El Guapo to open just in time for D-Fest

[tulsacyclist]

Funny, myself and a group of guys from work will be there shortly after 11 as well.

[tulsacyclist]

Well that was a bit rough. I'll have to visit again in a couple weeks or maybe for dinner some evening. We were there for about an hour and 15 minutes before we got our food and then waited another 20 minutes or so after we ate for the checks to arrive. Food was pretty good but rather cool by the time it arrived.

Otherwise, I liked the atmosphere and the place in general. Anyone else have similar or completely different experiences?

It'll get better, I'm sure. Elliot knows what he's doin.

[brunoflipper]

i finally left...
it was great...
now to the unabridged version...


50 ppl in line before the door opened at 11:30(somebody better have gotten a picture because when in the hell did that happen in tulsa?)...

we were first on the roof at the bar (RESPEK.)...

the atmosphere is kitschy mexicana regalia (pinatas) and religious iconography (mary and crosses)... small multi-level and inviting but not cheesy... el guapo being el jeffe in "the three amigos" it is a wonderful homage... check out the skeletons on the east side... the skulls and sombreros are dupes for grinning, fleshless versions of chase, martin and short...

the fire alarm went off, twice...
the kitchen staff must've felt like they were punched in the mouth...
it looked fine for 15 minutes and then the wheels came off, the place filled to the brim within 30 minutes and the sweat on the brows was evident...

some downtown workers bailed, sans food, because of the delay (after about 45 minutes) but hell, what do you expect on opening day? elliot took it in stride and apologized and the staff gave out free margs cards with copious apologies... but seriously come on, no way in hell are you getting in and out of there om opening day in under an hour...

nonetheless, the staff kept their cool and pulled it off...

on to the food
the chips are fresh and house made (just like fernanda's)...
the salsa is a runny/pico hybrid and tasty but mild...
the guac was fresh but rather bland...
the white queso (which is always better than yellow) was adequate...
grilled fish tacos were excellent (nice mexican slaw with an odd bit of avacado) and spicy, the charro beans were perfect...
the chillequilla (sp?), which i will from now on refer to as funky chicken nachos, was awesome...
the margs (frozen- house, rocks- top shelf) were spot on... the tamarind rita.... taste like tamarind and i don't care for it...
the chillada beer (the illegitimate love child of a dos equis and a bloody mary) is spicy as hell and not my cup of tea...

service at the bar was awesome, heather rocked and travis has it down to a science... elliot was there and working like a dog...

i've had the ceviche and tamales before and was wowed by them then, i'd like to see how they are in situ and give the mole (which is always dicey) a go...

all and all i was very, very pleased...

respek, indeed...
well played mr. nelson, well played....

[Conan71]

And how are you feeling after the noon 'ritas there Bruno?

Is that the same Travis that tends bar over at Arnies?  If it is- great bartender.

I figure I will wait till the "new" cools off in a few weeks, I'm leaving for a week anyhow.

I hope anyone who was there today will be realistic and forgiving.  Especially when something has been awaited with so much anticipation.

Kudos Nelson, Kudos.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by swake

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

That was mostly Steve Kitchell's cash, trash, & dash scams bars.

Since his brother Joe, who wound up being more or less the license-holder on those clubs, died last Thursday, maybe we've seen the last of Kitchell's nuisance downtown.  I don't think anyone will rent to him, and I don't believe he can legally get a license to sell alcohol.

Joe died?

Wow. It was a miracle he lived this long.

Steve still has his mother to hide behind, it would nice to be rid of him, but I doubt it.

No $hit

and

No Sh!t

[]

Joe died last Thurs, I believe.  Causes are pretty self-explanitory.

[tulsacyclist]

Oh yeah, I'm definitely realistic and forgiving. Hopefully my initial post didn't come off any differently. I'll certainly be back and probably be dining there every other Friday. Currently, McNellies is my Friday lunch spot but I have no doubt I'll be switching it up for some El Guapo's very often.

[brunoflipper]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

And how are you feeling after the noon 'ritas there Bruno?

Is that the same Travis that tends bar over at Arnies?  If it is- great bartender.

I figure I will wait till the "new" cools off in a few weeks, I'm leaving for a week anyhow.

I hope anyone who was there today will be realistic and forgiving.  Especially when something has been awaited with so much anticipation.

Kudos Nelson, Kudos.

nope, travis at arnies is still at arnies...
this is travis of kilkennys fame...

[brunoflipper]

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

i finally left...
it was great...
now to the unabridged version...


