Scratch – Norman, OK

On the corner of Main Street and University Boulevard in downtown Norman, Scratch Kitchen and Cocktails provides food and drinks made with quality in mind. If it’s going to be served in his restaurant “it has to be from scratch,” explains owner Brady Sexton. From the syrups for the cocktails to the veggie burger patty, to the ketchup and mayo, everything served at Scratch is made fresh on-site. “I’m passionate about doing things from scratch; I’m passionate about real food,” Sexton says.

Nowhere is this more obvious than behind the bar. The concept for Scratch started with the cocktails and grew from there. Sexton teamed up with childhood friend and cofounder of Bittercube, a small batch bitters company, Ira Koplowitz, to create a cocktail menu that combines classics such as French 75 and Manhattan with drinks unique to Scratch. Koplowitz is currently a consultant for the restaurant.

Scratch isn’t just about traditional cocktails and house-made rolls, though. For Sexton, owning a successful restaurant is less about what’s coming out of the kitchen and more about service. “The time that I’m most thrilled is when I can anticipate a guest’s need...maybe before they even know they want or need it. For me, that’s hospitality.”

This idea isn’t just limited to his diners; his goal is to improve the mood of his staff members while they’re at work by providing an environment with good energy and by doing what he does best—“taking care of people and making them happy.”

Scratch: 132 W. Main St., Norman; 405-801-2900; scratchnorman.com