I'm not quite sure why it took me 10 years of living in Norman to try out such a long-standing local restaurant so close to home. Maybe it was the poor yelp reviews, maybe it was the other Italian restaurant on campus corner, ten steps away. When I found out the owners from the Othello's in Edmond were taking over this location, I decided it was time to give it a try, mostly because I had memories of Italian cream cake dancing through my head from when I was in high school and used to eat at the Edmond restaurant. The atmosphere is very cool. I love places that I feel comfortable dressing up or being super-casual. This is one of them. Perfect for a date night. Very family-friendly. I saw lots of babies. And there is a nice-looking patio that I plan to try out this summer. It was really crowded, so they asked us if we wanted to sit at the bar for dinner. That was fine with us, and it turned out to be a really great thing because they had live music going on the whole night. (By the way, the bar top is nice and BIG so it's not like you can't spread out like some places when you eat at the bar.) Our service was perfect! Our waitress knew what we wanted before we had a chance to ask (i.e. Asking us if we wanted a ranch with our fried zucchini even though it only comes with marinara, bringing extra napkins). She was really friendly and attentive. The food had some hits and misses. My chicken piccata was delicious! My husband was only so-so with his salmon and veggies. We thought the bread was good, but a little less flavorful than it could have been. But the Italian cream cake that I had remembered was spot on! I have another favorite bakery in town, but this cake stands as my favorite dessert. I will return to this Othello's in Norman and I recommend it to anyone who has never been, or maybe if you just haven't been since it changed owners. read more

Othello's Italian Restaurant - Coconut cream pie - Italian Near Me - Norman, Oklahoma

The service here was terrible. We waited over an hour and a half for our food and they forgot multiple drinks. Some of our food was cold as well. read more

Great ambiance, super lasagna! The house Chianti was very good, too. Took a bit to figure out those parking meters, tho.

Great atmosphere! Not too noisy, nice background music. Comfortable seating, spacious room. Our server was the best. So friendly, smiling, attentive. (Wish I could remember her name). Bread is super yummy!! Menu has lots of variety to choose from. Definitely going back!. read more

I will give this Norman staple a 5 star every time. The food is always excellent, the Italian Margaritas are my fave and I simply love the place. read more

This was by far the worst dining experience I've EVER had. First of all, we made a reservation a week in advance for 8 people and were sat at 6 person table by the very rude hostess. When asked for a larger table she said, "no, you can pull up chairs." We then sat and watched as the 8 person table next to us remained empty the whole time. Then the owner came over and was also rude to us. It was so bad we almost left, and we should have. Our reservation was at 5:30 and we did not leave until 9:15 because the service was that slow. It was ridiculous. And to top it all off, the food was disgusting (pizza was spit out). They messed up two orders (of 6), added extra charges on the bill, and pocketed the tip (was a $12 dollar check, was given a $20 bill and assumed she would get an $8 tip). As a very influential OKC based food blogger, I was looking forward to writing a great post, but after that experience, I will be turning people away. read more

Othello's probably isn't the best Italian food I've ever had, however it isn't the worst either. The pepperoni chips were pretty dang good! I had the angel hair pasta with shrimp and veggies with an Alfredo sauce. Overall, it was good but nothing to write home about. My date did not like his chicken and pasta at all. The service was a tad slow but not unbearable unless you're starving. I wasn't wowed by this restaurant in the least bit and probably will not want to return. read more

Othello's Italian Restaurant - Angel hair pasta with shrimp and vegetables and alfredo sauce - Italian Near Me - Norman, Oklahoma

Our son made dinner reservations for us during Parents Weekend which I know is always a crazy busy time for restaurants. We arrived a little early which gave us an opportunity to check out the bar. Got off to a rocky start with an overworked bartender with some attitude, but we rolled with it and enjoyed a drink while waiting for our table. A healthy dose of humor and grace will right most wrongs. Once we sat down, everything from start to finish was outstanding and we thoroughly enjoyed the surroundings, decor, food, and our precious server, Elizabeth. We started with calamari and garlic bread with cheese (yummy) and shared orders of chicken parmigiana, Don's Rigatoni, and shrimp linguine for dinner. We were too stuffed for dessert and still had some leftovers to send home with our son. Everything was delicious and I can't say enough good things about the service. Elizabeth is a gem and handled several large parties at the same time with grace and poise. Thank you for such an enjoyable evening! read more

