Who actually owns Ted's now? I know it started with Ted on 68th (although they completely lie about it being a remodeled house - there was never a house there, it was a field, we played there as kids/teenagers, and they built the restaurant there and made it look like a house, county assessor records support that). I know they partnered w/Hal Smith, and then Ted got out, but not sure what the owner situation is now. Apologies if it's pages back in this thread, I didn't go through it all before asking...

Who actually owns Ted's now? I know it started with Ted on 68th (although they completely lie about it being a remodeled house - there was never a house there, it was a field, we played there as kids/teenagers, and they built the restaurant there and made it look like a house, county assessor records support that). I know they partnered w/Hal Smith, and then Ted got out, but not sure what the owner situation is now. Apologies if it's pages back in this thread, I didn't go through it all before asking...


in 2002 Ted Curtis partnered with Hal smith to open new locations ..

https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2801125/teds-escondido-may-soon-open-more-restaurants

in 2013 a PE firm the Beekman group took over the brand ... but Hal smith is still involved and is on the board ...

https://www.thebeekmangroup.com/the-beekman-group-announces-that-its-affiliate-has-made-an-investment-in-mexican-restaurant-chain-teds-cafe-escondido/

they are run fully separate from HSRG

in 2002 Ted Curtis partnered with Hal smith to open new locations ..

https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2801125/teds-escondido-may-soon-open-more-restaurants

in 2013 a PE firm the Beekman group took over the brand ... but Hal smith is still involved and is on the board ...

https://www.thebeekmangroup.com/the-beekman-group-announces-that-its-affiliate-has-made-an-investment-in-mexican-restaurant-chain-teds-cafe-escondido/

they are run fully separate from HSRG

Thanks.

in 2002 Ted Curtis partnered with Hal smith to open new locations ..

https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2801125/teds-escondido-may-soon-open-more-restaurants

in 2013 a PE firm the Beekman group took over the brand ... but Hal smith is still involved and is on the board ...

https://www.thebeekmangroup.com/the-beekman-group-announces-that-its-affiliate-has-made-an-investment-in-mexican-restaurant-chain-teds-cafe-escondido/

they are run fully separate from HSRG

When we went to the soft opening of Metro Cafe, one of the owners was there and we spoke with him a bit. Turns out he's the guy that started Outback Steakhouse, sold it off and started Longhorn Steakhouse, I believe. He was the one who took Metro Diner nationwide and was here for their soft opening. He mentioned that he was working with Hal Smith for Metro and that they were working on taking Ted's national. My assumption now is that this cantina version is what they have settled on as the concept to go national as opposed to a full on Ted's Cafe Escondido, but that remains to be seen.

I also got to chat at another time to someone close to the gentleman that started Ted's and his departure was characterized as a bunch of money to go away and leave it alone type situation. And, from what I can tell it was a BUNCH of money.

When we went to the soft opening of Metro Cafe, one of the owners was there and we spoke with him a bit. Turns out he's the guy that started Outback Steakhouse, sold it off and started Longhorn Steakhouse, I believe. He was the one who took Metro Diner nationwide and was here for their soft opening. He mentioned that he was working with Hal Smith for Metro and that they were working on taking Ted's national. My assumption now is that this cantina version is what they have settled on as the concept to go national as opposed to a full on Ted's Cafe Escondido, but that remains to be seen.

I also got to chat at another time to someone close to the gentleman that started Ted's and his departure was characterized as a bunch of money to go away and leave it alone type situation. And, from what I can tell it was a BUNCH of money.

Didn't Hal run Outback?

Ted was ahead of his time in a few things, particularly the seating scheduling program that was very accurate. When they said it would be 20 minutes it was way more reliable than the off the hand estimates others did at the time. I think people appreciated it and it helped build loyal clientele. They knew that say McDonalds grew because they were consistent and predictable, not because they had the best food (except for maybe addictive French fries :) )

Traveller,
I think you might (I said "might") be confused with Cocino De Mino, the store that Ted's bought on 68th. Cocino De Mino started in an old home, remodeled to be a restaurant on SouthEast 29th street. I'm not saying you are wrong, just wondering if you are confusing the story with Ted's.
C. T.

