Gear up for Guy with some 405 diningscape news

Lee ready to rumble, Zero Tolerance on the move plus more from Britton

As we prepare to watch chef Kevin Lee take his swing at crashing Guy Fieri’s $150,000 Tournament of Champions on Wednesday, thought I’d share a few notes to stir the appetite.

First, as posted a couple of times, Lee will host a watch party tonight at Birdie’s by Chef Kevin Lee. The show airs on Food Network at 7 p.m. Lee has a new bar menu he plans to introduce, including some dynamite fried catfish bites he tested at the Made in Oklahoma Coalition’s recent showcase in Will Rogers Theatre.

You can book a table to join the watch party or just show up to the restaurant. …

Lots going on over in the Britton District. As posted in December, Osteria will soon be moving to what once was the suburban township of Britton — now it’s north OKC at Britton and Western Avenue. Since Stranger’s El Coyote moved in back in 2022, development of the district has been steady. Mad Hopper Brewing Company and Woodward Distillery have joined the neighborhood along with Burger Punk.

Ongoing road construction and the infrastructure work the city is performing has Stranger playing his Osteria reboot patiently. He told me permitting won’t be possible until the work is done.

Meanwhile, there’s been recent movement. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zero Tolerance Coffee and Chocolate took over the tiny drive-up space in the middle of Owl Court to offer grab and go coffee, breakfast and sandwiches. Owners Maura and Roy Baker recently ceased that operation to make room for In a Pickle Catering to take over the space.

Chef Will Hale has been offering a simple grab and go menu of his own for about a week now.  The menu is simple with room to grow as the business settles into its new home. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Owl Court.

Zero Tolerance’s departure was also part of a move. Last week, the Bakers reopened their dining room three doors west so that it would back up to their coffee roastery and chocolate factory. They lost their courtyard in the trade, but now guests have a view of how the sweet cocoa and coffee sausage is made. Dropped by for a look last week, and also confirmed they still make a perfect cortado. …

I’ve got some Mexican food news that’s good and bad. On the one hand, Northwest Expressway is getting a new place for chips, salsa and queso called Dulce Vida Tacos and Tequila. It take over for the former Back Porch restaurant. On the other, the same sources telling me Norman’s Tarahumara had signed a letter of intent to open a second location in south Oklahoma City are now telling me that deal has expired. More details on Dulce Vida soon.