We used to LOVE Othello's; key phrase there is USED to. My husband especially loved the mussels, and I enjoyed a variety of foods. In the past few months, we've tried Othello's (take-out) several times and have been disappointed each time. We've tried the mussels, the stuffed shrimp, the artichoke parmagiana, the beef and sausage cannelloni, the chicken scallopine, and the salmon. The mussels had a different sauce that wasn't nearly as nice as the sauce prior to the fire. Worse, the texture of the mussels was mushy, as if they were old or had sat out far too long. The stuffed shrimp with crab meat were small and dry. The stuffing was okay but nothing special; unfortunately, with dried-out (and even tough) shrimp, I was less than impressed. My husband, who loves artichokes (these were his second choice after being severely disappointed by the mussels a previous time), said the artichoke parmagiana (made with canned artichokes) was "okay, but nothing special." (Okay is NOT a compliment coming from him!) He said the beef and sausage cannelloni (a third try) was okay, but again, I could tell he wasn't impressed. The salmon was tender--thank goodness! Yet even that was not something we'd request again. The chicken scallopine, sadly, tasted like it had a canned mushroom and marsala sauce on it. It was okay, but not what we'd hoped for. The pasta was blah but filling. The bread is awful. My husband said this morning that he believes the change in management is a large part of the problem: all the old, beloved recipes have been lost, or "doctored up" to the point of ruining them. Our meal last night--which was intended as a Father's Day celebration--was our last try. We'll take a break from Italian for awhile, then try some of the other restaurants offering Italian food in our area. read more

I was so happy when Othello's reopened. The remodel is very nice - light, bright, very inviting! That was pretty much the end of the pleasant surprises. I'll admit it has been several years since I was at Othello's, but I really remembered the food being much better than what we had tonight. Appetizers. . .we had calamari and bruschetta. The calamari was not bad, loved the light breading and lack of grease. This is a personal preference thing, but I prefer actual calamari (rings and tentacles) to sliced cuttlefish. The bruschetta was horrible! So much raw garlic it was barely edible. Perhaps I ordered poorly, but the pasta prima vera was truly mediocre. The red sauce lacked flavor, the dish was just unappealing. My husband got the trout, he liked it, the dish of spaghetti and sauce not to much. The rest of our party got manicotti , ravioli, pizza and chicken Alfredo. They all seemed to like their food, so maybe it is just me. The service was average. We had to ask for silverware and napkins, bread arrived after we were 3/4 done with the meal. But our server was pleasant and otherwise attentive. There is a lot of really good Italian food in OKC, sadly I won't be driving to Norman for this Italian food any more. read more

Awesome local Italian. Great bar and live local music nightly. A game day tradition. North side of campus corner in Norman. The patio is so cool. They have a great chef and the specials are top notch. If you can't decide, try the pizza. 1/2 price on Sunday nights. Don't leave without a slice of coconut cream pie. read more

Great food and service. Salmon and veggies and pizza were yummy. Garlic bread was amazing.

I haven't been there in easily a decade. I actually worked there for quite some time and enjoyed my experience. I'm only here to give 5 stars to the guy that was upset that his "waitress sorta looked like AOC". Trump's America. read more

If I could leave less than one star I would. Two beer choices. Miller lite and Coors lite. Oil and vinegar bottle on the table were disgustingly filthy. Salt and Pepe shakers were crusty. Veal was so tough and the linguine and clams were about clam free and so bland Food was AWFUL. No bread. No cheese. Service was good but for 100$ ???? Yuck. give this place a huge miss!!! read more

Gets worse every time you go. Such a landmark to the Norman area and unless the owner is here you can guarantee the experience will be horrible. read more

I had OTRASHOS last night. I ordered takeout. Hadn't eaten all day. So weak. Wanted pasta. Heard Othello's is great so ordered. Pasta arrived cold, dry and bland, I also didn't receive my bread. When I called the restaurant, they didn't seem to care. I will never eat at Othello's again. $25 down the drain. read more

Got spaghetti with meatballs, it was one of the most bland food I've ever had. Tasted like school cafeteria spaghetti, with a touch of water soup at the bottom. Appetizers were good tho read more

Amazing food and service. This was our first choice to eat at when the quarantine was lifted. My husband's veal and my manicotti with extra Italian sausage was better than we remembered 8 weeks ago. Willow is an awesome server so hopefully you can get her on your visit. read more

