Maples Barbecue
The front entrance
Hearing about Maples Barbecue, I felt very excited to welcome a new restaurant that would balance out the rest of the cuisine in the Plaza. Being from Dallas, I am a huge barbecue fan, and can get pretty nit-picky when it comes to the goods. With my standards high, I went here on a crisp Sunday evening with a friend, excited to dig into some kick ass barbecue.
The main dining room
Walking in, I immediately noticed to myself how trendy this place looked. The design was clean and neat, with some gentle touches of Southern charm, like the taxidermied Longhorn head on the far wall. The room felt a little warehouse-y to me, with a high ceiling, darker lighting, boxy rooms and a stone floor. Very similarly laid out to Buttermilk (see my review of Buttermilk here), there was only counter service, which was particularly sluggish. They don’t offer any combo deals with both meat and sides, so I had to order a sandwich and then a side for an additional cost. I got the chopped brisket sandwich with custard mac & cheese, and my friend got the ribs and potato salad. The whole thing, including drinks, came out to around $28, which was too high in my opinion, considering the amount of meat we got.
The A+ mac & cheese
When it came to the food, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The meat was tender and juicy, and while the sauce was more vinegary than I prefer, it complimented the meat well. The mac & cheese was absolutely incredible; honestly, I should have just ordered three rounds of it and forgone the meat entirely. The potato salad and ribs were good, but nothing to write home about. I didn’t stay for dessert, but I did notice a tempting slice of apple pie and vanilla ice cream.
The bar
This restaurant has potential to be a great addition to the Plaza, but isn’t there yet. The food is pretty great, especially considering the quality of most barbecue restaurants in OKC. The location is incredible, but the seating and décor of the restaurant leave much to be desired. I hope to see that this restaurant works out its kinks, making its service speed better and their overall vibe a better fit for their customers. I give this restaurant a 6/10.
If you want me to review a specific restaurant, comment below!
Leave a Reply