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.

Yeah eating out definitely is getting expensive these days. I’m sure it’s good but I couldn’t justify paying $23 for a burger and fries. But their tuna, Korean beef tenderloin, and steak frites were all excellent.

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.

I imagine you pass on diner's as this is their operating model. A good diner offers pages of menu items with multiple styles of food.

I imagine you pass on diner's as this is their operating model. A good diner offers pages of menu items with multiple styles of food.

Well, actually, now that you mention it, we pretty much don't do diners since we've been back in OKC, hadn't really thought about it much. :) When we lived in the Chicago area, we frequented them all the time (although we called them "Greek restaurants" because they were mainly owned by people of Greek descent). We only go out to eat once a week, usually, maybe twice, though, so we choose our restaurants carefully.

I went by yesterday and noticed they have completely repaired this damage:

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

LOL at some of this thread. Hal Smith is hands down the most successful restauranteur in this state and a heck of businessman. I don't know that I've ever had a bad meal at any of his restaurants and the service/execution is next to none. I do prefer more local & eclectic options given the choice but know if I eat at one of his places it's always good food and service.

My one knock would be that pretty much all of his concepts are stolen ideas from other from other prominent national restauranteurs/existing concepts. But that's not uncommon in the business. He's got the corporate experience and back ground to execute his restaurants at a level nobody else in Oklahoma can even come close to duplicating. Do they cater to the masses? Sure. It's business. Would you rather live like the 1% and feed the masses or live like the middle class-maybe upper middle class at best (if you're lucky owning a restaurant) and have something a little more eclectic?

LOL at some of this thread. Hal Smith is hands down the most successful restauranteur in this state and a heck of businessman. I don't know that I've ever had a bad meal at any of his restaurants and the service/execution is next to none. I do prefer more local & eclectic options given the choice but know if I eat at one of his places it's always good food and service.

My one knock would be that pretty much all of his concepts are stolen ideas from other from other prominent national restauranteurs/existing concepts. But that's not uncommon in the business. He's got the corporate experience and back ground to execute his restaurants at a level nobody else in Oklahoma can even come close to duplicating. Do they cater to the masses? Sure. It's business. Would you rather live like the 1% and feed the masses or live like the middle class-maybe upper middle class at best (if you're lucky owning a restaurant) and have something a little more eclectic?

Exactly. If it isn't broken, why fix it? His restaurants serve consistent food. Not exceptional or James Beard award winning. But you know what you are getting at Charleston's, Red Rock Canyon, Pub W, etc.