MBG Restaurant & Cafe - OPINIONS WANTED

[FritterGirl]

The steering committee for the Myriad Gardens redevelopment is working with a nationally-recognized consulting group who are experts in restaurant market and retail analysis for cultural institutions.

They are here this week on a site visit to conduct research about potential new restaurant and retail operations.

While they will be conducting more formalized market research later on, I offered to do some informal opinion-gathering here, as I know you all appreciate the opportunity to chime in on things, especially as they relate to downtown matters.

To that end, please offer your opinion on the following:

1. How to you envision the Gardens cafe? (located adjacent to the proposed Children's Garden, next to the current activity plaza overlooking the water stage.)

• Talk about the type of food and beverage you see served there, potential hours of operation, seasons open, decor, type of service, etc.
• Are there any other cafes or restaurants you see this particular operation should pattern itself after?
• How would you feel about a national coffee house chain coming in to operate?

************

2. How do you envision the RESTAURANT for the Gardens?

Discuss the following:

• Types of menu options available - general "style" of food
• Dress code
• Hours of Operation (Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Bruch?)
• Should a limited dinner menu be offered for large event nights (concerts, sporting events at Ford Center, etc)
• Are there any restaurant concepts (local or outside of OKC) that you could see working in this space?
• In short, what type of restaurant would most attract you for a) lunch or b) dinner.

The restaurant will be located on the EAST side of the gardens at about the north-south midpoint. The proposed "all seasons plaza" with the ice skating rink will be adjacent to it to the north.

**********

I will be sharing these responses to the consulting team, so any serious thoughts you have on this will be most welcome. At this juncture, the committee has not made any specific decisions about the restaurant, concept, etc., although they have cited a preference for local ownership, if feasible.

OK, commence discussion in 1...2...3...

[Steve]

Go with the best Shake Shack...
Shake Shack

[MikeOKC]

At this juncture, the committee has not made any specific decisions about the restaurant, concept, etc., although they have cited a preference for local ownership, if feasible.

Hi FritterGirl, Would this include local ownership of a franchise?

[betts]

Gardens make me think of light food. Salads, perhaps California Pizza kitchen type pizzas, a few sandwiches (Wild Fork in Tulsa has a great prime rib sandwich on french bread with grilled onions and cheese), smoothies, flavored teas.

Dress code: If you want tourists, you can't be too picky about dress. I'd say casual, i.e. shirt and shoes required.

Hours: Lunch, Sunday brunch. Dinner would be nice, but not necessary.

Yes, a limited menu for large night events is an excellent idea

Restaurants that would work: I think it should be local, not a chain, although as I suggested, California Pizza kitchen has the type of menu I envision. I'd get someone from the Good Egg group to run it if you could interest them. Actually, Cheevers would be awesome in that location.

[FritterGirl]

Hi FritterGirl, Would this include local ownership of a franchise?

Possibly. What we're tyring to find is what would be the best "fit" for the Gardens in terms of price point, style and food offerings.

Options are still being weighed. I think when I say preference for local ownership, we'd prefer a Cheever's type place with local flair versus a chain such as Olive Garden or something of that nature. So a local "chain" or franchise may fit, but it really depends upon what that franchise was. I think they are trying to stay away from national corporate models for the restaurant, if possible.

I'm trying to keep my opinion as well as other specific discussion I've been privy to out of this so we can get feedback without giving too much about what the committee may or may not be looking at at this time. In all seriousness, all but the most inane ideas are pretty well on the table.

Hardest challenge is to find something that might appeal to downtown suit-and-tie workers during the day and basketball game/concert goers at night.

Cafe and Restaurant, while stylistically may be similar, will be very different in their offerings.

Steve - that Shake Shack looks shweet and yummy!

[MikeOKC]

Possibly. What we're tyring to find is what would be the best "fit" for the Gardens in terms of price point, style and food offerings.

Options are still being weighed. I think when I say preference for local ownership, we'd prefer a Cheever's type place with local flair versus a chain such as Olive Garden or something of that nature. So a local "chain" or franchise may fit, but it really depends upon what that franchise was. I think they are trying to stay away from national corporate models for the restaurant, if possible.

I'm trying to keep my opinion as well as other specific discussion I've been privy to out of this so we can get feedback without giving too much about what the committee may or may not be looking at at this time. In all seriousness, all but the most inane ideas are pretty well on the table.

Hardest challenge is to find something that might appeal to downtown suit-and-tie workers during the day and basketball game/concert goers at night.

Cafe and Restaurant, while stylistically may be similar, will be very different in their offerings.

Steve - that Shake Shack looks shweet and yummy!

I asked about local ownership of a franchised chain operation because sometimes a city can look too "small" when visitors can't find restaurants that are in their "comfort zones." Aren't we all guilty at one time or another of going to a strange city and seeing a TGIFriday's (just an example) and walking in because we know what to expect, wide variety of food and we feel we know it - no matter where it is? Like I said, it's in our "comfort zone." Right now, downtown needs some restaurants that tourists and natives alike can feel comfortable knowing what they're getting. That's the advantage of a chain, and if it's locally-owned, the money still stays here.

[Steve]

The restaurants at the downtown library and state museum are locally owned.
Not impressed. Should ownership trump quality as the determining factor? Not saying you should go for an average chain restaurant.
But if you were to get Shake Shack interested and turned it down out of hand in favor of an untested local, I'll be totally bewildered.

