French Hen — Restaurant in Tulsa

My best friend and I shared one of our first "fancy" dinners together 35 years ago at the French Hen, when it was still on 71st Street. We were celebrating our 12 & 13th birthdays (a day apart) and dining on my mom's Discover card. The experience kicked off a lifetime love of food (and wine), and solidified a friendship that's lasted till today. Last week we returned to Tulsa and to the French Hen to celebrate another shared birthday. How could it ever live up to 35 years of anticipation? Let me tell you, it did! And then some! The signature duck continues to be the best preparation I've ever had, anywhere in the world: perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned (don't bother with the sauces), and perfectly presented. I suppose when you've plated 100,000 preparations one gets rather good at it. My friend took a chance on the bouillabaise--a risky bet so far from Marseilles. But oh my did it deliver. The broth was like nothing I'd ever tasted--saffron, smoky tomatoes, and all the best qualities of the sea and none of funk. And the scallops, mussels, and fish were all perfectly done. I also took a bit of a chance with the halibut (I live in Boston) and also received perfectly cooked and seasoned preparation that matches the best I've had. It didn't hurt that we washed it all down with a Premier Cru Volnay from the restaurant's small but very well curated wine list. Finally, we first enjoyed Creme Brulee at the French Hen to cap off that first wonderful meal all those years ago. Surely it would disappoint, right? Wrong. Also perfect. To sum up, beyond our sentimental connection, the French Hen honestly delivered one of the best restaurant meals I've had -- and this a week after dining at Union Square Cafe in New York City (also very good, by the way). Tulsans, you have a rare gem there on Archer...

It was a very special occasion and we did what we have never done before - drive four hours to Tulsa to try out the French Hen for dinner. The drive to Tulsa is always a delight in any season for those not familiar with this part of the country. Smooth roads, easy traffic and the friendly OK drivers make it a breeze. There is something to be said for having the temperament to not run amock on the roads causing chaos. While we were early, finding parking in downtown Tulsa turned out to be quite a challenge. So our advice - get a shared ride or do your research on how to pay for the public lots around the area. What we liked the most was when we called the restaurant to say we are on the road and we could not predict our arrival time exactly, they did not flinch, and instead said, we will take care of you when you get here. Now that gets high marks in my book for customer service. At the French hen we were happy to find ourselves in a location that was exciting yet not too noisy. Service was prompt. The Calamari for appetizers was just perfect. For the main course we tried out the Bouillabaisse. We had been intrigued by this dish ever since we watched "Whitstable Pearl" (now there's a nice British detective mystery series for you) and one of the characters tries to make this with an Irish twist. Seared Diver Scallops with pasta was a fantastic choice. It was every bit as delightful as our imagination foretold. The Prime Rib Eye Steak was good but it could have been great. Perhaps the sheer size of the meat was not suited to our sensitive palates. For dessert the Berry Crème Brûlée rocked. All in all a delightful place, good fare, excellent service and ambience and the location...

I am not so refined in taste as my wife is so when she suggested this place, I was a bit nervous. I'm of the school of thought that I would prefer buying groceries and eating at home and if I must eat out, do it where you can get a lot of food for a good price. Hence, why I felt odd when coming here, and it being a French restaurant, I already felt like I was being looked down upon.

But its so interesting, how a lot of things just are in your own mind until you come face to face with reality, only for it to turn out much better than what you expected.

This place gave me a lesson. Its okay to eat in places where food is more expensive. Its okay to try new things even if they are a bit more pricy. Its about the experience and most importantly, its about understanding, that God said all things He made were good, so who was I to judge?

I had a lovely evening here and that was in part due to William our server who gave us plenty of chuckles and a warm atmosphere. We took some of his recommendations and we also tried the Dijon Chicken and the duck with the cherry glaze. My taste buds were going wild. The texture, the consistency, the taste, a beautiful ensemble of food made with love and an incredible presentation. Not one thing fell short and all was good.

My wife and I had such a wonderful time and we would go back there without thinking about it. The French Hen has a special place in our hearts and I hope it does for you too. Thank you William for a wonderful evening and thank you, French Hen, for changing my perspective, and welcoming us...