Comments on: Trattoria il Centro: high-end Italian in Oklahoma City

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:10:43 +0000

My husband and I have gone to Il Centro three times in the past few months, and I am a huge fan. I worry because they are not very busy, but I have never been at lunch. I am completely addicted to the bread they serve, and the staff have always been fantastic. But the food – I have dreams about their gnocchi, no joke. And as odd as it sounds, their scallop and butternut squash dish is amazing.

That being said, I do think they have some off nights, or have things on their menu that are not as well done. I had their spinach pasta stuffed with beef the other day, and it was extremely odd. I still cannot decide if it was too salty, too peppery, or both.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:08:00 +0000

@Kaylee, I’m sorry your experience was sub-par. I have never had a bad experience here, but it seems that some others have. Maybe there is a little inconsistency here. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

By: Kaylee

Kaylee — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:04:48 +0000

I decided to go here after reading about it on this website. I went with my husband on a Friday night I believe. It was really deserted, only 2 or 3 other tables. The bread was really good, but the calamari, not so much. Very salty breading and couldn’t even taste the squid. I had some cheese ravioli (I don’t remember the exact name of the dish) that had a combo of red, white, and pesto sauces. It was ok, nothing great…I feel like I could have had the same meal from the frozen section at a grocery store. My husband had the chicken parm. To be, the chicken, again, tasted like a frozen chicken breast. We will not be going back.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:08:02 +0000

We don’t get a chance to come to the city often, but when we do, we always stop to see our favorite chef “Chad”. We always try the new items he recommends and are never dissappointed. When you are trying to seperate yourself from others in the restaurant business, it boils down to: great food, great atmosphere and how you are treated. Trattori never falls short of providing all of the above. The price, well I don’t mind, as long as we receive all of the above. Jeni B.

By: Anon Reader Dude

Anon Reader Dude — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:31:03 +0000

It’s odd to see people referring to this restaurant as “Trattoria” for shorthand, instead of its proper name, which is “Il Centro.”

A “trattoria” is simply a general type of informal restaurant, like a bistro. It’s like having a place named the “Central Cafe” — you would call it “Central,” not “Cafe.”

By: geoffory

geoffory — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:46:03 +0000

I really think this restaurant is misunderstood in okc. Everyone in okc seems to complain about chain restaurants but they are packed. You get some people putting out food that is comparable to bigger cities and we okies only want to take them down. Has anybody besides katie ever even heard or tasted black garlic before, this is a product that no one else even has on thier menu, how exciting that we have chef’s in this community that want to experiment. I think the food is progressive, fun and classically Italian. I always look forward to the seasonal changes to this restaurants menu and I have never had a bad meal. One of my favorite seasonal options that Trattoria does is tomato fest, if you haven’t been you should go all different tomato varietals and lots of creativity.OKC SUPPORT THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS, let yourselves have fun and if you have a bad experience share it with them so we don’t end up with chain restaurants as our only choices, they can only get better if you share. Keep cooking Tratt

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:20:47 +0000

P.S. The only other comment I would make is – don’t go for romance. It’s a very loud fun atmosphere. We went for our anniversary and didn’t realize how loud it’d be. For a group party or just a fun weekend nite out tho – it’d be a blast!

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:17:09 +0000

Did I even go to the same restaurant? We went last nite and I was in heaven! I got a different gnocchi dish with braised artichoke hearts, pancetta, sun-dried tomatoes and it was topped with a marscapone-black garlic mixture that was incredible. I couldn’t believe anyone in Oklahoma City had black garlic on their menu. I also agree wtih Greg on the Portobello Frittes. I could have just had those as my meal. They were fabulous!

