Garage Burgers

[Rover]

The last time I had a NoName burger at Irma's I was completely underwhelmed.

Burger was smallish, not much juice or flavor... Absolutely nothing that made me want to return, especially given all the other options in the central core.

I'm sure it was just a bad day, but it was the first and only time I had eaten at their Midtown location.

Was there yesterday and experienced EXACTLY the same thing. When Irma's first opened on 63rd it was okay...never great. But in midtown, pass by Irma's and go on down to McNellies. Better burger....not great, but at least better.

[Pete]

Or S&B or Tuckers or the Garage or Urban Johnnie...

So many great options within a mile or so, and more are coming, especially when Blue Garten opens.

I'd like Irma's to thrive but they'd better step up their game.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Had the Queso Fresco burger yesterday...oh so good.

[CCOKC]

I went to the garage on Monday. I was surprised that it is an order at the counter place especially since the bar area is so nice. That is my only complaint however. They have a few vegetarian options. I chose the avacado melt which was fabulous. I look forward to trying the tacos and onion dip in the future.

[TheTravellers]

Was there yesterday and experienced EXACTLY the same thing. When Irma's first opened on 63rd it was okay...never great. But in midtown, pass by Irma's and go on down to McNellies. Better burger....not great, but at least better.

Yeah, sorry, meant to say the Irma's on 63rd, we are also underwhelmed by the Midtown location just like you and Pete. Irma's on 63rd is pretty decent, yes, never great. We have not found a "great" burger place in OKC yet, and no, we haven't been to Nic's, but need to go.

[dankrutka]

I had a few beers on the patio and watched the early playoff games yesterday. The entire space is really well done. This should be a big hit, but I don't think a lot of people know about it yet. It was never very packed.

[Pete]

They really haven't promoted this location for some reason.

Very little on social media and you even have to dig a bit on their main website.

Perhaps they want to build slowly during their break-in period.

[Urbanized]

Generally a good idea. Places that try to do too much, too quickly usually fall on their face, get bad reviews, etc.. As you've mentioned before it is also literally difficult to find good help these days, and they might want to get a new staff settled on/down.

Particularly in this era of social media and complaint-driven websites, it's a good idea for service-oriented businesses to get their legs under themselves before they try to throw the doors open wide.

[David]

It was moderately busy at lunch today (Urban Johnnie was closed, for Easter I suppose), for the first time I've ended up waiting in a line to order with more than a few people in it.

The Queso Fresco burger was pretty good, but the Thunder Fries were fantastic.

[Pete]

And certainly, Hal Smith knows what he's doing when it comes to both operating and promoting restaurants, so I'm sure this is all part of a bigger plan.

Have any of his restaurants ever closed?

Just went to their website and totaled up all their operations... That's 45 (!) restaurants plus 5 Krispy Kreme's:

Charleston's (17)
Garage (5)
Louie's (5)
Mahogany (3)
Red Rock (3)
Toby Keith's (3)
Upper Crust (3)
Wes Welker's (1)
Kd's (1)
Mama Roja (1)
Hollies (1)
Hefner Grill (1)
Pub W (1)

[Pete]

Ted's is in a different holding group but that's another 7 restaurants as well.

[Paseofreak]

Interestingly, the residents of the adjacent lofts are quite critical of The Garage. They're bothered by the "crowd of hillbillies" milling about the entrance to their space, poorly color matched picnic tables and the low rent menu.

[Urbanized]

Also, in trying to guess what that plan might be, it occurs to me that they might be wanting to try and establish it first as a neighborhood place before bringing in too many outside customers. After the newness wears off for outsiders they will want the neighborhood folks to still be there as an established customer base.

I know I have been run off from a few downtown places that I originally thought would be my neighborhood hang by a huge rapid wave of people following a trend. McNellie's comes to mind. For the first month or two it felt really neighborhood to me, and then for a while it was overwhelmed by people who were probably at Bakers Street Pub or wherever the night before. Now that it's no longer as trendy, now that the crowds have settled down and the crowd TYPE has improved, I still make it in from time to time, but probably not as much as if I had been in the habit of going there all along.

