I see the hip progressive city of Seattle just voted to increase the min wage to $15/hr to give employees the dignity of working for a living wage- meanwhile voters in municipalities in the great corporate state of Ok couldn't have the chance if they wanted to.

Some jobs were never meant to be living wage jobs or careers. Such as fast food worker, convenience store employee, grocery store checker etc. For decades, these type of jobs were held by high schoolers. It was always meant to be supplemental income, not a career. Not every job can be a high paying or living wage job. This is not Lake Wobegon, not all pay can be above average. Econimics dictate that.

The cost of living is low for the sacred job creators as well. That doesn't seem to factor in.

Some jobs were never meant to be living wage jobs or careers. Such as fast food worker, convenience store employee, grocery store checker etc. For decades, these type of jobs were held by high schoolers. It was always meant to be supplemental income, not a career. Not every job can be a high paying or living wage job. This is not Lake Wobegon, not all pay can be above average. Econimics dictate that.

bs- the stateless international corproatists like McDonald could pay a living wage and chose not. souless greed

The waitstaff will tip out a set percentage of total sales. It is 2-3.5% depending on location. This is split with the bartender, hostess, and busser. So if a waiter has $1000 in sales, he will make $150-200 in tips assuming he is getting 15-20% gratuity. If the tip out is 3%, he will tip out $30.00 of his tips to be split with the other service personnel leaving the waiter walking with $120-170 in tips (all cash)

A lot of restaurants, especially local ones, are going to a tip-check model where all your credit card tips go on a check that you get every week. They take taxes out of those tip checks that they can't take out of your (nearly guaranteed) $0.00 pay check.

And as for what people make, it just really depends on so may factors, but I imagine KD's sits between places like Charleston's, Outback, Republic and the Prime Steakhouses, Coach House, etc.

Places that are more casual dining can be pretty rough at times, because they're a lot harder to manage the pacing on the floor. When I was at Outback in college, I had plenty of really bad nights and rarely any absolutely fantastic nights (which at Outback is like $150+). Once you get into the upscale dining, you start making pretty dang good money for what you're doing. I wonder about the money available at KD's because at Mahogany I rarely broke $200, which really shouldn't be very hard over there…but at Mahogany they also have the horrible partner-service model. Blech.

bs- the stateless international corproatists like McDonald could pay a living wage and chose not. souless greed

But it's a low skill job. If you start paying $15-20/hour for the low and no skill jobs then the people who are in the current $15-20/hour mid skill level jobs will demand that they be paid more for their skill levels than a McDonald's employee and it will continue to go up the chain. That is not economically viable. We're not talking about just McDonald's et al, we're talking about the whole interedependant economy as a whole. Nothing can happen in an economy without it affecting something else.

The ole cost of living cop out. where would the chamber be without it. Lots of wiggle room between $7.25 and $15.

Edgar, Please remove those tarnished colored glasses now ! lol


I know, I know...... everyones against you.

bs- the stateless international corproatists like McDonald could pay a living wage and chose not. souless greed

Chamber junta! Chamber junta! CHAMBER JUNTA!!!!

I see middle age men employed at my local Sonic. Dude rides a bike to work. You can't live proper on min working full time. That's not right in America. We sent all our good jobs overseas. people are having to work fast food, a paper route. You all are cool with subsidizing McDonalds' poverty wages? You know the food really sucks.

These are entry level minimum wage jobs. You aren't supposed to be a millionaire working there. They are short term jobs meant to give you work experience and a small paycheck. and more most inspires them to better themselves employment wise. if someone is 40 years old and is still working at those places, its on the person not the employer.

I am happy mcdonalds, and others, provide those type of jobs. I would rather them be a productive member in society rather than sitting at home collecting unemployment.

I see middle age men employed at my local Sonic. Dude rides a bike to work. You can't live proper on min working full time. That's not right in America. We sent all our good jobs overseas. people are having to work fast food, a paper route. You all are cool with subsidizing McDonalds' poverty wages? You know the food really sucks.

When I was in law school, there were late middle age men and women sitting next to me getting an education. If he is not happy working at Sonic and riding his bike...he can always take the initiative and enroll in vo-tech or college and get some more skills. Like my daddy would say...pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. No one owes a person a living. He is living with the choices he made over the years. My father was a 10th grade drop out. Realized when he and mom had a bay on the way that it wasn't going to cut it so went into the military and ended up with a degree and retired an officer. You live with the choices you make. There are a lot of very successful people that come from very bad/poor/abusive backgrounds that succeed through drive and determination.

