I was there when the the drink menu was created and it is absolutely not a rip from Ludevine. The Ludevine bartender wasn't even hired on until the week before the soft openings began. At that point almost all of the drink menu had already been created. He added ingredients to a few of the drinks (1 to 3 out of the ten) but that was the extend of his involvement. Ive seen several reviews that give him a lot more credit than he is due for Packard's drink menu because of his history downtown. A few were inspired by drinks from other restaurants but none were from ludevine (or even from restaurants in the downtown area for that matter). As a specific example, at least two of the drinks were inspired by some of interurbans more popular dishes and deserts over the years.

Packard's makes great drinks, didn't mean to come off negative. To be compared with the best drinks in town (Ludivine IMO) is a great compliment. I think the, lesser known, bar at Stella does a fantastic job too.

My favorite drink at Packard's:

Bread Winner
Patron, Pineapple Vanilla Infused Tequila, Raisin Syrup, and Lime

Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0YdqFPbSpc)

Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0YdqFPbSpc)


Lol - my side hurts from laughing. I love that show. Well played.

15 min is not reasonable in any bar ..

that's asinine...but you are welcome to your opinion.

Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0YdqFPbSpc)

That's Brilliant!

Packard's makes great drinks, didn't mean to come off negative. To be compared with the best drinks in town (Ludivine IMO) is a great compliment. I think the, lesser known, bar at Stella does a fantastic job too.

My favorite drink at Packard's:

Bread Winner
Patron, Pineapple Vanilla Infused Tequila, Raisin Syrup, and Lime

There is a pretty big difference between comparing Packard's drink menu to Ludivine's and saying its a rip from it because their former bartender is on the staff. Again, He didn't start at Packard until after the majority of the drink menu had been created by someone who had never been to Ludevine.

The Bread Winner is very good and was one of the cocktails I was referring to above. It was inspired by Interurban's Tequila Bread Pudding, one of its top selling deserts over the years.

:)
Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0YdqFPbSpc)

Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0YdqFPbSpc)

That was f-ing great.

And by the way, I've been to Valkyrie, and it is very good, but a wholly different concept from a place like Packard's.

That was f-ing great.

And by the way, I've been to Valkyrie, and it is very good, but a wholly different concept from a place like Packard's.

Agreed. Just talking about craft cocktails. They are definitely different concepts.

Cue Anthony Bourdain railing on "sock-headed hipster mixologists."

Ron Swanson has my vote. Another great line of his is: "clear liquor is for women...on diets." With apologies to the women I know who could drink me under the table.

Midtown bartender drama, who would have thunk it..........

Patron, Pineapple Vanilla Infused Tequila, Raisin Syrup, and Lime

Sounds like something we'd mix for our dates in high school.

Let's see . . . taste, texture, eye-appeal . . .
Maple Syrup/Grated Ginger/Cool Whip/Everclear/a Neon Red Marischino Cherry . . . Flambé!

(anyone who pollutes Patron Tequila with anything other than a couple of cubes of local ice should have his bartending license revoked.)

I think anyone who pollutes ANY top-shelf liquor with a lot of additions is missing the point. Might as well use well liquor if you're going to make a kiddie drink. If I want a bunch of sugar and fruit in my drink I had better be on a beach and my booze had better have an umbrella.

A quality handcrafted beer or a fine top-shelf liquor with minimal accoutrements. That is how the Creator (or at least the brewer or distiller) intended it. Those are the only things that should pass my lips. Sorry to be such a neanderthal.

I think anyone who pollutes ANY top-shelf liquor with a lot of additions is missing the point. Might as well use well liquor if you're going to make a kiddie drink. If I want a bunch of sugar and fruit in my drink I had better be on a beach and my booze had better have an umbrella.

A quality handcrafted beer or a fine top-shelf liquor with minimal accoutrements. That is how the Creator (or at least the brewer or distiller) intended it. Those are the only things that should pass my lips. Sorry to be such a neanderthal.
like

on the other hand . . . perhaps they are simply putting Los Huarches Anejos or El Sombrero Gato Malo into a Patron bottle to patronize the plebian peon pseduo-hipsters with faux paws who don't know no better? nah. that's impossible. probably illegal, too.

Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0YdqFPbSpc)

Without a doubt the funniest clip I've seen in at least the last six months.
I'm going to have to click on Parks and Recreation (it's in the Netflix deal).

Remember those old episodes of StarTrek where the space explorers/non-cops could get wasted on stuff from the replicator that was very temporary and didn't involve hangovers? Me neither.

