Automobile Alley

[Pete]

Photos of S&B from today courtesy Urban Pioneer (note cool overhead doors):

[CurtisJ]

I love to see new local places open up, but isn't the buger market getting a little saturated around here? Within a mile we have Irma's, Kaisers, Mcnellies (admitedly not know for its burgers, but you have to consider $3 burger night) and Tuckers isn't too far away. Please keep opening restruants in this area, but can we get something a little different? Don't get me wrong, I'll probably be down there tonight to check it out, I just think AA could benefit from a Jewish Deli, gyro's, a coolgreens, a german beirgarten or some amazing food that I've never even heard of.

I am encouraged by the Spaten, Left Hand and (I think) Breckinridge Brewery Taps though!

[metro]

I love to see new local places open up, but isn't the buger market getting a little saturated around here? Within a mile we have Irma's, Kaisers, Mcnellies (admitedly not know for its burgers, but you have to consider $3 burger night) and Tuckers isn't too far away. Please keep opening restruants in this area, but can we get something a little different? Don't get me wrong, I'll probably be down there tonight to check it out, I just think AA could benefit from a Jewish Deli, gyro's, a coolgreens, a german beirgarten or some amazing food that I've never even heard of.

I am encouraged by the Spaten, Left Hand and (I think) Breckinridge Brewery Taps though!

It's hard to saturate in any market with burgers. I'd rather see a Jewish Deli or better yet a real breakfast diner. As far as cool greens, there is one a few blocks away in the CBD so doubt they'd build another downtown for quite awhile.

[Pete]

There was a deli in Midtown that failed. By all accounts it wasn't well-run, but still that concept has been recently attempted in the area.

McNellie's, Irma's and Kaiser's are not only in a different area (Midtown) they are all quite different than what S&B's is offering. Kaiser's and McNellie's are hardly burger-first operations and as far as I know Irma's doesn't even sell beer, much less have a bar.


I think this is a great addition to the area and actually offers something relatively unique. I also predict it will be a huge success.

[metro]

Irma's has a bar and sells beer, just not a big bar.

[Urbanized]

Pete's right. It will be a huge success. If you've never had S&B (and most probably haven't, due to its quirky first location in NW OKC), the burgers are a dramatic departure from the other places mentioned (many of which are also unique and departures themselves, for instance Tucker's). They are all fantastic in their own right; this just fills another niche.

[catch22]

hmmm..may try them out on Thursday!

[Pete]

Midtown Irma's has a counter where you can eat, not a bar; and I think they only sell bottled beer.

Very, very different concept than S&B.

[betts]

Although I guess it would make it a chain, I'd love to see Rick Bayless open up a Xoco in AA or Midtown. Just had lunch there today (in Chicago) and it's a great concept that isn't in OKC anywhere.

[Urbanized]

S&B actually started out as a bar, ElectroLounge. It was EL for several years before they started serving burgers, and a while longer before they admitted to themselves and everyone else that they were more successful as a burger place than as a bar. They still have the soul of a bar though, and thankfully that extends to the new location.

[Urban Pioneer]

Having eaten at all of those establishments, this is in a niche of its own. By far it will have a following. I would reiterate that the homemade pies could also contribute to this being such a niche downtown eatery. Particularly if the Lunch Box closes. It is hard to find a diverse selection homemade pies in the downtown area. Particularly meringue pies.

[soonerguru]

S&Bs is the bomb. Ate there tonight. I liked it way better than Tucker's, and that's not a slam toward Tucker's, which is very good, it's just that S&B's is more of a destination and there is a ton more variety and creativity to the menu.

[onthestrip]

Speaking of bars...OKC doesnt seem to blend the restaurant & bar very well. It seems its either mostly all restaurant with little thought put into the bar. Not much of a good job of blending the two. Mcnellies you could say does it but not many else. Im thinking of the type of places that you may go eat there but youd also hang out there at 11:30 and enjoy a few drinks as well as the surrounding crowd. Maybe Ive been to tulsa too much lately, which imo does the bar/restaurant blend very well. Everything here seems to be one or the other.

