1492

[jbkrems]

I dined at 1492 earlier this evening, and yes, it IS off to a very good start. I had the roasted duck enchiladas, and although I did not express this vocally, it was not seasoned enough and was a bit bland. I did not think they were rich and tasty. However, I had probably the best tres leches cake I've had anywhere for dessert, and it was great, with a lot of fruit in the topping and as a garnish around the plate (sliced strawberries, pineapple, and mango). Normally tres leches cake is not like this, i.e. served with fruit, but this time it was, and it was good. They need to change that when summer really ends next month, and drizze it with chocolate and caramel or something for fall/winter. Otherwise, I was very impressed, I met at least one of their managers, and it was just overall VERY GOOD. I also can't wait for the wine bar that will open next door as well.

[metro]

Please feel free to post food reviews in the 1492 thread in the Food Court food review section of this website.

[mecarr]

I ate there last night. I ordered the dunk enchiladas. I must say that I was a bit disappointed with the enchilladas. The cheese on the enchiladas was a bit bland, and there just didnt' seem to be much taste with the meal. My wife ordered the chicken with mango sauce. I thought it was pretty good, better than what I had ordered. The cocunut rice was nice as well.

Beware of the salsa, it is very very spicy. I like spicy things, but in my opinion it was a bit too spicey. After ordering an appetizer, two beers, and two entrees, our total, including tip and taxes came to $57.

[trison]

Attached is a rendering of the new 1492.

[trison]

Attached are renderings of the new sushi bar and wine bar that will be on either side of 1492. I think this is going to be a really neat area when everything is open.

[jbrown84]

to the tune of Fall Out Boy:

"thanks for the renderings, thanks for the renderings..."

[lkberry1]

Isn't 1492 supposed to be "Latin Cuisine"? What's up with all the same ole Mexican food on their menu?

[Midtowner]

Why ride your bike? They have valet parking

[Rifleman2C]

For those of us that are currently out of the 'know' because we live elsewhere... where exactly is 1492? And more importantly, when will the wine bar open up next door to 1492? I only ask because I will be in OKC next week... and not surprisingly, I'd like to see what all the fuss is about!

[bandnerd]

It's near 10th and Walker, on Walker...just north of Brown's Bakery. It's in a small building, and you'll see the valet guys out front.

[BoulderSooner]

For those of us that are currently out of the 'know' because we live elsewhere... where exactly is 1492? And more importantly, when will the wine bar open up next door to 1492? I only ask because I will be in OKC next week... and not surprisingly, I'd like to see what all the fuss is about!

the wine bar and on the other side the sushi place open before thanksgiving .. so they say ... both have a long way to go

[FritterGirl]

Just got back from lunch at 1492. All I can say at this point is "ehh..."

Here are my first impressions:

Valet (imo) totally unnecessary. Unless you are really a valet snob, or are unable to park and walk, I suppose it's nice. I don't fit either category so prefer to park myself.

Service - nice. Attentive, but not overly so. It was 3/4 to capacity, and lunch service was fine. Our server seemed a bit on the aloof side, but I think that was just a personality issue. He came to our table quickly, answered necessary questions and our food was brought out in a timely manner.

Menu - The specialities certainly seemed to fit the bill of "New Latin Cuisine." The Tex-Mex lunch offerings seemed to be the same old Tex-Mex fare we've grown accustomed to in OKC, and were, frankly disappointing. I guess they are easy and quick to make so they can get people in and out quickly.

As I was neither willing to fork out $20+ for my lunch (assuming a $15 meal, plus drink, tax, tip), nor interested in their general lunch offerings, I went with the no-risk "Business Executive" chicken Fajitas.

