Ted's Cafe Escondido

[securityinfo]

great information... thanks for all that! having pagers in the early 90's was definitely ahead of its time... i remember that catching on in the late 90's but don't remember any place with them around '91. on top of that, i didn't even know devices that could track when a table is cleared even existed. the first time we made it to ted's was around 2000 and we waited around an hour to get a table... throughout the whole experience we could tell that the place had a tight system in place.

The software to do the table control was, well, quite bespoke. Ted always had excellent ideas on what he wanted to see in it, so it was a challenge to keep it running while simultaneously adding new features. It ran from an early production touchscreen at the greeter station, had the ability to move tables together to accommodate large groups, and would alert the server when one of their tables was cleared and another group had been sat. And that was just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.. it tied into the ordering and back of house as well. The turn rate was most likely one of the highest in the nation at the time.

[FighttheGoodFight]

The software to do the table control was, well, quite bespoke. Ted always had excellent ideas on what he wanted to see in it, so it was a challenge to keep it running while simultaneously adding new features. It ran from an early production touchscreen at the greeter station, had the ability to move tables together to accommodate large groups, and would alert the server when one of their tables was cleared and another group had been sat. And that was just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.. it tied into the ordering and back of house as well. The turn rate was most likely one of the highest in the nation at the time.

Only can be beat by Taurahumara's in Norman. I swear they turn tables in under 10 minutes after you sit down.

[John1744]

Ted's is still brutally efficient in getting people in and out. Though honestly I feel food quality has came down over the last few years as they've continued to expand, it's still really solid Tex-Mex, and I always enjoy taking a crowd with me due to their efficiency, but food seems to be getting a touch on the bland side the last half dozen times I've gone.

[MagzOK]

Ted's is still brutally efficient in getting people in and out. Though honestly I feel food quality has came down over the last few years as they've continued to expand, it's still really solid Tex-Mex, and I always enjoy taking a crowd with me due to their efficiency, but food seems to be getting a touch on the bland side the last half dozen times I've gone.

As a Texas transplant -- though my wife now says I'm officially an Oklahoman after having lived here for over 20 years partnered with having deep Oklahoma familial roots -- I've always thought it was very bland and non-exciting. For example, my elderly dad who has stomach issues has to eat bland foods and Ted's is one of our "safe" places we can take him actually due to the blandness. Not saying you can't find something on the menu that isn't bland, but overall I've never thought it was anything incredible. That being said, the service has always been unmatched and is indeed pretty incredible.

[TheTravellers]

Ted's is still brutally efficient in getting people in and out. Though honestly I feel food quality has came down over the last few years as they've continued to expand, it's still really solid Tex-Mex, and I always enjoy taking a crowd with me due to their efficiency, but food seems to be getting a touch on the bland side the last half dozen times I've gone.

Interesting - why do you keep going back if the food's not that good? Life's too short to put up with crappy food of any sort, there are a lot of Tex-Mex restaurants that are better than Ted's around.

[soonerguru]

Quality Tex-Mex is a dying cuisine. I realize that all cuisines evolve over time to accommodate popular tastes, but there just isn't much out there that rings the bell for me. The last great Tex-Mex meals I have had in the last ten years or so were at Mi Tierra in San Antonio and Ninfa's in Houston.

Ted's is a decent chain but it's not the same as it was when Ted ran it, and even then it was very good but not comparable to the best Tex-Mex joints in Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

[Bowser214]

Agree with Soonerguru. But have you tried Mi Pueblo in Warr Acres? I lived in Dallas for 25 years and Mi Pueblo is the best TexMex in OKC I've had so far.

[April in the Plaza]

Quality Tex-Mex is a dying cuisine. I realize that all cuisines evolve over time to accommodate popular tastes, but there just isn't much out there that rings the bell for me. The last great Tex-Mex meals I have had in the last ten years or so were at Mi Tierra in San Antonio and Ninfa's in Houston.

Ted's is a decent chain but it's not the same as it was when Ted ran it, and even then it was very good but not comparable to the best Tex-Mex joints in Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

If you haven’t tried Mama Lety OKC, would totally recommend it. She makes everything from scratch and has managed to work in a number of the old classics, like Huaraches and Moles.

[SEMIweather]

Has anyone tried Chapala on May between Grand and Wilshire? They seem to have pretty good reviews for a Tex-Mex place.

[Paseofreak]

Has anyone tried Chapala on May between Grand and Wilshire? They seem to have pretty good reviews for a Tex-Mex place.

Yes! Enormous portions. Very good food.

[SEMIweather]

Yes! Enormous portions. Very good food.

Thanks!

