A new Mexican food concept is coming to 714 N. Broadway directly between Bluewater Divers and Waters Edge Winery. The space was formerly occupied by Frontline Church.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivarnew6.jpg

Cultivar Mexican Kitchen will feature fresh, healthy Mexican fare along with a wide arrange of salads and a full bar.

The concept is fast-casual, where customers order at an interactive counter, choosing desired ingredients. Burritos and other items will be made on the service line to order; several different selections of greens, protein and ingredients will be selected in a similar manner before salads are hand-tossed. A tortilla making station will be prominently featured as well.

Cultivar will place an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Morning offerings will include breakfast burritos and tacos, fresh fruit and juices. Rotisserie chicken, craft tacos and a few soups will be on the menu later in the day.

The restaurant will be operated by Gary Goldman, a former partner and consultant at KD's Southern Cuisine. Goldman previously worked in restaurant operations for Marriott, Chesapeake Energy and the Hal Smith Restaurant Group. Goldman and his wife Carolyn also own Uptown Kids and Uptown Candy in Classen Curve.

Culinary partner is Dean James Max, a South Florida base chef who has developed farm-to-table restaurant concepts from coast to coast.

After opening this first location, the group hopes to expand the Cultivar concept to other areas of Oklahoma City and beyond.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivarnew1.jpg

The restaurant space will be comprised of 4,800 square feet with two large overhead doors that can be opened to form a semi-enclosed patio. Directly outside along Broadway will be sidewalk seating. A large bar will run along the north side of the space.

Goldman said a second phase of the project will feature a rooftop bar and deck, offering panoramic views of the skyline.

Plans also show a large private dining area and an arcade.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivarnew7.jpg

Larry Pickering is handling the design work and construction should begin in the next few weeks, with an opening slated for late fall.

Cultivar had previously filed plans to renovate and occupy a building just slightly north on Broadway but a lease with owner Chris Salyer was never finalized.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivarnew3.jpg

How will this be different than iguana grill? Will they have multiple salsas? What price point are they hoping to come in at?

I believe it will be quick service, as in order at the counter ala Chipotle.

It will be nice to have another option on Broadway. I think that it is far enough away from Fuzzy's that it will draw a different crowd. I wish that it had worked out in Salyer's building, weren't they planning on having a relatively large rooftop/bar?

How will this be different than iguana grill?

Hopefully the food will not be consistently mediocre.

Hopefully the food will not be consistently mediocre.

Agreed. I have given up on iguana since their big turnover.. so it will be nice to have another option in the area.

Just learned there will be a rooftop bar that will be added later as a 2nd phase.

And this building has fantastic views from the roof, with no tall buildings to the south.

Just learned there will be a rooftop bar that will be added later as a 2nd phase.

And this building has fantastic views from the roof, with no tall buildings to the south.

Awesome!

that is great!.. rooftop margaritas are the best kind!

Any discussion about the food? More corporate HSRG drivel?

Any discussion about the food? More corporate HSRG drivel?

No, nothing to do with Hal Smith.

I'll have more on this later today or tomorrow.

I believe it will be quick service, as in order at the counter ala Chipotle.

That is certainly what it looks like in the depiction since it shows a long service line.

I added a bunch of additional info to the article at the top of the page.

this sounds great... really looking forward to another lunch option. -M

Chipotle w/ a full bar and patio seating (and potentially a rooftop)?? Um, yes please. I will be here often.

Yes, a bit like Chipotle + Coolgreens (they will do their salads in a similar way with tons of choices) but they will also make tacos in the kitchen, have a full bar, have a rooftop deck and offer breakfast.

These guys have a ton of restaurant experience and a great chef.

I like the idea of being able to get something quick, or taking more time and enjoying a drink.

The space should be pretty cool as well and inject some much needed life into that part of Auto Alley. They will get a ton of people from The Metropolitan.

I just can't get over the name. I can't get Hipster Tex-Mex out of my mind.

Love the name.

To be sure, I don't dislike it. It just feels weird.

And for those that are unaware, "v" in Spanish is pronounced as we pronounce "b" in English…so you could almost call it "CultiVAR" what with the rooftop deck and all…kinda like RePUBlic.

This went up today:

11458

Good to see this coming along. Can't wait for it to open.

From their FB page over the last week:

11585 11586 11587

A couple images from their FB page:

11813 11814

The are now hiring for anyone that is interested.

CLICK HERE (http://www.cultivarmexicankitchen.com/now-hiring/)

More progress:

11843

New entrance going up:

11855

^^^^^^
I think that might just be a temporary box built over the opening so that the can work on the new storefront out of the elements and away from prying eyes. The storefront in that bay is going to be a roll-up door with an indoor/outdoor bar.

I believe it will be quick service, as in order at the counter ala Chipotle.

E. Coli at no extra charge

^Just kidding above about the e.coli.

