Divine Swine (closed)

[SoonerQueen]

Someone said this was going to be a strip club. I thought that we really didn't need one of those in our neighborhood. Turns out it is a new breakfast/lunch restaurant probably opening up in the next couple of weeks. They will be open 7-2, and everything will be home made. They will be in the same location that the BBQ Chop Shop was on N May. They have completely remodeled the inside and are waiting for inspections.Their menu isn't online yet and their website isn't up yet.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Divine...76329339090869

[BBatesokc]

I'm thinking 'Divine Swine' wouldn't have been a very popular strip club.

[Larry OKC]

Way too many horrifying images come to mind...

Think there was a write up or something either in the Oklahoman or Gazette?

ON EDIT: Appears to have been a "coming attraction" blurb (in the Gazette)...

As Noel Coward once wrote: “Any part of piggy is quite all right with me.” Oink! From barbecue to an elegant crown roast, pork is truly a meat for all seasons and the pig is in – especially at Divine Swine. The menu by Chef Joshua Valentine and business partner Courtney Evans will focus on pork, but will also include turkey, salads and sandwiches with everything done from scratch. Call ahead to make sure they are open.

[foodiefan]

. . . think I remember seeing the same article. JV graduated from the apprentice program at The Coach House and has worked in Dallas at Stephen Pyles and in Pyles' newest restaurant, Samar. I believe he is currently the Chef de Cuisine at TCH. Great Chef and great young man!! Hope this place is successful!

[pickles]

Someone said this was going to be a strip club.
[/url]

Why would anyone draw that conclusion, and why would you take them seriously?

[BBatesokc]

Tried this place for brunch today with the wife. Not impressed. Absolutely no curb appeal, as it is obviously an old Pizza Hut (no biggie). The inside was pretty nice though for a locally owned small business. I couldn't figure out what the painted floor texture was - then it hit me - it looks like they simply pulled up the carpet tiles and left the adhesive and called it textured concrete.

Place has about 13 tables. 3 of them were empty and all had dirty dished on them. We sat at one and the waitress took the glasses off and handed us menus. We literally had to ask her to wipe the food off the table from the last patrons.

She then played up the French Toast, which we ordered. Only to have her come back and tell us they were out. How are you out of French Toast only 30 minutes into brunch on a Saturday?

We ended up ordering the eggs benedict and the whole hog.

Eggs benedict were bland - the English muffin was doughy and the hollandaise sauce was not traditional or good. The side of potatoes was excellent though.

The whole hog was a lot of food. The biscuit was really unique and good but the gravy was bland. The bacon - well it was bacon. The sausage patty though was okay around the edges, but the middle was literally raw. Which was really weird because it literally took 45 minutes to get our food and the place was not even very busy.

Hopefully it is just opening pains and will get better. I may try it for lunch, but only when I've got nowhere to be and all the time in the world to eat.

The two entrees (no drinks) ran $19.51 plus tip. Way too much in my opinion. A much better brunch can be had at Cafe 501 or Cheevers.

[chuck johnson]

The bacon - well it was bacon.

[jbkrems]

Based on the photos above, the food does NOT look appetizing at this place. Plus, given the issues expressed by some of the above post authors, I would NOT try this place out for Sunday brunch.

[Larry OKC]

That sure doesn't look like very much food for $19+???

[SoonerQueen]

We spent $17.00 for breakfast at Jimmy's egg and couldn't complain about anything. I think I'll just keep going there when I eat breakfast out.First Watch is really good too.

[BBatesokc]

We spent $17.00 for breakfast at Jimmy's egg and couldn't complain about anything. I think I'll just keep going there when I eat breakfast out.First Watch is really good too.

I love Jimmy's Egg - especially the smaller one off NW 16. I tend to always get the omelet. I agree though $19.51 is way too much for breakfast food.

[JayhawkTransplant]

The two entrees (no drinks) ran $19.51 plus tip. Way too much in my opinion. A much better brunch can be had at Cafe 501 or Cheevers.

Or even down the street at La Baguette!

[soonerguru]

That food looks like garbage.

[rcjunkie]

That sure doesn't look like very much food for $19+???

Some of us prefer quality over quantity!

[BBatesokc]

Some of us prefer quality over quantity!

Unfortunately, we got neither at Divine Swine.

[Courtneye63]

Divine Swine has been open for two weeks and is still working out a lot of kinks so I think it is a little early to make such harsh judgements. No where in town will you find everything made from scratch and if you cannot appreciate that, then please, go to jimmys egg. The average cost of a meal is 8 dollars which is very resaonable seeing as how a lot of time and effort is put into it.

