Everything about our experience was wonderful.! It was our first time & the staff made us feel like they knew us. The food was off the chart great. Chef Black has created an awesome establishment.!
My recent visit to Black Walnut with my wife left us with mixed feelings. Initially, I must confess that, despite its high prices, the restaurant does not fully deliver on expectations.Firstly, the staff was exemplary in their service. Despite arriving 15 minutes early, we were seated 20 minutes after our reservation time. Although this was slightly inconvenient, the staff's apologetic and attentive manner throughout the evening mitigated the delay.The layout of the restaurant, however, presented its own challenges. The placement of the host stand seemed illogical, being positioned far from what appeared to be the main entrance. This, coupled with oddly positioned tables between the bar and the front door, meant constant foot traffic beside rather than behind our table, detracting from the ambiance one expects in fine dining. Additionally, the outdoor lighting featured peculiar mushroom-shaped lights that did little to enhance the atmosphere.Regarding the food, it was a letdown with the exception of one dish. We started with Mac & Cheese bites and Charred Ponzu Steak as appetizers. While the Mac & Cheese bites were flavorful but needed extra seasoning, the Ponzu Steak was notably bland, requiring additional salt. These appetizers rated 4/5 and 1/5 respectively. The main courses, Honey Roasted Lavender Chicken and Ora King Salmon, were similarly inconsistent. The salmon, served in a plain broth with couscous, lacked depth and was unremarkable, especially when compared to the simplicity of salmon dishes ordered from other less expensive restaurants. I’ve ordered better salmon at a random German restaurant (and if you pose the question, ‘who orders salmon at a German restaurant’ then you have asked the right question). This dish earned a mere 2/5. In contrast, the Honey Roasted Chicken, which was well-cooked, moist, and flavorful, stood out and merited a 4/5. It's disappointing that "having flavor" became a notable high point in an otherwise underwhelming meal.After spending $125 ($150 with tip), my expectations for a memorable dining experience were unmet. Given this, I cannot recommend Black Walnut, nor do we plan to return. The overall experience simply does not justify the expense or the anticipation of a fine dining experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Macaroni and Cheese, Ora King Salmon, Charred Ponzu Steak, Mac and Cheese Bites
Richard Shows
Amazing food. Shrimp and grits appetizer was so good. Salmon very tasty as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ora King Salmon, Charred Ponzu Steak
Blake Howard
Absolutely amazing food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Walnut Cake, English Beef Ribs Hushpuppies, Mac and Cheese Bites
DeoKc
As a new transplant to OKC, this was one of the first dinning experiences I've ventured out to try without any recommendations. I'm glad I did! The menu is put together by flavor profile which is an awesome aspect to someone who pays attention to detail. I was able to dine, and get some work done, so the atmosphere was perfect ??. My server was very attentive, and was sure to expand on any questions! I came mid evening and the ambiance was calming and very welcoming. Even the greeter was a Joy! I have to come back to experience the Lemon Tart next time!
Layla Earl
We are in love!! Fan girl in the biggest way possible with this restaurant since our first dinner. The food and cocktail program is terrific. What really makes the experience special is the amazing team that works here. We were lucky enough to have Darlene walk us through the menu. Brooks is a fantastic mixologist who made sure that our drinks worked wonderfully with our meal. Black Walnut is a comfortable and fun environment with outstanding food and the best craft cocktail program in the city. We’re looking forward to our return visit.Dietary restrictions: If you have celiac you can get a great meal here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Branzino, Baked Chevre, Saffron Raisin Couscous Lobster Broth, Honey Roasted Lavender Chicken, Ora King Salmon
Celebrating our sons 21st in a nice casual environment was definitely perfect. We have reservations at Grey Sweater later this week for a more formal intimate experience with food and wine pairing. We are enthusiastically looking forward to the evening. If that evening measures up to this causal lovely experience we will be absolutely spoiled.
Notcha Business
The experience was overall a good one. The food was very good but no SEASONING to what’s so ever just like the top of the food is but not throughout. The waitress was very stale no emotion. We were a large party of 10. So of course we ordered a few things. Timing was good came out together which I see was an issue with other reviews. Baked Chevr, Fried Green Tomatoes, Ponzo Steak, Smokey Mac and cheese balls, oysters. I’m sure it was a few other things we ordered as well. Over $600 tickets for sure.Kid-friendliness: 2 strollers with us
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Baked Chevre, Ora King Salmon
Austin
Decent. Overall we had a good dinner. Our waitress was great and the atmosphere is good. The price is pretty expensive for the quality you get in my opinion. The portion on some dishes are large so consider sharing especially the various salads.The Bad: Strip Steak (tough, fatty and burnt on one side. The mushroom sauce was way too much it was a huge pile on top) Mac & Cheese Balls (odd tomato sauce on the bottom ruined it. It's just out of place for the dish and you couldn't avoid it. Should be on the side)The Good: Ceasar Brussels, Truffle Fries, Salmon, Mango Sauce, Chicken Lolipops, Oyster (they are tiny though)The Decent: Beat Salad, Beef Rib.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
NWOKC
We celebrated our 43rd anniversary at Black Walnut but even though I mentioned it on the reservation they had no knowledge of the special occasion. That being what it is the service provided by Portia was fabulous as she lead us through the menu with her suggestions. We followed her lead with the spicy lollipop jerk chicken (my wife's favorite dish) a huge house salad, the strip steak with Brussels and Mac and cheese and the English Beef Rib with potatoes and mushrooms. We shared everything and had enough food for a full dinner the next day. The strip steak was cooked to perfection and was fairly tender but still needed a knife but the English Beef Rib was the star for me. We would eat at Black Walnut again and feel good about taking guests.
