January 10, 2007

Business
Looking for gourmet food near Mustang? Find it at Sophabella’s

Brendan Hoover

When Bill and Sandy Brazil opened up their second restaurant at 1781 Garth Brooks Blvd. in Yukon, they gave it the same name as their other place on North May Avenue in Oklahoma City: Sophabella’s.

Named after Bill’s two daughters from a previous marriage, Isabella, five, and Sophia, 12, Sophabella’s specializes in gourmet Chicago-style, deep dish, brick oven pizzas; thick-cut, aged Prime graded steaks; and succulent fresh seafood dishes prepared with a variety of spices and ingredients.

The Brazils, however, found themselves in a quandary after the birth of their first child together, Victoria. Her name was not on the restaurant.

“We’ll have to name a menu item after her or something,” Sandy Brazil said.

Since opening on Dec. 18, the 77-seat restaurant has seen growing crowds every day and is open for both lunch and dinner. Located in the West End Pointe Shopping Center near Kohl’s, the 2,200 square foot space that formerly held Jimmy’s Smokehouse has been handsomely redecorated with furnishings from Bruno’s in Oklahoma City and now resembles an intimate yet bustling Italian bistro.

A recent Friday-night visit to Sophabella’s revealed attentive staff serving a nearly packed house. Manager Gil Lopez smiled as he seated customers and made sure all operations ran smoothly.

A quick look over the dinner menu showed many delicious sounding appetizers and entrees, temptations that could not be easily resisted. Should one get the eight-ounce, Gorgonzola Stuffed Filet Mignon, stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese and topped with a demi-glace cream sauce; the Chicago VII pizza, topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni, seasoned ground beef, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, black olives, green peppers, and mozzarella with light pizza sauce; or the St. Louis Ribs, rubbed with dry spices and slow-smoked in their custom smoker, the one they bought from Jimmy’s when it left?

At Sophabella’s, nearly everything is homemade, from the bread, pizza dough, and sauces, to the garlic butter, pastas, even desserts, Sandy Brazil said.

They offer lunch starting at $6 to $7, and the dinner menu starts around $9, she said.

Bill Brazil grew up in the restaurant business, started cooking when he was 13, and owned the Kettle that used to be on I-40 and Meridian, Sandy Brazil said. He later got out of the business and worked selling high-end floor plans for custom homes.

But his loved of the restaurant business pulled him back in, his wife said, and six years ago they opened the first Sophabella’s. Since then the original store has won Best Of Oklahoma City awards in the Oklahoma Gazette.

Including the first-class food, Sophabella’s sports a very classy, modern looking bar, complete with bins holding over 80 different wines, Sandy Brazil said. Many wine selections are available by the glass and bottle. The bar also features 26 different martinis, draft and bottled beer, a full liquor selection, and specialty coffee drinks.

Sandy Brazil said they chose the Mustang/Yukon location for many reasons.

“We’ve some demographic studies, and we honestly think the people in the area will get behind this. We wanted to open (our second location) someplace where we can plug into the community. We’re looking to be here for a long time,” she said.

Sandy Brazil said they new store was really busy over the holidays, and that the restaurant’s reputation makes it a special occasion destination. Sophabella’s can accommodate large parties and is a place people can go to celebrate any occasion, she said.

For more information or to make a reservation call Sophabella’s in Yukon at 265-0710.

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