Polk's House
A civil rights landmark becomes a home for husband and wife chefs.
On the southwest corner lot of 23rd and Lottie on Oklahoma City’s northeast side, you shall find Polk’s House. Since 2015, the white building with its red trim and the motto "Gourmet Food at an Affordable Price" has stood out. Inside, you will be greeted by owner, Chef James Polk, or his wife and co-owner, Chef Shacopie Polk. You'll also be overcome by sensational smells and give serious consideration to ordering multiple entrées. Weekday options are "on the go" lunch style featuring favorites like pasta, shrimp fried rice, meatloaf, beef tips and rice, fried and smothered chicken, salmon, fried fish, smoked turkey legs, and more. Fridays feature crab boils with the king crab selling out fast, as does the cowboy ribeye, New York strip, and filet mignon.
Chef James learned to cook from his grandmother in Idabel, OK at age ten and started working in fast food at age eighteen. Over time, Chef James worked at some of the best restaurants in Oklahoma, including Flips, Sleepy Hollow, Flint, La Baguette, Nona’s, The Waterford, Varsity, and more.
Chef Shacopie’s passion for food led her to her first job in fast food at sixteen. As she recalls, it was a job at Furr’s Cafeteria at age nineteen when she realized she wanted to cook for a living. She then found a job working under Chef Gayla Johnson, where she first met her husband. Prior to Polk’s House, Chef Shacopie worked as sous chef at Bistro 46.
The building that Polk’s House occupies holds historical importance in Oklahoma restaurant and civil rights history. During the early civil rights era, the building housed another restaurant, Pink Kitchen Cafe. Operated with a segregated lunch counter, the late Clara Luper participated in a sitin and was jailed when the restaurant's owner and staff refused to serve Black diners and police were called. Inside Polk’s House, a newspaper clipping about the story sits framed as a reminder of how important it is to talk about food and race.
Frequently, both chefs can be heard on Facebook Live saying, "We have those grilled cowboy ribeyes on deck! Y’all come on out!" On the weekends, the line will be out of the door. The community loves gourmet soul food at an affordable price.
> Polk’s House, 2319 N Lottie Ave, Oklahoma City; (405) 887-0539; facebook.com/WALNUT13
