Mantel Wine Bar & Bistro in Oklahoma City: French-Leaning Steakhouse with a 350-Bottle Wine List
Mantel is a seated-service steakhouse in Midtown Oklahoma City that pairs dry-aged beef with one of the city's largest wine programs, positioning it as the primary choice for diners who view wine selection as equal to meat quality rather than an afterthought.
What Mantel actually is
Mantel operates as a wine bar first and steakhouse second. The restaurant holds roughly 100 seats across a single dining room with dark wood, leather banquettes, and a working wine wall visible from most tables. The kitchen focuses on beef, French techniques, and seasonal vegetables, but the wine list, organized by region and spanning France, California, Oregon, and Argentina, functions as the main draw. The wine program includes over 350 selections, with roughly 40 available by the glass. This breadth distinguishes Mantel from steakhouse competitors in Oklahoma City, most of which treat wine as a supporting service rather than a central business model.
Menu and pricing
Steaks arrive as bone-in or boneless cuts in the 10 to 16-ounce range, priced from $42 to $65 depending on type and dry-age length. Prime New York strip and ribeye are regular offerings; specials rotate with market availability. A 4-ounce filet mignon starts around $36 as an appetizer option. Sides like truffle mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts with bacon, and hand-cut fries cost $8 to $12 each and are intended for sharing. Appetizers (cured charcuterie, roasted bone marrow, oysters) range from $12 to $18. By-the-glass wines span $8 for house selections to $25 for premium pours; bottles begin at $32 and reach well beyond $200 for reserve Burgundy and Bordeaux. A full three-course dinner for one person without wine typically costs $60 to $85.
How Mantel compares to other Oklahoma City steakhouses
Oklahoma City's steakhouse market splits between high-volume corporate establishments, casual chains, and a small cluster of chef-driven restaurants. Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Anadarko, roughly 45 minutes south, emphasizes the historic cattleman narrative and charges lower prices ($35 to $55 for steaks) but operates with a simpler wine list and a more casual atmosphere. The Loaded Bowl, located downtown, serves steaks alongside bowls and salads in a counter-service or casual sit-down format, targeting a younger and faster-moving crowd. Mantel's serious wine program and French-inflected plating distinguish it from both: choose Mantel if wine expertise and refined presentation matter more than speed or price; choose Cattlemen's for historic atmosphere and regional tradition; choose The Loaded Bowl for a hybrid menu and lighter price point.
Who Mantel suits and who it does not
Mantel works best for wine-educated diners, couples on special occasions, business dinners where the host wants to impress, and anyone interested in regional European wines at retail-plus prices. It does not suit large parties (the room fills quickly and tables do not easily accommodate groups beyond six), families with young children seeking a casual environment, diners on a strict budget, or those who view wine primarily as a beverage rather than a focal point. The pacing is leisurely and the noise level low, favoring conversation over a quick meal.
What the first visit involves
Upon arrival, expect a host to seat you and present leather-bound menus with wine and food sections. A server will open with a wine-focused discussion; many diners plan to spend 15 to 20 minutes browsing the list or asking for recommendations by price point, style, or grape. Food ordering follows standard steakhouse protocol: select a protein, choose two or three sides to share, and decide on one or two appetizers. Courses arrive with pacing typical of fine dining, usually spanning 90 minutes to two hours without rushing. The kitchen will ask how you prefer your steak cooked; Mantel assumes medium-rare unless otherwise specified.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Mantel operates Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Mondays. The restaurant sits on a street lot with free on-site parking. The address and exact hours occasionally shift with seasonal adjustments; verify directly with the restaurant before a special occasion. The space is wheelchair accessible, and the restaurant accommodates wine-pairing requests with advance notice.
Mantel occupies a narrow niche in Oklahoma City's dining landscape: it is the only steakhouse in the metro area that treats wine depth as a primary business function rather than a secondary service, making it essential for wine collectors and worth the higher prices for anyone who values a bottle as much as the beef on the plate.
