First-Rate Othello’s To Give Ill-Fated Spot a 5th Try

CNHI News Service

By Randall Turk

Transcript Business Editor

The intrepid Howard Klubeck believes the fifth time’s a charm. Klubeck and partners Gary Goldstein and Robin Waggner are installing another Othello’s Italian Restaurant at 700 Ed Noble Parkway — despite four other dining establishments falling to Desdemona’s fate there.

The latest ones, The Island Restaurant and Pearl’s Oyster Bar, shut down after plowing copious cash into extensive renovations. This time, Klubeck and friends have sunk more money into a thorough remake of the restaurant property, located on the south end of Parkway Plaza Shopping Center.

“We’ll have the same thing as the Campus Corner Othello’s, only bigger,” Klubeck said. He emphasized the original, highly successful Othello’s at 434 Buchanan will not close, nor will the one in Edmond.

The new location is “just more convenient for a lot of people in Norman and Oklahoma City,” he said.

The fact that atmosphere is a significant part of the Italian dining experience has not escaped the partners. They had a tremendous task at hand to convert the restaurant’s cavernous interior into something a little more intimate.

They partitioned off part of the huge floor space into a 55-seat party room with a separate entrance. A wine room, “probably the only one in Norman,” was built to be visible from the dining section. “The biggest thing is, we lowered the ceiling and added beams,” Klubeck said.

The rest of the dining area is by no means small. It seats about another 150 in booths and at tables under the customary checked tablecloths. Paneled and wainscoted walls are decorated with large black and white blowups of historic Italian-American scenes and celebrities. Swag lighting further softens the space.

In the adjoining barroom, Klubeck had the walls painted a rustic red and wisely retained the restaurant’s round bar. A stage has been added for musical groups. Should city inspections go well, Klubeck said, he plans to open the establishment by Wednesday.

“This is a little more upscale than the original Othello’s,” Klubeck said. “We’ll have a staff of about 60, all providing a very high level of service.” Stacey Baxter, who has “an extensive background in fine dining, including eight years at The Grill in Oklahoma City,” has been hired as general manager. The chef is Keith Donovan, who has served several Hal Smith Associates restaurants.

Klubeck’s background is just as daring as his newest venture. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in film in 1982, he chose instead to pursue a food and beverage career in the big city.

He successfully managed nightclubs and restaurants in Dallas, Miami, Atlanta and Las Vegas before returning to Norman and purchasing the Campus Corner Othello’s seven years ago. He also is a partner in the Al Eschbach’s Sports Bar & Grill on Campus Corner and the Edmond Othello’s.

About the only predictable aspect of the west side Othello’s is the menu. All the Alfredo, Marinara, Marsala, Parmigiana and Florentine sauced pasta and other popular Othello’s fare along with steaks, seafood and appetizers will be reproduced. A long list of wines will be available.

The parking is commodious, as is the kitchen. “We’ll have enough room to do our own cakes and pastries and special entrées,” Klubeck said.

Patrons should also expect prices in line with the original Othello’s he said. “We’re ready to do fine dining for a more reasonable price.”

For the fifth time, a new restaurant is opening soon at 700 Ed Noble Parkway, this time with Italian fare that has drawn many regulars. The restaurant’s three partners have shrugged off superstition surrounding the failure of four other restaurants here. “We think this location has a lot going for it,” Klubeck said.

“We’re ready.”

West side customers who savor Othello’s offerings will not have to go far for the real thing. They, too, might be well advised to ignore any evil portents for Othello’s West. Just get the cannoli.