Traveller,
I think you might (I said "might") be confused with Cocino De Mino, the store that Ted's bought on 68th. Cocino De Mino started in an old home, remodeled to be a restaurant on SouthEast 29th street. I'm not saying you are wrong, just wondering if you are confusing the story with Ted's.
C. T.
It was a hamburger place befor Ted’s.

Traveller,
I think you might (I said "might") be confused with Cocino De Mino, the store that Ted's bought on 68th. Cocino De Mino started in an old home, remodeled to be a restaurant on SouthEast 29th street. I'm not saying you are wrong, just wondering if you are confusing the story with Ted's.
C. T.

Nope, Ted's website says this:

In a remodeled house on 68th St. in Oklahoma City, with a fondness for freshness and a made-from-scratch mentality, Ted’s Cafe Escondido was born. We’ve been bringing better Mexican food to Oklahoma since 1991.

County Assessor website says this:

Account #: R119931705
Bldg #1
Building #: 1
Built As: Restaurant
# of Stories: 1 Stories
Square Feet: 3,851
Year Built: 1984

Can't speak to the hamburger place, I didn't get back down there for a long time.

i don't know about the accuracy of it ever being a house, but ct is right in that the property was cocina de mino prior to becoming ted's. just to verify my recollection, i looked at the oklahoman archives... the first mention of the address is in 1984 (coinciding to when the assessor says the structure was built) as the may cafe. the owner was getting opposition from the neighborhood when applying for a beer permit. sometime between then and 1987, it became the second location of cocina de mino. by 1993, the location was ted's cafe escondido when there was (again) drama with the neighborhood when the property owner applied for abc-2 so that the restaurant could serve mixed drinks.

I don't think there were ever any houses on that site.

If you look at the aerial from 1969, it was still a vacant lot.

^
totally agree and was about to follow up with the same thing! in my mind, there's little chance that a house would be built on those three lots and then within 15 years of 1984 have it immediately rezoned and turned into a restaurant. i just wanted to be 110% sure and took a detour to look at a 1975 aerial at the usgs site and got stuck when i forgot my password. : )

EDIT: the lots were empty in 1975 also. the next available aerial is from feb. 1984 and (of course) it shows the structure.

I literally lived about half a block away from it from when I was born in 1965 and I can't remember from my first few years, of course, but from the time I was old enough to run/walk around the neighborhood, there was never a building on the site until sometime after we moved away in 1982. In 1975, me and my friends were playing baseball/football in "the field" (as well as climbing around on "the rocks", which was a hill/rocks where the retaining wall is now west of Ted's, and above it was also a field (McDonald's was on the north side of 68th on May then, and there was a Braum's was where the dispensary is now).

It was a hamburger place befor Ted’s.

Rover,
Cocino De Mino was on our weekly lunch rotation, then it was Ted's. It might have been a hamburger place before Cocino De Mino. Cocino De Mino moved further North on May after selling it to Ted's.
C. T.

Nope, Ted's website says this:

In a remodeled house on 68th St. in Oklahoma City, with a fondness for freshness and a made-from-scratch mentality, Ted’s Cafe Escondido was born. We’ve been bringing better Mexican food to Oklahoma since 1991.

County Assessor website says this:

Account #: R119931705
Bldg #1
Building #: 1
Built As: Restaurant
# of Stories: 1 Stories
Square Feet: 3,851
Year Built: 1984

Can't speak to the hamburger place, I didn't get back down there for a long time.

Traveller,
Remember, I said "MIght". I think Ted's was using Cocino De Mino's history for marketing purposes.
C. T.

Traveller,
Remember, I said "MIght". I think Ted's was using Cocino De Mino's history for marketing purposes.
C. T.

Point is that there was never a house on that site, it was purpose-built as a restaurant, no matter what anybody's "history" says.

This place just can't catch a break. Busted pipes. Cars up on the patio...

https://twitter.com/DanicMepressive/status/1491443550713946118

Drift King was craving some tacos?

