My tab had some interesting tax on it. The drinks tab came to an even number, and the prices were bizarre, like 5.79 or 4.46 So I'm assuming it's tax inclusive prices but with the math done on the check instead of invisible like most bars. The tax didn't seem like the full OKC, OK 21.5% on the dollar tax either. Maybe just city/county sales? When I say most bars: I mean taverns, clubs, places whose #1 income is booze. You walk into a bar and order a $5 beer it's $5. You walk into a Louie's or order at the bar from a restaurant it's a $5 beer with a walk away price of $6.08

Which begs the question. Should the consumer be paying the tax or the provider? Obviously it gets built into the price one way or another. But I get especially frustrated to buy a bottle of wine at a restaurant and think "hmm $40 is a good price for that." WRONG it's actually $50 and am I supposed to tip on the tax? Because I tip according to my $5 beer I bought in the bar that had the tax included. Which is actually a $3.85 beer because the state of Oklahoma charges and insane 13.5% liquor tax after sales. Don't get me started on the grocery tax...

My tab had some interesting tax on it. The drinks tab came to an even number, and the prices were bizarre, like 5.79 or 4.46 So I'm assuming it's tax inclusive prices but with the math done on the check instead of invisible like most bars. The tax didn't seem like the full OKC, OK 21.5% on the dollar tax either. Maybe just city/county sales? When I say most bars: I mean taverns, clubs, places whose #1 income is booze. You walk into a bar and order a $5 beer it's $5. You walk into a Louie's or order at the bar from a restaurant it's a $5 beer with a walk away price of $6.08

Which begs the question. Should the consumer be paying the tax or the provider? Obviously it gets built into the price one way or another. But I get especially frustrated to buy a bottle of wine at a restaurant and think "hmm $40 is a good price for that." WRONG it's actually $50 and am I supposed to tip on the tax? Because I tip according to my $5 beer I bought in the bar that had the tax included. Which is actually a $3.85 beer because the state of Oklahoma charges and insane 13.5% liquor tax after sales. Don't get me started on the grocery tax...

Legally, restaurants and bars are supposed to include the liquor tax in their advertised prices. This guy a few years ago (was trying to?) put together a law-suit against a plethora of establishments who did not include the liquor tax in their prices. It seems to me that many establishments do not include that liquor tax in their prices, so much so that I never assume that it's included. If you're going to spend a lot of money on alcohol, it's certainly worth asking the server if their advertised prices include the tax.

Servers/bartenders "expect" 20% on the bolded "Total" line at the end of your itemized receipt. And by expect, I realistically mean hope for, because they learn pretty quickly that tips are impossibly arbitrary.

Legally, restaurants and bars are supposed to include the liquor tax in their advertised prices. This guy a few years ago (was trying to?) put together a law-suit against a plethora of establishments who did not include the liquor tax in their prices. It seems to me that many establishments do not include that liquor tax in their prices, so much so that I never assume that it's included. If you're going to spend a lot of money on alcohol, it's certainly worth asking the server if their advertised prices include the tax.

Servers/bartenders "expect" 20% on the bolded "Total" line at the end of your itemized receipt. And by expect, I realistically mean hope for, because they learn pretty quickly that tips are impossibly arbitrary.

Do most OKCTalkers tip on the bolded "Total" line that includes the tax?

Do most OKCTalkers tip on the bolded "Total" line that includes the tax?

I do

So do I.

Same

That or at least a buck a beer.

^^^^^^
Same as all above. 20%-ish of total including tax, or a buck or two per beverage on drinks that are $5 or less each.

I tip on the total if I order food, if I am only ordering drinks I tip $1 per drink. Unless I am camping out by myself on a busy night and hogging real estate, I may tip up to $5 per hour rent plus $1 per drink.

With good service 20%, but with excellent service, 30%.
C. T.

^^^^^^^
Agree with that, too.

At the Rockford right now. This place is great! -End detailed review.

I tip on the total if I order food, if I am only ordering drinks I tip $1 per drink. Unless I am camping out by myself on a busy night and hogging real estate, I may tip up to $5 per hour rent plus $1 per drink.

good practice

That or at least a buck a beer.
That's where it gets weird with alcohol. It takes the same effort to pour a $4 whiskey as it does a $40 one. The same could be said for a hamburger vs. prime steak but in bars it's a bit different I think.

