Ethel Schiller greets everyone as they enter Anchor 66, Bristow’s newest, old restaurant. She’s the self-proclaimed Welcome Committee.
Adam Schiller, who is Ethel’s son and Anchor’s owner, and the staff are happy. Why?
Business has been booming since opening on April 29, 2023. “It’s amazing, the love and support I’ve gotten from our town. All our food is fresh and MIO.” I asked what MIO meant. “Made in Oklahoma!” she laughed.
Ethel added, “We want to incorporate local businesses into our business.” For instance, they buy Bishop Brothers dry taboli salad mix and serve it fresh in a cup. She said the baskets of fish and chips and tenders and chips are becoming favorites of customers.
What else is on the menu? Appetizers like fried mushrooms and ribs of corn, salads. sandwiches, including the “Flying Pig” that’s pulled pork mixed with BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese and a grilled chicken strip sandwich.
Do you like burgers? There’s a “Sooner” – smashed patty with cheese, charred onion and pickles. And a “Cowboy” that comes with cheddar cheese and an onion ring, hot link and bacon. May Ann from Milfay, prefers their cooked-to-order hamburgers because fast food chains don’t serve them like that. “This is amazing,” she exclaimed, biting into one. Adam said, “We make it all from scratch and in-house.”
Want an edible Gimmick? It’s called Elvis’ Monie Cristo: bananas, grape jelly, crunchy peanut butter, funnel cake, and topped with powdered sugar . No kidding.
Anchor 66 offers ice cream, ice cream floats (root beer, cookie and cream, etc.), sundaes, banana splits, and milkshakes too. Those will be very popular this summer.
Adam is a former Oklahoma National Guard member with the 138 th Fighter Wing, Tulsa. He served from 20082014. He encourages veterans to come and tell a war story or a lesson learned about their service. He provides a 20 percent discount for veterans, fire fighters, police, and EMTs.
Adam’s vision for Anchor 66? “I love creating new foods See Anchor, Page Three learned about their service. He provides a 20% discount for veterans, fire fighters, police, and EMTs.
Adam’s vision for Anchor 66? “I love creating new foods for people. Bringing the 1950s style into the 21 st Century.” Adam completed culinary school too. He has an Associate in Culinary Arts degree from OSU’s Institute of Technology. That explains the variety of food.
The Bristow News covered Anchor 66’s imminent opening in April. They wrote, “Being raised Milfay, Adam Schiller ate at Anchor as a child. In fact, like many locals, eating at Anchor proved generational for Adam and his family as both his father and grandfather also ate at Anchor as their younger selves. The nostalgia drew him back to Bristow from Fort Smith, Arkansas, in September of last year to pursue its purchase.” Now, his dream has come true.
The former Anchor Drive-Inn and Benji’s Anchor Burger, which served Bristow since 1950, sits at 630 S. Roland Ave (Route 66). The diner is open seven days a week.