Eat at these restaurants, avoid a strikeout when watching softball in OKC

The kickoff of the Women's College World Series is coming soon, which means long days at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium are ahead for fans, staff and players of the eight teams that advance from Super Regionals across the nation.

Luckily for everyone involved, Oklahoma City is home to a wide variety of restaurants and great dining options are just around the corner from the stadium.

Whether you decide to dine close to the ballpark in northeast OKC, or venture farther out into one of the city's well-known entertainment districts, there are plenty of pleasing options for your palate. Plus, if you're staying in a downtown or Bricktown hotel, there's a whole slew of choices for you, as well.

Where to eat in northeast Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City's northeast side is not going to shortchange you on flavor. It's home to James Beard Award Winner Florence Kemp's namesake restaurant, Florence's, 1437 NE 23, where you can find homestyle classics that will make your stomach and heart happy.

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Just a stretch farther down NE 23, you'll find Eastside Pizza House, 1734 NE 23, home of iconic pies named for eastside neighborhoods and Oklahoma's Black history legends and featuring a signature black crust.

If you're looking for wings in the area, be sure to head to Wing Supreme, 3925 N Lincoln Blvd., or DC Wings and Cakes, 5745 N Martin Luther King Ave.

Jamil's Steakhouse, 4910 N Lincoln Blvd., dates to World War II in Tulsa. The restaurant arrived in OKC in the mid-1960s and took over a former residence that operated for years as an illegal nightclub. Jamil's carries on the Lebanese steakhouse tradition into the 21st century, featuring mezzes like hummus, tabouli and cabbage rolls with hickory-smoked ribs and bologna before the steaks start to arrive.

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Finally, if you're in the mood for the flavors of the Carribean, Carican Flavors, 2701 N Martin Luther King Ave., is a choice that's been offering flavors based on owner Sharon McMillan's Trinidadian heritage for decades.

Restaurants in the Uptown 23rd District

Head the opposite direction from Florence's and Eastside Pizza, and you'll find yourself in Oklahoma City's Historic Uptown 23rd Street District. Stop by one of chef Kathryn Mathis' spots — Pizzeria Gusto, 2415 N Walker Ave., or Big Truck Tacos, 530 NW 23 — for laid-back delicious fare in the form of, you guessed it, pizza and tacos.

If you are looking for a slightly more elevated vibe, The Drake, is an intimate stop for seafood and Cheever's, 2409 N Hudson Ave., offers elevated American classics.

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Uptown 23rd is full of places that offer fun vibes, from the rooftop patio at Guyutes, 730 NW 23, to the covered dining at Ted's Tacos and Cantina, 600 NW 23.

The party continues at Chick N Beer, 715 NW 23, for wings fried perfectly crisp and ice cold local beer on draft, plus signature cocktails. Formosa Street Food & Bar, 427 NW 23, offers the winning combination of cocktails and delicious Asian-street food inspired bites ranging from dumplings to skewers to noodle dishes and fried chicken.

Keeping with the Asian fare, Thai House, 500 NW 23, and Pho Lien Hoa, 901 NW 23, have been staples in the neighborhood for years cranking out delicious noodle dishes and more. Keep in mind that Pho Lien Hoa is cash-only.

Need to grab breakfast or brunch? Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co., 429 NW 23; The Copley, 610 NW 23; Hurts Donuts, 601 NW 23; and Toast & Coffee, 2416 N Robinson Ave., can help you with that quest.

And don't forget to drop by Boomtown Creamery, 605 NW 23, to grab a flight of ice cream to split with your team for dessert.

Where to eat in the Paseo District

The Paseo Arts District also has its share of acclaimed food in a wide variety of styles and

Scratch Paseo, run by James Beard Award semifinalist Zach Hutton, sources ingredients from local farmers and producers to bring his own versions of classic Oklahoma-inspired fare to life.

Book a reservation in advance at Frida Southwest, 500 Paseo, and be sure to grab a cocktail from their James Beard semifinalist bar program or reserve a table at Picasso Grill, 2909 Paseo, if fine dining is on your mind.

If patio dining is your preference, OSO on Paseo, 603 NW 28, is the perfect spot for tacos and a tiki-inspired beverage.

The newly renovated and reopened, Sauced on Paseo, 2912 Paseo, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, including whole pies, pizza by the slice, cinnamon rolls, kolaches, a full coffee bar, frozen cocktails and more. Meanwhile Picasso Cafe, 3009 Paseo, has an extensive brunch menu, as well as great lunch and dinner options.

Perhaps the menu items at one of the restaurants from 84 Hospitality Group — Burger Punk, 3012 N Walker Ave., or Goro Ramen, 3000 Paseo, are what you're craving. With options ranging from shareable apps to gourmet ramen and burgers, there's plenty to choose at both restaurants.

Looking for gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options? Head to Holey Rollers Donuts, 3010 Paseo, 30th Street Market, 407 NW 30, and Red Rooster, 3100 N Walker Ave., all masterminded by the same team at Venerable Concepts, and you will not be disappointed with the choices for diners with all manner of dietary restrictions.