That's where it gets weird with alcohol. It takes the same effort to pour a $4 whiskey as it does a $40 one. The same could be said for a hamburger vs. prime steak but in bars it's a bit different I think.

Knowledge is worth something as well. Serving/Bartending is not something you can just wake and do some day at any restaurant/bar, but especially high-end restaurants/bars. It's not rocket science by any means, but neither are probably 75%+ of careers out there.

It may take the bartender the same effort to pour MacAllan 12 year as Balvenie 21 year, but it has taken that bartender a long time to be able to talk to you about both products and help you make the selection that is best for you. A server at a high-end restaurant has worked a lot of shifts over time to learn how to tell when you want service, when you want to be left alone, how to talk through a menu without ruining the ambience (imagine your average Chili's server spending 2 to 3 minutes talking tell you about features at Mickey Mantle's).

Is the physical effort the same, possibly. Maybe even less so. But it's taken years to gain the finesse to be able to deliver an experience at a high level.

Lastly…most servers/bartenders understand if a table is spending massive amounts on alcohol on any given tab, that 20% probably shouldn't be assumed. Most servers don't expect $200 on a $1000 bottle of wine. It's great when it happens, and if you're ordering a $1000 bottle of wine, you clearly need the extra $200 far less than the server, but it's your money, and if you want to be frugal and tip $100 instead of $200, it's not the end of the world.

Absolutely. And it's a career move for the elite. It's not uncommon for the top servers and bartenders in OKC to make upwards of 60k. And it is undoubtably a difficult niche skill. The problem solving and organization and craft that goes into getting product in your hands while making it seem so easy, effortless, and stress free. That's the beauty of great service.

Went last night. Place was absolutely slammed…we had to wait like 5 minutes just to get in. Made it difficult to get a drink in a quick amount of time, but they were working well and it wasn't an annoying wait.

They don't really play 70s music, but whatever, the actual feel of the place is great. It's nice to go into a bar that is not too dark.

Overall, Rockford is a *great* addition to 23rd, which is rapidly rounding into form between Dewey and Harvey on the South side of the street.

^

They tend to place about an hour or two of 70's, then switch to newer stuff, than back to 70's.

I know this because I once spent 6 straight hours there. :)

They’ve added a couple of pool tables.

I heard through the grapevine that Rockford is done and has already been sold.

I heard through the grapevine that Rockford is done and has already been sold.

Wow, really? I haven't been in a while (maybe that's the problem) but whenever I was there it was totally packed.

I heard through the grapevine that Rockford is done and has already been sold.

New owners, the same group that owns Hopscotch.

Added a bunch of beers on tap, added 2 pool tables... Aiming more for a neighborhood bar type place.

Their numbers are already way up.

New owners, the same group that owns Hopscotch.

Added a bunch of beers on tap, added 2 pool tables... Aiming more for a neighborhood bar type place.

Their numbers are already way up.


Good move! so much space there that they needed more than just furniture to lounge about on.

They will be making more upgrades as well.

I already like the place way more.

They will be making more upgrades as well.

I already like the place way more.

Keeping the name?

I may have to give the place another try. The only time I've been I almost got in a fight because some frat guy accused me of hitting on his girlfriend (I did not). I haven't been back since.

I think given the location going for a more neighborhood bar feel is a step in the right direction.

This place used to suck to order drinks @. So I stopped going, but may give it another shot if they have redone the joint.

New owners, the same group that owns Hopscotch.

Added a bunch of beers on tap, added 2 pool tables... Aiming more for a neighborhood bar type place.

Their numbers are already way up.

I was there last week and was saddened as it was one of my favorite places. I loved what was the unique feel, their cocktails, and their attention to detail in their cocktail making. Their cocktail list was gone. They couldn't make a Manhattan to save their life. Had quasi-heavy metal playing. It was bad. I wish them well with their brah-tastic endeavor, but it's not for me.

Rockford, Dekora, and Knucks were all the Mains, right? Rockford sold and Dekora closed, is Knucks in danger?

Keeping the name?

Dropping "Cocktail Den" from the end - now solely "Rockford"

Rockford, Dekora, and Knucks were all the Mains, right? Rockford sold and Dekora closed, is Knucks in danger?

Knuck's will live on.

