Pops

[tuck]

Tuck, I'd knew you'd have a good response. I have to admit, since we were there for lunch, I really didn't take a moment to look over the new breakfast menu. We'll have to do it mainly because we trust you and your group.

About the burgers - are they cooked on a typical griddle? Would that be why so much of the juice stayed in the burgers we had? The beef itself (since it was NoName) was great, just juicy.

Thanks for the support. All burgers are cooked on a flat top griddle. Are you saying the moistness is a good thing; I hope so.

cafeboeuf, if you would like to discuss, please PM me. Thanks again for your comments.

[Jon27]

Does Pops have a selection of different sugar free pops?

[dismayed]

Thanks for the comments, I'll check the place out sometime in the near future!

[OKC4me]

I take it you're the owner or manager?

I hope you get the service part fixed because it has been extremely frustrating to eat there. I have actually left there mad a few times just because nobody seemed to care if we had our food or not, and the total lack of any kind of service. Its frustrating to have your food dropped off and never see your waitress again!

I really like the place, and its very unique, thats why I keep going back, but I'm not going to give it too many more chances. There are too many other places to eat!


My mom and dad have given it two chances with the same results, and they refuse to even step in there anymore. In fact, we were going to go there for lunch one day, and he tried talking me out of it because of the horrible service and total non-caring attitude of your wait staff. We didn't go, but I went with the wife, and we found out for ourselves what he was talking about.

I'm not trying to gripe, I really like the place, but it you don't know what people are saying, you can't fix it!

Good luck!

Thanks!

WOW...where do I start? We took over cafe operations in July with a menu change and the beginnings of a concept change. The original vision, which was diner, burger and fries, was being abandoned. The menu had gotten too complicated and really had no identity. The menu now refelcts what Route 66cafes were built on...Gourmet Road Food w/the comfort of the familiar crinkle cut FF and simple, high quality burgers and hot dogs. POPS new breakfast menu started yesterday with most of the favorites returning...I heard nothing but positive comments. POPS should never had been the place for the "Cheesecake Factory" style menu.

The service issues have been a challenge. This aspect of any restaurant just cannot happen overnight; we are working on it daily. Poor service is never tolerated in our restaurants!!! The labor pool for Arcadia, Oklahoma is pretty slim to say the least and quite different from OKC.

I'm not going to get into the economics of the restaurant business; but, I want you all to know that there are reasons behind these changes.

I ask that you give POPS one more chance...just one will make us happy. We always welcome any and all comments.

[metro]

tuck is the owner/operator of Good Egg Group ( A Good Egg Dining Group ) , which includes some of the city's nicest restaurants IMO and many others on this site. Restaurants are Cheevers, Iron Starr BBQ, Red Prime, and Market C. Their group recently was selected to take over the food management at Pops, but to my knowledge, they just manage the food service, don't own any of the actual Pops store. Tuck can correct if necessary.

[tuck]

tuck is the owner/operator of Good Egg Group ( A Good Egg Dining Group ) , which includes some of the city's nicest restaurants IMO and many others on this site. Restaurants are Cheevers, Iron Starr BBQ, Red Prime, and Market C. Their group recently was selected to take over the food management at Pops, but to my knowledge, they just manage the food service, don't own any of the actual Pops store. Tuck can correct if necessary.

We are managing the restaurant and c-store as well, which started last month. We do not have an ownership position.

[OKCMallen]

I didn't know the GEG was involved with POPS. I might actually go now, despite all the criticisms.

[OKC4me]

Yea, I'm off today, I might head out there for lunch! I will go with an open mind!

[jsibelius]

When you experience such ridiculous problems, are you complaining to a manager, or are you simply stalking out? Because you're right, they can't fix the problem if they don't know what people are saying (or thinking in this case). Even a phone call after you leave is more helpful than never saying anything.

[tuck]

When you experience such ridiculous problems, are you complaining to a manager, or are you simply stalking out? Because you're right, they can't fix the problem if they don't know what people are saying (or thinking in this case). Even a phone call after you leave is more helpful than never saying anything.

Amen...thanks.

[so1rfan]

I was there yesterday and it was packed. We were just running around and my wife had never been there.

We didn't bother to eat, it was too busy, but we did buy a couple of sodas.

[ImTheDude]

If you like root beer, try the Dog n Suds brand next time you are there, its some of the best rb I have had.

[Martin]

^
i've tried more than 20 varieties of root beer from pops... so far, i liked empire bottling company's best!

-M

[BBatesokc]

Ate there for the 1st time the other day. I took the family as a quick road trip to somewhere new. Actually never realized how close it was to Edmond and I-35. Our experience overall was pretty good. When we got there we were told the wait would be about 30-40 minutes. That was fine with us as we wanted to check out all the different sodas. We each grabbed a cardboard 6-pack holder and filled them up. My favorites were Rat Bastard and Choco-Fizz (sp).

We were seated after about 30 minutes.

I would concur that service is sort of an afterthought and most likely the result of inexperienced staff and lack of hands-on management involvement.

Took awhile to get our drink order taken and delivered and basically the waitress never came back to check for refills. I got up once and got my refill myself.

We all ordered burgers. Even though they appeared a bit on the small side, they filled us up nicely. So much so we didn't have room to try the shakes we heard so much about.

We also ordered onion rings and okra - we all loved them.

Overall food quality was good. Not good enough to justify a 30+ minute wait (I heard the wait this past Saturday surpassed 2 hours!). I've had a better burger at Johnnie's and other local burger joints. The service was lacking, but, overall, the atmosphere makes for a fun stop if it's on your way or you're taking someone who's never been. Otherwise, I'd probably not be motivated to go back. The soda pop variety gimmick is probably the key to this places success, and will continue into the future.

I give it 4/5 stars but not a regular haunt for our family.

[BailJumper]

Hey Brian! Thanks for accepting my invite to join in on this board. Ignore the trolls and I think you'll like it. We went to Pops a couple of times now. Once as a family and once with a church group. We purposely went on what we thought would be off times so the wait was never an issue. I agree with most here, the service was very lacking (even when not busy) and the burgers were good but nothing to get excited about. The kids like the place so it served our purpose.

[bluedogok]

I saw the Pop's bottle on the cover of the December 2008 Interior Design magazine.
Elliott+Associates won the 2008 award for Best of Year Casual Dining for Pop's.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Uh oh...not the Video Vigilante.

[BailJumper]

Uh oh...not the Video Vigilante.

Meaning?

[metro]

haha, I was thinking the same thing Cuatro

[BBatesokc]

Hey BailJumper. Not to worry, I'm used to trolls and such. They're good for a chuckle. FYI, check your email.

[metro]

http://newsok.com/pops-cafe-revamps-...ad_story_title

[easternobserver]

I really miss the chicken pot pie. Really. I loved it.

[tuck]

I really miss the chicken pot pie. Really. I loved it.

Chicken pot pie is Wednesday special at Iron Starr and Market-C has it all the time.

[CarltonsKeeper]

I saw the Pop's bottle on the cover of the December 2008 Interior Design magazine.
Elliott+Associates won the 2008 award for Best of Year Casual Dining for Pop's.

Does "Pops" serve any other type foods than Hamburgers?

[John1744]

The chick and I are going up there later today hopefully its a decent experience... Anyone ever tried their chicken fried steak?

And whats a good root beer to pick out?