Yes, tons of big TV's well placed.

By contrast, I was at Fassler Hall last night and the TV's they have at the bar are far too high to watch comfortably, especially if you are sitting at the bar.

The patio space at the garage is pretty cool as well.

They also opened a location in stillwater at the old cowboy book.

Went to the I-240 location today. The Spicy Sriracha Bleu burger is now going on my regular rotation for lunch. Dang it was tasty!

Yes, tons of big TV's well placed.

By contrast, I was at Fassler Hall last night and the TV's they have at the bar are far too high to watch comfortably, especially if you are sitting at the bar.

I talked with them about that and they don't want to be sports bar, which is understandable. They stated they really don't like to play sound, unless there are a lot of requests.

The Garage near the Outlet Mall is almost complete.

I bet they'll be opening by the end of the month.

I have heard Dec 1st but I would image they would want to try and be open thanksgiving weekend in hopes to get shoppers. Then again new workers busy weekend might not be the best idea. Anyone else heard a date?

I eat at the Smashburger in the mall so glad to see The Garage going there as well. Also getting a new S&B in Mustang. Finally some choices!

I've eaten at The Garage in Norman twice and really enjoyed it both times. Nothing too complicated, yet. I first had the regular cheeseburger which is as good as any other "classic" cheeseburger I've had. The onion burger was also good, but I wouldn't try to compare it with Tucker's or a dedicated onion burger joint.

Funny experience: I was eating alone today and got up to refill my drink. I wasn't right next to the drink machine, but I wasn't too far away. I was gone less than 45 seconds, but by the time I got back to my table my 1/3-eaten fries had been thrown away and the table wiped down. They replaced the fries no question and they were busy and probably eager to clear the table (not that I had been there long at all), but I hope they typically spend a little more effort figuring out if someone has actually left before throwing uneaten food away. But, like I said, they replaced the fries with no trouble, so I can really complain. Mistakes happen.

I've eaten at The Garage in Norman twice and really enjoyed it both times. Nothing too complicated, yet. I first had the regular cheeseburger which is as good as any other "classic" cheeseburger I've had. The onion burger was also good, but I wouldn't try to compare it with Tucker's or a dedicated onion burger joint.

Funny experience: I was eating alone today and got up to refill my drink. I wasn't right next to the drink machine, but I wasn't too far away. I was gone less than 45 seconds, but by the time I got back to my table my 1/3-eaten fries had been thrown away and the table wiped down. They replaced the fries no question and they were busy and probably eager to clear the table (not that I had been there long at all), but I hope they typically spend a little more effort figuring out if someone has actually left before throwing uneaten food away. But, like I said, they replaced the fries with no trouble, so I can really complain. Mistakes happen.

Their onion burger isn't really an "onion burger" in the Tucker's / Nic's, etc. style. It seems like they just put sauteed onions on the burger. This is really the only burger on the menu that I would not order again.... the rest are all great.

Their onion burger isn't really an "onion burger" in the Tucker's / Nic's, etc. style. It seems like they just put sauteed onions on the burger. This is really the only burger on the menu that I would not order again.... the rest are all great.

It's not an onion-in-burger type of onion burger, no. But it's a delicious burger in its own right. It's my regular, in fact.

It's not an onion-in-burger type of onion burger, no. But it's a delicious burger in its own right. It's my regular, in fact.

It's my regular too.

It's my regular too.

And that's what is nice about the Garage... they have a ton of different burger options so someone can find one (or build their own) that appeals to them.

Eggonator. You're welcome in advance. Also, your cardiologist thanks you in advance for your business.

Eggonator is what I get every time.

How does their Eggonator compare to the Royal at Red Robin? I can't go to RR without getting the Royal, or it's a waste of a trip. So horribly delicious.

That's a tough choice actually. However, the BEST breakfast burger I've had is... wait for it... Bricktown Brewery (yeah, surprised me, too). They put a figgin hash brown patty on that sucker and man is it delicious...

And for the record, I've had it at the Bricktown, Owasso, and Ft Smith locations. Equally delicious. :-)

That's a tough choice actually. However, the BEST breakfast burger I've had is... wait for it... Bricktown Brewery (yeah, surprised me, too). They put a figgin hash brown patty on that sucker and man is it delicious...

And for the record, I've had it at the Bricktown, Owasso, and Ft Smith locations. Equally delicious. :-)

Adding hash browns really ups the ante. I'll have to give that a shot!

It's not an onion-in-burger type of onion burger, no. But it's a delicious burger in its own right. It's my regular, in fact.
Ours too! But only in rotation with Loaded Queso and Chily Cheese Dogs.

Looks like they are very close to opening at the Outlet Shoppes; just took this tonight:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/garage111915.jpg

One complaint that I had was they don't have very many healthy options (i.e. grilled chicken). I haven't tried it yet, but they recently have added smoked, sliced turkey as a protein option.

