The Bramble Restaurant & Bar is starting to show some rambling ways.
When The Bramble opened a little more than three years ago in the Blue Dome District in downtown Tulsa, it was part of the original ownership of Tallgrass Prairie Table, located next door.
Tallgrass closed last year. The Bramble is operating under new ownership, 3 Sirens Restaurant Group, that includes Johnna Hayes, Sara Day and Debra Zinke.
“We knew from the beginning we were going to expand somewhere, we just didn’t know where,” said Hayes, who handles day-to-day operation of the restaurants. “We had discussions about the Riverwalk (in Jenks) but weren’t sure about it. After we saw Burn Co. and Andolini’s come in out here, that decided it.
“This restaurant is the flagship design for expansion. We will have at least one more in Broken Arrow and possibly Edmond after that.”
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The restaurant basically has the same vibe as the downtown Tulsa location, except it is considerably larger. Most obvious design notes are the glass chandeliers held up by galvanized pipes, huge sliding barn doors that lead the way to the bathrooms and large etched-glass windows with words such as “Bloody Mary,” “Patio,” “Sandwiches,” “Pancakes” and so on.
“We wanted the aesthetics to feel cozy and rustic like downtown and still carry over to the new design,” Hayes said.
The Riverwalk location is open for breakfast and lunch all week and for dinner Friday and Saturday. The same menu, crafted by executive chef Stephen Lindstrom, is served all day.
We went by on a recent cold but clear afternoon when the Arkansas River actually was flowing with some speed past the complex.
Among the dishes we ordered was the Monte Carlo Benedict ($13), a tasty take on a traditional eggs Benedict. This one included slices of house-cured ham, deep-fried brioche bread, jalapeno-peach jam, smoked cheddar cheese, two sunny-side up eggs and orange hollandaise. The orangy flavor of the sauce and the zingy jam gave this dish additional interest.
It came with a choice of hash brown latke or breakfast potatoes. We chose the latke, two flat patties of shredded, grilled potatoes topped with a little applesauce. At first glance, it looked burned but that was deceiving; it was crispy outside and tender inside.
We also had the cobb salad ($16), a humongous bowl of mixed greens, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, croutons, bacon, chicken, avocado, boiled egg and blue cheese crumbles with a choice of ranch or red wine vinaigrette. Everything was bright and fresh.
A dish I’ve had in the past that I love is the khachapuri ($11). It starts with a fluffy loaf of bread with a well in the middle filled with a melted three-cheese blend and topped with baked runny eggs. Just pull off pieces of bread and dip them into the egg-cheese mixture and enjoy.
If bacon is not part of your order, it’s worth picking up as a side dish. The thick-cut bacon brings a lot of flavor to the table.
The remainder of the menu offers a variety of pancakes, egg dishes, sandwiches, burgers, salads and a gourmet doughnut of the day. Daily specials are listed on table menus.
The Bramble has full bar service, including custom carafes beyond the usual mimosa. For instance, the Moody Rose has sparkling wine, St. Germain liqueur, rosemary simple syrup and grapefruit juice.
“We will be adding boozy milkshakes when the weather warms up,” Hayes said.
Our server, Tarin, had a good grasp of the menu and was helpful in making our selections. Oldies music (’60s to ’80s) played in the background when we were there.
The space originally held Gina & Guiseppe’s Italiano Ristorante, which closed in early 2012. After it closed, the only restaurants left on the Riverwalk were The Melting Pot and Los Cabos, which still operate there.
With the recent resurgence of the complex, restaurant newcomers have included Burn Co. BBQ, Andolini’s Pizzeria, Maryn’s Taphouse & Raw Bar and The Bramble. Restaurants in FlyingTee are nearby as well.
“I was told we would be the last restaurant added here for a while,” Hayes said. “Any open spaces would go to retail shops.”
Hayes said the 3 Sirens Restaurant Group also is close to opening a new bistro, Bird & Bottle, on the back side of Ranch Acres shopping center near 31st Street and Harvard Avenue.
“It has been a little crazy doing two projects at the same time, with the same contractor, but it also has been fun,” Hayes said. “The new Bramble has been going smoothly, so now we can focus more on Bird & Bottle.”