our story

Every state has its historic places and stories, but few can equal the story of Cattlemen's Steakhouse, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Oklahoma City!

 

Cattlemen's Cafe opened its doors to hungry cowboys, ranchers, cattle haulers, and the like in 1910. The Stockyards City area was a beehive of activity back then, as herds of cattle were driven to Oklahoma City in an unending stream to satisfy the East's growing demand for beef.

 

It was in 1926 that H.V. 'Homer" Paul took over Cattlemen's, already a well-known establishment among the area's thousands of workers. Cattlemen's was one of the few places that stayed open after sundown. Because of this, it also attracted a very colorful clientele.  During Prohibition, it was known for its home-brewed “liquid delights.”

 

In 1945, Cattlemen's was owned by Hank Frey, a gambler of sorts. In a smoke-filled room at the old Biltmore Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City, Frey was running out of luck and money in a dice game attended by a local rancher, Mr. Gene Wade. Frey put up Cattlemen's as the pot if Wade could roll a ‘hard six”, otherwise known as two 3s. Wade put up his life savings, which was a sizable amount of money. With one roll of the dice, Gene Wade was in the restaurant business.

 

Owned and operated by legendary Restaurateurs Dick Stubbs and David Egan since 1990, Cattlemen's Steakhouse is a true "destination". A gathering place for all kinds of folks - from movie stars to rodeo greats, politicians to potentates! 

 

In May 2023, Cattlemen's Steakhouse was awarded Southern Living's "The South's Best" for the best locally owned restaurant in Oklahoma.