The front door chime at lunchtime didn’t always mean someone entered the shop. Some door-openings were folks checking to see how busy the old man was. Well.
That’s changed.
You regulars already know it, but it occurred to me that I never got around to a website note. So – here it is.
A couple of years ago I had stored away tables and chairs. I realized I could only wait on so many people at once and still provide good service. And taking care of guests is really important to me.
My son Dustin has mastered the menu items and has taken up the primary kitchen duties. He spent a limited amount of time in the kitchen with me back in the Paddy’s Irish days and has mastered his own specialties that have proven popular. He’s behind the daily chalkboard specials. Some of them, like the Roasted Corn and Pepper Quesadillas, are strictly south-of-the-Irish border. Dustin is a salsa-aficionado and makes his own to accompany the special, along with some of the best guacamole I’ve ever tasted. It’s also found on a soft-crust sourdough bread sandwich with bacon, turkey, and guacamole. You’ll also encounter specials ranging from Pulled Pork BBQ Sliders, Grown-up Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup, to a gluten-free vegetable soup.
Even the bacon is a new thing. Our Tulsa World restaurant review way-back-when mentioned that there was a fear that the books would begin to smell like breakfast if we fried it up in the kitchen. We don’t have that problem cooking it in the oven, which allowed Dustin to add it to his fresh ingredients list.
Together, Dustin and I dragged the tables out of storage and set them up front. Greg, our neighbor at Southern Magnolia (a great shop with everything from antiques to fireplace hearths!), contributed a tabletop that allowed the seating of an additional party of four. And here’s the news for those of you who had been peeking in to see if I was already busy…
Dustin’s wife Rachel is keeping up with the guests in spectacular fashion. As most of you have heard me admit, my days of carrying four and five plates at a time are gone. (I didn’t worry about dropping them in the past. Now, I worry.) She’s fast and efficient, and I don’t have to send parties of six or more away like I did in the past.
The bistro has always been licensed for low-point beer, but I didn’t stock it during the Rose District renovation project. The construction fences and barrel barricades are gone, and we’ve stocked a limited selection of beers, including Killian’s Irish Red, Blue Moon, PBR, Coors & Bud Lite, and Amber Bock – among others. On draft is Boulevard Wheat, a craft beer from Kansas City.
The hours are expanded, too. Lunch is served from 11am to 2pm, including Saturdays.
No need to peek inside the door to check the tables. Come in and let us serve you.
There’s no more old bookman racing like crazy, solo.
Come visit!
McHuston
Booksellers & Irish Bistro
Rose District
122 South Main St. Broken Arrow OK!