Local Eats: The Lab Bar & Grill

Niraj Aryal, owner

By Laura Beam

The Lab Bar & Grill

Chicken Tikka on a sizzling cast iron plate. An Angus beef burger on a premium bun. Locally sourced produce. And 28 beers on tap in a spacious, sleek bar and lounge. Welcome to The Lab Bar and Grill, Edmond’s coolest new addition to the neighborhood! More than just wings, beer, and TVs with a view from every seat in the house, this modern eatery sports a fusion of American, Mexican, Italian, and Indian fare like no other.

Re-imagined concoctions like the Onion Ring Burger with queso and mushrooms, Tikka Tacos, and Chicken Chipotle Pasta, appropriately inspire the restaurant’s name, The Lab. Here, spices and ingredients are carefully mixed and tested to exacting standards before making their menu debut. “I train the staff to create dishes just the way I envision them so customers consistently get their favorites just the way they like them,” says owner Niraj Aryal.

Go Global

Retired Aerospace Cybersecurity professional, Aryal, opened The Lab in November 2021. “Food is my passion. I’ve studied it all over the world and wanted to bring the spices from India and blend them with southern cuisine,” Aryal explains. Hints of cumin, cardamom, turmeric, and coriander meld seamlessly in dishes, punching up traditional foods with exciting flavor.

The Tikka Tacos are made fresh each day in batches. Chicken, pork, and beef are marinated in garlic, ginger, coriander, and sour cream to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, then placed in a tortilla and topped with pico de gallo, cilantro, and Ranch dressing. Wildly flavorful without being overly spicy, these tacos have become a huge hit.

Wing It

“People are adamant about their hot wings,” Aryal notes, “and I create one-of-a-kind sauces that make them unique.” In one sauce, high-altitude chili peppers from Nepal are blended with hot sauce and honey, delivering a robust bite without a full burn. The Honey Sriracha, Garlic Parmesan, and BBQ Honey are other favorites on the traditional or boneless wings.

Fusion Meets Function

Even The Lab’s setting is a comfortable blend of tastes, attracting both families and night-lifers. A convenient place to enjoy excellent burgers, pasta, chicken sandwiches, salmon, and steak, The Lab also has a large separate bar and lounge area with karaoke, a Friday night DJ, trivia, and live concerts. Complete with artistic epoxy tables designed by Aryal himself, moody blue underlighting, and pool tables, it is the perfect spot to unwind.

Just try not to have fun with a drink like the Tesla-tini, Einstein on the Beach, or Lab Goggles in one hand and a fried pickle appetizer in the other! Check out their Sunday brunch, too!

Visit 1333 N. Santa Fe Ave., Edmond (former location of Buffalo Wild Wings) or thelabbarandgrill.com. Party space and on and off-site catering is also available.