Furnished, Not Famished

For more than eighty-five years, you can’t talk about furniture in Oklahoma for long before Mathis Brothers comes up. The original brothers, Don and Bud, opened their first store in 1960, and since then their furnishings empire has grown to dozens of stores throughout Oklahoma and California. They’ve even gone international, with locations in Ontario, Canada.

Unless Oklahoma residents don’t have a television or radio and they never drive down I-40 in Oklahoma City, they’re at least vaguely aware of the Mathis home dynasty. But many might not be aware that members of the Mathis family have dipped their toes into restaurateuring as well. Since 1999, they’ve owned one of Oklahoma City fanciest eateries: Ranch Steakhouse. Open seven days a week for dinner, the Ranch is the kind of spot where people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions with a dry aged porterhouse covered with Baron’s lobster topping or a bone-in rib-eye and blue cheese and bacon Brussels sprouts (sides are ordered a la cart, of course).

Naturally, the family that built one of the largest chains of furniture stores in the country wasn’t content with one restaurant. Their main Oklahoma City location and the one in Ontario now feature Thirty Four Bar & Bistro—a reference to the 3434 West Reno Avenue address—a café that serves fried snacks, sandwiches, a few dinner dishes like Cajun pasta and pork chops, and desserts.

The Mathis Special—a turkey and Swiss sandwich—at Thirty Four Bar & Bistro. Photo by Karlie Ybarra

Walking into any furniture store can be intimidating, as salespeople can get a little aggressive going after those commissions. But if you tell the folks at the Mathis Brothers front desk that you are just there for the bistro, they direct you on your way sans companion (I would never advocate lying, but if you’re just looking for a solo shopping experience, just exercise a little truth stretching).

The Bistro is spacious and decked out in art and décor diners can purchase if they’re so inclined. There are plenty of tables with comfortable seating. It’s an order-at-the-counter establishment—no white tablecloths, but no tipping a waiter either. The menu isn’t anything particularly unique, but every item comes out hot, fresh, and relatively quickly from the kitchen.

Thirty Four's club sandwich. Photo by Karlie Ybarra

When we tried Thirty Four, my husband and I each got something different. He ordered a club sandwich, which was piled high with meat and toppings, and a chocolate chip cookie that had just come out of the oven. I chose the Mathis Special, which was just a turkey and Swiss, albeit a satisfying one. The Crispitos lived up to their name—the fried tortillas wrapped around nacho cheese were in fact crispy and cheesy. Finally, my brownie was clearly homemade, chocolatey, and delicious. Our whole meal, which included water bottles, was about $40. So Thirty Four isn’t what I would consider cheap, but it’s not going to break the bank either.

Crispitos with a side of salsa. Photo by Karlie Ybarra

A freshly baked chocolate chip cookie from Thirty Four Bar & Bistro. Photo by Karlie Ybarra

Thirty Four Bar & Bistro isn’t exactly a destination diner like its more sophisticated sibling, but it’s a solid spot to contemplate that next big furniture purchase. After all, no one should make important financial decisions on an empty stomach.

Written By

Karlie Ybarra

Managing editor Karlie Ybarra loves to explore her home state—and meet many of its animal citizens—any chance she gets.