Unofficial Guest Experience Review: Elisabetta (Oklahoma City)

We were in OKC on official business. But like any group of hospitality nerds who can’t turn it off, we decided to squeeze in another “unofficial” stop — you know, for science. Enter: Elisabetta. An Italian spot that came highly recommended, tucked inside a strip mall on North Western Avenue. Glamorous? Not at first glance. But we’re not here for curb appeal — we’re here for carbs.

This wasn’t a paid engagement, a secret shopper mission, or anything remotely formal. Just a spontaneous visit by a team who spends an unhealthy amount of time thinking about guest experience.

Ambience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Outside? About as exciting as a bank branch. But once you walk through the door? Cue the moody lighting, intimate tables, and romantic vibes. It’s giving modern Italian speakeasy — in the best way. Elisabetta is clearly going for “hidden gem,” and honestly, they mostly nailed it.

Except… someone hit shuffle on the disco playlist and never looked back. The Bee Gees were alive and well — and very much at odds with the rest of the vibe. Not a dealbreaker, but it was like pouring glitter into your espresso. Jarring.

Service ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

We didn’t have a reservation, but the hostess was a gem. She took our name, offered to text us when something opened up, and even said we could take bar seats. We wandered down the street for a pre-dinner drink and got the “your table is ready” text about 45 minutes later. Solid start.

Once seated at the bar, we were immediately handed water — and a complimentary splash of Prosecco. (A welcome we’d like to request at every future restaurant, wedding, and dental cleaning.)

Things slowed down a bit from there. It took a while to get menus, and one of the bartenders introduced herself twice, which was either incredibly thorough or an accidental reboot. Service wasn’t bad, just a little uneven — like someone trying to juggle but forgetting how many balls they were holding.

Bar & Drinks ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Elisabetta has a love affair with wine — and we respect that. But their cocktail menu? Tiny. Like, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tiny. We expected more creativity from a place with this much style.

That said, the drinks we did get were well-crafted, and the bartender gave solid pairing advice. Just don’t go in expecting to discover the next great mixologist.

Food Quality ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Caesar salad came out first, served as whole leaf romaine — which meant we got to work on our knife skills before dinner. If we wanted a DIY project, we would’ve stayed home and assembled IKEA furniture. Flavor? Meh. Not offensive, just forgettable.

But then the entrées showed up — and all was forgiven.

The lobster tortelloni? Rich and buttery without crossing into food coma territory. The spicy cavatelli with meatballs? Bold, balanced, and just the right kick. Honestly, the entrées were so good we almost forgot about the salad trauma.

Overall Experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Elisabetta is the kind of place you want to tell people about — but also kind of don’t, because you want it all to yourself. The food was among the best we’ve had in OKC, the ambience (disco aside) was on point, and the service, while imperfect, had its charming moments.

With a few tweaks — better music, quicker menus, and a beefed-up cocktail list — this place could be a knockout. Even now, it's absolutely worth the visit.

So no, this wasn’t an official BG&T audit. Just a couple of off-duty consultants moonlighting as hungry people. But sometimes, that’s when you notice the most.