Video: Shiloh's adds a 2nd restaurant

By SCOTT CHERRY - 10/22/2009


Teri Kidd said that during almost a decade of success operating Shiloh's diner, her family never seriously considered expansion.

She said that even though they had a big family to draw from, the owners thought they had their hands full handling the crowds at their restaurant on 51st Street just west of 129th East Avenue.

That changed a few months ago.

"I don't know that anyone really wanted to do it, but the fact is the owner of the Clarion Hotel harassed me until I said, 'OK,' " Kidd said. "I think they had several restaurants in this spot that didn't make it, and he wanted someone in here he thought would stay."

The hotel and restaurant are just off the Broken Arrow Expressway at the Aspen Avenue (145th East Avenue) exit and about a block north of 61st Street.

Kidd said about eight family members are involved in the business, and they go back and forth to both restaurants.

"Grandma Ethel (Rodgers) and Grandma Pam (Hughey) still come in and check on everything," Kidd said.

The menus, Kidd said, are the same at both restaurants, but otherwise there is little resemblance.

The original restaurant is in a former Kettle restaurant, and with the old booths and earth tones, it has the feel of a 1970s diner. Although the new restaurant has family photos on the walls and a few antique hutches filled with china, it has a bright, updated Tuscan look with gold, textured walls, ceramic tile floor and yellow awnings.

"Some of our old customers still prefer the old atmosphere, but I think most people like the new place," Kidd said.

The new restaurant has no booths, only tables with yellow vinyl cloths covered in brown butcher paper. Our only complaint with the new setup was some of the tables were situated in the middle of high-traffic areas, and some were a bit close together.

We didn't hear any complaints about the food, however, starting with the big, fluffy rolls that are brought to the table while orders are cooking. They are particularly awesome with the strawberry-rhubarb conserve. The conserve is kept refrigerated at the new restaurant, so if it isn't on your table, be sure to ask for it.

We've had tasty home-style dishes at lunch and dinner at the original location, but it was a late breakfast we all wanted on a dreary, wet Sunday at the new restaurant.

The sirloin steak and eggs ($7.99) was particularly impressive because the six-ounce sirloin was thicker than most breakfast steaks, was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and was tender and flavorful. Two eggs were cooked over-medium, as ordered.

One diner added tomatoes, mushrooms and green peppers for 59 cents each to a basic three-egg and cheese omelet ($5.99). The fresh, sauteed mushrooms stood out in this dish.





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SHILOH’S

2604 N. Aspen Ave., Broken Arrow
254-1500





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