How is this place doing?

I don't know about the evening crowd but last time I was there for lunch it was pretty slow. Maybe 3 tables including ours.

I haven't been in months, and a return trip won't be my idea. Food is okay, service is awful.

(I miss VZDs.)

They sure have a cool sign. Yet, I suppose it's like the old saying, "Never Judge A Cigar By Its Band." (I miss VZD's 2)

Food is OK. Service just OK.

I go by there often. The parking area is moderately busy most times.

I have been there four times and not once did I leave impressed. Their chicken is decent but not great. Their service has improved since my first time there but it's still lacking.

I want this place to do well but I'm not so sure about it's future. For a restaurant that focuses their menu around fried chicken, it's disappointing if you ask me.

I guess everyone does truly have different tastes. My wife and I have been twice now and we think the chicken is really good. It always bothers me when people talk about Eischens and how amazing their chicken is, because I think the chicken is good but nothing to freak out about and drive an hour away for. Imo, drum room is just as good if not better. Plus they have a special on Monday night for keep it local, I believe. Place seemed quiet when we were there though, so I hope they're doing okay. They'll definitely continue to get our business.

I guess everyone does truly have different tastes. My wife and I have been twice now and we think the chicken is really good. It always bothers me when people talk about Eischens and how amazing their chicken is, because I think the chicken is good but nothing to freak out about and drive an hour away for. Imo, drum room is just as good if not better. Plus they have a special on Monday night for keep it local, I believe. Place seemed quiet when we were there though, so I hope they're doing okay. They'll definitely continue to get our business.

I agree about the eischens love affair, really good chicken but nothing spectacular. The servings are gigantic but the prices have sky rocketed to a point that its no longer a good deal. Especially considering the travel and wait time.

I guess everyone does truly have different tastes. My wife and I have been twice now and we think the chicken is really good. It always bothers me when people talk about Eischens and how amazing their chicken is, because I think the chicken is good but nothing to freak out about and drive an hour away for. Imo, drum room is just as good if not better. Plus they have a special on Monday night for keep it local, I believe. Place seemed quiet when we were there though, so I hope they're doing okay. They'll definitely continue to get our business.

I was starting to feel alone in my positive opinion of this place. I've been there a number of times and I love the chicken. Obviously, I'm partial to the decor as well. For those who don't think their chicken is good, where do you go for fried chicken?

I guess everyone does truly have different tastes. My wife and I have been twice now and we think the chicken is really good. It always bothers me when people talk about Eischens and how amazing their chicken is, because I think the chicken is good but nothing to freak out about and drive an hour away for.

I like the chicken at the Drum Room also... The waffles could use some work but the chicken has always been cooked well and is flavorful and juicy. I've never been to Eischen's... I only stand and wait for BBQ ...so I can't compare the two but I do enjoy the Drum Room.



With that said the only chicken I would drive further than across town for is Babe's in Texas.

Don't sweat not having been to Eischen's. All you've missed is small town ambiance and a road trip with friends. You can get better chicken from a grocery store deli case. There are three reasons Eischen's is popular:


Before the fire, the "oldest bar in Oklahoma" was really neat, and it continues to make for a good story
Everybody loves a road trip
Peer pressure. Nobody wants to admit that they drove an hour to eat mediocre chicken, and nobody wants to admit that they don't "get" something that everyone else claims to love

^^^ I feel the same way about Meer's. It isn't bad, but its way overhyped. I like Garage burgers better.

Agree. The Meersburger is all about the setting. And the road trip. Makes for a great motorcycle trip, BTW. Pete's Place in Krebs is much the same way. There are better Italian restaurants...IN KREBS.

Don't sweat not having been to Eischen's. All you've missed is small town ambiance and a road trip with friends. You can get better chicken from a grocery store deli case. There are three reasons Eischen's is popular:


Before the fire, the "oldest bar in Oklahoma" was really neat, and it continues to make for a good story
Everybody loves a road trip
Peer pressure. Nobody wants to admit that they drove an hour to eat mediocre chicken, and nobody wants to admit that they don't "get" something that everyone else claims to love


I love this. I complain about the quality to my folks all the time, and they get so defensive. I have never figured out why anyone swears by Eischen's. The road trip is great, and I've made it multiple times myself with the car club or on motorcycle. But if I lived out there, I doubt I'd ever eat there.

