hope this place has "staying power". . . but would be interesting to hear why so many have left (for greener pastures??)

hope this place has "staying power". . . but would be interesting to hear why so many have left (for greener pastures??)

So many have left, ultimately, because they didn't believe in the business model and business practices. The vast majority, including employees current+former believe that the food was great, and the atmosphere ambiance speaks for itself. That leaves, as far as restaurants are concerned, operations and workplace relationships that are the determining factor for whether or not the restaurant is working. A large segment of staff, past and present, has felt that those latter two categories are severely lacking, and have decided (or are in the process of deciding) to leave for more stable business models and more ideal workplace relationship dynamics.

So many have left, ultimately, because they didn't believe in the business model and business practices. The vast majority, including employees current+former believe that the food was great, and the atmosphere ambiance speaks for itself. That leaves, as far as restaurants are concerned, operations and workplace relationships that are the determining factor for whether or not the restaurant is working. A large segment of staff, past and present, has felt that those latter two categories are severely lacking, and have decided (or are in the process of deciding) to leave for more stable business models and more ideal workplace relationship dynamics.

Disclaimer: I'm not a restaurateur -- the only clue I have about the business is from watching Restaurant Impossible, but if Pete's right, another factor into why the staff isn't loyal might be that there are LOADS of other (greener or not) pastures out there. The restaurant scene in OKC is absolutely exploding and running a restaurant staff in OKC right now has got to be a major PITA.

My wife and I have reservations there this weekend. Perhaps this isn't the place we want to use for a date night. Our normal place is Ludivine but wanted to visit here again.

My wife and I have reservations there this weekend. Perhaps this isn't the place we want to use for a date night. Our normal place is Ludivine but wanted to visit here again.

Yeah.... I was going to treat myself to a repeat visit with the money I won during the basketball tournament but now I'm considering going to Mahogany instead.... or using it towards a new set of golf clubs.

Yeah.... I was going to treat myself to a repeat visit with the money I won during the basketball tournament but now I'm considering going to Mahogany instead.... or using it towards a new set of golf clubs.

I vote golf clubs for what it's worth!!:wink:

They are now featuring live music and a new spring menu:

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Anniversary May 23rd. George or Broadway 10? We have not tried either. I am a steak eater and really like Red Prime but want to try new place.

Congrats! Of those I have only eaten at George and my experience was good.

Anniversary May 23rd. George or Broadway 10? We have not tried either. I am a steak eater and really like Red Prime but want to try new place.

Probably George. B10 is good, but their steak selection is limited.

Anniversary May 23rd. George or Broadway 10? We have not tried either. I am a steak eater and really like Red Prime but want to try new place.

Ranch Steakhouse.

I answer this way because you keep saying you've never been and this is a great time to go. If you were already thinking of coming up to George, you're right by the Ranch anyway.

If you're dead set on one of those 2, I'd go to B10 over The George right now.

I haven't been to either, but if recemt reports on staffing issues are resolved, I would select George. I have great memories of the view from George, and even to a food hound like me, the setting makes a difference on special meals.

We decided to give The George a try a few weeks ago and our experience was horrible.

We were seated near the window facing south which is directly in front of the bar. The view was nothing short of amazing as expected, yet the decor and build out of the restaurant left much to be desired. It was 7:30 on a Friday evening and I would say there were maybe 8-9 tables seated for dinner.

We were greeted by our server who appeared to have just rolled out of bed with his wrinkled shirt and crazy hair and he greeted us as if we were at a casual restaurant, not a prime steakhouse. Once settled, I had to request a wine list and it took nearly 10 minutes to receive one. Once the list was delivered, I asked for recommendations on red blends and was given very general, blanket answers as if he hadn't tried the wine. I settled on a mid range bottle ($60 I believe) and we ordered the crab cake as an appetizer.

