What is going on east of Dilly Deli?

[rwarn17588]

TW article on Nelson's bowling alley just south of Dilly Deli on Elgin:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=46&articleid=20091213_46_E1_JEllio559136

I'm becoming convinced that Elliott Nelson is becoming a version of Joe Edwards in St. Louis. This is very high praise indeed.

http://www.blueberryhill.com/about/joe/

[Conan71]

I'm becoming convinced that Elliott Nelson is becoming a version of Joe Edwards in St. Louis. This is very high praise indeed.

http://www.blueberryhill.com/about/joe/

He needs to be careful about over-expanding an empire too quickly.  Kitsch isn't a substitute for quality.  I'm still hearing sketchy reviews on Yokozuna and Dilly Delly.  I definitely admire his vision(s) and have a serious appreciation for the life he's brought to the Blue Dome area.  Simply making the comment that I've seen some really bright enrepreneurs come up with a winning concept or several winning concepts then roll snake eyes a few times and end up flat broke or supporting the losing ventures with the winning ones.

[cynical]

The other thing Elliott needs to be careful about is competing with himself.  If the market in that area isn't able to expand to fit his new offerings, he'll just dilute his own customer base.  More expense but the same revenue gives bad results.

He needs to be careful about over-expanding an empire too quickly.  Kitsch isn't a substitute for quality.  I'm still hearing sketchy reviews on Yokozuna and Dilly Delly.  I definitely admire his vision(s) and have a serious appreciation for the life he's brought to the Blue Dome area.  Simply making the comment that I've seen some really bright enrepreneurs come up with a winning concept or several winning concepts then roll snake eyes a few times and end up flat broke or supporting the losing ventures with the winning ones.

[sgrizzle]

Yes but people didn't drive out to 71st at dinnertime because they had a Chili's, they went out there because they have dozens of choices. I have heard that about 1/3rd of the vehicle traffic for large events parks in blue dome. Is it because their restaurant of choice is there or is it because so many places to choose from are there?

[PepePeru]

"...and El Guapo, and his vision of a hip, rooftop hangout atop the Mexican restaurant hasn't pulled many customers. "

Based on my experiences there, honestly I'm surprised it's lasted this long.
I gave it two tries.  Between the overpriced food, the crappy service ( i guess that's what qualifies for "hip") or the limited menu (oh, we're out of that, we're out of that too.)  I'd really be hard pressed to give it a third.

If the EG's is indicative of the quality of Yokozuna & Dilly Deli or a bowling alley, I will be sure to avoid them, lest I'm told that we only have 4 balls for 8 lanes of overpriced bowling by an employee with a snooty (I guess I mean "hip" attitude.)

I've had better food and service @ Mexicali and that's a pretty low bar.





 

[Conan71]

Yes but people didn't drive out to 71st at dinnertime because they had a Chili's, they went out there because they have dozens of choices. I have heard that about 1/3rd of the vehicle traffic for large events parks in blue dome. Is it because their restaurant of choice is there or is it because so many places to choose from are there?

So long as it drives more people to the destination and it's not a new place cannibalizing from it's neighbors you are correct.  There's a philosophy in the car business that if you built a new Ford dealership out in a suburb, pray that the Chevy and Dodge dealers aren't far behind.

Density of choices should not hurt Blue Dome or Brady at this point.  My GF and I went up to the Main and Brady/Cameron area about 10:30 Friday night after driving up Elgin and just about all the downtown hot spots were hopping.  It's great to see how vibrant Blue Dome and Brady are on any given weekend night.

Pepe- I've not been underwhelmed or overwhelmed with the service at El Guapos.  The food is about like any other craptastic OkieMex.  My main gripe about the roof top is I've either been sweating my butt off or chilly when I've been up there.  Never seems to be a happy medium.

[Townsend]

Pepe- I've not been underwhelmed or overwhelmed with the service at El Guapos.  The food is about like any other craptastic OkieMex.  My main gripe about the roof top is I've either been sweating my butt off or chilly when I've been up there.  Never seems to be a happy medium.

I gave up on the food a while ago and some friends and I use it as a place for HH or sunday afternoon drinks to enjoy the weather when it allows.  Our service, while slow early on, over the last 4 or 5 months has been great.

