Some of Tulsa’s coolest places to hang out, shop, and dine are located in the popular district of town known as Brookside. This mile or so of entertainment between 31st Street and just south of 41st Street on Peoria Avenue garners visits from people all over the city. And it’s no surprise why.

The fact is, Brookside has plenty to do in spades, no matter what you like to do. Whether you enjoy browsing quaint shops, viewing local and regional art displays, working out, walking the dog, or just seeing and being seen, Brookside is a superb place to play and have fun.

And since having fun tends to make you hungry and thirsty, it’s not surprising this part of town features some cool, tasty restaurants to savor good meals and great drinks with fabulous company. This list of ours contains several of our favorite suggestions for where to find a great margarita, fusion sushi, homestyle Italian, and a whole lot more — ensuring you and your loved ones enjoy a great day or night on the town anytime.

Would you believe that Tulsans don’t eat as much of the seafood they should to maintain a healthy diet? It’s true. In fact, nearly nine out of 10 Americans don’t eat the recommended amount of fish from the official USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

But we really don’t have any excuse to miss out on this lean, healthy protein here in Green Country — because it can be incorporated into our diet pretty easily, in a lot of ways. Fresh seafood is shipped to this part of the country within a day of being caught. And wild-caught seafood is available at most grocery stores year-round. Quick and easy seafood recipes abound in most cookbooks at home or can be found on the internet for some surprisingly tasty meals.

In addition to cooking it yourself, Preview 918’s favorite restaurants around town provide such amazing tasting seafood that we really should be indulging ourselves by eating on the healthy side more often. From hand rolled sushi to plump, juicy shrimp, or buttered lobster to melt-in-your-mouth, Alaska-caught salmon, Atlantic cod or mahi mahi from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico — all of these and more are waiting to land in your belly at these excellent restaurants around Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma.

It’s Valentine month — and that means people in Green Country are turning their thoughts to making plans for a little romance that their special person will not soon forget. Showering someone we care about with love is a positive expression of how we care about them. So, as you’re planning a little Valentine’s fun (the Super Bowl of date nights), keep in mind that enjoying good food while you’re out on the town can add a delightful break from everyday worries and sweep you and your loved one off to a bit of romance, right here in Green Country.

Whether you’re looking for white tablecloths and candlelight or a more modern romantic feel, there is something on this list you and — perhaps more importantly — your significant other will enjoy on Valentine’s Day or any night.

The selections here are places where enchanting atmospheres merge with equally inspiring cuisine. These are some of the many romantic establishments our area has to offer. Visiting any one of these locations during this month of love will surely be the right move for you and your loved one. Just remember to call and ask for reservations — because at this time of year, you might need them.

It is included in Oklahoma’s official state meal, and its origins are still up for debate — but chicken-fried steak has been an Oklahoma tradition for so long that it might as well have started right here in Tulsa. Before the first United States decennial census of 1910, just three years after Oklahoma was granted statehood, a combined 30,000 German and Austrian immigrants moved into these parts. With them, they brought their recipes for wiener schnitzel, goulash, bratwurst and a whole lot more delicious foods.

Resembling the look and taste of the traditional wiener schnitzel, a chicken-fried steak is simply a tenderized cube steak that is pan-fried and coated with seasoned flour. But the definition does little to describe the love affair Oklahomans have for this crispy, browned dish. Here in Green Country, we make it at home every chance we can, and then we eat it again when we go out to a restaurant. It’s just that good.

Truth be told, many restaurants around Tulsa just wouldn’t dream of sending a menu out to their tables without including a good chicken-fried steak. Here are some of the many fantastic places you can get a downright tasty chicken-fried steak to soothe your soul.