Chicago-style pizza and Italian in North Oklahoma City - Sophabella's Chicago Grill is unique with a friendly staff and soothing jazz to accompany your meal.
Guide Review - An Italian Flair
I knew that it would be one of two things prompting me to first start building my restaurant review section here on About OKC. There'd either be a really pitiful dining experience or one that pleasantly surprised me. And I'm actually quite pleased it was the latter.So Sophabella's Chicago Grill earns the distinction as being my first individual restaurant review outside of my top restaurant lists. Located at 7628 N. May Avenue (South of Wilshire, on the East side of May), Sophabella's should not be under the radar any longer for Italian-food fans or Chicago-area transplants in Oklahoma City.
You walk in to a dimly-lit, cozy room dotted with candles and are immediately put at ease by the soft sounds of jazz. The main eating area is fairly small and is decorated mostly in black and plum. The only thing that seems out of place in the wonderful restaurant setting is the paper tablecloth cover that almost seems an attempt to make sure they don't get too fancy and alienate the casual crowd.
My table was right next to the waiter's station, a less than ideal location for private conversation. But there is a more secluded, raised area at the far end that would be perfect for such dining experiences.
Menu Delights
With a glass of wine and a tropical-flavored iced tea to drink, I perused the appetizer list that included favorites like calamari as well as the more unique such as grilled portobello mushrooms, lightly marinated in balsamic vinegar and topped with pine nuts. Appetizer prices range from $6 to $11, and I settled on the fried cheese ravioli with a nice, subtle spiciness.The entree options are quite eclectic. A sauteed chicken mushroom marsala is a top seller among the pastas, and the gorgonzolla-stuffed filet highlights the steak/chicken dishes. There is also seafood such as a grilled salmon filet with steamed vegetables. With all of those choices, I asked for a recommendation.
I admitted I was leaning towards trying a signature pizza, maybe one of the brick oven, thin crusts or the Chicago Seven. The extrememly friendly waiter pointed out one of their more popular pizzas. The Uptown Pepperoni is a deep dish, traditional Chicago-style pie. And it's fantastic.
A flaky, slightly sweet crust on the bottom and top is stuffed with cheese and pepperoni and then covered in a tomato marinara sauce. There are six pieces, but an experienced pizza eater like myself was full after about two and a half.
Just a Bit More
Although I was completely stuffed, out of an obligation to you, my loyal site readers, I ordered a slice of New York cheesecake with chocolate sauce. The texture seemed a bit different than most cheesecake I've eaten, but it was nevertheless rich and quite good.All in all, Sophabella's is an easy one for me to recommend. If you love Italian food or are even simply a pizza fan and want something different than the ordinary, this is a must try. Prices are certainly reasonable with entrees ranging from about $8 to $30, and the food ranks as some of the more memorable in the city. Combine that with a wonderful ambiance, and you can't go wrong.
Sophabella's Chicago Grill
7628 N. May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
(405) 879-0100
Owner: Bill Brazil
Check out About.com Reader Reviews on Sophabella's and then Submit Your Rating.