Where to eat in the Plaza District

Oklahoma City's 16th Street Plaza District is known for being a bastion of the arts in the heart of the city. It's also the home to a number of great dining options.

James Beard Finalist Jeff Chanchaleune taps into his heritage and offers the city's only Laotian restaurant, with dishes presented family-style at Ma Der Lao Kitchen, 1634 N Blackwelder Ave.

Want to grab a bite and a drink? Head to Rad Bar, 1601 N Blackwelder Ave., for casual bar food and art-inspired drinks. Or grab some pizza, a beer and a few game tokens at Up-Down, 1629 NW 16, and challenge your friends to try and beat the high score on one of the video games on site.

Family friendly dining featuring unique signature pizzas with pop-culture flare is available at Empire Slice House, 1804 NW 16, and New State Burgers & Spirits, 1705 NW 16, is serving up patties stacked high and smothered in all sorts of fixings.

For dessert in the Plaza, head to Pie Junkie, 1711 NW 16, or Roxy's Ice Cream Social, 1732 NW 16, for a slice or scoop.

Dining in the downtown core and Bricktown

Staying at the Sheridan, Omni or Skirvin hotels downtown, or maybe you're at one of Bricktown's many hotels? That means there are plenty of options for food right at your doorstep.

When you're looking to jumpstart your morning Monday through Friday, head to Rise Cafe, 725 W Reno Ave. The cafe benefits those experiencing homelessness, so it's also a way to give back when you buy your breakfast or morning coffee.

In and around the Deep Deuce neighborhood of downtown, you'll find Bar Cicchetti, 121 NE 2, open for dinner daily and offers a full service restaurant and craft bar. The restaurant also features brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Also in the neighborhood are Deep Deuce Grill, 307 NE 2, and Black Walnut, 100 NE 4, an offering of James Beard finalist chef Andrew Black.

Black is also the chef in control of downtown bistro The Gilded Acorn, 146 Park Ave., a great spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch.

If you want to elevate your dining experience, you can try out Vast, 333 W Sheridan Ave.; Flint, 15 N Robinson Ave.; Mahogany, 145 W Sheridan Ave.; Stock & Bond, 138 Park Ave.; Culprits, 100 E Sheridan Ave.; or any number of other higher-end fine-dining restaurants and steakhouses in downtown, all within walking distance of many of the area hotels. Similarly, Bricktown's hotels offer the nearby Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse, 7 S Mickey Mantle Drive, and Rodizio Brazilian Steakhouse, 217 E Sheridan Ave.

Visit the 21c Museum Hotel, 900 W Main St., and try one of their signature eateries, Mary Eddy's or Pool Bar and Bodega. Mary Eddy's offers elevated dishes in swanky green velvet cloaked digs, while Pool Bar and Bodega brings the party vibes with casual bites to be eaten poolside and even grab-and-go options for those always on the move.

For the best Thai food in downtown Oklahoma City, head to Thai Kitchen, 327 Dean A McGee Ave., where the flavorful curries and noodle dishes can be customized to your heat preference.

If you're craving a delectable italian meal, Chef Jonathan Krell's Patrono, 305 N Walker Ave., never misses the mark with carefully curated flatbreads, salads, pasta dishes and sandwiches.

If pizza is more your style, Rendezvous Pizza, 27 E Sheridan Ave., offers Detroit and New York-style pies. Joey's Pizzeria, 700 W Sheridan Ave., serves up thin crust pizzas, calzones, toasted subs and more.

Oklahoma Craft Nano Brewhouse Kitchen and Coffee, 12 E California Ave., also offers a slate of signature pies served up on regular or cauliflower crusts, alongside sandwiches, salads, appetizers, soups and a full coffee and cocktail menu.

In the West Village area of downtown, you'll find Stitch Cafe, 835 W Sheridan Ave., and The Jones Assembly, 901 W Sheridan Ave., both home to great brunch and lunch options. The Jones Assembly is also open for dinner and features a one-of-a-kind dessert lineup.

Another great lunch and brunch option in downtown is Kitchen No. 324, 324 N Robinson Ave. Whether you opt for sweet or savory, the breakfast and lunch options on the menu at Kitchen No. 324 come in filling portion sizes packed with flavor.

Bricktown's The Joinery, 121 E Sheridan Ave., boasts a menu ranging from meatballs and charcuterie to grilled pork chops and braised short ribs. In addition to first floor dining, you can also head to the second floor to grab a bite and get in a few strokes on The Joinery's full-swing golf simulators.

If you'd rather go fast-casual, you can head to Sun Cattle Co., 800 W Sheridan Ave., for an onion-fried burger, coney or steak nuggets.

And for even more burger action, head to the Flycatcher Club, 1137 NW 2, or Bar Arbolada, 637 W Main St., and grab the cheeseburger Alton Brown called the "best double cheeseburger in America."

Need dessert downtown? Try heading to Peret's Dessert and Coffee Bar, 701 W Sheridan Ave., where dessert and coffee are served up until 11 p.m. End your night by grabbing an affogato or a baked good and coffee or tea from the extensive menu.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Where to eat in OKC during the Women's College World Series 2023