My husband and I had the best time at Alder and Oak last night for my birthday. The food was top notch. Flavors galore. We had the pleasure of having Jose as our waiter. He was fast, friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. 10/10 recommend read more

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While seeking an exceptional venue along the river in Jacksonville today, I discovered Alder & Oak, and it proved to be a thoroughly enchanting experience! The exterior presents a stunning contrast to the interior, anchored by a truly breathtaking, sweeping view of the water that sets a glorious tone before one even steps through the doors. Once inside, the venue maintains an impeccably clean, polished ambiance that captures the chic, refreshing essence of an evening by the sea. The service was top-tier from start to finish. My server, Zach, was wonderfully friendly, professional, and attentive. Upon his recommendation, I ordered a glass of the Open Sesame cocktail, which was expertly mixed, crisp, and remarkably distinct. Zach also noted that their octopus is a beloved specialty here, so I simply had to order the octopus arm for my main course. I was deeply impressed when my entire order arrived within a mere fifteen minutes! The octopus was an absolute culinary triumph tender, exquisitely prepared, and utterly divine in every single bite. Between the spotless coastal-inspired atmosphere, spectacular waterfront scenery, prompt service, and flawless cuisine, Alder & Oak brought me pure delight. Five stars without hesitation I shall most certainly be returning read more

Alder & Oak - Our lunch Octopus & Open Sesame - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

A friend and I came to Alder & Oak for dinner and had a really enjoyable experience overall First, the space is beautiful. I loved the open-air feel and the Mediterranean/Greek-inspired atmosphere. Very relaxing after a full work week. Service was also excellent. Our servers were attentive throughout the evening, and I especially appreciated that the team seemed to work together rather than everything falling on one person. We started with the burrata and muhammara apps, and honestly, those may have been the highlights of the meal. The sauce served with the burrata was bright, fresh, and refreshing, while the muhammara had that wonderful roasted red pepper and walnut flavor and both came with fresh-baked pita. At one point we combined the burrata and muhammara on the pita, which turned out to be an excellent decision. Also, if I could buy the green sauce that's on the burrata, I would! For our entrées, my friend had the shrimp, which were huge, flavorful, and had a nice bit of spice. I ordered the lobster tagliatelle. The presentation is definitely impressive--the dish arrives with the lobster shell--but unfortunately this was the one part of the meal that didn't quite land for me. I expected a little more lobster given the presentation, and while I liked the spice and flavor of the sauce, the dish overall wasn't as memorable as everything else we tried. My cocktail was also very good, and between the atmosphere, service, appetizers, and the dishes we enjoyed, I'd happily come back. Next time, though, I may just order several appetizers and make a meal out of them because that burrata/muhammara combination was fantastic. read more

Alder & Oak - Lobster tagliatelle - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

We made a reservation but got there super early, they were nice enough to seat us 30 mins earlier than our reserved time. They have a huge outdoor seating area and a smaller indoor area. We were seated indoor and the decorations were so cute! However, it was so loud inside to the point where it was a bit hard to have a conversation. Drinks were okay, food was good. The fries were so well seasoned and absolutely delicious. The steak was cooked well (a solid 8/10). We also had baba ganoush which was okay. They were busy so service was a bit slow the entire night. But other than that it was a decent experience! read more

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Everything was absolutely wonderful! Our server Maddie was very kind, attentive and proactive. We started with a bottle of bubbly with the Mezze board. It was amazing! Being a Greek, I'm very particular about my tzatziki and hummus...both of these at Alder were incredible!! The smooth texture and flavor of the hummus was perfection! The baba ganoush was very good as well, very fresh! We then split the beet and goat cheese salad, it was extremely fresh and the goat cheese was amazing! We were too full for dessert but I'll be back to try the baklava and some meat dishes with my husband! read more