Maybe someone needs to open a Canadian-Themed bar down/up/midtown . . .
Like this one from a suburb of Halifax.
mGqu5qq9loQ
Eh? =)

Although I do not gamble, I would be willing to rake in donations from anyone who doesn't believe that if you asked ten people in Packard's what a "Packard" was seven out of ten would reply, "Uh . . . This bar."

Edited to add:
(sorry . . . i just read former state senator cal hobson's contribution to The Gazette. it was about gambling/gaming proceeds and the fair/progressive distribution thereof. i wonder if he might think that a location over by mustang might be more appropriate for a "'canadian' 'club'" . . . that, and the commentary from the Sierra Club spokesman endorsing lo-flush toilets that you have to flush three times instead of once to save water. =)

Please do not misinterpret any of the above verbiage as a lack of appreciation for the efforts of all of those involved in "resurrecting" this fine example of Oklahoma City Architecture. No kidding. No joke. I used to drive by it in a company pickup a long time ago and wonder why nobody cared.

I think anyone who pollutes ANY top-shelf liquor with a lot of additions is missing the point. Might as well use well liquor if you're going to make a kiddie drink. If I want a bunch of sugar and fruit in my drink I had better be on a beach and my booze had better have an umbrella.

A quality handcrafted beer or a fine top-shelf liquor with minimal accoutrements. That is how the Creator (or at least the brewer or distiller) intended it. Those are the only things that should pass my lips. Sorry to be such a neanderthal.

Here, here. A good scotch with a little ice and water is perfect.

Here, here. A good scotch with a little ice and water is perfect.

It's all relative. I don't dare put ice in a good scotch.

It's all relative. I don't dare put ice in a good scotch.

True, but the only thing I like warm and unadorned is a good brandy. This is getting a little off topic though.

Well back to the restaurant at hand, not impressed. At all. In fact I highly doubt I'll go back. Group of 7 of us on a Thursday night. Service absolutely atrocious. I've never experienced anything like it. Had to ask EVERY SINGLE TIME to have our water refilled. Not exaggerating. Our 7th joined us a few minutes in, not even half an attempt to bring her utensils or cup for water, until we asked of course. Unbelievable. Menu is so-so in my book. My fiancee is vegetarian of course so there's all of half an option. And cut the "but you can have salad or a side" bullcrap, please. I get that this is Oklahoma but still. And as mentioned above, drinks took approximately forever and a day. First round took around 15-20 min - long but acceptable. Second round - a friend didn't get hers for over 45 minutes. In the meantime we got a few apologies about "it didn't print out at the bar" and "we're understaffed" and what not. The waitress asked her if she still wanted it (since it was obviously taking an obscene amount of time) to which my friend said "no that's fine". Well it finally came almost an hour later - we assumed it would be comped - it was not. Oh yeah then the food. I mean if you like 5 bites of pasta for $17, then here's your place. Oh, and then the two scoops of ice cream for $9. I'll just go to whole foods next time. At least they have crushed red pepper there (oh that's another thing - after receiving my pasta I asked our waitress for some - she replied that they didn't have any. Thankfully a gentleman came a few minutes later who was able to locate some, but only after mistakenly bringing me black pepper at first. Funny.)

On the bright side there was a Thunder player sitting at the bar with his friends - I'm sure as hell hoping he got better service than we did.

Wow. Just wow. And the thing is that I believe you called it exactly as you saw it and that your perception was accurate and balanced.
Little slices of reality ("the tapas of life in the food chain"?) such as the one you just dished up are difficult to invent.
Really.

The imaginary, metaphorical, drizzle of "special sauce" on the two scoops of overpriced, poorly delivered, ice cream would have been if you'd had a chance to ask your waitress what a Packard was. =)
maybe next time . . . oh. wait.