Absolutely amazing service and food! This is one of the only places we come to in Norman that is always consistent. From the minute you walk in throughout your dining experience the service and staff are attentive and friendly. The food is incredible! We love the grilled salmon and Rocco's mussels. Pasta is fresh and they have gluten-free options. My dairy free requests are always honored and not one waitstaff has made me feel bad for requesting dairy free. We frequently go to Othello's for the best seafood and Italian. With a covered patio equipped with TVs and a fire pit to live music in the bar area you can't go wrong with stopping by. read more

It was happy birthday to my ears when I found out my sweet husband, Colin, decided he was going to throw me a birthday party at Othello's. I had been working out of OKC on a project for a few months so the Norman location fit well to include new and college friends. I had gone to Othello's several times as an OU student for open mic nights to have a drink and watch the local talent but had yet to eat there. I love the location as it sits right off the main drag of campus corner so it feels more intimate and the patrons seem more intentional. Inside is cozy with dimmed lighting. One side specifically features the restaurant with booth and table seating. The other side is where my birthday was celebrated. There is a bar, space to put together tables for a group, and a stage with a piano and some mics. Colin said the staff was so helpful when it came to planning the party. They gave him a list of entrees to choose from to put on a separate printed birthday menu as he was footing our guest's meal bill. Many people did not RSVP until the last minute but the Othello's staff was flexible in accommodating the flux number. Live music and events frequent Othello's so be sure to checkout their website for listings of all scheduled happenings! The night of my birthday, a local pianist played beautiful jazz and blues standards. Our party of 25 was comfortably seated and the service was excellent. My one star deduction comes from my entree. I had the spinach and cheese ravioli and Colin had the lasagna. Both were a little too salty for me. Highly recommend hosting celebrations or group hangouts at this cozy and classy campus corner spot! read more

Went to Othello's on a game night and was shocked. The Calimari was nothing more than limp, fried, fish stick tasting something. We very rarely ever return food but the quality of the "fish" gave us no choice. Upon doing so, the manager told us how it was the highest quality and didn't understand (brutal). Next, the pasta dish...the pasta wasn't even cooked all the way and the sauce tasted like it was watered down. Upon letting the waiter know (which he was great btw) nothing changed, no apologies or bill rate cut. Never going to return. read more

Expensive and over-rated but decent pizza and nice atmosphere. Likes: The atmosphere is fun, especially around OU football season. Lots of local sports-related celebs hang out there. The pizza is okay and runs at a decent price - around $12. They also have a great outdoor patio. If you're a wino, they've got you covered big time, with a strong selection of pricey wines for your drinking pleasure. They do have a few daily specials available for those who seek them. Dislikes: Othello's is too expensive for what you get, simply put. We're talking $5 for a bowl of soup, $6 for a few mozzarella sticks, $14 for chicken marsala! On top of that, the pasta isn't very good. Also, unless you either love seafood or veal, your options are pretty much limited to either pizza or bad pasta. If you want pizza, go to ToTo's around the corner. If you want pasta, go to Victoria's (also around the corner). If you want atmosphere and drinks, go to Othello's. read more

Yes - Othello's is an Italian restaurant -- but, if you ask those who dine there on a regular basis -- they will tell you it's the STEAKS that take the cake. It's true, Othello's serves up the best quality, most tender and perfectly cooked steaks of anywhere in Norman, or OKC, for that matter. Another well kept secret is the seafood. I have tried it all, many times. The calamari appetizer is light and crispy with the perfect amount of chew (ask for extra lemon slices for squeezing). The Grilled Salmon is nothing short of mouthwatering and the Mussels, a hearty portion, steamed in a tomato, garlic & white wine broth (comes with a side of pasta if you want to toss the two together), are the best in town. Thinking about appetizers? Start with the Cheesy Garlic Bread, broiled to crispy perfection & served with marinara for dipping. The Garlic Rolls (pizza dough rolled thin & wrapped into chewy little balls, baked and tossed with garlic & olive oil with marinara for dipping. Of the salads, try the Anti Pasta; crispy iceberg lettuce studded with black olives, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, cucumbers, onions, mozzarella and pinwheels of thinly sliced salami, ham and fresh mozzarella, finished with tangy house made red wine vinaigrette OR get the Chop Salad featuring romaine, blue cheese, tomatoes, avocados, and more in every bite (try it with grilled chicken breast for an entree). If you're craving pasta, order the Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Florentine (chunks of grilled chicken breast, spinach and Portabella mushrooms, tossed with fettuccine in a light Marsala cream sauce) OR the Veal & Chicken Marsala (sop up the rich sauce with complimentary freshly baked bread). Pizza. Many locals will tell you Othello's pizza is the best. The hand-tossed crust is on the crisper side, the topping choices include all the usual, with the addition of extras like artichokes, pesto, meatballs, and shrimp. Saved room for dessert? The Tiramisu is a dependable classic or indulge in the gooey decadence of the Chocolate Layer Cake. The Lemon Cheesecake is a standout; it's touch of tartness balanced by a mildly sweet shortbread crust. Check out the dessert case in the front -- there's usually several items to choose from. Those who appreciate ambiance won't be let down, from the dimly lit dining area, featuring candlelit booths, don't be surprised to hear one of the Brat Pack's best playing just loud enough. For a change of pace, try the bar and enjoy live music or piano playing on weekends. Don't forget to take advantage of the half-priced pizza during happy hour. If you enjoy patio dining at it's best, Othello's is a warm weather must. From the lovely hand-painted mural decorating the outdoor wall, to the liberal number of heat lamps and their silent promise to keep diners toasty, to the brightly-hued flowers peeking from their pots, and last, but certainly not least, the delicious Italian fare sent steaming from the kitchen. read more