Alder & Oak - Mezze board - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Food -- 0/5 Stars I honestly don't know where to start with the food at Alder & Oak. I ordered the Market Fish, and while the fish itself was okay, the Sicilian caponata, basil zhug, and roasted potatoes just didn't complement it well. Individually, there may have been good ideas there, but cohesively, the dish simply didn't work for me. I ended up sending it back and didn't even want to order anything else. My girlfriend ordered the Lamb Shank, which we were told was one of their most popular dishes. She thought it was just okay. I tasted it myself, and unfortunately, the lamb just tasted like...meat. There wasn't enough seasoning or flavor to make it memorable. We actually took the leftovers home, seasoned them ourselves, and reheated them. Drinks -- 5/5 Stars We both ordered Lemon Drop Martinis, and they were good. Granted, I'd say a Lemon Drop is a pretty hard drink to mess up , but they delivered. My only small preference would have been a sugar rim. Ambiance -- 3/5 Stars The ambiance was fine. I didn't walk in and immediately think, "Ohhh, this is a vibe," but there was also nothing particularly wrong with it. It just wasn't especially memorable to me. The tables in our area were pretty close together, so we had to adjust ours a little to create some space between us and the people next to us. That said, I think they've probably done what they can with the space available. Service -- 5/5 Stars The service was easily the highlight of the experience. If it weren't for our server, I honestly might have asked my girlfriend if we could just leave. She was incredibly kind, accommodating, and understanding, especially when I decided to send my entrée back. If I ever returned just for drinks, I'd hope to receive that same level of care because she was wonderful. Overall -- 2/5 Stars I really wanted to give Alder & Oak one star, but the service genuinely bumped the experience up to two. Unfortunately, I left feeling pretty certain that this was my first and last visit. The food simply wasn't for me. More than anything, the dishes felt like they were missing the seasoning, cohesion, and soul I expect from this style of cuisine. Food has a way of communicating the passion behind it--and for me, that passion just didn't come through on the plate. The service saved the experience, but the food is ultimately what would keep me from returning. read more

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My mom and aunts treated me to a birthday dinner at Alder and Oak in Riverside and I must say we all had an incredible night. Zack (our server) was top notch. He was very patient with all of us and made some great recommendations with the menu. Every item we tried was great. We enjoyed the cauliflower which was on top of a bed of greek yogurt and a perfect start to our evening. We also had the hummus spread which was also very tasty. For entrees we had pizza, lamb, and chicken and I can honestly say everyone enjoyed their meals. Our server was the cheery on top. It's because of his service and then the food that we will definitely be coming back. read more

Alder & Oak - Chicken and fingerling potatoes - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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What a pretty restaurant! Walking up I love the design, it's like 2 restaurants combined with a big covered patio in the middle! It's downtown there's no parking I had circled around thinking they would have a lot but I couldn't find it and thankfully found street parking close by. Our server was great, very friendly and helpful. We both got mocktails and liked them, the lemon aid was very refreshing! We split a white pizza and the grilled octopus, so yum! Both dishes were light and flavorful! The octopus was cooked perfectly and we both enjoyed! read more

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The restaurant is super cute! Love that there is indoor and outdoor options. The staff are very helpful and nice. The food and drinks were delicious. My dad and I got the lamb shank with orzo and carrots. It was sweet But not overly sweet. The meat was so tender and the flavor was amazing. My aunt got the lobster pasta and it was so flavorful and the lobster was tender. My uncle got the ribeye and it was amazing. The butter ontop made It better. My husband got the octopus and chorizo. The octopus was delicious but the chorizo was way overcooked. It was hard and inedible. My mom got the chicken tzatziki and it was amazing. The chicken was a little dry but the sauce made up for it. My brother got a pizza and it was delicious. read more

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AMAZING food from the drinks, appetizers, and the entrees! You will not leave disappointed. The staff was very attentive! If you get a chance to sit outside I would definitely recommend you get a spot on the patio, it's beautiful out and you get a great view of the river town area! Perfect place to come with a group of girls for girls night they have a rooftop as well that you can grab drinks at before or after dinner ! read more

Alder & Oak - Beef tartare - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

