Good and service were awesome! I am not a pecan pie person but whewwwwwww-ie ... the pecan pie here is AWESOME!

This review is solely based on their brunch menu since that's what I came here for. I went on a Sunday morning at 11 am and found that my friends and I got here just in time. This place gets packed FAST, so come early or come with a reservation! Food: 5/5 This has to be one of the best brunches I've had in a while. Their coffee is presented so aesthetically and has a really good kick to it! I ordered the Not Your Traditional Eggs Benedict, which turned out to be a fantastic choice. They're served on buttermilk biscuits instead of English muffins so when I bit into it, it was perfectly soft and fluffy. The bacon was cooked to just the right amount of crispy without being burned, and the hollandaise sauce was definitely not traditional; it was better! Ambiance: 5/5 I would classify the interior of this place as upscale hipster. There are definitely a few spots inside that you could totally take aesthetic pictures in. I would have taken a few if I had looked a bit more presentable but... next time. Also the bathrooms are spotless - one of the random things I always make a note of and appreciate. Service: 4/5 The service was pretty good. Our server was attentive and answered our questions, but seemed a bit unsure about particular menu items. The staff made sure our waters were reflled and took our plates out of the way when we finished our food. Overall, I definitely plan on coming back to try the rest of their brunch menu! This is my new place to take friends to for brunch when I'm feeling a bit fancier than Keke's. read more

Food here is always so delicious and yummy, with good service. They have a really awesome menu and fantastic interior to the restaurant. However, it's always been a longer wait the few times I've gone for the food. Nothing too bad though! read more

OAK - Waffle - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Ordered the Luke's Bagel w lox but they ran out of lox so I got bacon instead. Bagel was delicious and so was the cream cheese but it was a pretty salty. Great atmosphere for brunch, just very loud inside. read more

OAK - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Nice ambiance, no problem getting a seat at the bar on a Wednesday eve for dinner. Split the Oak Chicken Sandwich and Prime Steak Sandwich with boyfriend and both were exceptional. Service was great. The red wine selection isn't great but after the first glass it probably doesn't matter, lol. read more

The food and atmosphere was amazing! Natalia was an awesome server and we will definitely be back. The sweet tea short rib is to die for!

OAK has a cute rustic aesthetic, which makes it a nice restaurant for special occasions and photo opportunities, but because the food is just expensive American food, I don't think I would come here on a regular day. However, I think Gainesville residents should experience OAK at least once. So far, I've only been here to celebrate birthdays, and it's been a great time every time! I gave 3 stars because, again, at the end of the day you're paying a lot for okay American food. read more

OAK - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Perfect spot for brunch!! TESS IS AMAZING! she made sure everything was perfect and her service was top tier!

Love OAK! My family and I come here all the time and we've never had a bad meal here. Love, love the beet salad, shrimp poboy, salmon eggs Benedict. read more

Tried OAK for a Sunday Brunch. Cocktails were Bloody Mary & Basic Betch, both were spot on. Entrees were Duck Breast Benny & Avocado Toast. The smoked duck breast was a nice change to the normal Eggs Benedict most places serve. The Avocado Toast which is served on thick sliced multi grain bread topped with micro greens and drizzled with their special sauce. read more

This place is sooo good! A little pricey but that's expected for the location. I had the flank steak which was super flavorful & I paired it with a drink called the final rose which honestly is the BEST drink I've ever had! Definitely would recommend this place if you are in the area. read more

Good spot for American food! OAK has a hip vibe and a full bar for dinner and brunch. The wall connecting their outdoor section to the inside opens up, which gives the space a bigger feel. It's a step up from casual, maybe classy-casual would be an accurate description. The food is solid and comes at a decent price point for the generous portions. I prefer brunch! I got the banana French toast, which was amazing. The bacon was great too; they bake it and then fry it for extra crispiness. A solid, consistent spot. read more

Came here for my birthday this year with a large group and the food was pretty good. My ravioli took forever though and came out much later than everyone else's dishes. The birthday dessert was really cute and the table shared and enjoyed it. Everyone was happy with what they ordered and the server was very sweet. Super cute place and great for photos. read more

OAK - fried Oreo birthday dessert!!!! so cute - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Pretty nice place with a cool vibe. The food was mediocre for the price. Service was great and the cocktails were interesting. It's one of the nicer places we went in Gainesville so i say give it a shot. We had the lamb chops and braised beef short rib read more

OAK - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Absolutely loved my experience at OAK. We were recommended by a friend who dined here and I am so happy we listened! The food wears delicious and our server Blair was sweet and very helpful. The buffalo cauliflower was cooked perfectly and the pimento cheese on the friend green tomato stack was the perfect touch. Everything they cook is fresh and you can tell! I ordered the final rose cocktail that I am now dreaming about. It was refreshing and just the right amount of sweet. The burrata salad was crisp and creamy. I would definitely recommend OAK to anyone and can't wait to visit it again. read more