Mostly, they were your standard fajita fare. Tortillas not the best I've ever had, but they did (either by accident or on purpose, I don't know) keep the veggies nice and crispy, as if they had been freshly sauteed and not pre-cooked and seeping in oil all day. The green peppers still had a very fresh taste and just enouch "snap" to them. I hate mushy green peppers and these were definitely fresh, which added to the overall good taste of the dish. My grade: C+/B-

My work colleague got the #3 (1 beef taco, 1 cheese enchilada and 1 mystery chili enchilada). She finished the taco and said it was quite good. She couldn't get through the 2 enchiladas; said the cheese enchi was too cheesy and the "beef" enchilada with chili sauce tasted more like a coney than an enchilada. Overall: C-

I might give it another go if I am really jonesing for some Mexican, and I certainly will want to go back just so I can try some of their dinner offerings. For lunch, though, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, mainly because they are not living up to how they market themselves as "new latin cuisine."

[metro]

ParksGal, I ate lunch their today as well. Perhaps we saw each other and didn't even know it. Anyhow, I totally agree with you on the valet. It's a waste of their money which they pass on to you by higher food prices, etc. It would be a nice service for perhaps Saturday nights or special occassions, but for lunch and most nights it is totally unnecessary. Encouraging more people to drive so they can "valet" is not very urban in a district that despirately needs more foot and bike traffic.

I agree service is good, but our server seemed aloof as well. He was nice though. As I've said above, I agree with you it's way more Tex Mex than Latin Fusion. I do like the fact almost no dishes come with rice and beans since I don't eat them anyways. I do think their food is slightly better than most TexMex joints around, but nothing outstanding. I ordered the #4 lunch special. One cheese enchilada, one chicken enchilada, and a beef taco. I finished it off with a Mexican Tres Leches cake. It was outstanding and topped with fresh pineapple and strawberries.

I did mention to our waiter that myself and my business colleague thought the salsa was wayyyyy to spicy. My wife and I also thought so the other night. The waiter didn't seem to care and probably didn't tell the management. I also think it is way to watered down. It tastes like super spicy water.

[flintysooner]

I went to lunch there today with 2 associates. We were pretty late. I liked the valet parking especially since you can't park in the lot next to it - the one with the guard. We all liked the salsa and food. The salsa was hot but tasted freshly made to me - actually thought it was quite good. Our servers were prompt, courteous, and competent. And we struck up a conversation with our main server.

A little nostalgic as I remember my parents' doctor had an office in the Osler building and my childhood pediatrician was across the street in the low building north of Osler. And we used to have prescriptions filled in the pharmacy that I think was in the building were 1492 is.

Nice to see the area doing well actually. It is a little far for me but we'll probably return.

[Turanacus]

I went to 1492 on Saturday. I wanted to see if they'd valet park my bicycle. They did and I was very appreciative. I didn't get to eat but enjoyed the valet.

[Rifleman2C]

I went to 1492 on Saturday. I wanted to see if they'd valet park my bicycle. They did and I was very appreciative. I didn't get to eat but enjoyed the valet.

You didn't get to eat? Hopefully, the drinks were good...

So, I'm getting the idea that the food is average to better than average, and the desserts are good to very good. But I'll be honest, I don't see 'Latin Fusion' in what has been discussed here. I guess I'll just have to wander down and see what is what!

[Millie]

I ate there tonight. I didn't really see the "Latin Fusion"- more like tex-mex and Mexican.
The queso was okay, but had too muich going on (beans, guac, sour cream, some kind of chili stuff, etc.). Best comparison for flavor I can think of is that it is kind of like the queso at Chili's, but not exactly.
The chips were very good. The salsa was very good- excellent flavor and was the best part of the meal.
The tortillas are okay- they didn't taste very fresh and weren't too special.
I had the shrimp and bacon tacos. They were good to above average. The person with me had some kind of chicken enchiladas. I had a bite- they were dry and the chicken was bland. You could tell the chicken was very good quality, though.
The service was good, but my waiter had the demeanor of a person who was serving over-priced, not very good food- he phrased things carefully so as not to invite complaints, and he did not really offer any recommendations when we asked.
For dessert I had the flan- it was gummy and kind of lukewarm.
If the place is still in business in three months (a big if, given the fact that I saw two people sending their food back because they didn't like it, and given the comments of the people at the table next to mine), I may go back to see if things have improved.

