Restaurants
Plaza District
Current

no



Address: 1630 N Blackwelder
Phone: (405) 601-1400
Hours: Mon 5 pm - 12 am
Tue-Thu 11 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 2 am
Development:
Status: Opened
Links:
Official Website (http://www.themuleokc.com/)
Menu (http://www.themuleokc.com/menu/mule_menu_2013.pdf)
Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/themuleokc?fref=ts)
Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mule-oklahoma-city)
Urban Spoon (http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/46/1705908/restaurant/Inner-City-Northside/The-Mule-Oklahoma-City)


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/mulewiki1.jpg


Information & Latest News
Gallery

Here is their sandwich menu from another thread:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/mule1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/mule2.jpg

Has anyone been yet? Reviews? For those that do not know, The Mule is a new grilled cheese restaurant located in the Plaza District.

Isn't it more of a bar that happens to be more like a Gastropub?

Isn't it more of a bar that happens to be more like a Gastropub?

Very loose with "restaurant" in my statement. I order food, I sit and eat = restaurant. But yes, your description is a lot more accurate.

That menu looks more expansive than the grilled cheese and melts I was led to believe. I'll have to check it out and report back.

The buzz seems to be good thus far.

They are really working out the kinks, as they posted they have run out of food a couple of times.

Coworker went last night and said it was amazing. He recommended the Macaroni Pony sandwich with the tomato soup. I'll be trying it as soon as I can get away from the kids.

I love anything with short ribs, so I am biased, but the Cortez is amazing. They also have this appetizer with two traditional grilled cheese sandwiches and some tomato soup... great late night snack with friends. The place has a good vibe.

BrettM2, you can actually take the kids to The Mule if you want.

I went and checked it out. Liked the vibe. Was just there for a couple drinks, but the food other people had looked good. Big complaint though: They have the most uncomfortable bar stools in OKC. Looks like they got them from an old school or something. They are all metal, no padding and small. If you try and lean back you actually lean forward thanks to the back of the bar stool. Very uncomfortable. Hope they get those changed. Until then, will just eat at a table.

Love of my life arrives WRWA 11ish pm Mon.
Pondering late dinner options.
Mule Monday hours?

Love of my life arrives WRWA 11ish pm Mon.
Pondering late dinner options.
Mule Monday hours?

IIRC, I saw a video about this place and the owners and I believe they are closed on Mondays.... anyone else know ?


Went out and found it, and yes they are closed Mondays.....stay open till 2 am on Saturdays though.

http://newsok.com/the-mule-totes-first-love-flavors-to-the-mountaintop/article/3715138

I can understand the prices for the ones containing meat, but am I reading the blurry menu right? $8.50 for a grilled cheese????

Went out and found it, and yes they are closed Mondays.....stay open till 2 am on Saturdays though.

I wonder if they could do well staying open until 3am and catching the post-bar crowd?

I can understand the prices for the ones containing meat, but am I reading the blurry menu right? $8.50 for a grilled cheese????
It was like $3.00-4.00 for a grilled cheese at Sheen Drug 35+ years ago, don't you think inflation (or more accurately the devaluation of the dollar) has gone up more than that? I doubt they are using Wonder bread and a couple of slices like Kraft American cheese in their "plain" grilled cheese as well, like most people would at home.

I ate there last week for lunch. It was good but probably won't be on my regular rotation of lunch places. I had the caprese sandwich and the onion rings. The sandwich was really good and the rings were pretty good. I was underwhelmed by the portion size. It was probably a healthy serving size but not the size that I am used to for the money. When I get a sandwich at Someplace Else I usually only eat half of it and take the rest home. The sandwich at the Mule was not that big and I paid $9 instead of $3.75 at Someplace Else.

It was like $3.00-4.00 for a grilled cheese at Sheen Drug 35+ years ago, don't you think inflation (or more accurately the devaluation of the dollar) has gone up more than that? I doubt they are using Wonder bread and a couple of slices like Kraft American cheese in their "plain" grilled cheese as well, like most people would at home.

That seems rather high for back then. What I couldn't see from the menu shots is if they do have a more "basic" one rather than "gourmet" version with fancy ingredients added. And they may be good and worth the upgrade. But many a time folks try to improve on some of the most basic of comfort foods and fail in the process. What it comes down to is very subjective matter of taste & value for the money...either you think it is there or it isn't

That seems rather high for back then. What I couldn't see from the menu shots is if they do have a more "basic" one rather than "gourmet" version with fancy ingredients added. And they may be good and worth the upgrade. But many a time folks try to improve on some of the most basic of comfort foods and fail in the process. What it comes down to is very subjective matter of taste & value for the money...either you think it is there or it isn't

You're exactly right, Larry. If someone will pay a specific price for something, it's worth it to them.

