I love little “creases” in time and space. Things that one would not expect. Did you know that Oklahoma at one time had a pretty sizeable mining industry? Yep, nothing left of it now except a few superfund sites in far northeast Oklahoma. In southeast Oklahoma there used to be a sizeable coal mining industry. Many of the miners came from Italy and lived in the town of Krebs just on the other side of McAlester. The coal played out a long time ago but the town lives on. Krebs is known for several things but what it is most famous for are its Italian restaurants and the most famous one is Pete’s Place.
I was introduced to Pete’s Place by Sweetie’s family. We have celebrated many birthdays there and Sweeties parents used to have their employee Christmas parties there. Sweetie’s Dad has passed away and her Mother, Nana sold the pharmacy so we haven’t been there in a couple years but we stopped there on our way back from Antlers this past weekend and celebrated my birthday! For Sweeties family celebrating birthdays is a process, not an event so there are several meals involved, sometimes several cakes, and it goes on for days. I really like the way they do it.
One thing about Pete’s if you have kids, they have a little kitchen set up. You can stir the dry spaghetti if you want and bang on the pots and pans and nobody cares. SPB started doing that when he was about 2 and he still likes it. Here is a shot of him in action.
Pete’s is a little different in that they don’t have a big common dining room. Your dining party gets their own small room with a door. The food is served family style and they bring lots of it. I intended to photograph the food but but the time I thought again, it was all gone.
The pasta is old school. I love the ravioli. This time they had something new, gnocchi. It is kind of a potato based pasta dumpling. I loved it.
The other thing about Pete’s is that they have a brewery on site. One warning though, they only serve their 3.2 beer on Sunday because of local regulations. I had their Peach Beer and it was great. (Jeez, how come Tulsa doesn’t have a brew pub any more?)
Pete’s is open for lunch only on Sundays, other days they open at 4 pm. I rate is four stars out of four.
Krebs has other restaurants also. I’ve been to all of them and they are all good, Roseanna’s, Giacommo’s, and Isle of Capri. Most of them are open during the day. Also try the Italian Grocery, Lovera’s.
ahhh Petes Place wonderful restaurant…mr gp’s stepmom is from that area I *believe* the last name is Estes I am drawing a blank…
oh and the wonderful cheese I may have to make a trip to Krebs very soon!
Oh this sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I miss ‘real’ Italian food like you get in Italy, not the Olicve Gardens of the world!
OK too funny – word verif: dinet!
i have never been here – in all these years living here and traveling across ok. i need to put it on my must-see list.
geesh the names are Epps and Giacomo(not the owners of the Giacommos restaurant)…do you know them?
not sure where i got estes…sorry rambling
Mmm, I love Italian food. Pete’s looks like a great place to have a family or work party or just a nice meal any day.
Now that looks like a great place to eat and kids must feel like they are wanted. I sometimes think of takeing photos as well when i go to a restaurant but usually will forget.
Sure glad that you had a great birthday
Sounds like a great place. I didn’t know about your state’s mining history. Connecticut has a mining history, too. Short-lived but interesting.
Oh that sounds like a great place to go. Thanks for the info..
I wish we had a Pete’s Place around here. It sounds great!
Leaving Ada tomorrow a 3:45p to meet friends from Muskogee at Pete’s Place. This has been a new years eve tradition of ours for over 20 years. We also make the trip 3-4 times a year just for ourselves. Pete’s and Giacomo’s both serve a trememdous meal,affordably priced, and the service is always first rate. If you haven’t been, you need to go. Hurry!!
Is that true? I didn’t know that there used to be a mine in that place. I had no idea about that. Good thing you shared that info with us.
mining equipment