Baker Street

[Pete]

Top Golf has a big bar area with tons of TV's as well.

Sidecar only has a couple of small TV's and while Republic in Chisholm has a bunch, the bar area is small and it's mainly a restaurant.

[pw405]

I kinna feel like this is the end of the "citywalk" era. Not that these places had anything to do with each other, but seems like the same Barb wire tattoo crowd was at both places. People seem to be going more for the hipster type places. Look at the Pump on weekends. Absolutely raging. Powerhouse, etc. Maybe I'm just drawing an association between citywalk and Baker Street because I was once a young, courageous man who wound up getting near blackout drunk at both places most times I went. Hmm. I never liked either place TBH.

[Anonymous.]

I kinna feel like this is the end of the "citywalk" era. Not that these places had anything to do with each other, but seems like the same Barb wire tattoo crowd was at both places. People seem to be going more for the hipster type places. Look at the Pump on weekends. Absolutely raging. Powerhouse, etc. Maybe I'm just drawing an association between citywalk and Baker Street because I was once a young, courageous man who wound up getting near blackout drunk at both places most times I went. Hmm. I never liked either place TBH.

No, you are definitely right.

I remember just 4-6 years ago Baker Street was an actual option for us to "go out" to. Now that place is (was) viewed as another lazy night place on par with a regular Hudsons Pub. Ironically, I went to Baker Street sometime last summer for the first time in years, and they actually were enforcing a dress code. It was hilarious. Definitely grasping for an identity at the end when all the new bars and hangouts erupted across OKC.

[BridgeBurner]

Did Baker St ever change the 21 & up rule to get in?
I still remember them turning a large group of my extended family away 4-5 years ago, we just walked to one of the restaurants next door. I don't think I ever made it back to the OKC/Edmond one but I'd visited the Tulsa location prior to it shutting down.

[jerrywall]

I've only been to R&B one time and that was for lunch and the place was dead... Maybe 3 tables seated. So hopefully they are doing better business in the evenings.

Gene Simmons will be there in person tonight, so I expect this will be one evening at least they're busy.

[JarrodH]

Baker's Street definitely died off the past few years. I would suspect it was two reasons. The younger crowd started leaving for new, hip options and in an attempt to save them, they went non smoking which in turn alienated most of their older crowd. In the end, they didn't have a crowd at all.

As far as Memorial goes, all the smokers go to Hudsons or Lumpy's and most of the young hip crowd can be found at Sidecar.

Rock & Brews has been dead every time I've went in and we've never added it to the rotation due to the corporate feel and corporate prices. Their beer was all priced well above other local options when we went and of course it felt like a restaurant instead of a bar.

[Pete]

The S&B on May just north of Memorial has a good vibe and always seems to be busy.

[JarrodH]

The S&B on May just north of Memorial has a good vibe and always seems to be busy.

Great food and vibe but definitely a restaurant. I live, work, and socialize on Memorial and when we are doing happy hour or going out the choices are always Twin Peaks or Sidecar. Hopefully with the development of Tract 30 we get more options but most things on Memorial are either smoking (which we stay away from) or are restaurants.

If we are going out so to speak, we will uber to Western or Midtown.

[jerrywall]

Great food and vibe but definitely a restaurant. I live, work, and socialize on Memorial and when we are doing happy hour or going out the choices are always Twin Peaks or Sidecar.

I really want to like Sidecar but I can't get over their prices combined with the fact that they add the liquor tax on top of the beer. I'm used to paying a "hipster tax" at places like Skinny Slims, but at most places if I buy a $6 or $7 overpriced F5 (for example), when I get my tab it's $6 or $7. When I go to sidecar and I order an F5 for my wife and I, when I expect a $14 tab it's closer to $18, it's a bit of sticker shock. Sure, they have every right to add tax on top of the prices, but it's not typical locally, and it prices them out of the market as far as I'm concerned. I really like the folks there but my pocketbook doesn't. I also like places that will have some $2-3 options for those time I'm not wanting to drop tons of cash.

From an atmosphere standpoint they're awesome. Twin Peaks fills out that need well as well. I'm surprised though that you dismiss S&B for being a restaurant, but then talk Twin Peaks up, because they have, IMO, every bit as much of a restaurant vibe as S&B burgers.

It's silly, but another place where I like to hang out is the bar at Main Event. Decent prices and food options. Plus outdoor sitting when the weather is nice is always a big bonus to me. It's one thing I miss about working in Norman near campus corner.

[JarrodH]

I really want to like Sidecar but I can't get over their prices combined with the fact that they add the liquor tax on top of the beer. I'm used to paying a "hipster tax" at places like Skinny Slims, but at most places if I buy a $6 or $7 overpriced F5 (for example), when I get my tab it's $6 or $7. When I go to sidecar and I order an F5 for my wife and I, when I expect a $14 tab it's closer to $18, it's a bit of sticker shock. Sure, they have every right to add tax on top of the prices, but it's not typical locally, and it prices them out of the market as far as I'm concerned. I really like the folks there but my pocketbook doesn't. I also like places that will have some $2-3 options for those time I'm not wanting to drop tons of cash.

