Cafe iCon, Edmond

Cafe Icon cooks meat in the style of the world's oldest ovens: volcanoes. Inside specialized black rock containers, flat slabs of lava rock are lightly roasted until they reach 824 degrees Fahrenheit. These rocks are then brought to the table, where they retain enough heat to grill pieces of filet mignon and fresh tuna. The proteins sizzle without any need for fats, oils, or beatboxers, their flavors captured by the unique, open-air process that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is effective.

The distinctive flair of lava rock-grilling evolved from a simple enough dream. Husband and wife Patrick and Joanna founded Cafe Icon as a health-focused restaurant, devising a menu of fruit smoothies and stuffed crepes. As they built a base of fresh food-loving followers, they decided to expand the scope of the kitchen, envisioning a dining room where guests could order hibachi-grilled chicken, sushi rolls, and crepe sandwiches in a single evening. Now, Cafe Icon is as known for its lava rock dinners and elaborate sushi presentations.