Jazmo'z - Bourbon St. Cafe

[Urbanized]

Please. All of this talk about "chains" is talking out of both sides of your mouth, folks. I'm not going to suggest that Bricktown is currently the cutting edge of the local food scene. There is no question that it is not. Would I love to see some more daring options emerge? Absolutely. Yet there are still several excellent dining options and a number of fine casual places.

But as far as chains are concerned, I get really tired of - for instance - people dismissing Earl's as a chain but giving a pass to Iguana (love Iguana, BTW), which is owned by the same guy. S&B? Chain (and one of my favorite places in OKC). Owned by the same people who own Bricktown Brewery and Henry Hudson's in Bricktown. Hideaway? Chain. Garage? Chain. Same people who own KD's (a one-off) and Toby Keith's (first of its kind). McNellie's? Chain. Fassler Hall? Chain. Louie's? Chain. Irma's? Chain. Ambassador Hotel and associated bar/restaurant? Chain. Urban Johnnie? Part of a chain. WXYZ at Aloft? Chain. The soon-to-land Mahogany? Chain.

Mule us opening a place in OKSea? Will that make it part of a chain? Will that make the ORIGINAL Mule now part of a chain? Doubtful, actually, because everyone downtown OTHER THAN Bricktown is apparently immune to "chain" status. When Waffle Champion opens new locations (they plan to, and have hopes to become a brand that extends beyond Oklahoma), will the Midtown location now be dismissed as a chain? But Bricktown Brewery is DEFINITELY a chain, right? We all know that. Never mind that it STARTED at that location.

Great places like Red Prime and Kitchen 324? Part of a (great) restaurant group. Packard's? It's a (really great) Interurban. Cafe 7? Chain. Coolgreens? Chain. Ice House/Park House? Restaurant group, with Ice House's burgers based on another restaurant. Big Truck/Mutts/Back Door? All the same group. Guess what? When restauranteurs succeed the often open new locations with the same concept, and restaurants have a better chance of survival when they are part of a group.

Downtown OKC Incorporated recently counted up businesses in Bricktown and found that independent and locally-owned restaurants and retailers outnumber out-of-town chains by more than 2-1 in Bricktown. Call or tweet them about that if you doubt it. Fact is, Bricktown has more locally-owned places than any TWO other downtown districts.

People act like everyplace in Bricktown is Hooters and every place OUTSIDE of Bricktown is Ludivine.

[Bullbear]

Speaking for myself only.. when I refer to something as a Chain i mean large national brands. I would rather crap a knife than eat at a Chili's or Red Lobster or Outback steakhouse.. that is just me. I love that many of our local brands have developed into "chains" and that isn't a complaint I have at all. when I travel I won't eat anywhere I can eat "anywhere". I prefer to find local flavor even if that happens to be a local Chain.. or perhaps even a chain that just isn't in Oklahoma. just my personal preference.
that is why I said i'd rather see Pappa Deux's in the space where Jazmo's is.. because I think their food is much better.. I wouldn't however want to see a Chili's

[TheTravellers]

I think there's a difference between a "chain" of 2 Irma's locations vs. a "chain" of 10 Earl's locations vs. a "chain" of a billions *$ locations. And a bunch of separate restaurants with separate names/menus/ideologies/concepts owned by the same restaurant group isn't quite the same as a bunch of McDonald's. I know these are probably glaringly obvious points, I don't really consider Irma's or Cafe 7 a "chain", but I guess all a chain needs is 2 links and it's a chain...

[catch22]

Shouldn't this thread be in the main restaurants and bars forum and not the subforum of general food and drinks. It is a specific restaurant, afterall, and not a general discussion of food.

[Roger S]

I think there's a difference between a "chain" of 2 Irma's locations vs. a "chain" of 10 Earl's locations vs. a "chain" of a billions *$ locations. And a bunch of separate restaurants with separate names/menus/ideologies/concepts owned by the same restaurant group isn't quite the same as a bunch of McDonald's. I know these are probably glaringly obvious points, I don't really consider Irma's or Cafe 7 a "chain", but I guess all a chain needs is 2 links and it's a chain...

Had this debate with a few followers when I included Steve's Rib in my 16 non-chain Q-raunt rib tour this spring...... I don't consider two links a chain.

[kevinpate]

When it comes to Q though, two links barely even be a sammywich

[Ginkasa]

Shouldn't this thread be in the main restaurants and bars forum and not the subforum of general food and drinks. It is a specific restaurant, afterall, and not a general discussion of food.

