Wow, suddenly the damaged building has healed!

The power of prayer?

Saw this on the Great Book of the Faces: https://www.facebook.com/events/1374623529495306/

Good on them for the Lupus tie-in as well.

The scoop: Kaiser?s reopens in OKC?s Midtown | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2014/11/05/the-scoop-kaisers-reopens-in-midtown-general-news/)

My husband and I had dinner there on Wednesday night. I had the fettucine alfredo and my husband had the carbonara. We both enjoyed our dishes very much. The portions were quite large. The service was very good and we even got a visit from the chef to make sure we enjoyed our dishes and the portions were appropriate etc. The dinner menu is has burgers, pasta and other hot dishes which I did not pay that much attention to since I don't eat meat. They have quite a few sides that looked good as well. Gratefully, the fountain with homemade ice cream is still intact. I had stopped going there when the previous operator was still there because there were virtually no options for vegetarians. I see they have a grilled veggie sandwich on the lunch menu that I hope to try soon.

Thanks for the review!

So glad to not only see this place back in operation, but seemingly in good hands.

The scoop: Kaiser?s reopens in OKC?s Midtown | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2014/11/05/the-scoop-kaisers-reopens-in-midtown-general-news/)

The scoop: Kaiser’s reopens in OKC’s Midtown

OKLAHOMA CITY – Kaiser’s American Bistro customer Kevin Khoury saw a business opportunity when owner Robby Brookshire said he wanted out of the restaurant business. Khoury quickly called his daughter Kristen Cory to gauge her interest in the project. With a background in catering, Cory knew she wanted to eventually be in the restaurant business, and that led to a rebirth for Kaiser’s American Bistro.

“(Khoury has) been a huge help getting everything started,” she said.

Cory, with her partners Angie Uselton and head chef Randy Giggers, took over the restaurant in September and on Nov. 1 opened Kaiser’s Diner & Ice Cream Parlor at 1039 N. Walker Ave. Cory said they didn’t do a lot to the interior, though they did redo the back floors and gave the place a good cleaning. St. Anthony Hospital is rebricking the exterior walls that face the hospital.

“We pretty much kept it the same, but brought it back to life,” she said.

The new restaurant name comes with an updated menu, but the ice cream remains. Giggers was the chef for the previous Kaiser’s restaurant and knows how to make the crowd-pleasing ice cream. This week’s flavors are pistachio and pumpkin.

“We have upped the (food) quality tenfold,” Cory said. “We brought in some pastas, steaks, seafood – things like that.

We wanted to diversify the menu to make sure we’re offering what everyone wants.”
Burgers, sandwiches and salads are also menu options.

She said it’s been somewhat trying to bring back such a historic place, but she and her partners are reaping the fruits of their labor.

“A lot of uplifting things have happened on top of a lot of frustrating things, so it’s been really nice,” she said.
Bringing life back to Kaiser’s is important to downtown, said Bob Blackburn, Oklahoma Historical Society executive director. The Kaiser’s building was built in 1918 and still has its original pressed iron ceiling, black-and-white checkered floor and granite countertop at the soda fountain bar.

“You’ve got to have some connections with the past,” Blackburn said. “The survival of businesses in that building is part of that story and we need to remember that, and hopefully inspire others to invest in their dreams. I think it’s very important in the bigger picture of what’s happening in downtown.”

He said the booming areas in the city, such as the Paseo Arts District, the Plaza District, and Automobile Alley, all have one common thread, which is their old buildings.

“Those historic buildings root us and provide a sense of community,” Blackburn said.

Ate here again last month. The stereotypical Kasier's experience. Excellent food, terrible service.

I have a theory about Kaiser's. Hear me out. It's the only thing that makes sense:

In 1938 a prominent local doctor who officed in the Osler Building came over to Kaiser's for an early lunch. His sandwich came right out, but they forgot his coffee. He asked again. And again. And again. After 30 long minutes his sandwich was long eaten, he was anxious to get back to the office. BUT THERE WAS STILL NO COFFEE. He raised his hand one last time to signal the guy at the counter and then he felt a terrible pain in his chest. Being a doctor he instantly knew what it was. Heart attack. He keeled over and began immediately to black out. He knew this was the end. His mind, scrambling as it was in that moment, did not linger on his life, his family or his memories. No. The thought that consumed his mind in that dying moment was this: "WHERE IS MY GODDAMN CUP OF COFFEE!" And then he was dead.