Knucks is in the hearts of many a drunken souls every weekend, I would be shocked if they closed. The only thing I would suggest to Knucks is to have a promotor or two near the clubs/bars in Bricktown between 1:45am and 2:15am. Handing out a cozy deal with directions pointing the masses where to go can score you a lot of business. A lot of people don't know KNucks is even there - as the location is somewhat hidden from the Sheridan shenanigans.

The Rockford relaunched officially on Wednesday.


14293

Sadly looks soulessr, the original place was unique and had an awesome vibe

Is it just another ultralounge clone place? I know the 70s theme wasn't for everyone but damn if it wasn't unique!

The original Rockford had a great vibe for a while... Then completely died -- which is why they sold out.

Serious change was needed and their numbers are way up.

Yeah....6 months tops.

Yeah....6 months tops.

kinda what i'm thinking, stuck in a typical "club" cycle now

really makes you appreciate the places that have established and remained popular

Yeah....6 months tops.

I'll take that bet.

The new operators know what they are doing.

What are the prices like?

Also, one of the things that will be integral to the success of this venue is a Tower Theater that is blowing full steam ahead. There are too many places that you can go in OKC these days and walk less than a block between multiple places for a place as sequestered as this to really hit on all cylinders. The Tower's rise is probably the biggest hurdle holding back 23rd from beginning to reach its potential.

I'll take that bet.

The new operators know what they are doing.

They can call it a neighborhood bar all they want, but neighborhood bars don’t bask patrons in neon purple light. Clubs do. Skinny slims is a neighborhood bar.

That's too bad that they got rid of the 70s look as I really liked it. The new look is very nighclubish.

That's too bad that they got rid of the 70s look as I really liked it. The new look is very nighclubish.

They kept a lot of the 70's stuff.

Personally, I enjoyed the new look but I'll grant the point that it did lose some of its uniqueness-factor. IIRC half of the couches, the popcorn machine, the piano, and the 70's era nudes are all gone.
To each his own though, I think I've already discussed my dislike of cocktail-centric bars in the Ponyboy thread so I liked seeing some craft beer on tap.
I took at date there Saturday night (on Pete's recommendation haha) and had a great time.

One of the big problems was the space is so large and open that unless there were a ton of people in there, it seemed dead.

Now, with the pool tables and breaking things up a bit it feels much more lively with only 20-30 people in there.

I personally like the changes and had stopped going to Rockford a few months after it opened.

Was there after 10PM last night (a Tuesday) and there was a good crowd there and people were friendly.

I quite like the tweaks and I know they have some other plans as well.

Haven’t made it down yet, but did sit at the bar at Ponyboy next to Jerrod last night if that counts

Based on a Twitter post by Steve it seems like maybe this has closed? Any confirmations?

Yes, it closed a couple of weeks ago.

There was a bunch of legal wranglings between the latest partners, and it all collapsed.

shame

Bummer, it was a cool spot

Sad but I pretty much figured this day would come. I think it was a poor location for the type of bar that it was. It always seemed to me like more of a Bricktown kind of place. Alternatively, I think it could have worked in a smaller space tucked back into a neighborhood somewhere. One of it's problems from the very beginning was the space being too large for the typical crowd size and thus the place always seemed a lot deader than it was.

it always seemed packed to me, and I disagree about bricktown. ponyboy, with its dance floor, maybe.

it always seemed packed to me, and I disagree about bricktown. ponyboy, with its dance floor, maybe.

Hey that Ponyboy dance floor is the best People watching in town!

My wife and I really enjoyed going here before we got pregnant, and thus were out of the drinking game for 40 weeks. We had our little one a month ago and are itching to get out, too bad this place closed.

Yes, it closed a couple of weeks ago.

There was a bunch of legal wranglings between the latest partners, and it all collapsed.

Who owns the building and is it available now?

FlashBack North!!!

FlashBack North!!!

lol...I wouldn't call 23rd Street North by Oklahoma City Standards.

FlashBack North!!!

HA, I think we all agree that last time FlashBack tried 23rd street it didn't go so well. :D

There will only be 1 FB in OKC, FB #2 will be at least 100 miles from OKC. I like how 23rd Street has come along and changes that we've seen over the last 2-3 years, but rates have skyrocketed for the most part.

Space was simply too large. R&J is up there among my favorite bars in the city, but put the same concept in the Rockford space and I'm sure I wouldn't have liked it as much. I agree with whoever said that a smaller space could have potentially made the bar more successful.