Review for Frank & Lola's!

Frank & Lola's is possibly the most famous restaurant in Bartlesville, so of course we decided to check it out!

Taste-I had the Green Chili Burger and fries. The big pool of green chili had big, tender chunks of pork. The charbroiled patty was flavorful and the cheese was delicious. Crispy, salty golden fries best when dipped in chili.

I got the signature Green Chili Burger. A huge burger patty absolutely smothered in homemade green chili. Not the easiest dish to eat, or the cleanest, but definitely worth it. The saltiness of the chili elevated an already outstanding burger.

Atmosphere-It was a little on the warm side. The décor was quirky with bicycles hanging from the ceiling and concert posters. Classic rock, mostly Tom Petty filled the place along with the bustling chatter and clatter.

Atmosphere-Very packed. Every table full. Very warm inside the restaurant. Bicycles on the ceiling. Waiting room with a pool table, darts and posters from bands that have played there. Not a place to stay and chat. Eat good and get out.

Service-Frank and Lola's is always busy when we go, so you may have to wait to be seated and served, but they staff is friendly and they work hard.

Service-Attentive. Food and drinks served quick. Hard to maneuver for the servers at times due to the close quarters of the restaurant.

Value-The burger and fires is well worth the $11 price tag. The servings are pretty large and the food is tasty.

Value-Large, delicious meals for around $30 for 2. We both got Green Chili Burgers and waters. Sodas are served in a can with a glass of ice. No refills. No regrets.

Uniqueness-The green chili here sets Frank and Lola's apart. The chocolate espresso brownie seems intriguing as well.

Uniqueness-They have some signature dishes done very uniquely. One-of-a-kind dishes in some cases, and if not it's still done differently.

Variety-Burgers, sandwiches, pasta , salad, hummus, and chips and salsa make for a pretty good variety.

Variety-Salads, chili, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, steaks, seafood. Pretty diverse menu. Salads are about the only meal for a vegetarian. But for omnivores a large selection for whatever mood you are in.

Cleanliness-It was well kept and the women's restroom had pictures of Johnny Depp.

Cleanliness-Always rushed pace here, so some things could be cleaner. Nothing alarming, but noticeable.

Sides/Beverages/Dessert-The golden fries were crispy and just the right amount of salty. They were best when dipped in the green chili from my burger! As for pop, It's served in a can. I would have liked to try the bread pudding, but I was stuffed.

Sides/Drinks/Desserts-Fries in green chili was awesome! Fries are the perfect conveyance for all the excess chili on the plate. Diverse selection of drinks and desserts, but I never have room for them.

Story-Frank and Lola's is a hotspot for live music and good food.

Story-Frank and Lola's is a Bartlesville institution. They have a lot of bands play there, albeit mostly on the smaller side. Also rumored to be haunted, which always is a plus in my book!

Presentation-Nothing fancy, but it doesn't need to be.

Presentation-Your burger comes out as an island in the chili sea, so it is visually striking. Plated in an interesting manner and served very hot. Makes you happy you ordered it.

Definitely get some green chili when you go!

Frank and Lola's Neighborhood Restaurant and Bar
200 E. 2nd St. Bartlesville, OK 74003
http://frankandlolas.com/
https://www.facebook.com/frankandlolas/

Review for Painted Horse Bar & Grill!

Our review today is over Painted Horse Bar & Grill in downtown Bartlesville!

Taste-Immediately the smell of BBQ wafted in my direction as my food was served. The Hog Heaven Mac was possibly the best mac & cheese I've ever eaten. Crunchy bacon, tender savory pork. So cheesy! and sweet barbecue danced on my tongue. And the cheese! There was a pool of cheese. It may have also been the cheesiest thing I've ever eaten!

Taste-I got the Fungus aMungus, a delicious burger covered with buttery mushrooms, blue cheese, and an au jus that made it very messy, but definitely raised the flavor profile. It was cooked perfectly, juicy and flavorful. The wine and au jus were a very decadent, fancy tasting sauce. Mushrooms brought a lot of flavor, but did not overwhelm the other components. Perfectly balanced.

Atmosphere-The Painted Horse had a homey, Western feel with Southern and classic rock playing in the background. It was a bit chilly, but it was hot outside.

Atmosphere-Comfortable bar & grill atmosphere. Fairly spacious interior, but cozy enough. Well lit, but not ostentatious. Bar in the middle of the room adds to the feel. Horse and cowboy décor in bright

colors. Local paintings on the walls. Good classic rock music playlist. Fun and comfortable.

Service-The service was quick, friendly and efficient, which I like.

Service-Polite and friendly hostess and server. Quick with drinks and food. Prompt, timely and done well.

