Wasn't hungry enough to eat when I left OKC Muni yesterday, but by the time I finished some appointments in Norman, I was getting that way. Decided to pop into Syrup, in part because I hadn't so far and in part because I had an old groupon and wanted my G-fee back after I failed to redeem it last year.

Turned out they continue to serve breakfast at lunch time, which was a blessing as their lunch menu did not really appeal to me. It just seemed a bit hipsterish for my tastes. But the breakfast, well, in a word ... Yum! Needed salt, and that's from someone who almost never touches a salt shaker, even when i am doing the cooking. Definitely needed pepper, but then, I sometimes think even fruit loops can benefit from a speck of black pepper. But all in all, the eggs were cooked well, the sausage patties were quite tasty, the home fries were good and their bacon was a very close third behind Kitchen 324 and Ozzie's in my opinion.

Price was a touch steep, 21 and change for the meal, tax and tip before the G-discount knocked seven off the total. This was because the preferred soda for a drink, the bacon side order and the somewhat surprising charge for a very itsy bitsy bit of gravy came to almost the same amount as the main course.

It's not an amount I would pay for breakfast on a regular basis, not with The Diner so close by, and Ozzie's only a few minutes of drive time away. But I did enjoy the meal and if i were time crunched and Diner was full, Syrup could make a lot of sense on such a day.

Popular Norman breakfast spot coming to Uptown (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=380-Popular-Norman-breakfast-spot-coming-to-Uptown)

Syrup, a popular 'breakfast boutique' in downtown Norman will soon open a new spot in Uptown on NW 23rd Street.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/syrup4.jpg

The restaurant has leased the former La Catrina building at 1501 NW 23rd, which is just west of Classen. La Catrina closed a few months ago.

The existing structure – originally built as a Captain D's in the mid 80's – is currently being remodeled and Syrup hopes to open in June.

The building will see a complete overhaul, with the vaulted ceiling opened up and new modern décor. There is also a patio on the south side of the building facing 23rd.

Syrup operates as a nonprofit with proceeds going to the mission causes of its owners, who live in Cape Town, South Africa and have the funds to build an orphanage and provide clean water, among other causes.

As the new location will be larger will a full kitchen, Syrup hopes to expand on its current menu offerings which include traditional breakfast items, sweet potato pancakes, chicken and waffles, and soups and salads.

Also, the Uptown location will have a liquor license which will allow for brunch cocktails.

Similar to the original Norman site at 123 E. Main, the new location will be open 7AM to 1PM Monday through Friday and 7AM to 2PM on the weekend.

Syrup will join the thriving breakfast and brunch scene in Central OKC, with Hatch, Aurora and Sunnyside Diner opening in the last year and enjoying large crowds.


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/syrup2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/syrup3.jpg

this will be a great addition... went to syrup a couple times and really liked their food.

i hadn't realized that la catrina had closed... our office checked it out once for lunch and were less than impressed. it wan't bad per se, it just didn't stand out at all amidst numerous tex mex offerings.

I've had syrup and thought it was really good. Does anyone else think we may be reaching a saturation point for breakfast places? I feel like we've seen atleast half a dozen open in OKC in the last 6 months.

I've had syrup and thought it was really good. Does anyone else think we may be reaching a saturation point for breakfast places? I feel like we've seen atleast half a dozen open in OKC in the last 6 months.

Nope!

I think we were in such a deep hole for quality places that there is still plenty of room for good operators.

Nope!

I think we were in such a deep hole for quality places that there is still plenty of room for good operators.

Ditto!

I've had syrup and thought it was really good. Does anyone else think we may be reaching a saturation point for breakfast places? I feel like we've seen atleast half a dozen open in OKC in the last 6 months.

You'd think so, but seemingly every place is packed for brunch every weekend that I attempt it, so I guess not.

I agree with Pete. I have said in past how we really need better Breakfast and brunch options and now we are really getting in the swing of it. I am still holding out hope one will break into the 24 hour market of breakfast . I'd kill for a Café Brazil or Magnolia café type place. I look forward to this one opening and I still need to try Aurora.

