Packard Building

[no1cub17]

...and posted on a public board.

Ok and? I'm quite comfortable with how I tip. I'm a standard 20%er, and usually (almost always) more if food and service are even above average. I'm glad this place so many sympathizers though. I don't wish any ill will upon them at all. I'm all for new/modern/delicious restaurants in downtown. This place just didn't do it for us.

[Martin]

ok, people... let's not start any blood feuds over 'proper' tipping procedure... this thread is about the packard. let's stick to topic. -M

[LakeEffect]

Lolz, depends on what your definition of "poor tips" is. No I didn't leave the "standard 20%", but we far from stiffed them. A touch under 15% is financially screwing someone for horrible service? Le sigh.

And the black bean burger wasn't on the menu - so does seem like it's dynamic.

Black bean burger is on the lunch menu... not the dinner menu, to clear that one up. I bet they'd make it at night...

[soonerguru]

Well I'm glad at least a few of you didn't hate the place afterwards. soonerguru, what's the other veg entree option? We saw tofu udon noodles and that's it - just curious if we ever go back. I was just floored that they didn't comp my friend's drink - particularly even after asking if she still wanted it and we said "no" - is it not assumed then that if you bring it out it's on the house? Wow. We didn't speak personally with the manager but hopefully sent strong messages with our tips. A few of us also handwrote notes on the checks about our dreadful experience. Honestly even if the service was better, it'd be 50-50 if I'd go back. I can think of better ways to eat pasta than at $3 per bite.

They have a grilled veggie plate. It sounds kinda lame but my daughter got it and it was fantastic.

Give em another chance, just don't go with a large party, and make sure you let the owner / manager know about your experience. They should have comped the late drink at least.

It's still a new restaurant, and remember, in restaurant world, you're supposed to give a place a month at least to get it together before forming too negative of opinions!

[soonerguru]

I do think you should let the owner know about your experience. We were lucky enough to meet him on our first visit and he was very sincere about what went right / wrong with our meal. I kind of gushed a bit because the staff went out of its way to ensure we were served got the check and got out in time for the Thunder game. They really went above and beyond. Sorry your experience was so different.

[PhiAlpha]

They were understaffed last night and the restaurant was beyond packed. The staff is all still very new and trying to adjust to the huge crowds they get closer to and on the weekends (hence why they arent open for brunch yet). Their busiest nights are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I would try it again between Monday and Wednesday. There are generally much lighter crowds so I'm sure you'll notice dramatically better service. Also if you want more food, don't order the carbonara pasta, it's good but probably the most expensive entre on the menu for what you get. Having said that, go to any other upscale restaurant downtown and try to get massive quantities of high quality food...not going to happen without a hefty price tag. As far as the drink timing goes, the bar is there biggest money maker right now. On busy nights like that, a large portion of the restaurant orders off the cocktail menu and the cocktails each take between 5 and 15 minutes to make and there are generally only 2 bartenders. When you have 100+ people there at a time ordering between 2-5 drinks each, throughout their meals, that take 5+ minutes to make, it isn't a quick process. Not saying that's the way it should be, but I'm not sure they were completely prepared for popular it would be. It will get better over time

[onthestrip]

Wow, 5-15 mins per cocktail..? I know Ludivine can take a few mins for certain cocktails but if Packards take 5-15 mins per, either don't put them on the menu or staff more bartenders. They are setting themselves up for customer dissatisfaction if they don't.

[PhiAlpha]

Wow, 5-15 mins per cocktail..? I know Ludivine can take a few mins for certain cocktails but if Packards take 5-15 mins per, either don't put them on the menu or staff more bartenders. They are setting themselves up for customer dissatisfaction if they don't.

15 minutes is probably an extreme case. I would say average is 3 to 7.

[UnFrSaKn]

The Packard & The Guardian (June 10 2013) - a set on Flickr

[betts]

I was there last week and had a much better meal. My husband liked his as well.

[Anonymous.]

Will be going here next week. Anyone know if the rooftop deck has to be reserved or is it open to whoever/whenever just like downstairs?

[Pete]

This little area is so slick:

[AP]

Will be going here next week. Anyone know if the rooftop deck has to be reserved or is it open to whoever/whenever just like downstairs?