I had the pizza which was pretty decent. If you walk in pass the dinning area and sit out in the patio. I came here on a Saturday night after OU game. Very nice atmosphere and they had live band. There was no cover and the drinks were reasonable. read more

Othello's Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Norman, Oklahoma

Went in a few minutes before 5:00 PM. We asked for 2 orders of bread and was told they ran out but would bring some some later. I ordered a coke and it tasted awful. I ask the waitstaff to bring me tea. She told me she had just poured herself a coke and agreed it tasted like something was wrong with it. It wasn't flat or anything but the flavor was terrible. She said she didn't say anything to me because she wanted to see if I would say anything. REALLY?? Anyway at 6:00 our waitstaff said our order would be out in a couple of minutes. At 6:15 we told her we were leaving because we were tired of waiting. She said they had a mix up with a to go order and therefore had just put my husbands cannelloni in and it would be done in a little bit. She said they could box it up for us. We told her no we were leaving and she told the manager who removed the entrees from our ticket but charged me for the tea and tomato and mozzarella salad I ordered. The manager never came out to even apologize. I will not be back read more

I'm not sure if I have ever been as disappointed with a restaurant than I was with Othello's. I ordered the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli's. This consisted of 4 raviolis sparsely stuffed with mushrooms. Barely enough to be considered an appetizer. Along with the ravioli I added the fried pepperoni's. These were halfway baked pepperoni's. All of this for 20 bucks total. Unfortunately, none of it tasted all that great either. I am just confused how this restaurant has lasted this long because it is expensive and bad. read more

Wow, very poor service, below average food (pizza and manicotti specifically), and paper plates and plastic cups. Seriously, wine was served in small plastic cups. Will not return and would suggest caution before consuming. read more

Othello's offers my favorite evening atmosphere in Norman. The piano bar entertainment is a great getaway after a hard day. We eat here ~20x/year. The menu offers excellent Italian standbys, the waitstaff is great and the specials are often enticing. read more

The coconut cream pie is to die for! The food is delicious and service is great!

We enjoyed our main entrees (namely Greg's lasagna and Karen's pasta) and the garlic bread. The fried calamari was average at best. This appetizer should not be served with cocktail sauce but marinara sauce. read more

The only reason I give this 2 stars is because the food was pretty good, and prices not that bad. Service on the other hand was awful. We had a reservation but still waited forever for drinks. I joined my two other friends and sat for 15-20 minutes before they even acknowledged I was there. We also waited a long time to order, and even had to refill our parking meter it took so long. Long wait for our food. Waitress didn't check up on us once. I understand being busy but this was just ridiculous because-it wasn't really that busy. read more

