Neighborhood Jam
If you haven’t tried Neighborhood Jam, you may be in the minority in Oklahoma City. As a breakfast/lunch spot, they are usually on a wait from 8:30am-1:30pm, and it’s easy to see why. Their diverse customer base appreciates their creative take on dishes. According to Michael Craft, proprietor of Neighborhood Jam, “We pride ourselves on having unique entrees. We want to appeal to everyone. Some concepts are underwhelming, and some are too out there for Oklahoma. We feel like we’ve hit in the middle.”
Growing up with a father in the restaurant industry (Hank Craft, COO of Hal Smith), it’s something that’s always been in his blood. “My dad used to drive me to work at Charleston’s when I was 14.” After a stint there, he worked at Red Rock Canyon Grill and then went off to Mississippi for college where the idea for Neighborhood Jam was born. “I took my dad and Hal to some restaurants in Mississippi. We felt like this concept was something missing in Oklahoma City.” The success of Neighborhood Jam has proven them right. While Michael loves other breakfast spots here, he believes they do things differently, and there is room for all of them.
One of the most interesting things about Neighborhood Jam is their board of local purveyors they proudly display on the wall. From eggs and dairy to mushrooms and sourdough, they have the most impressive display of local vendors I’ve seen. They have seasonal fruit from as close as five miles away. Their coffee is something they are particularly proud of. “We use Topeca, which is the only seed to cup format in the world. They own their own farm in El Salvador, they ship the beans to Tulsa, where they roast them, and they arrive here two days after roasting.” With a passion for coffee and cocktails, Michael made sure both are done right.
Almost all of their dishes can be made vegetarian. They are known for their biscuits, and their biscuits do not contain lard. The most popular vegetarian dish is the avocado toast. Michael’s favorite dish is the El Jefe, so I ordered it without the meat and added black beans. It was fantastic. They also offer sautéed mushrooms, tofu, and Soyrizo as options to replace the meat in their entrees. “I’m not a vegetarian, and before we opened, I couldn’t imagine how anyone could be one. However, there are so many other proteins. We have great vegetarian options, and 3/4 of our menu is gluten free.”
Thankfully, it’s becoming more common to find restaurateurs that take special diets, specifically vegetarian diets, into account when creating the menu. With their second location opening in Norman this summer, even more Oklahomans will have the opportunity to enjoy Neighborhood Jam.