So I didn't know what to expect from this place. We go in without a reservation on a Sunday night when it is raining like crazy. We were told there was no openings for seating inside (it seems like they have a lot of space outside to sit but of course it was raining) but they could sit us in their sister shop. It's a coffee shop. We get to the shop and the menus and the drinks look awesome there. A less expensive price point than this place but we wanted the Mediterranean food. Our waiter..no words! He was fantastic. He was attentive and kind and what a big load he had to carry physically bringing everything from one restaurant to another one. Now the food...it was...how should I put this...superb! We started with the three dip platter- humus, Tazaki, baba ganoush, and fresh pita. It was incredible highly recommend! I got the octopus sub fries and it was sooo good! The French fries were these little shoe string fries that were addictive. Everyone at our table loved what they ordered. For my drink I got a their version of a Manhattan. At first I didn't like it, it tasted watery. However after stirring it a bit it was actually delicious. This is definitely a place my family and I will be eating at again. read more

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That octopus slaps. The char and marinade is off the charts good. The romesco sauce with crispy chorizo and fingerling potatoes is an excellent combo. We also tried the truffle honey, gorgonzola with rosemary was nice multiple layer bite. The crust was airy with a little chew...yum. We also had some of the mocktails I tried the tahini one which was nice but wanted just a hint more sweetness it reminded me of Pina colda with a twist. read more

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Sooo they open at 11am on Saturdays and they mean 11. No valet except for dinner time. The Mediterranean chicken was sooooooo bland. You have to ask for taziki. Also the strawberry pepper drink isn't very sweet-ask for simple syrup. The ambiance is nice casual Florida style. The server Brittany was very good for a group of 18 ladies. If I go back In getting the lamb burger. read more

Alder & Oak - Asked for side of taziki for the sandwhich - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

We celebrated our May birthdays with dinner here and had a great experience. My wife and I started with the Margherita pizza along with a fruited sour for me and an IPA for her. For our entrées, I ordered the chicken thighs while my wife chose the lamb shank. We each ate about half of our meals and then switched plates so we could sample both dishes. Everything was delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed each item we ordered. The service was excellent. It started off a little slow, but finished strong and made sure we had a pleasant dining experience. Overall, a wonderful birthday dinner and we'd gladly return. read more

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Adler & Oak was a great dining experience overall. We sat outside, and the patio was beautiful with a nice breeze that made for a relaxing evening. Our server was friendly, attentive, and checked on us throughout the meal. Everything we ordered tasted fresh, and the portions were generous for the price. The only thing that missed the mark for me was the octopus--it was cooked well but a little too salty. Other than that, the meal was excellent, and I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu. read more

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Alder & Oak is a really nice place with many options for dining: rooftop, patio and interior! The staff was kind, smiling and attentive in the least overbearing way! The menu has a LOT of options, but I decided on the roasted cauliflower with the nigella-onion yogurt, green harissa and date glaze. It was truly a tasty experience and set the stage for what was to come. My entree was the bucatini with truffle. Upon arrival, I was excited! The porcini emulsion and shaved Parmesan were great. I personally would have preferred a touch more salinity and some pepper, because you know I like the spice, but I was not upset! The Moroccan Mint tea set it off, nicely. I can't wait to return! This was a stunner for me! read more

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My friend and I celebrated our birthdays here. They have indoor and outdoor seatings plus a rooftop bar. Don't worry about seating outside, they have a big overhead fan to keep you comfortable, however, I still prefer sitting inside with this warm Florida weather and we were thankful that they were able to accommodate us. We were a group of eleven, and had a great time. Service was great! For starters, we tried their Margherita Pizza, it was good. As for the mains, I ordered the Lamb Shank with Orzo Pilaf and Carrots, it was delicious! The meat was incredibly tender and practically fell off the bone. My husband got the Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Salad which he also enjoyed although the salad portion was a bit small. Overall, I highly recommend this place for birthday, celebrations, or any special occasions. read more

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We had a good experience at Alder & Oak. The service was attentive and the ambiance was really nice. I loved the outdoor space and decor throughout. read more

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This is a great restaurant with a friendly and helpful staff! Stopped in for lunch after an event in the downtown area and our group loved everything we had. For starters, the restaurant is gorgeous and has a very European feel to it. We ordered hummus to start and it was delicious and super fresh. For lunch, we each had a pita and fries and the fries are fried in beef tallow and were soooo yummy. Service was great, food came out fresh and fast and we all agreed we'd return! read more