OAK - Final rose cocktail and tomato burrata salad - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Good spot to grab a beer. Food is good too but they have tough competition nearby. It's always easy to get a large table with friends for a celebration and they have reasonable prices. read more

Natalia should be running this business. She was the best server! So sweet and kept the drinks flowing and was very knowledgeable about the menu. 10/10 fantastic brunch because of Natalia! read more

Wow Gainesville has gotten fancy since I've last been here. We actually found OAK just wandering around downtown looking for a quick bite. Since it was Sunday there were quite a few people here for the Sunday Brunch. This place is very cool inside - Pool tables with leather couches to lounge at, beer and wine self-serve taps on the walls, and a pretty chic wood interior. We opted to sit at the bar since it was mostly a liquid lunch but we did share the shrimp and grits which was pretty good. The cocktails were very good though and we tried several from the specialty menu. Overall, this place is pretty cool and I would definitely recommend as it seems like a good place to hang out and have some beverages. read more

OAK - Self serve brew on tap - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Great atmosphere and amazing service. Our server Louie provided not only an unforgettable brunch, but lasting memories. Our mimosas were truly bottomless. There wasn't an empty glass in sight. I personally saw him risk life and limb to ensure there wasn't a sober soul in sight. A tip wouldn't do him justice, I will be naming my first born after the almighty Louie as a token of my appreciation for the unforgettable drinks and #vibes we had on this day. read more

service was great. Louis was amazing!! definitely recommend coming.

Really yummy! It is a great place for a birthday dinner! Everybody is really nice and the food is yummy! They have some gluten-free options and lots of yummy drinks. I do not recommend walking in! Make plans ahead of time, for sure. read more

As a resident of the city of Gainesville, I have been to oak a fair share of times. The drink and food menus have changed a lot as time has passed, mostly for the better! Over the summer we met the bar manager and he really knows what he's doing, the cocktails are great! The 3 star rating comes after factoring in the food. The food has always been a little over the standard price but the ambiance makes for it, I suppose. When ordering the $20 charcuterie board, and only got 3 pieces of each of the three varieties of meats and cheeses: that was seriously disappointing. Overall great ambience, but not worth the dining splurge. read more

Easily the best restaurant in Gainesville. I've been here so many times and the food and service is consistently pleasant. Some of my favorites on the menu are the Buffalo cauliflower tacos and the grilled cheese. Drinks are also great, love going here for happy hour! Perfect date spot or a nice restaurant for dinner with your parents/friends. read more

Have you ever wanted to step inside a Pinterest board? Well come to OAK! Fully equipped with chalkboards, a mason jar flower wall, and plenty of slices of wood, OAK is every basic girl's dream. Need a photo op for your birthday of you #treatingyoself? Well OAK will give you a giant mason jar of their signature cocktails adorned with a sparkler for free!! All jokes aside, I really do enjoy OAK. It is a very nice addition to downtown Gainesville. The farm chic vibes and awesome drinks really bring me back. I have come on many ocassions, for dinner, drinks, and brunch. I would have to say that the drinks are my favorite. Not really a fan of any of their food. The best drinks definitely are the Southern Belle and the Souther Gentleman. If you just want simple wells, I would suggest their Whiskey Sour. It is so fresh and light. OAK is one of my go to bars downtown. There is plenty of comfy seating, delicious drinks, good music (most nights,) and games if your friends are boring. The owners are quite charitable as well and have allowed my college to hold many fundraisers here. Thank you OAK!!! read more

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Not my favorite place to eat in Gainesville but after trying other restaurants with super long waits, our party of six was able to get a table immediately on a Sunday night. The tater tots and the truffle mac & cheese were good and I would order them again. The Caesar salad is fire grilled and make the lettuce look rotten. I ordered the tuna special which wasn't very special. Three of us ordered the wild mushroom ravioli and they all liked it. One of them added shrimp to hers. We also ordered the shrimp and grits and the grilled cheese with tomato soup. Both of those were a hit. For dessert, we had the fried oreos and the bread pudding. Service was below average from both the hostess and the waitress. They weren't rude but they didn't have any enthusiasm about being there and there were long waits between courses. Probably a good place if you just want to drink and grab something to eat while drinking. read more

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LOUIS IS GREATTTT! Ask for him as a server! Sweetest heart alive! amazing server and even better friend! food was incredible as was the service. come here for all your dinner celebrations!! read more

Natalia was amazing! Drinks were always refilled and brunch was great!

