Union Wood Fired Grill (formerly the Meat Market Refectory)

[Pete]

]The Meat Market Refectory, a new prime dining experience, will be located in an extensively renovated building at NW 63 & May, one of the busiest intersections in Oklahoma City and an area long lacking fine dining options.

MMR will have an expensive and elaborate interior design while serving fine food, European style cocktail service both table side and at the Omega bar, an extensive wine list as well as some of the finest coffee and teas, such as Blue Mountain coffee and Mighty Leaf teas.

The restaurant will feature live bands/musicians on weekend evenings as well as Saturday Jazz brunch and Sunday Gospel brunch. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served 7 days a week offering organic, free range and prime meats exclusively.

In addition, there will be a market within the restaurant where guests can purchase the same cuts of meats and products served in the dining areas. The market will also offer a organic smoothie and juice bar.

Three private dining areas with private entrances will be available, seating anywhere from 12 to 70 guests. The rooms will also offer fixed state of the art audio and video equipment for meetings and events. Total seating will be approximately 220.

Steve Spitz, executive chef and national television personality has created an exclusive menu for MMR. Sptiz is the former host of the nationally syndicated shows Intoxicating Cuisine with Steve Spitz and Living Better with Steve Spitz.

Everything served including breakfast jams, New Mexican Hatch Green Chile and smoked sausage are made from scratch in house. A few of the menu items that will set MMR apart from other local establishments for breakfast, lunch and dinner will include serving organic eggs, authentic New Mexican Hatch red & green chili, whole oven roasted bone-in hams and turkeys, hand carved to order and served on artisan breads. All steaks will be USDA prime and dry aged in house served with an organic salad, organic baked potato as well an organic vegetable selection at no added charge.

Managing partner, Chris Curry will be in charge of the daily management of MMR. Chris has extensive restaurant/food service experience. He has previously been general manager for Cracker Barrel and The Cheesecake Factory for several years. Other owners include Steve Thompson, business manager and Cindy & Lance Ruffel. All owners will be very involved with the execution of MMR and excited to be a part of this opportunity.

[Bullbear]

Nice.. I bet that building is gonna need some serious rehab.. was in it once when it was a chinese buffet and it was a bit rough.. looking forward to trying this out though sounds great!

[turnpup]

Nice.. I bet that building is gonna need some serious rehab.. was in it once when it was a chinese buffet and it was a bit rough.. looking forward to trying this out though sounds great!

I was thinking the same thing. And the building's been boarded up for years. It'll be nice to see it fixed up.

[Pete]

They are spending a ton of money. The interior design is going to be something else.

That area is in desperate need of some good dining options.

I bet this place will be a home run.

[Bullbear]

Its certainly a great location and that building needed some love. will be great to see some new life on that corner. It certainly is one of the busiest intersections in town

[Pete]

At one time, that area had a lot good dining and night life options and although the demographics have remained very strong and development has only increased, there is surprisingly little around there.

I bet this will turn into one of those situations where this place goes in, does great, and then suddenly a bunch of new places follow suit.

It makes no sense that there are so few good restaurants and bars on May in particular.

[Teo9969]

Wow…this is out of nowhere.

Continuing good news for OKC's dining scene. I'm having trouble seeing the OKC ties with the 5 people mentioned in the article, at least form a restaurant perspective.

[Pete]

I'm having trouble seeing the OKC ties with the 5 people mentioned in the article, at least form a restaurant perspective.

They all are from OKC and live t/here now.

[turnpup]

Aw come on Pete. What do you mean no good restaurants? There's McDonald's, Arby's, Taco Bueno, Taco Bell, Freddy's, Whataburger, Jack in the Box and Chick Fil A all in that general vicinity. What more could we possibly ask for? Ha ha just kidding.

I had my first house in that area from 1996-2005 and don't really remember there being much more in the way of "real" restaurants during that time period. There are more fast food places than there used to be, for sure. The Ted's Cafe Escondido was a big thing back then, as it was their only location. People crowded outside that place for hours waiting to get in. Not so much any more, I would suspect.

To me, it seems like the area for the nicer dining options has shifted more toward Grand/Western/Classen, with the opening of Classen Curve.

[Pete]

BTW, for those too young to remember, this place was Charlie's Chili for quite a while in the 80's and 90's and was quite the raging nightspot.

[AP]

What is the address of the building?

[Teo9969]

They all are from OKC and live t/here now.

Right, but where are there ties to the OKC restaurant scene at this point? Are they or have they been involved with any other establishments?

[Pete]

Right, but where are there ties to the OKC restaurant scene at this point? Are they or have they been involved with any other establishments?

The GM served in the same role at the local Cheesecake Factory and Cracker Barrel.

[Pete]

What is the address of the building?

2920 NW 63rd.

[Roger S]

BTW, for those too young to remember, this place was Charlie's Chili for quite a while in the 80's and 90's and was quite the raging nightspot.

Was also a Spencer's Smokehouse for a few years after they broke away from Gary Dale's.

[Urbanized]

Was also a Chinese buffet for a number of years.

[Pete]

Yes, most recently it was Hunan Garden.

[Urbanized]

Ooh, just read the full article. Count me in on Blue Mountain coffee.

[Teo9969]

The GM served in the same role at the local Cheesecake Factory and Cracker Barrel.

If that's the extent of everyone's involvement with the OKC local food scene, then they're essentially new players in the scene, which is great. I really hope this is a successful project because we really could use 2 or 3 more local Restauranteurs.

[Pete]

Yes, it's essentially a new restaurant group with substantial backing and ambitious plans.

[SoonerFP]

BTW, for those too young to remember, this place was Charlie's Chili for quite a while in the 80's and 90's and was quite the raging nightspot.

I actually remember it as a BBQ place when I was growing up. It was Gary Dale's BBQ, then became Spencer's BBQ. Loved their ribs and huge dinner rolls and apple fritters, both reminiscent of Applewoods. This would have been early to mid '80s, I believe. There is still a Spencer's in the Midwest City/NE OKC area.

So glad to see this building have life again. It looks like it's really gonna be done with class. Can't wait to try it out!

[ksearls]

Was also a Spencer's Smokehouse for a few years after they broke away from Gary Dale's.

Actually, before it was anything else, it was Luther's BBQ. I know that because when it first was built and opened, it was my first job; I worked the drive through window.

Peaches Records and Tapes was on the same corner.

[Roger S]

Actually, before it was anything else, it was Luther's BBQ. I know that because when it first was built and opened, it was my first job; I worked the drive through window.

That would have been before my days as a BBQ addict.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^
I figured you probably had puréed ribs mixed in with formula in your baby bottles...

[bradh]

damn they used to have Luther's up here? way back machine for me from my Houstonian youth