[BBatesokc]

Divine Swine has been open for two weeks and is still working out a lot of kinks so I think it is a little early to make such harsh judgements. No where in town will you find everything made from scratch and if you cannot appreciate that, then please, go to jimmys egg. The average cost of a meal is 8 dollars which is very resaonable seeing as how a lot of time and effort is put into it.

Here's a PR tip for ya Courtney Evans (General Manager of Divine Swine). If you're going to signup just to reply to a post that has your feelings hurt, at least be honest enough to acknowledge your very close relationship to the topic at hand.

That said, yes, it is a new establishment and I clearly expressed that it may have been opening pains and that I hoped it gets better and would most likely try again. However, its ridiculous to expect people not to give honest reviews of new places. Others here expressed very honest opinions too - mostly that the presentation and quantity appears to be lacking. And yes, I agree "a lot of time" was put into our meal. About 45 minutes worth for eggs, bacon and sausage that wasn't even cooked.

How about you learn from reviews instead of making excuses.

I made some pretty harsh reviews of Big Truck when they first opened and Cafe Nova. Both responded by acknowledging some growing pains, not making excuses and asking to give them another chance. Big Truck is now one of our favorite places to dine and I quickly updated my reviews on Urban Spoon etc. to reflect that. I suspect your restaurant management resume and accomplishments are not too impressive by your apparent management and PR style.

That said, I do hope the restaurant does well as I prefer local to national chains any day.

And yes, I can be abrasive, but that's just me. I hope you stick around because its nice to have local business owners/managers participating (in an open an honest fashion) on this forum.

[metro]

Divine Swine has been open for two weeks and is still working out a lot of kinks so I think it is a little early to make such harsh judgements. No where in town will you find everything made from scratch and if you cannot appreciate that, then please, go to jimmys egg. The average cost of a meal is 8 dollars which is very resaonable seeing as how a lot of time and effort is put into it.

Opening "kinks" is never an excuse for raw anything, let alone pork! You can see the pink in the pic of sausage Bates posted above.

[MadMonk]

I would be a lot more inclined to try this place out if, instead of excuses, she offered an apology with legitimate reasons for the problems and an invite back. Instead, we get a lame "it's too early to complain" and are told to go elsewhere. That tells me all I need to know about the attitude there.

[chuck johnson]

I recently relocated to OKC after almost 10 years away and my first instinct was to find out how the food scene has progressed. I am not a fan of Urbanspoon or Yelp (for many reasons) and the local papers do a very poor job of covering food news. I joined this forum hoping to get a better vantage point and more intelligent discussion of what's going on.

While I don't always agree with Brian's reviews, I certainly do appreciate the completeness and fairness of his reviews. You don't see this type of information generally on Urbanspoon/Yelp and you certainly don't see this in traditional media. The Oklahoman and the Gazette tends to do fluff pieces that are not remotely objective and lacking in any methodology.

We should encourage local food businesses as much as possible, but that's no reason not to level fair criticism. As the scene here gets more dynamic (hopefully) the competition will only increase and those restaurants that can't appreciate and react to that criticism will fall to the wayside. We live in a very exciting time of food awareness and appreciation. Restaurants new and old need to step it up.

(I don't know Brian Bates personally but I know he gets a fair amount of shots taken at him on OKCTalk. I do appreciate that he's willing to put his name out there and be accountable.)

[RadicalModerate]

Me too.
(Ditto Dat)

"PinK" vis-a-vis "Modern Pork" is . . . acceptable . . . on a semi-Venal Level.
"Pink" in regard to "cooked" "sausage" is a Mortal Sin.

It most certainly is not "divine".

The only thing worse is Pink Chicken.
(Please allow me to clarify that: Pink is bad. Pink and cool is nearly deadly.)

Of course, it goes without saying that we should all leave final judgment--or even judgement, if you prefer--to The Local Food Truck Police.

[MDot]

Me too.
(Ditto Dat)

"PinK" vis-a-vis "Modern Pork" is . . . acceptable . . . on a semi-Venal Level.
"Pink" in regard to "cooked" "sausage" is a Mortal Sin.

(It most certainly is not "divine".)

It cracks me up how you're so "politically correct" and serious then you () something so slang.

And that's not criticism, that's a complement. :-)

[RadicalModerate]

Thank you.
I accept your compliment.
(Kiss the Ring . . . =)

P.S.: =) equals (=) "just kiddin' around . . .
Just remember: Food Safety is NOT a laughing matter.

[Larry OKC]

my previous comment was based solely on the pics/info posted

[PennyQuilts]

I am sitting here steamed that Jimmy's Egg got slammed by the Divine Swine lady. I love that place. Popeye's Revenge with white homemade bread. YUM.