The Garage is more carefully integrated into urban residential than almost anyplace downtown. They want to have the neighbors on their side.

[positano]

And certainly, Hal Smith knows what he's doing when it comes to both operating and promoting restaurants, so I'm sure this is all part of a bigger plan.

Have any of his restaurants ever closed?

Just went to their website and totaled up all their operations... That's 45 (!) restaurants plus 5 Krispy Kreme's:

Charleston's (17)
Garage (5)
Louie's (5)
Mahogany (3)
Red Rock (3)
Toby Keith's (3)
Upper Crust (3)
Wes Welker's (1)
Kd's (1)
Mama Roja (1)
Hollies (1)
Hefner Grill (1)
Pub W (1)

No doubt successful, but certainly a handful have not made it. Boomerangs, Red River Ranch, a venture with Pearls (Ed Noble Parkway) in addition to some Pearls-esque place that went in afterwards, Big Tuna, and a few others.

[catch22]

Isn't there still a Boomerangs on S western at 89th?

[blangtang]

I believe there was an ice cream concept next to Louie's on campus corner that didn't last long, its now the space occupied by Louie's 2. crimson and creamery or something like that.

[Pete]

Interestingly, the residents of the adjacent lofts are quite critical of The Garage. They're bothered by the "crowd of hillbillies" milling about the entrance to their space, poorly color matched picnic tables and the low rent menu.

We have at least two residents on this site. Interested to hear what they have to say but everyone has known the Garage was going in a long time ago.

Also, since these are just apartments it's easy to move if you don't like the setting. Plenty of people would love to get a unit in that development.

[soonerguru]

Interestingly, the residents of the adjacent lofts are quite critical of The Garage. They're bothered by the "crowd of hillbillies" milling about the entrance to their space, poorly color matched picnic tables and the low rent menu.

Not surprised. Terrible choice for the building.

[dankrutka]

My waitress mentioned that they haven't really promoted the place. So it seems to be strategic. Again, I love the location, patio, interior... Exceptional place to watch a game. Lots of huge TVs. I think it'll be a big hit long term.

[Of Sound Mind]

Interestingly, the residents of the adjacent lofts are quite critical of The Garage. They're bothered by the "crowd of hillbillies" milling about the entrance to their space, poorly color matched picnic tables and the low rent menu.

When I went on Saturday, I didn't notice any "crowd of hillbillies" but I did see plenty of hipsters and "Paseo-types."

[AP]

I've been there a couple times since it opened. My girlfriend lives at Hadden Hall. I don't think I ever noticed a crowd of hillbillies, but what do I know. I think it's great, and I know a couple of people in the Guardian that agree. Maybe I just don't know the right people. I don't think it is ever a good idea to speak for a whole group of people though.

[DoctorTaco]

The last time I had a NoName burger at Irma's I was completely underwhelmed.

Burger was smallish, not much juice or flavor... Absolutely nothing that made me want to return, especially given all the other options in the central core.

I'm sure it was just a bad day, but it was the first and only time I had eaten at their Midtown location.

I agree 100%. Because i live in the area, I keep trying Irma's. I keep thinking maybe I just ordered the wrong thing...Maybe if I try something else...

And nada. I'm done with Irma's. Not much flavor. Everything just sorta average. Not keeping up with the Hamburger Arms Race of downtown OKC.

[betts]

I don't live there, but my son does. I might choose to go to Packards over the Garage but it certainly adds vibrancy to the street. When the law school opens (supposedly in January I'm told) it will definitely be a good option for the students.

[corwin1968]

We finally tried the Garage located over near NW Rockwell and while the food was good, we hated the physical layout. My biggest gripe is the high tables and chairs. Why? Sure it looks more "sporty" but they are hard to get up on, hard to get off and can be uncomfortable if your legs aren't the exact right length to reach the braces on the chairs.

[Roger S]

Went to Red Dirt Burrito for lunch today and saw a sign for The Garage next to the Ted's sign at The Shoppe's of Del City. Looked like it was going to anchor the south end of the building the Ted's went into.