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We stopped by here for a late night snack and it was wonderful. We sat outside which was lovely. I imagine it'll be quite toasty out there the rest of the summer but it was still really nice. We just got some apps and sides. I had the olive oil hummus. It was pretty good. Nothing super stand out but very yummy. Also had a side of fries. And omg they were SO good. Right amount of (sea) salt. Perfectly crispy. They were SO flavorful. And we had baklava for dessert. That was amazing as well. The rose flavor was an incredible add on. For drinks my friend had an old fashioned and I tried it. It was good. I had a mocktail - strawberry bell pepper soda and really enjoyed it. It was shockingly inexpensive as far as mocktails go too! And of course the service was wonderful. Every person we encountered was positively lovely. I think it will be worth going back for a full dinner in the near future. Can't wait to try more food here! read more

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I had a dinner date with my best friend and we decided to try Alder and Oak. The parking is a little strange but glad they have valet. The interior seating isn't large but luckily we were able to move our seats from outdoors since it was so hot. The aesthetic is very pretty and includes a rooftop. I would say dress to sit outside in case you can't be indoors. The cucumber melon mocktail was so refreshing and tasty, all I needed was a beach :) The waiter Zach was very friendly and recommended great dishes. The mushroom pasta is their vegetarian option but I added shrimp per his suggestion and it was perfect. Shrimp were cooked great and seasoned well, the black truffle and mushrooms were outstanding. My friend ordered the lobster pasta and was shocked when the head came out but it was spicy and flavorful. read more

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Absolutely loved Alder & Oak! The atmosphere is beautiful, the service was amazing, and the Tartufo Bianca pizza was phenomenal. The truffle honey with the cheeses was the perfect combination. Such a great addition to Jacksonville. Will most definitely be back! read more

Alder & Oak - Tartufo Bianca pizza - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Great restaurant in a prime downtown location surrounded by corporate offices, so it's always bustling with foot traffic. I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time to ensure you're seated promptly. Their cocktail menu is excellent, and the coffee selection is just as impressive. We really enjoyed both our appetizers and entrées--everything was flavorful and well prepared. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five was the wait time. We arrived around 1:00-1:30 p.m., after the lunch rush had slowed down, but it still took about 45 minutes to an hour for our food to arrive. On top of that, one person in our party of four didn't receive her entrée until 10-15 minutes after the rest of us had been served, which made the meal a bit awkward. Despite that, the quality of the food was excellent, and the overall experience was enjoyable. I'm looking forward to coming back and would definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

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Our experience at Alder & Oak was mixed. Some dishes were excellent and others missed the mark. We ordered the A&O mezze, tartare crudo, grilled octopus, chicken souvlaki, and grilled king prawns. The prawns were delicious! They were so well seasoned and succulent. I wish there had been more on the plate! The octopus was also good. The tartare crudo sounded interesting given the Mediterranean flavors but it was bland. The chicken souvlaki was overcooked and very dry. We couldn't finish the chicken. For dessert, we ordered the galatopita, which was a semolina milk pie, which tasted almost like a custard. We dined outside and it was freezing. But it was a lovely patio on which to enjoy a meal in warmer weather. read more

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This place is operated by the same owner as Southern Grounds. Parking is an issue. There is valet parking on weekends only. You cannot park at the open lot next to the building because it is reserved for customers at Arepa Please. So you'll have to find street parking or the parking garage across the street. Rooftop bar does not have a good view. It is on the second floor so you won't see St. John's River. Instead, you'll see the FIS building and traffic. Food is subpar especially for the price. Had the Chicken Souvlaki which was dry and overcooked. Fries were a little soggy. Pita bread was underwhelming. read more

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Last night my friends and I did not want to wait the 3.5 hours at Anejo to eat dinner, so we walked over to Alder&Oak for a Mediterranean dinner instead. The ambiance and atmosphere was nice and we had the perfect weather for outdoor seating. We had a group of 7 and we were seated within 15 minutes and drinks brought shortly after. I went with the Chicken Souvlaki and it was just wonderful and full of flavor. They used breast meat, and it was a little bit on the drier side, but wasn't a big deal and didn't really take away from the flavors at all. Served with pickled onions, pickled cauliflower, tzatiki sauce, french fries and an arugula and tomato salad, this dish as a whole was delicious and I finished every bite. I would definitely love to pop back in for a date night with the hubby (wink, wink Jesse Smith) because there were plenty of items on the menu that I want to taste as well. Service was friendly and warm. Tucker was our server and I can't say enough kind things of the level of service last night. read more