[FritterGirl]

The restaurants at the downtown library and state museum are locally owned.
Not impressed. Should ownership trump quality as the determining factor?

No, it certainly should not trump it, but there are several LOCAL ownership groups who provide quality dining experiences throughout the metro and most on these boards are very well acquainted with them. Let's not parse nips.

[betts]

If we're going with a chain, I'll then say California Pizza Kitchen. Below is a link to their menu. They've got one in Omaha. Omaha seems to have everything I want.

Menu items, catering and beverages | California Pizza Kitchen

[MikeOKC]

If we're going with a chain, I'll then say California Pizza Kitchen. Below is a link to their menu. They've got one in Omaha. Omaha seems to have everything I want.

Menu items, catering and beverages | California Pizza Kitchen

Which is my point. You know these places. When they're not here....it's glaring. Especially to visitors. Sorry, FritterGirl, not to get too far off your subject, but this is a serious question to consider to answer the questions in your original post.

[Steve]

I guess what I'm suggesting is that local government doesn't have a great track record in attracting "great" local operators for eateries in publicly owned facilities.

[FritterGirl]

Mike and Steve, points well taken. Carry on...

[betts]

On the other hand, if the location and the restaurant are charming, people will want to eat there, even if they don't recognize the name. You put the menu out where people can read it and if it interests them, they'll try it.

[Steve]

Republic2 at MBG

[betts]

Steve, you don't like the Art Museum Cafe? I think it's excellent. I've never eaten at the library.

[Architect2010]

State Musuem Betts. Not the Art Museum Cafe.

[betts]

Ah yes, I misread. Sorry.

[mugofbeer]

1. How to you envision the Gardens cafe? (located adjacent to the proposed Children's Garden, next to the current activity plaza overlooking the water stage.)
Talk about the type of food and beverage you see served there, potential hours of operation, seasons open, decor, type of service, etc.
Are there any other cafes or restaurants you see this particular operation should pattern itself after?
How would you feel about a national coffee house chain coming in to operate?

1. Type of restaurant - casual but with a broad choice of food from burgers up to steaks and seafood. Great bar and it should be out on the water, if possible. Should have a very nice patio with outdoor seating on nice days/nights. Perhaps patterned after a Charlestons or Houston's type (though Houston's has occasionally gotten too snooty at times). No national coffee chains. It should be unique.

2. How do you envision the RESTAURANT for the Gardens?

Discuss the following:
Types of menu options available - general "style" of food? Dress code?
Hours of Operation (Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Bruch?)
Should a limited dinner menu be offered for large event nights (concerts, sporting events at Ford Center, etc)
Are there any restaurant concepts (local or outside of OKC) that you could see working in this space?
In short, what type of restaurant would most attract you for a) lunch or b) dinner.

Some of this is answered above. So as to be most financially successful, the restaurant should be able to attract and handle a lunch crowd. Maybe with a walk-up lunch window but also sit down dining. Central Park in NY has such amenities.

[Richard at Remax]

move the Mont to the gardens

[Steve]

Here's my thinking: go with either the Good Egg Group, Ryan Parrott and friends, or see if Chris Lower can put together another brilliant set of "twins." And if you can't get something along this line of excellence - go with a great national name that's not here (California Kitchen and Shake Shack are a great start)

[lasomeday]

I think it should be a local option if we can find the right choice. It should also be healthy, because most people that will go to the park probably are healthy eaters. I think it should be a place where locals feel welcome and tourists want to be a part of. It should be like Cheers with food!

Maybe a good soup and salad place. I am sure that the local guys could come up with a concept that would be great.

[soonerguru]

I have to say, Steve is right on with the Shake Shack. Coolest thing in lower Manhattan. A couple of years ago I was there on business around lunch time and happened to walk by Madison Square Park and couldn't understand why so many people were lined up (and it's not a big park by Manhattan standards).

I still haven't eaten the food but I've read about it and saw a nice bit on the Food Channel about it. Unbelievable hamburgers and fries.

If OKC could get a location, it would be extremely hip.

[Larry OKC]

If we're going with a chain, I'll then say California Pizza Kitchen. Below is a link to their menu. They've got one in Omaha. Omaha seems to have everything I want.

Menu items, catering and beverages | California Pizza Kitchen

Have never been to one of their locations but if the food is even remotely as horrid as their branded frozen dinner options, I would say PASS

Noticed once that the (I think) Degernos (sp) and California Pizza stuff are manufactured by the same people (think it was Kraft). They even used the same pics in the cooking instructions (flatbread pizza).
But back to topic, a local place would be optimal and might suggest something with a definite local Okie spin to it (food, decor etc) not stereotypical (in a bad way)

[gen70]

move the Mont to the gardens

Agreed..

[betts]

Have never been to one of their locations but if the food is even remotely as horrid as their branded frozen dinner options, I would say PASS

But back to topic, a local place would be optimal and might suggest something with a definite local Okie spin to it (food, decor etc) not stereotypical (in a bad way)

I've never eaten their frozen food, but I like their restaurants. The only reason I would ever consider it as an option for the Garden restaurant is if they only had chains as an option. It's a far better option than most of the chains that come to mind.

I agree completely that we should try to go local. No barbecue, however, if we put a local Okie spin to it. I don't think the decor or food should in any way be western. I'd like it to be urban in feel. Or, if they want something with a more traditional feel, although it's gone, Tavern on the Green is a nice model.