We made a reservation for 6 pm prior to an 8 pm show, showed up 15 minutes early, and still didn’t get sat until 6:40. The music was incredibly loud in the waiting area which made talking difficult. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but sitting there for an hour exasperated it. We ended up looking over the menu prior to speed the process up, but it didn’t matter because the two dishes I was interested in were unavailable due to them running out of white fish and pasta. I ended up ordering the salmon and it was fine, but personally I didn’t think it was worth all the hassle it took to get it. The one upside was that our server was kind and courteous. She understood our time crunch after sitting in the waiting area for so long and rushed us along so we could make our show. Overall, it was not a great experience, but I understand that could be an outlier. Still, I don’t think I’ll be going back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Heather Cheney
Experience was perfect from start to finish, I am so impressed! From the host/hostess to the bartender to the food it was impeccable. Kiera was our bartender and probably one of the best I’ve ever had. A natural. So friendly and knowledgeable and skilled behind the bar. We came on a friday evening and sat at the bar but I highly recommend all around !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak
AmyS
Arrived 5 min early for our reservation and hostess immediately asked if they could push our reservation back 30 min. I explained we had show tickets and that is why we made a reservation- after some confusion and several people coming up (hostess seemed clueless) a manager stepped up to the stand and sorted it out(several empty tables in restaurant and appeared to be plenty of servers. Food was good and service at table excellent. It is very loud - they should think about putting some sound buffers on ceiling.
Our experience was disappointing. The staff attempted to seat us at the bar instead of honoring our bookings, and we were asked to move after our appetizers were served. To make matters worse, the host picked up one of the fried green tomatoes from the appetizer plate with her bare hands and moved it onto my plate in order to clear plates faster. Im not kidding. I reported the incident and the manager did subtract the cost of the appetizer from our bill. I was so embarrassed that I recommended the restaurant.
Darlene took great care of us from the moment we met her. Food was excellent! The ribs were very tender and the fried green tomatoes better than any that I have ever had. Very loud and noisy but that's common nowadays. Everyone was happy!
Everything about our experience was wonderful.! It was our first time & the staff made us feel like they knew us. The food was off the chart great. Chef Black has created an awesome establishment.!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Walnut Cake, Lobster Bites, Honey Roasted Lavender Chicken
My recent visit to Black Walnut with my wife left us with mixed feelings. Initially, I must confess that, despite its high prices, the restaurant does not fully deliver on expectations.Firstly, the staff was exemplary in their service. Despite arriving 15 minutes early, we were seated 20 minutes after our reservation time. Although this was slightly inconvenient, the staff's apologetic and attentive manner throughout the evening mitigated the delay.The layout of the restaurant, however, presented its own challenges. The placement of the host stand seemed illogical, being positioned far from what appeared to be the main entrance. This, coupled with oddly positioned tables between the bar and the front door, meant constant foot traffic beside rather than behind our table, detracting from the ambiance one expects in fine dining. Additionally, the outdoor lighting featured peculiar mushroom-shaped lights that did little to enhance the atmosphere.Regarding the food, it was a letdown with the exception of one dish. We started with Mac & Cheese bites and Charred Ponzu Steak as appetizers. While the Mac & Cheese bites were flavorful but needed extra seasoning, the Ponzu Steak was notably bland, requiring additional salt. These appetizers rated 4/5 and 1/5 respectively. The main courses, Honey Roasted Lavender Chicken and Ora King Salmon, were similarly inconsistent. The salmon, served in a plain broth with couscous, lacked depth and was unremarkable, especially when compared to the simplicity of salmon dishes ordered from other less expensive restaurants. I’ve ordered better salmon at a random German restaurant (and if you pose the question, ‘who orders salmon at a German restaurant’ then you have asked the right question). This dish earned a mere 2/5. In contrast, the Honey Roasted Chicken, which was well-cooked, moist, and flavorful, stood out and merited a 4/5. It's disappointing that "having flavor" became a notable high point in an otherwise underwhelming meal.After spending $125 ($150 with tip), my expectations for a memorable dining experience were unmet. Given this, I cannot recommend Black Walnut, nor do we plan to return. The overall experience simply does not justify the expense or the anticipation of a fine dining experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Macaroni and Cheese, Ora King Salmon, Charred Ponzu Steak, Mac and Cheese Bites
Amazing food. Shrimp and grits appetizer was so good. Salmon very tasty as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ora King Salmon, Charred Ponzu Steak
Absolutely amazing food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Walnut Cake, English Beef Ribs Hushpuppies, Mac and Cheese Bites
As a new transplant to OKC, this was one of the first dinning experiences I've ventured out to try without any recommendations. I'm glad I did! The menu is put together by flavor profile which is an awesome aspect to someone who pays attention to detail. I was able to dine, and get some work done, so the atmosphere was perfect ??. My server was very attentive, and was sure to expand on any questions! I came mid evening and the ambiance was calming and very welcoming. Even the greeter was a Joy! I have to come back to experience the Lemon Tart next time!
