Ownership trio includes great grand-daughter of namesake, honoring family legacy through sacred family recipes and historic preservation

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. (DECEMBER 9, 2025) - This Friday, Oklahoma City will welcome Carletti’s, a poignant and meticulously-envisioned Italian restaurant rooted in a true story that spans half the globe - two Italian villages, a rural grocery in Haileyville, Oklahoma and one of the city’s most storied social landmarks. Opening December 12 at the fully restored and reimagined Kentucky Club, Carletti’s is the latest project from historic preservationists Gina Foxhoven, Chip Fudge and Larry Davis, dedicated visionaries who bring forgotten buildings, stories, and communities back to life. Carletti’s and The Kentucky Club are located at 1226 NE 63rd Street.

Nearly a century ago, the original Kentucky Club was an infamous Prohibition-era speakeasy and hidden social hub that opened in 1939. Together, Foxhoven, Fudge and Davis approached the Kentucky Club restoration with reverence, treating the building as an architectural time capsule. Now, Carletti’s occupies two-thirds of the space and is more than a restaurant - it is a living archive - with The Kentucky Club operating as a legitimate bar. Their goal was not simply to revive the space, but to resurface and merge the spectrum of histories and human stories, celebrating their co-existence to a modern customer base.

For Foxhoven, Carletti’s is profoundly personal. Named for her own family, the Carletti and Ravaioli lineage, the restaurant honors the intertwined journey of two childhood friends from neighboring villages in Italy whose lives crossed oceans and generations before converging in Oklahoma. Carletti’s is her family’s namesake, punctuating a nostalgic love story melding modern adornments with archival recipes and sweeping south-facing views of Oklahoma City. 

“The Kentucky Club held stories long before we ever walked through its doors, and restoring it and weaving my family’s history into its walls has been the most meaningful project of my life,” said Foxhoven. “Carletti’s exists to preserve the past - locally and globally - and to share it in a way that feels alive, warm, and connected. When guests step inside, I want them to feel the legacy in the studs, the recipes, and the memories carried through this space.”

The concept draws from a century of family artifacts—handwritten letters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and oral histories kept alive through generations. Every design detail and menu element also honors the legacy of C&R Grocery, the Haileyville fixture the families built after arriving from Italy. Upon entering, you will see The Lover’s Wall, which celebrates the destined and enduring love between the Carletti’s and Ravaioli’s; the iconic horse stalls have been preserved, and the new “Horseshoe Room” offers an intimate space for gatherings and private events. A custom video wall brings family footage and historic imagery to life, immersing every guest in Carletti’s family legacy as they dine.

Carletti’s culinary vision is executed in partnership with Consulting Chef Chris Becker, founder of Della Terra, Oklahoma’s acclaimed artisan pasta company. Becker has  crafted handmade pasta in Oklahoma since 2011, drawing on his culinary training under some of New York City’s most distinguished chefs and restaurants, including time spent at Le Bernardin, The Modern, and Del Posto, to bring traditional Italian pasta‑making techniques to the heartland. Chef Becker’s Della Terra pasta complements select dishes, with the shared intention of bringing Carletti’s sacred family recipes together with top tier ingredients and flavor. 

As part of the Carletti’s and Chef Becker collaboration, you will see elevated expressions of family traditions that inspired Carletti’s. Brunch menu items include Biscuits & Gravy, Frittata, Italian Toast, Papa’s Healthy Treat, Cereal Trio, and the Sunshine Bowl. Antipasti and Classics feature Arancini, Calamari, Lamb Fries, Giovanni’s Meatball, Crostini Misti, Minestrone Soup, Italian Chop Salad, Italian Hoagie, Meatball Sub, Chicken Parmesan Sub, Papa Tony Pepperoni, Alfredo Bianco, Fusilli Al Pesto, Nonna’s Lasagna, “Ravaioli” Bolognese, Bucatini Alla Carbonara, Spicy Rigatoni, and the Boarder House Burger. 

For dessert there’s Lucia’s Lemon Bar, Tiramisu, Palma’s Torta Italiana, Derby Torta, Gelato and seasonal Sorbetto. The dessert menu also includes A Spoonful of Sugar, if you’re feeling indecisive and want to order any signature dessert by the spoonful; you can also order The Quartet and get a tasting flight of four signature desserts. There is also a Family Table three-course dinner option, which is free for kids under five.

Hours of operation for Carletti’s and The Kentucky Club:

Monday: closed

Tuesday–Thursday: lunch 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m., bar until 10 p.m. 

Friday: lunch 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m., bar until 1 a.m.

Saturday: brunch 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m., bar until 1 a.m.

Sunday: brunch 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

 

Guests must enter through the restaurant until 10 p.m. After 10 p.m. The Kentucky Club is accessible via separate entrance on the west side of the building. Capacity is 164 throughout the entire space.

Carletti’s invites guests into a story still unfolding. One that blends heritage, architecture, food, and community into an experience both intimate and enduring. Carletti’s and The Kentucky Club open to the public Friday, December 12. 

Visit www.carlettis.com for menus and reservations. Follow along at Eat Carlettis on Instagram and Tiktok. 

ABOUT CARLETTI’S AND THE KENTUCKY CLUB

Carletti’s is a heritage-driven Italian restaurant inspired by the century-old history of the Carletti and Ravaioli families, whose journey from Italy to Oklahoma shaped a concept rooted in authenticity and storytelling. Located in the restored Kentucky Club in Oklahoma City, Carletti’s blends nostalgia with modern hospitality, offering an elevated dining experience built on family legacy, culinary craft, and Oklahoma pride.

 

ABOUT CONSULTING CHEF CHRIS BECKER

Chef Chris Becker has been crafting artisan pasta in Oklahoma since 2011, using traditional Italian techniques and top-tier ingredients that deliver unmatched flavor and texture. His commitment to quality was shaped by years spent training in some of New York City’s most esteemed kitchens, where he developed a deep passion for fine food and the art of handmade pasta. Today, his work reflects that experience and refinement, all in pursuit of one goal: to create a beautiful moment of flavor and indulgence.