The Lunch Report: Beatnix Cafe

THE BEATNIX CAFE

$5-10 per plate

136 Northwest 13th Street

Oklahoma City, OK 73103

“The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing” – Archilochus.

So said the Greek poet Archilochus. In this formulation, The Beatnix Cafe is a hedgehog. They know one big thing: casual lunch fare. Sandwiches, soups, baked goods, coffee. That they do this one thing with skill and class can be measured by the brisk business they do every week day, feeding the masses of office workers from Downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods.

There is nothing pretentious about Beatnix, save perhaps for the X at the end of their name. The menu is made up mostly of stalwart deli options, none of which will set the culinary world aflame with their uniqueness. This does not, however, mean that they aren’t good. It is easy to become so spoiled by variety and complexity that one forgets to appreciate simple pleasures such as a well crafted sandwich. Having been a deli worker for many years in my misspent youth, I know that there is an artistry to it, and this is a skill set obviously mastered by the crew at Beatnix. I would take the sandwich I had there any day over one of the many intriguing yet ultimately confounding culinary experiments I’ve eaten (or, just as often, been responsible for.)

Everything at Beatnix is made fresh, and it shows. My roast beef sandwich was quite good, but there is only so much one can say about a roast beef sandwich. It was fresh and delicious, and the whole grain bread was hearty and flavorful. The real star of my meal, however, was the chicken noodle soup. I may be getting on in years, but I can still tell the difference between fresh chicken soup and fresh-from-the-bag chicken soup. This was one of the best versions of the former that I have encountered in OKC. If I didn’t work right next to Big Truck Tacos, there is a chance that I would eat here every day. There’s something comforting about it, like a library or a friend’s living room.

Bottom line: If you are looking for foie gras or fusion cuisine, look elsewhere. If you want a good, wholesome and inexpensive lunch in a comfortable setting, try Beatnix Cafe.