Pig & Butcher (formerly the Smoking Boar)

[Pete]

Modern barbeque concept coming to N. May Avenue

A new hospitality company is approaching completion of The Smoking Boar near May and Britton Roads in North Oklahoma City.

The team of operating partner Jason Johnson, culinary director Jim Camp and executive chef Boo Hee Newman are making a significant investment in the large 5,000 square foot space to feature a full-service restaurant and large bar area.

Newman was most recently head chef at Cheever's Cafe and Johnson and Camp each have more than 20 years of culinary experience.

While living in Indiana, Johnson visited Oklahoma City and saw great potential in the surging local food and beverage scene.

He describes Smoking Boar as a modern take on barbeque to feature traditional items such as brisket, turkey, and ribs but with a strong emphasis on smoked fish, including salmon which will be a permanent feature of the menu.

Sausage will be from scratch and offered for sale at their front counter.

Sides will be a mix of traditional items and some different, more upscale dishes.

Johnson is planning a robust beverage program with signature cocktails and 40-50 beers offered.

Smoking Boar will be open for dinner and lunch as well as weekend brunches with acoustic music.

The restaurant hopes to open at the end of June or beginning of July at their location directly north of The Ranch Steakhouse.

[Mballard85]

This is not too far from me, hopefully they can live up too their plans.

[Johnb911]

The Village!

[PaddyShack]

Wow, we were just in there for that Mexican place not too long ago. Hopefully this is a concept that will take hold in this location.

[Pete]

It's a very big building and they are spending a bunch of money in there.

The N. May corridor is such an enigma... Such great population density and high incomes all around yet so many places struggle.

I know Ned's Starlight Lounge is doing very well and that Garage at Britton is just a monster. I suspect it has more to do with the right concept and execution than anything else.

[Roger S]

It's a very big building and they are spending a bunch of money in there.

The N. May corridor is such an enigma... Such great population density and high incomes all around yet so many places struggle.

I know Ned's Starlight Lounge is doing very well and that Garage at Britton is just a monster. I suspect it has more to do with the right concept and execution than anything else.

And The Ranch has thrived there for quite a few years in a not so high profile location.

[Jeepnokc]

And The Ranch has thrived there for quite a few years in a not so high profile location.

We live SW of the airport and the Ranch is our go to steak place as well as our special dinner place. With the lack of any decent higher end places in the SW I44 corridor and SW OKC, the location of the Ranch right off the highway makes it easily accessible and fairly quick to get to.

[Roger S]

We live SW of the airport and the Ranch is our go to steak place as well as our special dinner place. With the lack of any decent higher end places in the SW I44 corridor and SW OKC, the location of the Ranch right off the highway makes it easily accessible and fairly quick to get to.

Can't disagree it's easy to get to but most people don't know it's there and even just driving by it's hard to know what it is or the price point..... If I was to take a guess from the name I would guess rustic furniture store or if I went with the restaurant guess I would assume it's along the lines of a Salt Grass or Texas Road House.... While it's way better than both of those.

Edit: Just pulled it up on Google Street View and noticed the sign does say steakhouse..... Don't remember it saying that when I was there 12-13 years ago.

[BoulderSooner]

Can't disagree it's easy to get to but most people don't know it's there and even just driving by it's hard to know what it is or the price point..... If I was to take a guess from the name I would guess rustic furniture store or if I went with the restaurant guess I would assume it's along the lines of a Salt Grass or Texas Road House.... While it's way better than both of those.

what?????

it is the most successful non chain restaurant in OKC

[Johnb911]

Too bad they can't reorient this building to face Britton. The approach from the parking lot is awkward. I know, they can put a huge sign up and everything but there's just something about a blank wall facing the main thoroughfare that seems off-putting and unwelcoming.

[Roger S]

And for what it's worth.... My point was that high end concepts have, and can, succeed in that area.

[Pete]

The Ranch is a destination restaurant which is very different than this type of place and 99.5% of every other restaurant in town.