The crab cake was brought to our table about 10-15 minutes after ordering it and it arrived before our wine. We sat with the appetizer on the table a few minutes before our server appeared with our bottle. He then proceeded to pour two glasses of wine and sit the bottle on the table without doing a proper wine presentation, another service i would have expected from a fine dining establishment. The crab cake was honestly quite tasty and had a warm, tangy sauce that paired well with our wine.

We ordered 2 Filets medium rare, one with only salt and pepper and the other with their signature spices as well as a side of Brussels sprouts. Our food arrived around 25 minutes after ordered and was mediocre at best. My girlfriends filet came out well done with no pink in the center and mine was borderline medium, with it being warm throughout. She sent her filet back and the server acted like it was the norm there, barely apologizing and returning literally 5 minutes later with a new steak. The Brussels weren't fully cooked, leaving them tough in the center.

Overall, I was beyond disappointed. We spent close to $300 with gratuity on a meal that i wouldn't recommend to anyone. The view was wonderful but everything else was sub par and that cannot make up for such a great space. I wish them well but if the service and food is consistently like I experienced, I can't imagine them making it. I know as well as anyone how hard it is in the business right now so i am rooting for Kevin to turn this place around.

I haven't been to either, but if recemt reports on staffing issues are resolved, I would select George. I have great memories of the view from George, and even to a food hound like me, the setting makes a difference on special meals.

Those issues are not resolved and the replacement staff is not particularly qualified. The newest menu is probably the most overt ripoff of another establishment (Mahogany) I've ever seen in upscale dining: right down to putting $.99 in the pricing. Look, I know restaurants take other restaurants' ideas, but it's truly ridiculous…I mean, every restaurant in town knows about Mahogany's off-menu lobster cargot and is jealous that they didn't come up with it first, but I don't even know if it's been a feature at any of those restaurants, let alone on the menu. The most sad thing is that it represents a massive step back in terms of quality of menu from when the restaurant first opened. They now have everything a steakhouse should have, and I suppose that's a good thing for the restaurant in terms of finding its identity. But we have steakhouses in this city already, and I really really don't think that The George is going to compete with the well-established brands. They were doing a lot of things that set them apart, particularly as the food is concerned, and that's changing very very quickly.

If you trust Urban Spoon, The George is now closer to Opus (OKC's least favorite steakhouse @ 63%) than it is to the Ranch (OKC's far and away favorite steakhouse @ 89%) with a rating of 75%. The George carried a 91% rating for the first 3 to 4 months it was open…

Oh well…I hear the Meat Market Refectory will be opening before the year is out!!!

I mean, every restaurant in town knows about Mahogany's off-menu lobster cargot and is jealous that they didn't come up with it first,

That appetizer is amazing! And I'm not even a big fan of seafood.

But I agree. Even though my trip to The George was to eat steak. I liked that the menu went beyond just being a steakhouse, That was also when Josh Valentine was there.

Speaking of great appetizers....We had the bacon and onion tart that night and the egg served on top had to be the most perfectly cooked egg I've ever been served.

The service was also over the top, from the moment we stepped in the building to the moment we left, the night I was there. So it's frustrating to hear that kind of service has gone away.

These reports are discouraging. Really like the location, view, atmosphere, etc (the two times we have been) and was hopeful this would be a success. Maybe they can right the ship. But when you are going to spend money for a nice dinner you want to a Ranch type experience which never seems to let you down.

I heard from a friend of mine that used to work there that the owner has run off several (I think he said 4??) FOH managers, 3 Executive Chefs, and 1 Pastry Chef in under a year. Clearly the man can't lead a staff and is since he seems to be the reason the restaurant is in this predicament in the first place, I doubt he has the ability or wherewithal to "right the ship".

Yeah at this point I'm just waiting for the partners to fire George, or for it to close and someone to open a new concept there.

