Maestro
At downtown Tulsa’s moody and vibey Maestro, the menu takes a playful, Latin-inspired approach to familiar favorites. Start with the tuna ceviche, where leche de tigre, ají amarillo, micro cilantro and sweet potato bring plenty of punch, or the coctel de camarón, a refreshing mix of shrimp, tomato sauce, cucumber and avocado. For something sharable, the lump crab croquetas with lemon aioli are an easy crowd-pleaser, while papas bravas turn crispy fries into something considerably more exciting with salsa brava, aioli and herbs.
Heartier appetites have plenty to explore, from wagyu beef tartare served with salsa macha and sourdough to arroz con pollo, featuring airline chicken breast, saffron bomba rice, peas and piquillo pepper. The picanha pairs wagyu sirloin cap with chimichurri, avocado and radish, while the bone-in chuleta gets a Southwestern-leaning treatment with avocado crema, esquites, queso fresco and pickled red onion.
And then there are the cocktails, which may deserve their own visit. Margaritas get several inventive spins, including a spicy version and a frozen Margarita al Pastor with grilled pineapple. Adventurous sippers can try the savory Epazote, tropical Mai-Tini or earthy Caipirinha da Terra. With Mexican-style pilsners, Oklahoma beer and South American wines rounding things out, Maestro makes a strong case for lingering over one more round.
Elisabetta
The menu at OKC’s Elisabetta makes a convincing argument for ordering one of everything. Start with something indulgent, like the seafood tower, piled high with fresh oysters, seasoned shrimp, snow crab claws, lobster and crab salad, or keep it classic with yellowtail carpaccio brightened by citrus vinaigrette, radish, serrano and capers. The gnocco fritto – fluffy fried dough with Prosciutto di Parma, stracciatella, olives and peperoncini – is impossible
to resist.
Housemade pastas are the real stars, ranging from spicy cavatelli in vodka sauce to squid ink bucatini tossed with ’nduja (spreadable pork salami), shrimp, white wine and crispy garlic. For a little luxury, the lobster tortelloni pairs shrimp-and-lobster-filled pasta with lemon-tarragon butter, while mafalde al limone brings jumbo scallops into the mix. Other entrées keep the indulgence going with crispy-skinned branzino, braised short rib with almond gremolata and red wine demi-glace, and an 8-ounce prime filet with Marsala peppercorn cream, polenta and roasted heirloom carrots.
The cocktail list is equally playful. Try the Garden Spritz, a refreshing mix of prosecco, elderflower, mint and serrano, or the Strawberry Torta Sour, which combines strawberry aperitif, citrus gin, Italicus and chestnut liqueur for a dessert-like finale.
