Photos of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma
Know Before You Go
To make the most of your visit to Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, here are some things to know before you go.
Where is Rock Cafe located on Route 66?
The Rock Cafe is a historic restaurant located at 114 West Main Street in Stroud, Oklahoma. It was built in the late 1930s, right on the stretch of U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma.
Look for the Route 66 Centennial Monument next door.
What episode of Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives was Rock Cafe on?
This diner was featured on Season 2, Episode 2 of Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives titled “Route 66.” The episode also featured Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe in Victorville, California and the now closed Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
Where can you park?
Parking is available in a small lot surrounding the restaurant.
How did Rock Cafe inspire Pixar’s Cars?
Pixar gave this Route 66 landmark a touch of Hollywood when owner Dawn Welch inspired the character Sally Carrera in the film Cars. John Lasseter and a Pixar research team first stopped at the Rock Cafe in 2001, and after meeting Welch, they began shaping Sally’s character based on her. The team returned several times between 2001 and 2005, leaving behind mementos and gifts. Today, the cafe displays these items from Welch’s collaboration with Pixar and Disney.
What is on the Route 66 Rock Cafe menu?
Expect comfort-diner staples on the Rock Cafe menu, including burgers, sandwiches, classic breakfasts, and special nods to its Route 66 and German heritage. The Jägersnitzel is one of our picks of 66 Must-Eat Dishes on Route 66 and 20 Best Route 66 Foods to Eat in Oklahoma.
Starters
- Chips & salsa: Fresh tortilla chips served with salsa.
- Spätzle & cheese: German-style noodles similar to macaroni, baked with cheese. Add bacon on request.
- Rock Café spätzle: As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, tossed with onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Add bacon on request.
- Fried pickle slices: An inspiration for Carsland’s Cozy Cone Dill Pickle Popcorn. Tangy hamburger pickles breaded, fried, and served with ranch.
- Cowboy candy: Onion strings and jalapeño rings lightly breaded and fried, served with honey mustard.
- Fried green tomatoes: Southern-style breaded and fried green tomato slices.
- Cheese fries: French fries loaded with cheese and served with ranch. Add chili on request.
Sandwiches
Served with fries.
- Hot dog: Quarter-pound all-beef dog with sweet relish and chopped onion. Add chili, cheese, or kraut on request.
- Grilled cheese: Classic grilled sandwich on white, rye, or wheat bread.
- Reuben: Thinly sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, grilled onions, Thousand Island dressing, cheddar, and jack on rye.
- BLT: Bacon, lettuce, and tomato on white, wheat, or rye bread.
- Buffalo burger: As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. Locally farmed ground buffalo burger; add cheese if desired.
Burgers
One-third pound burgers served with fries.
- Hamburger: With grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. Add cheese if desired.
- Bacon cheeseburger: Burger topped with bacon, onions, and shredded cheese.
- Mushroom Swiss burger: With grilled onions, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.
- Chili cheeseburger: Covered with homemade chili, grilled onions, and cheddar and jack cheese.
- Patty melt: Burger with Swiss cheese, pickles, and grilled onions, served on rye bread.
Beans & Chili
Served with homemade sweet cornbread; onions on request.
- Ham & beans: Bowl of homemade pinto beans served with cornbread.
- Chili: Hearty homemade meat chili; beans optional on request.
Healthy Entrees
- Bun-less buffalo burger (gluten-free): Lean local buffalo served over spring mix with sautéed onions, mushrooms, pickles, parmesan, and kraut.
- Smothered pork cutlet: Grilled pork cutlet topped with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and parmesan. Served with coleslaw and pinto beans.
Entrees
- Chicken fried steak: As seen in Gourmet Magazine. Breaded pork or beef cutlet fried to a golden brown and served with mashed potatoes, fried okra, and choice of white or brown gravy.
- Jägerschnitzel: As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. Breaded and fried pork cutlet topped with creamy bacon, onion, and mushroom sauce, served with spätzle.