That seems rather high for back then. What I couldn't see from the menu shots is if they do have a more "basic" one rather than "gourmet" version with fancy ingredients added. And they may be good and worth the upgrade. But many a time folks try to improve on some of the most basic of comfort foods and fail in the process. What it comes down to is very subjective matter of taste & value for the money...either you think it is there or it isn't
It was a long time ago but I think that was a complete meal (w/ fries & drink) that I vaguely remember.

I agree some that some "improvements" aren't as good (to me) as the person envisioned, sometimes it works ans other times it doesn't. When I eat a chicken fry there is a type of chicken fry that I expect it to be, when they "jazz it up" by adding in all sorts of other flavors it leaves me wishing they hadn't. I don't like my cream gravy loaded down with jalapeno or onion flavoring like those always seem to do. The last time we went to Ann's (a few years ago) the mashed potatoes had chunks of onion in them when they didn't in the past, I went to Ann's with a certain expectation of what was their "staple item" and it just wasn't the same.

Yeah, they keep running out of food, so I bet they will try and reduce the number of ingredients across the menu, thus cutting some items.

They also have a very small kitchen and seem to be overwhelmed by the demand. I suppose that is generally a good thing!

I hope they will revamp the menu and put in dollar signs, I thought the numbers are ratings on the food

i hope they will revamp the menu and put in dollar signs, i thought the numbers are ratings on the food

lmfao!!!!!

lmfao!!!!!

Glad to make you laugh :D

http://maxcdn.fooyoh.com/files/attach/images/591/854/391/005/americas_favorite_grilled_cheese_sandwich_2526_300 x199.jpg
18.31416 (including a slice of pi)

Frankly, while I was put off by the idea of a "Grilled Cheese Sandwich" "restaurant", the menu looked marvelous! Too bad it was too ambitious . . . and did I miss the bacon?

BTW: The price of that sandwich can be justified because the cheese came all the way from the moon.

There's a local food truck called Grouchy Sam's that does good grilled cheese sandwiches (and variations), too. I think the Mule concept is solid. It's not a full-fledged restaurant. It's not a dive bar. It's a nice blend of the two -- minus the derogatory side of a dive.

If Jim Gaffigan decided to open a restaurant (or a food truck) featuring a "less ambitious" menu--including things along the lines of grilled cheese sandwiches--do you suppose he might call it "Haute Poquettes"?

I hope they will revamp the menu and put in dollar signs, I thought the numbers are ratings on the food

The first time I saw it used, I wasn't sure what it was either. Seems to be some sort of trend. No dollar sign and no cents...

There's a local food truck called Grouchy Sam's that does good grilled cheese sandwiches (and variations), too. I think the Mule concept is solid. It's not a full-fledged restaurant. It's not a dive bar. It's a nice blend of the two -- minus the derogatory side of a dive.

I was really excited when I first heard of Grouchy Sam's, as I love me some gourmet/traditional grilled cheese. I've tried them twice now and neither time was I really impressed. I actually prefer the new Grown-Up Grilled Cheese at Cheddars. I guess I was hoping for some sort of really good bakery fresh bread with 3-4 varieties of really good cheese cut right off the block. But sadly it was more of a grilled sandwich with some cheese on it. Not bad by any means, but not unique enough to seek them out.

... but when they park next to Roxy's, well worth the trip. I have a built in prejudice for food trucks, though.

... but when they park next to Roxy's, well worth the trip. I have a built in prejudice for food trucks, though.

Funny, that's the only time I've tried them (because I was specifically seeking out Roxy's). The wife and I try to seek out new food trucks as they come on the scene. I've even been known to eat at the lesser known one's around SW 29th (some are the best around).

Will they serve any celebrity varieties on the new menu?

2724

http://blog.hellodesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/conan_obrien.jpg

There's a local food truck called Grouchy Sam's that does good grilled cheese sandwiches (and variations), too. I think the Mule concept is solid. It's not a full-fledged restaurant. It's not a dive bar. It's a nice blend of the two -- minus the derogatory side of a dive.

They recently tweeted that they are ceasing operations due to financial circumstances out of their control... what that really means, I do not know.

Maybe somebody sic'd the local FTPCG (Food Truck Permit Check Gestapo) on their "collective" ass.
I think PETA and the EPA may have been involved in the background: It was a food cart pulled by a donkey (easy to confuse with a mule). Something about cruelty to animals and leaving too much of an organic hoofprint or whatever.

Do you suppose it had something to do with putting the imprint of a DarwinFish on the grilled cheese, calling it a Mr.Paul'sFishSandwich, and not paying enough taxes? Nah . . . That would be too weird.

Maybe it was the Teamsters Union . . . Although one mule/donkey/ass isn't technically a team.
(or is it . . . =)

The only thing we know for sure is that Grouchy Sam is probably a lot grouchier than before.
(i just hope he doesn't re-brand himself as Sneezy Sam . . .)