Value-I had quite a large serving and the price was right. My eyes bulged when I saw my big plate.

Value-Very large portions (Jess's mac and cheese could have been enough of a meal for us both). Around $35 for her giant bowl of mac and cheese and my burger and fries, plus a drink. You won't leave hungry or broke.

Uniqueness-They are definitely unique in the twists they add to favorites.

Uniqueness-Some burgers, sandwiches and entrees that cannot be found anywhere else I've seen. My burger was quite unique and their mac cannot be duplicated. Creative, fun menu.

Variety-They have a surprising variety of types of food from Asian to Southern to Mexican. Great option for those who come with others having different cravings.

Variety-Salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, steaks, chicken, Asian bowls. A little something for everyone. No complaints from your party, should make everyone happy. Vegetarians have a few delicious, diverse choices.

Cleanliness-All good as far as I could tell.

Cleanliness-No issues observed. Clean surfaces, tables, bar, restrooms. Older building, but not unclean. Unremarkable.

Sides/Beverages/Desserts-There is a good selection of cocktails and their sides are made in house.

Sides/Drinks/Desserts-Good sweet potato fries. Also have normal fries, chips, or slaw, all made in house. Clever, unique and fun cocktails. Big beer, wine, and cocktail menu.

Story-We couldn't find a lot of information, but they are a small business that locally sources some of the food they serve.

Story-Historic building. Modern twist on a classic steakhouse. Fairly apt description of the restaurant. Locally sourced food. Karaoke, trivia and other community events.

Presentation-The presentation was about what I'd expect, aside from my giant plate.

Presentation-I must admit, I was jealous. The mac and cheese looked so good and so huge. Not to say my burger wasn't mouth-watering. It was. I was just hoping Jess would share. And she did! Not overly fancy, but the food speaks for itself.

Definitely visit the Painted Horse and get some mac and cheese!

Painted Horse Bar & Grill
110 SW Frank Philips Blvd. Bartlesville, OK 74003
https://www.painted-horse.com/
https://www.facebook.com/paintedhorse.bville/

Review for Elote!

Elote is a locally sourced Mexican restaurant in downtown Tulsa. It has been in business for over ten years and is well known for its puffy tacos and its luchadores!

Taste-Got a sweet corn tamale, a tomatillo enchilada, and a BBQ beef taco. The sweet corn tamale was like a sweet cornbread with honey, almost like a dessert. The tomatillo enchilada was good, but did not stand out very much. The BBQ beef taco was saucy and messy, overall a good meal.

Taste-I had a three choice combo with a cheesy quinoa empanada, a tasty pork tamale, and a yummy pork puffy taco.

Atmosphere-It was hospitable, but not really friendly. Decorated in bright, Latin colors and luchador decor. Even a formerly functioning wrestling ring. Bland modern pop, nothing to stick with you. Fairly spacious and comfortable. Mismatched chairs adds an idiosyncratic vibe.

Atmosphere-The atmosphere was very colorful like many Mexican restaurants, but unlike most, it has a wrestling ring and a giant luchador. The music was modern pop.

Service-Almost counter service. Food is delivered to your table, but no more visits from your server. Self-serve drinks and silverware. Business-like demeanor.

Service-We went for lunch, so the service wasn't as attentive as it would be for dinner. It was basically counter service.

Value-No free chips and salsa. One of the few Mexican restaurants I have ever been to lacking this. Not a deal breaker, but a mild annoyance. Food is decent portions for the price. Two meals of three tacos, sides and 2 sangrias was around $40.

Value-Elote uses local ingredients and a little more upscale than your ordinary Mexican restaurant. The portions aren't large and chips and salsa are not complimentary.

Uniqueness-Far from the normal Mexican fare. Everything I got were dishes I had never seen on another menu. Very creative choices. Adventerous and clever.

Uniqueness-Elote's offerings are on the more unique side for this type of food. How often do you see cheese and quinoa empanadas?

Variety-Tacos, enchiladas, tamales, burritos, other Mexican dishes and even a few American items. Very concious of vegetarian and vegan patrons. Pretty diverse Mexican restaurant menu.

Variety-The variety is about as expansive as you would expect a Mexican restaurant to be, but with some twists.

Cleanliness-Passable, but some surfaces could definetly use some care. Tables bussed fairly quick and fairly well. Older looking non-food surfaces.

Cleanliness-The restaurant is clean and I didn't notice anything that would say otherwise.

Sides/Appetizers/Beverages-Sangria was refreshing and sour, but a little watered down from the amount of ice used. Elote was a stellar example and some of the best corn ever. Sweet potatoes were very good and crispy, if a little odd for the meal.