- Hamburger steak: Eight ounces of ground beef grilled and topped with onions and brown gravy, served with mashed potatoes and green beans.
- Smothered chicken: Grilled chicken topped with bell peppers, mushrooms, cheddar, and jack, served with pinto beans and coleslaw.
- Chicken bites: Bite-sized fried chicken pieces served with two sides.
Salads
All salads include croutons.
- Chef salad: Greens topped with ham, tomatoes, mushrooms, boiled egg, cheddar, and jack.
- Chicken salad: Fried or grilled chicken on greens with mushrooms, tomatoes, cheddar, and jack.
- Almond chicken salad: Chopped chicken with honey, sliced almonds, tomatoes, and parmesan on greens — best with honey mustard.
- Taco salad: Corn tortilla chips topped with lettuce, seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, cheddar, jack, pinto beans, and onions. Sour cream and salsa on request.
- House salad: Fresh greens with tomatoes, cheddar, and jack.
Dressings: Ranch, honey mustard, French, Thousand Island, balsamic vinaigrette, blue cheese.
Daily Specials
No substitutions.
- Wednesday – Bev’s famous meatloaf: As seen in Southern Living. Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans.
- Thursday – Bobbie’s Indian taco: Seasoned ground beef, pinto beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheddar, and jack on homemade fry bread. Sour cream and salsa on request.
- Friday – Fried catfish: Three pieces of catfish served battered or breaded with fries, coleslaw, and hushpuppies.
Desserts
- Dawn’s great-grandma’s peach cobbler: Homemade cobbler; add ice cream if desired.
- Bread pudding with rum sauce: Homemade recipe; add ice cream if desired.
- Oatmeal pie (“Poor Man’s Pecan Pie”): A favorite of Michael Wallis, “The Sheriff” of Cars.
- Ice cream float: Served in a souvenir cup.
- Vanilla ice cream: Two scoops plain or with chocolate syrup.
Beverages
Served in souvenir cup; free refills unless noted.
- With refills: Unsweet tea, sweet tea, hot tea, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Diet Dr Pepper, root beer, coffee.
- No refills: Orange juice, apple juice, milk, chocolate milk.
Side Orders
- French fries, creamy coleslaw, fried okra, green beans, pinto beans, mashed potatoes.
- Onion strings, fried green tomatoes, fried pickles, chili, or Jäger sauce.
Kids Menu
For children under 12; includes drink (juice and milk extra).
- Cheese quesadilla and fries.
- Grilled cheese and fries.
- Chicken bites and fries.
- Spätzle & cheese.
- Hot dog and fries.
Is this a popular Route 66 restaurant?
Yes! With its delicious food, homey atmosphere, history, and ties to Pixar’s Cars, Rock Cafe on Route 66 is a popular restaurant for travelers and locals.
Where to Stay Near Rock Cafe
Exhausted after a full day of exploring? Complete your travel itinerary and get a good night’s rest at one of these Oklahoma hotels near this Route 66 diner.
Skyliner Motel
This fully-renovated vintage motor court motel is highlighted by one of the best neon signs on Oklahoma Route 66. The Skyliner Motel features ten quiet guest rooms with contactless entry. It’s also close to a delicious meal at the nearby Rock Cafe and all the neon signs in Stroud.
Lincoln Motel
The Lincoln Motel is a retro cottage-style motorcourt that was built in 1939 with a neon sign from the 1950s.
Historic Route 66 Guesthouse
The Historic Route 66 Guesthouse in Bristow is located halfway between Tulsa and Oklahoma. Inside find two guest rooms and a kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, drip coffee maker, and French press. Outside find a private back porch with sunset views, hot tub, grill, and fire pit. A light breakfast is available each morning with fruit, pastries, granola, and yogurt.



























One of the best chicken fried steaks I’ve had on Route 66…or anywhere! Really enjoyed stopping for lunch at Rock Cafe. Both the food and atmosphere were an A+!