The Verdict
Cheever's Cafe is the restaurant that launched Keith and Heather Paul's A Good Egg Dining Group, opened in 2000 inside a 1938 Art Deco building that once housed Cheever's Flowers. Keith Paul was the original chef; Heather Paul, A Good Egg's co-owner, ran the front of house. The result is the kind of Oklahoma City institution that locals book for an anniversary or a parents' visit — polished but unpretentious, Midtown rather than downtown.
The cooking is contemporary Southwestern with a Sunday-supper streak: the chicken-fried steak under jalapeno cream gravy is the dish that made the room's name, with the mixed seafood tamales close behind. Mains climb into treat territory — the filet runs about $58, halibut about $49 and shrimp and grits about $34 — but the dining room and patio justify a longer evening.
The Kitchen
Cheever's was chef Keith Paul's first restaurant, and the menu still reflects the Southwestern comfort cooking he built it on. The chicken-fried steak under jalapeno cream gravy is the signature; the mixed seafood tamales are the other order regulars insist on. Beyond those, the kitchen runs a contemporary Oklahoma menu — filet, halibut, shrimp and grits — with the same from-scratch ambitions that grew A Good Egg Dining into a city group.
The Room
The room is the old Cheever's Flowers shop, a 1938 Art Deco storefront, with the floral history kept in the design and a covered patio for warmer nights. It reads as a special-occasion neighborhood restaurant: lively but not loud, smart but not stiff, and comfortable for couples and family groups alike.
Best for an Anniversary or Family Dinner
Cheever's is an Oklahoma City go-to for an anniversary, a birthday or a parents' dinner: the cooking is celebratory comfort food, the patio is a draw in spring, and the Midtown location is easy. It also handles weekend brunch, which makes it a flexible choice for a group gathering.
Not For
Not for a quick, cheap bite or a late-night scene — mains reach treat-night prices, with the filet around $58, and the kitchen is built for a sit-down dinner rather than a fast lunch. Diners after a downtown bar atmosphere or strictly budget eating should look elsewhere in the city.
Reservations
Cheever's Cafe takes reservations and is busy at weekend dinner and brunch, so book ahead, especially for the patio in spring. It sits in Midtown on North Hudson Avenue, an easy drive from downtown Oklahoma City with nearby parking. A second Cheever's has opened on Cherry Street in Tulsa, but the Hudson Avenue original is the flagship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the chef at Cheever's Cafe?
Cheever's Cafe was opened in 2000 by chef Keith Paul, with his wife Heather Paul, A Good Egg Dining Group's co-owner, running the front of house. It was the first restaurant the Pauls built, and Keith Paul was its original chef; the menu still reflects the Southwestern comfort cooking he established there.
What is the signature dish at Cheever's Cafe?
The signature is the chicken-fried steak under jalapeno cream gravy, the dish most associated with the restaurant, followed closely by the mixed seafood tamales. The wider menu is contemporary Southwestern, with mains such as filet, halibut and shrimp and grits, cooked from scratch in the A Good Egg Dining style.
How expensive is Cheever's Cafe?
Cheever's sits in special-occasion territory for Oklahoma City. Mains include a filet around $58, halibut around $49 and shrimp and grits around $34, so a full dinner with drinks is a treat-night spend. Weekend brunch and lunch offer lighter, lower-priced options if you want the room without the full dinner outlay.
What is the history of the Cheever's Cafe building?
Cheever's Cafe occupies a 1938 Art Deco building in Midtown Oklahoma City that originally housed Cheever's Flowers, a florist tied to the city's early days. Keith and Heather Paul opened the restaurant in the converted storefront in 2000, keeping the floral history in the design, and it became the founding restaurant of A Good Egg Dining.
Also in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City's dining has grown well beyond steak. Compare Nonesuch for a downtown tasting menu, Vast for a high-rise dinner, or Mahogany Prime Steakhouse for a classic steak night.