The Big Friendly — Restaurant in Oklahoma City

I have been to The Big Friendly a couple of times on previous visits to OKC, but had never written a review. Our recent visit prompted me to spread the news: This is an excellent place for beer and camaraderie!

We arrived at about 4:00 on a broiling hot Saturday afternoon. At first it was not busy, but patrons started trickling in, and by the time we left at 5:00, the place was packed. It was time to vacate our booth to make room for recent arrivals.

My wife, a non-beer drinker, went with a glass of Chardonnay, which I had refilled for her before it was all over. I, on the other hand, wanted to drink around. And while The Big Friendly does not have a flight offering on their menu, I quickly discovered you can build your own by just ordering a bunch of 6-ounce pours.

So I did, diving deep into their IPA category. While the resulting liquid volume (24 ounces) may have been more than what a standard flight would be, it was really only the equivalent of two cans of beer. Plus, I got to sample four beers that were not available on my previous visits.

I went with To The Woods (IPA; 7.1% ABV), Staring Into Oblivion (NEIPA; 6.1% ABV), Thank You (Pale Ale; 5% ABV), and Dandy (IPA; 6.6% ABV). Each of these would merit at least one more pint, but since we still had roughly four hours back to Amarillo, that was out of the question. Still, each one of these is a very approachable ale that will not cause you to wonder why you ordered it. There’s just the right amount of happiness, but not too much.

As for food, I went across the street to Taco Nation to retrieve comestibles. But that’s a separate review (and a good one!). Meanwhile, The Big Friendly is certainly in the Top 5 of all OKC area breweries. Sit....

My husband and I temporarily moved to OKC and pretty much immediately stumbled upon The Big Friendly. In the 2 months we’ve lived here, we’ve visited TBF 5 separate times so I feel this is a fair evaluation.

The beer - excellent. Rotating taps, not so quickly that you can’t get another taste of a beer you enjoy, but quick enough that it’s worth a bi-weekly return.

The staff - friendly (I’d hope, by the name).

The environment- inside is very cool, plants, wood, modern. Outside has picnic tables (some shaded) but they’re kind of gross and could really use a good wipe down. They’re always covered in dirt/dust. Outside also has TVs for game days.

Uncategorized: food can be brought in from elsewhere, but the taco and pizza place in this plaza are the most popular. Dogs are welcome outside. They have some wines if you’re not into beer. Kid friendly.

The big issue with this place (and the reason I dock a star) is because the bartenders are SO. DAMN. SLOW. The line will be out the door and it’s like they’re pouring taps of molasses. This isn’t a one-off issue, this is an every time we visit issue.

Overall, definitely recommend a visit (and a repeat visit), but maybe grab 2 beers at a time if you’re planning...

The Big Friendly may be small in size, but it definitely lives up to its name! We took a little drive around the charming neighborhood before stopping in for a drink, and we’re so glad we did. The vibe is welcoming, the beer selection is great, and the atmosphere is just right for both adults and kids.

I tried the Blackberry Blossom and it quickly became a new favorite—delicious and refreshing! The space itself is cozy but offers both indoor and outdoor seating, which gave us the flexibility to find the perfect spot to relax.

One of my favorite features was the sweet little room under the stairs filled with kids' books—it’s such a thoughtful touch for families. They also had fun branded merch, including hats and even some items for kids (perfect for beer-loving parents looking for a souvenir). Plus, we scored a few free stickers to add to our growing collection!

We also enjoyed the pizza place right next door and loved that there’s a playground just outside—it made for the perfect, low-key afternoon with something for everyone.

If you're in the area, The Big Friendly is absolutely worth a visit. Great beer, good vibes, and a spot the whole...