This Ted's is open, but their patio is not:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/teds020822a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/teds020922a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/teds020922b.jpg

The fact that the rock was not removed from the sidewalk (whereas if it had found its way to the road it would have been removed immediately) tells you everything you need to know about pedestrian prioritization in this city. But we already knew that about this stretch with the light poles right in the middle of the sidewalk...

Yeah the sidewalks should be set back from the road.

Yeah the sidewalks should be set back from the road.

+1. Really need to get DPZ (or a similarly situated firm) to work up a zoning review for all of NW OKC, and then just execute on the vision. Would be far more impactful than most of these silly MAPS projects of late.

The fact that the rock was not removed from the sidewalk (whereas if it had found its way to the road it would have been removed immediately) tells you everything you need to know about pedestrian prioritization in this city. But we already knew that about this stretch with the light poles right in the middle of the sidewalk...

Not to mention the absolute state of the sidewalks (where they even exist) between this part of town and the Paseo as well.

At some point we are going to have to actually get serious about making these corridors safe for people. This should have been taken care of years ago. This is a complete failure on the city of okc. It’s not the first time cars have hit the front of buildings in this area and it won’t be the last. People are going to get killed by this neglect. An absolute embarrassment.

i don't know about the accuracy of it ever being a house, but ct is right in that the property was cocina de mino prior to becoming ted's. just to verify my recollection, i looked at the oklahoman archives... the first mention of the address is in 1984 (coinciding to when the assessor says the structure was built) as the may cafe. the owner was getting opposition from the neighborhood when applying for a beer permit. sometime between then and 1987, it became the second location of cocina de mino. by 1993, the location was ted's cafe escondido when there was (again) drama with the neighborhood when the property owner applied for abc-2 so that the restaurant could serve mixed drinks.

Necropost. I thought I might chime in here, as I was as "in" as anyone could be when TC started the restaurant.

The building was built as the "May Cafe" by John Culbertson, a local author and decorated Vietnam vet. The May Cafe did not go over so well, but TC made friends with Culbertson, as TC's dad owned a rather large restaurant supply company. It was also close to the neighborhood that TC's family lived in.

Culbertson then rented the building to the Concina De Mino folks for several years. For some reasons I don't know, there was friction, and CdM was tossed at the end of one of the lease terms.

TC was in the planning stages for a restaurant, as his music recording studio was in the process of being sold off. Culbertson offered him the opportunity to do his concept on the 68th st. location, and after some rocky starts, Ted's Cafe Escondido was officially born, 1991. Ted never purchased the building from Culbertson, only leased it.

TC and his wife, along with some staff that had departed from another mexican restaurant got it going, working truly devastating hours, for several years. The software was an enormous task... some may remember the buzzer devices patrons were given while waiting, that would alert you when your table was ready. There were even devices on the tables that kept track of how long it took to get it cleared and ready for the next diners.

The alcohol drama is basically exactly as you describe, Martin. TC guaranteed there would only be beer sales, no hard liquor. This was both as TC has a very negative personal feeling with the damages of substance abuse, and also as it would tend to slow the table turns. People camping and drinking you know.

TC actually did spare no expense. He instituted systems and processes that were truly ahead of their time. Some worked, some did not. The stress of small business ownership etc. led him to move to sell, exactly as described in other parts of this post.

This really is a story that told in detail and correctly would be a great "Oklahoma Success" read.

I can't believe it has been 30 years.

Necropost. I thought I might chime in here, as I was as "in" as anyone could be when TC started the restaurant...
great information... thanks for all that! having pagers in the early 90's was definitely ahead of its time... i remember that catching on in the late 90's but don't remember any place with them around '91. on top of that, i didn't even know devices that could track when a table is cleared even existed. the first time we made it to ted's was around 2000 and we waited around an hour to get a table... throughout the whole experience we could tell that the place had a tight system in place.

great information... thanks for all that! having pagers in the early 90's was definitely ahead of its time... i remember that catching on in the late 90's but don't remember any place with them around '91. on top of that, i didn't even know devices that could track when a table is cleared even existed. the first time we made it to ted's was around 2000 and we waited around an hour to get a table... throughout the whole experience we could tell that the place had a tight system in place.

