Ate at Scottie's on Sat, walked by a storefront with paper up in the windows and signs saying "Alley Cafe coming soon", a couple of doors west of the Bunker Club, I think. Anybody know details?

Ate at Scottie's on Sat, walked by a storefront with paper up in the windows and signs saying "Alley Cafe coming soon", a couple of doors west of the Bunker Club, I think. Anybody know details?

That's the Teresa Tran Asian/American fusion place that has been under construction for almost 2 years.

They had planned on having a patio in the back but then they told me that would come 'later'.

I've posted pictures of it before. I'll find them and re-post now that it has a name.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tran061717.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tran032217b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tran032117b.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/Alley-Cafe-756644371211763/

Alley Cafe -
Alley Cafe is a International Grill n lounge wit influences from French -African-Asian palette
It is a perfect atmosphere to relax enjoy a meal - an expresso - or late night kick back located in the new bustling UPTOWN OKC (23rd)

Soft opening (May 11-12) Grand Opening (July)
Completion of back Alley seating (August 2018)
Alley Cafe Houston - P.L.A.Y (2019)

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleycafe1.jpg

“Drinkz”

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/9d/24/92/9d24921afa9937ef7753f40a5104106e--robert-downey-jr-meme-funny-captions.jpg

“Drinkz”

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/9d/24/92/9d24921afa9937ef7753f40a5104106e--robert-downey-jr-meme-funny-captions.jpg

Remindz me of the good ole dayz when I uzed to meet up with the guyz for drinkz and appetizerz at gigglez.

FINALLY...a place where I can order a whole turkey with radishes!

Remindz me of the good ole dayz when I uzed to meet up with the guyz for drinkz and appetizerz at gigglez.

Lolz.

And they apparently don't know the difference between an apostrophe and an accent, argh... Thx for the info, might not be a place we frequent. :(

Also isn't that borderline KATT trademark infringement?

Also isn't that borderline KATT trademark infringement?

Was going to mention that it looked familiar, turns out it's Top Cat.

I'm most bothered by the lack of spacing between the slash and "Drinkz" in the logo.

I'm most bothered by the lack of spacing between the slash and "Drinkz" in the logo.

Ha, you must be a graphic designer. And what's Top Cat actually leaning on? :p

Remindz me of the good ole dayz when I uzed to meet up with the guyz for drinkz and appetizerz at gigglez.

How often do you go to Kongs btw?

How often do you go to Kongs btw?

Not too often but I’ll stop in on a night out, to watch a game or for dinner once or twice a month.

https://www.facebook.com/Alley-Cafe-756644371211763/

Alley Cafe -
Alley Cafe is a International Grill n lounge wit influences from French -African-Asian palette
It is a perfect atmosphere to relax enjoy a meal - an expresso - or late night kick back located in the new bustling UPTOWN OKC (23rd)

Soft opening (May 11-12) Grand Opening (July)
Completion of back Alley seating (August 2018)
Alley Cafe Houston - P.L.A.Y (2019)

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleycafe1.jpg

When someone says "Expresso"...
14617

When someone says "Expresso"...
14617

Yes!!! So incredibly obnoxious.

When someone says "Expresso"...
14617

It is probably one of their fancy drinkz and shouldn't be confused with an actual espresso beverage. :wink:

Haha man... This has to be one of the most unintentionally funny things I have seen on OKCTtalk in a while.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleycafe052718.jpg

They are open.

Didn't get a photo of the inside but it's very plain.

I asked for a menu but they didn't have one to take. The items on the white board were:
- Eggrolls
- Spring rolls
- Crabrangoon dumplings
- Italian beef sandwich
- Grill [sic] chicken sandwich
- Classic hamburger
- Combination fried rice
- Friednoodle [sic]
- Steak


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleycafe062018.jpg

At least they have all the bases covered.

At least they have all the bases covered.

ha!

In a perverse way a generic, no-frills type place makes me happy, These sorts of places build the urban fabric in a way that is complementary to hip, destination-type, concept-driven restaurants.

ha!

In a perverse way a generic, no-frills type place makes me happy, These sorts of places build the urban fabric in a way that is complementary to hip, destination-type, concept-driven restaurants.

But they have to bring people in and be good places to eat.

