Classen Grill — Restaurant in Oklahoma City

I was about to head out of town after a midday medical appointment but decided I needed some sustenance before the drive, so I looked around my old neighborhood to see what sounded good. I hit upon Classen Grill, which I think has been there for a while, but definitely has gotten a major facelift. It is directly across the street from Edna’s on Classen Circle and it has been completely transformed into a clean and modern little brunch/breakfast place.

The friendly server said it had been a slow day when I arrived so I had my pick of seating. At first I chose a table but the wooden arms of the chair felt a little narrow, so I asked to move over to a booth, and I’ll add that the booth (at least the one I sat at) did not have a stationary table which was nice in case you or your dining partner needs to push or pull the table away from them for more or less room. The server Stephen served me a little carafe of still water with a glass, and took my order.

I ordered coffee to drink and was tempted by the brunch offerings but ended up ordering the half soup/sandwich combo with the B.E.L.T. (“bacon, fried egg, fried green tomatoes, lettuce, & mayo on house-made green chile focaccia”) and chicken tortilla soup (“Black beans, ranchero rice, corn, & smoked chicken served in a rich broth. Topped with crispy tortilla strips, avocado, & fresh cilantro”).

The plate arrived and was presented quite prettily with a garnish of lime and cilantro. I also appreciated that the server delivered my coffee and cream with a little saucer so I could deposit my creamer/sugar debris somewhere other than my tabletop (a nicety that IHOP hasn’t picked up on, haha). It reminded me of my grandmother getting coffee at finer restaurants when I was a kid—always a little saucer.

As far as the food and drink—the coffee was solid. Hot, full-bodied, just what you expect of a good restaurant. The meal was good overall. The star was definitely the sandwich, especially that crispy-crunchy layer of fried green tomatoes and the yummy chile foccacia which was zesty without being overly spicy.

The soup could have used a little help—I feel like it was missing something? First of all, it definitely seemed to be missing some of the ingredients listed on the menu, but also the flavor was just really weak. I hope the recipe was just off that day. But it was okay because the sandwich was so strong that it wasn’t so bad to have it accompanied by what was basically low sodium broth with a few add-ins.

All the while, the server Stephen continued to check on me frequently even though it seemed that he was working away busily at closing duties (I came in an hour before close and I think he let the other server leave because they were so slow, so he seemed to be taking over all of the closing duties himself.) He was so kind and kept my coffee filled.

Before leaving I stopped by the single person restroom and noted the cleanliness and nice design of the area. I loved the vibrant colors of the space and the helpful hook on the back of the restroom door. They also have a newsstand for The Gayly by the back entrance which was a nice touch.

All in all, a nice little stop in OKC and I will...

I have to tell you. I read some reviews and decided to try this place. I got here and I thought I must be at the wrong building. But I definitely wasn't, as I turned the corner there was a beautiful mural on the side of the building with their name. I went inside and it kind of looked like run down diner. Not what I expected. But the service here is amazing. I've been several times now and I am always greeted and seated quickly. I haven't been at peak times and I still didn't have to wait more than a few minutes. Maybe I just got lucky the times I went, but I went at times between 10 am and 1pm on a Sunday morning. And was seated promptly. The breakfast menu is simple. 2 sides. A good selection of breakfast choices. But those actual choices are wild and amazing. There are some items on their menu I had never heard of combined before. And I have tried several of them. The food is fresh and has always come out perfect. Again, I've only been 4 times I think, so take that as you will.

Altogether, it is a little pricey, cough cough, I say pricey because you will definitely spend more here than at IHOP, but it's not actually pricey for what you are getting. They actually fresh squeeze their Orange Juice! So, yes, it is worth what they are asking, so not pricey in that sense. I prefer small diners as opposed to large chains. I've tried several others, see my review of Beverly's Pancake House. This place is the same, but different. Classen Grill has their own specialties that I really enjoy. Beverly and Classen, I need you to have a baby that serves both of your menus please. You should be in talks.

Enjoy...

What a great dining experience!!! We selected this place on a spur of the moment decision. We were actually headed to a different place for breakfast when traffic caused us to relook.

We were definitely not disappointed!! Rudy, our server had a wealth of knowledge that he shared with us!! Not only about the restaurant but the owners, travelling experiences, local bakers. He explained how they support local artist’s and they are already booked for 2025!

I took several pics and the bio of the artist that they currently have on display.

This is a restaurant that tries to source everything local! I'm all for it!

The only drawback right now is the construction which when completed will be a fantastic dining adventure.

Rudy was patient and he was pretty thorough in his explanation of the best things to try. I was only prepared for breakfast so I will have to come back and try their lunch menu! We arrived when they weren't very busy when only as handful of diners present.

I had the Classic Eggs Benedict and my wife chose the Crab Cake Benedict. Of course we swapped one for one to try each others both were outstanding. I’m a little biased on the Hollandaise Sauce as I like mine with a m more of the lemon taste but this one was worthy and I could taste that hint of lemon!

I'm highly recommending to give this place a try. It's not often I give a 5 Star rating right off the bat but so impressed with Rudy, the service, and the menu!! Can't wait to...