The software to do the table control was, well, quite bespoke. Ted always had excellent ideas on what he wanted to see in it, so it was a challenge to keep it running while simultaneously adding new features. It ran from an early production touchscreen at the greeter station, had the ability to move tables together to accommodate large groups, and would alert the server when one of their tables was cleared and another group had been sat. And that was just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.. it tied into the ordering and back of house as well. The turn rate was most likely one of the highest in the nation at the time.

The software to do the table control was, well, quite bespoke. Ted always had excellent ideas on what he wanted to see in it, so it was a challenge to keep it running while simultaneously adding new features. It ran from an early production touchscreen at the greeter station, had the ability to move tables together to accommodate large groups, and would alert the server when one of their tables was cleared and another group had been sat. And that was just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.. it tied into the ordering and back of house as well. The turn rate was most likely one of the highest in the nation at the time.

Only can be beat by Taurahumara's in Norman. I swear they turn tables in under 10 minutes after you sit down.

Ted's is still brutally efficient in getting people in and out. Though honestly I feel food quality has came down over the last few years as they've continued to expand, it's still really solid Tex-Mex, and I always enjoy taking a crowd with me due to their efficiency, but food seems to be getting a touch on the bland side the last half dozen times I've gone.

Ted's is still brutally efficient in getting people in and out. Though honestly I feel food quality has came down over the last few years as they've continued to expand, it's still really solid Tex-Mex, and I always enjoy taking a crowd with me due to their efficiency, but food seems to be getting a touch on the bland side the last half dozen times I've gone.

As a Texas transplant -- though my wife now says I'm officially an Oklahoman after having lived here for over 20 years partnered with having deep Oklahoma familial roots -- I've always thought it was very bland and non-exciting. For example, my elderly dad who has stomach issues has to eat bland foods and Ted's is one of our "safe" places we can take him actually due to the blandness. Not saying you can't find something on the menu that isn't bland, but overall I've never thought it was anything incredible. That being said, the service has always been unmatched and is indeed pretty incredible.

Ted's is still brutally efficient in getting people in and out. Though honestly I feel food quality has came down over the last few years as they've continued to expand, it's still really solid Tex-Mex, and I always enjoy taking a crowd with me due to their efficiency, but food seems to be getting a touch on the bland side the last half dozen times I've gone.

Interesting - why do you keep going back if the food's not that good? Life's too short to put up with crappy food of any sort, there are a lot of Tex-Mex restaurants that are better than Ted's around.

Quality Tex-Mex is a dying cuisine. I realize that all cuisines evolve over time to accommodate popular tastes, but there just isn't much out there that rings the bell for me. The last great Tex-Mex meals I have had in the last ten years or so were at Mi Tierra in San Antonio and Ninfa's in Houston.

Ted's is a decent chain but it's not the same as it was when Ted ran it, and even then it was very good but not comparable to the best Tex-Mex joints in Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

Agree with Soonerguru. But have you tried Mi Pueblo in Warr Acres? I lived in Dallas for 25 years and Mi Pueblo is the best TexMex in OKC I've had so far.

Quality Tex-Mex is a dying cuisine. I realize that all cuisines evolve over time to accommodate popular tastes, but there just isn't much out there that rings the bell for me. The last great Tex-Mex meals I have had in the last ten years or so were at Mi Tierra in San Antonio and Ninfa's in Houston.

Ted's is a decent chain but it's not the same as it was when Ted ran it, and even then it was very good but not comparable to the best Tex-Mex joints in Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

If you haven’t tried Mama Lety OKC, would totally recommend it. She makes everything from scratch and has managed to work in a number of the old classics, like Huaraches and Moles.

Has anyone tried Chapala on May between Grand and Wilshire? They seem to have pretty good reviews for a Tex-Mex place.

Has anyone tried Chapala on May between Grand and Wilshire? They seem to have pretty good reviews for a Tex-Mex place.

Yes! Enormous portions. Very good food.

Yes! Enormous portions. Very good food.

Thanks!

