Oak - New American restaurant in Boulder - 1400 Pearl St, USA

3.5/5 Sharing my insights on the recent dining experience. The service and ambiance were exemplary, setting a remarkable tone. However, turning attention to the culinary aspect, the scallop, while exhibiting a subtle hint of fishiness, compensated admirably with commendable flavors and a pleasing texture. Conversely, the dried-aged ribeye fell short, lacking in both flavor and succulence. Certain portions displayed a fibrous consistency, indicative of potential overcooking, resulting in a challenging texture. I didn't notice any of the dried age flavor in a dried aged steak. Despite high expectations, the dish failed to meet anticipated standards. Contrarily, the potatoes and caramelized onions proved to be a culinary highlight, showcasing exceptional quality. The lamb, unfortunately, presented a dry texture and a deficiency in flavor. It is worth noting, however, that the carrot stood out as an excellent component of the meal. Overall, the dining experience encompassed a mix of impressions, with notable moments of culinary excellence and areas that left room for improvement.

Modern place with high end cuisine. Would absolutely go here for a special occasion anytime. The wine selection is good and not overwhelming. The cocktails are sweeter than I thought and the pana cotta is perfect. Highly recommend the duck with the lentils- the spice level is perfect.

Called and made an 8:00 reservation for our anniversary, arrived at 7:55 and was told there was no reservation for us. They did manage to squeeze us in at a two top against the wall. Alexis was our server, and she was the best part of our evening! My husband ordered the Pork dish which was a stunner! Complex flavors, tons of depth to the sauces and tender pork. I ordered the Hanger steak, medium rare. It was served rare, like raw, purple, rare. It has a sear on one side, but the other side was rare to the edge like it was flipped for a second and plated. I asked them to put it back on for a minute and it was returned in the same condition. I shared my husband's dish and ate around the edges of mine because I was so hungry! I mentioned to my husband that I was glad we didn't get the $100 ribeye if this is what they did to a little hanger steak! Alexis brought me a second glass of wine, "on the house" and the manager stopped by the table, but he didn't actually seem interested in my feedback on the dish. He even said something to the effect of, "well, I gave you a glass of wine." Sir, I didn't come to have wine as my main course! Alas, I had such high hopes after reading other reviews but it sadly missed the mark for our evening.

The quality of the food was 10% value for the price of the meal. Seriously folks. I have no issue paying high prices for good quality food. Bought the best stuff on the menu. Everything was substandard!! Totally embarrassing. Brought high end clients out to dine. Wow. Even when one of my clients requested a simple replacement of sides on an entree there was a huge ordeal made about having to have a food allergy or dietary restriction before the chef would accommodate the request. They literally came back and forth to the table three times about a simple request to have arugula vs another vegetable. Totally bad vibe across the board. Would like a full refund. To save my clients even further embarrassment I simply paid the $400+ for the meal so there was not more unpleasantness for the evening. Never again folks!!

We went to Oak last night for my birthday. The best part of the restaurant is Craig Biggins, the Director of their wine program and general manager. The wine list was small, but excellent. His wine knowledge is quite helpful. The kale salad was nice and chopped up but I think it needed a little more acid. My wife ordered the fish and she wasn’t thrilled.. I ordered the lamb chop, which ended up being a chintzy portion and 35% of it was fat. So that was a big disappointment. The biggest disappointment was that this is the first time.EVER for a family birthday that they did not offer a complementary dessert. In fact, you even have to pay for the bread. So when we left, we were hungry. This is extra disappointing because they had a surcharge to help pay the salaries of the staff. However, the ambience, the excellent customer service, and brilliance in wine redeem the restaurant, and gives it a 4 rating.

Oak is one of our favorite restaurants and after all these years, the food is still excellent! Had dinner with friends this time and everyone enjoyed the meal. We began with Focaccia, an Apple and Kale Salad and Burrata di Stefano… all tasty. Then I had the Colorado Lamb Two Ways (rack and sausage). Didn’t know what to expect but it was perfectly cooked. Paired the meal with a full bodied Oratorio ‘19 as an ideal accompaniment. Can’t wait to get back there again.

Fresh, light and harvesty flavors. Enjoyed the crisp mushrooms and roasted carrots. The fish and sweet pea ceviche were also 🔥 and then the roasted chicken and leeks were juicy and perfectly prepared. The sauce game is on point here - every dish is glazed or dipped into a complimentary flavor that enhances the flavor. Great wine menu as well! Can’t wait to come back next time I’m in town.

Second time visiting Oak and it delivered again! Hostess was kind enough to put me on a cancellation list and gave us a call when something opened up, that was really appreciated! Carl was our server, remembered us from last visit a month ago and even what wine we ordered, pretty cool and he delivered excellent service to us. Without a doubt, best chicken paté we have ever had and a very generous portion, it could be split between two and the focaccia bread was incredible. Halibut ceviche was really flavorful and my bison striploin entree almost melted in my mouth! Incredible flavors on that dish with creamed corn and anaheim chilis, really balanced and delicious dish! Tons of great cocktails and a refined wine list as well. Outdoor seating available if you want a different dining experience. On our first visit we sat at the chef's table (high top bar) where you can watch the food being prepared and the head chef checking each dish before presenting it. Very cool vibe there and a neat experience too. Highly recommend Oak!