Bolero

[gamecock]

I am posting this from an apartment in Spain right now. We haven't eaten at Bolero yet, but I am familiar with the menu, the prices, and the comments and reviews found here and elsewhere. I have spent some time in Spain, and I think the problem is that they are focusing exclusively on high-end/gourmet tapas. But, really, a lot of tapas are very simple and inexpensive. I think it would make sense for Bolero to serve a wider variety of tapas and include some of these lower priced tapas. We were initially excited when a tapas place (finally) opened in OKC, but this doesn't seem like a place we would go to very often. A better example of what I'd like to see here is a tapas chain located in the Washington DC metro area (JALEO) (Jaleo: authentic Spanish tapas in Washington, DC). The chef who started the restaurant (José Andrés) is famous in Spain and has a cooking show on PBS. But, in addition to some of the fancier tapas, he serves a lot of "regular, Spanish" tapas at pretty low prices (especially for the DC area). The full menu can be found at the website, but some examples are:

Ensaladilla rusa*
A classic Spanish salad of potatoes, imported conserved tuna and mayonnaise
5.50

Croquetas de pollo
Traditional chicken croquetas
6.50

Espinacas a la Catalana
Sautéed spinach, pine nuts, raisins and apples
6.00

Tortilla de patatas*
Spanish omelet with potatoes and onions
6.50

Gambas al ajillo*
The very, very famous tapa of shrimp sautéed with garlic and guindilla pepper
8.50

Escalivada Catalana
Roasted red peppers, eggplant and sweet onions drizzled with sherry dressing
6.00

Datiles con tocino 'como hace todo el mundo'
Fried dates wrapped in bacon
6.50

Papas arrugas
Canary Island‐style wrinkled baby potatoes
served with mojo verde
6.00

[easternobserver]

Jaleo was a regular standby when I lived in DC (to call it a chain is perhaps unfair -- the original Penn Quarter location was so overly packed at all times that Andres opened a second in Bethesda and now one in Northern VA). It might be the most solid, consistant restaurant I have ever experienced. Bolero, while an interesting concept and thus inherently great to have here, is not even remotely in the same league.

[easternobserver]

Also, the best tapas are the simplest. A skewered chorizo over garlic mashed potatoes, two sauteed shrimp in garlic butter, a date wrapped in serrano ham. It doesnt have to be all imported tuna and high end olives, driving the price too high for a small plate.

[gamecock]

I agree completely! (and, no, it's not a chain...but it has been successful enough that he has been able to open multiple locations.) A lot of folks think Jaleo is pricey for what you get (although even in downtown DC, it is cheaper than Bolero). But I expect to pay a little more for tapas in OKC than I would here in Spain...as you point out, though, you can offer some "regular" tapas to go with the higher-end items...not only is it more affordable, it gives people a better sense of what tapas actually are...

[tuck]

Gamecock, Interested in knowing what you define a "chain" as.

[gamecock]

Well, as I said, I don't think I should have used the word "chain" in my original post. I was just trying to convey that this was a restaurant that had more than one location. Really, I'm not sure how many locations you need to have before you become a "local chain" or a "national chain." But I guess I would call Charleston's a local chain, and Chili's a national chain. Jaleo isn't a chain, but there are 3 of them now in the DC metro area. I'm not really sure why you're curious, but unlike some folks who post around here, I don't have any problem with chain restaurants whatsoever. In fact, I'd like to see more of the ones that aren't in Oklahoma come here. I also wouldn't mind if some chains with only one or two locations would expand. For instance, I would very much like to see P.F. Chang's come to Norman.

[OKCMallen]

Well, as I said, I don't think I should have used the word "chain" in my original post. I was just trying to convey that this was a restaurant that had more than one location. Really, I'm not sure how many locations you need to have before you become a "local chain" or a "national chain." But I guess I would call Charleston's a local chain, and Chili's a national chain. Jaleo isn't a chain, but there are 3 of them now in the DC metro area. I'm not really sure why you're curious, but unlike some folks who post around here, I don't have any problem with chain restaurants whatsoever. In fact, I'd like to see more of the ones that aren't in Oklahoma come here. I also wouldn't mind if some chains with only one or two locations would expand. For instance, I would very much like to see P.F. Chang's come to Norman.