Sides/Beverages/Desserts-The sangria is made in house. The sweet potatoes remind me of Thanksgiving. The elote was tasty and tangy. As for soda, they have unique local beverages instead of the ordinary Coke or Pepsi products. The salsa was a little spicy with an abundance of cilantro flavor. The sour cream chipotle sauce was really good.

Story-Elote has been around for over a decade, serving locally sourced foods to downtown Tulsa. Formerly (and still on occasion) hosted lucha matches. Creative and fun menu, advocates supporting local businesses, something I can get behind.

Story-Elote was started by a Tulsan by the name of Libby Billings. The restaurant uses local ingredients and is at the forefront in Tulsa for being environmentally friendly. Also, Elote has live lucha libre matches most of the year!

Presentation-Standard easy presentation. Nothing fancy. Food is the highlight and comes on bright plates befitting the decor. Plates seem crowded to increase feeling of value.

Sorry you all don't get to see pictures of our food, but we were starving and had already inhaled most of our food before we remembered we should take pictures. Next time for sure. The presentation was about normal for this type of restaurant. Nothing too fancy.

So, in short, if you happen to be navigating the confusing one way roads of downtown Tulsa and can find a place to park, you could do a lot worse than eating at Elote! Try the puffy tacos or the sweet corn tamales! Tell them the Food Crickets recommended it!

Elote Restaurant & Catering
514 S. Boston Ave, Tulsa, OK 74103
https://www.elotetulsa.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EloteCafe/

Review for Flo's Burger Diner!

Taste-I had the signature Bomb Burger with grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns. (I know I've been on a bit of a health kick lately) The burger patty was very juicy and flavorful and delicious. The spicy ranch dressing was one of the best burger sauces I have ever eaten (and I have eaten a few). There is a jalapeno between the patties which adds an awesome kick to the burger. And so much cheese between the burger and the grilled cheese sandwiches. It may be the cheesiest thing I have ever eaten (and I have just straight eaten a block of cheese.) In all, an amazing burger.

Taste-Exceptional! I've tasted Flo's Burgers twice now and they are the BEST burgers I've ever tasted. On this visit, I had The Sizzler, which has a little kick. It had lots of crunchy fried onions, tangy jalapeno ranch, pepper jack and a buttery toasted bun. Heaven on a bun.

Atmosphere-Along the lines of a standard 50s diner in terms of vibe and décor. Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, James Dean, etc. A few unexpected gems on the walls. Music from 50s-60s era which played a very diverse selection which added to the restaurant's vibe immensely. Not a huge place, but not overly cramped either.

Atmosphere-A simple, classic atmosphere. Route 66 and classic movie memorabilia decorate the walls. Oldies, such as Elvis and Sonny and Cher, played over the radio. It was relaxing and laid back, just the way I like it. It really feels like a family-run business.

Service-Just a counter service restaurant. No waitstaff, but the cashier and the cook were incredible. Very polite and kind. Personable. Better service than I would expect from a counter service diner. Pleasant surprise!

Service-It's a counter-service restaurant. The service was friendly and made you feel like part of the family. I was even complimented, so bonus points!

Value-Around $30 for lunch for Jess and I. In addition to my burger, I got the Spanish Fries and a drink. Jess got a burger, Fat Fries and a drink. Large portions on the burger and fries. Definitely a bargain and you get more than you pay for.

Value-Amazing value! $30 for everything and they have huge portions!

Uniqueness-Most of the burgers (and some of the fries) on the menu are completely different from any other burger I have seen anywhere else. Some creative combinations and even the ones I have seen before are out of the ordinary.

Uniqueness-The menu items are quite unique. Although they use mostly items you would find at other places, they use them differently to an amazingly tasty result. Also, that jalapeno ranch rules!

Variety-It's a burger restaurant, so it is primarily burgers and fries, even if they are unique ones. Some sandwiches and a few other things, not much variety, especially if you have dietary restrictions.

Variety-The menu isn't especially large and is limited to mostly burgers and fries, but with food this good, you don't need a book for a menu.

Cleanliness-Standard. Not immaculate, but no real issues. Hygienic kitchen practices from what I could tell. Clean restrooms. A clean up after yourself kind of restaurant.

Cleanliness-I'm a bit of a germaphobe and from what I could see, everything was sanitary.

Sides/Drinks/Desserts-The creative fry options are intriguing and very tasty. The Spanish Fries were spicy as to be expected and delicious. Jess was lucky to be able to try one before I finished them off. The drinks are standard self-serve fountain drinks, but it did include flavor syrups of strawberry, cherry, lime and vanilla which were an extra. A few dessert options, but you will not have room. I guarantee that.

