Location(s) Being Reviewed: SE corner 6th & Boston
Date/Time of Visit: 10/4/12 7pm
Quality of Food (1-5): 5
Menu/Food Options (1-5): 4.5
Quality of Service (1-5): 6
Atmosphere (1-5): 5
Overall Rating (1-5): 5
Price ($-$$$$$): $$$$
What makes this restaurant unique: Very cool re-adaptation of one of Tulsa's mid-century modern treasures, creative cocktail menu, great location in the CBD and Deco District, and some unique menu items.
Tell us about your experience:
I took my wife and mother here for a nice mid week meal. I'd heard good things about the menu and being a huge fan of MCM architecture I've been waiting for the opportunity to see the finished product. After going I'm really thankful someone decided to put money into this space (former First National Bank) instead of leveling it for more surface parking.
At any rate, I called the day before for reservations but turns out we did not need them on a Thursday night. I suspect on major event nights in downtown, it may get over-crowded.
Atmosphere is definitely something from Mad Men. Very stylish and hip, and in the downstairs dining area, they left it very open and not crammed together. They could have easily fit in five or six more four top tables, but chose not to and I commend them for that. With the high ceiling and all the glass you'd think the acoustics would be really lousy (pet peeve of mine) but it's not bad since they did choose to use carpet. As Artist has mentioned on another thread, a couple of strategically placed sound attenuation panels wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it's an absolute necessity.
Service was very attentive right from the start. Cody, our waiter, was very well-versed in the menu items and cocktail menu. We never waited for a water re-fill, and either he or a manager stopped regularly to make sure everything was alright.
We each decided to try something from their cocktail menu
http://www.vaulttulsa.com/VaultCocktailMenu.pdf for starters. My mother had a Manhattan (classic blend with a nice Vault spin) $8, Mrs. C had the Liquid Sunshine (house made lavender with lemoncello & seltzer) served in a very cool mid-century gold leaf design glass $7, and I had the Crooked Banker (flaming absinthe rinse, Maker's Mark, Punt e Mes, Cointreau) in a classic highball $11. They definitely have done their homework on the cocktails as we all loved them. I've read some complaints on line people think they are pricey. I don't see that they are any more expensive than any other bar or restaurant in town. $7 to $12 seems to be the norm for craft cocktails these days. Most of theirs are $7 or $8.
The bar menu also boasts being the first in Oklahoma to offer locally produced wine on tap. All their wine offerings are claimed as sustainable and organic.
The food menu
http://www.vaulttulsa.com/VaultMenu.pdf has somewhat limited choices (nine appetizers, four dinner salads, eight entrees), but all the choices looked wonderful. A limited menu is not necessarily a bad thing. I'd far rather dine somewhere they specialize in a handful of things they are really good at rather than throwing out 60 items and seeing what sticks. That also ensures better food freshness.
We started with the bruscetta three ways: tomato & basil with feta & olives, crab & cream cheese w/ capers, and chef's choice which last night was prosciutto over some sort of light smear of either currant or berry jam and topped with a curl of cantaloupe. They do each one on a large slice of Italian bread and slice each one into four portions so it's more than enough for a few people. ($14)
I chose the Marshall's pretzel sliders (three with Natural Farms beef: pineapple jalapeño, bacon bleu cheese with bbq sauce, and the third one more of a classic with cheese & sauce. The bread is really amazing, it's not a classic German pretzel, but something really amazing. They do have the pretzels on the appetizer menu. $12.
Mrs. C chose the pork bourguignon. It's pork shoulder, carrot, and onion cooked in red wine served over rice. The shoulder must have slow cooked all day, as it was tender and succulent like pork shoulder should be when it's cooked properly slow. $16.
Mom chose the eggplant moussaka. It was simply an amazing blend of flavors. Only complaint was it wasn't as warm as she would have liked, so she sent it back for a re-heat. No problem. $14.
We split an upside down pinapple ginger upside down cake that was warm and moist and left us all glad we decided to split one. It's rich. $6.
The tab came to $93 and change. Not bad for three people with an appetizer, a cocktail each, three entrees, and dessert. I'd said before on here I thought the menu seemed a bit spendy, but after going, I really felt like the value exceeded the price and we will return. I'm anxious to try the pimiento mac & cheese.
I gave the food/menu 4.5 stars mostly due to mom's entree not being completely hot and I wouldn't mind seeing them develop a few more choices on the menu so there's certainly something for everyone if you go with a large group. Also, though we are good with the portion sizes being to the modest side, people who are used to having a total pig out for $12 to $16 are going to be disappointed. It's simply not that sort of place. Anyone who has eaten at the Auld's other restaurant, Elote already knows you get quality over quantity. This is all a part of a new concept and a team learning to work together. I love the way they re-purposed the building and did not cram the lower dining area though they could have.
Original woodwork and fixtures are retained throughout, even using the original desks customers used to complete their deposits and to write checks.
