Nonesuch, what an exciting name for a restaurant located in Oklahoma City. I was in the middle of planning a trip, and this restaurant immediately stood out. I had to look it up and do a bit of research first. Nonesuch was named best new restaurant in 2018 by Bon Appetit, which apparently does not happen very often in a state like Oklahoma. The restaurant uses locally foraged ingredients, focusing on inspiration from local farmers, prairies, woods, and cuisine. Seemed like a great place to get a taste of Oklahoma and try their local ingredients.
Apparently, this restaurant used to need a reservation at least a month in advance. Still, I was able to get a reservation quickly a couple of weeks out. Not sure if Nonsuch is as busy as it used to be due to the quality or the pandemic. Either way, I had a reservation on my calendar that I was seriously looking forward to. The reservation was on the pricier side, not a restaurant that you can go to regularly unless you don’t mind eating instant noodles for all your other meals. The reservations are $110 each, and you can also add $60+ for wine pairings. They offer wines by the glass and bottle at the restaurant as well. From other blogs and pictures, I found that the food served ranged from quail to bison and blueberries to sweet potatoes, prepared in unique and minimalistic ways. The menu, of course, is seasonal, and some of the ingredients might change depending on their availability.
Finally, the reservation date arrived. We parked outside on the street of a very inconspicuous block, where the restaurant is subtly located. As we walked in, the host greeted us warmly, asked for our names, and seated us at a very cool, granite U-shaped bar, where other diners were happily enjoying their meals. The staff stood inside the U, where they pay close attention to their diners and where they are in their dining experience. Our server offered us a wine list, as we opted out of the wine pairings this time. The wine list was well put together, not so many options where it’s hard to decide, but it also covered all the bases. After our wines were tasted and poured, the courses started coming.
Each course was bite-sized and plated on overly large plates. Created with local and seasonal ingredients. The appetizer courses were designed with different melons, corn, tomatoes, okra, and shishito peppers.
My favorite dish was the egg course, a Spanish tortilla Egg Rillette with a delicious pork crust and blackened fruit sauce.
We were then served three entrée courses, including pasta, smoked pork, and a smoked cheddar bison, with a unique sweet potato bread course in between.
One staff even poured us a smokey cabernet to pair with the smoked cheddar bison, with fantastic service and knowledge of the experience. Lastly, we were served three dessert courses, all beautifully presented and delicious.
Overall, there were eleven courses, and we were comfortably full. The staff did a fantastic job, clearing our plates throughout the entire meal and quickly serving the next course. Everyone was knowledgeable about each dish as they were presented and could answer any questions we had as well.
In conclusion, a unique and fun dining experience in the heart of Oklahoma City. The price felt just suitable for the amount of preparation, service, and uniqueness the restaurant provides. The service was friendly and on point, not over the top or suffocating. I would definitely go back in another season to try another menu if I am ever back in Oklahoma City. With a restaurant like this, hopefully, the standards of other local restaurants are raised as well.