Most of us don't have a "problem" with chain restaurants. I just prefer my money to stay local, and I'll bet that's what most others think as well.

[amylynn5656]

Datiles con tocino 'como hace todo el mundo'
Fried dates wrapped in bacon
6.50

My all-time favorite!! YUMMY!!!!

[tuck]

Well, as I said, I don't think I should have used the word "chain" in my original post. I was just trying to convey that this was a restaurant that had more than one location. Really, I'm not sure how many locations you need to have before you become a "local chain" or a "national chain." But I guess I would call Charleston's a local chain, and Chili's a national chain. Jaleo isn't a chain, but there are 3 of them now in the DC metro area. I'm not really sure why you're curious, but unlike some folks who post around here, I don't have any problem with chain restaurants whatsoever. In fact, I'd like to see more of the ones that aren't in Oklahoma come here. I also wouldn't mind if some chains with only one or two locations would expand. For instance, I would very much like to see P.F. Chang's come to Norman.

Thanks, I don't have a problem with chains either. I do think we do need more local, established restaurants. I refer to Johnnie's and Charleston's as "non-chain" chains; local with multiple locations. As much criticism as there is there is out here about chain restaurants, it can't be easy managing 20-30 restaurants while providing consistency throughout the country. Something has to be said for that.

My stance is eat/drink local in case you were wondering.

[OKCMallen]

Thanks, I don't have a problem with chains either. I do think we do need more local, established restaurants. I refer to Johnnie's and Charleston's as "non-chain" chains; local with multiple locations. As much criticism as there is there is out here about chain restaurants, it can't be easy managing 20-30 restaurants while providing consistency throughout the country. Something has to be said for that.

My stance is eat/drink local in case you were wondering.

Words to live by, Tuck.

[positano]

Bravo, gamecock and easternobserver - I'm a huge Jaleo fan myself. Which is why I hope for the best for Bolero - it takes a certain amount of courage to try a venture that isn't the norm for an area. I happen to think that the more variety of restaurants we get (particularly locally or regionally owned) the more the industry develops as a whole.

If you are a Jaleo fans, I suspect you're fully aware of the restaurants DC has to offer (I highly recommend Brasserie Beck). I recently had a professional counterpart from DC in town and took her to Red Primesteak - she was extremely impressed and commented how much it rivaled the DC places she went to regularly. Since then I've had other associates from DC in town who always call for restaurant recommendations - they have to a person left quite impressed with our dining options and the word tends to spread.

All that being said, my point remains that I hope Bolero does well and that folks who have had problems with them have tried to communicate their concerns to the owner(s).

[easternobserver]

I think that our restaurant options provide serious hidden treasure for those visiting the city. I'd put some of the meals that I have had at Red Prime, and especially the space itself, up against the best I've had in DC, Boston, New York or Las Vegas.

I also think that any city would be well served with an establishment like the Wedge, which is really a very special place. Same for Nonnas, which is a place that really does some pretty unique things, although I'm not sure quite puts the whole package together. Along those lines, let me mourn the loss (now quite a while ago) of Terra Luna, which I think is a place that really broke some ground here.

Red Prime in particular is somewhere I would take an out of town guest who might have some misperceptions about Oklahoma City.

[easternobserver]

Oh, I admire the Balero owners for taking the chance here, and I wish them nothing but the best. I think they may need to retool and reinvent a bit, but there is nothing wrong with that either.

[gamecock]

Can anyone point me to a current menu? Thanks.

[MoeStooge]

Having eaten at Jaleo (Penn Quarter in DC) a couple of months ago I have to chime in on this thread. That place is awesome! Much better than most tapas places I've been to. It was very busy late on a Wednesday night too. Another good place for small plates in DC is Zaytinya- in the same area of town.

My one trip to Bolero was pretty disappointing. Most of the dishes I remember trying seemed well-conceived, but poorly executed. I'll have to give it a second chance some time.

[BossLady]

Yeah, I really enjoyed my NINE dollar beer. This is oklahoma city for godsake!