Bolero

[OKC4me]

I wonder if any of the NBA players own any of those condos?

[Urbanized]

I just realized where this place is tonight. I haven't been down there in awhile, and saw it tonight. Are those apartments above it?

How is the bowling alley underneath it?

Red Pin is on the canal level, Bolero (and In the Raw, and Starbucks) are on the street level. The condos start on the next floor up.

The restaurant side is now open, though I haven't been. I did visit the bar again on Friday. I again ordered only from the Tapas menu (meatballs, skewered pork loin, bacon-wrapped dates). They were all good, especially the dates.

They (the bar and restaurant) are almost like two distinct businesses that serve the same menu. By that I mean that they are in different spaces, separated by the outdoor entry to the condo elevator vestibule. You have to walk outside to travel from one to the other.

The restaurant has the same doors that open fully to the sidewalk, creating an indoor/outdoor space. It will be fantastic in the spring. The door to the kitchen is only a double swinging metal door. I'm not sure how that works with the health department (I always thought a kitchen area had to be fully closed off to the outdoors), but I can't say that it bothers me.

[taylor83]

I might have to check this place out this weekend. It sounds like a great addition to Bricktown, even though I usually stay away from that area.

I'm just curious if anyone has seen their wine list and if they serve sangria? Thanks!

[Urbanized]

They do serve sangria. By the glass or by the pitcher.

[betts]

Great looking menu! I'm excited about it and In the Raw. I don't think any NBA players live at the Centennial, because it was sold out long before any of them moved here. John Lucas was supposedly looking downtown, but that obviously didn't work out.

[metro]

I wonder if any of the NBA players own any of those condos?

I doubt it considering they were 100% sold long before we had the team. Not impossible though, but I haven't heard of anyone reselling theirs since they've been waiting so long and finally are just getting all moved in there.

[BFizzy]

They pretty much all live in Edmond except for PJ who lives in the 360 tower.

[johnnyincog]

I doubt it considering they were 100% sold long before we had the team. Not impossible though, but I haven't heard of anyone reselling theirs since they've been waiting so long and finally are just getting all moved in there.

this one has been on the maket for a couple of months. $400/sq ft. doesnt have a long list of buyers in OK.

http://www.realtor.com/search/listin...lsn=1&srcnt=13

[metro]

Exactly johnny, who would pay $800K for that in Lower Bricktown. I mean it's nice, but its traditional style inside and the finishings aren't that high end to justify as much as one of the Brownstones which are MUCH nicer, larger and have nicer finishings.

[jbrown84]

Yeah the Brownstones are worth their high prices. Extremely well built and phenomenal interiors.

The Centennial, no so much from what I've seen.

[BDP]

They might have been worth it if there was more of them down there. I think people here get too hung up on price per square feet. Location and lifestyle have a lot to do with real estate value and if there was more value in living lower bricktown, then I could see, but Hogan just didn't do a good job of maximizing the space in such a way that makes it livable. We don't see a lot of location premiums in OKC, because so much of it is the same, but downtown is one area that can justify it if done right. The stuff in the triangle has a chance if it can continue to expand and maintain good occupancy. There is much more potential for density there.

[metro]

They might have been worth it if there was more of them down there. I think people here get too hung up on price per square feet. Location and lifestyle have a lot to do with real estate value and if there was more value in living lower bricktown, then I could see, but Hogan just didn't do a good job of maximizing the space in such a way that makes it livable. We don't see a lot of location premiums in OKC, because so much of it is the same, but downtown is one area that can justify it if done right. The stuff in the triangle has a chance if it can continue to expand and maintain good occupancy. There is much more potential for density there.

Only person I know that gets hung up on pp/sq/ft is Mid. I had no problem buying my condo (and no I didn't buy a high end one). There are still some deals out there if you look hard. I agree, some people still don't get your buying prime land and a lifestyle. Everyone is out to make a "good investment" so they can flip it one day. I'm all for making a sound investment and some money, but that mentality is what got us into this mortgage/financial fiasco in the first place.

[BDP]

Just wanted to chime in and say that my wife and I ate at Bolero. Unfortunately, we were pretty unimpressed. We had:

Sizzling Scallops in Garlic Sauce
Artichoke Frito w/ Garlic aloli
Grilled Chorizo with Queso Blanco
Empanadas with Spicy Beef and Potato
Chicken Drums in Warm Tomato and Basil

And my wife got a salad. We would have gotten more, but weren't very confident after we had the above. The only thing I'd get again is the empanadas, and I don't think they're enough to get us back.

We may go back to try the entrees at some point, as they sound good, but we were really hoping for OKC to finally get a good Tapas place and couldn't get fired up about it. We did notice that In The Raw is open and we hope to try it next week before a game.