Well back to the restaurant at hand, not impressed. At all. In fact I highly doubt I'll go back. Group of 7 of us on a Thursday night. Service absolutely atrocious. I've never experienced anything like it. Had to ask EVERY SINGLE TIME to have our water refilled. Not exaggerating. Our 7th joined us a few minutes in, not even half an attempt to bring her utensils or cup for water, until we asked of course. Unbelievable. Menu is so-so in my book. My fiancee is vegetarian of course so there's all of half an option. And cut the "but you can have salad or a side" bullcrap, please. I get that this is Oklahoma but still. And as mentioned above, drinks took approximately forever and a day. First round took around 15-20 min - long but acceptable. Second round - a friend didn't get hers for over 45 minutes. In the meantime we got a few apologies about "it didn't print out at the bar" and "we're understaffed" and what not. The waitress asked her if she still wanted it (since it was obviously taking an obscene amount of time) to which my friend said "no that's fine". Well it finally came almost an hour later - we assumed it would be comped - it was not. Oh yeah then the food. I mean if you like 5 bites of pasta for $17, then here's your place. Oh, and then the two scoops of ice cream for $9. I'll just go to whole foods next time. At least they have crushed red pepper there (oh that's another thing - after receiving my pasta I asked our waitress for some - she replied that they didn't have any. Thankfully a gentleman came a few minutes later who was able to locate some, but only after mistakenly bringing me black pepper at first. Funny.)

On the bright side there was a Thunder player sitting at the bar with his friends - I'm sure as hell hoping he got better service than we did.

Sorry you had a bad experience. The two times I've been it has been great, with speedy, friendly service and very good food. Bad night? Who knows?

As for your comment about the vegetarian items, they offer more than vegetarian salads. There are at least two veggie entrees; my daughter, who is not vegetarian, ordered one of them and it was fabulous.

You might give it another chance before writing it off. Bad nights do happen and it is still a relatively new restaurant.

Staffing problems occur because sometimes servers just quit or don't show up. Cooks can do the same thing. My guess would be if you were to return you would have a very different experience.

Hopefully you voiced your displeasure with your server and the manager. I do concur that bar service there seems slow, as I've discussed in my other reviews.

i have been several times and my experiences have been very good as well

Well I'm glad at least a few of you didn't hate the place afterwards. soonerguru, what's the other veg entree option? We saw tofu udon noodles and that's it - just curious if we ever go back. I was just floored that they didn't comp my friend's drink - particularly even after asking if she still wanted it and we said "no" - is it not assumed then that if you bring it out it's on the house? Wow. We didn't speak personally with the manager but hopefully sent strong messages with our tips. A few of us also handwrote notes on the checks about our dreadful experience. Honestly even if the service was better, it'd be 50-50 if I'd go back. I can think of better ways to eat pasta than at $3 per bite.

Well I'm glad at least a few of you didn't hate the place afterwards. soonerguru, what's the other veg entree option? We saw tofu udon noodles and that's it - just curious if we ever go back. I was just floored that they didn't comp my friend's drink - particularly even after asking if she still wanted it and we said "no" - is it not assumed then that if you bring it out it's on the house? Wow. We didn't speak personally with the manager but hopefully sent strong messages with our tips. A few of us also handwrote notes on the checks about our dreadful experience. Honestly even if the service was better, it'd be 50-50 if I'd go back. I can think of better ways to eat pasta than at $3 per bite.

I had a black bean and beet burger. It was tasty. I think their menu is evolving.

Well I'm glad at least a few of you didn't hate the place afterwards. soonerguru, what's the other veg entree option? We saw tofu udon noodles and that's it - just curious if we ever go back. I was just floored that they didn't comp my friend's drink - particularly even after asking if she still wanted it and we said "no" - is it not assumed then that if you bring it out it's on the house? Wow. We didn't speak personally with the manager but hopefully sent strong messages with our tips. A few of us also handwrote notes on the checks about our dreadful experience. Honestly even if the service was better, it'd be 50-50 if I'd go back. I can think of better ways to eat pasta than at $3 per bite.

So you screwed someone financially with poor tips but fail to speak to the manager about such a "dreadful experience"? Nice.

So you screwed someone financially with poor tips but fail to speak to the manager about such a "dreadful experience"? Nice.

My thoughts exactly.

Lolz, depends on what your definition of "poor tips" is. No I didn't leave the "standard 20%", but we far from stiffed them. A touch under 15% is financially screwing someone for horrible service? Le sigh.

And the black bean burger wasn't on the menu - so does seem like it's dynamic.

My thoughts exactly.

...and posted on a public board.

...and posted on a public board.

Ok and? I'm quite comfortable with how I tip. I'm a standard 20%er, and usually (almost always) more if food and service are even above average. I'm glad this place so many sympathizers though. I don't wish any ill will upon them at all. I'm all for new/modern/delicious restaurants in downtown. This place just didn't do it for us.

ok, people... let's not start any blood feuds over 'proper' tipping procedure... this thread is about the packard. let's stick to topic. -M

Lolz, depends on what your definition of "poor tips" is. No I didn't leave the "standard 20%", but we far from stiffed them. A touch under 15% is financially screwing someone for horrible service? Le sigh.

