Restaurant Chain Gets Facelift: Introducing O’s American Kitchen

Fans of the Southern California restaurant chain Pat and Oscar’s may have noticed something new if they’ve visited any of the six locations in San Diego County recently.

After closing down many franchises and rebranding itself, the popular restaurants have become O’s American Kitchen, an update to the brand that will “bring [the restaurant] into the present and roll it into the future,” said Carolyn Hoffman, district manager for the company.  

Locally, O’s American Kitchen at Parkway Plaza in El Cajon had its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Saturday, July 21.  The restaurant officially re-opened on July 16, after being closed for about eight months for renovations and remodeling.

The new look, a more contemporary turn, features brighter, more vibrant color scheme from the old black, white and yellow look that diners had come to expect.

In addition, the company hired an executive chef to craft new, “more adult” dishes, said Hoffman.

“We wanted to take the concept and move into a different, more exciting direction,” she said. “Hopefully, the guests will come along with us.”

The new menu features new items not previously on the Pat & Oscar’s menu, including a pulled pork sandwich with fresh cilantro, pickled onions on a brioche bun; a variety of gourmet pizzas like the “San Diego,” with avocadoes, pesto, red onion and feta cheese; and new side dishes like fresh pasta salad, garlic green beans and garlic mashed potatoes.

But thankfully, for those who loved to dive in to the all-you-can-eat breadsticks, several staples of  the former restaurant remain, including the signature Caesar salad, and chicken and ribs plates.

“We kept a lot of the core menu of what Pat & Oscar’s used to be, but we wanted to take the flavors to the next level,” said Executive Chef Greg Schroeppel. “Our new menu is much more current, and features a lot of bold flavors.”

Schroeppel said that the menu will even change quarterly as certain seasonal dishes become more popular. He said that in the fall, the restaurants will feature a homemade chicken pot pie and fresh apple cobbler.

 “We will always still be a family-oriented place,” said Hoffman, who has been with the company for 13 years. “We wanted to keep our core values and our family culture, but with a fresh look and a fresh feel. We are excited about the new energy.”

 For a full menu, or to see locations around the county, visit the website.