Mary Eddy's closes for cuisine change

Italian coming to the Fordson; plus the latest Food Dood & Friends podcast

Got together with some friends last week at KOSU to record some more Food Dood & Friends episodes, but first I’ve got a little news to share from downtown Oklahoma City.

Mary Eddy’s Dining Room has gone dark, but don’t fret Film Row Folk. The Fordson Hotel will not go long without its main dining room. In fact, it’ll reopen next month as Mary Eddy’s Italian Grill.

The move is all part of the ongoing evolution of what started out as a Ford factory, turned into a 21-C Hotel that became the Fordson, which is now is part of the Hyatt portfolio — more specifically The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Whew. 

The hotel sent out a release in which its general manager Melanie Briley stated the following: “We are excited to reintroduce Mary Eddy’s dining concept as a vibrant Italian grill that builds on the rich history of the Fordson Hotel. “This next chapter reflects our commitment to providing a welcoming and memorable culinary experience for both locals and visitors.”

Located in Oklahoma City’s West Village District, the restaurant is named after Mary Eddy Jones, wife of the Fred Jones who owned the Ford factory.

The Fordson isn’t without dining options while Mary Eddy’s goes to Italy and back. Bodega remains open and offering grab-and-go foods and fancy coffees while the Pool Bar continues to sling cocktails and snacks. Mary Eddy's will unveil its exciting Italian Grill concept and menu in December. Chef de cuisine Damien McCullough is overseeing installation of the new menu.

Mary Eddy’s going Italian adds to a growing list of Italian options that have emerged in the 405 diningscape over the past couple of years. Emma Elle’s opened in 2022 about the same time Tellers opened inside the historic First National Building. 84 Hospitality will soon add Elisabetta to the offerings in Nichols Hills, taking over where Chae Café and Eatery was last seen.

I guess you never can have enough Italian food.

Watch & learn

In this episode of “The Food Dood & Friends,” Jared Gleaton and I talk about Tulsa dining but also Akai Sushi in the Wheeler District. He had all kinds of nice things to say about his first trip to the new sushi bar. I’ll post his full review on Sunday, but today enjoy us chatting about it plus a conversation with Dennis Spielman about local coffee, amongst other things.