Cherokee Ranch To Open April 19

ENID, OK - Enid's newest downtown eatery will officially open on Monday, April 19 at 11:00am. Cherokee Ranch Land & Cattle Company has weathered setbacks and a year of COVID-19 but they are now ready to swing open the doors and welcome northwest Oklahoma residents.

This Ranch themed new concept will specialize great steaks and Oklahoma Ranch-style food! A large bar area will feature unique cocktails, beer and wine including Balcones Whiskies.

The eatery will also eventually include a large outdoor venue which will be added with Bags, Horseshoes, Seating, Stage and Live Music!

Two Enid High graduates are coming home after 34 years. Rodney and Joni Brittain left Enid upon graduation in the early 80's and went on to have careers in other states after college at OSU. The couple has been married over 28 years and had settled in Bloomington, Illinois but continued to return to Enid for visits with family and friends.

2019 became the year that Rodney Brittain took action to make their dream of returning to Enid a reality. Brittain is returning with not only a desire to be back home but also with a business plan to open a unique eatery in downtown Enid.

Brittain is bringing a background in hotel and restaurant management along with friend and business partner Stephen Leins to open Cherokee Ranch Land & Cattle Co. Leins lives out of state but has made many trips to Enid to help with the design and planning of the business. The two have been friends for over 15 years.

If you've been on Facebook at all recently you may seen photos Brittain has been posting about the progress he is making on the old warehouse at 112 E. Cherokee, directly across the street from the David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

Brittain and Leins spent 5 years tossing around the idea of going into business together. Brittain said now was the perfect time to bring this new company to Enid. "If it was 10 years earlier, we would not be doing this," he said.

The partners have 31,500 square feet of warehouse to work with and they plan on having something unique in every square inch of the space. The vision is to create a fun, family western eatery with affordable meals. Brittain said, "We want to create something the community will be proud of."

Cherokee Ranch Land & Cattle Co. will seat around 200 people when completely full. The eatery is made up of a large main dining area, a vintage bar and an additional section to the west side of the building.

The main features of the restaurant are the wooden floors and grand overhead wooden rafters. Barn doors will be used on the front of the warehouse and saloon-style swing doors will be used inside to add to the western flair. Brittain purchased a 1890's New York Tavern Bar in Connecticut. He had the entire bar shipped to Oklahoma.

Not only has Brittain brought in a stunning, old-fashioned bar but he has acquired a vintage wooden wagon. An original Bull Durham Tobacco advertisement can still be seen on the large west brick wall. Brittain has been painstakingly trying to preserve the design and any other original touches he can.

A recent addition to the restaurant has been a new wall created to look like the porch of a cabin. Reclaimed wood has been used in the process bringing even more of a rustic feel to the space.

There are many more touches waiting to be added but Brittain does not want to completely spoil the surprise. He wants patrons to experience something they've never seen when they first walk into the restaurant.

Enid residents should expect to find great food, live entertainment and a fun atmosphere. Brittain hopes to have a buffet brunch and Bloody Mary bar once opened. There will be space for board meetings, private lunches and dinners of up to 20 people. They will also eventually have a banquet room that will accommodate up to 180.

Menu highlights include Spinach Artichoke Dip, Teriyaki Kebabs, BBQ Pork Tapas, Mediterranean Plate, Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap, The South Western Burger, Oven Roasted Portabella Wrap, Bacon Cheeseburger, Firecracker Chicken Wrap, Pan-Fried Mahi Mahi Reuben, Pork Tenderloin, The Original Fish Sandwich, Chicken Fried Steak, Grilled Ribeye, Grilled Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo, Mesquite Beef Tenderloin, Crab-Stuffed Portabella, Coconut Lobster and much more!

The restaurant will feature Creekstone Farms steaks served with chef's potatoes and vegetables. Other features include Chicken Kiev, Cajun Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Parmesan, Braised Bone-In Pork Chop, Peppercorn Salmon, Crab-Stuffed Shrimp, Fried Catfish w/ Fries, Chopped Sirloin, Pasta Primavera, Tortellini Alfredo, Baked French Onion Soup plus many others.

Desserts will include Fried Biscuits with Apple Butter, Strawberry Devonshire, Apple Pie Ala Mode and Original Creme Brule.

Go to their Facebook page to keep up-to-date on other news and specials. You can also get more details about the business on their website.

Hours will be 11:00am - 10:00pm Mon. thru Thurs. and 11:00am - 11:00pm Fri. - Sat. Sundays from 10:00am - 2:00pm they will serve family style meals and include a Bloody Mary Bar.

Patrons will be able to park right up front and in the parking lot located east of the restaurant at the end of the block.
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