Yeah at this point I'm just waiting for the partners to fire George, or for it to close and someone to open a new concept there.When the BOH staff quit, I went with a bunch of people to FLINT, but I tried to work mornings at The George.... Since I just completed server training. However, Kevin's response to the situation left me bewildered and with little confidence in his competence. He should have stuck to being the great host that he is and walk around, chatting up the guests. He doesn't seem to trust people to do their jobs, but instead micro manages the restaurant. He's a little overbearing as well. I thought we had a great product, but soon the George will be an IU in the sky.

When the BOH staff quit, I went with a bunch of people to FLINT, but I tried to work mornings at The George.... Since I just completed server training. However, Kevin's response to the situation left me bewildered and with little confidence in his competence. He should have stuck to being the great host that he is and walk around, chatting up the guests. He doesn't seem to trust people to do their jobs, but instead micro manages the restaurant. He's a little overbearing as well. I thought we had a great product, but soon the George will be an IU in the sky.

At IU, they had a saying...imagine what Kevin George would do...and then do the opposite. The issues with The George so far do not at all surprise me.

Amazingly bad tv ad now airing for this place.

Heard they closed up shop last night…anybody able to confirm?

Heard they closed up shop last night…anybody able to confirm?

If so that's unfortunate. I personally think the restaurant had the best view in the entire city. Hopefully another concept opens up there.

I think promotion and visibility was a big problem from the very beginning. At least among people I know the George was always forgotten in favor of Vast, Red Prime, and Mahogany.

Just called and they answered and said they are still open for biz.

I guess I could have done that…:p

At any rate, I'm hearing that they are on their last leg and don't have much longer.

If/when they go under, what happens to their wine collection?

The owners will decide what to do with it. When Nikz at the top went under, the owner took everything with him to Opus when he opened that restaurant.

Do you think if they had restored the rotating capabilities it would make the restraint more successful, get more people in to the place?

Do you think if they had restored the rotating capabilities it would make the restraint more successful, get more people in to the place?

No.

When you assemble an All-star Chef-team (by OKC's standards) and a competent front-of-house management staff, you don't proceed to run all 8 (!!!) of those people out the door within 3-9 months.

That's all that really needs to be said about the subject...

Do you think if they had restored the rotating capabilities it would make the restraint more successful, get more people in to the place?

Food and service win the day, but I am one who happens to believe that dumping the rotation eliminated one of the great historical features of that restaurant. It was an important point, albeit admittedly one of novelty, that made it an attraction. Without that, you have a much higher mountain to climb IMHO

The atmosphere and setting of the restaurant is amazing and in my opinion the best in town. I personally prefer it over Vast. However, the food and service was severely lacking which doesn't fly in a city like OKC where there is such stiff competition in the prime steakhouse market. Atmosphere and setting can only take you so far. I personally ate their once and my experience was more on the negative side than the positive. They got my order wrong and the waitress was actually rude about it. If it does close, hopefully another operator can come in and really make the space successful.

No.

When you assemble an All-star Chef-team (by OKC's standards) and a competent front-of-house management staff, you don't proceed to run all 8 (!!!) of those people out the door within 3-9 months.

That's all that really needs to be said about the subject...

Agree - don't think rotation has anything to do with it and I know people who wouldn't go if it DID rotate. :dizzy:

I had great experiences both times I went and can say rotation wouldn't have helped or hurt. They did a nice job of setting up the tables so if you want to take a lap you can.

People need to remember that several restaurants that made use of the rotation failed and did so during a time when dining in OKC was an absolute joke.

People need to remember that several restaurants that made use of the rotation failed and did so during a time when dining in OKC was an absolute joke.

Oh, to be sure, the rotation isn't going to save the place, but it surely was a nice thing to have when it worked. It was novel and made for a nice environment.

I just remember going there with my wife on our first anniversary when it was "The Eagle's Nest" and the rotation was barely perceptible, but I think in the time of our stay it made one complete revolution. We tried it once as Nikz and didn't go back. Totally different "vibe" and just not our cup of tea at all.

