A Big Steakhouse Meal in Downtown Pawnee

A ribeye with a baked potato, fried okra on the side and a slice of pie waiting in the case is a pretty persuasive reason to point the car toward Pawnee. Click's is a casual downtown steakhouse built for the sort of meal that takes a little time, uses a full-size plate and may leave room for a takeout box.

The setting is distinctly local rather than polished into sameness. Rustic wood walls, mounted deer and old-style decorations give the dining room its own Oklahoma character, while a Pawnee Lake trophy bass sign supplies a particularly fitting piece of lake-country visual interest.

It is an easy place to settle into a booth, order a substantial dinner and notice the details around the room. The atmosphere stays comfortable and quiet enough for a family supper, a birthday table or a break in the middle of a longer drive.

Steaks sit at the center of the menu, with choices including ribeye, filet mignon, T-bone and a bacon-wrapped filet. The portions are generous, and the cooking is geared toward straightforward, flavorful steakhouse satisfaction rather than elaborate presentation.

The sides have the right kind of old-school range. A baked potato is a natural companion, but green beans, sautéed mushrooms, home-cut french fries, fried okra and fried corn on the cob give the table plenty of directions to go.

For lighter appetites, one practical strategy is sharing a ribeye and two sides. It still provides a proper sample of the kitchen's style without automatically turning the next day's lunch into leftovers.

The lunch menu also has a notably thick pork chop, often paired with a baked potato. It is the sort of serving that can easily exceed one meal, which is not a bad problem to have on a road trip.

At Click's, the soup-and-salad bar can become a meal's opening act and a meal in itself. It is included with many orders, though the exact arrangement depends on the current menu and entrée.

Along with salad greens and toppings, the bar has a broad selection of prepared salads and hot dishes. Tabouli, broccoli salad and potato salad have appeared alongside more filling items such as mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, fried chicken, meatloaf, tamales, small steak filets and even frog legs.

That mix keeps the bar from being a token plate of lettuce before the main course. You can assemble a cool, crisp salad, then add a few warm comfort-food bites just because they look good.

Soup selections rotate as well. Chili and combo gumbo have both appeared as soup-of-the-day choices, and a large chunk of cheese set out for diners to carve themselves is one of those small, decidedly non-chain touches.

Steak may be the headline, but a mixed table does not have to order around one person. The menu also reaches into the comfort-food territory with burgers, chicken-fried steak and fried pickle spears.

The grilled shrimp dinner is another substantial option, served with 12 skewered shrimp, a choice of baked potato or home-cut fries, and access to the soup-and-salad bar in the meal format that has been offered. It makes a good alternative for someone who wants the full steakhouse dinner rhythm without ordering beef.

This breadth is useful when a group includes one dedicated steak eater, one person who wants fried food and someone eyeing the salad bar. Nobody needs to treat dinner as a compromise.

House-made desserts have their own claim on the visit. Click's displays pies, cobbler and cheesecake, giving diners a clear visual reminder not to declare themselves finished too soon.

Blackberry cobbler is a frequent favorite, while coconut cream pie, chocolate pie and other varieties add to the selection. Flavors can change, so it is worth seeing what is in the case that day rather than arriving with one fixed plan.

These are not dainty afterthoughts. A pie or cobbler can be substantial enough to take along, and the attractive pie display also makes dessert an appealing pick for a party or special occasion.

Click's sits in historic downtown Pawnee, turning a meal into a reason to spend some time in town instead of treating the area as a pass-through. Travelers coming from the Tulsa direction have reached Pawnee via Highway 412, the Pawnee exit near StoneWolf Casino and the drive north into town.

Parking has included free street spaces and a free lot, with ample room commonly available. Dining is indoors, with booths among the seating options.

Waits are often minimal, and reservations are not routinely required, though busier days or times can differ. Attentive, friendly service and the helpful habit of confirming a side order add to the unfussy, well-looked-after tone.

The sensible approach here is to accept that abundance is on the menu. A meal may begin at the soup-and-salad bar, continue through a steak or pork chop with traditional sides, and end with pie or cobbler that somehow still finds a place on the table.

It is a satisfying destination stop for travelers passing through Pawnee and for anyone willing to drive in for an old-fashioned steakhouse dinner with enough choices to make returning seem reasonable.