old girlfriend and I started making fun of the sight, our waitress informed us that they were coming after Tulsa next.  I never quite looked at the place the same again.

And that waitress is probably having sex with our resident troofer buddy, alt, now.

Well thanks a sh%tload for that mental image.

Hate to say it but I tried it, and the CFS at Twin Peaks is definitely in my top 3.

You obviously haven't been to Jimmy's Egg

If you remember the name of the place let me know. My wife and I try to take weekend trips around AZ and that's an easy drive. It's about a 4 hour drive from where we live, or if we go to Flagstaff for a weekend it's only a couple of hours. And that also puts you just south of Monument Valley. Food and photo op, what a combination.

Really? I've never had a bad breakfast there.  I'm not a regular, but prolly 3-4 times a year either here or OKC, never a problem. 

swake...made me laugh HARD! Jimmie's Egg...pluheeeze! I agree...........pass! I would much rather have a pancake sadwich from QT;much rather.

I enjoyed the CFS on the brunch menu at Lucky's this past Sunday. 

I read Nelsons is opening next week on 3rd st. between peoria and utica at an old resturant.

Thanks to Gold for the tip they were in fact open.  We ate there for lunch today.  That's the "for real" (f'real) Nelson's CFS.  They are doing the buffeteria line then you find your table.  We got there about 11:45 and were out of there in less than 30 minutes.  I saw people from all walks of life there. 

I was there again today. Good stuff.  They are working out the kinks with service, be nice and try to sit in the front room.  Nelson's wife was there. 

Went to Nelson's for breakfast this morning. the Chicken Fry Steak was incredble. Just like I remembered it!

So for us newbys to the Tulsa area, what was the deal with the place?  We bought a place out toward Porter and like to get in to Tulsa some nights just to experience the town.  History - good and bad - of an area is always interesting and enticing.

And good chickenfry is a positive in our minds.

-jwcusa-

I went to KFC and got a $1.99 Chicken Fried Steak...so in this economy and the fact that I'm a college student.  KFC had the best Chicken Fried Steak LOL, unless other restaurants can compete with that price I'm in it to win it...alrightttt giggity!

The food was good at Nelson's. The people who were regulars could be quite irritating though. I went a few times but got tired of suffering through Fox on the tube and hearing people blurt out political sneers as though we were all of the same stripe. The CFS was good and though I was not downtown enough to be a regular, I have to admit it was true blue downtown Tulsa (from the fifties).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed49S2nyBD0[/youtube]