New State Burgers & Spirits in Oklahoma City: Hand-Formed Patties and Craft Cocktails in Midtown
New State Burgers & Spirits is a full-service restaurant and bar in Midtown Oklahoma City that builds each burger to order with hand-formed beef patties and pairs them with a cocktail program that extends beyond the typical burger-joint well drink. The restaurant operates as both a casual burger counter and a destination for drinkers, sitting at a midpoint between neighborhood tavern and upscale gastropub.
What New State Actually Is
New State functions as a hybrid: burgers cooked fresh throughout service (not pre-batched), a full spirits-forward bar, and a kitchen flexible enough to handle both the lunch rush and evening diners lingering over cocktails. The space reflects this duality. It draws the lunch crowd looking for speed and the dinner crowd willing to spend time and money on both food and drink. For Oklahoma City, where burger options range from quick chains to traditional drive-ins, New State occupies a distinct position: locally owned, with visible bar infrastructure and a cocktail menu that suggests thought went into drink pairing as much as burger construction.
Menu and Pricing
Signature burgers range from $12 to $16, depending on protein choice and toppings. The house burger is a 6-ounce hand-formed patty with lettuce, tomato, onion, and house sauce; premium builds add aged cheddar, bacon, or specialty additions at $1 to $3 per item. New State also offers chicken sandwiches and vegetarian options, each in the $10 to $14 range.
Cocktails are priced at $10 to $14 each. Unlike burger spots that stock basic spirits, New State maintains a working list of whiskeys, gins, and vodkas suited for classic cocktails and house specials that rotate. Nonalcoholic beverages include freshly made lemonades and local coffee options.
Beer selection leans toward craft and local Oklahoma breweries, with pints at $5 to $7 and flights available to sample multiple options.
How It Compares to Other Oklahoma City Burger Options
Cattlemen's Steakhouse, located in the Stockyard district, focuses on beef and formal dining with burgers as a secondary menu item; expect to spend $15 to $20 and a quieter, more formal room. The Loaded Bowl, a local chain, offers build-your-own burger customization with quicker service and lower price points ($10 to $12), but without table service or an alcohol program. Johnny Rockets, a national presence in the area, provides a retro diner experience with burgers in the $11 to $13 range and beer service, though the cocktail program is minimal.
New State distinguishes itself by combining hand-formed patty quality with legitimate cocktail craft. If you want speed and customization, The Loaded Bowl wins. If you want a formal steakhouse burger, Cattlemen's is the choice. If you want to linger over a well-made bourbon old-fashioned alongside your burger, New State is the only direct match in Midtown.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
New State works well for lunch diners who value a made-to-order burger and don't mind a 5- to 10-minute wait. It suits groups of adults meeting for happy hour or dinner, given the bar's size and atmosphere. It is not optimized for drive-through speed; parking is street-side or in a small dedicated lot, and the ordering system assumes you will sit.
Families with young children are welcome, though the bar's prominence and evening cocktail crowd make it feel more geared toward adults than toward a family dinner spot.
What the First Visit Involves
Upon arrival, you will be seated or directed to the bar depending on occupancy. A server (or bartender if you take a bar seat) will hand you a menu with burgers listed by protein and build, along with sides (fries, onion rings, or salads). Cocktail and beer menus are separate. First-timers often order the house burger and ask the bartender for a seasonal cocktail recommendation; this pairing typically takes 15 to 20 minutes from order to plate.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
New State operates Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (hours can shift seasonally, so confirm before a late visit). Street parking is available on the surrounding Midtown blocks; a small lot adjacent to the restaurant fills during peak lunch and dinner hours. The space is accessible by car and is located on NW 23rd Street, the main commercial spine of Midtown, making it walkable from nearby shops and galleries if you are already in the neighborhood.
New State Burgers & Spirits fills a gap in Oklahoma City's burger landscape by refusing to choose between quality beef and serious drinks. It is not the fastest option, nor the cheapest, but it is the only burger spot in Midtown where the cocktail menu is as considered as the patty itself.
