POSTCARD: Oklahoma City [Edmond, OK] - Steak & Catfish Barn

Dear Friends:

I'm excited to be writing to you from Oklahoma City [ok, not really...it is work and all].   There are so many dining options and opportunities out here [if you like a lot of fried fattening foods, otherwise you're S.O.L. for the purposes of this particular postcard.].  Take for instance, the Steak and Catfish Barn.  

When I was here last October, I made a trip up to Edmond to visit my friend, Carrie.  As I was driving around Edmond, lo and behold what do I see but this sign for a Steak and Catfish Barn.  BARN.  Where they serve both STEAKS and CATFISH.  I've been wanting to visit this place ever since [no, really.  It's all I've talked about].

My first glance into the restaurant lived up to my expectations, a little dark with linoleum floors.  I was so thrilled by this sight that I nearly bounced to my table, which was in the next room - brighter and better lit...They had all these really funny plaques around the place but I'll save that for another post.

Our server was wonderful and friendly and even helped me with my selections [even if she didn't actually bring me those selections, but she corrected right away]. I have to say, they had the best french fries I've ever eaten.  I ate half of Carrie's.  It was awesome.  

It was definitely a lot more fried food than I've ever had in one sitting.  My stomach was in turmoil after but the fried catfish was so moist, tender and perfectly fried that I'd go back and eat it again!

As a matter of fact, I even bought a t-shirt because it's just so awesome...[a catfish riding a bull...].  I've been wearing that shirt with pride.  I can't wait to go back again!!

Steak and Catfish Barn

5175 E Waterloo Rd
Edmond, OK 73034

405.341.7300

How did i end up here?

Last weekend, I was living the high life in San Fran - views of the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge from my hotel room; eating at Contigo with some of the most exotic dishes I've had in years; and meeting  some of my blogger heroes at the Food Blogger After Party.  In stark contrast, this weekend I've got a view a hotel parking lot and miles and miles of flat, grey, rainy scenery.  Help...I'm lost in Oklahoma City...

All right, I exaggerate. I'm not lost.  I know exactly where I am. It's not all bad.  I thought, "Here's my chance to bring my blog back to being a travel blog..." Unfortunately, the only thing I've done since landing here is to drag my friend, Carrie, to the Oldest Antique Bar in Oklahoma - Eischen's in Okarche.  After I pet the world's cutest dog, trout:

Eischen's SALOON was opened in 1896 until the prohibition.  Eischen's BAR opened shortly have the end of prohibition by the grandson's of the original Eischen's Saloon.  What's so spectacular about this place aside from being the oldest bar in Oklahoma??  Well, they've also got some of the best fried chicken I've ever had.  And I don't even like fried chicken. 

Battling through the rain [ok, so it was a light sprinkling but it doesn't rain in Southern California so i'm just not used to it] and traveling an hour from Edmond, we finally arrived in Okarche [after getting lost because Carrie had folded the instructions in half and a crucial part of the instructions was on the crease of the fold]!  The first thing we noticed when we got out of the car was the smell of fried chicken wafting out of the bar.

After circling the building to find the front entrance [made us a little crazy because the smell of fried chicken was even stronger the closer we got], we decided that we liked the back much better. 

The menu was short and sweet with only a limited number of options. It's great for indecisive people like me who can't make up their minds.  Diet cokes were expensive at a $1.50 per can...Beers were actually a better value and were served up quicker. 

Apparently, one size fits all - whole chickens only so Carrie and I decided to share an order of fried chicken and okra. After a brief 45 minute wait for our order [the waitress assured me that I was lucky I didn't have to wait 2 hours for it], the piping hot chicken finally arrived.  The chicken was wonderful juicy on the inside [as it should be] and crispy on the outside [again, as it should be].  What was so amazing about this chicken was how it MELTED in my mouth.

After stuffing my fat face with fried stuff, I felt the need to take a [short] walk through the very small town.  The area was quaint, yet stark.  Modern, yet a throw back from yester year.  

If you find yourself going through Oklahoma, I recommend you swing through Okarche and enjoy some fried chicken!  But only if you've got the time.  

Eischen's Bar

108 S 2nd
Okarche, OK 73762

405.364.9939