Must See

Rock Cafe

Stroud, Oklahoma

OklahomaDiningRoadside Attraction

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The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma is a nostalgic road trip stop, with delicious food that you just have to pull over for on your Route 66 road trip.

Rock Cafe was built in 1936 and opened on Route 66 in 1939. Roy Rives built the restaurant using local materials, such as a distinct sandstone, in its construction. The diner was named Rock Cafe after that material.

For years Rock Cafe was a bustling stop due in part to its location on Route 66 and off of a busy local Greyhound bus stop during World War II. In 1959 the restaurant was so popular that, at one point in time, it was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Today, the small restaurant is run by Dawn Welch, the woman who inspired Sally the Porsche in the Pixar movie Cars. She took over the business in 1993 and 2001 had it added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Route 66 restaurant has persevered through many setbacks over the years, including the decommissioning of Route 66 and a major tornado that ran through Stroud. In 2008 a fire destroyed the restaurant but it reopened on May 29, 2009 after being rebuilt, maintaining the historic rock walls, foundation, and original WWII grill.

Stop in for lunch or dinner on your Route 66 road trip and choose from a menu featuring spätzle, Jägerschnitzel, buffalo burgers, sandwiches, salads, and chicken fried steak.

While you’re there, don’t miss the two iconic neon signs out front. As part of Stroud’s Neon on Main project, the iconic Rock Cafe sign out front has been fully restored and a new Curios sign has been placed in front of the gift shop.

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Exterior of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma with neon sign

Rock Cafe

5 based on 1 reviews

Address:

114 W Main St, Stroud, OK 74079

Hours:

7am-8pm (Tuesday-Saturday)
Closed (Sunday-Monday)

Cost:

$$

Phone Number:

(918) 968-3990

Official Website Get Directions
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Photos of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma

Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma Route 66 Diner
Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma Route 66 Diner
Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma Route 66 Diner
Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma Route 66 Diner
Exterior of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma with neon sign
Curios neon sign at Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma
Exterior of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma with neon sign lit up at night
Exterior of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma with neon sign lit up at night
Curios neon sign lit up at night at Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma
Exterior of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma with neon sign lit up at night
Exterior of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma with neon sign lit up at night
Rock Cafe neon sign lit up at night 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.

Attractions Near Rock Cafe on Route 66

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Planning your Route 66 road trip? Our Route 66 Road Trip Planning Toolkit is your go-to resource for crafting the perfect itinerary! With over 1,300 stops, including quirky roadside attractions, historic sites, and classic diners, our toolkit helps you prioritize what matters most to you. It’s the ultimate guide to making your road trip truly unique and memorable. Ready to hit the road? Start planning your adventure now! #Route66 #Route66RoadTrip #Route66TravelPlanning

Is road trip planning driving you crazy?

Let the Route 66 Road Trip Planning Toolkit be your guide.

Are you ready to hit the Mother Road but feeling overwhelmed with planning? The Route 66 Road Trip Planning Toolkit is your one-stop solution! Spanning 2,448 miles of pure Americana, Route 66 is packed with quirky attractions, historic sites, and unforgettable experiences—so why settle for a generic, outdated itinerary? Our toolkit offers a customizable travel spreadsheet with over 1,300 stops, a detailed eBook, and a step-by-step video guide to help you craft your dream Route 66 road trip. Don’t miss out—start planning your perfect Route 66 adventure today!

Reviews & Ratings

5 based on 1 reviews

1 Review of Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma

  1. 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+!

    Reply

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