I'm actually enthused to see that the egg group in midtown is also doing the homemade tortilla as well as this place.

my limited experience in so.texas tells me that the tacquerias don't succeed without making their own tortillas.

there is gonna be a taco quality battle soon, I always wanted big truck to have better quality tortillas.

Their rotisserie area where they will make fresh corn tortillas:

11943

^^^^^^
I think that might just be a temporary box built over the opening so that the can work on the new storefront out of the elements and away from prying eyes. The storefront in that bay is going to be a roll-up door with an indoor/outdoor bar.

That's a lot of work with the snips, screws, and Ramset to make a screen vs renting a sight proof fence. If so, someone went Cate Blanchet with the budget.

Their service line is almost complete:

12036

Is the sign outside Cultivar's permanent sign? Are they not doing a neon sign or does the current one have those capabilities?

The current sign actually already contains (a small amount of) neon. I'm sure they are keeping it, as using the existing can will be a huge savings, and no permit would be required.

Just talked to the owner who said they will be using the existing fixture but putting in a new, full-neon sign.

Should see it go up in a couple of weeks.

Will be taking a tour there next week and will post some photos.

A neon sign will be a great addition.

Another picture of their progress:

12115

My god I would be PISSED if I had to work on the site with the equipment being stored in the way.

Maybe they're to the point of construction where it is not being stored but instead being installed..?

^

No doubt they have to get the bigger stuff in so they can finish the build-out around it, close in the big exterior openings, etc.

They need to hurry up so they can take my $$$. Very much looking forward to this place.

They are moving pretty quickly now.

Shouldn't be too much longer.

Getting closer:

12180 12181

Are there still plans to add a rooftop deck?

New entrance going up:

11855

^^^^^^
I think that might just be a temporary box built over the opening so that the can work on the new storefront out of the elements and away from prying eyes. The storefront in that bay is going to be a roll-up door with an indoor/outdoor bar.


That's a lot of work with the snips, screws, and Ramset to make a screen vs renting a sight proof fence. If so, someone went Cate Blanchet with the budget.

Turns out I was right about something for once. :p

Are there still plans to add a rooftop deck?

Yes.

Turns out I was right about something for once. :p

Bragger!

Hey, I take 'em where I can get 'em!

Got a full tour today and this place is *way* more impressive inside than I had imagined.

They still don't have a firm opening date but are getting very close.

Was in a hurry so no pictures of the substantial metal awning they installed along Broadway which will provide a lot of shade and cover for the streetside dining. Also, there will be a walk-up bar window on the outdoor patio.

They will be following The Garage model, where you order at the counter but then a bartender will serve you beer and drinks at your table. The whole idea is to encourage people to stay and hang out.

The two glass overhead doors will open to the street on nice days.

ALSO... The rooftop deck is still planned, they just wanted to concentrate on getting the main restaurant open and everything up to par before spreading the operation and staff between two levels. Gary Goldman (owner / operator) is a very well-respected guy in the local restaurant world and you can see the great attention to detail.

AND... You can see in the third photo a corridor with seating that leads back to a a room that will seat about 30. It looks out on the back alley and feels cool in that rustic urban way. Will be open for general seating but can be used for meetings and events.

AND... There is a private room in the back that is this ultra cool now out-of-commission service elevator! It's like a cage with a wire top where you can see all the up the elevator shaft and then out into the alley. I've never seen anything like this.

These pictures do not do this place justice. And in addition to the fantastic design and setting, the operators are very culinary focused and the food should be fresh and great.

I'm personally very excited about this and along with Yuzo just a few doors to the north, this will bring lots of life to the middle part of Auto Alley and help bridge it with everything on and near 10th Street. And imagine when both those places open their rooftops.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivar021916a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivar021916b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivar021916c.jpg

BTW the tile design is symbolic of the local nature of their food approach; the square being the center and the arrows being the elements of the meal meeting together in the middle. The design motif is being used in other places; for instance it's being welded onto the front of the hand-fabricated ventilation hood that Larry built himself.

I am very very excited about this place. Take. My. Money.

All the pictures they're posting on Facebook look absolutely mouthwatering. And I love the fact that they have their own farm.

Where is the farm? What town is it near?

This shows the large metal awning they installed; one of the two overhead doors are open and you can also see the walk-up bar on the left.

That bar window has accordion windows that allow it to complete open; you can see the long bar inside and a guy sitting at it.

This place is going to be badass and really help tie together the northern part of Auto Alley with the CBD.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivar030116a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cultivar030116b.jpg

Purse holders and electrical outlets.... My wife will loooooove it.

That is super cool, love the bar top as the wall.

That is really cool and not what I pictured. I was expecting a to-go window, not a place where it looks like it is encouraged for you sit and stay awhile.

I am unreasonably excited about this place.

Neon signage is going in this afternoon.

My friend Chad, owner of DNA Designs, took these pictures yesterday.

12348 12349 12350 12351 12352 12353 12354