Pappy's BBQ — Restaurant in Oklahoma City

So Much Potential, but Lacks Passion

Pappy’s Diner sits on the corner of Reno and May, just south of the Fairgrounds, looking like it hasn’t changed much since the 1950s. From the outside, a foodie might see it as a hidden gem—a nostalgic jewel promising incredible BBQ. But while the setting has undeniable charm, the passion behind the food and service feels sorely absent.

The diner’s interor is plastered with sun-faded advertisements, now pale yellow—a failed attempt at a quick buck. At 5:30 p.m., the place was empty except for the owners, who seem to have claimed the back half of the diner as their living space. A kitchen table buried under junk, a worn-out rolling desk chair—it’s a disorganized mess. The kitchen shares in this lack of care, and the menu, though straightforward with staples like chopped brisket, ribs, beans, and potato salad, fails to inspire confidence.

The service was slow and disjointed. After a confusing exchange with the owner, who seemed distracted (perhaps by her plate of Mexican food at the kitchen table), I settled on a loaded baked potato with meat, cheese, and, for an additional 75 cents, ranch dressing. Yes, ranch, apparently a luxury item here. The water came in a small plastic cup, and my friend and I waited longer than expected for BBQ, a cuisine typically served quickly.

When the food arrived on red plastic trays, it was underwhelming for the price. My potato came with small to-go cups of sour cream, butter, and BBQ sauce. I requested pickles and was given store-bought hamburger dills—the kind you’d find at a backyard cookout. The presentation lacked any thought or effort.

As for the food itself? The meat was good but sparing, the sauce tasty yet reminiscent of mass-produced local brands. The baked potato had potential, but with such meager portions of brisket, it was just okay.

So, what’s Pappy’s problem? Pappy’s not there. He’s long gone, and so is the passion. The current owners seem to be scraping by, doing the bare minimum to keep the doors open. The sides are mediocre, the atmosphere is uninspired, and the whole operation feels stuck in limbo.

Here’s my advice if the owners ever read this:

Clean your kitchen. The back dining area is an eyesore—at least throw up some curtains if you’re going to keep living there. Spoil the customer. Serve generous portions and present the food in a way that makes people salivate. Leave the BBQ sauce on the table. Stop nickel-and-diming for basics like ranch. Add some personal touches. Homemade pickles, a fresh take on sides, and better presentation could make all the difference. Fix the ambiance. Eliminate the wobble, literally and figuratively. The BBQ at Pappy’s isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. With just a little passion and effort, this place could become a must-visit. Right now, it’s a shadow of what it could be—and that’s the saddest...

I don't usually post reviews on local spots, but I've tried it twice, thinking maybe the first time was a fluke. The first time, my brisket had a sour taste and I threw it away after one bite. I decided today to give them another shot, as it was on my way home. First and foremost, the woman at the window was very nice and this review is in no way a reflection of the service or the employees. The stars I did leave are for her and her alone.

So, the prices online and on the menu are not correct. 1lb brisket on the menu is $17.99, but it's actually $24 now and the only two times I've been here, almost 6 months between visits, I was told they were "ordering a new menu" but it had not arrived. I understand everything is increasing in cost, but I had to cut down my order because I can't see spending $58 on 2 lbs of meat without even any sides or drinks added. Even $25 was a bit much for a pound (two half lbs), but I don't mind paying that IF the food is worth it.

Unfortunately, it's not. The meat has no flavor at all. I'm not trying to exaggerate, but the brisket was dry, and at the same time, tasted like it had been boiled. No smokiness, no flavor, no nothing. It says smoked on the menu, but this is not fresh smoked brisket in any capacity, unless it was smoked, frozen, and thawed in hot water. It's also in chunks, not slices. There's no crisp fat edge or "smoke ring", it's literally just a chunk of grey, flavorless meat. Luckily, my dog isn't picky and she enjoyed it because I didn't. Pulled pork was also flavorless, except I could taste salt, and it very wet. Not greasy, wet like water.

I really wanted to like this place. I love supporting local businesses, especially ones that have been around a long time, and I know a lot of them struggled during the covid shutdown, but this food was just bland, underwhelming, and not worth the money. I hope they read all these reviews and consider making some changes to how they prepare because I drive past this place all the time and I would really like to see it thrive with quality food. Sorry to say I can't...

I love BBQ and always try to support local spots. I had been to this place in college over a decade ago, and moved away. When we moved back 2 years ago, I was looking for BBQ nearby and read some of the reviews that kept me away. Fast forward to today, I stopped in for lunch and as the "star rating" suggests, I was more than disappointed.

To be fair, this was well after the lunch rush, so I may have just been served whatever was leftover, but, it none-the-less was very sub-par.

The service however, was great, the counterperson was very friendly and responsive. The place was clean and quaint (like many local BBQ spots are), and everything was generally nice inside.

The food was priced comparable to other BBQ spots. My Sliced Brisket sandwich, corn on the cob, chips and a large drink was $14-15 and i added a slice of pecan pie for $3. I am fine paying those prices for BBQ, because that seems to be market pricing, but..

Unfortunately the serving size was very underwhelming. I received 5 chunks of "brisket" on my sliced brisket sandwich, 2 of which were mostly fat. We aren't talking the long slices you get most places, no meat hung out the edge of a standard sized hamburger bun (the meat was arranged in a such a way that it just covered the bun). Also, I am a fan of brisket with bark, maybe a smoke ring, or brisket that doesn't look like roast beef. This brisket was a dark grey, the bark looked like it had melted away and certainly it was missing the flavor that a good bark usually provides.

I am certainly aware that eating at a BBQ restaurant at non-prime times can be a crapshoot. In this situation I was very disappointed. Unfortunately, for me, this also confirmed some of the negative reviews found here and other spots on the web, so I will likely...