I didn't want my first post to be an article and was more just asking a question then trying to create the "main" Bourbon St. thread.

[Mike_M]

When Waffle Champion opens new locations (they plan to, and have hopes to become a brand that extends beyond Oklahoma), will the Midtown location now be dismissed as a chain?

So can we assume that Waffle Champion has no intention of having normal people hours, or is this just a (5) year plan type of deal?

[Pete]

I am actually sitting canal-side here at this moment and had a great bowl of gumbo and some sourdough bread for lunch.

This is such great space! Wonderful canal-level setting right on the water and the interior is really slick as well.

One of those places that gets forgotten about I fear, but is pretty darn cool.

[Pete]

The mini-golf and Brickopolis opening directly east should help bring more people by.

Fun to watch the water taxi go by.

[Thomas Vu]

I recall when one opened in Tulsa I had a terrible experience. That location has long been gone by restaurants that have also long been gone. I went to the one in OKC for lunch at another time and it was average to slightly above average.

[Pete]

The setting alone is worth it. The outside space is really great, as it's water level and has a big covered area (even some upholstered booths) and then some spots right on the water that get a bit of sun.

The bar area is very nice and the inside space is huge; some large rooms that can divided off for private dining or events.

I was impressed; my food was good and the service was very prompt and courteous.

[dankrutka]

I totally agree, Pete. When my parents and my wife's parents met for the first time we ate here along the canal. It was such a great experience that I don't think it would have mattered whether our food was good anyway. I'm sure the food was good, but I remember the experience still 4 years later.

[bchris02]

I really like Bourbon Street Cafe because of how well it utilizes the canal. Such a thing is still rare, even 15 years after the canal opened. Hopefully it doesn't get forgotten amid the flood of new options downtown.

[Pete]

There were quite a few people there at lunch today.

Also, I notice more people walking along the canal than usual, no doubt due to Brickopolis. I watched several people walk by, stop, then decide to go in this restaurant.

It's one of those places to take out of towners you want to impress because the setting is cool and unique, especially with the water taxis going by.

[Pete]

From my seat yesterday.

This is really a great, under appreciated spot.

[Urbanized]

You should check it out in the evening when the new strung lights come on overhead. They have an amazing impact for what amounts to sofa cushion money.

[Pete]

^

I will get down there in the evening and check it out.

String lights make every single place look cool and charming; and certainly draws people in once the sun goes down.

[Pete]

Tweet today from https://twitter.com/_Bricktown:

[HOT ROD]

looks so charming. and LOOK - people dining along the canal!!!

come on OKC, get in more canal side amenities!!

[TheTravellers]

So if someone has been to NOLA about 5-6 times, eaten at tons of places there, would Jazmo'z be acceptable Cajun/Creole? We've been to Pearl's (disappointed since they moved to the Graveside location), Trapper's (decent, but not much more than that), Crabtown (bleah), haven't been to the Cajun buffet place due to us not liking catfish almondine, or to The Big Easy, but have been to a few other Cajun/Creole places in other cities (Redfish, Pappadeaux (a long time ago, I believe), etc.) and none just really measure up, wondering if Jazmo'z did...

[Pete]

I just had a bowl of gumbo and thought it was good but gumbo is pretty hard to mess up and I don't have a trained cajun palate.

The space is so great, though, drinks and appetizers would be well worth it... As would be happy hour.

[Dr Beard Face]

I send a lot of people to Jazmo's and Its always gotten positive feedback. I also enjoyed the meal I had when I went to test them out. The atmosphere of their patio is my favorite part of the canal.

[ljbab728]

The last two times I've eaten in Bricktown, it's been at Jazmo'z. The food is fine but it's not why I like it. As others say, it's the location and atmosphere. I also sometimes just stop there to have a glass of wine next to the canal.

[Bullbear]

So if someone has been to NOLA about 5-6 times, eaten at tons of places there, would Jazmo'z be acceptable Cajun/Creole? We've been to Pearl's (disappointed since they moved to the Graveside location), Trapper's (decent, but not much more than that), Crabtown (bleah), haven't been to the Cajun buffet place due to us not liking catfish almondine, or to The Big Easy, but have been to a few other Cajun/Creole places in other cities (Redfish, Pappadeaux (a long time ago, I believe), etc.) and none just really measure up, wondering if Jazmo'z did...

I spend a fair amount of time in NOLA and love Cajun/Creole food. Many of the places you listed that you didn't feel measured up come a lot closer than Jazmo's in my opinion. the location and décor are charming and wonderful but I have never been a big fan of their food.