Restaurant Review - Tomyum Thai Kitchen

4745 SE 29th St., Del City, OK 405-670-7058. 31Aug08, 2PM. We stopped by for a late lunch. The tables were clean, the service efficacious. I had yellow curry with chicken, my wife had chicken with basil. Both dished were served with white rice. The price with tax before tip was about $18.00. The food was very good and compared favorably with other local Thai emporiums, the portions sufficient to take home an entire second meal for two. I didn't try it but was intrigued by the offering of BBQ chicken or pork skewers for $1. They have a weekday lunch buffet. Tomyum passed the binary restaurant test, like MacArthur, I will return.

Where to get it in OKC

It is a frustrating state of affairs when the hurdle to doing a thing is not that the requisite product or service can't be had, but rather that you believe it is not available because you can't find it. To that end, this entry will be a compendium of my successful searches, and to the extent that they are provided to me, those of other contributors. ! denotes stores and services I use.

Product
Cheese - ! Mediterranean Import & Deli, 5620 N May, OKC, 405-810-9494. Dozens of exotic cheeses draw me in when I'm looking for something not available at the local MegaMart. They also have a great selection of olive oil, middle-eastern spices and condiments, as well as staples from the region. They have several different types of olives in barrels, but I don't eat those. The staff is knowledgeable.

Baking Supplies - ! Midwest Bakers Supply. - 2716 NW 10th St, OKC, 405-942-3489. If it has to do with baking, these folks have it (except for the flour, milk, and eggs). While it is true that you can get much of the bakers paraphernalia in the big box stores, if you want to get the good stuff, this is the place. Stuff like baked goods boxes, the round pieces of cardboard that go under the cake, the bride and groom for the top of, and supports like Ace uses to hold up the layers of that wedding cake; special sugars, or tins, or molds for that celebratory edible you're planning to make are all available herre. The staff is knowledgeable.

Service
Dentist - ! Dr. Ray Laverdierre, D.D.S. I like him, he's retired ex-Navy, very gentle and thorough. Spends plenty of time with the patient, and can get you in quick. He's on Delta Dental plans, and I got to him through the State employee health plan. Address is 8383 S Penn., 405-686-7970.

Small appliance repair - ! Appliance Services. 101 E Madison, OKC, 405-525-8862. This place is like a museum of mixers and toasters, and these folks are the curators. They do restoration and repair all those old electric (not electronic, they may do them, but I don't know about it) appliances, fans, and such that you already own and like. I took my near 100 year old waffle maker there, and they took care of me. It takes a little while, sometimes parts are hard to find. The prices seemed reasonable. Recycle, restore, repair, re-use; save the planet, man. The staff is knowledgeable.

Restaurant Review - Shartel Cafe

Lunch today with Cliff at the Shartel Cafe, 5116 N Shartel, OKC, 405-843-0900. The food was good, the service better than expected. I had the Jerk Chicken Sandwich with fries. The sandwich could stand some more Jerk, but was very tasty and had a roasted pinnapple cream cheese dressing which was a good compliment. Prices were not exceptionally good or bad. The breakfast menu looked great. I'll be back to try it.

Restaurant Review - Iguana Mexican Grill

I attended the Oklahoma Today issue premier yesterday at the Iguana. Great party, A-list crowd. Not a typical restaurant visit, but let me share my observations. It's very convenient to downtown (9 NW 9th St, free on-site parking). The place was packed to the gills for the shindig, and consequently very noisy, I suspect not so much during a normal lunch. Very nice local, old brick building, shaded by large trees (probably a great outside sit). The interior is repurposed brick commercial space, nicely done and a very comfortable floorplan. The food was great, especially the roast pork tenderloin dressed with chimichurri. The other appetizers I samples were also good. I didn't have a sit down meal, so I can't speak to the selection, but the old Iguana on Western had Mexican themed food with a twist here and there. The service was great, the servers seemed happy to be doing their thing; I think that's what makes for good service, and makes it pleasant to interact with them. I'll go back for lunch, or a date with my wife, so in the binary evaluation process, go back or not, Iguana wins another visit.

Restaurant Review: La Costa, 3113 S Western, OKC 405-616-9551 (other locations at 2608 S May, 1503 SW 29th); Date 26Aug08, Lunch (1:00 PM).

Ate here on the recommendation of Kent Eldridge, neighbor, judge, Workman's Comp Court. I was late for lunch and not many people were there. I sat down immediately at a clean table, and soon had chips, queso, and salsa verde. I ordered the fried tilapia, which came with rice and beans (I could have chosen the salad). The whole gutted fish arrived, deeply scored on both sides, fried (and crusted?), with the rice and beans, and my choice of flour tortillas. The fish was great, rice and beans average. Price $9.00 plus tax and tip. I hear (from Kent that) the guacamole is very good.