And from that day on some say that his ghost still haunts Kaiser's. The doctor, kind in this world, has, in death found his spirit consumed with rage and pique. He haunts the front counter, cash register and kitchen of Kaiser's, doing all he can to prevent staff from providing even a modicum of acceptable service to customers. And then he laughs. Evil evil evil laughter.

Haha....

You keep giving them chances and they keep disappointing you.


Months ago I predicted that the bar and restaurant scene in OKC was going to really suffer due to the huge amount of new openings and the low unemployment rate. Simple math dictated something had to give.

In my last two trips to OKC with a whole slew of bar and restaurant experiences I could definitely see the manifestation of all of this. I've had shockingly bad service in a fair percentage of my outings.

It's such a extreme contrast to Southern California where there is tremendous competition for good restaurant and bar jobs. Also, people out here are far more likely to throw a fit if things aren't up to snuff, where in OKC the genteel nature of the culture tends to be much more tolerant.

Haha....

You keep giving them chances and they keep disappointing you.




I know, I know. I really need to not keep going there. It is just that they have so much going for them. Great location. Super kid-friendly, both in menu items and setting. Nice patio seating. Price is right. Food tends to be tasty. Great deserts.

WHY CAN"T THEY EVER GET THEIR STUFF TOGETHER?

One thing I find interesting is that while Kaiser's got a new owner last year the head cook and much of the back of house staff was unchanged. This explains both the menu continuity and probably the lack of improvement in service level.

New ownership/management always deserves a chance, and maybe 2-3.

Hopefully they get it together.

...
WHY CAN"T THEY EVER GET THEIR STUFF TOGETHER?
...


For the same reason lines run 6-9 deep at a 7/11 that is amply staffed and what goes into a sack at fast food b us often is not all that close to what was on the screen.

Too few care enough to even try. And that includes their supervisors, and their supervisors as well.

Hmmm. Maybe somebody needs to start a thread about "What Restaurants Do You Recommend for Excellent Service?"

Hmmm. Maybe somebody needs to start a thread about "What Restaurants Do You Recommend for Excellent Service?"

I can say without a single exception I've had outstanding service at all the Good Egg establishments, and I've been to all of them multiple times.

Even my two trips to Tuckers have been excellent in this regard (and every other one as well).

Also had great service at both Broadway 10 and Sidecar, having visited both twice.

Having lunch here now. It seems that some sort of re-organization is underway. I think they are trying to get it together. My wife and I love Kaiser's. It is a Oklahoma City institution. I think they need to get a grip on their front of house staff though.

Having lunch here now. It seems that some sort of re-organization is underway. I think they are trying to get it together. My wife and I love Kaiser's. It is a Oklahoma City institution. I think they need to get a grip on their front of house staff though.

OK, this is like the 5th or 6th time in the past few years this has happened, I want to try eating there, but it always seems they have big problems that they keep trying to fix over and over. What's really going on there, just bad mgmt that doesn't know how to run a restaurant, can't get decent staff, don't care, ....?

Nobody even noticed they closed over two weeks ago, which speaks volumes about how that place was being operated.

This is from their Facebook page but I wrote them a note and didn't hear back and their phone is disconnected. If they were going to reopen soon I would have expected the phone just to go to a recording, not be completely turned off.


Kaisers Diner
February 2 at 11:31am ·
We are kind of "under construction". I apologize for any delays and/or uncertainties that may be delivered during this process. Kaisers Diner is currently undergoing a shift in leadership. We will be up and running soon. Exciting things are ahead, please excuse our mess. We will be back soon and better than ever.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kaisers021916.jpg

Well, you certainly can't blame the location.

If they were smart, they would strip down the menu and only offer burgers and dawgs....... Along with shakes and ice cream treats....they have had a real problem in the kitchen for a very long time. Keep it simple

How many times have they closed in the past 5 years?

Even when they've been open, they are hardly open.

The service was epically slow every time I tried to eat there.

Slow service, mediocre food, lot's of competition nearby, dead-looking space.

Recipe for disaster.