Oh, to be sure, the rotation isn't going to save the place, but it surely was a nice thing to have when it worked. It was novel and made for a nice environment.

I just remember going there with my wife on our first anniversary when it was "The Eagle's Nest" and the rotation was barely perceptible, but I think in the time of our stay it made one complete revolution. We tried it once as Nikz and didn't go back. Totally different "vibe" and just not our cup of tea at all.

I think not activating the rotating element really takes away from it as well. It would always need to be a good restaurant, but what has more appeal to people(especially out of towners), a good restaurant on top of a tower or a good restaurant with rotating seating at the top of a tower. You definitely lose anyone that would come for that novelty aspect of it. Nikz was OK, but we only went because of the cool rotating seating.

That being said, I think not making use of the rotation is just one of the stupid moves made by the restaurant...the first one was made when Kevin George decided to be more than a silent partner. That guy couldn't run a McDonalds, let alone a 4 or 5 star steakhouse. Poor management will get you every time and I've been told from day one by people in business with Kevin Geore that this would likely fail.

Folks who seem to think the rotation was gimmicky or might cause motion sickness obviously never dined at Eagle's Nest. It was really not even perceptible. You would just look up from conversation once in a while and realize that your view had completely changed. Entirely appropriate for an in-the-round restaurant that - no matter how good the food or service is - still at least partially depends upon the novelty of the skyline view to set it apart from others.

My wife and I's experience at the George was without a doubt one of our finest dining experiences we've had in Oklahoma city. The decor and vibe and view are amazing. Our food was about as perfect as it could be and the service didn't disappoint. I had been when it was Nikz and it still rotated, which was very neat, yet as someone pointed out, the lay out is suitable to take a lap and not bother anyone or feel like you're wondering. I know because we did take a lap. I really hope they can get it together or that someone can come in and right the ship. It would be a real shame for that space to be empty.

Folks who seem to think the rotation was gimmicky or might cause motion sickness obviously never dined at Eagle's Nest. It was really not even perceptible. You would just look up from conversation once in a while and realize that your view had completely changed. Entirely appropriate for an in-the-round restaurant that - no matter how good the food or service is - still at least partially depends upon the novelty of the skyline view to set it apart from others.

I'd "LIKE" this if I could, but I can't, so I'll just "This" it.

Just to clarify:

Every single restaurant that occupied that space when the floor rotated failed, and did so during a time when the OKC dining scene was a joke.

The benefits of a rotating floor are entirely marginal. This is a business, and the goal of a business is to make money. You cannot rely on tables of 2 in a steakhouse to make money…they simply don't spend enough on average. The space needed private dining and that came at the cost of a rotating floor. It was the right decision.

That is not correct. Nicks at the top. Didn't fail. New owners bought the building (to covert to condos). And pretty much forced nicks out. They then opened opus prime almost right away

Was the floor operational when Nikz closed?

Was the floor operational when Nikz closed?

I believe so.

I went to Nikz in like 2004-2005-ish and the floor was operational.

Was the floor operational when Nikz closed?

Went there for prom in 2006 and it worked. Can't remember when it closed.

I also thought the main reason the floor doesn't spin was because parts for it are now obsolete and impossible to find?

Steakhouse planned for top of Oklahoma City's Founders Tower | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/3765149)
Although the restaurant's rotating track — powered by 10 motors hidden under the floorboards — is still functional, George said he doesn't plan to use it much.

There's just not enough room on the narrow track for a table large enough to accommodate comfortably four diners at once, he said.

I guess it still works.

Went there for prom in 2006 and it worked. Can't remember when it closed.

Mid 2007 I believe.

That is not correct. Nicks at the top. Didn't fail. New owners bought the building (to covert to condos). And pretty much forced nicks out. They then opened opus prime almost right away

Regardless, they failed to stay open and while I wasn't nearly as involved with the restaurant scene back then, I certainly didn't hear much from people around the city being so disappointed in it closing. In fact, when people talk about it today, I almost never hear people refer to it as the "old Nikz at the Top" place and almost always "that's where The Eagle's Nest used to be".

