Very excited. Keith Paul was telling me about it last night. His wife Heather has a great eye for interior design. The space is stunning. I am sure that the food will be as well.

I can't wait for the 25th!

11187

Earlier they posted an "About our Menu":

"Our menu is written to be shared, served family-style in the center of the table. Think impromptu dinner party with friends. Dishes will be served "as ready" the moment our kitchen finishes preparation. At Drake, we believed this style of menu highlights the delight of enjoying a great meal. The love of food, beverage and hospitality.... sharing is part of the experience. The Drake is a place to to pass the plate, pick up the forks and be happy to share."

Can't wait.

Nice. There's just something about family/home style service that brings comfort to a meal.

Nice. There's just something about family/home style service that brings comfort to a meal.

agreed... that's why i miss places like sleepy hollow and (to a lesser degree) barry's chicken ranch. -M

agreed... that's why i miss places like sleepy hollow and (to a lesser degree) barry's chicken ranch. -M

Martin,
So, where was Barry's chicken ranch? That's a new one on me, and I'm older than dirt. Wait! Was that the Barry Switzer place in Bethany, near Northwest 39th and College?
C. T.

Martin,
So, where was Barry's chicken ranch? That's a new one on me, and I'm older than dirt. Wait! Was that the Barry Switzer place in Bethany, near Northwest 39th and College?
C. T.

it was a barry switzer place and there might have been more than one location... but the one i'm thinking of was on i-35 & indian hills road. it was open for maybe 2-3 years and closed around 2003. -M

it was a barry switzer place and there might have been more than one location... but the one i'm thinking of was on i-35 & indian hills road. it was open for maybe 2-3 years and closed around 2003. -M

It was Barry's, then I think Bill's Fish (decent catfish, excellent if you like it thin, thin, thin. Dang decent gator meat.) Then it was something, then a car lot and now Little Guy's Mover's.

A few recent pictures:

Whoops... Here they are:

11308 11309 11310

Oh my.

There is no way this isn't a lines-out-the-door hit.

I bet they follow the same procedure as Kitchen No. 324 where they text you when your table is ready. Will allow people to wait at the Pump or one of the surrounding bars then hoof it over.

I believe that I have never so eagerly anticipated the opening of a new restaurant in town. Never.

it was a barry switzer place and there might have been more than one location... but the one i'm thinking of was on i-35 & indian hills road. it was open for maybe 2-3 years and closed around 2003. -M

Martin,
I remember it at Indian Hills road, but I ate at the one on 39th and College and I remember it as being pretty good food.
C. T.

Anybody know as to whether they will take dinner reservations?

Anybody know as to whether they will take dinner reservations?

I would assume so. Red Prime, Cheevers and Kitchen 324 all do.

They're on OpenTable.

Anybody know as to whether they will take dinner reservations?

Yum!

11323

Tuck, how will you accommodate those of us who will come by ourselves and dine at your bar here? Will you have options that will be OK for one person by himself?

Front entrance.

11327

Tuck, how will you accommodate those of us who will come by ourselves and dine at your bar here? Will you have options that will be OK for one person by himself?

Ditto this.

Tuck, how will you accommodate those of us who will come by ourselves and dine at your bar here? Will you have options that will be OK for one person by himself?

We encourage sharing among diners with a recommendation of 2-4 items per person. Almost all items on the menu can be ordered and enjoyed by solo diners. Don't think huge portions or tapas, think sharing normal size entrees and salads. Expect to see untraditional menu categories...no more "apps, salads, entrees, etc..." All items will arrive at your table the second the kitchen finishes them. You might get a whole grilled lobster before a salad or an order of crispy fries before your crudo dish.

This is going to be fun!

Menu:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CM86u5BUsAEchKq.jpg:large

This is going to be fun!

It IS fun!

Everything we ate today was great, service was just right, and the atmosphere is fantastic.

Do they have raw oysters?

Tuck,

Where are you getting your seafood from, and is it flown in daily?

Thanks in advance and can not wait to try it.

Pete, did you not take a photo of the bottom part of the menu?

Pete, did you not take a photo of the bottom part of the menu?

That's not my photo.

Do they have raw oysters?

facepalm

is this place open to the public yet? my wife and I were going to stop by tomorrow evening if possible. i have called multiple times but no one is answering.

Open to the public on Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Full Menu thanks to Casey Cornett:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNG7YqfUAAAbpB8.jpg:large


Our menu is written to be shared, served family-style in the center of the table. Think impromptu dinner party with friends. Dishes will be served "as ready" the moment our kitchen finishes preparation. At Drake, we believe this style of menu highlights the delight of enjoying a great meal. The love of food, beverage and hospitality… sharing is a part of the experience. The Drake is a place to pass the plate, pick up the forks and be happy to share.

