Fire & Salt — Restaurant in Oak Ridge

We finally discovered Oak Ridge's best restaurant, and it is a welcomed gem in this town's dining scene. Coming from a city known for its rich cultural and culinary landscape, I wouldn't typically describe Oak Ridge as a foodie destination, but I would recommend Fire & Salt to anyone.

The restaurant has an interesting setup: one side is dark and aesthetically pleasing, while the other half is stark white and somewhat resembles an afterthought. I believe a designer could help enhance that white room with something eye-catching! Nevertheless, it was clean and comfortable. The noise level was reasonable, allowing us to carry on a conversation with ease.

Our server was very friendly and did his best to keep up on a busy night. He made good recommendations and was quick to notice when the wrong wine was delivered to our table.

They have craft cocktails on the menu, which made my cocktail enthusiast heart very happy! And they executed them exceptionally well! That evening, I opted for the Slap and Tickle, an eye-catching concoction of gin, Aperol, Cynar, egg white, lemon juice, and simple syrup. I had to pace myself because it was incredibly drinkable! For my second drink, our server recommended the Queen of Winter, stating, "It is a crowd favorite," and I can see why! Not only was it visually appealing, but the mix of vodka, sumac syrup, Chartreuse, lime juice, and cranberry was a delicious combination. I would have loved a third cocktail, but someone had to drive home!

For food, we chose the smoked fish dip. I have to say I wasn't a fan of this dish at all; although the pickles were good, the dip itself fell flat in flavor. The crackers, coated in what tasted like Old Bay seasoning, overpowered the fish. This was my only disappointment of the evening, and I believe they should reconsider that dish.

For dinner, we selected the mahi special, local mushrooms, and the Fire & Salt filet. All were outstanding and cooked to perfection! Just thinking about them again while writing this has my mouth watering! The presentation was beautiful, which I appreciated as well. Of course, we saved room for dessert. The pound cake was amazing, especially with the velvety vanilla anglaise. The figgy bread pudding was okay, but it was very rich and a bit overly sweet for my personal preference. They had also run out of port, which left me a bit sad, but after two cocktails, did I really need one?

Overall, we had a very nice evening and dinner. I'm excited to return to try more dishes and will certainly make this my go-to spot for bringing guests when they visit me in...

Service was basically about the same you were to expect at any sit down restaurant. We felt like there was some long delays. Our server would disappear for quite some time and finally come back, especially between receiving our drinks and then giving our order the server even acted as if we might’ve needed more time to decide between the seven different entrées 11, if including the vegetarian menu. The four vegetarian options were satisfactory. Kind of disappointing that the kids menu had just as many options as the vegetarian menu. The honey bourbon tofu was good the roasted asparagus that came with it was extremely overcooked to the point that it was not edible. The rabbit was not gamy at all. And seem to have some of its flavor, somehow removed seem like I was eating more of a turkey than a rabbit. Very disappointing in the rainbow trout considering the fact this is supposed to be an upscale restaurant, and I had to pull bones out of my fish. The pecans and apples were very sparse to the fact I only had two pecans and two chunks of apple. All of our portion sizes were quite small and left us quite hungry and disappointed that we did not order a side to go along with the main course. But we thought we would remedy this by ordering dessert. The cast iron apple fritters did not come in a cast iron, which is fine. We are supposed to be doing fine dining, but it tasted pancake-ish along with I had apple seeds, and. chunks of core of the apple in with my apples. The dark chocolate mousse is very rich and flavor, and the raspberry was very sweet. I gave such a poor review because this restaurant is supposed to be at a very high caliber claiming that’s fine dining along with there’s so much hype around it. I was extremely disappointed in all the issues along with small portions and a very large check. Expect at least $50 a person going to this place and still leaving hungry. I ate again...

My experience at Fire and Salt was nothing but exceptional. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was inviting and upscale, setting the stage for a memorable dining experience.

Our server, Casey, deserves special commendation for their attentive and friendly service throughout the evening. Casey was knowledgeable about the menu and offered excellent recommendations, making our dining choices effortless.

The highlight of my meal was undoubtedly the swordfish dish, served with an outstandingly balanced sushi rice. Cooked to perfection, it was tender and flavorful, paired beautifully with the haricot verts and locally sourced mushrooms that added a delightful earthy note to the dish. Each bite was a testament to the chef's skill and dedication to quality ingredients.

The cocktails were expertly crafted, balancing flavors with precision. They complemented our meal wonderfully, enhancing the overall dining experience.

What truly stood out was everything, from the quality and flavor of the meal to the service we received. The staff at Fire and Salt ensured that every detail of our visit was impeccable, from prompt seating to accommodating our preferences.

To top it all off, we were pleasantly surprised with the desire to order an extra entrée to take home because our meal was so fantastic. This underscored the restaurant's commitment to the joy of food to customer satisfaction and left a lasting impression on us.

Overall, Fire and Salt is a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in exquisite cuisine paired with outstanding service. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a memorable meal, Fire and Salt exceeds expectations on...