Let us know how you like it! :)

I would think rent is a bit steep here for a more "basic" approach to dining. Just a bit of an odd fit for this particular spot. I wish them well, and I agree that everything can't be high concept, I like mom and pop places very much.

I would think rent is a bit steep here for a more "basic" approach to dining. Just a bit of an odd fit for this particular spot. I wish them well, and I agree that everything can't be high concept, I like mom and pop places very much.

The operators own the building, including that horrible ramshackle place directly west.

I may not like the implementation, but I'm glad they're trying something. It's generally good for existing owners to have skin in this revitalization game.

And of course, that storefront was boarded up for a very long time.

Honestly, my interest is immediately piqued by seeing the words "Italian Beef sandwich" on the menu. If the sandwich is true to it's Chicago roots, I'll be there often. Here's hoping!

Honestly, my interest is immediately piqued by seeing the words "Italian Beef sandwich" on the menu. If the sandwich is true to it's Chicago roots, I'll be there often. Here's hoping!

Doubtful. But I’ll eat my words and be their often as well if they do it right.

Doubtful. But I’ll eat my words and be their often as well if they do it right.

Same. Keep me posted.

Doubtful. But I’ll eat my words and be their often as well if they do it right.

Same. Keep me posted.

My fiancé and I stopped by here a few days ago around 7pm after enjoying a few drinks at the Bunker Club next door (very fun bar, btw!) to give them a try. In a word: unimpressed. What they're serving as an "Italian Beef" sandwich is actually just pot roast and white American cheese, topped with a whole pepperoncini pepper. On it's own, the sandwich actually was fairly tasty - it just wasn't anything close to an Italian Beef. The sandwich came with a side of fries that had a rather fishy flavor to them (probably from the oil they were fried in), but they were definitely freshly cooked when they came out. We also got an appetizer of shrimp spring rolls to share... Those were OK but you could tell the produce quality was not great, and the peanut sauce had a dash of what I assume was either hot sauce or chili oil on top... not bad, but not what I was expecting. Service was all right, for the most part - except we didn't get napkins with our food and none were available at the table. The building also still had that "old building funk" smell inside too - something that none of the other businesses I've been in near the Tower have had.

All of that combined... truthfully I'm not sure I'll be back. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either, there were missteps on service and building condition, and all in all, I don't think we got our money's worth.

On the Italian Beef front... Looks like I'm gonna have to wait for Callaghan's Chicago Dogs to start serving 'em, I guess. :P

I haven't eaten here yet, but I think it's great to have a place like this in the district. Not everything has to be trendy and I think this ads a different option for people who don't want to dine in Sodosopa. I hate it when people say something feels "big city" but having some variety and diversity in food options (ala cheaper asian food) in the area truly adds to the big city vibe of this street.

lol, it’s a joke. Please don’t defend it unless you have the courage to actually go inside and try a “hamburger sandwich” or “fzied rice.” The owners are jealous of the action and cash flowing in uptown and they wanted in, only with zero experience of owning or operating a restaurant. “No frills” or “mom & pop” is great. But places like urban tea house, Scottie’s deli, bunker club, pump bar, are all family owned and operated and they don’t remotely resemble this place.

The owners are deplorable, they won’t lease the space, they won’t sell the buildings, which are crumbling. The uptown assoc. even charitably painted the supermarket building (which is actually saveable as it an old veezeys drugstore under the plywood and corrugated metal) to make it less virulent, it used to be banana yellow and bright green. The icing on the cake is they’ve concocted a parking lot by striping the burned out foundation of long gone Humpty Dumpty grocers, erected signs, lots and lots of signs, and are now charging $5 with drug addled hustlers trying to collect money from people who park in the street and public right of way. Cashing in on unsuspecting people coming to tower shows and patronizing the rise.

I mustered up the gumpshiom and went in about 3 weeks ago. I knew it would bad, but we took a single bite of each of our 3 items and walked right out and straight to Scottie’s. Where a local guy has put in all his saving and amazed a mountain of debt to open a home grown local deli that is clean and really well executed.

I know that’s a scathing review, but these people, of the years I’ve lived in uptown. These are the only people that are moving in the wrong direction. I’d be even more upset if I was certain that Theresa has a screw loose. Pete can back me up on that one. I think he’s felt with them before.

