Secret libations

The Tavern reopens in the Brady Arts District with a little something extra

The Tavern is back on its home turf, but there’s more than a remodel to unveil. 

Walk through the familiar wooden doors, and not much will feel new in the space, but subtle shifts are positioning the restaurant for big surprises. 

“For us, it’s not even a remodel,” Elliot Nelson, head of the McNellie’s Group and partner at Nelson + Stowe Development, said. “George Kaiser Family Foundation is redoing this building, and in order for them to occupy the space above this space, the whole building had to be fire suppressed, and new steel support beams needed to be put in place.”

Renovations to the Tavern included updating the kitchen floor, reinforcing the pipes in the ceiling, replacing some of the bar equipment, and the addition of two new private dining rooms in the back of the restaurant.  

“We were really happy with the Tavern,” he continued. “We didn’t want to change anything. So the changes to the naked eye shouldn’t be much. … Overall, The Tavern is the same as it ever was. Or hopefully is.”  

During the interim, Nelson’s crew set up shop at the Temp Tavern, a makeshift space brought to life in a market at 3rd and Archer. After a couple other failed plans (a proposed temporary kitchen, an idea for open air dining on Main Street), they managed to secure a three-month lease and converted the building into a temporary fix. 

The Temp Tavern was impressive for a last resort, and executive chef Ben Alexander’s kitchen staff even managed to piece together a different themed menu each week. Chimichurri octopus, Coq au vin, Peking quail, and a state fair-themed menu surprised and delighted diners during the restaurant’s staycation.

“We kind of let our kitchen staff run wild with what they wanted to do,” Nelson said. “Having done that experiment, and seeing what it’s like to put out a new menu every week, I think you’ll probably see more variation in the Tavern menu.”  

On November 21, the Tavern re-opened in its home space.  

And while the Temp Tavern transformation worked well, Nelson has no plans to use it for anything else. 

“We knew we were going to be down here for a little while, so it was more about getting people employed, and finding things for them to do. We wanted to make sure it didn’t negatively impact them in any way.”

Led by Alexander and general manager Lindsey Roe, the restaurant will still plate its signature half-price Tavern burger specials every evening after 9pm, and family-style fried chicken dinners on Sunday nights. 

New projects in the works for  McNellie’s Group and Nelson + Stowe include a Yokozuna location in Oklahoma City, and The Boxyard, a retail complex made of shipping containers located west of the Fur Shop bar at 3rd and Elgin. Set to launch next spring, The Boxyard will house Dwelling Spaces, a restaurant from the folks behind Masa Food Truck, a rooftop deck, and several other retail spaces.  

But the most anticipated new McNellie’s group opening might be closer than we think. Months ago, plans for a secret speakeasy-style bar were slowly leaked. Without a set date or location, speculation for where the space would be caught on like wildfire, and many guessed it to be the cause for the Tavern’s remodel. 

But Nelson remains tight-lipped about the whole thing. 

“There may or may not be a bar back there.”  

The hidden “speakeasy” is a growing trend across the country; in many cities, the most sought after cocktail bars are the ones without any signage or marketing. Head to the back of the hallway, pull down on a book, give the secret passcode, or tap the knock for entry into a hideaway of fine cocktails, lush lounging, and Prohibition-era glam. 

Nelson’s concept promises such an experience. The space is adorned with rich hunter green leather, gleaming brass accents, black and white marble, intimate wrap-around booths, a tableside martini cart, and a piano built into the bar. A spare menu of prime steak, fish, and wine recalls the swanky simplicity of the roaring ‘20s, while sides like burgundy mushrooms and potatoes egan keep things sophisticated and simple.
    “We just want to have some fun with it—make it more interesting than the usual game we have to play around here.” 

There’s no date set for a hard opening, but a nice little rumor is circulating that it will be this weekend. 

As for the location? You’ll have to find it. But if you want a tip, look for the bull.  

“There is no address. There is no phone number. There is no contact information,” Nelson said with a wry smile. “But if you can find it... great.”

For more from Megan, read her review of Millicent Brasserie.