Everything on that menu looks fantastic.

Can't wait to try it.

Think I'll stop by on Wednesday, see how well it works for someone dining solo.

Let us know, David... I'm curious as to your experience AND... some of the menu items look kind of exotic to me, too.

I hope they are able to tell you before you order how many people any particular order item should serve.

I drove by there on Saturday night after leaving Guyutes and they looked very busy.

^^^^^^
They are. For instance, they represented that the paella pan (incredible, BTW) could be split by four, and there was beyond enough.

I made it in last night thanks to a friend's generous invite, and it was everything that the week's flurry of Twitter and Instagram pics had promised. It was fantastic in every way, including food, space, and service. One of Tuck's management team said it had been the smoothest soft opening that he had ever been a part of, so that bodes well. It honestly seemed like the place had been open for months.

As an added bonus I stopped into The Pump for a nightcap and was introduced to PaseoFreak, who was great to talk to and not at all freaky, as far as I could tell. I will say that I was a little bit disappointed that he wasn't sporting a long gray pony tail and tie dye. We did, however, at least TALK about hippies, so that was good.

Here is their menu:

11379

Made it there again last night and ate solo at the bar. Once again it was outstanding. A half-dozen oysters (mixed varieties), asparagus salad (one of my favorite items at this point), and the hiramasa that I missed out on at soft open. It was thick and flaky, seared with a perfect crust. Washed it down with a Prairie Standard ale. Fantastic on all counts.

Went there today with three other friends for lunch. Bill was $175 before tip - so, its safe to say we sampled a lot of items on the menu.

Really like the layout of the place and the open and airy feel. Was surprised at how 'fishy' the place smelled though (yes, I know its a seafood restaurant, but I've been in many that didn't hit you in the face with the aroma - it was noticed by all of us).

Got there about 12:30pm and there were several empty tables so we were seated in a booth immediately.

Waitress was very friendly, but obviously was still learning the menu. When asked what she'd recommend we got the standard "It's all good" response.

I like the variety on the menu and that it didn't offer too much.

What we ordered:
1.) Grilled Oysters
2.) Variety of fresh oysters
3.) Fried Oyster Banh Mi
4.) Sea Scallop Ceviche
5.) Seared Hiramasa
6.) Linguini & Clams with Chorizo
7.) Grilled Sea Scallops
8.) The Drake Creamsicle
9.) Chocolate Hushpuppies
10.) Leamon Cloud Pie

It was explained that the food is served 'family style', therefore served as soon as prepared and meant to be shared.

Personally, while we all are accustomed to ordering a variety and sharing, the execution at The Drake was a bit lost on us...

The entrees did indeed come out as prepared (staggered), but the waitperson (not always our waitress) who brought each order always inquired as to who ordered a particular entree and placed it in front of them - as opposed to 'center of the table' service as described on the menu. Also, when we've been to 'family style' restaurants in the past, that was usually an indication that the serving size was much larger than a typical single entree. None of us found any of the entrees to be any larger than at non 'family style' restaurants. In fact, with the four of us we each basically got one or two bites each after 'sharing.'

The consensus on the entrees; Oysters were all good - but bigger and less briney oysters can be had at existing restaurants such as Boulevard and even The Shack. We did however really like the seasoning choices that came with the oysters.

Our personal favorites were the Linguini & Clams and the Fried Oyster Banh Mi. Probably would have ranked the Grilled Sea Scallops near the top, but they weren't cooked throughly so I was a bit weary.

It's most likely just personal taste, but I wasn't overly impressed with the ceviche. My favorite restaurant for ceviche right now is served at Zarate's Latin Grill in Edmond.

None of the entrees though were less than 'good' and a couple were 'very good.'

The desserts were a real hit. Hard for me to pick a favorite as each had it's own distinction. I ranked them all equally excellent.

Beyond the lack of knowledge of the menu (opening pains), and the non center of the table service (attention to detail), the waitress and attention we received were excellent. They must have cleared our serving plates 3-4 times, with new silverware each time, and we never wanted for drink refills. We were not fans of their choice of drink pitchers however. Seemed every time the waitress refilled our glasses, a huge chunk of ice would splash into our glass or otherwise fall onto the table.

We found it odd though that no fresh bread was offered. When one of our party asked about bread we were told "we don't serve bread but let me check with the back and see." A few minutes later a gentleman appeared and asked if we requested bread. He then proceeded to place a single thin slice of toasted bread in the center of the table - which we all found odd and had to snicker a bit.

