Raven — Restaurant in Oklahoma City

A Midsummers night ode to the Raven: A Symphony of Poetic Flavor"*

On a quiet evening in Oklahoma City’s Western Avenue district, we stepped into The Raven, drawn by the whispers of something enigmatic and extraordinary. What we encountered was far beyond a simple meal—it was an experience that teased the senses, captivated the mind, wrapped us in friendship, and left us both breathless and craving more. Chef Timothy, I have no words - that was a meal about the art of taste.

Our night was masterfully guided by Jared, a server turned hospitality connoisseur. When I mentioned we were “snacky people,” his eyes sparkled with mischief, and he leaned in, suggesting we let him take control of the evening. As my eyebrow arched in curiosity, I felt the mischievous twist of my smile and said “ok” what the hell did we just do? what could this culinary spirit have in store?

Considering our propensity for sending drinks back, we were delighted by the well balanced craft cocktails presented. Someone behind the bar knows their ingredients exceptionally well, respects their spirits, and appreciates nuance.

Jared began our journey with a burrata so soft, it practically dissolved on the tongue. Paired with the single freshest tomatoes I have ever tasted since I was nine years old eating them with my grandmother on the back porch. This was no ordinary starter; it was the prelude to something far more tantalizing. The balance of the seasoning and the acidity made it the most profoundly amazing buratta we have ever enjoyed.

Then came the mac and cheese - this was a dish that flirts between comfort and indulgence. The rich, velvety cheese enveloped each bite, while the oxtail added a hearty depth that made me close my eyes and want to hug my mom. Reeeeaaaalllll Parmesan. That salty magic dusted on top of this hug in a bowl gave me goosebumps.

But the true seduction lay in the scallops—three perfect, golden morsels that seemed to glow against a vibrant gustatory masterpiece. Tender, succulent, and seasoned to perfection, they were the kind of dish that makes you pause, and pause and pause…. Damn they’s slap yo momma good. snaps back to reality Each bite was a tantalizing tease, leaving us both vying for the last precious piece, knowing full well that something this exquisite is meant to be savored, not shared.

Jared, ever the attentive host, noticed my hesitation when it came to dessert. Bananas have never been my thing, and he didn’t miss a beat. In place of the original offering, he presented us with a raspberry sorbet so light and refreshing it felt like a cool breeze on a warm night. Paired with a sweet cream espresso martini, it was divinely inspired.

As the evening drew to a close, Jared reminded us that this menu, like the night itself, was fleeting. Each week, new delights would take the place of the ones we had just experienced. It was a reminder to savor every moment, to trust in the journey, and to always leave room for the unexpected.

If you find yourself at The Raven, Allow chef Timothy to introduce you to the depth of flavor that is curated and masterfully executed. Take a leap of faith and let Jared take the reins—surrender to the experience. You’ll walk away not just satisfied, but...

We were visiting family in OKC from California. We stopped in for lunch at Raven because the photos of their food, I mean come on! Amazing! The lamb was delicious with an amazing infused olive oil on the plate. I didn't care for the red puree on top but it was still enjoyable and cooked perfectly. Our table ordered both beef options (I can't remember what the cuts were). One of them came with sunchokes, which was new to us, and it was awesome to try something different. The other was a filet maybe? Whatever it was, it was so tender and the flavor left you wanting the next bite. We got the okra and roasted veggies to share and both were so enjoyable and fresh. The okra came with a sauce that paired so well, and the added seeds sprinkled on top gave the dish a really nice texture. The only not so great mentions I have are very minor but I think are worth noting. -The chimichurri, crazy spicy. It was on one of the steak dishes and the shrimp. I watched both my 13 and 23 year old struggle with the heat. -It got pretty smokey in the restaurant. Not sure if this is typical or just a one time thing that occurred during our visit, but there was one point where it was pretty unbearable. -One of our party is pescatarian and she was thrilled to try the salmon but (my understanding was that) it was so early in the day that the salmon hadn't been prepared yet. Her options were the veggie sides and the shrimp app which she opted for both and was very happy with. I highly recommend this place, especially if you're a foodie. It seems they change up their menu with the seasons so it keeps it...

Extremely disappointing! We love this location and truly wanted to like Raven. We were there for dinner. It wasn’t that busy; the place was probably half full. In 1.5 hours, we were able to order one drink and two appetizers (the bread & dip and carrots). They were a decent start. But in 90 minutes, the staff didn’t take another drink order, never discussed the menu, nor took our food orders. My husband dropped his knife and never received another – he didn’t even have the opportunity to tell someone that he wanted another knife because they never came back. Finally, we had to stand up and walk to the bar to get our tab. The problem is disorganization and a lack of management focus. There seemed to be no separation of tasks for the staff, they were rushing as fast as they could, but they were doing way too many jobs; the waiters were bussing tables, making drinks, taking orders. No one was focused on the front of the house to ensure that the system was working properly (orders taken and delivered in a timely fashion). Because the staff was so harried and distracted, they seemed oblivious to how much time had passed and than it wasn’t a problem. It is really sad. We have a long relationship with this location and want this place to be successful. Supposedly the chef is fabulous, and the food is good. Unfortunately, we never really got try the food. We will try again but things can’t change without significant focus and organizational changes from the...