Just west of Taft Junior High, and east of Drexel on NW 23rd sat Adair’s Tropical Cafeteria. Adair’s operated at this location throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. Unfortunately, Oklahoma City is not very tropical and neither was Adair’s. I do recall going there on numerous occasions and that they had good food. Once again one of Oklahoma City’s independent cafeterias. To my knowledge, this was their only location.
Today the building houses the 23rd Street Antique Mall.
Hello,
Thank you for sharing this information! We used to go to this cafeteria often when I was a kid. I recently came across an old Tropical Cafeteria (without “Adair’s”) matchbook from the 40’s showing this address; now I see it was the same place – before Adair’s took it over.
Thanks again,
Chris Leverich
I ate at an Adair’s cafeteria in Del City, when I was a child. That would have been in the late 60s. I think, that it was on Southeast 15th, near Air Depot. Were they related businesses? There was also a eating establishment called Rosa’s Cafe on Southeast 15th, on the South Side, just west of Air Depot in a small strip building. Do you remember that establishment and their house dressing, for salads? I would love to have that recipe.
That was supposed to say Rose’s Cafe
It has Tropical themes. HGTV didn’t exist back then. Palm tree wallpaper and rattan walls. A few fake palm trees. Aquariums lined the waiting line path with all kinds of different fish. Aquariums contied at Zuider Zee which became Der Dutchman.
Decorating in the 50’s and 60’s left little to be desired everywhere, but the funny thing is you all remember this cafeteria the most.
My Grandmother’s food line was as delicious as it was beautiful back in the day. None of it came in as frozen pre-prepared. All homemade daily.
Shelly Adair
There used to be an Adairs Cafeteria just off Britton Rd . in a small mall with Puddin Lane Bowling Lanes. Two of my daughters worked there in the 70s.
They had several locations Downtown and Del City , in the Village and Warr Acres too.. The Tropical cafeteria was their showcase… Had nice decor and tropical fish aquariums situated throughout.