Jamil’s, one of the last of the old Lebanese-American steakhouses in Tulsa, is moving from 51st Street to the Farm Shopping Center in the city.
The Tulsa World reported the change in locations will occur later this year. Jamil’s Steakhouse announced its imminent move a couple of weeks ago.
Jamil’s will be in the former Billy Sims Barbecue space at 5225 S. Sheridan Road.
Its previous site on 51st Street was near Interstate 44, which long has been signed Oklahoma 66.
Jamil’s long ago also occupied a spot on 11th Street, a prominent alignment of Route 66.
The original Jamil’s began in 1945 in Bristow, Oklahoma, and moved north to Tulsa in 1957.
Jamil’s also recently marked its 60th year just north of the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
Northeast Oklahoma once had several Lebanese-American steakhouses served tabouleh, hummus, salad, fresh vegetables, pita bread, cabbage rolls and barbecued pork ribs and/or bologna as appetizers before serving the main course of steak and potato.
It was all delicious, and at Jamil’s, it was remarkably inexpensive.
But a few of the Lebanese-American steakhouses have closed in recent years, including Freddie’s along Route 66 in Sapulpa. Jamil’s is about the only one left.
Hundreds of Lebanese immigrants and their families arrived in the Sooner State during the Land Rush, and more came during Oklahoma’s oil boom of the 1920s.
They primarily settled in Tulsa and the surrounding towns of Mannford, Drumright and Bristow. If you look at the top of several old buildings in Bristow, you’ll spot Lebanese names such as Abraham and Elias.
(Image of the Jamil’s Steakhouse neon sign and its typical steak meal via its Facebook page)