I think that all of this is a testament to the wisdom of not being overly "ambitious" with the menu.
And/Nor being stubborn as a . . . Mule.

Edited to Add:
Recently spotted UPO (Unidentified Pedaling Object) on a recent trip up 'Nord, in the vicinity of an Unnamed Major League City that has nothing to do with the Twins or the Vikings.
All the Pedal Pub serves is . . . beer.
The market for "Weight Loss Grilled Cheese Sandwich Mobiles" remains untapped. So to speak.
http://www.zootpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/pedalpub.jpg

Edited2Add Also:
I love OKC and all of the entrepraneurs (sp)--including the visionaries involved with "The Mule"--who have invested in good faith, with good food for good folk and have, in the process of so doing turned OKC from the armpit of the Midwest into an honestly excellent place to live.
Bless each and every one of you. No kidding. No joke. No snark.

Actually, the pedal pub doesn't serve beer for legal reasons. You simply pedal to pubs on it. At least in Chicago that's the case. It looks like a lot of fun....er work.

Actually, the pedal pub doesn't serve beer for legal reasons. You simply pedal to pubs on it. At least in Chicago that's the case. It looks like a lot of fun....er work.
They have drinks on the ones in Austin and Denver.

Obviously Chicago isn't Minneapolis (spec.ref: up toward NordEast--the reconverted/salvaged "slums"). . . =)

I'm thinkin' . . .
MickMobile! (in honour of our mayor's personal crusade): You want ChillyCheezFryz you gotta work for 'em. For fun. =)

(thanks betts . . . really. for wadin' thru the b.s. n. extractin' a pearl o' wisdom. no kiddin' . . .)

by the way . . . is "for legal reasons" an oxymoron or a fairytale?

I think the culinary concept of The Mule is a good thing.
And how easy was that? =) [Sorry . . . The Banshee of HGTV . . . y' understand . . .rightly... i hope . . .=)

http://www.zootpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/pedalpub.jpg

So this is our new MAPS 3 Streetcars? Great idea. Slap some rail wheels on that and you solve the Mayor's obesity initiative. Have the various food truck folks sponsor/operate the cars and maybe they could at least cover the cost for maint/operations? LOVE IT!

Saw the pedal tavern (Milwaukee Pedal Tavern - Home - Milwaukee, Wisconsin (http://www.pedaltavern.com)) in Milwaukee last weekend. Thought it was the best thing ever! It looked like they were drinking while riding, but the website says due to Wisconsin laws (nice to know another state has archaic liquor laws!) prohibits them from serving alcohol. It is more of a pub crawl transportation vehicle. Seemed pricey, but a heck of a lot of fun!

They recently tweeted that they are ceasing operations due to financial circumstances out of their control... what that really means, I do not know.

From their FB page....

Tomorrow will mark the end of a good run. thank you one and all. Recent setbacks have forced me to reconcile my goals, and to be certain, I'm not willing to borrow money to keep operations going.
Someone stole my generators yesterday, and replacing them is just not in the cash budget.
We'll be doing our final event tomorrow at Francis Tuttle's 30th anniversary celebration. If nothing else come meet Chef Marc Dunham and tour their top notch culinary training facility.
And yeh, come get fed.
Thanks!
Steven aka Grouchy Sam.

(anybody want to by a concession trailer?)

Sheesh :(

Why would they steal generators for?

Why would they steal generators for?

Seriously? People will steal anything. Just last week some guy stole one security camera off the garage of No Boundaries Int'l's HOPE house on S. Robinson. He risked a felony and jail over an item he only got $20 for. Fortunately I was able to get it back for them so they wouldn't have to pay over $200 replacing it.

Generators are prime targets for thieves because their resale is high (relatively) and most have handles and wheels on them, making them easy to steal.

The real question I'd have is why were the generators accessible to thieves (as in geographic location and how the generators themselves were mounted).

Really too bad though. Even though they were not my food truck of choice, they were friendly people and were very active with their truck and served a product many people liked.

The real question I'd have is why were the generators accessible to thieves (as in geographic location and how the generators themselves were mounted).


Can't really park a truck this size in most garages and if they don't have the financial resources to replace the generators I doubt they could afford a big enough building to park inside.

Last year someone broke into Smokey's BBQ & Diner's locked smoker and stole all the meat. The following week someone climbed up on the roof at that location (23rd & Portland) and stole all the copper out of every HVAC unit on the roof.

I've also seen copper thieves cut through bars to get to HVAC units on the backsides of office buildings.

Securing your property against a motivated thief is difficult.

Seriously? People will steal anything. Just last week some guy stole one security camera off the garage of No Boundaries Int'l's HOPE house on S. Robinson. He risked a felony and jail over an item he only got $20 for. Fortunately I was able to get it back for them so they wouldn't have to pay over $200 replacing it.