From an atmosphere standpoint they're awesome. Twin Peaks fills out that need well as well. I'm surprised though that you dismiss S&B for being a restaurant, but then talk Twin Peaks up, because they have, IMO, every bit as much of a restaurant vibe as S&B burgers.

Sidecar is definitely pricey and I've had this discussion more times than I'd like. Modelo is $3-4 most places in town and $6 out the door on the high side. Modelo at sidecar is right at $9 out the door with all taxes included which is pretty rough.

As far as S&B to Twin Peaks, I find it to be a completely different atmosphere. Twin peaks revolves around sports, half dressed women, and beer with the demographic being mostly men. S&B focuses on burgers, music videos, and a craft beer selection and a demographic of mostly families. I can't see a true comparison between the two.

[barrettd]

Rock & Brews has been dead every time I've went in and we've never added it to the rotation due to the corporate feel and corporate prices. Their beer was all priced well above other local options when we went and of course it felt like a restaurant instead of a bar.

I would disagree about the beer prices. Yes, it's a chain and it feels like one, but they always have a good selection with a lot of local beers, and I think their prices are much better than Republic, Side Car, and Pub W. Heck, Pub W doesn't even put their prices on their beer menu.

[Libbymin]

I really want to like Sidecar but I can't get over their prices combined with the fact that they add the liquor tax on top of the beer. I'm used to paying a "hipster tax" at places like Skinny Slims, but at most places if I buy a $6 or $7 overpriced F5 (for example), when I get my tab it's $6 or $7. When I go to sidecar and I order an F5 for my wife and I, when I expect a $14 tab it's closer to $18, it's a bit of sticker shock. Sure, they have every right to add tax on top of the prices, but it's not typical locally, and it prices them out of the market as far as I'm concerned. I really like the folks there but my pocketbook doesn't. I also like places that will have some $2-3 options for those time I'm not wanting to drop tons of cash.

From an atmosphere standpoint they're awesome. Twin Peaks fills out that need well as well. I'm surprised though that you dismiss S&B for being a restaurant, but then talk Twin Peaks up, because they have, IMO, every bit as much of a restaurant vibe as S&B burgers.

It's silly, but another place where I like to hang out is the bar at Main Event. Decent prices and food options. Plus outdoor sitting when the weather is nice is always a big bonus to me. It's one thing I miss about working in Norman near campus corner.

The liquor tax is not a "right". In Oklahoma, restaurants and bars are required to collect the 13.5% mixed beverage tax on all liquor, wine, and strong beer, in addition to the 8.375% sales tax. The 13.5% is not assessed on 3.2 beer though. Believe me when I say that bars would prefer not to have to collect that tax. It's not their money to keep anyway.

[Teo9969]

The liquor tax is not a "right". In Oklahoma, restaurants and bars are required to collect the 13.5% mixed beverage tax on all liquor, wine, and strong beer, in addition to the 8.375% sales tax. The 13.5% is not assessed on 3.2 beer though. Believe me when I say that bars would prefer not to have to collect that tax. It's not their money to keep anyway.

The problem is some places include their liquor tax in their prices and some places add it as a line-item on-top of the subtotal.

Restaurant A: A drink is listed at $10, but the liquor tax is included. The final price of the drink will be $10.74. That's the price of the drink + sales tax on just the drink amount. If you tip 20% on the total $12.89 out the door.

Restaurant B: A drink is listed at $10 and the liquor tax is not included. The final price of the drink will be $12.19. If you tip 20% on the total, that's $14.63 out the door.

That difference of $1.74 over 6 drinks in a night is $10.44

Given that price setting in the restaurant business can very much be about "What is the competition doing?" If you're a "B" restaurant and you're setting your list prices in line with "A" restaurants with no regards for tax ramifications, then...well I dunno.

As a consumer, it's wise to know who are the As and who are the Bs...especially if you're at an upscale restaurant and you're about to order a $200 bottle of wine. Is that going to be $260 or $295 out the door for 20% tippers? $35 is appetizers or dessert.

[ctchandler]

I have learned to tip at the before tax amount. It is proper to do that, and I still leave a good tip.
C. T.

[Questor]

Although I am very much in favor of the liquor law reforms that are currently underway, the two pieces of that puzzle I don't like are 1. it appears to give ABLE more power, and as an average Joe I have pretty much been done with them ever since their H&8th opening night nonsense, and 2. it appears to increase liquor taxes significantly. So unfortunately I think the tax situation gets worse in the future.

