The Deep Deuce Grill Will Return
The Deep Deuce Grill - doors closed for now.
That’s a promise by Craig Brown, who started the restaurant seven years ago on what was really a pretty big leap of faith. For the past couple of years Brown has had an uneasy relationship with the operators of the restaurant and on Oct. 1, with him reporting their lease expiring, he shut the restaurant down. (*I have placed a call to the number I have for the operator, but have yet to hear back)
Craig Brown. back in control of the Deep Deuce Grill
Anyone who visits www.okctalk.com knows Craig isn’t alone in his dissatisfaction with the previous operators. Just days before the restaurant closed, the restaurant was getting hit with pretty harsh criticism:
Horrible experience.
Just walked out of Deep Deuce. I was with a group of 5 friends. We took a table on the patio – only one other table occupied. Sat there for 20 minutes and were never so much as greeted, much less given the opportunity to order. Server even came out and helped a table of ten right next to us (it took quite an effort to work that table without turning to see us). Another group of 6 came in behind us and was equally ignored. When we left, I made a point to walk in to the bar and told the staff we were leaving after having been sitting outside for 20 minutes with no service. The smartass said “you’re welcome.”
They weren’t busy at all – maybe one table inside, 4 to 6 people inside at the bar. Pathetic. We were probably good for a hundred dollar or better tab, and a healthy gratuity. Instead, none of us will be back, and I’ll go out of my way to share my experience.
Incidentally, when I first suggested my group go in to the Deuce, the first comment was “they have horrible service.” Should have listened.
And this:
I used to love Deep Deuce. But the last few times I’ve been there the service has been pretty slow. On one occasion a friend and I sat there for 10 or 15 minutes without ever being served, so we rolled out. It was a Sunday afternoon, not that busy either.
All of this is sad considering that the Deep Deuce Grill was, for years, the place for power players and also a great neighborhood hangout. And it was also an expression of Craig Brown’s own personality, who bought up the area back when no one cared. Craig initially got interested in the area when he was hired to tear down some of the more dillapidated structures. But once at work, it was Craig who decided to buy up what few old structures remained. And it was Craig who toiled away at renovating his first building on NE 1 (now home to a law firm, and then moved on to doing a deal with First Worthing to build the Deep Deuce Apartments. Craig meanwhile put his heart into renovating the one-time home of Charlie Christian and turning it into an idealized neighborhood bar and grill. To understand what sort of a risk Craig was taking, one must remember what Deep Deuce looked like just a decade ago….
Deep Deuce, 1998.
The Deuce, like the neighborhood a decade ago, ain’t dead yet. Craig is doing a major overhaul that includes repaving of the crumbling parking lot, a top to bottom cleaning of the entire restaurant, an overhaul of the menu, re-introduction of the restaurant as a neighborhood hang-out and as a venue for jazz.
During a visit Friday, I saw evidence that this isn’t just talk – that Craig is dedicated to bringing the Deuce back to life, better than ever. The clean-up is underway, and it looks like Craig may have some impressive candidates to take over the restaurant operation and make it the place, once again, for downtown residents and the city’s power crowd.
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Comments
Not a big surprise…I put this restaurant on my “kabash” list years ago. I’ve been there a half-dozen times, not by choice, and NEVER, EVER, NOT ONCE received satisfactory service. The food was average, but perhaps tasted better due to the fact that I was starving by the time it finally got to me. Good riddance to all who worked there…time to sell shoes or go lean on a shovel.
Deep deuce has always had lackluster service. Bartender was usually friendly but wait staff has always had that “Couldn’t give a &^it attitude”. One time they had a wait to be seated policy, changed it overnight and didn’t put a sign up and let a buddy of mine and I stand there for 15 minutes while they just stared and glared at us. Finally we asked one of them if they were gonna seat us and their reply was “we don’t do that anymore, it’s seat yourself”. I said “where’s the sign” they said “you should just know, everyone else does”.
That was the next to the last time I went there.
Asked to go there by two out of town friends, I got my revenge. In the middle of the lunch hour we planted our a##es down at a 6 top at high noon rather than wait for a four top to open up. The waitress asked us to please wait until a four top opened up and we refused. I said “Last time you told us to seat ourselves and today WE DID!” If you want us to leave, then throw us out and I promise you, I’ll clean this restaurant of customers in 10 minutes, so take your shot”. They served us and we sat there an extra hour just to rub their face in it…….
I’ll go back now, as long as they delete all prior personnel.
I never had anything but good service at DD. Went there at least once a week. The food was really good and you could get in and out when there wasn’t one of those ‘to go’ orders in front of you [almost always].
Sounds like the wait staff and the customers deserve each other. Waitstaff wants customers to “Serve Us,” while customers want waitstaff to be “servile.” Too many “alphas” on the premises. Deep Deuce needs a deep truce. Good luck with that, Craig.
Last time I was there, the service was awful and the food wasn’t much better. The thing that really sent me over the edge, though, was when we figured out the total on the receipt was higher than the sum of the items listed plus tax. When we asked, we were told it was “due to the dinner salads” and done “so customers aren’t confused.” What?! Confused by an accurate receipt?! It took quite a bit of complaining to convince the manager this was misleading, likely illegal, and entirely shady. GOOD RIDDANCE. This place used to be a great little restaurant we took out of town friends to, but not lately. Hopefully the new Deep Deuce Grill will return to its roots.
[...] midnight Wednesday. If there is one thing Peyton and building owner/landlord/restaurant founder Craig Brown agree on, it’s that there were [...]
I went to deep deuce all the time and i didnt even live around the area. i loved this bar. The nights i would come in there were plenty of the “power players” in there having a great time! service was wonderful! i loved the fact that the waitress knew me by my first name! Everyone seemed to know her, and she knew them! It was the kind of place that was laid back and you could either relax or get rowdy with friends. Everyone knew everyone! so fun! The food was good, sometimes took a little while to get, but most of the time it was worth the wait. I would not totally dismiss the entire wait staff when Craig reopens. Every restaurant has its issues, and I hope this one resolves them so I can go back to my favorite place!
I hope that every single employee that was inattentive and dismissive of complaints is replaced as well. There’s no excuse for anything like that.