The Oak Raleigh — Restaurant in Raleigh

Decided to take my family here vs my intended Firebirds choice. Well started with the drinks. My husband wanted a mimosa but I said to him let's look as we conversed back and forth we decided he would try the waitress recommendation of Kentuck drink (wasn't what he enjoyed). Somehow the waitress thought we ordered two drinks, unfortunately we send back the mimosa (incident 1 not listening). We placed our food order: my son and hubby ordered the meat omelette (2nd incident who has an omelette without serving some type of bread alongside it???). I ordered the short rib hash that came with eggs (3rd incident I requested egg Whites as my stomach can't handle yolks-the server said we can do egg Whites since we use fresh cracked eggs. I tell her that's great because they can separate the yolk from the white before cooking. She said no sorry it's already mixed together. .I then say okay leave the eggs off (it was still cooked and brought to the table???). The other issue I had was with sweet potatoes in the short rib hash (I requested no sweet potatoes with a side of cheese grits-the server said umm i don't think you'd like it. I said okay I'll try it your way). The drink glasses for the juice were so small!!! I wanted sweet tea (incident 4 what establishment down south doesn't have sweet tea???) I had to wait for them to brew tea. Someone else brings out our food (incident 5 she places the food in front of the wrong people. We corrected her she said sorry I guess the server wrote the wrong placement. I'm thinking maybe because she didn't actually write our order down. She took our order without pen/paper). My food arrives (incident 6 the cheese grits was so salty it wasn't edible at all!!!). My husband's grits same way(incident 6 the server is informed she takes the grits back saying she's going to inform the chef...nothing said further about what happened!!! Remember no bread comes with your eggs or the hash so no grits leaves you to eat just eggs and me just hash) The server asked If we wanted something else so ny hubby is like bring us some biscuits then ( incident 7 they sent two biscuits for my us to share one each???? I didn't eat anything at this point!!! The biscuits were flat and dense, not sure what happened). The server asked me is there something else I can get you to eat since she seen I didn't eat. I was extremely disappointed by that point and didn't want anything. Incident 8 my hubby's and son's omelette had mince meat folded inside the egg not cooked with the egg!! They couldn't even identify wat meats were inside. I asked the server for our bill. Haha to my dismay everything was on the bill nothing taken off no adjustments made for all what occurred...then te nerve to add a biscuit and side of grits to the bill and take it off like that was a favor!!! We didn't eat either. I asked for to go boxes paid our bill and left!!! Never would I recommend going here again to eat brunch. It was one of the worst experiences we've ever had. I was so hungry after not eating anything had to stop across the street to Panera Bread!!!! The only great thing we ate was the Churro Donut holes. These...

I just happened to stumble across this place while looking for a unique dining experience for some friends visiting Raleigh. The Oak kitchen was beyond 5 stars, let's start with the atmosphere, it was such a relaxed place to have an intimate evening. The music was set at a great volume for background noise and to hear it but not have it drown out conversation at the table. The lighting was low, but gives an excellent ambiance and vibe to the place focusing on their large bourbon selection. Speaking of drink selection their house crafted spirits are all amazing each unique and full of flavor. My guest got the Oak old fashioned and I tried thir house Gin and tonic, as well as the 86. All of these drinks were so well balanced and flavorful without being over powered by the alcohol used in them. My guest asked the server what made his Old Fashioned have such a unique taste and our server Trevor informed him he had used a special dark walnut bitter for him in the drink. He had picked up that my guest was looking for something unique in his drink. Trevor was a fantastic as well as the rest of the staff our drinks consistently filled and our table checked regularly for drinks and feedback on everything. The table talked over what each of us were going to order so we started with a delicious Civiche and the house nachos with Brisket and both were amazing. They were a great precedent to our meal, the table ordered the braised pork shoulder with homemade mac n cheese, and fried brussel sprouts a flavorful balanced meal of southern comfort the pork is tender and shredded with a ample amount of sauce, the fried brussel sprouts are a unique take that is crunch yet soft at the same time the sauce drizzled across them is a sweet little twist that give them a unique taste, and the mac n cheese is a hearty full flavored mix of cheese and cream. The Oak smash on the rosemary brioche bread is fantastic the patties of Angus beef were well seasoned and cooked perfectly to retain moisture and flavor. We got the bourbon slides and the used of smoked Gouda with the Angus patty and onion jam were so well balanced with each bite you could get a little warmth from the fresh black pepper, but not over powering. Finally the last item we got was the lamb sliders, and let me say this was probably my favorite item out of everything I tried. The use of whipped feta and chow chow on a perfectly seasoned perfectly cooked lamb burger just put it on a whole new level. I am not a huge lamb fan, but this slider gave me a new perspective on it. Overall I will say this has been one of my best experiences in Raleigh since moving here and the The Oak, Kitchen has made a customer for life, if you have not tried them I promise you it will be an experience you will...

I love the reviews on this restaurant and was impressed with the feedback. I always need to realize that these reviews are from the general public that might eat at Chilis on Sunday or Oak on any other given night and therefore have a variety of experiences.

Unfortunately, I cannot offer a review on the food because I was unable to order.

I arrived at the restaurant around 645 pm on a Wednesday and wanted to order to go and finish a couple of work details while having a beverage. The empty hostess stand noted ‘check in with full party before being seated’. I walked to the bar and asked if a bar stool with empty plates and drinks was open and the bartender replied yes and referred me back to the hostess stand to check in for the barstool. I laid my laptop on the bar and asked for menu. That was the end of my experience.

I was redirected to the hostess stand, somberly told, we do not allow lap tops at the bar and then pointed to go back to the hostess stand. I let them know that I would check in and I asked if I could sit with the laptop closed and finish some notes, writing on top of the computer. They said, ‘we would prefer that you did not.’

I was put out on this process and went to the restaurant next door and was greeted with open arms, finished my work and brought home a feast for the family.

I am not a big reviewer or critic however last time I checked, Oak is not a 2 Star Michelin restaurant nor is it a Barnes and Nobles allowing hours of non paying customers to linger.

I stopped back into Oak on my way home and spoke to the manager and recommended to explain to a customer what their ‘no lap top at the bar’ policy means and why they prefer this option as well as to offer another solution. I think this approach could help versus no explanation and sternly redirected back to the front. The bar tables were all open and this might not be the most overwhelmingly positive experience for a first time customer that just moved into Raleigh. They agreed with no other explanation than, ‘ this is my policy’ and went on their way.

It’s 2022. Restaurants are not exactly flying off the shelf with grand openings.

I would recommend an upgrade on your customer service. I’m just trying to spend my hard earned money in your establishment and don’t expect much besides decency and an above average...