Urban Johnnie

[kelly73099]

I've not been to West, but if you are asking if it is damned delicious, the answer is yes.

No, it isn't the same as West. It's good. A touch salty for my taste, but that didn't stop me from finishing it.

We had chips, salsa, and queso; the BLT with mac and cheese; and the chicken tacos. With the exception of the salsa, which neither of us liked, everything was solid. Good to very good, not exceptional. The fried avocado on the BLT was a nice touch and they were very generous with the bacon. Service was great.

We'll be back when we can try the cocktails.

[Anonymous.]

I think the salsa is going to be changed. Obvious overall disliking of it by customers.

[BDP]

I love UJ, and I think their menu and ambiance are pretty stellar. That said, I really wish they made the Theta burger like the original. Why mess with perfection?

I think I actually like it better. I don't eat the pickles, so maybe that's what some don't like at UJ, but I think the meat is cooked way better at UJ.

So far, I've had the #9, the pot roast, chicken fried chicken sandwich, ceasar salad and the tortilla soup. The dressing on the ceasar wasn't like Johnnie's, but I like it. Much lighter in taste and texture. Don't know if that's what they put on the UJ ceasar burger or not. I've liked it all.

[shawnw]

Urban Johnnie is the newest, upscale restaurant concept from the owners of Johnnie's Charcoal Broiler | News OK

[Teo9969]

Upscale? Not even close.

[TheTravellers]

Upscale? Not even close.

To the folks that eat at Johnnie's with their sleeveless shirts, torn up shorts, flip-flops, and trucker hats, it probably is.

[Anonymous.]

I would say it is as upscale as Republic.

THey have a play in all span of scale now.

Johnnies then Urban Johnnie then West

[Teo9969]

I would say it is as upscale as Republic.

THey have a play in all span of scale now.

Johnnies then Urban Johnnie then West

West is upscale. RePUBlic, not so much.

Nice, Yuppie =/= Upscale

I know it's semantics, but I think it would be a good idea to not sell the general population on terminology that could lead to a bad reputation: "Hey, out-of-towner, let me take you to one of our best upscale restaurants, Urban Johnnie"….All of the sudden, out-of-towner gets the impression that this town doesn't have a good food scene because if Urban Johnnie is upscale, what is casual…Saturn Grill?

I'd argue that OKC doesn't have any fine-dining and that we'd do best to label restaurants like Signature Grill, Coach House, all the Prime Steakhouses, West, etc. as upscale.

That being said, I can't wait to try Urban Johnnie when I get back, and I'm thrilled to hear they are a smash success.

[Rover]

Seriously..Coachhouse not upscale?

[RadicalModerate]

To the folks that eat at Johnnie's with their sleeveless shirts, torn up shorts, flip-flops, and trucker hats, it probably is.

Sounds like a typical Sunday at any of many local MegaChurches. (the religiously non-religious, ones, not the chicken stands). =)
(so . . . did anyone else read the glowing blurb/ad in The Gazette this week? nah . . . probably just me.)

I have to wonder about the architectural artwork featuring The Founder enjoying a beverage dressed like a ["Player"] . . .
(it sort of contradicts the image of Johnnie's . . . don't it? =)

I will stick to the Custino's (et.al.) killer version of Johnnie's, over on Britton Road, for my burgers, thank you. =)

BTW: Simply to prove that I'm not an Elitist not Culinary Snoot . . .


It just occurred to me that "Urban Johnnie" might be a good Brand for Euro-Style Public Porto-Sans that would encourage the walkability and bicycleability of Urban Re-Development. =)

Which, of course, has nothing to do with the fact that it is spelled Jonnie's rather than Johnnie's.

[Teo9969]

Seriously..Coachhouse not upscale?

Read again.

[BoulderSooner]

Read again.

We have several "fine dining" including the coach house

[Teo9969]

We have several "fine dining" including the coach house

ok.

Enviado desde mi SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 usando Tapatalk 2

[BillyOcean]

West is upscale. RePUBlic, not so much.

Nice, Yuppie =/= Upscale

I know it's semantics, but I think it would be a good idea to not sell the general population on terminology that could lead to a bad reputation: "Hey, out-of-towner, let me take you to one of our best upscale restaurants, Urban Johnnie"….All of the sudden, out-of-towner gets the impression that this town doesn't have a good food scene because if Urban Johnnie is upscale, what is casual…Saturn Grill?

I'd argue that OKC doesn't have any fine-dining and that we'd do best to label restaurants like Signature Grill, Coach House, all the Prime Steakhouses, West, etc. as upscale.