If they were smart, they would strip down the menu and only offer burgers and dawgs....... Along with shakes and ice cream treats....they have had a real problem in the kitchen for a very long time. Keep it simple

This speaks to my ignorance of their menu, but I haven't been in over 5 years.

What did they have other than burgers and ice cream? The one time I went for their ice cream, and I saw it was blue bell.

This speaks to my ignorance of their menu, but I haven't been in over 5 years.

What did they have other than burgers and ice cream? The one time I went for their ice cream, and I saw it was blue bell.

Way too much for a malt shop.......Kaisers Diner | Home of the Buffalo Burger (http://kaisersdiner.com/kaisers-diner--home-of-the-buffalo-burger.html)

Their service was awful and their food mediocre. The milkshakes were good, but that's not enough to carry the joint. For such a cool building and a perfect location, they've managed to screw it up quite a bit.

I'm pretty sure the name needs to be changed, and they need to completely start over......

Way too much for a malt shop.......Kaisers Diner | Home of the Buffalo Burger (http://kaisersdiner.com/kaisers-diner--home-of-the-buffalo-burger.html)

Thanks for the link. Way too many items when they advertise buffalo meat on their window.

Another Kaiser operator sent packing by irregular hours and terrible service! The Ghost of the Good Doctor Strikes Again!


And from that day on some say that his ghost still haunts Kaiser's. The doctor, kind in this world, has, in death found his spirit consumed with rage and pique. He haunts the front counter, cash register and kitchen of Kaiser's, doing all he can to prevent staff from providing even a modicum of acceptable service to customers. And then he laughs. Evil evil evil laughter.

See post 187.

I'm with tundra.

I know the building, it's name, and its menu is uber historic. But the burgers & shakes concept is being done better across the road by Irma's. And the same could be said for S&B and even Louie's. And the name is just a death sentance. I stopped paying attention years ago. Especially after Sean Fiaccone and Kim Dancero couldn't get the numbers to line up and threw in the towel. I know as long as its operating as "Kaiser's" it's going to suck because it's not being operated by a tennant that has passion to do something extra-ordinary.

But from what I can tell the owner insists that it be called kaisers, and insists that is be a soda-pop pharmacy lunch counter joint and it just runs tenant after tenant into the ground. They can't get good service staff because they don't earn enough tip wage due to the counter/self service and the revenues aren't high enough to raise salaried wage up to attract competent people. Then their service sucks so they lose even more revenue...it's a cycle.

I'm all for keeping the mosaic that identifies the building but maybe it's time to let that concept die, do something that gels with the modern consumers and leave the mediocre burgers and root beer floats to pops. It's all up to the owner though. And it would appear all the equipment belongs to the house so that would make rent quite high. But any sucker with a nest-egg and a dream could just come in and start up "turn-key."

^

Perhaps a Pop's? Like Kaisers by Pop's?

Their concept would fit really well and they had once proposed a location in Bricktown then pulled out for some reason.

Oh yeah and the garage burgers on Robinson. Though in my opinion those are just gussied up pre-formed Ben E. Keith patties. But I did enjoy the Mexican foot long dog wrapped in fried bacon with beans, guac, and sour cream...then I had to check st. Anthony's for a bi-pass.

^

Perhaps a Pop's? Like Kaisers by Pop's?

Their concept would fit really well and they had once proposed a location in Bricktown then pulled out for some reason.

Already super close... but Tucker's also. They need a simple, straight forward menu like that at least.

The area is saturated with burger joints.

I'm with tundra.

I know the building, it's name, and its menu is uber historic. But the burgers & shakes concept is being done better across the road by Irma's.

While I agree that Kaiser's has been a disaster. I also absolutely despise that Irma's. For whatever reason it is a pale imitation of the one on 63rd. Just crappy food every time. Granted the service is still better than Kaiser's but that is seriously the only thing they do better over there.

Myy dream is to see Kaiser's somehow get their act together as a soda fountain and the Midtown Irma's go out of business and be replaced by a new concept.

Perhaps this location (Kaiser's) would be the right spot for a late-night diner?

Tons of other bars and restaurants within crawling distance and there are people at St. Antony's all hours of the day.