^

I would add that the entire property is frequently littered with trash and it never seems to get cleaned up.

I just want to add that I am a total food snob. But only for the food. I’m a south sider for life and you can catch me in tacoville, georges happy hog, sweets & eats, chows, Coney Island. Hell we’ve all been raving about lip smackers around the office for the last month. And I’m still waiting for someone to open a hole in the wall pizza joint with New York slices deprived from bbq potato chip toppings and hipsters drinking sour beer.

It’s better than boards in the windows? I’m not sure. maybe they will rent the place out after the curiosity customers fade away. Maybe Thai house can move in and they can bulldoze that even more disgusting building.

lol, it’s a joke. Please don’t defend it unless you have the courage to actually go inside and try a “hamburger sandwich” or “fzied rice.” The owners are jealous of the action and cash flowing in uptown and they wanted in, only with zero experience of owning or operating a restaurant. “No frills” or “mom & pop” is great. But places like urban tea house, Scottie’s deli, bunker club, pump bar, are all family owned and operated and they don’t remotely resemble this place.

The owners are deplorable, they won’t lease the space, they won’t sell the buildings, which are crumbling. The uptown assoc. even charitably painted the supermarket building (which is actually saveable as it an old veezeys drugstore under the plywood and corrugated metal) to make it less virulent, it used to be banana yellow and bright green. The icing on the cake is they’ve concocted a parking lot by striping the burned out foundation of long gone Humpty Dumpty grocers, erected signs, lots and lots of signs, and are now charging $5 with drug addled hustlers trying to collect money from people who park in the street and public right of way. Cashing in on unsuspecting people coming to tower shows and patronizing the rise.

I mustered up the gumpshiom and went in about 3 weeks ago. I knew it would bad, but we took a single bite of each of our 3 items and walked right out and straight to Scottie’s. Where a local guy has put in all his saving and amazed a mountain of debt to open a home grown local deli that is clean and really well executed.

I know that’s a scathing review, but these people, of the years I’ve lived in uptown. These are the only people that are moving in the wrong direction. I’d be even more upset if I was certain that Theresa has a screw loose. Pete can back me up on that one. I think he’s felt with them before.

hahaha good to know

I just want to add that I am a total food snob. But only for the food. I’m a south sider for life and you can catch me in tacoville, georges happy hog, sweets & eats, chows, Coney Island. Hell we’ve all been raving about lip smackers around the office for the last month. And I’m still waiting for someone to open a hole in the wall pizza joint with New York slices deprived from bbq potato chip toppings and hipsters drinking sour beer.

It’s better than boards in the windows? I’m not sure. maybe they will rent the place out after the curiosity customers fade away. Maybe Thai house can move in and they can bulldoze that even more disgusting building.

I would say it is better than boards in the windows, but only just barely. I will be surprised if they last long though. We were the only customers in there on a busy Friday night. They were begging us to tell our friends about the place. Well, I sure am, just not what they were expecting me to say, heh. But yeah, the place is just... bad.

You should see the inside of the old Veezy's drug store, which is owned by the same people.

It's actually pretty full of incredibly random stuff just sitting there on shelves. It's really a bunch of junk but WTH is it doing in there when the place hasn't been open for a very long time?

Teresa showed me around one day I happened to catch her in there and I was just speechless. I have pictures somewhere and you have to see to believe.

That building is huge and is prime space. But yet, there it sits for years and years on that highly visible corner, all boarded up and so hideous that volunteers actually painted it at no charge to make it slightly less horrible.

Here are a couple of photos... Just so bizarre.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tran1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tran2.jpg

Looks like a Wall's store.

Looks like a Wall's store.

It's been closed for 8 years!

It's like they expect to reopen any day and start selling all that extremely old food and junky merchandise.

I would say it is better than boards in the windows, but only just barely. I will be surprised if they last long though. We were the only customers in there on a busy Friday night. They were begging us to tell our friends about the place. Well, I sure am, just not what they were expecting me to say, heh. But yeah, the place is just... bad.

Only complaint I have about the place is the prices. It's expensive for being such a bare-bones type place. Other than that, I actually like the place and I don't think everything has to be trendy in an urban mixed-use neighborhood.

