Destination #5: Oak

The Design District near downtown Dallas is a gem full of studios, art galleries and unexpected gourmet delights. Two of our favorite spots here are the Meddlesome Moth and Oak. This post focuses on the latter destination. It was D’s first try and my second for dinner. The temperature outside was mild, so I made the decision to move our reservation outdoors on the patio while I waited for D to arrive. Apparently, it was their first night to open it up to the public. There was a nice little fireplace sidebar for ambiance, and it was well lit enough to retain the romantic mood. Speaking of which, Oak is the perfect location for an intimate group of friends, out-of-town clients, or that date you want to impress.

Once D arrived, we wasted no time ordering the most desirable. We opened with the hamachi crudo, with pickled vegetable, sea salt, sweet soy and jalapeno oil. I have to say, it was one of the most beautiful and eye-pleasing appetizers I’ve ever seen. Fresh, light and various in texture, I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. D thought the fish itself could have had more of a delicate flavoring. He especially loved the little cubes of radish. Unfortunately, I started to get chilled from the wind out on the patio. Soon after we had ordered the crudo, it started to sprinkle rain so we moved the tasting party inside - hence the differentiation in the following pictures.

You should know by now that D and I are brussels sprouts lovers. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we got a side of some dusted with panko bread crunch and seasoned in garlic. The soft crunch of the sprouts with the mini panko crunch were in perfect tune with each other. There were some sprout leaves that must have been either pan fried or lightly charred on the edges. They were my favorite part. It fondly reminded me of seaweed paper - airy crisp fluffs with a distinct flavor.

Ok, for my main entree I had the seven ounce grilled filet of beef with brown butter potato, trumpet mushroom, and bordelaise. The trail of green sliver was garnished pesto. I always get my beef medium rare, and the chefs at Oak nailed it to a T! Even D agreed it was well prepared. The flavor was embedded deep in the meat, so eat bite reminded you of what a great entree choice you made. The veggies were a very nice complement, especially the slices of brown butter potato.

D ordered the strozzapretti (apparently a seasonal menu item since I couldn’t find it on Oak’s site) which was a nice pasta main course with green legumes, pine nuts and parmesan shavings. It was light, minimally creamy and very colorful. I had a taste and thought it was great, but I would have personally preferred it as a side dish instead. He seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed it though.

Last but not least was the infamous carrot cake bread pudding with golden raisin, candied walnut and cream cheese ice cream… aka “Heaven”. The cake bread pudding was moist and wonderfully rich with flavor and scents. See those orange flakes on top of the whipped dollop? That’s made from candied carrot. Those are granola bits next to it. All of the above sat atop smears of caramel and disappeared in about 5 minutes. What a perfect ending to a perfect meal!
Side things to note: the service is exceptional. From the hostess to the waitstaff, everyone greets you with a genuine smile. The service was prompt and our waiter Ben was very knowledgeable about the menu items and cocktails. The interior decor is fantastic (no surprise here; it’s in the design district afterall) and the atmosphere is intimate and cozy. Oak is definitely one of my newest ” top recommended must-try places to eat”.
Bill = $88
A = 5 of 5
P = 5 of 5
Q = 5 of 5
T = 5 of 5
V = 5 of 5