Don't sweat not having been to Eischen's. All you've missed is small town ambiance and a road trip with friends. You can get better chicken from a grocery store deli case. There are three reasons Eischen's is popular:


Before the fire, the "oldest bar in Oklahoma" was really neat, and it continues to make for a good story
Everybody loves a road trip
Peer pressure. Nobody wants to admit that they drove an hour to eat mediocre chicken, and nobody wants to admit that they don't "get" something that everyone else claims to love


This is seriously how I view this place and when I bring up how mediocre it is people tell me I'm crazy.

Pete's Place in Krebs is much the same way. There are better Italian restaurants...IN KREBS.

+1

Disagree completely with the comments saying Eischen's is mediocre, but that's ok everyone has their opinions. I think Eischen's chicken alone is truly amazing, plus the ambiance and road trip aspects make it even better. Although Drum Room in my opinion is no where near as good as Eischen's, it's still pretty good fried chicken and is obviously far more convenient for people in the city than Eishcen's.

Pete's back in the day (70's), before it became the expanded and too hyped PETE'S, was a much better experience. And yes, there is better food in Krebs.

Rosanna's is my personal fav down that way. Baby brother prefers Isle of Capri to the others. Neither of us hate Pete's, but it is not top of the list for us.

Been meaning to get up to the Drum Room. Maybe Fri eve after I drop off my lovely at the airport for her g-babies weekend

There also used to be a Pete's Place in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Not sure if it was under the same ownership. I ate there once but don't remember anything particularly exciting about it.

So . . . Kevin . . . Ya recon if'n The Drum Room decided t' "drum up" more business by doing "broasted" rather than "fried" it could make a difference? =) (to the "health aware/unaware)? btw: Krebs is OK for "Italian" food. It is definitely possible to do better at home. Or over in Poteau. =)

btw/edited to add: Anyone who says Eischen's (in Okarche) is mediocre is a moron. And here's why: If one made that drive, and waited in line, and waited for the crispy chicken and okra (WHAT? no Fries???) and did it, like, three times then it has to be good chicken. otherwise the complainer is . . . for lack of a better word . . . a moron. Oh. Wait . . . idiot? cretin? =)

Sorry . . . Drifted off Topic.
After The Wedge and that Musashi's place . . . I would pick The Drum Room. For Fine Dining in regard to Fried Chicken.
Even if none of the spots mentioned are in The Urban Core of The OKC =)

Don't sweat not having been to Eischen's. All you've missed is small town ambiance and a road trip with friends. You can get better chicken from a grocery store deli case. There are three reasons Eischen's is popular:


Before the fire, the "oldest bar in Oklahoma" was really neat, and it continues to make for a good story
Everybody loves a road trip
Peer pressure. Nobody wants to admit that they drove an hour to eat mediocre chicken, and nobody wants to admit that they don't "get" something that everyone else claims to love
I love Eischen's.

That's because you can haul ass up a nice empty highway to get there! Euphoria makes the chicken taste better.

That's because you can haul ass up a nice empty highway to get there! Euphoria makes the chicken taste better.What highway? I use Waterloo. Granted I do haul ass usually. I hope you're not considering SH81 an actual highway, because I don't consider roads like that, that have intersection to be highways. If they turned that road into a limited access tollway, I would love that.

That's because you can haul ass up a nice empty highway to get there! Euphoria makes the chicken taste better.

winner winner chicken dinner :)

winner winner chicken dinner :)Did you read my response? I don't use that road that is being referred to as a highway. I take Waterloo. So that comment is not a winner because is not accurate.

Now, I'm not going to say I wouldn't like a nice highway there. Like I said, I'd love it if they turned Waterloo into a tollway that wraps around NW OKC.

It was a joke, PluPan. And I was talking about the way most people get there from OKC...SH3 (NW Expressway). I know, I know, not enough lanes....

It was a joke, PluPan. And I was talking about the way most people get there from OKC...SH3 (NW Expressway). I know, I know, not enough lanes....Oh. I have never taken NW Expressway to get there. My bad.

Eichen's isn't terrible, but not amazing. Same with Drum Room. For me, Bobo's is definitely the best fried chicken in OKC. If it's your first time, get it without the honey so you can compare apples to apples. Not the easiest food truck to track down, but once you do, totally worth it.

