James Beard Award-winning Chef Andrew Black makes his way back to Skirvin Hotel to open his newest restaurant concept, Perle Mesta. The restaurant will be his first concept to open since winning a James Beard award as 2023’s Best Chef Southwest and will be located on the first floor of the historic Skirvin Hotel (One Park Avenue, Oklahoma City). Perle Mesta will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner service and the cuisine will reflect Chef Black’s continued exploration of what he calls “possibility cuisine,” a concept he attributes to his style of cooking that explores and embraces the endless possibilities of ingredients, flavors, techniques, and cultural influences. In this context, possibility cuisine involves chefs pushing the boundaries.
Bill Penn
We had an unusually beautiful February morning, so a friend and I decided to ride downtown for brunch. This time, we tried Perle Mesta inside the historic Skirvin Hotel, and it was a great choice.
The hotel itself is stunning, with elegant turn-of-the-century Art Deco décor that immediately sets the tone. The food was solid—I ordered the steak and eggs, while my friend had the Pastrami Benedict—and everything was well prepared. The staff was attentive and welcoming throughout our visit.
What surprised us most was how quiet it was for a Saturday morning, especially when so many downtown brunch spots have long waitlists. It seems many people don’t think of hotels for brunch, which is a shame because the atmosphere here is far more relaxed and refined than most breakfast places.
If you’re looking to skip the lines and treat yourself to a nicer brunch experience, this is definitely worth considering.
… moreTanner Dillon
Perle Mesta blew me away this past weekend.
Went for dinner Saturday and had an amazing experience curated by Levi.
Sunday we were looking for brunch options, the menu looked exquisite so we came back. Hannah was a fantastic server; she knows the menu intimately and can put on a show. If you come here and get her or Levi, you better be tipping good cuz they deserve it.
Andrew Black has created a fine time here; I will definitely be coming back. And as a service worker, I would love to work here! Congratulations on such a wonderful restaurant, everyone that works here deserves some praise.
… moreNoah Ward
Perle Mesta is yet another fantastic addition to Andrew Black’s collection of restaurants! A great way to spend our five-year anniversary! The sea bass entree was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it! Overall, everything was fantastic and we will be back again, hopefully soon!
… moreTeresa Brown
My husband and I tried this place and so glad that we did! We did make reservations for a Sunday evening and had an amazing experience. We actually showed up a little early and were met at the door by Marco and he was so nice and professional. We were seated immediately. Marco was also our server and he made some amazing suggestions for us. We started with the Kobe beef and scallops and they were amazing! Sorry the photo was after we tried a couple of them! Then I ordered the Pan seared Branzino and it was so good. The presentation and the flavors were just spot on! It was so good and the flavors came together so well. The pasta was really good and the tender fish with the prawns and broth was perfect. The portion amount was also very generous. My husband ordered the coffee and pimento roasted lamb and it was also very good. The lamb was very tender and so flavorful! The Brussel sprouts were so good! The potatoes were also very good. We look forward to going back to try some of the other dishes that they have! The service was just top notch! Marco did such an amazing job. He was professional, friendly and made some amazing suggestions. We did not want for anything. He was on top of it all and made the experience a great one. The restaurant was really nice, cozy, and quiet. It was perfect for a quiet evening and we were able to have a great experience and conversation. The prices are in line with the quality that you get. The entire experience was a great one. We would highly recommend and will be back soon to try some of the other dishes. We will definitely come here often.
… moreKyle Smith
What a wonderful experience we had at Perle Mesta in OKC. The restaurant embraces the Art Deco heritage of the Skirvin hotel and had great ambiance, with relaxed lighting and very comfortable seating. The food was fabulous. Jason really took wonderful care of us, making great suggestions. We had the oysters, Iberico ham, baby scallops, and Kobe beef from the tasting menu. The flavors of each menu item were so well balanced. And as good as the food was, the drinks were even better. We had their version of a French 75 named “Call Me Madam”, a Japanese whisky cocktail called “Horo-sha” with orange chai tea syrup, the “Mayflower” which paired amaretto and spiced rum with a sumac rim that was shockingly good, a Tequila based drink that combined Aperol, citrus and cinnamon, and a fun dessert-y drink called the Rumora based on a coconut rum which was like liquid Almond Joy. At the end of our evening we had the opportunity to talk with both Jason about the restaurant and the food and with Taylor who authored the cocktails. As an added bonus Taylor crafted two custom Manhattans we took back to the room. So delicious! Food, cocktails, ambiance, and above all, service. Dining at the Perle Mesta was a delight.
… moreShawn “LG”
We went before a Thunder game and had a great time. We felt a little under dressed being in sports gear but it wasn’t an issue. The food was top notch and drinks were pretty good. Would go back to try some other main entrees. Pizza hit the spot though.
… moreMelanie Jensen
We had very high hopes for Perle Mesta, as this was a curated experience booked through OpenTable and we visited on Christmas Eve, which felt like the perfect occasion for something special. Unfortunately, the experience fell short of expectations, especially given the price point.
We were offered a prix fixe menu with options that sounded incredible on paper but lacked execution. We started with the pear salad, which ended up being little more than arugula with pear pieces. It did not feel elevated in any way and was quite underwhelming as a first course.
The braised short rib had good flavor and clear potential, but the dish was served cold. The polenta was spread so thinly across the plate that it cooled almost immediately, which really took away from what could have been a strong entrée.
The pork loin dish should honestly be removed from the menu. It was dry, tough, and completely lacking in flavor. The side dish did not pair well at all and consisted of a very dry stuffing. The menu mentioned a glaze, but there was very little of it, and the dish was oddly served on a platter that did not make sense for presentation or temperature control.
Dessert was also disappointing. The pies tasted store bought, were crumbly, and lacked the richness you would expect from a restaurant at this level.
We also tried to order a wine pairing but realized the pairing was the same regardless of whether you chose the short rib or the branzino, which felt poorly thought out. We opted to order separate wines instead, but the Tempranillo listed was unavailable. I chose the Chilean Cabernet and was served a blend instead, which was another letdown.
Overall, this experience did not deliver the elevated, curated dining experience that was promised. For the price, we would not recommend Perle Mesta.
… moreDon Giuliano
Chef Black does it again. Imaginative food & drinks that taste great, and impeccable service. Great birthday dinner for my wife, and our server Ryan took excellent care of us. Will definitely be back.
… moreEmma Keith
Our first Perle Mesta experience was exceptional. Our server Jason was attentive, hilarious, and genuinely made our night with his above-and-beyond service. The menu was no less wonderful. We started with some baby scallops and an iberico ham dish off the tasting menu, both of which were so flavorful and delicious. My spouse had the lavender duck, while I ordered the venison. I haven’t eaten venison in years, and this was a true treat. Every bite was incredibly flavorful and succulent, and it was the perfect portion. Perle Mesta is definitely a splurge, but we found it well worthwhile for a special occasion!
… morecedar jasso
We travel all over the country, and this was one of the best meals we’ve had in our travels. Jason, our server, was excellent in his service and his recommendations, and the experience was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere is very art-deco meets modern chic, and you definitely feel well taken care of and luxurious being here without it being pretentious. Next time we are in OKC, this place is a must. (Added Suggestion: Try the “Call Me Madam” cocktail with the flourless chocolate cake. It’s like having a flower garden in your mouth! Exquisite!)
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