While I agree with many of the arguments here in spirit, there's no reason why we shouldn't raise the minimum wage. I'm completely supportive of the proposal to raise it to 10.50.

While I agree with many of the arguments here in spirit, there's no reason why we shouldn't raise the minimum wage. I'm completely supportive of the proposal to raise it to 10.50.

All this talk is really tertiary to the original (ridiculous) point that was asserted by Edgar (and that he has yet to verify or even make a good case for), which is that somehow a restaurant group (HSRG presumably) threw a hissy fit and got an entire legislature to bend over backward to accommodate what was going on…

I think there's a lot of people on both sides who think raising the minimum-wage at least deserves to be looked at, especially in cities, and it's crap that the State passed the no-municipal minimum statute, but again tertiary to the discussion.

Anyway…Who can tell me about the wine list at KD's?

Really no one had to throw a fit. The chamber people have a red phone to our lege. The bill written overnight and signed by fallin the next day, lickety split.

Really no one had to throw a fit. The chamber people have a red phone to our lege. The bill written overnight and signed by fallin the next day, lickety split.

I think you need to see someone about your delusions. It's just sad.

Edgar, while I am no fan of the current crop of Legizards, it's almost summer time. try a big soothing glass of sweet tea and take a break from the kool-aid for a few days.

Is the chicken fried steak good there?

Edgar, while I am no fan of the current crop of Legizards, it's almost summer time. try a big soothing glass of sweet tea and take a break from the kool-aid for a few days.

It's not just the lege Kevin. Our patsy AG changed the language on Joe Dorman's bill to put tornado shelters in schools because the funding would come from the franchise tax which the chamber has dreams of ending. that pretty much just leaves the little people to pay taxes. Perhaps you need to clean the glasses. we live in a corporate oligarchy.

I really like the macaroni and cheese.

I really like the macaroni and cheese.You know, for the life of me, I've never been here. I really need to give it a shot. I'm not the biggest fan of macaroni and cheese, but it seems this place might have some good cajun food, is that right?

You know, for the life of me, I've never been here. I really need to give it a shot. I'm not the biggest fan of macaroni and cheese, but it seems this place might have some good cajun food, is that right?

No. If you want Cajun, go to Pearl's Graveside (not Crabtown), off the top of my head I don't know of any other good Cajun places here.

No. If you want Cajun, go to Pearl's Graveside (not Crabtown), off the top of my head I don't know of any other good Cajun places here.

Bourbon street is pretty decent also

Plu Pan,
Bayou Grill and Bakery in Edmond on Danforth is really nice.
C. T.
You know, for the life of me, I've never been here. I really need to give it a shot. I'm not the biggest fan of macaroni and cheese, but it seems this place might have some good cajun food, is that right?

Fried. Chicken. And. Waffles. Don't ask questions, just do it...

No. If you want Cajun, go to Pearl's Graveside (not Crabtown), off the top of my head I don't know of any other good Cajun places here.

The Big Easy in Yukon is excellent. On 39th just 1 block east of Green Chili Cafe.

I thought this thread was about KD's.
(still . . . somehow . . . Chicken and Waffles sound pretty good . . . wherever . . .)

For me . . . It's a Flat Pork Pie with Coleslaw Deluxo on the side. =)

Uh . . . Mr. Durant . . . do you have a couple of seconds to improve the dining facility with your name written all over it?
Or, at least, your initials . . .

RM,
Are you going to share the recipe for "Flat Pork Pie" on DIY?
C. T.

