Brownie's Hamburgers in Tulsa

Burger Joint in Oklahoma!

You have to love a burger joint, with a cool sign. I love the running-cartoon-guy. I love the words, Root Beer and Fresh Pies!

This Mom & Pop place was serving burgers on Yale Avenue, back when we lived in Tulsa 21 years ago. The sign says, they've been in the biz much longer than that. Since 1956.

​Old Place & Old Car

Don and I passed through Tulsa, last November. We stopped in for lunch. 

We parked near a mighty fine, vintage Ford. That was an added bonus!

Decor!

I actually couldn't remember much about the interior.  

Once we stepped inside, I thought it was possible that they'd done zero redecorating, since our last visit in the 1990's. That worked for me!

Seating

When we first entered, the counter seating was all open. 

I talked Don into eating at the counter, because I couldn't resist those orange-y red stools, with little foot platforms!

Bowl Specials... Root Beer...

We had a good view of the menu and the daily Bowl Specials.

I chose Monday's special, Frito Pie. It seemed like we should be ordering malts and fries and the works. But it was early, and we'd already enjoyed a big breakfast.

Entertaining Stuff

​We ordered and I spent a few minutes looking at all the curious stuff, in the little restaurant.

There was a coat rack, holding a cheeseburger hat. There were shelves above the windows, displaying lots of... stuff.

I'm sure there are stories behind the plastic toy collection, but I didn't ask. It looked like most of the goodies were more from my kids' era than my own.

Order Window?

In the front of the restaurant, I spotted a large window with more knickknacks on the sill.

I was curious and dashed outside, to see if the window had been some kind of ordering window. I also wanted to compare the exterior, with a photo I'd seen.

But by the time I got outside, a man in a knitted cap, was standing on the sidewalk, in front of that window. He waved two fists above his head and shouted in anger, "JUSTICE! JUSTICE!" 

​Customers React!

I was a little freaked out and halted my camera snapping. Decided I should get myself back inside the cozy cafe.

When I re-entered, I didn't take a photo of the staff & diners near the counter. If I had, it might have looked similar to this old photo of Brownies. The entire restaurant looked up at me, as if I'd been the one who caused the crazy outburst on the street! I just shrugged and laughed and all was good. 

Food!

It was time to eat!

Don ordered a basic cheeseburger, simple as that. That shiny bun lid looks pretty good to me right now. It was gone in a second! 

My Frito-Pie was only $4.50. It was pretty tasty, by itself. But, when I noticed the guy sitting next to me, drinking 3 mugs of root beer, I decided I was missing something.

Cold Root Beer

I flagged down our young server and told her I needed to go for a root beer, after all. ​She brought me an ice-cold, foamy glass and we chatted a bit.

I told her that Brownie's was a whole year older than me. She laughed and said she used to worry about getting old, when she was in her twenties. Now at 35, with a teenager, she just wants to enjoy getting older and having grandkids. That was a nice attitude for someone nearly half my age!

Bill "Brownie"  

We didn't get to meet an owner or even an old customer, but I enjoyed a few old photos, on the way out.

This photo is from a 1983 newspaper. That was years before we lived in Tulsa, or had kids. But those little faces look sort of like our two kids and their friends. I wish I had a photo or two, from when we visited in the '90s.

This photo is of the pie baker, Mrs. Cleo Peace. The old snapshot reminded me that we had not sampled pie!  

Well, next time I'll let the words on the sign remind me! I'll have Root Beer AND Pie!
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