• Mutts has new owners, from left, Eathan Barfield, with Kevin and Laurel Wilkerson. mh

Mutts sold

“Don’t you think people in Norman, in Edmond, in Midwest City would enjoy this too?” asked Kevin Wilkerson, the new co-owner of Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs with his wife, Laurel Wilkerson.

Owners of the Oklahoma City metro-area Marco’s Pizza franchises, the Wilkersons recently bought Mutts, 1400 NW 23rd St., from Chris Lower and Kathryn Mathis, who also started Big Truck Tacos, Back Door BBQ and Pizzeria Gusto.

“We love the food, the vibe and the service,” Wilkerson said. “Being in the industry, I thought it was a neat concept.”

He found that each time he and his wife would return to OKC from out of town, they always craved Mutts. He said it’s not the usual chicken-pizza-burger option.

Though they plan to open more locations and add dedicated Mutts food trucks, Wilkerson said he’s not planning to make any changes to the menu.

“Chris and Kathryn did a great job with Mutts,” he said. “We don’t want to break it or change it.”

New vision

Grandad’s, the casual, non-smoking bar decorated like the basement of your oldest relative, is no more. Owner and operator Greg Seal left the business after a split with formerly silent partner Kyle Sweet.

The space at 317 NW 23rd St. will become something new, as Sweet recruited new partners Drew and Anna Mains, who also own Knucks Wheelhouse and In The Raw Bricktown.

“We’re excited to build something that will continue what Grandad’s did so well and be a true neighborhood bar,” Mains said. “Our whole goal is to make it someplace every person in the surrounding neighborhoods can find something to enjoy.”

The concept does not have a new name yet, but Mains said it will remain a bar while adding a snacks menu.

“Right now, we’re getting in and looking around at what needs to be cleaned and fixed,” Mains said.

They hope to open in late summer or early fall, but that will be dictated by progress more than a hard-and-fast opening deadline date.

“It’s more important to us that we execute everything perfectly rather than open before we’re ready,” she said.

• Left Guy Romo an Patrick Ireland at Saitns in the Plaza District. mh

Poach OKC

Moto Chef’s Guy Romo (pictured) returns Tuesday with the inaugural Poach pop-up dinner.

The five-course meal will be cooked sous vide — a method of slow, even poaching in a temperature-controlled water bath — with some molecular gastronomy. Each course will be paired with wine.

Held at chi gallery, 2300 NW 17th St., the event is open to guests ages 21 and over, and the minimum entry fee is a $100 donation.

To be notified of future dinners and to purchase tickets, go to poachokc.com.

Romo plans to post pictures and information on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @poachokc.