Hopefully, we just got the wrong stuff, but 1 out of 5 isn't all that great, imo, especially for a type of food we typically love.

[progressiveboy]

Just wanted to chime in and say that my wife and I ate at Bolero. Unfortunately, we were pretty unimpressed. We had:

Sizzling Scallops in Garlic Sauce
Artichoke Frito w/ Garlic aloli
Grilled Chorizo with Queso Blanco
Empanadas with Spicy Beef and Potato
Chicken Drums in Warm Tomato and Basil

And my wife got a salad. We would have gotten more, but weren't very confident after we had the above. The only thing I'd get again is the empanadas, and I don't think they're enough to get us back.

We may go back to try the entrees at some point, as they sound good, but we were really hoping for OKC to finally get a good Tapas place and couldn't get fired up about it. We did notice that In The Raw is open and we hope to try it next week before a game.

Hopefully, we just got the wrong stuff, but 1 out of 5 isn't all that great, imo, especially for a type of food we typically love.

Just curious? What was it about it that left you unimpressed? I personally would have made a comment to management that you were not impressed so that this new concept to OKC can work out the kinks and they would get feedback so they can make improvements to the menu. I think this is a great concept for the local dining scene and adds a diverse selection instead of the typical Mexican joints and fanfare that dot the city.

[BDP]

What was it about it that left you unimpressed?

Taste.

I'm not a food critic, so I'm not good at putting it into words, but I'll try:

the garlic scallops didn't have much garlic flavor... just a wine sauce that tasted like the alcohol was not cooked off of an unimpressive wine.

The chorizo dish was surprisingly bland. So, it was really just kind of a smokey flavor with a bland cheese.

The artichokes were okay, but nothing special. The aioli was more mayo tasting than anything.

The chicken drums sauce was too sweet and the chicken itself was too big and chewy.

The empanadas were good and I may have them as an appetizer if I go back to the bar, which looked cool. Overall, just not many exciting flavors, which really surprised me at a Tapas place.

[John]

the garlic scallops didn't have much garlic flavor... just a wine sauce that tasted like the alcohol was not cooked off of an unimpressive wine.

Alcohol 'cooking off' is a myth...

[BDP]

Yeah, I've heard that, too. And while it's not entirely true (most of it can cook off, but rarely does it all cook off. Depends a little on heat and a lot on time), my point was more about what it tasted like than what the actual remaining alcohol content was relative to what it was when it was placed in the pan. In the end, an alcohol taste was more prevalent than garlic or any other aspect of the wine, whether that actually came from the alcohol chemical found in the wine, I don't know.

[jbkrems]

I went tonight, for the first and NOT the last time. Bolero is a great tapas restaurant.

I ordered the chorizo in red wine skewers, the white bean salad, the meatballs, and the skewered pork loin. I asked for some sides with my pork, and they gave me potatoes and veggies for FREE!!! Everything I ordered was great, and I would definitely go back. I also met some of the owner's investor friends and we had a great night chatting it up.

I definitely will recommend Bolero.

[mecarr]

I went tonight, for the first and NOT the last time. Bolero is a great tapas restaurant.

I ordered the chorizo in red wine skewers, the white bean salad, the meatballs, and the skewered pork loin. I asked for some sides with my pork, and they gave me potatoes and veggies for FREE!!! Everything I ordered was great, and I would definitely go back. I also met some of the owner's investor friends and we had a great night chatting it up.

I definitely will recommend Bolero.

That's good to know. I'll check it out.

[BailJumper]

We were in Bricktown last night for a movie and then went for a chilly walk afterwards. Walked by In the Raw and Bolero. In the Raw was packed at 9:20pm on a Friday. Bolero though was literally completely empty. Just a sign outside advertising their $32 steak special and two waitresses standing at the door. One was one her cell phone and the other just smiled limply as we walked by and shrugged her shoulders. Their bar had maybe 10 people inside but the restaurant was very sad looking indeed.

[jbrown84]

Yikes.

[jbkrems]

Bolero definitely needs to boost its marketing. It does have great food, though. That's sad to see it empty on a Friday night, when it should be humming.

[jbrown84]

I haven't seen any ads for it like in the Gazette or anything.

[BailJumper]

It didn't really even look like a restaurant to us. Looked like tables setup for a private event. They needed a menu on the door and I'd told the people at the bar "free appetizer" if you take your bar service in the restaurant - just to get bodies in the room to attract more.

Pretty sad when StarBucks is packed next door and you're not.

[metro]

I haven't seen any ads for it like in the Gazette or anything.

They've had decent sized ads in the Gazette for weeks, at least a month or so before they opened.