As a Texas transplant -- though my wife now says I'm officially an Oklahoman after having lived here for over 20 years partnered with having deep Oklahoma familial roots -- I've always thought it was very bland and non-exciting. For example, my elderly dad who has stomach issues has to eat bland foods and Ted's is one of our "safe" places we can take him actually due to the blandness. Not saying you can't find something on the menu that isn't bland, but overall I've never thought it was anything incredible. That being said, the service has always been unmatched and is indeed pretty incredible.

Unfair on my part, but this to me sums up my experience with just about any restaurant group in general

Unfair on my part, but this to me sums up my experience with just about any restaurant group in general

Some of the smaller restaurant groups here in OKC still do a great job with their restaurants. But yeah, we never go to any Hal Smith restaurants unless we're forced to.

Some of the smaller restaurant groups here in OKC still do a great job with their restaurants. But yeah, we never go to any Hal Smith restaurants unless we're forced to.

Lol, are you serious?? You have to be forced to go to places like Red Rock, Charleston's, Upper Crust etc.?

Lol, are you serious?? You have to be forced to go to places like Red Rock, Charleston's, Upper Crust etc.?

Yep, we don't go to any Hal Smith restaurants voluntarily. Charleston's, The Garage, Louie's, Mahogany, Mama Roja's, Pub W, Upper Crust, and especially Ted's all have better equivalents out there. Haven't eaten at any of the others, so can't speak to them.

Interesting - why do you keep going back if the food's not that good? Life's too short to put up with crappy food of any sort, there are a lot of Tex-Mex restaurants that are better than Ted's around.

Unfortunately for me the people I tend to hang with they seem to think Teds is the pinnacle of tex mex lol.

Unfortunately for me the people I tend to hang with they seem to think Teds is the pinnacle of tex mex lol.

Gotcha, sometimes we have to go to places we don't like because someone else is choosing.

Hal Smith has been successful because they cater to the greatest common denominator in the culinary world.... The picky eater.

Someone upthread mentioned it being their "safe" option and that is what I've always called it..... With the exception of Mahogany I'm a lot like Travellers... I only go if I'm invited to go.... With that said I have never had a bad meal at a Hal Smith restaurant.... And with that said... I have never had a meal that made me want to go back..... Except at Mahogany.

The Ted's today has very little in common with the original Ted's of which I was a frequent customer of.... Mainly for their tamal at the time... Ted's served a fine tamale before Hal Smith took over.

Hal Smith has done well with Mahogany, Charlestons, and Neighborhood Jam. The rest are garbage.

.... With that said I have never had a bad meal at a Hal Smith restaurant.... And with that said... I have never had a meal that made me want to go back..... Except at Mahogany.

Yep, pretty much this. Can't remember much about Mahogany, but if I can't remember it, then it must not've been good enough to go back. :)


The Ted's today has very little in common with the original Ted's of which I was a frequent customer of.... Mainly for their tamal at the time... Ted's served a fine tamale before Hal Smith took over.

Absolutely 1000% agree with this - great when they opened and for a few years, then fell off a bit, then a lot when HSRG got involved.

Y’all need to check out Jimmy B’s. It’s a Hal Smith restaurant, and we’re huge fans. Only been 3 times but have never left disappointed.

Yep, pretty much this. Can't remember much about Mahogany, but if I can't remember it, then it must not've been good enough to go back. :)



Absolutely 1000% agree with this - great when they opened and for a few years, then fell off a bit, then a lot when HSRG got involved.

HSRG is not involved with teds in any way

HSRG is not involved with teds in any way

Mmmmmmkay.... So this never happened?


The Beekman Group, LLC (“Beekman”) today announced that its affiliate has made an investment in Ted’s Café Escondido Holdings, Inc. (“Ted’s” or the “Company”), a full-service Mexican/Tex-Mex casual dining restaurant chain based in Oklahoma City, OK. Beekman’s affiliate partnered with successful restaurant executive Hal W. Smith to recapitalize the business with the existing management team. Mr. Smith is currently the CEO of the Hal Smith Restaurant Group, a restaurant management company that operates 12 concepts in 7 Southern states with over 60 locations. Ted’s is Beekman’s second transaction in two months and brings their second lower middle-market private equity fund to approximately half invested.

Mmmmmmkay.... So this never happened?