For me . . . It's a Flat Pork Pie with Coleslaw Deluxo on the side. =)

TLO Restaurant Review: KD?s Southern Cuisine :: The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2014/10/16/tlo-restaurant-review-kds-southern-cuisine/)

Sadly, almost exactly mirrors our experience there, but he makes it funnier than I did. :D

I attended a business luncheon earlier in the week and the host said "The steaks we are having are about $100." I honestly thought those comments were tongue in cheek, but then the staff brought out tomahawk ribeyes for everyone! When I got back to work I looked at the menu to see that it indeed was $98 and is the most expensive thing on the "Baller Menu." I then let my wife know she is now married to a "baller" and that comes with a certain privileges, so I'm not taking out the trash for at least two weeks! That's a non-baller duty. The steak itself was... well... just okay. Not close to being worth $100! It was rather fatty and hard to cut off the gigantic bone sticking out of it. The sides, green beans and mashed potatoes, on the other hand were terrific! I'd probably punch an old lady for some more. (Yeah, that good). For dessert they brought out some kind of red cake, which was really good. Overall the place is cool, but if I'm buying my own steak give me any of the locals over here...maybe event Texas Roadhouse.

The two times we have gone, the gf and I have not been pleased. I think both times I tried the babyback ribs. I will say they were second the better time, but really nothing special at all. Gf was not happy with her meal both times. Service was sub-par also.

Just got home from eating there..... My overall impression; The wife and I would probably never go there on our own. But, would not argue against it if others we were going out with insisted on going.

The decor of the place is nice and modern and the wait staff was very good. But the place is loud and the tables are packed in.

That said, all the food was 'good', but I didn't think any of it was exceptional or worth returning for. Every entree can be found 'better' at other local restaurants.

I had the meat loaf. It was good, but nothing to get excited about and didn't hold a candle to Red Rock Canyon Grill's meatloaf. My mac and cheese was good. But nothing like the mac and cheese at Iron Starr or several other good places. The salmon was good too, but for the price The Metro does it much better, IMO.

One steak that was ordered had to be recooked because it was ordered Medium Rare and arrived Medium to Well Done.

So, if you go you won't have bad food or service. But, for the price you can have much better food with far less hassle than going to Bricktown.

In no way is this place worth waiting 1-2 hours for a table.

If you do go, download the NoWait app and check-in at home and then arrive and be seated almost immediately (that's what we did).

But, for us, the company we were with made it a great night. But I doubt we'd ever go back.

FYI - Dinner for 2 is gonna run about $50-$60 minimum without drinks or high end steaks.

The wait staff really stood out. The place was extremely busy and the Thunder were playing live on the TV's. Even in all the commotion we never wanted for anything. Orders were taken quickly, and drinks were refreshed without hesitation. Other restaurants could learn from the waitress and her support staff we had tonight.

Check out the facebook review and other review sites. KD's has some of the worst stuck up service of any restaurant anywhere.

Check out the facebook review and other review sites. KD's has some of the worst stuck up service of any restaurant anywhere.

I've actually been twice now and both times the service was actually better than most other restaurants I frequent (that have much better food). Regardless, I'll leave this place for the tourists or out of towners who normally consider The Olive Garden fine dinning.

I ate at KDs this evening and found the service to be great. Didn't have to ask for anything, except, oddly, they delivered my bottled beer without a glass. I think the food might have improved a touch too.

I ate at KDs this evening and found the service to be great. Didn't have to ask for anything, except, oddly, they delivered my bottled beer without a glass. I think the food might have improved a touch too.

This is one of those things that drives me insane. I don't know if it's the norm in every city, but it needs to be fixed.

KD's has a new Kitchen Manager and is getting an overhaul. There may be a new food menu coming, too.

KD's has a new Kitchen Manager and is getting an overhaul. There may be a new food menu coming, too.

There were several new items on the menu, but it's been quite a while since we ate there.

This is one of those things that drives me insane. I don't know if it's the norm in every city, but it needs to be fixed.

I just sat and stared at the bottle for a second.

Beer on tap gets a glass, obviously. Non keg beer? Bring it cold (not a fan of warm beer) and I am good. If the bottle/can ain't dusty, you are a good server and your top will reflect it.

I am a fan of KDs. I have been there a few times, both were different though. The first time I went there was May of 2014 and the food was spectacular. The ribs were amazing, and all the sides were delicious. Then, we went there Jan of 2015 and the menu was similar but they changed the food. It just wasn't as good. It was still solid but it wasn't amazing like it was before. I don't know what had changed. The sides seemed a little smaller (that's fine) but the food changed. Some of them were subtle changes and some were more pronounced. I don't know what happened. I will still go there and enjoy the food, but it just isn't like it was when it first opened. I gotta check it out again to see if it has changed again.

So....

Why does it appear additional comments were deleted in this thread?

Anyone think this restaurant is going to survive? Can't see it myself.

