Sandite Grill: Billiard hall impresses with tasty steak dinner
BY SCOTT CHERRY World Restaurant Critic
Thursday, August 30, 2012
3/28/13 at 8:16 AM
As I was looking over a city of Sand Springs promotional pamphlet, a few words from the ad for Sandite Billiards & Grill jumped off the page:
World Renowned Steaks.
On the surface that would be a pretty easy target to poke fun at, but considering we have had some surprisingly enjoyable dinners at bars and pool halls in the past, I asked my wife, "What the heck? What do we have to lose?"
She tends to roll her eyes when I say that, pointing out a couple of things we've lost in the past, but like a good trouper, she went along for the ride and promptly ordered the most expensive item on the menu, a filet mignon dinner ($15).
With the steak portion of the evening taken care of, I selected the grilled pork chop dinner ($8).
My wife remained skeptical, especially when she learned our new friend Jennifer would be our cook, server and barmaid. We dined late, on an off night when the regular kitchen staff was off.
A couple of families from the neighborhood came in to pick up to-go orders, so we figured we had time to stroll the big room with 18 billiard tables, video games, TVs, beer signs and pool league info.
We learned Sandite Billiards & Grill recently held a pool tournament fundraiser for victims of wildfires around Mannford and planned other charity events in the future.
Then came the food. Would I be a hero or would I be behind the 8-ball?
After my wife took one bite of the 10-ounce, bacon-wrapped filet, cooked a flawless medium-rare as ordered, I could tell I was home free.
World-renowned still might be a stretch, but the steak was outstanding, as tender and flavorful as ones we have had for twice the price.
The two pork chops turned out to be a bargain, too. They weren't as thick as those in upscale restaurants but thicker than what one sees in most diners, maybe a half inch. The grill-marked chops were juicy, tender and flavorful.
Entrees come with a choice of fried, baked or mashed potatoes and a choice of broccoli, mixed veggies, corn or peas. Grilled or fried yellow squash may be substituted for an extra $1.50, which we did with the steak.
The sliced yellow squash, grilled just to al dente, was more than worth the extra charge, and the baked potato with butter, sour cream and chives was cooked perfectly.
Jennifer showed a liberal touch with black pepper on the chops, squash and mashed potatoes and gravy, but that was fine with me.
Also among the nine entrees were a salmon fillet, grilled chicken, shrimp basket and rib-eye steak. The menu also offered a variety of burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs and salads, ranging from $3 to $6.50. A page of appetizers was mostly the standard fried stuff.
Sandite Billiards & Grill has full bar service and a selection of bargain-priced beers. The room is nonsmoking except for a small, ventilated smoking room.
Cindy Smith said she and husband, Mike, have owned a billiard parlor in the Sand Springs area for 24 years. They constructed the current stand-alone building next to a Hampton Inn eight years ago.
John Hall is day manager, and Leslie Vermillion is night manager.
To get there, take the 81st Street West exit off the Sand Springs Expressway.
SANDITE BILLIARDS & GRILL
7822 Parkway Blvd.
918-245-2859
Food: 
Atmosphere: 
Service:
(on a scale of 0 to 4 stars)
3-10 p.m. Sunday-Friday, 3
p.m. to midnight Saturday;
accepts all major credit
cards.
Original Print Headline: Cooked to impress
Scott Cherry 918-581-8463
scott.cherry@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
The 12-ounce rib-eye steak is served with baked potato and broccoli. MICHAEL WYKE / Tulsa World
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