Oklahoma City has a lot of good food and a lot of cheap food. Finding a place that offers both, however, can be a bit like pulling a rabbit out of a hat — occasionally, while the rabbit is wielding an AK-47. But such a restaurant has come to my attention, and I have visited and enjoyed.

Jim’s Diner, located at 7950 NW 39th Expressway in Bethany, offers classic diner food at prices that won’t break your wallet.

The menu is extensive, featuring about a dozen takes on the classic hamburger, several dinner options, varied appetizers, and a fair drink selection.

Actually, the menu is more extensive than Denny’s, with comparable choices in most areas.

Prices are excellent. Off the top of my head, I don’t think anything on the menu is more than $11. My husband, myself, and our boyfriend can all get an entree and endless refills for under $30, and sometimes under $25, depending on what we order.

And the food is delicious. From catfish fry to chili burgers, okra to French fries, I’ve consistently enjoyed crisp crusts on fried food, well-grilled meat, and piping hot deep-fried sides that make my mouth water and tempt me to stuff myself until I can’t move.

Dessert is a paragraph unto itself, because they like pie at Jim’s so much so, they generally have at least six kinds of pie on hand at any given time.

Pineapple, meringue, apple, cherry, chocolate, pumpkin, pecan are just a few that I’ve seen. There’s always a variety, and the choices differ from day to day based on what they got at the bakery. I know people who go there just for a slice of pie.

The service is really good. The only time I’ve ever run out of drink and not had a server standing there with a refill in under a minute, they were in the middle of a massive rush.

Food arrives promptly, usually within 20 minutes. I have allergies, so I’m not a good test case, but they’ve only messed up my order twice in the two or three dozen times I’ve been. And trust me, that’s incredible. I usually have a one-in-three miss rate at places like McDonald’s and Burger King.

For quality food, good service, and an open and relaxed diner atmosphere, Jim’s is the place to eat. Even if it’s a bit out of the way, it’s still worth the trip to enjoy the food. And, of course, the pie.

Rating: A

—Jeremy Cloud

Community Writer

To contact Jeremy Cloud, email communitywriter@occc.edu.