Garage Burgers

[White Peacock]

They offer Bison burgers, which is actually very healthy and in my opinion just as good if not better than beef. I almost always substitute beef for bison if it's available at any restaurant.

Their bison burgers are delicious, and you're right, there's not really any reason to see them as unhealthy. But then, people seem to have really archaic ideas for what's healthy, and what actually makes people fat, so it's a tough point to drive home.

[White Peacock]

Ours too! But only in rotation with Loaded Queso and Chily Cheese Dogs.

I tried the chili cheese dog once. It was overall pretty good, but the way the dog itself was prepared gave it a hardened skin, which kind of ruined it for me. Is that how they always prepare it?

[Bill Robertson]

I tried the chili cheese dog once. It was overall pretty good, but the way the dog itself was prepared gave it a hardened skin, which kind of ruined it for me. Is that how they always prepare it?

Yes. But I like them that way so it works for me. I wonder if they would cook them less done if asked?

[White Peacock]

Yes. But I like them that way so it works for me. I wonder if they would cook them less done if asked?

I'm sure they would. They're pretty compliant with any special way you want your food prepared there.

[Pete]

Finally tried something at the Midtown location other than their awesome burgers: taco salad.

I had it with ground turkey and it was very, very good and a healthy portion. I asked for extra salsa (for dressing) and they gave me two big cups that did the trick plus had a little bit of a kick.

Really too much food for one person unless you are incredibly hungry.

Given the consistent quality there, I will have to try some other things, although the burgers are so good it's hard to pass them up.

[Urbanized]

Recommend the tacos with either bison or (my preference) turkey for lean option. Ask for corn tortillas instead of flour to cut some simple carbs. Garage does a great job with turkey.

[Pete]

Of all the great places in Midtwon and Auto Alley, the Garage is near the top of my list.

They have a great and lively bar area, a good beer list, consistently good food and lots of TV's for game days.

They also have done something few other places have figured out... They have sound-absorbing panels suspended from the ceiling that stops the place from being a total cacophony like almost every other new, concrete floor place.

I sure wish more restaurants and bars would pay better attention to acoustics and lighting, two things that aren't necessarily expensive but make a world of difference in the setting and experience.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^^
I wish EVERYBODY would pay better attention to lighting; a major passion of mine. It affects the experience so much, whether that experience is walking or driving down a street, strolling in a park, shopping in a store, or eating in a restaurant. Few things affect the user experience so much. Lights can cause a patron to happily spend more, to linger, to return, or cause them to do none of the above if done wrong.

Lighting is one place where I think OKC as a community - including the business community - does a job that I would call "poor." I think on some level the prevailing culture views thoughtful, professional lighting as unncessary, flashy, excessive, or just hasn't seen many good examples of what great lighting can accomplish for a place. Instead of great, eye-pleasing ambient lighting, we often get the harsh, task-oriented or direct type. Or, none at all. These days, as cheap and flexible as LED has become, there is really no good excuse for it.

You're right; lighting at Garage is pretty well done. Would like to see more places care as much.

[Pete]

The reason lighting and sound are so often overlooked is that the design is all done by architects and those things don't show in renderings and drawings.

Things may look very cool in image form but the total customer experience is totally shaped by light and sound.


When I was in charge of office build-outs for U.S. Trust on the West Coast, we paid extra for a dedicated lighting consultant, completely separate from the architect / designer. It made a huge difference as those people are specialists that know their stuff.

Often times architects get so caught up in super clean lines that they see lighting fixtures and sound equipment as a nuisance. It usually takes a client demanding those things take higher priority before they actually do.


But I totally agree, more places than not get the lighting all wrong. And same with the incredibly noisy acoustics where they have to keep turning up the music louder and louder because the space itself is reflection crowd sound off of almost every surface.

[Pete]

OKCTalk - New Garage Burgers and Beer coming to N. May and Britton

[Dustin]

OKCTalk - New Garage Burgers and Beer coming to N. May and Britton

Yes! It's going to kill there.

[Uptowner]

Seems like garage and S&B have an CVS/Walgreens relationship only .5-1 mile apart.

[Pete]

And like the Garage, S&B has aggressive expansion plans.

[sooner88]

Does S&B do anywhere near the bar sales that Garage does?

[Pete]

Not sure, but they do very well.

[Bill Robertson]

I'm actually kind of hoping that the May Garage location takes a bit of the 122nd & Rockwell business. Then maybe we'll be able to get in to our local Garage more easily. Most every night at peak times the place is full and the line is to the door. We went in Thursday night about 45 minutes before the OU game and gave up on finding a seat. Then a bartender that knows us stopped us and talked a couple into sharing their table with us. Normally something I couldn't do but it ended up being fun.

[Laramie]

Got an opportunity to check out the Garage at 11th & Robinson (Midtown); food was fresh, burgers & fries were hot. Great game day atmosphere (Lakers).

Relatives are coming up for Game 1 of the Mavericks-Thunder playoffs this Saturday. Definitely taking them to The Garage. Plan to return the courtesy they've always extended me in Dallas. Hope they enjoy the game.

It's rare that you see Dallas fans wanting to get out of the Big-D for the weekend for somewhere other than Houston, Austin & San Antonio.

They're impressed with OKC's places of interest like Bricktown, Boathouse, OKC Museum of Art, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum & OKC Zoo--thought about leaving them out there.

They plan to return this summer once the Riversport Rapids course opens--one of my relatives has an older daughter (Texas A & M alum); she comes up annually for the WCWS (softball) tournament--they want to plan their whitewater rapids visit around the tournament.

[Dustin]

This is now my favorite burger spot in the city.

I've been here numerous times since my first visit and every time is better than the last.

So impressed!

[LocoAko]

Had the slaw burger yesterday. So delicious!

[Dustin]

Had the slaw burger yesterday. So delicious!

That was the last burger I tried as well! What a coinkidink!

[White Peacock]

The new fried jalapeno burger is ace. It probably won't usurp the fried onion burger as my regular, but I can recommend trying it.

[sooner88]

The new fried jalapeno burger is ace. It probably won't usurp the fried onion burger as my regular, but I can recommend trying it.

It is great. Hard to beat anything with guacamole.

[SoonerDave]

It is great. Hard to beat anything with guacamole.

Guacamole? Gas and a match comes to mind.

[Bill Robertson]

It is great. Hard to beat anything with guacamole.

Not only is this true but the Garage's guacamole is good. Guacamole is one of those things that seem to be good or really bad with no in between.

[ctchandler]

Guacamole? Gas and a match comes to mind.

SoonerDave,
I'm with you, keep that green stuff off of my burger!
C. T.