Considering the place literally just opened I think it went well and we all agreed (one hesitantly) that we'd certainly patronize The Drake again. I'll probably take the wife there on a date one night soon and get her opinion.

On the soft opening night that I attended we also requested bread, and they brought us some very acceptable bread that we used to mop up various sauces, etc. At one point we remarked only half-jokingly that our favorite thing was the sauce from the linguini and clams mopped up with the crusty bread. Don't be mad, Tuck. ��

Do they have a separate lunch and dinner menu ? The fried oyster banh mi sounds very interesting!

They should serve bread, and the restaurant should not smell fishy. That said, I'm excited to give this a try.

Only $12 for a bahn mi, lol

I haven't noticed a fishy smell the two times I've been, but if there ever is one it is probably owing to the fact that oyster shucking (at a pretty high volume) is going on OUTSIDE of the kitchen area, at the end of the bar.

I haven't noticed a fishy smell the two times I've been, but if there ever is one it is probably owing to the fact that oyster shucking (at a pretty high volume) is going on OUTSIDE of the kitchen area, at the end of the bar.

Yeah, we didn't notice a smell either. Might be a timing thing...

I haven't seen any Banh Mi on the menu... was this a special or something on a "lunch menu" ? Can someone put their lunch menu online ?

I haven't seen any Banh Mi on the menu... was this a special or something on a "lunch menu" ? Can someone put their lunch menu online ?

It's under Ocean.

I haven't seen any Banh Mi on the menu... was this a special or something on a "lunch menu" ? Can someone put their lunch menu online ?

There is only one menu. The Banh Mi is under the "Ocean" section.

Could have been a bad oyster. If one cracked in the sack and it died a week ago. It's going to smell awful. The shucker usually spots them and tosses them without anyone even noticing. Odds are this dude had only been shucking for a few days and didn't know any better.

Had an excellent early dinner at the Drake last night. My overwhelming feeling on leaving was wow, I can't believe that this restaurant is right here on 23rd Street. Most importantly, I came to dinner in a very bad mood and left very happy, and that might be the best test of a restaurant.

Some specifics:

Decor. Interesting. Different from anything else in the metro. Not polished, but in a good way, albeit somewhat of a non sequitur. It's not a beach place, nor a clam shack, nor a glitzy boardwalk location, but there are elements of all in the decor. I think it works, but again, a bit of a non sequitur. There was even a little bit of run down Atlantic City in the decor choice, particularly over the bar. I will say that the TV screens looked really out of place. I can come down on both sides of the TV debate, but the placement of the screens looked like an afterthought and did not make a whole lot of sense.

Service. Excellent. Welcoming, even doting. For a restaurant so young, I was blown away. This speaks to the quality of the management. The kitchen ready concept worked for me. It fits with the decor. Just go in, have fun, let the staff take care of you, and let yourself smile.

Food. I am from eastern Massachusetts and I know seafood. Quality was spot on. Preparation was inventive. The clam chowder was quite good, with a few twists from the traditional New England style. The asparagus may have been the star, grilled perfectly so the ends almost tasted like popcorn and drizzled with what I actually (somewhat embarrassingly, in retrospect) told the server I thought was an umami orgasm. The scallops were well cooked, which is not generally the case in most restaurant settings. The BLT salad was good enough that my dining partner said she would be coming back just for that salad -- the bacon really was out of this world. The surprise of the night was the skirt steak. Another umami bomb with just the right acidity was provided by the Worcestershire butter, and it perfectly offset the richness of the waygu skirt. My avowed fish eating companion managed to steal more than half of my steak! We had the lemon pie, which was excellent, and the chocolate hush puppies, which were creative and inventive and not at all what I expected. I'd take some of those any time of day -- not at all too sweet or rich. The shot of milk on the side was more evidence of the thought that went into this menu design,

Drinks: the bar is putting out some interesting drinks. My rum runner was the best of the night. The Drake Cod was smooth enough to be dangerous, but was on the sweet side. Not in a bad way, but in a wow this could be dangerous way. The tequila spritz might not have worked as well, but was interesting nonetheless. The drink menu fits with the decor and service (see above)

Overall, the Drake isn't about perfection. It's about making you forget your day and leave with a smile. The decor, the drinks, the little flavor bombs hidden in the dishes, and the high quality service all worked together to make that sounds good but tough to achieve concept really work.

For a special night out of my choice, it will still be Red Prime for me, but I'm a meat person and I like dark restaurants. That said, the Drake might be first on my list for where I'd take my brother and sister in law when the visit from out of town. That I'd be willing to take an oyster snob who lives two blocks from the water in Massachusetts to a seafood restaurant in Oklahoma should say something about the faith I put in this kitchen. In a lot of ways (and this is strange, given that it is a seafood restaurant), the Drake really symbolizes where OKC is right now, and it's owners should be proud.