If it were half a dozen that all opened within a quarter mile of each other, that might be true, but considering there is still that huge gaping hole that was mentioned I'm going to say nowhere near saturation. Especially if you get out of OKC itself and start looking around the metro area. I keep looking for breakfast places in Yukon/Mustang, and other than fast food, there just aren't many options. Mustang has Boomarang (ugh), Jimmy's Egg (better than the Yukon location, not that that is saying much) and Ihop. Yukon has Jimmy's Egg (ugh, I still haven't forgiven this location for serving me raw hashbrowns and claiming it was because the kitchen was busy...what, too busy to cook the food?), Ihop (sensing a theme here) and Mae's. Miller Grill opens slightly earlier on weekends so I guess we'll give them a point on technicality but to be a breakfast place you have to be open for breakfast, not just serve breakfast food. I consider this distinct lack of options much closer to drought than saturation.

Here are their plans.

A little difficult to see but there will be a pergola on the south / 23rd Street elevation and a large outdoor courtyard.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/syrup071717a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/syrup071717b.jpg

Good progress here:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/syrup081317.jpg

Syrup opens tomorrow (9/8) according to Uptown 23rd. Their hours will be 7am - 1pm.

Syrup opens tomorrow (9/8) according to Uptown 23rd. Their hours will be 7am - 1pm.

Oh yay, *another* breakfast place that isn't open past 2:00.... Yeah, I'm a Debbie Downer, but we have *way* too many breakfast places that close at 2:00, much less 1:00. Glad Cafe Antigua is open until 4:00, Cafe Kacao serves breakfast all day, and Hungry Frog is open until 2:30. Other than that, can't think of much breakfast served after 2;00 (not counting IHOP and Denny's 'cos they're gross and we don't ever go there).

Hope they do well, it sounds like good food and a good concept behind the scenes (http://okgazette.com/2017/08/24/norman-favorite-syrup-opens-in-okc-to-further-expand-its-model-of-business-for-charity/).

Oh yay, *another* breakfast place that isn't open past 2:00.... Yeah, I'm a Debbie Downer, but we have *way* too many breakfast places that close at 2:00, much less 1:00. Glad Cafe Antigua is open until 4:00, Cafe Kacao serves breakfast all day, and Hungry Frog is open until 2:30. Other than that, can't think of much breakfast served after 2;00 (not counting IHOP and Denny's 'cos they're gross and we don't ever go there).

Hope they do well, it sounds like good food and a good concept behind the scenes (http://okgazette.com/2017/08/24/norman-favorite-syrup-opens-in-okc-to-further-expand-its-model-of-business-for-charity/).

I agree with this. I was really happy when Sunnyside was open for dinner hours since I almost never have a chance to go to these places for breakfast/lunch (which is why I still haven't been to Hatch). Frustrating that they removed those hours as well.

I've long been similarly frustrated with respect to the center city. My Go to's when I absolutely needed late breakfast were/are: Sheri's Diner SW 44th (4:00 pm), Jimmy's Roundup Cafe SW 59th (10:00pm), Woodbridge Restaurant NW 39th and Portlandish (9:00pm), Nina's Family Restaurant NW 50th and Portland (8:00 pm). French toast at all these places is classic but wonderful and they cook eggs properly to order every time. About a third the price Syrup will be.

I saw a bunch of people there today as I was eating across the street at Taj. I'm glad I know where it is now.

I'm afraid I gotta jump on the shade train and say that 7a-1p is only 6 hours of business. Even the originators "snooze. An A.M. eatery" in the Denver area do something like 6:30-2:30. Fingers crossed, this is just a soft opening thing. We definitely need another fancy breakfast joint to fill the demand and help sunnsuside, hatch, and the Guatemalan offerings, with their lines. My new local favorite Scotties deli just increased their hours to 10pm and it's gone well in the sense that it's packed, not well in the sense that they can't produce enough in house meats to guarantee everyone who lines up gets what they want.

