Since 1917, Campus Corner has been home to various shops and restaurants. The convenient location to the university makes this area a hot spot every night of the week.
This week, I'm rating my three favorite dining experiences in this historic district of Norman.
3. Meatball House
Meatball House is a hidden gem on Campus Corner. Not only is it delicious, it’s inexpensive, too. Located at 333 W. Boyd St., Meatball House offers appetizers, “build your own” meatball dishes, salads, entrees and sides.
The “build your own” dishes allow you to choose one, two or three meatballs, a sauce, a cheese and whether you want it served on buns, with a salad or with focaccia bread. Not a meat-lover? The restaurant also offers veggie and “fishtato” options.
You can indulge in Meatball House’s four-star dining experience on a student budget. A “build your own” option with one meatball rings in at just $3.50, two meatballs is $5.50 and three meatballs is $7.50. And I promise, these meals are filling.
My personal favorite “build your own” is two lamb balls, mushroom sauce and Parmesan cheese with a salad.
When it comes to menus, bigger isn’t always better. Meatball House’s menu isn’t the largest, but the kitchen always delivers. The drink menu is pretty neat, too, and includes 10 beers on tap.
2. Blackbird Gastropub
What’s a gastropub? “A pub selling high class cuisine,” according to Urban Dictionary.
Blackbird Gastropub is a trendy spot in Norman, located on the less-populated side of Campus Corner at 575 S. University.
The large kitchen menu includes starters, salads, soups, sandwiches, entrees, sides and desserts.
Blackbird provides various seating options — including couches — and a dark ambiance. Yelp reviewers rave about the comforting food, good service and large drink menu.
I recommend Blackbird’s Slow Cooked Pot Roast dish, which comes with white truffle oil mashed potatoes, honey-thyme glazed carrots and jalapeno cornbread, according to the menu.
I also enjoy its Hickory and Honey Smoked Salmon Salad that is made with fresh greens, blue cheese vinaigrette, dried cranberries, walnuts, apples and Parmesan cheese.
1. Volare
How can it be that my favorite dining experience on Campus Corner is a brand new restaurant? Try out Volare and you’ll find out for yourself.
Campus Corner’s newest attraction is this four-story pizza bar. Not only is the food delicious and authentically Italian, but the view from the rooftop patio is an experience you can’t find anywhere else on the Corner.
Volare is located at 315 White St. Chef and owner Anthony Compagni, a second generation Italian, is also executive chef and partner of Benvenuti’s on Main Street. Although Benvenuti’s is already an esteemed restaurant in the area, Compagni asserts his knowledge of Italian cuisine with Volare.
Volare’s menu includes wood-fired pizza, desserts, small plates, salads, sandwiches, pasta and a drink menu.
Since I recently returned from studying abroad in Italy, I was skeptical if Volare’s pizza would meet my expectations. I am pleased to announce this pizza is the closest thing I’ve had to authentic Italian pizza since I’ve been back in the states. I think it’s a combination of its wood-fire pizza oven, which was imported from Italy, and the fresh ingredients. Not to mention the environment is so unique for the area — sometimes I forget I’m in Norman.
I recommended the Popper appetizer, which is a jalapeno, artichoke and fire roasted shishito pepper dip served with crostini. I also recommend the King Parma pizza, which is made with red sauce, mozzarella, basil, prosciutto, arugula, Parmigiano Reggiano and extra virgin olive oil, according to the menu.
According to Volare’s Facebook page, “Whether you're grabbing a quick lunch, going on a first date, or hanging out on our rooftop bar, Volare plans to provide you with a top notch experience that will keep you coming back time and time again."
