5 Reasons The Crain Lounge & Kitchen Is OKC’s Must-Visit Dining Spot For Late 2025

The Crain Lounge & Kitchen has quickly established itself as one of Oklahoma City's most vibrant and essential dining destinations as of December 2025. This neighborhood spot, located in the Oak Grove Plaza area, has captured the attention of locals and food critics alike by perfectly blending a laid-back, inviting atmosphere with an unexpectedly sophisticated and diverse menu. It’s the kind of place where you truly "come for the food, stay for the atmosphere," making it a standout in the competitive OKC culinary scene.

Positioned near Lake Hefner, The Crain is more than just a restaurant; it’s a cozy, new social hub designed to feel like your favorite local haunt, yet offering dishes that go above and beyond typical comfort food. The establishment's success is rooted in its commitment to providing an "undoubtedly good, unreasonably great" experience, from its signature cocktails to its fresh daily specials, ensuring every visit feels both familiar and exciting.

The Culinary Visionaries: Ross Crain and Chef Garrett Myers

The Crain Lounge & Kitchen’s identity is intrinsically linked to its founders, a team with deep roots in the Oklahoma dining community. Their combined experience and vision have resulted in a concept that is both accessible and elevated.

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Ross Crain: The Restaurateur and Concept Creator

• Role: Owner and Founder of The Crain Lounge & Kitchen.
• Background: Ross Crain is a longtime, respected alum of Hal Smith Restaurants, one of Oklahoma’s most prominent and successful restaurant groups.
• Concept Philosophy: Crain envisioned a cozy, new neighborhood spot that would serve as a true community hub—a place where everyone felt welcome, reminiscent of the theme from the classic show "Cheers."
• Goal: To create a menu with "something for everybody" while maintaining high quality and an exceptional dining experience.

Chef Garrett Myers: The Menu Architect

• Role: Head Chef and Menu Designer.
• Culinary Style: Known for creating an equally accommodating and diverse menu that expertly balances comfort with creativity.
• Signature Dishes (Under Myers): The menu features an array of standout items, including the highly-praised prime rib sliders, grilled salmon, and creative appetizers like poutine fries with a zesty sauce and blistered Shishito Peppers tossed in Tare Sauce.
• Impact: Chef Myers’s execution is key to the restaurant’s success, ensuring that even with a broad menu, each dish manages to "go above and beyond."

The Crain Experience: Atmosphere, Location, and Vibe

Located at 12220 N Macarthur Blvd. Ste. A, The Crain Lounge & Kitchen is strategically positioned in the Oak Grove Plaza area, making it a convenient and desirable spot for residents near Lake Hefner and beyond. The physical location is merely the starting point for what patrons consistently praise: the atmosphere.

The establishment is designed to be a vibrant dining destination with a laid-back, inviting vibe. It successfully manages to combine the energy of a popular lounge with the warmth of a great neighborhood kitchen. The interior features various nooks and seating arrangements, catering to different social needs—whether you're grabbing a drink at the bar, enjoying a casual meal with family, or settling in for a more intimate dinner. This versatility is a major draw, solidifying its status as a true community gathering spot. The focus is on friendly faces and superb service, which reviewers frequently highlight as a core part of the overall experience.

A Deep Dive into the Must-Try Menu Highlights

The menu at The Crain Lounge & Kitchen is a testament to Chef Garrett Myers's goal of offering high-quality, diverse options that appeal to every palate. The kitchen expertly executes both classic American fare and creative, globally-inspired starters. The restaurant’s inclusion in the "Best New Restaurants in OKC 2025" lists is largely due to the strength and originality of its culinary offerings.

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The Starters (Sharables):

• Shishito Peppers: A highly recommended appetizer. These peppers are blistered, seasoned, and tossed in a Tare Sauce, offering a perfect balance of smoky, savory, and slightly sweet flavors. They are also marked as a Gluten-Free (GF) option.
• Poutine Fries: A creative take on the Canadian classic, featuring fries topped with a zesty sauce, showcasing the kitchen’s willingness to experiment with comfort food.

The Main Courses (Signature Dishes):

• Grilled Salmon: Frequently cited in customer reviews as a standout dish, the grilled salmon is praised for its quality and preparation. This dish anchors the menu's commitment to offering lighter, yet equally flavorful, options.
• Prime Rib Sliders: Another popular mention, these sliders are a perfect example of the elevated comfort food The Crain is known for, offering rich flavor in a casual format.
• Daily Specials: To keep the experience fresh and to highlight seasonal ingredients, the kitchen features rotating daily specials. This ensures that even regular customers always have something new and exciting to try.

The Beverage Program ("Dranks" and Wine):

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Complementing the food menu is a diverse drink menu, which includes a comprehensive selection of "Dranks" (cocktails), wine, and a dedicated Happy Hour menu. The lounge aspect of the restaurant is fully realized through this program, offering expertly crafted cocktails that are perfect for unwinding after work or during a weekend outing. The diverse offerings ensure that whether you're a wine connoisseur or a craft cocktail enthusiast, you’ll find the perfect pairing for your meal or a great drink to enjoy at the bar.

What Makes The Crain a 2025 OKC Success Story?

The Crain Lounge & Kitchen’s success in late 2025 can be distilled into several key factors that have resonated with the Oklahoma City community. It’s a compelling case study in how to launch a successful, enduring neighborhood restaurant.

1. The "Come for the Food, Stay for the Atmosphere" Motto: This isn't just a tagline; it's the operational philosophy. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and laid-back, immediately putting guests at ease. This comfortable setting encourages longer stays and repeat visits, fostering a sense of community.

2. The Hal Smith Pedigree: Ross Crain’s background with Hal Smith Restaurants provides a foundation of operational excellence, quality control, and customer service that is evident in the restaurant's superb service, which is consistently praised in reviews.

3. Chef Myers’s Balanced Menu: The menu avoids the pitfall of being overly niche or too broad. It offers high-end dishes like grilled salmon alongside approachable favorites like poutine and prime rib sliders, appealing to a wide demographic without sacrificing quality.

4. Localized Buzz and Critical Acclaim: Being featured in "Best New Restaurants" lists for 2025 confirms its status as a recent and noteworthy addition to the OKC dining scene, generating positive word-of-mouth and attracting food explorers.

5. A True Neighborhood Spot: Its location in Oak Grove Plaza near Lake Hefner fills a need for a high-quality, reliable, yet exciting local dining option. It serves as a true "lounge" where locals can gather, making it an irreplaceable part of the community fabric.

In summary, The Crain Lounge & Kitchen has cemented its place as a must-visit in Oklahoma City by delivering on its promise of an "unreasonably great" experience. From the vision of Ross Crain to the execution of Chef Garrett Myers, the establishment offers a perfect blend of high-quality food, creative cocktails, and an atmosphere that genuinely invites you to stay a while. Whether you are a local or just passing through, a visit to The Crain is highly recommended to experience one of the best new dining concepts of 2025.