Cafe Plaid

This Campus Corner classic is expanding into space that was vacated when another Norman institution, Harold’s, renegotiated its lease. Cafe Plaid, 333 W. Boyd St., has renovated half of what used to be Harold’s to make way for two new spaces in the restaurant.

They’ve added a brand new bakery and an expanded dining area with 60 additional seats, manager Jason Skeel said.

Cafe Plaid is also expanding its hours and menu offerings as well as its square footage. Its new menu will include black bean salsa, nachos and prepackaged salads and wraps that customers can order to go.The restaurant will keep its doors open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and will extend Sunday brunch hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Skeel said Cafe Plaid isn’t finished adding to its offerings.

“Every day we’re getting busier,” he said.

The management plans to introduce live music to the restaurant’s patio, but Skeel said a date hasn’t been set for the first show.

For more information, check out cafeplaid.com or call (405)360-2233.

O’Connell’s Bar and Grille

It’s been a long time coming, but O’Connell’s, 120 E. Lindsey Street, is finally ready to make the jump from its traditional home to its new Campus Corner location.

Norman’s only Irish pub is scheduled to open at 769 Asp Ave. on Aug. 27.

Owner Jeff Stewart said he’s been waiting until football season, “when there’s more activity in the air,” to make the move.

According to Amy Laverty, O’Connell’s general manager, Stewart told his staff he wanted to “keep the [O’Connell’s] legend going” on Campus Corner.

The new restaurant will have the same brass-and-wood look of the original O’Connell’s, and the shamrock shuffleboard will still be around.

But many improvements will be visible in the new location, including a stage for live music, a dance floor, a 60-space parking lot and a patio with sliding floor-to-ceiling windows.

Both the Lindsey Street and Campus Corner O’Connell’s will be open until at least December, when the lease on the original property expires, Laverty said.

For more information, check out oconnellsnorman.com or call (405)364-8454.

Justin’s Bistro and Bar

Justin Lasater’s new restaurant replaced The Bayou on June 1.

Its menu features sandwiches, wraps and Angus burgers for lunch and aged steak for dinner, according to Lasater. The restaurant also offers a catering service for those feeding a large number of people.

Lasater claims that Justin’s, 584 Buchanan Ave., has the largest shrimp in Norman in his signature shrimp cocktail. But he’s also proud of the Justin’s Club sandwich, a creation that includes Black Forest ham, turkey and bacon.

The sandwich is so large that people have a hard time eating the whole thing, Lasater said.

“Haven’t seen anyone finish it but my dad,” Lasater said.

Those who haven’t made it to Justin’s yet will be able to check it out on Aug. 23, when Lasater will host a back to school block party at the restaurant.

For more information, call (405)364-3663.