Great Food, relaxing atmosphere, attentive staff, overall a delightful place experience! Late on a Friday evening we decided to go out for dinner. Had recently driven past Othello's and thought why not... it used to be good (my husband told me it had burned down and he didn't realize it had reopened). We were quickly seated in the restaurant side and Max our waiter took our drink orders giving us time to look over the menu. Upon questioning, Max was quick to let me know my favorite customization of their ravioli dish was certainly doable (half Alfredo, half Marinara). After a check for refills and a basket of fresh bread our dinner selections started arriving. There were five of us and a few dishes were brought out (I appreciate serving the plate while it's hot versus holding it until all the selections are ready). There was a problem with my husbands Chicken Parmesan order in that they cooked him a Eggplant Parmesan but Max was quick to catch this (before bringing it to the table) and got the kitchen started on the Chicken version and then brought out my husband's spaghetti side dish so he could start eating while his order was being finished up. In very short order the Chicken Parmesan was played and delivered to the table. All our food was served hot and was full flavored Between us we had 2 different ravioli dishes, a spaghetti and meatball, Lasagna and Chicken Parmesan and we all were pleased with our dinner selections. Again, Max our waiter was excellent. He never let our drinks go empty and was quick to recognize and rectify the mixup with the Parmesan order. Oh and near campus there's often a shortage of parking but the Pay Parking Lot just across the street was very convenient. And since it was later our parking only cost 89¢. If you haven't been back to Othello's it is past time to do so. read more

Authentically Norman in every way. You won't find white tablecloths or tuxedoed waitstaff at Othello's. What you will find is great Italian food and served by friendly people in a chill environment. Families are welcome. Couples can enjoy fantastic ambience. The dining room, the patio, and the bar each have something unique to offer. This is one of the most reliable live music venues in town, and the entertainment is geared toward...hold on to your knickers...adults! But the fifth star for Othello's in 2015 comes down to one thing. You can't find a better ribeye anywhere in this city. Tender and juicy this reasonably priced Italian joint grills Oklahoma beef at the absolute pinnacle. In fact you will need to plan on dropping Benjamins to find a better steak anywhere in the state. And, this shouldn't distract you from the genuine Italian selections either. My Italian-raised friends all agree, Othello's is as close to Grandma's house as they can find "over here". read more

Just ordered takeout and the manager, Jen, was treating her coworkers with manner I don't agree with. I really hope this pasta is good because she definitely left a bad taste in my mouth already. read more

This food is very, very good. Their red sauce sings to my soul. Have had it delivered twice and have not been disappointed. Highly recommend and can not wait to be able to eat in the restaurant itself! read more

My new favorite restaurant in Norman. Veal parmigiana was perfect. Savory red sauce. Very tender veal. Exquisite! Served with pasta I hardly ate but look forward to dinner tomorrow read more

Has a wonderful evening at Othello's last night! My husband had their Steak and Potato special for $10.50. It was a great deal! The steak was cooked perfectly, tender and juicy. The potato that came with it was HUGE! I enjoyed their chicken penne special. I wanted to lick the sauce off the bottom of the plate, but I was worried people would judge. The decor in the new building is bright and beautiful. We sat in a private booth which was perfect for date night. They also had a great wine and beer selection. I highly recommend this place for date night, family night, or just a great place to go out for dinner. We have already made reservations to come back for 1/2 price pizza sunday. Can't wait! (Reading back through this sounds weird... I should let you know I am using my husbands account since I don't have one!) read more

Othello's is a great place to hang out and drink. I like the outdoor patio, but it would be even better if it weren't so freaking brightly lit sometimes. Seating inside the bar is not as great, especially when there's a not-so-great band crammed up in front. While the drinks menu is pretty extensive, the food leaves much to be desired. I have never had anything super-tasty here, just ok. read more

Othello's probably has the worst service I have ever experienced in my life and the food isn't much better. It is a mystery how this place stays open. The last time I went there with my family we ended up staying for around 2 hours because our server was the most terrible excuse for a waiter I have ever seen. Our food arrived about 30 minutes after a table that arrived long after we did. Did he forget to put in our order? Probably. And we waited for 20 minutes for drink refills, and then another 20-30 minutes for our ticket. Then after my step-dad gave him his credit card, it took him another 15 minutes to bring it back. This, unfortunately, is not an exaggeration. 2 stars because the garlic rolls are tasty (but that's the only thing--my step-dad wouldn't even eat his spaghetti). I would never recommend this place to anyone and will most likely never go back. read more

Horrible service. Okay food and bad portions. We ordered an appetizer and 20 minutes Later the waitress informed she "forgot" to put our order in. It was garlic bread so I thought it would take a few minutes. Well we get our food & I got 6 cold raviolis. My boyfriends food was super hot but he also didn't get much. They decided to bring our bread 10 minutes after we had finished our meal. Horrible. Overpriced and not great. Won't go back. read more