BREAKING: Sedalia’s named to Bon Appetit’s 24 best new restaurants

National plaudits continue for 405 diningscape in 2023

Congratulations to chef Zack Walters and his wife and business partner Silvana for making Bon Appetit’s list of The 24 Best New Restaurants of 2023.

Zack and Silvana have done remarkable things to turn a playground equipment property into a sensational seafood restaurant, but it’s no surprise. Zack co-founded Salt’s Cure in Los Angeles. Silvana has her own impressive front-of-house resume, but more importantly she brings the flavors of her Bolivian heritage to the menu.

The menu is deeply seafood-centric that relies on the seasons and the best the market has for inspiration. The raw bar is the entry point and highlight, including a breathtaking oyster program. The current has variations on anticuchos, typically a beef heart dish, that employ octopus or geoduck. The fresh-baked focaccia with salt cod butter and Szechuan oil is among the best noshes in the state of Oklahoma.

The national food press continues to recognize what everyone in the 405 diningscape already knows: Oklahoma City is a dining destination. Last year, Bon Appetit and The New York Times both selected Ma Der Lao Kitchen for its Best New Restaurants lists.

The listing led Ma Der’s chef and co-founder Jeff Chanchaleune to a Best Chef Southwest nomination from the James Beard Foundation. He might’ve won but chef Andrew Black of Grey Sweater took home the award.

Now Walters is positioned for a Beard nomination next year. Competition should be fierce. Chanchaleune’s Ma Der has only gotten better since last year, and Black is always a threat for another nomination. Don’t forget about Zach Hutton from Scratch Paseo, who earned a nomination in 2021. Meanwhile, Tulsa has its own James Beard Award winner in Kevin Nashan, who won Best Chef Midwest in 2017. He owns Peacemaker and La Tertulia in the Blue Dome District. Last year, Tulsa chefs Ben Alexander (McNellie’s Group), Lisa Becklund (Living Kitchen/Farm Bar), and the late Paul Wilson were nominated for Best Chef Southwest along with Chanchaeleune and Black.

Congrats to Zack and Silvana, click here to reserve your seat at Sedalia’s.