Lately, I have been taking more Oklahoma road trips to find off-the-beaten-path eating destinations.
Even if you are only getting out of the Oklahoma City metroplex and the rhythm of daily life for a few hours, with these strenuous times being what they are, it can raise the excitement of a whole summer vacation.
I thought about that last Friday when I traveled to Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Sure, the small-ish town was the birthplace of one of my worst reviews, but with a new outlook on life because of my wonderful marriage to my best friend, I decided to give a fresh try to the town and its surroundings, starting with Katie’s Diner, 120 W. Cleveland Ave.
Now, to be fair, this restaurant was a total blind experience, going in with nothing more than a name and a hunch.
As we arrived at the diner in the older part of town, the peeling paint on the building gave it a real old-time feel. It had a real rustic vibe that couldn’t be denied! And, with a banner reading “Breakfast Served All Day,” I knew we were in the right place, so we parked and came right in.
Already, the place was packed. As I got the lone open table and sat down, our waitperson made us feel at home by giving us some menus and folksy wisdom while taking our drink orders. I have to say, with the downright homey feel, I was falling in love with the place.
Looking at a tourist map of Guthrie from the box out front, my wife and I discussed our plans and the various points of interest around town. Just then, our waitperson reappeared to refill my cup of coffee and share some of her favorite places, giving us her untainted opinions.
While my wife was taking some notes and listening intently, our appetizer was brought out, Chips and Salsa ($6.50), and I immediately started in on them.
Made-to-order fresh tortilla chips, with the homemade salsa at the ready, this app was definitely worth the price of admission. The chunky salsa lovingly stung my tongue with the salt of the freshly fried chips cooling it down.
I tried to engage in moderation, but it was hard, taking one bite after another, enjoying the crunch. Thankfully, I was forced to finally push them away after a few minutes when lunch came out.
Wanting something off the lunch menu, my wife had the Patty Melt ($9.09), her perennial favorite and a true diner choice. With her chosen side of hash browns, it was a 1/3 lb. burger patty, with grilled onions and Swiss and cheddar cheeses on perfectly grilled white toast.
With every bite, from the well-done patty to the expertly toasted bread, she fell more in love with the sandwich. But it was the grilled onions that completely won her over, sloshing them in her hashbrowns and creating a secondary meal. Good stuff, I thought.
And while she had the traditional patty melt, I noticed something strange and unpredictable on the otherwise non-tropical diner menu: the Loco Moco ($13.50).
Even though I have never been to the Isles, it seemed to be a true Hawaiian dish, by way of Oklahoma, of course. On top of jasmine rice sat a burger patty, two eggs, and, defiantly, a Spam slice or two, with plenty of hot brown gravy slathered all across the top.
Who would have thought that a small town in Oklahoma would offer such an adventurous flavor that everyone should try?! The amalgam of different tastes — from the rice, to the burger, and especially the Spam — makes this a can't miss dish.
My belly full, even though I should have said no, my mouth shouted “yes!” to a piece of pecan pie ($4.19).
While it wasn’t one of the homemade items on the dessert menu, I had no complaints, as the crust was flaky and the pecans crisp. The truth is, if I didn’t ask about the pie’s origin directly, I would have thought it was homemade. Good on you, Katie’s!
I was absolutely floored by Katie’s Diner, and my appreciation showed! With a great meal to soothe the soul—and a list of Guthrie must-sees from our warm, chatty waitperson—we rolled out full and happy, ready to chase down the rest of our day-long summer adventure.
Cómpralo ya!
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Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