They offer Bison burgers, which is actually very healthy and in my opinion just as good if not better than beef. I almost always substitute beef for bison if it's available at any restaurant.

They offer Bison burgers, which is actually very healthy and in my opinion just as good if not better than beef. I almost always substitute beef for bison if it's available at any restaurant.

Their bison burgers are delicious, and you're right, there's not really any reason to see them as unhealthy. But then, people seem to have really archaic ideas for what's healthy, and what actually makes people fat, so it's a tough point to drive home.

Ours too! But only in rotation with Loaded Queso and Chily Cheese Dogs.

I tried the chili cheese dog once. It was overall pretty good, but the way the dog itself was prepared gave it a hardened skin, which kind of ruined it for me. Is that how they always prepare it?

I tried the chili cheese dog once. It was overall pretty good, but the way the dog itself was prepared gave it a hardened skin, which kind of ruined it for me. Is that how they always prepare it?
Yes. But I like them that way so it works for me. I wonder if they would cook them less done if asked?

Yes. But I like them that way so it works for me. I wonder if they would cook them less done if asked?

I'm sure they would. They're pretty compliant with any special way you want your food prepared there.

Finally tried something at the Midtown location other than their awesome burgers: taco salad.

I had it with ground turkey and it was very, very good and a healthy portion. I asked for extra salsa (for dressing) and they gave me two big cups that did the trick plus had a little bit of a kick.

Really too much food for one person unless you are incredibly hungry.

Given the consistent quality there, I will have to try some other things, although the burgers are so good it's hard to pass them up.

Recommend the tacos with either bison or (my preference) turkey for lean option. Ask for corn tortillas instead of flour to cut some simple carbs. Garage does a great job with turkey.

Of all the great places in Midtwon and Auto Alley, the Garage is near the top of my list.

They have a great and lively bar area, a good beer list, consistently good food and lots of TV's for game days.

They also have done something few other places have figured out... They have sound-absorbing panels suspended from the ceiling that stops the place from being a total cacophony like almost every other new, concrete floor place.

I sure wish more restaurants and bars would pay better attention to acoustics and lighting, two things that aren't necessarily expensive but make a world of difference in the setting and experience.

^^^^^^^^
I wish EVERYBODY would pay better attention to lighting; a major passion of mine. It affects the experience so much, whether that experience is walking or driving down a street, strolling in a park, shopping in a store, or eating in a restaurant. Few things affect the user experience so much. Lights can cause a patron to happily spend more, to linger, to return, or cause them to do none of the above if done wrong.

Lighting is one place where I think OKC as a community - including the business community - does a job that I would call "poor." I think on some level the prevailing culture views thoughtful, professional lighting as unncessary, flashy, excessive, or just hasn't seen many good examples of what great lighting can accomplish for a place. Instead of great, eye-pleasing ambient lighting, we often get the harsh, task-oriented or direct type. Or, none at all. These days, as cheap and flexible as LED has become, there is really no good excuse for it.

You're right; lighting at Garage is pretty well done. Would like to see more places care as much.

The reason lighting and sound are so often overlooked is that the design is all done by architects and those things don't show in renderings and drawings.

Things may look very cool in image form but the total customer experience is totally shaped by light and sound.


When I was in charge of office build-outs for U.S. Trust on the West Coast, we paid extra for a dedicated lighting consultant, completely separate from the architect / designer. It made a huge difference as those people are specialists that know their stuff.

Often times architects get so caught up in super clean lines that they see lighting fixtures and sound equipment as a nuisance. It usually takes a client demanding those things take higher priority before they actually do.


But I totally agree, more places than not get the lighting all wrong. And same with the incredibly noisy acoustics where they have to keep turning up the music louder and louder because the space itself is reflection crowd sound off of almost every surface.

OKCTalk - New Garage Burgers and Beer coming to N. May and Britton (http://www.okctalk.com/content/267-new-garage-burgers-beer-coming-n-may-britton.html)

OKCTalk - New Garage Burgers and Beer coming to N. May and Britton (http://www.okctalk.com/content/267-new-garage-burgers-beer-coming-n-may-britton.html)

Yes! It's going to kill there.

Seems like garage and S&B have an CVS/Walgreens relationship only .5-1 mile apart.

And like the Garage, S&B has aggressive expansion plans.

Does S&B do anywhere near the bar sales that Garage does?

Not sure, but they do very well.

I'm actually kind of hoping that the May Garage location takes a bit of the 122nd & Rockwell business. Then maybe we'll be able to get in to our local Garage more easily. Most every night at peak times the place is full and the line is to the door. We went in Thursday night about 45 minutes before the OU game and gave up on finding a seat. Then a bartender that knows us stopped us and talked a couple into sharing their table with us. Normally something I couldn't do but it ended up being fun.