^Good info...headed there in a bit. Looking forward to it based on your good review!

Went tonight....wow! Great place for OKC. Knew it would be fun and good food but exceeded my expectations on all fronts. Had several of the items mentioned above...tack on the Lobster Roll....very good.

By the way, the clothing store next door (to north) is nice as well.

I'm still not quite sure how their family style system works for either a single or a couple dining alone. Do they have options for that?

We had party of 3 ..ordered one salad and one soup and split those. Ordered two entrees (Lobster Roll and Seafood Payeau - which says its for 2) and side of Asparagus - split all that. Also had some oysters, split a desert plus drinks. $130.

There were a lot of couples eating and splitting things. It works in my view but i understand what you are saying. My wife LOVES to share so she was in heaven..haha.

Really? So if you have a salad or soup you split It? That just sounds strange. It seems that it would be much more logical to have options for either single or communal dishes. Having only communal dishes just seems like a way to get people to spend more money when everyone might not like the same thing.

Really? So if you have a salad or soup you split It? That just sounds strange. It seems that it would be much more logical to have options for either single or communal dishes. Having only communal dishes just seems like a way to get people to spend more money when everyone might not like the same thing.

Portions are actually slightly on the small side and you will have room for dessert easily, so if you go as a single you will not over-order. That said, if your party is beyond three, you will be left on the short side if you really wanted to savor your selection. Between the opening of 324 and The Drake, it seems (to their credit) that AGE group is searching for ways to change the dining experience in OKC. Give it six months to see how they react to customer response.

In my opinion, it was very creative and respected seafood traditions from which it was drawn very nicely. I liked it a lot. I just won't be able to eat there often because the menu builds a check to above $75 quickly. Meanwhile, Viceroy has Naked Cowboy Oysters for $2.00.

Really? So if you have a salad or soup you split It? That just sounds strange. It seems that it would be much more logical to have options for either single or communal dishes. Having only communal dishes just seems like a way to get people to spend more money when everyone might not like the same thing.

Keep in mind, the entrees (only one size option) are on par with a modest to average serving at a non-sharing establishment. The size of the portion isn't what qualifies it as 'sharing' IMO - its the fact they simply encourage you to share - and the fact the serving of the entrees is staggered upon readiness. My wife and many of our friends share anyway - regardless of how the establishment is marketed.

I've been to some great sharing/communal restaurants in NYC and Chicago. You'd sit at long tables and several parties and singles would all be put together. Everyone would order and the food was actually served 'super sized' so 4-8 people could get a good sampling. It really encouraged lots of conversation and laughter and good times. We like The Drake, I just personally don't consider it a "sharing restaurant." Its just a restaurant that suggests you share IMO. But, that doesn't make it any less tasty.

It's very easy to eat as an individual. I did so at the bar; the portions are perfect and (with drinks) I got out for around $50-$60 with no holding back. Salad, oysters, entree, drinks.

Regarding the sharing, I agree that it is suggested more than dictated. This could be in part due to the way things come out. Since they come out in no particular order, as they are ready, if you weren't sharing there would often be times when one person is eating and nobody else is. I suspect the sharing concept is designed in part to avoid this awkwardness. But it also fosters a closeness between diners at a table and a shared experience that is really nice. I'd encourage going with the flow.

There are certain items where if at a table of more than two people you should definitely order multiple portions of the same thing if you want more than a taste. Your server can help you figure out which items that applies to. There are others - such as the grilled lobster and ESPECIALLY the (incredible) paella pan - that pretty much require sharing. We commented that two couples could share the paella plus a salad or two and maybe some oysters and probably get out for less than $30 each and be full as hell.

Thanks to everyone for visiting The Drake and commenting here. At The Drake, we encourage sharing for groups of 2 or more. Obviously, a single diner shouldn't and doesn't feel left out. A single diner can order just as they would at most other restaurants...a sandwich and a side dish, grilled scallops (served with a simple salad), grilled calamari and add 1-2 fresh oysters.

All portions are the same size as our other restaurants in general. If the portions were huge, then, yes, a single diner would have a difficult time dining with us. The last thing we want to do is drive check average; it's no where near $75. Our servers are trained to guide you through the menu and NEVER promote over-ordering.

I like what Bates said, sharing is about conversation, laughter, and good times. That's exactly what we are wanting to promote. Thanks for your wonderful support!

^^^^^^
Wait, was I inky supposed to order two oysters on my solo trip? ;)

I ordered six, and was tempted to double up...