Restaurant , zoo and Memorial suggestions?

Planning a return visit to OKC over Labor Day weekend -- but it%26#39;s been ten years! Enjoyed Cattleman%26#39;s and Applewood%26#39;s back then -- would like this year%26#39;s suggestions from those in the know! Also, how are zoo visits in the hot weather? Is there shade for pedestrians? Finally, any suggestions about visiting the Memorial?

Time of day, special points of interest, etc?

Thanks from Texas visitors.

Restaurant , zoo and Memorial suggestions?

There are a lot of trees all over the zoo, as well as airconditioned viewing buildings at some of the new exhibits (like the Lion Overlook.) There are water fountains available around the zoo as well as carts selling beverages and cool treats and concession stands. It%26#39;s still darned hot when walking some of the paths, though. I would suggest hitting the zoo early rather than late.

Applewoods has moved from the location you probably visited to N. Memorial Road near Quail Springs Mall. The food was about the same, though. (I haven%26#39;t been there in months, so I am making the assumption it is still open.)

Cattleman%26#39;s Restaurant remains Cattleman%26#39;s Restaurant. It%26#39;s a constant in OKC.

Other restauratns? Depends on what you like. There are several restaurants in Bricktown that are excellent. Mickey Mantle%26#39;s (very high end prices, good food) The Mantel (high end pricing, excellent food), and of course Chelino%26#39;s Mexican. There is also a new steakhouse - Daddy Hinkles. I haven%26#39;t eaten there yet but have heard good reviews from friends.

Here is a site about Bricktown:

http://www.bricktownokc.com/

Take a trip down the canal on one of the boats and drop into Toby Keith%26#39;s ';I Love This Bar and Grill'; for lunch. If it%26#39;s too busy, Earl%26#39;s BBQ is also very good.

The number of new restaurants that have opened in OKC in the past decade are numerous. What type of food and pricing are you looking for?

The memorial can be visited just about any time of the day, but I expect it will be extra busy over the holiday weekend. The outdoor section is free of charge and contains the chairs and the survivor tree. And there is a museum adjacent to the site that has a paid admission.

http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/

You might also plan a visit to the new Arts Museum, if that is your taste. It has the largest permanent exhibition of Dale Chihuly glass in the world, and the glass pieces are quite impressive.

http://www.okcmoa.com/

And they have added a State Museum of History at the Capitol Center on Lincoln Blvd.

…yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2738832-state_museu…

Have fun!

Restaurant , zoo and Memorial suggestions?

Thanks so much for all the useful info! Your response was ';right on';.

We%26#39;re really fans of prime rib, vs. steak, and also like seafood. And I forgot to ask about Sunday Brunch?

I%26#39;ll check out the bricktown and other websites -- I really do appreciate your suggestions.

Seafood in Oklahoma... There%26#39;s a place in Bricktown that many of my seafood lovign friends enjoy - Crabtown. It%26#39;s owned by the same people that own the Pearl%26#39;s line of Cajun restaurants. And Pearl%26#39;s has some fine seafood as well. There%26#39;s a couple of Pearl%26#39;s around the city, but the one with the best views is on the East Wharf at Lake Hefner.

http://www.funfresh.com/crabtown.htm

http://www.funfresh.com/lakeside.htm

Prime rib. Every steak place has prime rib available. That should not be a problem.

Brunch: I%26#39;m not much of a Brunch fan but here is a link to brunch on OKC

restauranteur.com/ok/oklahomacity/brunch.htm

I think the brunch at Bellini%26#39;s may be called ';the Veranda';. I may not do brunch, but the rest of the food at Bellini%26#39;s is awesome.

Now we%26#39;re really looking forward to our weekend of good things to do and great food!

If you%26#39;re not already designated a local expert for OKC, you should be!

Here%26#39;s hoping for cooler weather -- and a thousand thanks again from Texas visitors!

One more suggestion: If you have children (especially 10 and under) the Omniplex Science Museum is right next to the Zoo and has some great exhibits as well as a planetarium, They also have the ';OmniDome'; which is a domed IMax theater. Check that out as well.

http://www.omniplex.org/

carol...try sunday brunch at a Pearl%26#39;s...great cajun type brunch menu with an awesome bloody mary bar as well...our favorite brunch especially after a saturday night out on the town...my wife also enjoys the mimosa%26#39;s there

Easy180

I see that%26#39;s at Pearl%26#39;s Lakeside and the two Oyster Bars (NW 63rd and SW 74th)

funfresh.com/…20Brunch

http://www.funfresh.com/pearls.htm

Saturday and Sunday, according to the Pearl%26#39;s Oyster Bar sites. But the Lakeside location only shows Sunday.

I also heartily endorse Cattlemen%26#39;s Steakhouse. Bricktown has lots of good places. I%26#39;m fond of the kielbasa sausage at Coach%26#39;s.

The Zoo in Oklahoma City is really excellent, well-funded thanks to a sales tax earmark, but Labor Day will be really hot! The Omniplex is air conditioned and pretty good, with an IMAX theater. It%26#39;s right next door to the Zoo.

I recommend two visits to the Bombing Memorial, one in day, and one at night. It is really a different place at night, and very moving and beautifully-lit. It is quite safe, there are 24-hour security guards on site. I live right next to the Memorial (look to your west at a big gray building with balconies) and work a block away, and I run over to work at all hours with no worries. You%26#39;ll have to pay for parking if you visit the memorial during the day, but they don%26#39;t monitor the meters at night, so you can park on the street with no problems. If you choose to eat at the bombing memorial site, Markie%26#39;s is right next door. It is a decent deli with sandwiches and salads. Not awesome, but quite good. Of course, don%26#39;t forget to tour the Memorial Museum. And find out when rangers are giving a talk on the bombing site and listen to it.

Oh, and don%26#39;t forget the Cowboy Hall of Fame (which now has a more politically-correct name). Everyone from out of town LOVES that place!

Hope this isn%26#39;t too late. I%26#39;d go to Deep Fork Grill on Western and Grand for steak and seafood. For Sunday brunch, I encourage you to go to the institution that has singlehandedly breathed life into OKC culture and west downtown life -- the OKC Museum of Art Museum Cafe. The restaurant was instant local favorite. It is a white tablecloth establishment specializing in French fusion cuisine. The Sunday brunch is great.