Ice Cream and Tacos only. Doesn't that sound yummy

How bad should I feel for preferring the burger at McNellies? Especially on Wednesday

Don't feel bad. It's impossible to serve a bad $3 burger. But as we've been pointing out, it's worthless to keep trying the burger and shake model there. I think it would make a cool diner. But these days you have to be really REALLY on the pulse to make it in the diner business...just like the burger business. Otherwise you might just as well be another Jimmy's Egg...

Sometime last year while in the area we saw that Kaiser's was advertising weekend breakfast. Shortly thereafter we decided to give it a try. We went in on a Saturday around 10:30ish and when we asked for a breakfast menu they told us they weren't serving breakfast and that the advertising was premature. We left, of course. I will say we stopped in many times with the family during that summer a few years ago where we had all those consecutive 100F days and enjoyed a lot of ice cream from the fountain. Even then we noticed the snooty and dumb service, but the kids liked the shakes and stuff.

While I agree that Kaiser's has been a disaster. I also absolutely despise that Irma's. For whatever reason it is a pale imitation of the one on 63rd. Just crappy food every time. Granted the service is still better than Kaiser's but that is seriously the only thing they do better over there.

Myy dream is to see Kaiser's somehow get their act together as a soda fountain and the Midtown Irma's go out of business and be replaced by a new concept.

Is Irmas still automatically adding gratuity?

Is Irmas still automatically adding gratuity?


I'm not a fan of Irma's, most especially that location....much better options for burgers

Kaiser's Sushi and Green Tea ice cream.

Drove by this morning and noticed they had paper over the windows. Maybe remodelling?

Drove by this morning and noticed they had paper over the windows. Maybe remodelling?

It was posted up-thread they have closed indefinitely citing management issues.

Drove by this morning and noticed they had paper over the windows. Maybe remodelling?

It was posted up-thread they have closed indefinitely citing management issues.

As I understand it, St. Anthony is building all the way to Kaiser's, and there will be an entry into the restaurant from the hospital. It'll essentially be like the Starbucks in the hospital: operating independently, but confined to the hospital's property. That's what my wife gathered, anyway. As a nurse at Saints, she only ordered from Kaiser's once and said it was garbage.

As someone who followed Kasier's closely over the last 4 years, one thing stands out as particularly peculiar. There have been as we know many many management changes. A lot of different front-of-house staff. The most recent operator even had a high school soccer team working in there front-of-house. But between all these changes the back-of-house staff has remained unchanged. The same cook or cooks. One of the new managers, who was glowingly written-up in the local daily newspaper as a savior of the place, even touted the fact that she was keeping the old cook.

Just seems weird. After so many operators have been chewed up and spit out by that place, how in the world did the cook hang on? Is he a part of the problems?

Basically we have a lot of variables changing but two important factors remained the same: the concept/location and the cooking staff. Operators, management style, degrees of community engagement, etc. all changed, but those two stayed the same. How much of the failures can be attributed to each thing? How come, operator after operator, they could not keep predictable business hours?

So many questions about this place.

As I said up-thread. One of the previous "managers" told me the owner dictated it be a burger and malt shop. It's possible the cooks had a relationship with the owner to keep their jobs between regimes. It's essentially a turn-key operation. You pay the astronomical rent and it's off too the races to fry patties and scoop treats. It even comes with cooks!

It's kind of like the blue note on Robinson. The owner told me years ago before it transitioned from it's Tulsa operator under the helm of the deep fork group. "I'll always own the building, and it will always be called the blue note."

i drove by a couple of days ago and am sure the sign in the window said it was the grateful bean.

i drove by a couple of days ago and am sure the sign in the window said it was the grateful bean.

Yep! Back to the future?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kaisers030916.jpg

Does anyone know if there are plans for this building?

Any updates on this?

Any updates on this?

There is a sign on the front door that says they are remodeling and under new management.

There is a sign on the front door that says they are remodeling and under new management.

That sign has been there for over 7 months.

They should do something like Crown Candy in St. Louis... Small menu , lots of ice creams , and some candy.....

Reopened today: https://instagram.com/p/BIasWEugy7c/

Wow... I didn't think it would ever open.

Wow... I didn't think it would ever open.

Well, apparently after saying they were now open, they failed to open this morning. It's pretty amazing that one business can continually, year-after-year fail to keep their hours. Is it still the same ownership?