Eric Smith is a classically trained chef whose fascination with Asian, French and modern American cuisine has made his The Crown and Crown Room into two of OKC’s favorite restaurants. His James Beard nomination in 2025 was long overdue, and his Crown Room private dinners are a multisensory, hysterically entertaining dining experience, not just dinner.
The Study. Certified sommelier Ian Bennett has been a fixture in OKC’s wine scene since moving here from Los Angeles more than a decade ago. His knowledge and experience have advanced our wine culture beyond what many expected, and so it was no surprise that his “wine pub,” as he prefers to call it, earned him an Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service nomination in 2024. Bennett invested in a state-of-the-art Cruvinet system when he opened The Study, and that has allowed him to offer more than 60 wines at a time by the glass, and the interior is designed in sections for bar-sitters, introverts, readers, board game fans and music lovers.
Garrett Hare is the executive chef of Nonesuch, the original fine dining
tasting menu spot in Oklahoma City and Outstanding Restaurant finalist in 2025. The Midtown destination changed ownership in 2024, when Denver restaurateur and James Beard and Michelin star winner Kelly Whitaker (Id Est Hospitality Group) returned to his Oklahoma roots with the purchase. Hare has overseen the kitchen before and after the transition, and his team of chefs and bar professionals produce some of the most creative, delicious food and drinks in the metro.
Kim Dansereau. On the strength of then operating partner Dansereau’s palate and bar experience, FRIDA Southwest earned a nomination for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage Program in 2023. The Paseo Arts District hotspot features a small but excellent wine list, a great by- the-glass program and solid cocktails. Dansereau has moved to Picasso Cafe, also in the Paseo, where she is once again creating a stellar beverage program.
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