I was told when it first opened Elliot planned on spreading out onto the roof next door with the possibility of live bands up there but I guess that has changed.

That's too bad, if that roof was opened up and gave more view it'd be a great spot.

[RecycleMichael]

I think the critical mass of half a dozen new retaurants in the area would become a magnet.

I would like to see a real hamburger place, a BBQ place, a Greek/Meditarranian place, a chicken restaurant, another breakfast place and a steak restaurant all pop up in the Blue Dome.

[Red Arrow]

Yes but people didn't drive out to 71st at dinnertime because they had a Chili's, they went out there because they have dozens of choices. I have heard that about 1/3rd of the vehicle traffic for large events parks in blue dome. Is it because their restaurant of choice is there or is it because so many places to choose from are there?

It may also have something to do with the $10 parking fee for the closer in parking lots. I was in the area last Friday for another event. Most of the lots were $5 but I saw at least one for $10.  I found a spot on the street.

[SXSW]

I think the critical mass of half a dozen new retaurants in the area would become a magnet.

I would like to see a real hamburger place, a BBQ place, a Greek/Meditarranian place, a chicken restaurant, another breakfast place and a steak restaurant all pop up in the Blue Dome.

That, a movie theater and a microbrewery would make Blue Dome quite the destination with the new ballpark just to the north.

[TheArtist]

Based on my experiences there, honestly I'm surprised it's lasted this long.
I gave it two tries.  Between the overpriced food, the crappy service ( i guess that's what qualifies for "hip") or the limited menu (oh, we're out of that, we're out of that too.)  I'd really be hard pressed to give it a third.

If the EG's is indicative of the quality of Yokozuna & Dilly Deli or a bowling alley, I will be sure to avoid them, lest I'm told that we only have 4 balls for 8 lanes of overpriced bowling by an employee with a snooty (I guess I mean "hip" attitude.)

I've had better food and service @ Mexicali and that's a pretty low bar.





 

I found that remark... "...and El Guapo, and his vision of a hip, rooftop hangout atop the Mexican restaurant hasn't pulled many customers. "  rather odd actually.  I thought it was a typo or something. I prefer sitting at the rooftop (not this time of year mind you lol)  and Just about every time I have tried to eat there its been full with long waits or I would pull my old trick of avoiding the wait by "sitting at the bar".  Have never had any problems with service or not having food items either.  

[TURobY]

Have never had any problems with service or not having food items either.

I've haven't had any problems there recently, and in fact, just ate there on Sunday. The waiter was attentive, the food was delicious (got a chimichanga), and was well within reasonable price range. I will admit however, just as with Dilly Deli and Yokozuna, it did seem to have some "starting out" problems, such as wait staff and menu tweaks. But I haven't seen those problems in quite a while. Maybe you and I are just lucky William?

[buckeye]

I've eaten at Yokozuna twice now and it's been very good both times.

[sgrizzle]

I've eaten at El Gupo probably 50 times, good enough for a cross sampling. While I'd say "bad experiences" make up only about 15% I would say "okay experiences" make up 75%. Sad to say the last time I had particularly good service and good food was in february. They have made a lot of menu choices and as far as I can tell, all of them were for the worse. The rooftop stays fairly busy but filling roughly 25% of your tables is rarely considered a glaring success.

I still keep going there because you rarely have to wait for a table and the competition in downtown is still pretty thin, especially for mexican food.

[PonderInc]

My advice for El Guapo: Become the state's premier location for northern New Mexico cuisine. 

I have never found a real green chile burrito anywhere in Tulsa, and there's no where to get a bowl of chile (not chili, but chile...the kind where they ask "red or green?" after you place your order).

Enough Tulsans travel regularly through New Mexico, southern Colorado, and Arizona to have an appreciation for "New Mexian" food.  And I've spoken to many folks, who, like me, are blase about Tex-Mex or so-called "authentic Mexican." 

Go find a chef from Sante Fe, Albuquerque, Taos...SOMEWHERE in northern NM...and then find a supplier of fresh roasted Hatch green chiles.   It would fill a gaping void in the Tulsa restaurant market.  It would fill a niche, and it would fill the tables at El Guapo's.  (It never hurts that chiles seems to be mildly addictive!)