A blatant copy of a local bar/restaurant
- Miguelito
- Ordinary Schmo
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A blatant copy of a local bar/restaurant
Oskar Bistro opened last year and was discussed here. It still appears to be doing well, and we had a very good dinner there the other night. We ordered salads for starters, which were very fresh and large enough that they could almost be a meal in and of themselves. A few people at the table ordered pizzas, which had a thin and crispy crust (which is a style we like). I had the seafood risotto that was able to reach a nice balance of being a little creamy, but certainly not overly so. Another friend had the lamb shank I believe, and he spoke highly of it. Apparently they have a nice steak there as well. We also stopped by for drinks last night, and enjoyed the music and atmosphere. I had a rum old fashioned, and it came with a large spherical ice cube that appeared to be hand chipped. Classy.
Anyways, about 50 meters away, another restaurant/bar has opened, Ostro. It appears to be a carbon copy of Oskar, with identical coloring, set up of the bar, etc. I've been told that it is definitely not affiliated, and when confronted about it they replied that they were simply inspired by Oskar, as well as numerous other bars around the world. Oskar's website is here and Ostro's is here. Take a look for yourself. Also, if you go in person, you will notice that they even tried to copy the same menus (physical menu, not the food), but it appears they couldn't source the identical brown paper, so they are much flimsier than Oskar's original.
One of the most hilarious parts of the blatant copy is a line on Ostro's website, which reads: "OSTRO is a best location for a night out. Muted colors, sleek leather banquettes and a long bar serving handcrafted cocktails and fine wines make it the place to be on the street."
This reads rather similarly to a 2013 review on Phnom Penh Nightlife of Metro-Rahu, which predated Oskar, and stated: "Rahu is a sophisticated location for a night out. Muted colors, sleek leather banquettes and a long bar serving handcrafted cocktails and fine wines make it the place to be on the riverfront."
It comes as a surprise to no one that you'll find copies to international brands in Asia. However, I think it is particularly bad form (and just pretty weak) to copy a local brand (OK, the original is in Bangkok, but still this is only their second spot), almost identically, and open up just down the street. I wonder if the owners are Khmer or Western (the website has a picture of a barring working behind the bar). Either way, shame on them, and I will not be going there.
Anyways, about 50 meters away, another restaurant/bar has opened, Ostro. It appears to be a carbon copy of Oskar, with identical coloring, set up of the bar, etc. I've been told that it is definitely not affiliated, and when confronted about it they replied that they were simply inspired by Oskar, as well as numerous other bars around the world. Oskar's website is here and Ostro's is here. Take a look for yourself. Also, if you go in person, you will notice that they even tried to copy the same menus (physical menu, not the food), but it appears they couldn't source the identical brown paper, so they are much flimsier than Oskar's original.
One of the most hilarious parts of the blatant copy is a line on Ostro's website, which reads: "OSTRO is a best location for a night out. Muted colors, sleek leather banquettes and a long bar serving handcrafted cocktails and fine wines make it the place to be on the street."
This reads rather similarly to a 2013 review on Phnom Penh Nightlife of Metro-Rahu, which predated Oskar, and stated: "Rahu is a sophisticated location for a night out. Muted colors, sleek leather banquettes and a long bar serving handcrafted cocktails and fine wines make it the place to be on the riverfront."
It comes as a surprise to no one that you'll find copies to international brands in Asia. However, I think it is particularly bad form (and just pretty weak) to copy a local brand (OK, the original is in Bangkok, but still this is only their second spot), almost identically, and open up just down the street. I wonder if the owners are Khmer or Western (the website has a picture of a barring working behind the bar). Either way, shame on them, and I will not be going there.
- Miguelito
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Do they serve cocktails? I tend to only go to place that serve cocktails.epidemiks wrote:You should review Srey Mom Building Supplies, right next to Srey mom Building Supplies II, and across the road from srey mom building supplies III.
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- Stabby McStaberson
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This is an outrage!! I won't be shopping there as a protest! (Unless I really need building supplies).epidemiks wrote:You should review Srey Mom Building Supplies, right next to Srey mom Building Supplies II, and across the road from srey mom building supplies III.
..and if you disagree with me, you are one billion times WORSE than HITLER!!!
Miguelito wrote:Oskar Bistro opened last year and was discussed here. It still appears to be doing well, and we had a very good dinner there the other night. We ordered salads for starters, which were very fresh and large enough that they could almost be a meal in and of themselves. A few people at the table ordered pizzas, which had a thin and crispy crust (which is a style we like). I had the seafood risotto that was able to reach a nice balance of being a little creamy, but certainly not overly so. Another friend had the lamb shank I believe, and he spoke highly of it. Apparently they have a nice steak there as well. We also stopped by for drinks last night, and enjoyed the music and atmosphere. I had a rum old fashioned, and it came with a large spherical ice cube that appeared to be hand chipped. Classy.