50 ppl in line before the door opened at 11:30(somebody better have gotten a picture because when in the hell did that happen in tulsa?)...

we were first on the roof at the bar (RESPEK.)...

the atmosphere is kitschy mexicana regalia (pinatas) and religious iconography (mary and crosses)... small multi-level and inviting but not cheesy... el guapo being el jeffe in "the three amigos" it is a wonderful homage... check out the skeletons on the east side... the skulls and sombreros are dupes for grinning, fleshless versions of chase, martin and short...

the fire alarm went off, twice...
the kitchen staff must've felt like they were punched in the mouth...
it looked fine for 15 minutes and then the wheels came off, the place filled to the brim within 30 minutes and the sweat on the brows was evident...

some downtown workers bailed, sans food, because of the delay (after about 45 minutes) but hell, what do you expect on opening day? elliot took it in stride and apologized and the staff gave out free margs cards with copious apologies... but seriously come on, no way in hell are you getting in and out of there om opening day in under an hour...

nonetheless, the staff kept their cool and pulled it off...

on to the food
the chips are fresh and house made (just like fernanda's)...
the salsa is a runny/pico hybrid and tasty but mild...
the guac was fresh but rather bland...
the white queso (which is always better than yellow) was adequate...
grilled fish tacos were excellent (nice mexican slaw with an odd bit of avacado) and spicy, the charro beans were perfect...
the chilaquiles, which i will from now on refer to as funky chicken nachos, was awesome...
the margs (frozen- house, rocks- top shelf) were spot on... the tamarind rita.... taste like tamarind and i don't care for it...
the michelada beer (the illegitimate love child of a dos equis and a bloody mary) is spicy as hell and not my cup of tea...

service at the bar was awesome, heather rocked and travis has it down to a science... elliot was there and working like a dog...

i've had the ceviche and tamales before and was wowed by them then, i'd like to see how they are in situ and give the mole (which is always dicey) a go...

all and all i was very, very pleased...

respek, indeed...
well played mr. nelson, well played....

make that chilaquiles and michelada

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

i finally left...
it was great...
now to the unabridged version...


50 ppl in line before the door opened at 11:30(somebody better have gotten a picture because when in the hell did that happen in tulsa?)...

we were first on the roof at the bar (RESPEK.)...

the atmosphere is kitschy mexicana regalia (pinatas) and religious iconography (mary and crosses)... small multi-level and inviting but not cheesy... el guapo being el jeffe in "the three amigos" it is a wonderful homage... check out the skeletons on the east side... the skulls and sombreros are dupes for grinning, fleshless versions of chase, martin and short...

the fire alarm went off, twice...
the kitchen staff must've felt like they were punched in the mouth...
it looked fine for 15 minutes and then the wheels came off, the place filled to the brim within 30 minutes and the sweat on the brows was evident...

some downtown workers bailed, sans food, because of the delay (after about 45 minutes) but hell, what do you expect on opening day? elliot took it in stride and apologized and the staff gave out free margs cards with copious apologies... but seriously come on, no way in hell are you getting in and out of there om opening day in under an hour...

nonetheless, the staff kept their cool and pulled it off...

on to the food
the chips are fresh and house made (just like fernanda's)...
the salsa is a runny/pico hybrid and tasty but mild...
the guac was fresh but rather bland...
the white queso (which is always better than yellow) was adequate...
grilled fish tacos were excellent (nice mexican slaw with an odd bit of avacado) and spicy, the charro beans were perfect...
the chilaquiles, which i will from now on refer to as funky chicken nachos, was awesome...
the margs (frozen- house, rocks- top shelf) were spot on... the tamarind rita.... taste like tamarind and i don't care for it...
the michelada beer (the illegitimate love child of a dos equis and a bloody mary) is spicy as hell and not my cup of tea...

service at the bar was awesome, heather rocked and travis has it down to a science... elliot was there and working like a dog...

i've had the ceviche and tamales before and was wowed by them then, i'd like to see how they are in situ and give the mole (which is always dicey) a go...

all and all i was very, very pleased...

respek, indeed...
well played mr. nelson, well played....

make that chilaquiles and michelada

Si...........Comandante....

Pero quien es el guapo...?




[}:)]

[brunoflipper]

went back for dinner... what can i say? the wives wanted to try it...

so i'll add...
the ceviche is excellent...
the tamales were "amazing" per my wife...
the tuna tartar tacos were awesome...

[perspicuity85]

I Went to El Guapo on Saturday and impressed my from-out-of-town girlfriend with the skyline view and DFest music.  I was impressed with the 24 oz Modelo cans...

[sgrizzle]

I went today. I was a little confused by the listing of "menu items we are not featuring today" which excluded certain items form the menu. Maybe they were just running low on some stuff. Not really sure about the Nun skeleton with a guitar on the coasters but the food was good and service was good, even if the waitress wasn't from around here (she brought us "sodas".)

[hello]

Sorry to bump this but I was watching an older Jack Frank show I had dvr'd and I guess the building where El Guapos is now used to be a whorehouse? "The May Rooms", from 1936 to 1978. It was going to be renovated into lofts but guess that changed!

[TheArtist]

Aaah the good ol days.

[waterboy]

Are you sure the Mays Rooms were on the corner? They were on that block but I thought they were in what is now an art studio. I have actually worked with old geezers who had visited the place. I remember them using the phrase, "Around The World At The May's Rooms!".