Got an opportunity to check out the Garage at 11th & Robinson (Midtown); food was fresh, burgers & fries were hot. Great game day atmosphere (Lakers).

Relatives are coming up for Game 1 of the Mavericks-Thunder playoffs this Saturday. Definitely taking them to The Garage. Plan to return the courtesy they've always extended me in Dallas. Hope they enjoy the game. :biggrin:

It's rare that you see Dallas fans wanting to get out of the Big-D for the weekend for somewhere other than Houston, Austin & San Antonio.

They're impressed with OKC's places of interest like Bricktown, Boathouse, OKC Museum of Art, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum & OKC Zoo--thought about leaving them out there. :wink:

They plan to return this summer once the Riversport Rapids course opens--one of my relatives has an older daughter (Texas A & M alum); she comes up annually for the WCWS (softball) tournament--they want to plan their whitewater rapids visit around the tournament.

This is now my favorite burger spot in the city.

I've been here numerous times since my first visit and every time is better than the last.

So impressed!

Had the slaw burger yesterday. So delicious!

Had the slaw burger yesterday. So delicious!

That was the last burger I tried as well! What a coinkidink!

The new fried jalapeno burger is ace. It probably won't usurp the fried onion burger as my regular, but I can recommend trying it.

The new fried jalapeno burger is ace. It probably won't usurp the fried onion burger as my regular, but I can recommend trying it.

It is great. Hard to beat anything with guacamole.

It is great. Hard to beat anything with guacamole.

Guacamole? Gas and a match comes to mind.

It is great. Hard to beat anything with guacamole.
Not only is this true but the Garage's guacamole is good. Guacamole is one of those things that seem to be good or really bad with no in between.

Guacamole? Gas and a match comes to mind.

SoonerDave,
I'm with you, keep that green stuff off of my burger!
C. T.

Not only is this true but the Garage's guacamole is good. Guacamole is one of those things that seem to be good or really bad with no in between.

That is true. It's usually good since it's hard to mess up, which makes one wonder how some places are able to make bad guac. The Garage's guac is tasty, especially on that burger.

The Garage is where you take all the relatives whenever you want to treat them with something good to eat. They won't leave there hungry.

Oklahoma City is getting better with its food choices; especially if you want to greet, treat & impress relatives & friends for reasonable prices.

You don't have to take the whole family to somewhere else because there's a sassy little kid who doesn't like the menu selections. Never met a child who turned down a burger. Take them to The Garage, you won't hear any complaints--it's 'Family Friendly.'

https://www.facebook.com/Smittys-Garage-Burgers-and-Beer-1168905276504837/?fref=ts

Currently hiring for a location in Omaha. Someone said on the Omaha forum that they are already looking at a second location as well. The other Hal Smith concepts in town(Mahogany and Charleston's) are pretty popular.

The Garage is the best of all the HSRG concepts IMO.

The Garage is the best of all the HSRG concepts IMO.

I have to vote for Mahogany but I do like The Garage.... I usually get the Huevos Ranchero Burger though which is a really loose interpretation of a burger and huevos rancheros but it's darn tasty..... I add grilled onions and jalapenos to mine and almost every time the cashier will comment "That sounds really good!"...... Maybe they should hire me as a burger designer. ;)

Looking at HSRG's website for The Garage, I noticed that all of the locations outside of Oklahoma are called "Smitty's Garage" instead. Are those franchise locations or something? Just curious about the name change.

The Garage is the best of all the HSRG concepts IMO.

100% agree. I used to be a fan of Hollies up until their food started getting worse.

Looking at HSRG's website for The Garage, I noticed that all of the locations outside of Oklahoma are called "Smitty's Garage" instead. Are those franchise locations or something? Just curious about the name change.

I never saw mention of Smitty's during my stint at HSRG

Looking at HSRG's website for The Garage, I noticed that all of the locations outside of Oklahoma are called "Smitty's Garage" instead. Are those franchise locations or something? Just curious about the name change.

There was already a bar operating as "the garage". In Arkansas so they went with the new name there. I guess for branding they are just going to keep usi that name outside Oklahoma

Just a guess that a brand as generic as "The Garage" was already in use in other states/markets and that they would not have been able to defend that trademark.

Sign going up at May & Britton:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/garage091316.jpg

Pete,

Any time frame for when they Pam to open on May and Britton ?

I guess a lot of people are unhappy that Hal Smith is throwing his weight behind Trump and was part of bringing him to Norman. I've seen several social media posts. Anyone know more?

Don't care, will still eat at his restaurants.

If you try and boycott everything you disagree with you end up not having many options.

Don't care, will still eat at his restaurants.

If you try and boycott everything you disagree with you end up not having many options.Very very true!