James & Niel's Latin Cafe

[Pete]

[category=]Restaurants[/category]
[category=]Film Row[/category]
[category=]Current[/category]
[category=]Downtown[/category]
[toc]no[/toc]

Address:726 W. Sheridan Phone:(405) 412-8129 Hours:8A - 3P M to F Development: Hart Building Status: Oct. 20th opening Links: Official Website Menu Facebook Page Yelp Urban Spoon

Information & Latest News

From the operators of La Brasa.
Taking space formerly occupied by Chopt.
Gallery

[Pete]

Interesting salads, cerviche, street tacos...

This is something different that I hope will do well.

[Roger S]

Nice... I had noticed some activity going on over there.

I was hoping something interesting would be going in there because it's walking distance from my office and this interests me.

[metro]

Same here BBQ

[soonerguru]

I'll be hitting this place up for breakfast tacos soon!

[kevinpate]

Looks to be a reasonable reason to turn east on Sheridan instead of west come Friday morn.

[Roger S]

Well darn.... Their FB page shows two opening and closing times.... Sure hope they go with the 7 AM opening and not the 8 AM. I don't understand restaurants that serve breakfast M-F and open at 8 AM when most of us are at work already.

[Jeepnokc]

Well darn.... Their FB page shows two opening and closing times.... Sure hope they go with the 7 AM opening and not the 8 AM. I don't understand restaurants that serve breakfast M-F and open at 8 AM when most of us are at work already.

That's what I thought when I saw the 8 am. I hope they also keep consistent hours so people can rely upon them to be open

[kevinpate]

My morning ended up a bust so I came back to Norman without stopping in. I did briefly stick my head in at Jeepnokc's new digs, but he was out and about himself.

The photos try mightily, but in my opinion do not truly do your place justice good sir. Very, very impressed, and sorry I missed you.

[Roger S]

Pollo a la Brasa with plaintain chips and jasmine rice.

The chicken was a little difficult to eat in the small basket with plastic utensils but otherwise it was just as good as what I get at La Brasa.

A few minor hiccups for opening day but they appeared to be doing well overall. I plan on walking over there and trying more of the menu all week since the weather is so nice.

[Pete]

Oooh, that looks good.

You had me at plantain chips.

[Roger S]

You had me at plantain chips.

These were good but I love the fried plantains they serve at La Brasa.... Gooey, carmelized, slightly sweet, pieces of goodness!

[Jeepnokc]

Had the street tacos. (1 chicken, 1 steak). The feta cheese inside was a nice taste addition. A little pricy at $3 each when getting more than one (think 3 for $9.00). I asked about opening hours and they said 8 am. I inquired about whether they had thought that most people get to work at 8 and they acted like that they hadn't thought of that and may look at changing it.

Two tables outside so nice to have outside seating. Tables inside were clean and wiped but we had to wipe down the outside ones. Food came out fairly quickly. It is a nice addition to the hood and will go back.

[Roger S]

I inquired about whether they had thought that most people get to work at 8 and they acted like that they hadn't thought of that and may look at changing it.

Oddly their FB page had the hours listed as 7-2. Which seems like better hours to me. I would probably walk over there 2-3 times a week for breakfast if they opened before 8.

[Jeepnokc]

Oddly their FB page had the hours listed as 7-2. Which seems like better hours to me. I would probably walk over there 2-3 times a week for breakfast if they opened before 8.

I saw your earlier post which is why I asked. I agree with you that my staff would be more likely to stop in the morning on way in if it opened just a little earlier like 730. Seems like shooting yourself in the foot to miss that extra half hour to hour when you already have a limited window. I will give them some props for getting out early and delivering menus to the local businesses.

[Roger S]

Got back over there today to try some more of the menu.

The Cubano was a pretty good sandwich. Not your typical Cubano but a nice take on it and it was served with plantain chips.

Also got a Peruvian Chicken Taco. The taco was good but for almost $3 I don't think I would get it again. I can go to Hugo's Taquiza's and get a taco, just as good, for $1 on Tuesdays.

[metro]

I saw your earlier post which is why I asked. I agree with you that my staff would be more likely to stop in the morning on way in if it opened just a little earlier like 730. Seems like shooting yourself in the foot to miss that extra half hour to hour when you already have a limited window. I will give them some props for getting out early and delivering menus to the local businesses.

I could see this going both ways, I own a Film Row business too, and most Film Row businesses are creatives that work in the cloud (obviously CMR is not and is the biggest employer down there). Most Film Row creatives come to work 9-10am or later, so not sure how much "Film Row" business other than CMR and maybe a very small handful of people come down there before 8am (and by handful outside of CMR, I'm talking can count on one maybe two hands), certainly not enough to sustain business, but I hope over time, people on the way into the CBD will learn about the place and help sustain it.

[metro]

Just ate here for lunch. Hype has been crazy on this place, and I've heard it's as good as its' sister restaurant La Brasa. I ordered steak and chicken street tacos and a Lemonada Con Menta. The Lemonada drink was insanely good, highly recommend. It's like a fresh mojito but better, minus the alcohol. The chicken taco was just okay in my opinion, needed a little something more, but I noticed they also forgot the tomatoes and their "famous" Inca sauce. They forgot the same on my steak taco too, but the flavor was awesome. I'll definitely give it another try on the chicken, but request the sauce to see if that intensifies the flavor, although it was better quality than average Tyson meat chicken, as it seemed to be more of a pulled rotisserie style chicken, just the flavor was on the bland side. Portion sizes were a little small for the price in this market, not ridiculous, but on the high side considering nearby local alternatives and their portion sizes (Urban Taco, Fuzzy's and Big Truck). This place definitely has food and management competency to make it, but with the slightly high prices, I'm a little concerned about long term viability, since Film Row is still getting it's roots, especially with being able to support more than one restaurant. Having options nearby is nice though!

[Roger S]

Their sign was going up as I was on my way home last night.

[city]

Any vegetarian or vegan options?

[Roger S]

Any vegetarian or vegan options?

They have a Veggie Wrap. Menu is posted at the top of this article.

[derby]

Anyone know what's going on with James and Niel's? they haven't been open since Christmas.

[Pete]

Anyone know what's going on with James and Niel's? they haven't been open since Christmas.

Wow, interesting.

I just called their number and there is no answer.

Hopefully, they are just taking a post-holidays break. I know La Brasa is still open and operating.

[Roger S]

I know that James posted on their FB page back around November that he had been forced out of the business.... It was like two days after their sign went up on the building.

[Pete]

I know that James posted on their FB page back around November that he had been forced out of the business.... It was like two days after their sign went up on the building.

Yeah, it's now known as just Niel's Latin Cafe.

This all sounds ominous. No posts on Twitter or Facebook in a while.