[Thomas Vu]

As a Texas transplant -- though my wife now says I'm officially an Oklahoman after having lived here for over 20 years partnered with having deep Oklahoma familial roots -- I've always thought it was very bland and non-exciting. For example, my elderly dad who has stomach issues has to eat bland foods and Ted's is one of our "safe" places we can take him actually due to the blandness. Not saying you can't find something on the menu that isn't bland, but overall I've never thought it was anything incredible. That being said, the service has always been unmatched and is indeed pretty incredible.

Unfair on my part, but this to me sums up my experience with just about any restaurant group in general

[TheTravellers]

Unfair on my part, but this to me sums up my experience with just about any restaurant group in general

Some of the smaller restaurant groups here in OKC still do a great job with their restaurants. But yeah, we never go to any Hal Smith restaurants unless we're forced to.

[AMinEdmond]

Some of the smaller restaurant groups here in OKC still do a great job with their restaurants. But yeah, we never go to any Hal Smith restaurants unless we're forced to.

Lol, are you serious?? You have to be forced to go to places like Red Rock, Charleston's, Upper Crust etc.?

[TheTravellers]

Lol, are you serious?? You have to be forced to go to places like Red Rock, Charleston's, Upper Crust etc.?

Yep, we don't go to any Hal Smith restaurants voluntarily. Charleston's, The Garage, Louie's, Mahogany, Mama Roja's, Pub W, Upper Crust, and especially Ted's all have better equivalents out there. Haven't eaten at any of the others, so can't speak to them.

[John1744]

Interesting - why do you keep going back if the food's not that good? Life's too short to put up with crappy food of any sort, there are a lot of Tex-Mex restaurants that are better than Ted's around.

Unfortunately for me the people I tend to hang with they seem to think Teds is the pinnacle of tex mex lol.

[TheTravellers]

Unfortunately for me the people I tend to hang with they seem to think Teds is the pinnacle of tex mex lol.

Gotcha, sometimes we have to go to places we don't like because someone else is choosing.

[Roger S]

Hal Smith has been successful because they cater to the greatest common denominator in the culinary world.... The picky eater.

Someone upthread mentioned it being their "safe" option and that is what I've always called it..... With the exception of Mahogany I'm a lot like Travellers... I only go if I'm invited to go.... With that said I have never had a bad meal at a Hal Smith restaurant.... And with that said... I have never had a meal that made me want to go back..... Except at Mahogany.

The Ted's today has very little in common with the original Ted's of which I was a frequent customer of.... Mainly for their tamal at the time... Ted's served a fine tamale before Hal Smith took over.

[Thatguy15]

Hal Smith has done well with Mahogany, Charlestons, and Neighborhood Jam. The rest are garbage.

[TheTravellers]

.... With that said I have never had a bad meal at a Hal Smith restaurant.... And with that said... I have never had a meal that made me want to go back..... Except at Mahogany.

Yep, pretty much this. Can't remember much about Mahogany, but if I can't remember it, then it must not've been good enough to go back.

The Ted's today has very little in common with the original Ted's of which I was a frequent customer of.... Mainly for their tamal at the time... Ted's served a fine tamale before Hal Smith took over.

Absolutely 1000% agree with this - great when they opened and for a few years, then fell off a bit, then a lot when HSRG got involved.

[soonermike81]

Y’all need to check out Jimmy B’s. It’s a Hal Smith restaurant, and we’re huge fans. Only been 3 times but have never left disappointed.

[BoulderSooner]

Yep, pretty much this. Can't remember much about Mahogany, but if I can't remember it, then it must not've been good enough to go back.



Absolutely 1000% agree with this - great when they opened and for a few years, then fell off a bit, then a lot when HSRG got involved.

HSRG is not involved with teds in any way

[Roger S]

HSRG is not involved with teds in any way

Mmmmmmkay.... So this never happened?

The Beekman Group, LLC (“Beekman”) today announced that its affiliate has made an investment in Ted’s Café Escondido Holdings, Inc. (“Ted’s” or the “Company”), a full-service Mexican/Tex-Mex casual dining restaurant chain based in Oklahoma City, OK. Beekman’s affiliate partnered with successful restaurant executive Hal W. Smith to recapitalize the business with the existing management team. Mr. Smith is currently the CEO of the Hal Smith Restaurant Group, a restaurant management company that operates 12 concepts in 7 Southern states with over 60 locations. Ted’s is Beekman’s second transaction in two months and brings their second lower middle-market private equity fund to approximately half invested.

[BoulderSooner]

Mmmmmmkay.... So this never happened?

Hal smith is involved with Teds HSRG is not

[TheTravellers]

Hal smith is involved with Teds HSRG is not

Does the normal person care that there's a difference between Hal Smith and HSRG? I certainly don't.