And the black bean burger wasn't on the menu - so does seem like it's dynamic.

Black bean burger is on the lunch menu... not the dinner menu, to clear that one up. I bet they'd make it at night...

Well I'm glad at least a few of you didn't hate the place afterwards. soonerguru, what's the other veg entree option? We saw tofu udon noodles and that's it - just curious if we ever go back. I was just floored that they didn't comp my friend's drink - particularly even after asking if she still wanted it and we said "no" - is it not assumed then that if you bring it out it's on the house? Wow. We didn't speak personally with the manager but hopefully sent strong messages with our tips. A few of us also handwrote notes on the checks about our dreadful experience. Honestly even if the service was better, it'd be 50-50 if I'd go back. I can think of better ways to eat pasta than at $3 per bite.

They have a grilled veggie plate. It sounds kinda lame but my daughter got it and it was fantastic.

Give em another chance, just don't go with a large party, and make sure you let the owner / manager know about your experience. They should have comped the late drink at least.

It's still a new restaurant, and remember, in restaurant world, you're supposed to give a place a month at least to get it together before forming too negative of opinions!

I do think you should let the owner know about your experience. We were lucky enough to meet him on our first visit and he was very sincere about what went right / wrong with our meal. I kind of gushed a bit because the staff went out of its way to ensure we were served got the check and got out in time for the Thunder game. They really went above and beyond. Sorry your experience was so different.

They were understaffed last night and the restaurant was beyond packed. The staff is all still very new and trying to adjust to the huge crowds they get closer to and on the weekends (hence why they arent open for brunch yet). Their busiest nights are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I would try it again between Monday and Wednesday. There are generally much lighter crowds so I'm sure you'll notice dramatically better service. Also if you want more food, don't order the carbonara pasta, it's good but probably the most expensive entre on the menu for what you get. Having said that, go to any other upscale restaurant downtown and try to get massive quantities of high quality food...not going to happen without a hefty price tag. As far as the drink timing goes, the bar is there biggest money maker right now. On busy nights like that, a large portion of the restaurant orders off the cocktail menu and the cocktails each take between 5 and 15 minutes to make and there are generally only 2 bartenders. When you have 100+ people there at a time ordering between 2-5 drinks each, throughout their meals, that take 5+ minutes to make, it isn't a quick process. Not saying that's the way it should be, but I'm not sure they were completely prepared for popular it would be. It will get better over time

Wow, 5-15 mins per cocktail..? I know Ludivine can take a few mins for certain cocktails but if Packards take 5-15 mins per, either don't put them on the menu or staff more bartenders. They are setting themselves up for customer dissatisfaction if they don't.

Wow, 5-15 mins per cocktail..? I know Ludivine can take a few mins for certain cocktails but if Packards take 5-15 mins per, either don't put them on the menu or staff more bartenders. They are setting themselves up for customer dissatisfaction if they don't.

15 minutes is probably an extreme case. I would say average is 3 to 7.

The Packard & The Guardian (June 10 2013) - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157634059851219/)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9012758435_397873db67_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3792/9013942778_ae67cf5a77_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/9014058610_db11c2cc38_h.jpg

I was there last week and had a much better meal. My husband liked his as well.

Will be going here next week. Anyone know if the rooftop deck has to be reserved or is it open to whoever/whenever just like downstairs?

This little area is so slick:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2889/9013951446_6f72200ffc_b.jpg

Will be going here next week. Anyone know if the rooftop deck has to be reserved or is it open to whoever/whenever just like downstairs?

They have a bar on the rooftop. We were told when we went that we could only order drinks up there and not food.

They have a bar on the rooftop. We were told when we went that we could only order drinks up there and not food.

Good information. Thanks so much!

We had a very delicious crab/salsa dip with homemade chips up on the roof. There were two light food items available, IIRC. I really enjoyed it.

They let the original head chef go about 2 weeks ago and gave creative control to another chef there. I believe they also brought on an additional chef. Noticeable improvement since then.

Like the posters above said, the rooftop has a bar with a limited food and drink menu. It's open to the public.

Although I love the place, the rooftop bar fails in its primary obligation of quickly dispensing drinks. There is no table service so everyone queues for drinks. The line is long and the bartenders don't quickly fill orders partly due to millennials ordering complicated cocktails, partly due to an odd POS system, and partly because they need an extra bar man.