That being said, I can't wait to try Urban Johnnie when I get back, and I'm thrilled to hear they are a smash success.

There is NOTHING upscale about West. Plenty of upscale places in OKC so not sure where you get your info from, but West will never be one of them.

[Teo9969]

There is NOTHING upscale about West. Plenty of upscale places in OKC so not sure where you get your info from, but West will never be one of them.

I don't entirely disagree with you, but it's on the cusp, and by god if Coach House is fine dining, then West is unequivocally upscale.

Tier I: Prime Steakhouses (Ranch, Red, Boulevard, Opus, MMs, Mahogany), Signature Grill, Coach House

Tier II: Cheever's, Musashi's, The Mantel, The Metro, Michael's, Paseo Grill, Ludivine, Packard's, Vast, Roccoco, Nonna's

Tier III: West, Guernsey, Avanti, Flint, Sushi Neko, Cafe 501, Museum Cafe, Whiskey Cake, Park House, Junior's

Obviously some of those are debatable. And really, I agree, that last tier really isn't really upscale…but for OKC, it's there on the cusp. And my insistence that there exists no fine-dining in OKC is not intended to denigrate, it's just reality…we still have really good restaurants…just none that stylistically fit the mold.

And because we lack that, you get people saying that Urban Johnny is Upscale…it's a sports bar, nothing more, nothing less. Fantastic sports bar…but a sports bar.

[FighttheGoodFight]

I guess I am going against the grain but I didn't like Urban Johnnie at all.

My wife got the theta burger (she loves it from regular Johnnies) and she didn't like the taste at all. She was excited to try out the Mac and Cheese and it was a runny soupy mess. No good.

I had the chicken fried chicken sandwich and was less than impressed for the price.

The drink prices were about the only good thing. Not a big fan and I don't think I'll be back.

[betts]

I've eaten in every major city in the US. I haven't been to the Coach House in years, since they changed the sauce on my beloved Dover Sole, but I would definitely have called it fine dining the last time I was there. I think it's a cut above the prime steakhouses, but otherwise I pretty much agree with Teo's list.

[soonerguru]

I guess I am going against the grain but I didn't like Urban Johnnie at all.

My wife got the theta burger (she loves it from regular Johnnies) and she didn't like the taste at all. She was excited to try out the Mac and Cheese and it was a runny soupy mess. No good.

I had the chicken fried chicken sandwich and was less than impressed for the price.

The drink prices were about the only good thing. Not a big fan and I don't think I'll be back.

I agree with you on the Theta. They don't make it the traditional way, and I prefer that. Other than that I love Urban Johnnie. If you do go back, try the hummus and / or the crab cakes.

[BBatesokc]

I've actually eaten at UJ at least 6 times now. Not sure why I haven't taken the time to really review it - and this post ain't it.

I very much like an awful lot about it; location, decor, ease of getting a table at lunch, prices, and quality of the food.

My only dislikes so far are; the ground floor can be extremely loud, they don't serve the dessert the traditional Johnnie's serves (mmmmm pie) and I don't think the quality of the wait staff consistently matches the upscale presentation of the place.

Yeah, I said it, 'upscale.'

Considering OKC is pretty much the epicenter of the fast food industry and we no longer feel the need to dress up for anything, I'd consider UJ 'upscale' to a certain degree and certainly not a place I'd go into dressed overly casual.

My favs so far are the #9 (like it much better than the Johnnie's in Edmond on 33rd), the shrimp tacos (excellent) and the Steve McQueen and the Banana Split. Also like getting fruit on the side.

[okclee]

I guess I need to give UJ another try.
I do like the location, decor, and the bar, but I wasn't impressed with the food and definitely not impressed the waitstaff.

[Pete]

I haven't heard anybody mention this place in a while...

How is their business these days?

[David]

I go in nearly every Wednesday night, it generally feels pretty busy. I don't think I've ever been in at that time to find the place dead. On the other hand, I don't believe I've ever had to wait for a table either.

[Urbanized]

The PLACE is great. I think if there is any knock on it, it's that staff has never been overly friendly. Or in many cases even friendly.

[Just the facts]

I have been there several times and thought it was pretty good. It wasn't by any means packed while I was there but it wasn't empty either.

[Chadanth]

I haven't heard anybody mention this place in a while...

How is their business these days?

Seems pretty steady. Busier on game nights and Fridays, but it's not too bad to get a table. Food has been consistently good.