Hal smith is involved with Teds HSRG is not

Hal smith is involved with Teds HSRG is not

Does the normal person care that there's a difference between Hal Smith and HSRG? I certainly don't.

Hal smith is involved with Teds HSRG is not

We can argue semantics all day..... Hal Smith was CEO of HSRG at the time.... You said "...in any way".... I see a way..... Semantics

Yep, we don't go to any Hal Smith restaurants voluntarily. Charleston's, The Garage, Louie's, Mahogany, Mama Roja's, Pub W, Upper Crust, and especially Ted's all have better equivalents out there. Haven't eaten at any of the others, so can't speak to them.

Definitely respect your opinion here, but I've never heard anyone say they avoid every Hal Smith restaurant. Just curious, what is the better equivalent to Charleston's/Red Rock ?

If you haven’t tried Mama Lety OKC, would totally recommend it. She makes everything from scratch and has managed to work in a number of the old classics, like Huaraches and Moles.

Would love to try it. And while moles are indeed delicious, and truly authentic Mexican cuisine, I'm talking about classic Tex-Mex. I love authentic Mexican, New Mexican, Sonoran, and other styles of Mexican food, but I'm literally just talking about classic cheese enchiladas, etc.

Hal smith is involved with Teds HSRG is not

Tricky!

I went to Jimmy B's the other day. Ordered a burger and fries with ice tea. It was a very good burger but with tax and tip it was almost $30 for lunch for one. LOL. What if I had enjoyed a cocktail?

Not to be a cheapskate, but this is why I mostly dine at home these days.

Agree with Soonerguru. But have you tried Mi Pueblo in Warr Acres? I lived in Dallas for 25 years and Mi Pueblo is the best TexMex in OKC I've had so far.

I have tried Mi Pueblo, and it is delicious! It is very good. It is not exactly Tex-Mex but it is very good.

Tricky!

I went to Jimmy B's the other day. Ordered a burger and fries with ice tea. It was a very good burger but with tax and tip it was almost $30 for lunch for one. LOL. What if I had enjoyed a cocktail?

Not to be a cheapskate, but this is why I mostly dine at home these days.

I went and checked out their menu and you weren't kidding. $16 for a burger ala carte and $7 for fries. Didn't see the tea price but that's $23 for a burger and fries. Broadway 10 is $17 but that comes with a side (looking at lunch menu), To tie it back in....Ted's doesn't have a burger on their menu.

Definitely respect your opinion here, but I've never heard anyone say they avoid every Hal Smith restaurant. Just curious, what is the better equivalent to Charleston's/Red Rock ?

To be honest, we don't go to places like Charleston's or Redrock Canyon Grill (or Chili's or Applebee's or Ruby Tuesday or TGI Friday's, et al) very much. If we want Mexican, we go to a Mexican place; if we want BBQ ribs, we go to a BBQ place; if we want seafood, we go to a seafood place, etc. As Roger S said, those places seem to cater to picky eaters (or to people who aren't sure what they want, and to groups where nobody can decide on one cuisine so they go to a place that everybody can find something on the menu), so we don't really have an equivalent to Charleston's or RRCG.

If I had to choose equivalents, they'd be Paseo Grill, Kitchen 324, Mary Eddy's (haven't been to it since they're reopened, though), and Rococo (and we really don't go to any of those much at all, except Rococo, right now mainly for brunch).

As Roger S said, those places seem to cater to picky eaters (or to people who aren't sure what they want, and to groups where nobody can decide on one cuisine so they go to a place that everybody can find something on the menu), so we don't really have an equivalent to Charleston's or RRCG.


Probably a better way of saying it than me saying picky..... I also tend to go to restaurants with a small menu that focus on one cuisine.

But I'm also not a typical diner.... I'm a pretty good cook in my own right. So I tend to hit places that make foods I don't/can't make for whatever reason.... Lack of equipment/ingredients usually..

To analogize Red Rock Or Charleston's with Applebee's may be one of the most asinine things I've read here in a long time.

To analogize Red Rock Or Charleston's with Applebee's may be one of the most asinine things I've read here in a long time.

They all serve multiple kinds and styles of food - I wasn't comparing the quality, just the "we have everything on the menu" way of operating.