Only complaint I have about the place is the prices. It's expensive for being such a bare-bones type place. Other than that, I actually like the place and I don't think everything has to be trendy in an urban mixed-use neighborhood.

This is such a low-effort establishment, though. Shortly after they opened, I was walking down 23rd and noticed that the sum total of their advertising appeared to be scribbling something like "Now Open: Alley Cafe" and taping it to the windows out front. Couldn't even be bothered to type it up in a Word Document and print it out. I think that pretty much sums it up.

IMO, Basil's is a perfect example of what a "bare-bones" restaurant in Uptown should be looking to achieve. That's one of my favorite places to eat in the entire 23rd Street corridor, and I don't think anyone will ever be calling it trendy.

Looks like a Wall's store.

Yes. I didn't think anything could make Dollar General look upscale. I was wrong.

Their insane three hour attempt to convince Pump management the it was their (Pump's) obligation to collect $10/car that parked in the lot across the street ws enough to tell me these folks are completely out of tune with reality and ultimately looking to get a lot for nothing.

I recall that parking situation accutely. They scraped away the skate park, which was built, albeit illegally, by local skaters and used by skaters of all ages. They then allowed people to park there, but enlisted arrow towing to come in fleets to tow the entire lot away. I was towed and successfully sued arrow to get my cash back in addition to some damage done to my car in the process. SHADY!

This was about 2 years ago and before they put up any signs or operated an actual business. As Paseofreak mentioned

The Alley Cafe has finally applied for their sign.

The Alley Cafe has finally applied for their sign.

Please tell me it's still Top Cat holding a turkey

Please tell me it's still Top Cat holding a turkey

Haha... One can only hope!

https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36467254_795269227349277_3377721392932847616_n.jpg ?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=96092be7367f10729eacb78e2db77957&oe=5C46E10C

There is only one review on Yelp, and here it is:


Please do not let the sanitized Facebook reviews fool you. This place is a disappointment all around. First, a group of four of us went for lunch. Three of us ordered crab rangoons. The server brought out spring rolls, said "We made the wrong thing. You eat this anyway," and left it at that. When she returned, we asked her why we didn't get crab rangoons, and she told us not to waste food. I get being conscientious, but I ordered something else. Oh well.

I went ahead and ordered what I wanted - crab rangoons - and when they brought those out, I popped one open. It was a fried dumpling. With pork and veggies. On any other day, cool, I like friend dumplings, but today _I ordered crab rangoons._ I asked the manager over, and I said, "I'm sorry sir, but we ordered crab rangoons."

He said, "That's what those are."

"Is there crab in here?"

"No, there's no crab. It's just the shape."

Color me educated on Asian cuisine for the very first time ever. When they brought me my check, not only were the non-crab-crab-rangoons on there, but also the spring rolls. Rather than continue this circus, I paid for my tab in full and left a small tip. However, the shenanigans and lack of customer service (they argued with one of my coworkers when she said she didn't want to pay for the mishap) means I won't be back. I don't recommend you waste your time or money on their overpriced, inaccurate menu.

I walk down 23rd Street fairly often and I have literally never seen more than a few people in this place. How is it still open?

They are closed today. I hope it is permanent. Couldn't have happened to nicer people.

They are still operating, as I've been by there a few times and their 'open' sign is illuminated and all the lights are on, although I've never seen anyone in there other than the owner sitting there by herself and texting.

And unfotunately, no swanky Top Cat will be featured on on their sign.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleycafe111618.jpg

"LUNCH 11AM - ??? DINNER ??? - 10PM"

Oh cool...

Gazette has a full write-up:

https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/uptown-misstep/Content?oid=5529081

That was one of the most honest reviews I have read in the Gazette! Great job!

That was one of the most honest reviews I have read in the Gazette! Great job!

Jacob Threadgill does a great job and is always honest; it's about the only place in OKC where you get can a real restaurant review apart from social media.

Jacob Threadgill does a great job and is always honest; it's about the only place in OKC where you get can a real restaurant review apart from social media.

Agreed, he's a great food critic, I had already emailed the previous owners of the Gazette shortly after he came on board to let them know how good he is, but I'll reiterate it here to the current owner. :)