Liberty Oak — Restaurant in Greensboro

Liberty Oak is a venerable name within Greensboro’s dining scene, and it isn’t hard to figure out why. The restaurant goes back several decades, and its current location – the historic Vernon Building – is convenient to just everything downtown. Add to that the restaurant’s potentially revitalizing acquisition by chef Kristopher Reid, and all the ingredients are here for Liberty Oak to continue to thrive. Unfortunately, the actual dining experience falls short of realizing this potential.

First, the good: Liberty Oak has a fantastic menu. Apps include the ever-popular dynamite shrimp and a selection of ravioli that rotates daily while dinner offerings feature new interpretations of classics (i.e. buttermilk fried chicken with a tropical fruit and black bean salsa and a chipotle glaze) as well as several permutations of risotto. Options run the gamut from entrée-sized salads and vegetarian plates to 10-ounce strip steaks with two sides.

For the most part, the kitchen executes well. The salmon in my wife’s salad was grilled perfectly, and the accompanying citrus vinaigrette was bright and tangy. My seafood risotto carbonara was nicely plated and seasoned and featured sizeable shrimp as well as a welcome hint of sweetness from the corn. However, the risotto was al dente verging on undercooked and not as creamy as expected.

Liberty Oak recently received an interior remodel, and though the palette isn’t terribly exciting (lots of tans and beiges), this isn’t a bad-looking space (though my wife was convinced that it smelled like an old school). Staff are courteous and service is efficient if a bit distant.

When it comes to pricing, however, Liberty Oak’s reach definitely exceeds its grasp. Entrees run in the twenties, which puts Liberty Oak in Undercurrent/Print Works/Green Valley Grill territory. Unfortunately, compared to those establishments, Liberty Oak lacks the precision, creativity, and depth.

If a walkable downtown location is important and bang for your buck is not, then Liberty Oak offers a chance to enjoy a mostly satisfying meal in a historically significant venue and experience what was probably once the best restaurant in Greensboro. These days, however, there exist...

I decided to try a new restaurant and came across Liberty Oak. I came in and the bartender let me know I could sit wherever I wanted. I ordered a Jamaican Sunset and it was lovely. I also ordered the Turkey Club sandwich without bacon (I don't eat it - I've been this way for years). It took a little while but I was excited when it finally came. It arrived in a Styrofoam box which was unusual until I realized they were closing in about 15 minutes - no harm, no foul.

The Big Issue - I checked my sandwich to make sure there was no bacon and there was. There were bacon bits on both sandwich cuts. Okay, no biggie. I sent it back but when I did the cooks lingered as if I shouldn't have sent it back. This made me feel uneasy.

A man, who I believed to be the owner, came out and said there was no bacon on the sandwich. He brings the food over and shows me the bacon-less sandwich. Oh, silly me. It must have been my imagination. (Yeah right. I know it when I see it and there was plenty). I looked at the sandwich and sure enough, the bacon was no longer there. I look closer and find one piece under the bottom bread. SO YOU REMOVED THE BACON FROM MY SANDWICH INSTEAD OF CREATING ANOTHER ONE. I found this extremely disrespectful. He indirectly called me a liar but also took the bacon out and tried to give me the same sandwich. He doesn't know why I don't eat bacon, whether it be religious, dietary or strong personal preference. He doesn't get to decided if I should eat food that was in contact with it.

Another customer there who witnessed the exchange came over to me as he was leaving and said "If I were you, I would have thrown the box at him. That was offensive."

I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one who felt that way. It's a damn shame that he felt it was okay to treat a customer (or anyone!) this way.

The only great part of my experience was the bartender - He...

Response to owner: owner is absolutely lying. There wasn't a shred of crab meat on the plate and I stand by every single thing I said. Instead of accepting my review the owner would rather be combative. The food was not inedible, but I expect more than the bare minimum when I pay these prices. Not sure why owner feels the need to lie here.

Probably the most disappointing restaurant I've been to in 10 years. My wife and I went on a whim on Friday night and we're seated promptly. The atmosphere is attempting to be sophisticated tavern, but they are wildly unsuccessful, with wires hanging on the walls and low quality appointments. We ordered an Asian shrimp appetizer, which was soggy and uninspired, with the breaded shrimp damp and lacking in any crispiness. We also got cocktails, different ones each, which we returned after finding them borderline undrinkable for $15 each. As an entree we got the blackened salmon, which was cooked decently, but was very underseasoned and had an anonymous low quality sauce on it that took away more than it gave to the dish. We had a succotash as a side that tasted like it came from a freezer with pale dull coloring. The salmon was pale and generally unappetizing. We also had brussel sprouts, which were textureless and has very little flavor. For dessert, we had the Bundt cakes with cinnamon ice cream, which was surprisingly decent! Despite likely being just a cake mix, the flavors actually worked well together and the ice cream was good.

I would absolutely not come back, there is much better food within walking distance for a...