Knowing the margins on booze, you'd think they'd want to pour as much of the stuff as quickly as they could.

Although I love the place, the rooftop bar fails in its primary obligation of quickly dispensing drinks. There is no table service so everyone queues for drinks. The line is long and the bartenders don't quickly fill orders partly due to millennials ordering complicated cocktails, partly due to an odd POS system, and partly because they need an extra bar man.

Knowing the margins on booze, you'd think they'd want to pour as much of the stuff as quickly as they could.

I haven't been yet, but are the millenials' complicated cocktail choices the ones available on the menu? And what's the problem with their system?

Although I love the place, the rooftop bar fails in its primary obligation of quickly dispensing drinks. There is no table service so everyone queues for drinks. The line is long and the bartenders don't quickly fill orders partly due to millennials ordering complicated cocktails, partly due to an odd POS system, and partly because they need an extra bar man.

Knowing the margins on booze, you'd think they'd want to pour as much of the stuff as quickly as they could.

They don't serve any of the complicated cocktails from the menu on the roof. When I've been there at its busiest, it's just been slow because of so many people ordering. They probably need to hire an additional bartender.

Although I love the place, the rooftop bar fails in its primary obligation of quickly dispensing drinks. There is no table service so everyone queues for drinks. The line is long and the bartenders don't quickly fill orders partly due to millennials ordering complicated cocktails, partly due to an odd POS system, and partly because they need an extra bar man.

Knowing the margins on booze, you'd think they'd want to pour as much of the stuff as quickly as they could.

Ive been only once and this was my experience as well. And it really wasn't very crowded.

Sure we are getting some more rooftop action in OKC, but its a far cry from what it can and should be.

Do they not have a satellite outdoor bar? Granted it's a totally different atmosphere, but the outdoor bar by the pool at the Omni in Fort Worth is pretty impressive. Not saying this rooftop needs something on that scale but just something where one bartender can take care of everyone as long as the crowd isn't dog piling him.

My partner and I went there in early May and neither of us were impressed. Service was terrible. Pricing seemed to be in line with Cheevers/Stella/Rococo/etc but food wasn't at that level. We tossed it up to them being new and plan on trying again in 6 months or so once the kinks can work out.

My partner and I went there in early May and neither of us were impressed. Service was terrible. Pricing seemed to be in line with Cheevers/Stella/Rococo/etc but food wasn't at that level. We tossed it up to them being new and plan on trying again in 6 months or so once the kinks can work out.

Yeah they fired their head chef a week or two ago and things have noticeably improved even after a few weeks. I would definitely give it another shot in a few months or so.

Do they not have a satellite outdoor bar? Granted it's a totally different atmosphere, but the outdoor bar by the pool at the Omni in Fort Worth is pretty impressive. Not saying this rooftop needs something on that scale but just something where one bartender can take care of everyone as long as the crowd isn't dog piling him.

They didn't really have much control over how it was built up there. MidtownR set it up the way they wanted it when the building was renovated and Packard has the right to use it along with the buildings other tenants.

http://youtu.be/UDLaorbQr8U

The Packard and The Guardian (June 10 2013) - YouTube (http://youtu.be/UDLaorbQr8U)

They didn't really have much control over how it was built up there. MidtownR set it up the way they wanted it when the building was renovated and Packard has the right to use it along with the buildings other tenants.

I see. I wonder if MidtownR's designers and builders are basing their rooftop terraces on other designs that are out of state and quite a lot more common or they're just going with how they think it should be done. Seems to me you would incorporate something like that for future build out if anything.

I see. I wonder if MidtownR's designers and builders are basing their rooftop terraces on other designs that are out of state and quite a lot more common or they're just going with how they think it should be done. Seems to me you would incorporate something like that for future build out if anything.

You would think so, but I have know idea. I know a few of the employees there aren't crazy about how it was designed, but it's tough to knock much of what MidtownR has done so far.

Went by. Wish they would have left the original brick...yellow paint is a little funky. Just my opinion.

The brick was not original; it was painted that brown color. I think this color is a painted approximation of the original brick color, below the old paint. The south (alley) secondary facade that you see in the photo is bare brick, apparently never painted. The optimal resolution would have been removal of the other paint - paint over brick can cause long-term damage such as spalling when water gets behind it - but probably would have looked much like what you see now.

I guess I am the only one who likes it. Especially when compared against the north side of the building which just looks run down. I was wondering if there are any plans to paint the north side in the future.