Packard Building

[Pete]

Packard's is getting real close (photo credit to their FB page):

[ErnestA]

Seeing places like this open in a neighborhood like Midtown/Auto Alley, it makes me chuckle when we put so much stock into Bricktown's tenants ten or so years ago.

[GaryOKC6]

Seeing places like this open in a neighborhood like Midtown/Auto Alley, it makes me chuckle when we put so much stock into Bricktown's tenants ten or so years ago.

I think that it is good to have many areas that have their own personality. Bricktown, Automobile Alley, Midtown, the Plaza District and the Paseo each have their own personality and all of them attract a different group. With that being said Bricktown was all that we had in the mid 1990's and I was darn glad to have it. I think all the other areas have spun off of and grown because of Bricktown. I especially like Bricktown for lunch, very walkable from my office in downtown.

[jbkrems]

I am excited that this new restaurant will open soon... but they said they would be open "this Winter," and it is already the next season. Why the hold up on Packard's New American Kitchen ? Anyone know if they have an actual date set or time frame for their opening ??? Do we know anything about their menu ?

[Pete]

They should be open in a week or two.

[GaryOKC6]

They are planning to open around April 1st. They are currently training staff and on Wednesday did a couple of small parties as practice runs. I believe that this is owned by the interurban guys who are are also opening the steakhouse on top of the Founders Tower

[PhiAlpha]

Packard is owned by the interurban restaurnt group. The founders tower restaurant is being put together by one of the group's silent investors but is not related to interurban outside of that; it will be independently operated by that investor.

[Pete]

Another one from the Packard FB page:

[catch22]

Love it. This looks a lot like a diner I went to in San Francisco. Can't remember the name, however.

[metro]

Saw them do a soft opening lunch yesterday so they're definitely close.

[GaryOKC6]

I talked with them today. They are ready to open they are waiting in a few permits.

[betts]

Has anyone eaten here? I'd love a review.

[PhiAlpha]

Its very good...

Sorry I'm not a good detail person.

[GeoGlyphics]

The Packard is nice. I'm for it. Some argue that it is slightly overpriced, especially considering that it's drink menu is a rip from Ludivine (former bar employees from Ludivine now at Packard) and the menu also has Ludivine like qualities. For example, now there are 2 places in Midtown, and perhaps all of Oklahoma City, that have a Charcuterie Tray appetizer? Coincidence? Probably not. No complaints here though. I love charcuterie trays so the more the merrier.

From certain vantage points at the bar and some tables on the first floor, you can get an 180 degree view of Midtown/Downtown through those giant floor to ceiling windows that is really quite amazing. It gives you the feel that you're not really in Oklahoma City.

[PhiAlpha]

The Packard is nice. I'm for it. Some argue that it is slightly overpriced, especially considering that it's drink menu is a rip from Ludivine (former bar employees from Ludivine now at Packard) and the menu also has Ludivine like qualities. For example, now there are 2 places in Midtown, and perhaps all of Oklahoma City, that have a Charcuterie Tray appetizer? Coincidence? Probably not. No complaints here though. I love charcuterie trays so the more the merrier.

From certain vantage points at the bar and some tables on the first floor, you can get an 180 degree view of Midtown/Downtown through those giant floor to ceiling windows that is really quite amazing. It gives you the feel that you're not really in Oklahoma City.

I was there when the the drink menu was created and it is absolutely not a rip from Ludevine. The Ludevine bartender wasn't even hired on until the week before the soft openings began. At that point almost all of the drink menu had already been created. He added ingredients to a few of the drinks (1 to 3 out of the ten) but that was the extend of his involvement. Ive seen several reviews that give him a lot more credit than he is due for Packard's drink menu because of his history downtown. A few were inspired by drinks from other restaurants but none were from ludevine (or even from restaurants in the downtown area for that matter). As a specific example, at least two of the drinks were inspired by some of interurbans more popular dishes and deserts over the years.

[PhiAlpha]

I was there when the the drink menu was created and it is absolutely not a rip from Ludevine. The Ludevine bartender wasn't even hired on until the week before the soft openings began. At that point almost all of the drink menu had already been created. He added ingredients to a few of the drinks (1 to 3 out of the ten) but that was the extend of his involvement. Ive seen several reviews that give him a lot more credit than he is due for Packard's drink menu because of his history downtown. A few were inspired by drinks from other restaurants but none were from ludevine (or even from restaurants in the downtown area for that matter). As a specific example, at least two of the drinks were inspired by some of interurbans more popular dishes and deserts over the years.

On edit: That's not to say that the Ludevine guy isn't a very good bartender because he is, he just wasn't behind the majority of the menu.

[soonerguru]

On edit: That's not to say that the Ludevine guy isn't a very good bartender because he is, he just wasn't behind the majority of the menu.

He is a good bartender but speed of service is not a particular asset of his. Don't order a cocktail if you want to be served somewhat quickly.

[Teo9969]

5 to 15 minutes is a totally reasonable amount of time for a well crafted cocktail to be made (depending on how busy the place is). If crown & coke or a cosmopolitan is being sought out, a non craft-cocktail bar is probably where one should go.

[BoulderSooner]

5 to 15 minutes is a totally reasonable amount of time for a well crafted cocktail to be made (depending on how busy the place is). If crown & coke or a cosmopolitan is being sought out, a non craft-cocktail bar is probably where one should go.

15 min is not reasonable in any bar ..

[dankrutka]

15 min is not reasonable in any bar ..

I'm not an expert, but it's my understanding that high quality crafted cocktails are not intended to be made quickly. There's a really cool bar in Tulsa's Brady District called Valkyrie (review here) and they only let a certain number of people in the bar because of the time it takes to make drinks. It's a different experience because you can be waiting in a line and the bar looks half empty. It's a great concept though.

[GeoGlyphics]

I was there when the the drink menu was created and it is absolutely not a rip from Ludevine. The Ludevine bartender wasn't even hired on until the week before the soft openings began. At that point almost all of the drink menu had already been created. He added ingredients to a few of the drinks (1 to 3 out of the ten) but that was the extend of his involvement. Ive seen several reviews that give him a lot more credit than he is due for Packard's drink menu because of his history downtown. A few were inspired by drinks from other restaurants but none were from ludevine (or even from restaurants in the downtown area for that matter). As a specific example, at least two of the drinks were inspired by some of interurbans more popular dishes and deserts over the years.

Packard's makes great drinks, didn't mean to come off negative. To be compared with the best drinks in town (Ludivine IMO) is a great compliment. I think the, lesser known, bar at Stella does a fantastic job too.

My favorite drink at Packard's:

Bread Winner
Patron, Pineapple Vanilla Infused Tequila, Raisin Syrup, and Lime

[warreng88]

Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube

[GeoGlyphics]

Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube

Lol - my side hurts from laughing. I love that show. Well played.

[Teo9969]

15 min is not reasonable in any bar ..

that's asinine...but you are welcome to your opinion.

[Teo9969]

Does anyone watch Parks and Recreation? This whole conversation reminds me of this:

The Wrong Way to Consume Alcohol - Parks and Recreation - YouTube

That's Brilliant!