Oak City Bar and Grill in Menlo Park, CA
I recently went with a large group of friends (including CHF, SM, BP, MH, and MB) for lunch at Oak City Bar and Grill in Menlo Park. Formerly the site of the now-closed Wild Hare, Oak City is right on El Camino (cross street Menlo Avenue). I've actually eaten here many times, but have not yet had the chance to review the restaurant.
Upon entry, one is immediately struck by the high ceilings, and ample space. This place is really well-laid out. A huge wooden bar is the focal point of the restaurant, with bottles behind the bar stacked high. Lovely photographs of oaks line the walls. A large, open kitchen is opposite from the bar. Tables can be cozy (tucked into banquettes or small booths), or public (in the main eating area near the front window). I like the small booths by the bar, especially for lunch when there's no one drinking at the bar itself.
As CHF said, Oak City has "the most generous and flexible prix fixe lunch ever!" CHF was right. To start, you get both a cup of soup and mixed greens with sherry-shallot vinaigrette. In the past, I've been served potato-leek soup (with tiny shoestring potatoes on top), but this time, it was Sweet Potato with pumpkin seeds on top. It was deliciously spiced, smooth, and quite tasty. Unlike a lot of other winter soups, it really wasn't that heavy.
Choice of main includes a choice of: sliced herb marinated filet mignon, pan roasted local king salmon, grilled herb chicken breast, Sake steamed mussels, pepperoni pizza, meatloaf, penne pasta, or grilled chipotle BBQ pork tenderloin. See? Generous!
You get dessert, too, and all for $12!
For the main dish, most members of our party got the Filet Mignon, which was served with green beans, slabs of potato, and green peppercorn sauce. MH deemed the filet mignon "tasty, but bland," saying later it was obvious the green peppercorn sauce was meant to be smeared onto the beef. However, SM disagreed with MH, saying that "the steak was extremely tender and cooked to the level of doneness that we requested." MB got the duck, which was served with black mission figs, greens, pistachios, and fig balsamic dressing. The duck was moist, but difficult to eat (some bones were still present). The sides were interestingly paired, however.
I got the salmon. During the summer, it's served with a white corn ragout, potato puree, and tiny cherry tomatoes. I must admit that I was marginally dismayed when the salmon came with more wintery vegetables instead (artichoke pieces and carrots). I needn't have worried. It was really tasty (and more seasonal). The salmon was very moist, and well-prepared. It flaked apart on my fork.
The one sad spot (which hasn't been so sad in the past) was dessert. Every other time I've had the prix fixe, the dessert has been two chocolate-chip cookies with a hint of coffee, served warm and sprinkled with powdered sugar. This time, however, instead of cookies gooey and oozing on the plate, we were served hard, cold cookies. Disappointing.
Aside from the prix fixe entrees (which are certainly plentiful and make up the bulk of regular luncheon menu), I've also had the grilled Ahi tuna nicoise salad. Served with red potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, red onions, arugula, olives, and eggs, this salad is pretty hefty.
Although our party was large, we were served with a smile.
If you go, park in the back parking lot. There is usually valet parking at night, but spots in downtown Menlo Park fill up quickly, so unless you can snare a spot in a public lot, try the valet.
I feel like when this restaurant opened a couple of years ago, it was a definite dining alternative to the Left Bank, which is right around the corner on Santa Cruz Avenue. Now I'm not so sure. The food just isn't measuring up that well anymore. Perhaps we just went on an off day?
Oak City Bar and Grill
5.5/10
Upon entry, one is immediately struck by the high ceilings, and ample space. This place is really well-laid out. A huge wooden bar is the focal point of the restaurant, with bottles behind the bar stacked high. Lovely photographs of oaks line the walls. A large, open kitchen is opposite from the bar. Tables can be cozy (tucked into banquettes or small booths), or public (in the main eating area near the front window). I like the small booths by the bar, especially for lunch when there's no one drinking at the bar itself.
As CHF said, Oak City has "the most generous and flexible prix fixe lunch ever!" CHF was right. To start, you get both a cup of soup and mixed greens with sherry-shallot vinaigrette. In the past, I've been served potato-leek soup (with tiny shoestring potatoes on top), but this time, it was Sweet Potato with pumpkin seeds on top. It was deliciously spiced, smooth, and quite tasty. Unlike a lot of other winter soups, it really wasn't that heavy.
Choice of main includes a choice of: sliced herb marinated filet mignon, pan roasted local king salmon, grilled herb chicken breast, Sake steamed mussels, pepperoni pizza, meatloaf, penne pasta, or grilled chipotle BBQ pork tenderloin. See? Generous!
You get dessert, too, and all for $12!
For the main dish, most members of our party got the Filet Mignon, which was served with green beans, slabs of potato, and green peppercorn sauce. MH deemed the filet mignon "tasty, but bland," saying later it was obvious the green peppercorn sauce was meant to be smeared onto the beef. However, SM disagreed with MH, saying that "the steak was extremely tender and cooked to the level of doneness that we requested." MB got the duck, which was served with black mission figs, greens, pistachios, and fig balsamic dressing. The duck was moist, but difficult to eat (some bones were still present). The sides were interestingly paired, however.
I got the salmon. During the summer, it's served with a white corn ragout, potato puree, and tiny cherry tomatoes. I must admit that I was marginally dismayed when the salmon came with more wintery vegetables instead (artichoke pieces and carrots). I needn't have worried. It was really tasty (and more seasonal). The salmon was very moist, and well-prepared. It flaked apart on my fork.
The one sad spot (which hasn't been so sad in the past) was dessert. Every other time I've had the prix fixe, the dessert has been two chocolate-chip cookies with a hint of coffee, served warm and sprinkled with powdered sugar. This time, however, instead of cookies gooey and oozing on the plate, we were served hard, cold cookies. Disappointing.
Aside from the prix fixe entrees (which are certainly plentiful and make up the bulk of regular luncheon menu), I've also had the grilled Ahi tuna nicoise salad. Served with red potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, red onions, arugula, olives, and eggs, this salad is pretty hefty.
Although our party was large, we were served with a smile.
If you go, park in the back parking lot. There is usually valet parking at night, but spots in downtown Menlo Park fill up quickly, so unless you can snare a spot in a public lot, try the valet.
I feel like when this restaurant opened a couple of years ago, it was a definite dining alternative to the Left Bank, which is right around the corner on Santa Cruz Avenue. Now I'm not so sure. The food just isn't measuring up that well anymore. Perhaps we just went on an off day?
Oak City Bar and Grill
5.5/10
posted by epicure | 5:32 PM
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