[Bellaboo]

The Ranch is a destination restaurant which is very different than this type of place and 99.5% of every other restaurant in town.

Desmond Mason says it's his favorite steakhouse in OKC.

[Roger S]

I would have to disagree.... After reading what you posted about Smoking Boar they have the potential to be a destination restaurant too.

[Roger S]

Wow.... Regret even mentioning that a high end concept can work in this area now.

Looking forward to trying the Smoking Boar when it gets open.

[jonny d]

The Ranch is a local steakhouse, not a place tourists really come for. But most in Oklahoma know about it, and it is VERY good! People in Dallas, or maybe even Tulsa, may not fully know about it, but no one is saying that diminishes its quality.

The Smoking Boar sounds interesting, and I will have to try it!

[Rover]

Ok... If you say so..... Most people don't have a clue what I'm talking about when I mention it along with Mahogany or Red Prime but they know of those two.

This is funny because it is consistently full, even on what are normally low volume restaurant nights. Given that it is very expensive yet always busy it goes against the idea no one knows about it. Their demographic definitely knows about it.

When I read these kind of assertions it reminds me of Yogi Berra’s Statement (loosely quoted): No one goes there anymore because it is too crowded.

By the way, in the immediate area is Red Rock and Hefner Grille. Both also seem to do well. And just south is Michael’s Grille..upscale and has done very well for a long time.

[Dob Hooligan]

That building is about 45 years old, IIRC and has had some good, long term restaurant tenants. They have had a run of bad luck the last couple years with groups that looked under-capitalized and slow to open. This concept looks good anyway.

Sad that this building and the retail strip running north were painted stark white over the original dark brown brick less than 12 months ago. Now they painted medium brown over the white.

[Pete]

Wasn't this space formerly home to Pioneer PIes?

Pretty sure Joker's Comedy Club was there for a while as well.

[BDP]

Wasn't this space formerly home to Pioneer PIes?

Pretty sure Joker's Comedy Club was there for a while as well.

Shotgun Sams? Haha.

I think Lido was there for a bit, too, right?

[Dob Hooligan]

Pioneer Pies was at Hefner and Pennsylvania. Building has been torn down. About 300 feet west of the empty Texaco station that is still standing on the NW corner of the intersection.

[Dob Hooligan]

Yes, I think it was Lido, or some other Asian buffet was there for many years. In the 1970s it was some kinda pizza, or something else family-friendly place. Maybe it was Shotgun Sam's.

The Pioneer Pies location on Hefner I was referring to earlier was a Shakey's Pizza in the late 70s, when we would hang out in the parking lot weekend nights.

[BDP]

The Pioneer Pies location on Hefner I was referring to earlier was a Shakey's Pizza in the late 70s, when we would hang out in the parking lot weekend nights.

I think maybe Papa Dio's did some time in that location in the 80s, too.

Totally forgot about Shakey's...

[baralheia]

Yes, I think it was Lido, or some other Asian buffet was there for many years. In the 1970s it was some kinda pizza, or something else family-friendly place. Maybe it was Shotgun Sam's.

The Pioneer Pies location on Hefner I was referring to earlier was a Shakey's Pizza in the late 70s, when we would hang out in the parking lot weekend nights.

I remember it as Kim Wah in the mid-2000's. Was sad when they shut down, but by that point I wasn't going there often anymore due to no longer working in the area.

This is funny because it is consistently full, even on what are normally low volume restaurant nights. Given that it is very expensive yet always busy it goes against the idea no one knows about it. Their demographic definitely knows about it.

When I read these kind of assertions it reminds me of Yogi Berra’s Statement (loosely quoted): No one goes there anymore because it is too crowded.

By the way, in the immediate area is Red Rock and Hefner Grille. Both also seem to do well. And just south is Michael’s Grille..upscale and has done very well for a long time.

For what it's worth, I'd heard about The Ranch but had absolutely no clue where it was. I kinda assumed it was out west on Reno somewhere. That said, I'm most likely not in their target demographic, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[MadMonk]

Didn't this place used to be Kim Wah?