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:12:52 +0000

Sounds to me like Trattoria is hit-and-miss for many of you — and more miss in the case of @Stacy and especially @Melissa. I hope you brought that up to the people at the restaurant. Hard as it is to hear, I’ll bet they’d rather know about their low points so they can address them and win back your business.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:27:58 +0000

I can count on one hand the times I have posted a response to something written online, but I had to chime in and agree with Stacy. We went to this restaurant with a group of 12 and EVERYONE in our group left hungry. The portions were so small and disappointing in taste. My pasta was cold. Not just room temperature….COLD. The menu was over-priced and the only thing worse than the food was the service. We all agreed that it was the worst restaurant experience we had ever had.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:05:50 +0000

@Stacy, thanks for sharing your opinion with us! We love to hear everyone’s thoughts on places we review, even when they disagree with us. No, especially when they disagree with us. The opinions shared by our readers really make this site great. Thanks again.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:16:25 +0000

I have to disagree with your review. I think the atmosphere and location are great- the food barely average. It is definitely better than the chain Italian restuarants all over the city but for the price and the hype, I expected something much better. The cocktails and service are fabulous but the food left something to be desired.

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:18:36 +0000

My favorite restaurant in OKC and a must-stop before any event downtown or a show. We probably eat there 3 to 5 times a month and that doesn’t count happy hours or the wine dinners – of which we are regular participants.
I typically eat the buttera but have also had the butternut squash gnocchi. We typically skip appetizers but only because we want dessert. The apps I’ve had though were excellent. I ALWAYS get the spinach and goat cheese salad. It is out of this world – the dressing is salty (it’s meant to be) but the goat cheese mellows out the flavors and it melts in your mouth.
Service is usually great and if you ask for one of the long-time waiters or the manager they are really good about recommending wine pairings.

By: Lizzy

Lizzy — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:19:24 +0000

Re Bill Schmidt comment: Strang what you said about the Tiramisu. When I had it at Trattoria it was the fantastic layered classic presented in a parfait style in a matini glass & it was one of the best I ever had – definately made from scratch. I cannot even imagine whatyou received. You should give it another shot! The panna cotta is also amazing & changes seasonally. I never miss dessert here!!

By: Bill Schmitt

Bill Schmitt — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:11:11 +0000

We’ve gone to trattoria il Centro many times, having enjoyed the main courses, the desserts are ok, and the tiramisu was one of the worst! Good God, Hersey’s syrup over a brownie! No wonder Oklahoma City never gets better. And tiramisu should be a great from scratch dessert, make it several times a week and just spoon it out of the refrigerator.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:10:01 +0000

Trattoria il Centro -
Your night to remember
8^)

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:24:29 +0000

@Joe, see the second to last paragraph in the review. The wine dinner still exists, but it’s on Monday nights now and $25/person. Not sure if that’s the same thing you were remembering, but still a great value, IMO.

By: Bizzle

Bizzle — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:37:37 +0000

AmyB-The first time I went to Italy, I had a pizza with an egg on top. I was 16 and couldn’t wrap my brain around it, but when I tried it… I couldn’t stop eating it! I can’t wait to try it here!

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:48:00 +0000

This place is amazing. There used to be something on Tuesday or Wednesday nights where they had an unlimited wine sampling plus a 3 course meal for $15 or so. I don’t know if they’re still doing that but even if not, the food is amazing and varied, the service is impeccable, the atmosphere is perfect (you could go in wearing a polo and jeans for a quick bite after work or you could go in wearing coat and tie for a special date and you wouldn’t feel out of place either way), and the prices are ridiculously low. I usually have enough to take home for a second meal (and they package it for you so nicely–no styrofoam boxes here, they wrap your entree in tinfoil and sculpt an animal, or a bird, or a flower). One of my favorite places in the metro.

By: Larry Pecan

Larry Pecan — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:45:24 +0000

I love trattoria’s bolognese, even if the waiters can’t pronounce it. It’s actually some of the best I’ve had on this side of the pond. With the exception of the cool patio at bellini’s (and I guess occasional comfort food at Vito’s) this is the only Italian to get in the metro.