Don't sweat not having been to Eischen's. All you've missed is small town ambiance and a road trip with friends. You can get better chicken from a grocery store deli case. There are three reasons Eischen's is popular:


Before the fire, the "oldest bar in Oklahoma" was really neat, and it continues to make for a good story
Everybody loves a road trip
Peer pressure. Nobody wants to admit that they drove an hour to eat mediocre chicken, and nobody wants to admit that they don't "get" something that everyone else claims to love


I just went to Eischen's last week and they do something that I'm not sure you can get anywhere else. First off, we're not big drinkers, but on occasion we go for chicken and beer.
My wife and I can't drink a full picher, so we order half a picher, which cost half as much. $5.00. The oddity is every time we do this they practically fill it up, it may be an inch at the most lower than the full picher.
We drank all but the last 2 inches and we gave it to a group at the next table. The guy I handed it to lifted it up and chugged it. I know, kind of boring for a bar story, sorry.

I've always been a big fan of Eichen's and prefer their chicken over anything I've eaten in OKC area

I've always been a big fan of Eichen's and prefer their chicken over anything I've eaten in OKC area

Yep. It's good chicken and my friends and I all prefer it to anything in OKC.

I never thought Eichen's was worth the drive myself but clearly lots of people like it.. or at least like the idea of it. whichever.
but good for them for keeping a steady stream of customers!

I like Drum Room but I forget about it honestly. the warm Brussel sprouts salad is pretty dang yummy!

I will have to try drum room again as the couple times I had it was take out and maybe it doesn't travel well. I like Eischens but not enough to make a trip especially there for it unless I have friends in from either coast. To be honest...half time grill in Wheatland serves there chicken the same way with bread onions and pickles and it is just as good, cheaper, and is only 4 miles from house. I told a friend about it last week that was commenting on Eischens. He tried it that night and agreed.

For that matter fried chicken from Boulevard Cafeteria is better.

For that matter fried chicken from Boulevard Cafeteria is better.

Mmmmm, their fried chicken is good.
Good enough you can chow down as you laugh about being in your 50's and still qualify as being the ones at the kiddie table.

It's funny you say that. I took my dad there last week for his 75th birthday and we were joking that HE was a kid there. I actually had some thoughts on that place, but would probably need to move that discussion to the Boulevard Cafeteria thread.

I was starting to feel alone in my positive opinion of this place. I've been there a number of times and I love the chicken. Obviously, I'm partial to the decor as well. For those who don't think their chicken is good, where do you go for fried chicken?

Pub W has fried chicken on Sundays, and my crowd loves it. I'm one that thinks there is good fried chicken and really good fried chicken, but not sure "great" fried chicken is a thing. I would say Pub W's is really good. (Deep fried, so if you are a pan-fry fan it may not be for you).

For that matter fried chicken from Boulevard Cafeteria is better.
It's amazing how some places have a great item mixed in with a bunch of average. We had a Bill Miller BBQ by our house in Austin, it was bad BBQ but my wife thought they had great fried chicken.

I really like the Drum Room. Not as much as Eischen's, but it's a heck of a lot closer and you get a waffle.

We really like Eischen's. But like most people have said on here, it's a heckuva drive just for chicken.
We really like The Drum Room. For a sit down place, it's the best I've gotten in OKC
My friend, Gale, swears by the fried chicken at Red Prime. I've never had it, so I can't comment.
My FAVORITE fried chicken? AQ Chicken house in Little Rock, AR. HOLY CRAP it's good! Especially the Over The Coals, where they fry the chicken, and then put it on a grill for a while.

Red Prime fried chicken is good. Kyle's was excellent also and their chicken livers are second to none. I'll be sorry to see them go.

I didn't realize this restaurant is part of the Deep Fork Group:

Deep Fork Grill
The Blue Note
Drum Room
Drunken Fry
The Wedge

Also, they operated Cafe Nova and I assume they are behind Barrel as well?

Yep.

Whatever happened to Wade Starr (partner at Deep Fork Restaurant Group) after he was indicted for perjury a couple of years ago?

Heard he was basically forced from DFG, had a hand in bringing Empire Slice House to opening, tried something at Foodies, failed and the last I heard he was waiting tables at Bellini's. I can confirm none of this, but it seems to be the general consensus in the food service crowd.

Chicken Shack (https://chickenshackrt66.com/) is coming to the old Drum Room location. This will be their 4th location.

19133 19134

Didn't know they had so many locations!

We really like Eischen's. But like most people have said on here, it's a heckuva drive just for chicken.
We really like The Drum Room. For a sit down place, it's the best I've gotten in OKC
My friend, Gale, swears by the fried chicken at Red Prime. I've never had it, so I can't comment.
My FAVORITE fried chicken? AQ Chicken house in Little Rock, AR. HOLY CRAP it's good! Especially the Over The Coals, where they fry the chicken, and then put it on a grill for a while.