Generators are prime targets for thieves because their resale is high (relatively) and most have handles and wheels on them, making them easy to steal.

The real question I'd have is why were the generators accessible to thieves (as in geographic location and how the generators themselves were mounted).

Really too bad though. Even though they were not my food truck of choice, they were friendly people and were very active with their truck and served a product many people liked.

Anything? So you think robbers would steal a used condom or a used tampon?

Anything? So you think robbers would steal a used condom or a used tampon?

What are you 12 years old?

Can't really park a truck this size in most garages and if they don't have the financial resources to replace the generators I doubt they could afford a big enough building to park inside.

Last year someone broke into Smokey's BBQ & Diner's locked smoker and stole all the meat. The following week someone climbed up on the roof at that location (23rd & Portland) and stole all the copper out of every HVAC unit on the roof.

I've also seen copper thieves cut through bars to get to HVAC units on the backsides of office buildings.

Securing your property against a motivated thief is difficult.

True and I don't know the circumstances. But, if you're financial viability is so fragile that the loss of two small generators will shut the whole operation down, I think I'd find a way to better secure my investment. And, maybe they did. Its certainly not their fault someone else stole the stuff they worked hard for. And, a determined scum bag is hard to thwart. Hopefully they had the serial numbers and reported them. Though, I doubt they'd take them to a pawn shop as its simply too easy to unload generators other ways with no paper trail. The food truck business is not an easy one and maybe it simply just wasn't worth continuing to pump money and time into something with such a small return.

Anything? So you think robbers would steal a used condom or a used tampon?

Is it technically possible to "steal" something that has been discarded?
This question is more difficult than it may appear on the surface . . .
K5fTyrz63Qw

And, a determined scum bag is hard to thwart. Hopefully they had the serial numbers and reported them.

And we all know what happens when you shoot one of them. So that's not a viable option. :wink:

Actually, I see people arrested for 'possession of a lost or stolen' item all the time. Usually a credit card, but have seen other more bizarre items.

And we've gone WAY off topic.

The wife and I are planning to visit The mule this weekend. Looking forward to it.

And we all know what happens when you shoot one of them. So that's not a viable option. :wink:

Yep we do, 99% of the time it is ruled justified and you go about your business. People cling to the Ersland case and ignore the NUMEROUS instances where citizens shoot at and/or kill intruders and they never face any charges at all (rightly so).

What are you 12 years old?

I am 8 years old

Locks keep honest folk honest. They ain't much good fer anything else.

Sad for the truck folk. Hopefully The Mule has enough locks to keep enough folk honest until I get a chance to give them a try.

Went to The Mule last night and it was great. Started off with the Okie Poutine for the appetizer (fries with thick gravy and Watonga cheese curds). They were excellent. There were four in our party, so we each got something and made it a sample. The Macaroni Pony (mac/cheese and pulled pork) and the Cortez (braised ribs) were incredible. I was already craving another one today. The Portacatoosa (portabella mushroom based) was ok, not my thing though. The Fancy Pants (chicken) was a decent sandwich, but not something I'll order in the future. The tomato soup was very good, though my wife liked it more than I did. As a side, the onion rings were great. The batter was excellent and made it where condiments weren't necessary (normally the only way I'll eat onion rings as I'm not a huge fan of the texture of a cooked onion).

I'd definitely recommend going here.

Went to the place today for lunch. I like the atmosphere of the place, and the service issues may have been resolved because the food came out at a good clip.

As for the food itself, I had the H.A.M. sandwich, with prosciutto, Gruyere cheese, and figs. The sandwich was good, but I don't know if I'd pay $9 for it again. The prosciutto was really drowned out by the rest of the ingredients, especially the cheese and bread. The sandwiches weren't very big, and it didn't seem like a grilled cheese as much as it did a normal sandwich.

It came with a side, and I had onion rings. I have to say, they were amazing. I'd go back just for them.

Is this a place you can go to with your kids?

Yes, you can go with your kids.

Cool.... that's the one thing that prevented me from going yesterday - didn't know if it was ok w/ kids.

Ate there the other night. Decent beer list for a small place, had a great sandwich (caprese), and I'll corroborate that the onion rings are awesome. Reminiscent of "Melt", a grilled cheese bar in Cleveland I used to go to occasionally. Great addition.

I have to break down and go next week for certain! My lunch bunch went two weeks ago. All but one really liked the food. Their only gripe was it literally took over an hour to get their lunch.

They have added a second POS system and really staffed up. Last few times I have been, they have really put food out in a timely fashion.

Review here:

Ween on the Scene: The Mule + Live on the Plaza Part Deux (http://weenonthescene.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-mule-live-on-plaza-part-deux.html)