Blue Dome Diner in Tulsa, OK Offers Authentic Taste of Route 66

With the renewed interest in Route 66, restaurants are popping up right and left on the different alignments. Of course, it's no fun driving Route 66 and eating at a gleaming McDonald's. To truly experience Route 66 in all its kitschy glory, travelers are flocking to small, quirky establishments like the Blue Dome Diner in Tulsa.

Located along the original Route 66 alignment on what is now Second Street in downtown, the Blue Dome Diner takes its name from the famous Blue Dome across the street. The Blue Dome was built in 1924 as a Gulf Oil Station and was a prominent landmark during the heyday of Route 66. The structure has served as a focal point in the revitalization of the district. The diner is shoved into two rooms with a distinctly "road" feel. The floors are unfinished concrete and the tables are standard Formica. There is a spattering if Route 66 memorabilia on the walls, but not so much that you feel like you're in a tourist trap.

On a recent trip to Tulsa, a dining companion and I stopped in to try breakfast. The menu was limited to a few omlettes, pancakes, biscuits and a la carte eggs and meats. They don't do a lot, but what they do offer, they do well.

I order a half order of pancakes ($3.00) and a side order of bacon ($1.75) along with a cup of coffee. The coffee was fresh and our attentive server kept my cup full without being obtrusive. The bacon was thick-cut and heavily peppered and cooked just until crispy. The serving was large enough to share. The real star of the meal was the pancakes. Two pancakes come in a half order, but the pancakes are plate sized, so unless you have a huge appetite, the half order is more than enough. The pancakes were crispy on the outside and light, moist and tender inside. They are a thing of beauty, and worth traveling to Tulsa for.

My dining companion ordered a side order of bacon and a biscuit and gravy. The gravy was excellent, but the biscuit was slightly overcooked on the edges. It was, at least, made from scratch, instead of being pulled from a can.

The clientele was a nice mix of locals (a group of Tulsa firefighters stopped in for breakfast) and out-of-towners from the nearby Crowne Plaza hotel. The service was fast and friendly, with a server who seemed genuinely interested in his customers.

The Blue Dome Diner in Tulsa doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside, travelers will find a real piece of Route 66.