[CCOKC]

I went to 1492 on Friday night and I can say I was pretty disappointed as well. The service was not that great. I am a vegetarian and asked the server for recommendations and all he could come up with was nachos. With all of the interesting looking items on the specialty menu, I am sure they could have come up with something better than nachos. It was a pretty restaurant but it was way too loud. Not sure what they can do about that though. I hope they can get it together because it could be a great asset to midtown. I think I would have preferred to go to the Boulevard and had a piece of icebox pie.

[metro]

I went to 1492 on Saturday. I wanted to see if they'd valet park my bicycle. They did and I was very appreciative. I didn't get to eat but enjoyed the valet.

That's freaking awesome! Valeting your bicycle. Classic!


and CC, you figure for vegetarian options he could have at least recommended cheese enchiladas or the cheese tacos.

[CCOKC]

That's what I ended up getting but looking at the grilled veggies and mushrooms that were in some of the other dishes I thought I might be able to get something different than what I can get better and cheaper at Los Mariachis. I live close enough to Los Mariachis to ride my bike but they would not valet it for sure so I guess 1492 is better in that respect.

[mecarr]

If the place is still in business in three months (a big if, given the fact that I saw two people sending their food back because they didn't like it, and given the comments of the people at the table next to mine), I may go back to see if things have improved.

I ate there too and was disappointed. However, everytime I drive by there it is packed so I expect it will do well. The essential problem I had with it was that the food just tasted too bland.

[eataroundokc.com]

I ate here on the day it opened at lunch. Looked at the dinner options and they sort of looked interesting, but I didn't want to spend that much for lunch, so I tried their lunch specials. The lunch specials were not very good. It was like "burrito," "enchilada" -- those were the choices. Extremely basic. The guy I was with got "three chalupas" which basically amounted to three little shells once with cheese sauce in it, one with guacamole in it, and one with beans in it. That was it. That was the "lunch special" and it was $8. I looked like something you would dip chips in.

Anyway, I tried not to judge it too harshly since it was their first day and I was having lunch and not dinner. Would like to go back. It's very close to my house and I hope they do well for that area.

[Misty]

I finally tried 1492 for lunch today. Based on some of the other reviews I had low expectations but was pleasantly surprised. I saw no signs of "latin fusion", looks like tex mex to me which is fine. I have disliked most of the tex mex in OKC I've tried and this was one of the first places that I thought was decent. Not as good as what I'm used to in Austin, but for what OKC has to offer it was good. Many people commented on the salsa being hot in the other reviews, my thoughts were that it had a little heat compared to what the other places serve, but was no where near what I would consider HOT. So, not the best tex mex I've ever had but pretty good for what OKC has to offer. The waiter was awesome and the place is cute, also can't beat the location. Having true professional waiters/waitresses is important to me, it really "completes" any dining experience. It was nice to have linens and professional waiters for an $8 lunch, that was nice and unexpected. Thank GOD they don't serve that disgusting cream-gravy-consistency "queso" that all the other places in town serve. I hate that stuff!

[escan]

We stopped for Happy Hour the other day...it WAS Saturday , but they still gave us HH pricing...GREAT service! We drank a couple of the frozen mojitos (wonderful) and had some awesome nachos. I was expecting the salsa to be hot, based on previous reviews, but it wasn't. I commented that it was good and the bartender told us that they had to take out some of the heat because of several complaints from customers who are used to the tomato sauce served in most restaurants. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

[BDP]

commented that it was good and the bartender told us that they had to take out some of the heat because of several complaints from customers who are used to the tomato sauce served in most restaurants.

That's unfortunate. It always amazes me what qualifies as spicy food in Oklahoma. I'm not even a huge spicy food eater, that is, I don't like heat just for the sake of heat, but it seems so many have to error on the side of bland to accommodate Oklahoma palates.