Alder & Oak - Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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We made reservations well in advance to celebrate our wedding anniversary. A good friend recommended based on reviews to give it a try. Reservations made and 15 minutes prior, arrived in the to find no parking lot or even a close proximity to the entrance spot. We are still interested in dining here, but you need reasonable parking for restaurant of this caliber and I don't mean down the street with a long walk in the rain. Obviously the Arepas restaurant has more pull adjacent with all the parking and signage! What a shame as we looked in from the street the interior looked very nice. We hope you resolve this issue, so we can return to sample your exciting menu. read more

Went here with friends. We were all 9 on our table and we had an incredible time. They did an amazing job transforming this place in to oasis. Service was great, food was amazing ! I ordered the roasted cauliflower and the grilled octopus and those two dishes was delicious! Parking was a little bit tricky but we managed to find a parking spot. This is a great place for a date night and bonus point is the rooftop bar. read more

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Alder & Oak was an outstanding dining experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is modern yet inviting, and the wood-fired concept gives every dish incredible flavor. The ingredients tasted fresh, the presentation was beautiful, and the service was attentive without ever feeling rushed. It's the perfect spot for a date night or special occasion. read more

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We came to celebrate a special occasion. We arrived about 15 minutes early. They were able to accommodate us early, but we decided to have a cocktail on the rooftop bar in order to wait for an inside table We're vegetarian and pescatarian so we were excited to try some of the delicious options available. The appetizers were great. The timing on the courses was perfect. I loved the shrimp tagliatelle as it was a perfect spice level. Overall we had a lovely experience. Can't wait to come back for happy hour on the roof. read more

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Our first reservation here was canceled due to rain. It's a strange thing to me to build most of your dining outdoors in a place where it rains a lot. Second reservation was made for inside and was successful. Service was attentive and helpful. Decor is lovely. It gets really loud in there though. Parking situation is definitely not ideal. There is no dedicated parking but they do provide a useful map on their website of places you can park and valet on certain nights. Food was a bit hit or miss for our group. My dish (mushroom bucatini) was very good and highly recommended. Also the Open Sesame is maybe my new favorite cocktail in town. The cauliflower appetizer is also really delicious and I'm not even that big on cauliflower. Definitely want to return to try their pizzas. read more

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Me and my wife went here for my wife's birthday celebration dinner. I must say it was one of the best Mediterranean restaurants that we have been too. I called in to make a reservation and it was nice and easy. Once we entered we were greeted and made to sit right away. For drinks we had Cucumber Dill Lemonade and Tropical T, both the drinks were refreshing and very nice. For dinner, we had Tartufo Bianca Pizza, my goodness, it was amazing and mouth watering. Finally for dessert we had Baklava which had perfect amount of sweetness not too much nor too less. Overall my wife's birthday was amazing and dinner was fabulous. Our server Zack was amazing made our experience worth it with all this suggestions and recommendations. The ambiance of this restaurant is fabulous as well. I highly recommend this place !!! read more

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Wow! What a great new addition to the Brooklyn area. Most of the restaurant is outside dining with a small indoor dining experience. The staff is attentive. The menu offers something for everyone. Cocktails are interesting and creative. I had the Octopus with fingerling potatoes. It was a chef kiss. read more

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The food here was good! The appetizer was good but low on salt, and we would have loved more pickled vegetables. The entrees were the star of the show, we loved the lamb kebab the most! The cocktails are very "niche", we did not like any of the 3 we tried, but if it is your thing you might enjoy them more. We had a cucumber black pepper cocktail, the open sesame and one that had red bell pepper. The service here was also great. The baklava was on the soggy side, we were really wanting more crunch to it. The ambiance was nice, but it was very loud inside, we couldnt hear the music, we could hear all conversatiosn going on around us. We would love to come back and try and have dinner outside as we went on a windy day and they only had indoor seating. read more

