Charlie Mitchell’s coming to 51st & Yale

[BKDotCom]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=371&articleid=20110714_371_0_Fishnc5325

Charlie Mitchell, former Tulsa Roughnecks soccer star and popular restaurateur in the 1980s and '90s, is returning to the Tulsa restaurant scene with a new eatery that will bear his name.

Mitchell is partnering with Greg McGill and Hal Walker, owners of the two McGill's locations, to open Charlie Mitchell's Modern Pub at 4848 S. Yale Ave. in space that formerly held a Carrabba's Italian Grill.

"Hal and I went to the lake to have dinner with Charlie and his wife a while back, and Hal said, 'Why don't the three of us bring back Charlie's,'?" McGill said Thursday.

"We still will have the favorites, like the fish 'n' chips and cheese toast, but the menu is going to feature healthier and lighter portions than the old Charlie Mitchell's did.

"Charlie mentioned that on his visits to Scotland he noticed a lot of the fish 'n' chip places turned into pizza places at night, so we are going to have pizza, too."

Mitchell, who opened his first Charlie Mitchell's Restaurant and Pub at 81st Street and Harvard Avenue in 1981, once operated five restaurants bearing his name, plus Winning Colors at Fair Meadows Race Track and Outback Sports Café.

The influx of national restaurant chains near his stores in the 1990s were crippling, he said at the time, and he started selling off his restaurants in late 1993.

He closed his last restaurant at 2705 E. 21st St., where McGill was a former manager and partner, in August 1995.

McGill said the new restaurant is in early stages of remodeling.

"We are shooting to open in early fall," McGill said.

[swake]

Monte Cristo

[Teatownclown]

Hal and Greg are looking towards the exit.

MEH....glop.

[carltonplace]

Meh

[Conan71]

Hal and Greg are looking towards the exit.

MEH....glop.

Let's hope Charlie doesn't piss this opportunity away by diddling the help.  Or at least doesn't get caught this time.  

[Teatownclown]

Let's hope Charlie doesn't piss this opportunity away by diddling the help.  Or at least doesn't get caught this time.  

Looks like he can still get it up.... (maybe)

[OSU]

I was only in 5th grade when Charlie Mitchell's closed, but I have very fond memories of the restaurant. We didn't eat out much so it was always a treat and I look forward to giving the new restaurant a try.

[Teatownclown]

I was only in 5th grade when Charlie Mitchell's closed, but I have very fond memories of the restaurant. We didn't eat out much so it was always a treat and I look forward to giving the new restaurant a try.

Back when Charlie became the king of drink on the wink?

[swake]

Let's hope Charlie doesn't piss this opportunity away by diddling the help.  Or at least doesn't get caught this time.  

Is he currently married?

[Teatownclown]

Is he currently married?

"Hal and I went to the lake to have dinner with Charlie and his wife..."

Apparently.

[swake]

"Hal and I went to the lake to have dinner with Charlie and his wife..."

Apparently.

Ah, well, that could be problematic...

[DolfanBob]

Bring back the big red Phone Booth outside.

[Conan71]

Anyone know if Ma is still alive?  She was a great hostess.

FWIW, I worked at the first location when it opened where Hideaway is now at 81st & Harvard.  Pretty novel menu for Tulsa at the time and he enjoyed great popularity as a local celebrity due to the Roughnecks.  Just curious how many people under 35 have the slightest clue who he is/was or even care.

Seems like Hal and Greg could have done any concept they wanted with that location, why they picked a re-hash of Charlie's is beyond me.

[Teatownclown]

I know who he was...He was "the turtle!"

[zstyles]

I have no idea who this person is..