Queue this morning about 9:30.

Eventually they'll add a full patio out front.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/syrup091717.jpg

Wife and I were looking for a breakfast spot this morning (Sunday), so we fired up the NoWait app to see what was available. Came as no Surprise that Neighborhood Jam had a 248 minute wait (totally stupid) and Cafe Kacao 60 minutes, Hatch 90 minutes. Syrup though only had a 30 minute wait, so we headed there since we've never been.

First thing I noticed is that it's a good thing they weren't any busier because there were literally no parking spaces. After waiting a bit for someone to leave we parked and went in. First Impression; I like what they've done with the space - open, airy, lots of light. However, on closer inspection you can tell many of the renovations were done on the cheap and are already starting to show.

Regardless we were seated within about 10 minutes of arrival.

I did the Nompton (pancakes, eggs, bacon and potatoes), wife did the Eggs Benedict and we both shared the Crunchy French Toast (at the waitress's suggestion).

First, the entire staff was very friendly; host was smiling the whole time and offered immediate seating at the 'community table' (we weren't feeling it, so we passed). Our waitress was very friendly and attentive.

Food arrived promptly without us ever glancing down at our watch. Presentation was really nice also.

My Nompton was average. Nothing bad, just nothing that made me anticipate the next bite. Had to ask for butter as the pancakes didn't appear to have any. The potatoes were blah and could have used seasoning.

Wife's Eggs Benedict looked great but was a big disappointment when she cut into it and the poached egg on top had ZERO run to the yolk. It was basically hard boiled.

The crispy French Toast was very tasty, though you had to really look hard to see any of the powdered sugar.

What kinda struck me as odd is that the place is literally called "Syrup" yet the syrup itself is more of an after thought. You'd think with a name like "Syrup" that the SYRUP would actually be highlighted. Maybe several different flavors, all heated and all served in fancy dispensers. Nope - instead syrup doesn't even get a mention on the menu and it's served in a tiny landfill contributing plastic throwaway container and treated like a step child and was barely clinging to the side of my plate.

$26 for our meal before tip wasn't terrible, but certainly wasn't good enough to make me bypass Retro Hash in Edmond to give this place my business in the future. Not bad if you're in the area and the other breakfast spots are too busy.

Here's a quick pic (that for whatever reason still doesn't post correctly) you have to click the link....

14510

Hash, is that the one by seafood boil?

Hash, is that the one by seafood boil?

Hash Retro Dinner. 1149 E 2nd St in Edmond.

It's all homemade - even the jelly and ketchup.

I have similar opinions about syrup. The hot breakfast seems to take a backseat to all the waffles, cakes, and French toast. And as a result is completely unremarkable. If you’re in the 23rd st corridor, hunnybunny is a home run with not much of a line (yet) and the pump is a hidden brunch gem where we can always get a table. Woodruff’s biscuit joint will be up and running in the paseo soon too.

there was a pretty long line on Saturday (to the door) at Honey Bunny, but they have two registers so it goes quick. we were able to get a table and get out of there pretty quickly all things considered.

Here for the "Syrup is just OK," pile-on. Service was good. Coffee was good. Food was forgettable but unobjectionable. Syrup itself under-emphasized.

Truly, if I wanted a passable but forgettable breakfast experience I will stick to Jimmy's Egg.

So, in summation, Syrup was just ok.

Syrup, much like Scratch, works in Norman, not so much here. Here there are just too many other places doing the same thing only much better.

Both locations get a 3.5 on Yelp

My wife and I went this weekend because we could not get into Hatch in Chisolm Creek. It was great! Awesome service and the food was delicious. They also brew Stumptown Coffee out of Portland Oregon. Apparently, one of the owners lived there for a bit and asked them if they would provide it. For the coffee people out there, this is a fun contrast to the great brews happening everywhere else.

The place was also bright and cheerful. It was also packed with a wait. Best to them.