I actually don't understand why a business owner would gross-up their item cost to cover the liquor tax. From a marketing standpoint that seems like a really bad thing to do.

[jerrywall]

The liquor tax is not a "right". In Oklahoma, restaurants and bars are required to collect the 13.5% mixed beverage tax on all liquor, wine, and strong beer, in addition to the 8.375% sales tax. The 13.5% is not assessed on 3.2 beer though. Believe me when I say that bars would prefer not to have to collect that tax. It's not their money to keep anyway.

Yeah, but it's amazing that most bars manage to include the tax in the price of the drinks. That's the problem. When 95% of the places out there do it one way, as a consumer you don't expect it to be done another way. Especially if the drinks are already over priced.

[Bill Robertson]

Although I am very much in favor of the liquor law reforms that are currently underway, the two pieces of that puzzle I don't like are 1. it appears to give ABLE more power, and as an average Joe I have pretty much been done with them ever since their H&8th opening night nonsense, and 2. it appears to increase liquor taxes significantly. So unfortunately I think the tax situation gets worse in the future.

I actually don't understand why a business owner would gross-up their item cost to cover the liquor tax. From a marketing standpoint that seems like a really bad thing to do.

I've been sitting at a handful of bars over the years and witnessed arguments with the manager about showing the liquor tax as a separate charge. Some have gotten pretty heated. Once at a Garage another guy and I moved close by in case the patron needed to be restrained. They almost always end in the patron storming out protesting that they won't be back. I've never heard anyone loudly protesting high drink prices. They might not come back but they do it quietly. Seems that paying the tax without knowing it is much more acceptable to some than seeing it on the tab.

[Uptowner]

Although I am very much in favor of the liquor law reforms that are currently underway, the two pieces of that puzzle I don't like are 1. it appears to give ABLE more power, and as an average Joe I have pretty much been done with them ever since their H&8th opening night nonsense, and 2. it appears to increase liquor taxes significantly. So unfortunately I think the tax situation gets worse in the future.

I actually don't understand why a business owner would gross-up their item cost to cover the liquor tax. From a marketing standpoint that seems like a really bad thing to do.

you know ABLE hasn't had an law enforcement wing in quite some years? They still have a couple LEOs that performs inspections, consults, and testifies on behalf of the state. But they turned it pretty much completely over to local agencies in 2009 or 2010? In OKC it was county for some time (which I believe was responsible for drawing weapons on food truck owners) and recently it's been vice squad of the OKPD.

[sbs]

Republic and Sidecar at Chisholm are awesome places. If you haven't been check it out. Sidecar has a really nice rooftop patio area with fire tables.

[Questor]

you know ABLE hasn't had an law enforcement wing in quite some years? They still have a couple LEOs that performs inspections, consults, and testifies on behalf of the state. But they turned it pretty much completely over to local agencies in 2009 or 2010? In OKC it was county for some time (which I believe was responsible for drawing weapons on food truck owners) and recently it's been vice squad of the OKPD.

That's interesting, I hadn't heard this. Do you know if anything improved as a result?

I did some digging and when I look at their org chart I still see every other person seems to be Captain this or Special Agent that. When I look at their top-level org they still have 2 of the 7 commissioners being required to be from a law enforcement background. I guess my complaint isn't with what law enforcement agency is running enforcement, it's that these agencies are treated as law enforcement instead of something more a kin to food inspectors. It seems like an antiquated throwback to a time long before I was born. Admittedly I probably will not be happy until the whole agency is gutted.

[Pete]

Mercifully, this building is set to be bulldozed.

The new owner is a guy that made a bunch of money in software development and spent 18 years at Paycom, so no idea of future plans.

[Plutonic Panda]

That kind of sucks. This had a cool New Orleans design. So what are they going to put up another cookie cutter building?

[Bill Robertson]

That kind of sucks. This had a cool New Orleans design. So what are they going to put up another cookie cutter building?

The facia was a pretty cool design. But facias are just tacked on design. The inside layout was a mess. The best thing that could happen there would be the whole section from where Rock & Brews to Baker Street would be built up with interesting concepts of a couple great restaurants.

[Plutonic Panda]

The facia was a pretty cool design. But facias are just tacked on design. The inside layout was a mess. The best thing that could happen there would be the whole section from where Rock & Brews to Baker Street would be built up with interesting concepts of a couple great restaurants.

Yeah that would be cool. Be even better if they rebuilt it as a mini French Quarter with about a dozen or so smaller bars and restaurants.

[Bill Robertson]

Mercifully, this building is set to be bulldozed.

The new owner is a guy that made a bunch of money in software development and spent 18 years at Paycom, so no idea of future plans.

New owner? I know that when Bikinis closed just west of there that the whole frontage was owned by the owners of the mall. The Frosted Mug wanted to take the Bikinis building but demanded ownership and the owners wouldn't sell, only lease. Have the landowners lightened up?