I checked AQ after reading your post and found out they closed last year.

Can anyone speak to the quality of the fried chicken at Half-Time Sports Grill in SW OKC? I’ve heard very good things, but have never made it out there since it’s in the middle of nowhere.

Can anyone speak to the quality of the fried chicken at Half-Time Sports Grill in SW OKC? I’ve heard very good things, but have never made it out there since it’s in the middle of nowhere.

We live near there and have been going there for 17 years, It is very similar to Eischens, If you like their chicken...you will like half time

lots of people swear by half time... my only guess is that it must be enjoyed hot out of the fryer. we went over 10 years ago and got an order to go and took it maybe 15 minutes away. it was ok, but nothing i'd drive to another part of town for.

lots of people swear by half time... my only guess is that it must be enjoyed hot out of the fryer. we went over 10 years ago and got an order to go and took it maybe 15 minutes away. it was ok, but nothing i'd drive to another part of town for.

They have changed hands a few times. They were hit or miss for a while as far as sometimes the oil tasted old etc. Been pretty consistent over the last few years.

fair enough... sounds like they deserve another chance!

circling back... we went to chicken shack in arcadia a few months ago and were really impressed with the food.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chickenshack092924a.jpg

Somewhere in my house or car there's a Sports Animal voucher for The Drum Room. We got two of them, and only one was used.

The food was okay. We didn't bother going back obviously. I'm fairly sure we were the only ones eating there at the time, but it was before five to be fair.

This new Chicken Shack location is now open.

This new Chicken Shack location is now open.

We saw that this weekend. Is this the same Chicken Shack that was out on I-35, North of Waterloo?

We saw that this weekend. Is this the same Chicken Shack that was out on I-35, North of Waterloo?

I'm not familiar with Waterloo location, but the same as the one out in Arcadia, yes. Same chicken, still slowly expanding the menu in terms of sides.

We saw that this weekend. Is this the same Chicken Shack that was out on I-35, North of Waterloo?
I believe{?} that was the Steak & Catfish Barn.

I believe{?} that was the Steak & Catfish Barn.

I think this is correct ..

Yeah, for those who haven’t been, the original Chicken Shack fronts Route 66 in Arcadia, just a bit east of the famous round barn. It’s only a few years old (maybe 5) in that location, but originally started (maybe as long as 20 years ago) on the edge of Luther, also fronting Route 66, next to a gas station. It was a pretty huge success in Luther; always packed when I’d pass by on motorcycle rides, though I never stopped in.

As mentioned, a few years ago it moved to Arcadia. Not sure if there was a reason to leave Luther other than growth, although in speaking with one of the bartenders I think there might be a McClendon family investment tie-in. This would make a lot of sense, and if I’m not mistaken the rather large property it now sits on is part of Arcadia Farms, which is owned by the McClendon family.

It seems like if that is the case it might also explain the expansion to north Western, which was also once a focus of Aubrey McClendon’s real estate investments. I’m not sure who owns that building. The assessor’s site says that it was purchased by C & HP Investments LLC, addressed in Edmond, property transferred in 2007. This roughly matches up with when McClendon was aggressively buying up Western Avenue properties, so it wouldn’t be surprising to me if there were an AKM connection. I’m definitely not saying this is the case; just thinking out loud and trying to connect dots. If anyone has more detail that would be great.

Anyway, back to the OG Arcadia Chicken Shack: it’s worth a visit if you haven’t been. The chicken is pretty good in my experience, but in fairness I’ve only actually EATEN THERE once, and it was only strips on a quick stop-in with a beer. So I’m specifically not giving an informed food review. I’ve stopped at the place multiple other times simply to cool off or to avoid rain, and it’s quite the place.

The facility itself is the headline. It’s sprawling, both indoors and out. They have an indoor space, plus a very large indoor/outdoor space that stays reasonably cool in the summertime, and a vast outdoor space, some of which is developed and some of which is more pasture-like. Fire pits, giant jenga, cornhole, all of the things. They regularly have live music, pretty good live music in my experience.

Anyway, I know this thread is about the Western Ave location, but wanted to clear up the history/location of the original (it’s not Steak and Catfish Barn), which might also give some hints to the business approach of the new location (though they couldn’t be any more different spatially).