This little place is a good example of how some ingenuity can manifest into a small entrepreneurial venture. The Greens on Boulder is a narrow space at 4th and Boulder, so small that it can be easily passed by without even a glance while walking down Boulder Avenue.

Owners Ron and Susan Green hope that downtowners take notice of their business, for they spend the early morning hours preparing meals for the day and the mid-morning and early afternoon hours operating their deli.

This is a post-retirement business for a couple who worked together operating a coney restaurant and then switched to sales. They said they had enough of sales, but weren't quite ready to retire and do nothing. Now, they work together again preparing lunch and catering upon occasion.

They have designed a menu that is very simple, yet substantial for what the size of the kitchen allows. Daily Specials ($5.95 each), Sandwiches and Salads (from $4 to $6), Sides and Desserts are the menu. I enjoyed a late lunch here one day.

The Greens is a homey place--very unpretentious. I was warmly welcomed by both Ron and Susan--and other customers were too. As I studied the menu, Ron asked if I was new to downtown. I answered no, having spent my grade school years attending Holy Family Cathedral School just a few blocks south and many hours walking along Boulder with family, shopping in days past when downtown was the place to be.

The limited selection did not cause me too much difficulty in selecting my lunch. This late in the day, the daily specials for Wednesday, Taco Salad with Free Drink and also the Quiche of the Day, were gone. There was, though, one more serving of the Chef's Surprise, Chicken and Rice. I jumped on the opportunity. This came with one side--either cornbread muffin or a blueberry muffin. I chose the blueberry muffin; then to complete my lunch, I also ordered a soup of the day, Taco, and a Raspberry Nestea for my drink. $7.10 was the total for this lunch.

Besides me, two other diners were there having lunch. I selected a side booth, served myself the tea from the fountain area, and by then my lunch had time to be zapped in the microwave. All foods are served on disposable plates. The Chicken and Rice came as a small, tightly compacted square of rice served on a small square Styrofoam plate.

This Chicken and Rice square had a slight chicken flavor in the soft white rice with a fair amount of small cubed chicken scattered about. This dish was moist, yet a bit on the dry side. A sauce or gravy should have been an addition to this selection. The blueberry muffin was a miniature version of a full muffin size. With margarine, the muffin was moist with soft blueberries, but nothing too special.

The Taco soup had brown beans, hamburger meat, corn, canned tomato pieces and was topped with cheese. The mild flavor of this soup lacked any spiciness and would be welcomed by diners with little tolerance for spicy dishes.

Service was almost the best part of this lunch. The Greens are friendly; Ron and Susan work well as a team with Ron operating the register and Susan preparing the pre-made meals to order.

The atmosphere is different. Black and white gingham vinyl/plastic tablecloths cover the tables. Four booths and tables fill a small dining area that is bright with shades of lime, beige and black. A few pictures of Tulsa skylines decorate the walls. Tables have vases with artificial daisies.

Susan, somewhat oddly, encouraged me to check out the bathroom. I acquiesced and ventured into the restroom to discover what she wanted me to see. The bathroom was decorated with female flare and was very clean, which should be important for any restaurant owner. Susan said she enjoyed painting and decorating it as a side hobby, and this was just one of her many fun projects.

Daily specials at the Greens include beans and cornbread on Monday; chicken spaghetti on Tuesday; taco salad with a free drink on Wednesday; chicken and dumplings on Thursday; and pulled pork sandwich on Friday. Salads selections are green salad, chef, tuna salad platter, chicken salad platter, Frito chili pie and taco salad. Sandwiches come in variations such as tuna melt, BLT, club, Reuben, turkey and Swiss, corned beef and Swiss, egg salad and pimento cheese.

The Greens on Boulder is nothing too special; it's just a place for a solid, modestly-priced lunch of homemade cooking in a very friendly and homey atmosphere. It's an added bonus when you can tell the owners simply enjoy what they do and want others to do the same.

The Greens on Boulder

419 S. Boulder

587-0123

Hours:

Mon.-Fri. 10:30-2pm

Rating:

Atmosphere ***

Food **

Service ****