Anyways, about 50 meters away, another restaurant/bar has opened, Ostro. It appears to be a carbon copy of Oskar, with identical coloring, set up of the bar, etc. I've been told that it is definitely not affiliated, and when confronted about it they replied that they were simply inspired by Oskar, as well as numerous other bars around the world. Oskar's website is here and Ostro's is here. Take a look for yourself. Also, if you go in person, you will notice that they even tried to copy the same menus (physical menu, not the food), but it appears they couldn't source the identical brown paper, so they are much flimsier than Oskar's original.
One of the most hilarious parts of the blatant copy is a line on Ostro's website, which reads: "OSTRO is a best location for a night out. Muted colors, sleek leather banquettes and a long bar serving handcrafted cocktails and fine wines make it the place to be on the street."
This reads rather similarly to a 2013 review on Phnom Penh Nightlife of Metro-Rahu, which predated Oskar, and stated: "Rahu is a sophisticated location for a night out. Muted colors, sleek leather banquettes and a long bar serving handcrafted cocktails and fine wines make it the place to be on the riverfront."
It comes as a surprise to no one that you'll find copies to international brands in Asia. However, I think it is particularly bad form (and just pretty weak) to copy a local brand (OK, the original is in Bangkok, but still this is only their second spot), almost identically, and open up just down the street. I wonder if the owners are Khmer or Western (the website has a picture of a barring working behind the bar). Either way, shame on them, and I will not be going there.
Yep, nothing worse than getting pissed drunk, walking out of one bar full of shanks , and walking into another bar and seeing a carbon copy,,,, another bar full of shanks.
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Haha, I was going to do an article on this. I met with the French owners of Oskar and scheduled a meeting with the Khmer guy who owns Ostro. I've got some photos I can post, maybe I don't have to do the article now that Miguelito has summed it up.
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A little like the original Fish on #108 and then Fish something or other opened just around the corner on Sisovath...
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Nothing gets gavinmac all worked up more than a copycat story. PLUS, they use the gay word "banquettes".gavinmac wrote:Haha, I was going to do an article on this. I met with the French owners of Oskar and scheduled a meeting with the Khmer guy who owns Ostro. I've got some photos I can post, maybe I don't have to do the article now that Miguelito has summed it up.
Last edited by Pol Pothead on Sat Feb 13, 2016 7:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
..and if you disagree with me, you are one billion times WORSE than HITLER!!!
Meanwhile, on TripAdvisor...
After a reviewer labels Ostro a pale copy, the owner of Ostro suggests he moderates his back-end side.
After a reviewer labels Ostro a pale copy, the owner of Ostro suggests he moderates his back-end side.
Pale Copy - tripadvisor reviewOwner at Ostro wrote: What a shame to see these people from a very small bistro on Sisovath street closed to Riverhouse come again and again both tripadvisor and facebook page to show out their nepotism behavior and spread crazy conservative idea of what we have done to their small bistro.
Please don't try to compare your bistro to OSTRO, while we're completely different. Please be a sport mind, dare to fight, dare to lost. New wave sometime bigger than old wave depending on the power of wind. If you feel you wave is week, please consider check and moderate your back-end side. You can't ban the sun from rising, but you can use umbrella to cover your blank head from heating, my simple advice from simple Cambodian guys.
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So they do a blatant second rate knockoff then threaten violence against anyone who would criticize.
Welcome to business in Cambodia.BillyB wrote:...my simple advice from simple Cambodian guys.
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That is worse than Khmenglish....BillyB wrote:Meanwhile, on TripAdvisor...
After a reviewer labels Ostro a pale copy, the owner of Ostro suggests he moderates his back-end side.
Pale Copy - tripadvisor reviewOwner at Ostro wrote: What a shame to see these people from a very small bistro on Sisovath street closed to Riverhouse come again and again both tripadvisor and facebook page to show out their nepotism behavior and spread crazy conservative idea of what we have done to their small bistro.
Please don't try to compare your bistro to OSTRO, while we're completely different. Please be a sport mind, dare to fight, dare to lost. New wave sometime bigger than old wave depending on the power of wind. If you feel you wave is week, please consider check and moderate your back-end side. You can't ban the sun from rising, but you can use umbrella to cover your blank head from heating, my simple advice from simple Cambodian guys.
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
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I saw this argument on Facebook.
Yes it is a blatant copy of a blatant copy. It is not as if it is anything that has not been done before somewhere else.
Does the OP have a connection to either bar ?
Yes it is a blatant copy of a blatant copy. It is not as if it is anything that has not been done before somewhere else.
Does the OP have a connection to either bar ?
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