The point still stands: The benefits of a rotating floor are entirely marginal.

So I'm reading that people have had mixed experiences at the George. I've read about their problems on here but am wondering if things have gotten any better since the staff walked out. If some people wanted to go there now for a special occasion, would it be worth the time and dough spent?

So I'm reading that people have had mixed experiences at the George. I've read about their problems on here but am wondering if things have gotten any better since the staff walked out. If some people wanted to go there now for a special occasion, would it be worth the time and dough spent?

I've never been there, but there are quite a few very nice restaurants in OKC, so if it were me, given the reports here, I would spend my money elsewhere.

So I'm reading that people have had mixed experiences at the George. I've read about their problems on here but am wondering if things have gotten any better since the staff walked out. If some people wanted to go there now for a special occasion, would it be worth the time and dough spent?

Well, if there are even rumors floating around that the place could close down at the end of the month, I'd recommend going elsewhere that is considered to be doing great.

You should look on zomato.com (the old Urbanspoon) and look through some of the high end restaurants. I feel the rankings are pretty representative of the experience you're *likely* to have.

Places like Cheever's (4.2/5.0), Signature Grill (4.2), Guernsey Park (4.0) … restaurants that are well-established and widely revered all have great ratings. Nic's has a 4.9/5.0, and I think we can all agree that's spot on.

If you're looking for a prime steakhouse in particular, the ratings are as follows (out of 5):

Opus: 3.1 on 306 votes (Nikz at the Top guy…just sayin')
Broadway 10: 3.3 on 132 votes
The George: 3.4 on 190 votes
Mickey Mantle's: 3.4 on 704 votes
Mahogany Quail Springs: 3.5 on 692 votes
Boulevard: 3.5 on 932 votes
[Cattleman's: 3.5 on 2285 votes --- Included for reference]
Red PrimeSteak: 3.6 on 1138 votes
Ranch Steakhouse: 3.9 on 978 votes

If you want a steak, go to the Ranch. The Drake is pretty great if you want to do something a little different.

I am hearing that Hal Smith is purchasing the George. Based on much of the shortfalls revealed in this thread, Hal Smith would be a welcome addition. Not sure if it would be a Mahogany or something else.

^

That would be great news.

It's fantastic space and needs to remain open.

I am hearing that Hal Smith is purchasing the George. Based on much of the shortfalls revealed in this thread, Hal Smith would be a welcome addition. Not sure if it would be a Mahogany or something else.

While I'm not a big fan of most of Hal Smith's restaurants personally (I find them culinarily boring). I have never had a bad steak at Mahogany and it is my top choice in Oklahoma City when I'm in the mood for excellent service and a prime steak.

My one visit to The George, while Josh Valentine was there, was an extraordinary dining experience and I was disappointed to hear the news/rumors that were coming from this establishment.

So since I am a fan of Mahogany. I'm happy to hear this news/rumor because a perfect steak with the perfect view from the top of that tower is something I can get excited about.

Well since the current George Menu is almost a verbatim copy and paste of Mahogany's menu, this will be an easy transition :p

Jokes aside, if HSRG indeed buys out, it will almost certainly change concepts. Of all the disparaging comments that could be made about Hal Smith, bad business planning is not one of them: it can't remain a steakhouse given their other locations in the area, but being at the top of Founder's, it needs to be upscale at the least. My money is on them launching an entirely new concept with this location…a spectacular seafood joint would be most welcome, especially given their ability to get some of the best seafood in the metro.

I know Hal Smith is planning an entirely new concept for the Glimcher development so I bet they will do something completely new here as well.

Not sure OKC can support 3 Mahogany's.

Russell Westbrook's California Cuisine? ;)

Toby Keith's Big Daddy Sittin' on Top of the World Cafe, Saloon and Honky Tonk?