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Finally made my way out to the new Riverside Aegean-inspired restaurant, to check out the vibes. I definitely see it being a hot spot once it finally warms up. The design is stunning and it's a great place for meeting up with family and friends. The menu is bringing us Mediterranean-inspired cuisine where nothing is cooked in seed oils. My friends and I gobbled up the pita bread starter and ordered a few more things including: Burrata Lamb Kofte (meatballs) Tuna Crudo Lobster Tagliatelle (FAV!) Baklava Everything was vibrant and you could really taste the freshness in the ingredients. And that baklava is not to be skipped for dessert! Pretty darn delectable! I'm looking forward to visiting again for a few meetups there this summer and to check out the Southern Grounds next door! read more

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Parking was a little difficult like previously mentioned by others. The people and the place was very nice, but if you're going there for the lobster understand, you're not going to be able to taste it because it's in a spicy sauce with the pasta. If you're a lobster and butter person, this is not the dinner you want. read more

Alder & Oak - Lobster and spicy pasta - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I came here for lunch on a Saturday and it was delicious! I honestly didn't even know this place was opened yet, but I'm glad I saw that it was! It's so cute and truly does give Mediterranean vibes. First of all, our waitress/server Kim was a treasure!!!!! She is the sweetest thing and was so fun. She gave great recommendations and has the best personality. She honestly made our experience at Alder&Oak more fun. The lunch menu I found online on their website did not match the menu I was given, so that was disappointing, but it's okay. The A&O Mezze Board was delicious- may have been the best Tzaziki I've ever had. The hummus was also so good! For my main, I had the Chicken Souvlaki. I don't know that I would get it again because it was kind of dry and too chewy, but the flavor over all was good. The chicken was the reason this review has 4 instead of 5. The wine list was exceptional. I tried a red and a white- both were so incredibly smooth and delicious. I love how they custom picked these wines after tasting them on location (at least that's what Kim told us!!). I'd definitely come back again. read more

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The food was amazing. I had the lamb shank and my friend had the octopus ! The hummus was amazing as well. I will definitely circle back. The lamb shank was very tender and so yummy, they were a little heavy on the salt, but not unforgivable. I enjoyed my meal. My friend shared that the octopus was decent. He felt it was not as fresh as he was accustomed (He was referencing Costa Rica though so there is that...). The atmosphere was extremely memorable, really nice vibe and nice place for first date. Our server was Tucker and she did an amazing job, service was great and she was extremely patient. Looking forward to the next visit. read more

My first experience at alder and oak was very overwhelming. The inside and the area they build is very pretty. I am not entirely sure what they are going for with the restaurant. The food is fancy and expensive which makes you think fine dining. However the inside area is very small, (which is confusing in a city that's very hot most of the year) and very loud which made me feel like I was in a high club. It was so loud that we couldn't even hear to have a conversation. I would give the vibe/ ambiance a 6.5/10 IMO the food was just okay, it wasn't anything special. I had the shrimp pasta which didn't stand out to me at all. The noodles didn't taste homemade which was less than impressive. The hummus didn't taste any different than any other hummus I have had. I am aware that maybe I just didn't get something they specialize in so I will for sure come back and try the lamb. My family enjoyed the arugula salad and pizza. For now I am giving the food a 7/10. It wasn't bad but it wasn't special or as good as I hoped. Our waitress was Bella, she spoke clearly, and loud enough and had great personal skills. She was clearly very busy, however even though they had just opened recently she did a great job. Everyone working was pleasant as well. I will give the service a 8/10 for now. read more

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My friend had been anticipating this restaurant opening for our monthly ladies night out, so we dined there last evening. To start Sophia at the hostess stand was great when I called to book the reservation as their phone lines were not working and we had many missed calls. The parking is a bit challenging, so go to their website for recommendations. We secured valet parking behind the restaurant and it was great. Now for the food... absolutely wonderful! We started with the Mezza tray and the cauliflower. Everything was delicious! A great variety of all things Mediterranean And then we had two pizzas. And the finale baklava! read more

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