The Oak Taphouse — Restaurant in North Cowichan

This place has a great location and an amazing patio. The only reason I knocked a star off for service is because I showed up on a Sunday when nobody was there and I can't fairly judge their service when it's not at peak capacity. Aside from that everyone was lovely with care and attention to detail the one server even ensured I had everything I needed while I did my work.

The food I was really surprised with, they don't just use frozen patties! These were real handmade burgers at a reasonable price! I got the dirty burger and it was cooked perfectly the burger was marvelously juicy with a slight pinkness to it as a good burger should have.(100% not undercooked, cooked to perfection) my kudos to the chef. They also have a really large variety of beers on tap.

Lastly the atmosphere, as mentioned earlier the patio is amazing, though aside from that upon arrival the exterior almost had an old germanic feeling to the design and architecture. When you come in the door your met with a well organized entry way with clear instructions to wait to be seated. The inside decor is modern in all the right ways with a perfect touch of nostalgia and wooden accents. The lighting is also something I really appreciated they have a really nice chandelier that illuminates the main dining area that is just beautiful in my opinion.

I would recommend this to anyone coming through town for a nice friendly environment. I've also been here when some folks brought their kids in so it's a really nice setting for a mom and dad who want to get out and still be the "cool" parents. All together a really well run business from my impression as well as care and...

I must admit, my recent dining experience left me feeling rather disheartened. Initially excited to try the fish and chips, my enthusiasm quickly waned when presented with an unexpectedly scant portion of chips—a disappointing start, indeed. Moreover, the accompanying ketchup was provided in the smallest ramekin imaginable. Sadly, the main component, the fish, did not redeem the situation; it was encased in an overly thick and overcooked beer batter, resulting in a rather unpleasant aftertaste. Regrettably, I found myself unable to finish more than half of the exceedingly dry and flavorless fillet. On a brighter note, the coleslaw, albeit a minor part of the meal, was delightfully refreshing. Thankfully, the Arrow Lager I chose to drink was exceptionally good, and the service provided by our server was nothing short of excellent—attentive, kind, and efficient, ensuring our glasses were never empty.

I do understand that rising food costs present a challenge, yet it appears this situation may be indicative of a broader issue with shrinkflation and a lapse in quality control over the dishes served to customers. I earnestly hope for improvement, as I believe you have the potential to offer a far better...

Decided to try a new spot for a birthday dinner. When we first arrived things seemed great. We were given menus, then made to wait almost 15 minutes before being acknowledged, and that was only because I asked who our server was. The lady I had asked quickly took our drink order and went to find our server.

The wait for food was minimal, which was a pleasant surprise based on how long it took to even get drinks. Presentation of food was good, however, I quickly realized my burger was soggy, and my mom's fish was not cooked through properly.

The woman's washroom was needing attention as there was toilet paper all over the floor, but at least there was soap (as my fiancee said there was none in the men's).

Do not recommend this place as somewhere to try. We will not be going back. Disappointed, as the burger on the menu...