Clanton's Cafe — Restaurant in Vinita

I spend a lot of time thinking about what makes a restaurant great. I read about it, write about it, even try to define it. But then I walk into a place like Clayton’s Café, and suddenly, my carefully crafted theories crumble like a stale biscuit.

For nearly a century—yes, almost 100 years—Clayton’s has quietly defied the usual rules of restaurant success. It’s not about the food (though it’s good), not about the location (though it’s familiar), not about the decor (though it has character). No, what makes this place great can’t be marketed, mass-produced, or manufactured. It’s something deeper.

It’s trust.

There’s a kind of integrity here, the kind that only comes with time. Not just years, but decades of proving to customers—generation after generation—that when they walk through those doors, they’re home. That’s not something you can buy. It’s not something you can fake. It’s built, one plate, one conversation, one handshake at a time.

As I sit here, enjoying my jumbo shrimp, I watch the people around me. The waitstaff. The regulars. The quiet nods of recognition, the comfortable laughter, the easy familiarity. These aren’t just customers. They’re belongers—people who have found a place that doesn’t need flashing lights, gimmicks, or trendy menu items to keep them coming back.

And that’s the thing. Most places that create this kind of atmosphere aren’t restaurants at all. They’re bars, pubs—places where people drink to forget. But Clayton’s doesn’t offer an escape. It offers a foundation. A place to settle in, have a meal, and feel safe.

So yes, I could talk about the food. I could talk about the cleanliness of the bathrooms, the friendliness of the staff. But none of that really matters here—because Clayton’s plays by a different set of rules. And it’s winning. It has been for a century.

If I’m lucky, I’ll live long enough to keep coming back. And if we’re all lucky, Clayton’s will be here another 100 years, still proving that some things—the best things—can’t be...

The breaded fried beef steak probably didn’t originate in the south, but it was damn sure perfected there. It became a diner staple, an All-American Route 66 Meal and the Official State Meal of Oklahoma!

No brown gravy with onions, nope we don’t do that here. Cream gravy. To have the perfect meal, do it right, mashed potatoes, fried okra and a dinner roll. Order yours just like that. Clanton’s does a pretty decent job. That is the meal my wife and I had today, along with a small side salad. Something really struck me today. Served with the salad was a small pack of Lances Captain’s Wafers. I haven’t seen them for many years. A true sign of authentic diner food. The service is excellent!

If you are reading this review, you are likely not from Oklahoma. Oklahomans are born with an innate ability to locate the best chicken fried steak in the area without having to read someone’s opinion posted on a website ran by a bunch of Californians. I won’t call Clanton’s Chicken Fry the best in Oklahoma, but possibly one of the most well-known. The Clanton’s restaurant has been in business at their current location since approximately 1948. If you are traveling west on Route 66 this is a great place to start your Oklahoma Chicken Fried steak tour. As you travel, ask the local’s which restaurant they recommend. Take the advice, don’t argue with them, even if you think that you had something better up the road. You won’t change their mind.

Enjoy your trip on 66, and the Okie cultural immersion.

Speaking of which….If you don’t want to look like a tourist in Oklahoma, you always leave a restaurant with an toothpick in your mouth (a.k.a. Okie Toothbrush ). Even if all you had was a cup of coffee.

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Stopped in on a road trip headed south. The place was full around 9 am which may account for the twice fail for my order. Having seen the recommendation from Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives, my partner and I ordered the chicken fried steak breakfast. I ordered mine without eggs and answered yes to gravy on the steak. When the order came, it had two eggs and no gravy. I sent the plate back and it returned with no eggs and still no gravy. Fine. Since I'd opted for the biscuit and gravy with it I just dipped my steak bites in the biscuit gravy. The waitress was kind and alert and did bring me another gravy after observing me dipping my steak in the biscuit gravy bowl. When the check came, we asked it there was a discount for not having ordered the two eggs that come with the meal. We were told they don't have discounts. It's the restaurants prerogative, but not a pleasant one if you can't customize the meal easily. When we found that out we asked for two scrambled eggs to go so at least we didn't lose the money entirely and the waitress compensated us with honoring our request. The chicken fried steak was nice. It wasn't over breaded or too chewy. It also wasn't packed with lots of flavor. The hash browns were crispy to burnt. The biscuits were nice and fluffy and overall we were more happy with our food than not. Nothing was exceptional in flavor and the hassle of the order process results in a 3...