Menu

Pairing Food, Drinks and a Night of Live Music

A saloon menu works best when you plan it around the night rather than the clock. If you are arriving before the first set, that is the time for a proper plate: chicken fried steak with cream gravy, a brisket sandwich or a basket of catfish will carry you through a long evening on your feet. Once the band starts and the room fills, shareable bar bites make more sense. Fried pickles, cheese curds and loaded nachos pass easily around a table and don't need a knife and fork while you're watching the stage.

Matching drinks to the dishes

Rich, smoky food like brisket and chicken fried steak pairs naturally with whiskey. The bitterness and orange notes of an Old Fashioned cut through the fat, and a Whiskey Sour brings a bright, acidic edge. Spicy wings and nachos go well with something cold and citrusy, such as a margarita or a ginger-forward mule, because lime and ginger help tame the heat. Fried catfish and cornbread suit lighter, sweeter drinks, and a sweet tea vodka lemonade is a very Southern match for them.

Southern comfort food and its roots

Many of these dishes have deep regional history. Chicken fried steak is closely tied to Oklahoma and Texas cooking, and Oklahoma even lists it as part of its official state meal. Catfish and cornbread come from the river and farm traditions of the South. Slow-smoked brisket reflects the barbecue culture of the southern Plains. Ordering them in a room full of outlaw country is part of the experience.

Practical tips for your visit

• Order food early on busy show nights, as kitchens get slammed once a headliner draws a crowd.
• Ask staff about allergens or substitutions, since fried items often share fryers.
• Pace your drinks, drink water between rounds and arrange a ride home in advance.
• Check the events calendar to time your meal around the acts you want to see.

Planning a group celebration? Larger tables often do best with platters of bar bites, and you can find more about gatherings on the private parties page.