They have a bar on the rooftop. We were told when we went that we could only order drinks up there and not food.

[Anonymous.]

They have a bar on the rooftop. We were told when we went that we could only order drinks up there and not food.

Good information. Thanks so much!

[betts]

We had a very delicious crab/salsa dip with homemade chips up on the roof. There were two light food items available, IIRC. I really enjoyed it.

[PhiAlpha]

They let the original head chef go about 2 weeks ago and gave creative control to another chef there. I believe they also brought on an additional chef. Noticeable improvement since then.

Like the posters above said, the rooftop has a bar with a limited food and drink menu. It's open to the public.

[OKCTalker]

Although I love the place, the rooftop bar fails in its primary obligation of quickly dispensing drinks. There is no table service so everyone queues for drinks. The line is long and the bartenders don't quickly fill orders partly due to millennials ordering complicated cocktails, partly due to an odd POS system, and partly because they need an extra bar man.

Knowing the margins on booze, you'd think they'd want to pour as much of the stuff as quickly as they could.

[HangryHippo]

Although I love the place, the rooftop bar fails in its primary obligation of quickly dispensing drinks. There is no table service so everyone queues for drinks. The line is long and the bartenders don't quickly fill orders partly due to millennials ordering complicated cocktails, partly due to an odd POS system, and partly because they need an extra bar man.

Knowing the margins on booze, you'd think they'd want to pour as much of the stuff as quickly as they could.

I haven't been yet, but are the millenials' complicated cocktail choices the ones available on the menu? And what's the problem with their system?

[PhiAlpha]

Although I love the place, the rooftop bar fails in its primary obligation of quickly dispensing drinks. There is no table service so everyone queues for drinks. The line is long and the bartenders don't quickly fill orders partly due to millennials ordering complicated cocktails, partly due to an odd POS system, and partly because they need an extra bar man.

Knowing the margins on booze, you'd think they'd want to pour as much of the stuff as quickly as they could.

They don't serve any of the complicated cocktails from the menu on the roof. When I've been there at its busiest, it's just been slow because of so many people ordering. They probably need to hire an additional bartender.

[onthestrip]

Although I love the place, the rooftop bar fails in its primary obligation of quickly dispensing drinks. There is no table service so everyone queues for drinks. The line is long and the bartenders don't quickly fill orders partly due to millennials ordering complicated cocktails, partly due to an odd POS system, and partly because they need an extra bar man.

Knowing the margins on booze, you'd think they'd want to pour as much of the stuff as quickly as they could.

Ive been only once and this was my experience as well. And it really wasn't very crowded.

Sure we are getting some more rooftop action in OKC, but its a far cry from what it can and should be.

[OKCisOK4me]

Do they not have a satellite outdoor bar? Granted it's a totally different atmosphere, but the outdoor bar by the pool at the Omni in Fort Worth is pretty impressive. Not saying this rooftop needs something on that scale but just something where one bartender can take care of everyone as long as the crowd isn't dog piling him.

[NWOKCGuy]

My partner and I went there in early May and neither of us were impressed. Service was terrible. Pricing seemed to be in line with Cheevers/Stella/Rococo/etc but food wasn't at that level. We tossed it up to them being new and plan on trying again in 6 months or so once the kinks can work out.

[PhiAlpha]

My partner and I went there in early May and neither of us were impressed. Service was terrible. Pricing seemed to be in line with Cheevers/Stella/Rococo/etc but food wasn't at that level. We tossed it up to them being new and plan on trying again in 6 months or so once the kinks can work out.

Yeah they fired their head chef a week or two ago and things have noticeably improved even after a few weeks. I would definitely give it another shot in a few months or so.

[PhiAlpha]

Do they not have a satellite outdoor bar? Granted it's a totally different atmosphere, but the outdoor bar by the pool at the Omni in Fort Worth is pretty impressive. Not saying this rooftop needs something on that scale but just something where one bartender can take care of everyone as long as the crowd isn't dog piling him.

They didn't really have much control over how it was built up there. MidtownR set it up the way they wanted it when the building was renovated and Packard has the right to use it along with the buildings other tenants.

[UnFrSaKn]

The Packard and The Guardian (June 10 2013) - YouTube