We are in love!! Fan girl in the biggest way possible with this restaurant since our first dinner. The food and cocktail program is terrific. What really makes the experience special is the amazing team that works here. We were lucky enough to have Darlene walk us through the menu. Brooks is a fantastic mixologist who made sure that our drinks worked wonderfully with our meal. Black Walnut is a comfortable and fun environment with outstanding food and the best craft cocktail program in the city. We’re looking forward to our return visit.Dietary restrictions: If you have celiac you can get a great meal here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Branzino, Baked Chevre, Saffron Raisin Couscous Lobster Broth, Honey Roasted Lavender Chicken, Ora King Salmon
Celebrating our sons 21st in a nice casual environment was definitely perfect. We have reservations at Grey Sweater later this week for a more formal intimate experience with food and wine pairing. We are enthusiastically looking forward to the evening. If that evening measures up to this causal lovely experience we will be absolutely spoiled.
The experience was overall a good one. The food was very good but no SEASONING to what’s so ever just like the top of the food is but not throughout. The waitress was very stale no emotion. We were a large party of 10. So of course we ordered a few things. Timing was good came out together which I see was an issue with other reviews. Baked Chevr, Fried Green Tomatoes, Ponzo Steak, Smokey Mac and cheese balls, oysters. I’m sure it was a few other things we ordered as well. Over $600 tickets for sure.Kid-friendliness: 2 strollers with us
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Baked Chevre, Ora King Salmon
Decent. Overall we had a good dinner. Our waitress was great and the atmosphere is good. The price is pretty expensive for the quality you get in my opinion. The portion on some dishes are large so consider sharing especially the various salads.The Bad: Strip Steak (tough, fatty and burnt on one side. The mushroom sauce was way too much it was a huge pile on top) Mac & Cheese Balls (odd tomato sauce on the bottom ruined it. It's just out of place for the dish and you couldn't avoid it. Should be on the side)The Good: Ceasar Brussels, Truffle Fries, Salmon, Mango Sauce, Chicken Lolipops, Oyster (they are tiny though)The Decent: Beat Salad, Beef Rib.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
We celebrated our 43rd anniversary at Black Walnut but even though I mentioned it on the reservation they had no knowledge of the special occasion. That being what it is the service provided by Portia was fabulous as she lead us through the menu with her suggestions. We followed her lead with the spicy lollipop jerk chicken (my wife's favorite dish) a huge house salad, the strip steak with Brussels and Mac and cheese and the English Beef Rib with potatoes and mushrooms. We shared everything and had enough food for a full dinner the next day. The strip steak was cooked to perfection and was fairly tender but still needed a knife but the English Beef Rib was the star for me. We would eat at Black Walnut again and feel good about taking guests.
Restaurantji Recommends
We made a reservation for 6 pm prior to an 8 pm show, showed up 15 minutes early, and still didn’t get sat until 6:40. The music was incredibly loud in the waiting area which made talking difficult. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but sitting there for an hour exasperated it. We ended up looking over the menu prior to speed the process up, but it didn’t matter because the two dishes I was interested in were unavailable due to them running out of white fish and pasta. I ended up ordering the salmon and it was fine, but personally I didn’t think it was worth all the hassle it took to get it. The one upside was that our server was kind and courteous. She understood our time crunch after sitting in the waiting area for so long and rushed us along so we could make our show. Overall, it was not a great experience, but I understand that could be an outlier. Still, I don’t think I’ll be going back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Experience was perfect from start to finish, I am so impressed! From the host/hostess to the bartender to the food it was impeccable. Kiera was our bartender and probably one of the best I’ve ever had. A natural. So friendly and knowledgeable and skilled behind the bar. We came on a friday evening and sat at the bar but I highly recommend all around !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak
Arrived 5 min early for our reservation and hostess immediately asked if they could push our reservation back 30 min. I explained we had show tickets and that is why we made a reservation- after some confusion and several people coming up (hostess seemed clueless) a manager stepped up to the stand and sorted it out(several empty tables in restaurant and appeared to be plenty of servers. Food was good and service at table excellent. It is very loud - they should think about putting some sound buffers on ceiling.
Our experience was disappointing. The staff attempted to seat us at the bar instead of honoring our bookings, and we were asked to move after our appetizers were served. To make matters worse, the host picked up one of the fried green tomatoes from the appetizer plate with her bare hands and moved it onto my plate in order to clear plates faster. Im not kidding. I reported the incident and the manager did subtract the cost of the appetizer from our bill. I was so embarrassed that I recommended the restaurant.
Darlene took great care of us from the moment we met her. Food was excellent! The ribs were very tender and the fried green tomatoes better than any that I have ever had. Very loud and noisy but that's common nowadays. Everyone was happy!