So....

So.....what, exactly? I am entirely unaware of anything preventing him from owning/having his name on a restaurant here.

So.....what, exactly? I am entirely unaware of anything preventing him from owning/having his name on a restaurant here.

Other than people not going to it?

It's a Hal Smith restaurant. I don't know what kind of agreement there is to use KDs name but I would think the Hal Smith attorneys left an out for just such a situation.

Probably should just replace it with a different Hal Smith concept. No chance it can stay.

It's a Hal Smith restaurant. I don't know what kind of agreement there is to use KDs name but I would think the Hal Smith attorneys left an out for just such a situation.

Wasn't it reported that KD did in fact have an ownership stake in that specific location? This would be different than the normal HSRG where they own 100%. Perhaps I am wrong.

Other than people not going to it?

Oh, how quickly OKC has gone from "We love you, please stay" to "don't let the door hit you on the way out". Why would people not go? If they liked the food/ambiance/location last week, none of that has changed. Mickey Mantle's seems to be doing quite well, and he doesn't play here either. Or anywhere, for that matter.

Wasn't it reported that KD did in fact have an ownership stake in that specific location? This would be different than the normal HSRG where they own 100%. Perhaps I am wrong.

All of Hal smith joints are owned or financed by multiples of different investors.....

Probably should just replace it with a different Hal Smith concept. No chance it can stay.


KD's only fans are fair weather Sooner fans? Who woulda thunk it.

Oh, how quickly OKC has gone from "We love you, please stay" to "don't let the door hit you on the way out". Why would people not go? If they liked the food/ambiance/location last week, none of that has changed. Mickey Mantle's seems to be doing quite well, and he doesn't play here either. Or anywhere, for that matter.

You're kidding, right? The restaurant existed solely as a by-product of KD's role on the Thunder. That was the brand. He left. Of course it'll change. KD left, not the fans.

Remember, the Hal Smith group quickly rebranded the old Wes Welker's on Memorial Road when for whatever reason, that sponsorship / partnership did not work out.

Hal is the the most experienced restaurateur in all of OKC and I'm sure he and his investors have had a contingency plan from the day this deal was hatched.

Would be a good spot for something like Red Rock Canyon.

KD's only fans are fair weather Sooner fans? Who woulda thunk it.
He isn't from here like Mickey Mantle. He played here and now he's not. Now it would be like Curry, Thompson or Greene having a restaurant here. Not patronizing it but that's just me.

KD's only fans are fair weather Sooner fans? Who woulda thunk it.

Dang it, where's that like button?

KD's only fans are fair weather Sooner fans? Who woulda thunk it.


Speaking of fair-weather fans, Gallagher-Iba Arena has looked pretty empty the past, few years

Let's please not turn this into an OU / OSU pissing match.

Back to subject.

Can't fathom any reason a KD restaurant would continue to operate. Certainly Hal Smith has a provision in their operating agreement covering what happens if KD left the team. I am betting the place is shuttered/rebranded within 30-60 days. They may have some commitments to meet/clean up, but the place can't continue. Let's be honest - I liked the place, but I have no desire to patronize the place any longer. That makes me fairweather? Eh, so be it. KD isn't gonna miss my twice-a-year visit any more than he's gonna miss OKC in general, which is clearly not at all.

Has there ever been a restaurant that thrived after it's namesake athlete left for another town?

No way they plan to keep operating this place as KD's for much longer.

I believe they have already taken down their Twitter account.

Has there ever been a restaurant that thrived after it's namesake athlete left for another town?

No way they plan to keep operating this place as KD's for much longer.

I believe they have already taken down their Twitter account.

Yup....it was gone after some nasty reaction to a poorly timed July 4 promotional tweet about coming to KD's and having a chicken dinner.....

I really can't believe I'm the only one who doesn't think this is the end of the world. Worst case scenario, they're going to change the sign out front and related logo(s). This place won't be 'shuttered' for more than two days max, assuming they even close it that long. They'll change the name to Westbrook's, or if they are smart, they'll take a look at the attitude of this city the last not even 12 hours and go with something "non-denominational".

Kevin Durant is gone. The Thunder WILL continue. The restaurant WILL continue. Some changes will happen to both, that's obvious. But people, seriously. The sky is still there, I promise you. It's not falling. Not even a little.