[ljbab728]

Although I guess it would make it a chain, I'd love to see Rick Bayless open up a Xoco in AA or Midtown. Just had lunch there today (in Chicago) and it's a great concept that isn't in OKC anywhere.

What you're referring to is more of a quick service type restaurant which he has opened. I like that concept. I also wish he, as on OKC native, would consider something like this in the downtown area.

http://www.redorestaurant.com/#/home

I had dinner there a couple of weeks ago and loved it. It is definitely an upscale concept though. Maybe Devon could lure him to the top of their tower. Dinner for two including drinks was about $90.00.

[dankrutka]

Speaking of bars...OKC doesnt seem to blend the restaurant & bar very well. It seems its either mostly all restaurant with little thought put into the bar. Not much of a good job of blending the two. Mcnellies you could say does it but not many else. Im thinking of the type of places that you may go eat there but youd also hang out there at 11:30 and enjoy a few drinks as well as the surrounding crowd. Maybe Ive been to tulsa too much lately, which imo does the bar/restaurant blend very well. Everything here seems to be one or the other.

I was at a coffee shop/bar called Vagabond in Wichita tonight and thought that was an interesting combo. People were having beers at one table while people nearby were studying. It is a dingy place for hipsters, but I liked it. It seems like a place that would actually fit really well on 9th street...

[Skyline]

Seems to be a little work in progress at building located 1501 N. Broadway. The building has been for sale / for lease for some time now. Could be nothing but clean up for better presentation & marketing, but today 3 ADT security trucks are out front and the last couple of weeks there have been other contractors there too.

[Pete]

I couldn't find a building permit for 1501 N. Broadway, but lots of times they start interior renovation without one.

[Skyline]

It is more than likely clean up and demo. I have seen 3 or 4 full sized trash containers on site as well.

I think it is owned by Corsair and the surrounding vacant buildings to the North are also being cleaned up with trash removal.

[CurtisJ]

Despite my negativity in my last post regarding S&B, I dropped by last night, got there around 7:30 and was told that they were no longer seating people (closing the kitchen at 8 and there were several groups on the list ahead of me). The place looked awesome though and I can't wait to try it out once they open permanently. The hostess did say that since they had such a good turnout last night they might be opening again one more night this week and to watch for an anouncement on facebook.

[BoulderSooner]

Despite my negativity in my last post regarding S&B, I dropped by last night, got there around 7:30 and was told that they were no longer seating people (closing the kitchen at 8 and there were several groups on the list ahead of me). The place looked awesome though and I can't wait to try it out once they open permanently. The hostess did say that since they had such a good turnout last night they might be opening again one more night this week and to watch for an anouncement on facebook.

today would be the last night they might open ..... they plan to be closed on thursday and open for business to on friday

[OSUPeterson]

Its great to see more places come around 9th, but I really wish it was not S&B. I personally think they are a bit overpriced for the quality of food you get.

I am hoping that they have a special Tuesday deal at that location to go with the special Tuesdays theme that seems to have developed.

[Rover]

Prices at S&B on May is very reasonable. Great burgers and great options. Doesn't compete with McDonalds or other cheap fast burgers. GOOD is better than just cheap.

[Urbanized]

I've got no problem paying 6 or 7 bucks for a high-quality specialty burger. This is not a lettuce-tomato-mustard cheeseburger (though I love those too). Here's a photo of the May Ave menu from UrbanSpoon. Here are the reviews on UrbanSpoon. I think there is plenty of room for a place like this, especially on 9th/AA, where there currently IS no burger option. Seriously, if you're just looking for cheap, Carl's, Jr. is right down the street.

[dankrutka]

Uh, those prices aren't high at all. Very reasonable.

[Urbanized]

Just to be clear, the $3/4 prices are for sliders. They often have 2 or 3 slider deals, and also have $5 full-size burger deals from time to time. One other note is that the new location has a few new/changed items from the menu shown there. But seriously, read the reviews; the place is overwhelmingly well-rated on US.