Sides/Beverages/Desserts-As for drinks, they have the usual variety of Pepsi, but with flavor shots of strawberry, cherry, lime and vanilla. Now we get to the fries. The Fat Fries are covered in cheese with fried jalapenos, lots of fried onions, jalapeno ranch, lots of crispy bacon, and crunchy bottle caps. AMAZING!

Story-Not a very storied restaurant. Originally in Catoosa, but the original owners and chefs have opened a new one in Tulsa and have been doing a beautiful business since then.

Story-Small, family owned business that started in Catoosa.

Presentation-Not a pretty presentation, but I didn't expect it to be. I didn't really want a pretty burger. I wanted something messy and monstrous, and that's what I got. Plastic baskets with wax paper, like most diners. Foam cups. Nothing fantastic here.

Presentation-Classic presentation with a basket of burgers and fries.

Flo's Burger Diner
2604 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK 74104
https://www.facebook.com/FlosBurgerDinerTulsa/

Introduction

Welcome to The Food Crickets Blog! We are trying to spotlight and rank independent and family restaurants wherever we can in order to direct people towards eating locally and away from the mega-chains. We will be documenting and scoring each restaurant and eatery we eat at in order to better help you get a feel for what they can offer for you.

That being said, we are not normal food critics. Our primary goal is to objectively (or as objectively as food can be) determine the best restaurant in a given category or area. We will be using a system of criteria in order to judge restaurants against others and determine which one is better, even when two restaurants have nothing in common. Unlike a lot of best restaurant lists, we will not be focusing on fine dining or expensive restaurants. Our list is for everyone and some restaurants can be cost prohibitive for your average foodie. Not that some restaurants we feature won't be a little on the costly side, but we tend to shy away from pretentious food.

Our first master list (and hopefully potential book) is to find the best restaurant in our home state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma tends to have a reputation for being bland and boring. We will be doing what we can to fight this misconception, at least in the field of foods. Our quest will take us to big cities and small towns all over the state, in many different types of restaurants and types of food. This does not mean this is the only master list we are working on, our restaurants could be used for any number of list and our food may be wherever we happen to be.

Anyway, our breakdown of judging criteria falls into:
Taste-How the food tastes is always important when judging a restaurant. If the taste is lacking, nothing else can make up for it.
Atmosphere-How the restaurant feels can have a major impact on your enjoyment of the meal. Lighting, décor, music all have a hand in the overall experience. This will be factored into our scores as well.
Service-Obviously how well we are treated will also impact how much we enjoy the food. Everyone who is employed in the restaurant represents said restaurant. Host, server, bartender, busboy, etc. all can change the entire landscape of a meal. However, extenuating circumstances should be taken into account sometimes. If it happens to be a huge rush, the staff can be forgiven for any perceived slowness or lack of service. We know we are not the only people in the restaurant. Also, the food takes as long as it takes. We prefer food to be made fresh and have no problem waiting on it.
Value-The value of the meal can also effect our enjoyment. This does not mean that cheaper food automatically wins in value. Value means you get what you pay for, your money's worth. Portion size, quality of ingredients, extras all count into the value, judged up against the price of the meal.
Uniqueness-We are rebelling against the cookie cutter chains, so of course we would judge our restaurants on their uniqueness. The menu should have items you cannot find anywhere else. Unique spins on established dishes are also appreciated.
Variety-Variety in a restaurant can be refreshing. Not everyone is in the mood for the same food at the same time. We are looking for restaurants that serve dishes from several different categories, with a particular eye towards those with dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, whatever). We do not have any of these dietary restrictions, but it's nice to be able to include those that do.
Cleanliness-Obviously this can ruin your meal and your appreciation for a particular restaurant. Now, we are not health inspectors and do not plan on snooping in the kitchens or backrooms of the restaurants we visit, but we will be judging the public areas that any customer could see.
Sides/Drinks/Desserts/Appetizers-The accompaniment to the meal can mean a lot. So, we will be judging every restaurant on it's accompaniment, whether that be side dishes, special drinks, desserts, appetizers, whatever they have and whatever looks good. We can not try everything, but points for diversity of options.
Story-Every restaurant has a story. How it started, who founded it, where it is, when it is, whatever. The uniqueness and color of the story will effect its reputation and add value to your visit.
Presentation-The way a meal comes out can make a big impact. You don't want to be disappointed by your meal. How closely it matches or improves upon the vision in your head will help your appreciation and enjoyment of your meal.

These will all be scored by both myself and my wife and partner Jessica in order to determine the 100 best restaurants in Oklahoma. We look forward to this and to inspiring you to try new things and new places.