The Press in Oklahoma City: A Southern Kitchen Built on Scratch Cooking and Local Sourcing
The Press is a neighborhood restaurant in Midtown Oklahoma City that serves Southern food made from scratch, with a focus on seasonal vegetables, house-cured meats, and pastries baked daily on-site. It sits between the casual lunch crowd and the dinner reservation audience, drawing regulars for weekday breakfasts and date-night crowds after dark.
What The Press Actually Is
The Press occupies a corner space with exposed brick and large windows that face activity on the street. The menu reads as modern Southern cooking rather than traditional comfort food revival: dishes change with the season, protein portions are moderate, and vegetable preparations carry as much weight as the meat. The kitchen operates a wood-burning oven visible from the dining room, which influences both the cooking method and the visual identity of the space. It functions as a full-service restaurant with table service at dinner and a quicker cafe-style operation during breakfast and lunch hours.
Menu and Pricing
Breakfast runs from opening to mid-morning and costs between $10 and $15 per plate; pastries and coffee alone run $4 to $7. Lunch plates, including a sandwich or daily special, fall between $12 and $18. Dinner entrees range from $22 to $38, with most falling in the $26 to $32 band. Small plates and shareable sides cost $8 to $14. Wine by the glass averages $9 to $14; cocktails are priced at $12 to $14. The restaurant does not serve a tasting menu or prix fixe option, so diners build their own meal. Bread and butter come to the table automatically but are not charged separately.
How The Press Compares to Other Oklahoma City Southern Restaurants
The Press differs from The Red Cup in Midtown, which leans into diner nostalgia with a more fixed, traditional menu and lower price points ($8 to $12 lunch entrees). The Red Cup prioritizes breakfast service and quick turnaround; The Press invests in plating and seasonal ingredient rotation. Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Stockyard City focuses on beef and whiskey in a more formal, heritage-focused setting; The Press treats vegetables and lighter proteins with equal seriousness and maintains a more casual atmosphere. Choose The Press for dinner when you want contemporary Southern cooking with wine pairings and a quieter dining room. Choose The Red Cup when you want classic breakfast-all-day and lower cost. Choose Cattlemen's when you specifically want prime beef and a traditional steakhouse ritual.
Who The Press Suits and Who It Does Not
The Press works well for diners who appreciate seasonal menus, are willing to pay for ingredient quality, and enjoy eating at a moderate pace in a refined but not formal space. It suits solo diners during weekday breakfast or lunch, when the cafe tempo allows for quick service. It suits couples and small groups for dinner reservations. It does not suit large parties looking for a private space, since the restaurant is compact and does not have a dedicated private room. It does not suit diners seeking meat-heavy comfort food or expecting large portions; both the protein amounts and the menu philosophy are restrained. It does not suit those on a tight budget or those seeking quick counter service for dinner.
What The First Visit Involves
Arrive without a reservation during breakfast or lunch and expect to order at the counter; seating is available immediately or with a brief wait depending on the hour. For dinner, make a reservation online or by phone at least one day ahead, particularly on weekends. Dinner service typically starts at 5 p.m. A server will guide you through the current menu, which has no photographs and changes every few weeks. If you are uncertain about portion size or spice level, ask directly; the kitchen accommodates dietary questions. Plan to spend 75 to 90 minutes for a full dinner. The restaurant does not rush tables.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
The Press opens at 7 a.m. weekdays for breakfast and closes at 2 p.m., reopening at 5 p.m. for dinner Monday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the lunch service extends to 3 p.m. and dinner service runs until 10 p.m. Sunday hours (8 a.m. to 2 p.m. cafe service only) may change seasonally; verify before visiting. Street parking is available on the surrounding block in Midtown; a small adjacent lot serves the restaurant. The space is accessible and has a single-stall restroom. The Press does not take walk-in reservations for dinner after 8 p.m.
The Press has earned its position in Oklahoma City by executing the unglamorous work of sourcing well, cooking with restraint, and changing the menu often enough that regulars return not out of habit but curiosity.
