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Naples Flatbread & Wine Bar to open Tuesday
Published: 9/24/2012 11:41 AM
Last Modified: 9/24/2012 3:10 PM


The exterior sign at Naples Flatbread & Wine Bar. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

Floridian Ralph Desiano, a 25-year veteran in the restaurant business, had come to Tulsa to see if he could help Jim Wilburn pump up his underperforming Cosi restaurant. The two had met through a mutual friend.

“I saw a few things I thought might help a little, and we talked about expanding Cosi,” Desiano said. “On the car ride to the airport we talked about a concept I had for Naples Flatbread, and we ended up changing course in that direction.”

The first Naples Flatbread & Wine Bar opened in February 2009, the second in November ’09 and the third in January ’12, all in the Naples, Fla., area.

The fourth will open Tuesday in Wilburn’s former Cosi location at 4929 E. 71st St.

“Ralph’s second store in Estero, Fla., also formerly was a Cosi, and it has more than doubled business since becoming a Naples Flatbread,” Wilburn said. “We hope that is a good indicator for us.”

The partners turned to veteran Tulsa restaurateur Tim Baker, who owns Sonoma Bistro & Wine Bar, to be operating manager.

“They needed a local person to develop the market,” Baker said. “I went to Florida for a few weeks and was thoroughly impressed with the food. It’s a really well-thought-out restaurant.”

The signature items are thin, crispy flatbreads cooked in a hearth oven. They are topped with a variety of items.

“We have a lot of styles – Greek, French, Asian, Italian, veggie, seafood,” Baker said.

The menu also includes pizzas, panini, salads, lobster bisque and pasta entrees, including a popular gourmet mac and cheese. Most items are priced $10 to $15.

“The first restaurant opened as fast-casual dining geared toward women,” Desiano said. “It’s now more gourmet-casual, and we’ve added dishes to appeal to men, such as wings, osso buco and short ribs.”

Many items also are available gluten-free, said Desiano, whose corporate background included T.G.I. Friday’s, Uno Chicago Grill and Mel’s Diner.

The kitchen has no fryers, broilers or flat grills. All of the cooking is done in a hearth oven, panini presses and sophisticated ovens
.
The restaurant is located just east of Yale Avenue on the north side of 71st Street. It seats about 100 in 3,400 square feet and has a full-service bar.

Naples Flatbread is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.



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Table Talk

Tulsa World restaurant critic Scott Cherry is in his second tour of duty with the Tulsa World. He was a sports writer during his first stop, covering college football and basketball. Since returning to the World in 1992, he has been the food writer and now restaurant critic and wine columnist.

Cherry Picks, the Tulsa World restaurant guide, is where you can best see all of his reviews, formatted for your phone, tablet or desktop computer. Check it out at tulsaworld.com/cherrypicks.

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