This is strictly for the food side and not the barrels of whisky and beer side, because that's strictly genius and I need to try that when I come back. I came because I was walking around before continuing on my road trip and got hungry. I decided to dine-in. There was only about two tables being served, but it was practically empty. My girlfriend and I ordered food and water. The waiter took forever to come with waters. She was needlessly walking around the room and passing by the bartender, but no initiative to bring water...really. Finally I had to call her over to bring water. They brought out the soup I ordered before the water. I got the pork which was whatever. My girlfriend got the grilled cheese which she couldn't finish but said it was alright. Our waiter gave really slow service to everybody. I noticed the table beside us ordered drinks that were open and waiting at the bar to be picked up, but she was busy talking and waited a good 5 to 10 minutes to then grab them and take them to the table. This delay also occurred for my check. The decor is fantastic and the place is really hipster which I love. I will come back for the serve yourself barrels, but from the service I had with the food, I'd probably stay away from that. read more

OAK's market is clearly the college crowd. The noise level is rather high when they're crowded, and is amped up by the hard wall surfaces. This can make conversation across a table challenging at times. I also noted their hard metal chairs are quite uncomfortable, possibly with the intention of encouraging a quick turn-around at their tables. A favorite brunch dish for me is Eggs Benedict; however, not one of the OAK's Eggs Benedict dishes comes with Canadian bacon, a favorite part of the dish for me. Consequently I went with their "Flank and Eggs." That was a big mistake! Contrary to the statement on one of their web pages, where they boast about their ingredients being locally sourced and "of tremendous quality," their flank and eggs was inferior in the extreme, and for $26, a considerable rip-off. I requested the eggs over easy. While the yolk was soft, a large part of the outer edge of the eggs was burned. Worse yet was the flank steak itself. Now I understand that flank steak has a reputation for being a tougher, more fiberous cut, nevertheless it can be tenderized with a variety of techniques and proper cooking. Clearly the OAK either has not figured out how to accomplish this, or simply does not bother attempting to tenderize their flanks, which I suspect is the case as that would take more time and effort. One of the main reasons I choose their flank and eggs dish was that I was really looking forward to trying the chimichurri sauce. That too was a mistake. The portion of it cooked on the steak was quite skimpy to the point of being almost imperceptible, especially as one had to chew and chew and chew the steak. In fact, eating the steak was so slow and tedious, my eggs and potatoes became stone cold before I could finish them. On the plus side, the breakfast potatoes were done nicely though nothing exceptional. In all fairness I should mention, one of my dining partners ordered one of their waffle dishes, the Stuffed Bacon and Bourbon, and was quite happy with it; though personally, I prefer more protein in my breakfast/brunch. And to add the proverbial salt to my "wound," it was less than half the cost of their dismal Flank and Eggs. Another high note was our wait person, Natalie, who was very good - attentive and thorough! Remember folks, if you can afford to go out for drinks and/or brunch/dinner, you can afford to tip appropriately. If one is primarily interested in dropping some serious bucks for any of their many interesting drinks, enjoys a noisy environment, and rather uncomfortable seating, then OAK might be the place for you. When it comes to their food however, based on my experience, I have to say, proceed with caution. read more

Great food. My husband surprised me with a trip here for my birthday! The food was amazing. My husband had the Lamb. It was so tender and cooked amazing! I had the sweet tea brazed short rib. It was delicious and tender. read more

Great place for food and drinks. I will definitely keep going here !!! The atmosphere and servers make you want to stay and have more. See you soon!! read more

Incredible food, unbelievable service, great atmosphere. There is not a better bang for your buck then the grilled cheese and tomato soup! I recommend Louie as your server, he is so charming and so good at what he does. Louie if you are reading this, thank you!!! 10/10 oak is the place to be!!! read more

Took me a bit to find this on Yelp! I thought the place was called Oak Kitchen, instead of O.A.K. I am not a soup kind of person, it usually just doesn't do it for me, leaves you hungry right after eating it. I got the grilled cheese (with bacon) & the tomato soup. Does anything get closer to comfort food than that? It may have been the best soup that I ever had, not your typical watered down tomato soup you get from Campbell's. This was thick and you could tell it was made in house, it was so good. The grilled cheese was also good. They also have taps where you can pour your own beer & whiskey. WHISKEY! I need to go back & hit that up. read more

OAK - Grilled cheese with bacon & tomato soup. - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Did a carry out. restaurant has nice rustic decor. I had high expectations for the Oak cheeseburger due to the menu description. In actuality it was underwhelming. That being said, the Buffalo cauliflower tacos were spectacular! We also ordered a 10$ pretzel appetizer that was sent without dipping sauce. So... that's a negative. if they had checked the order before it was picked up they would have seen the extra order of tacos ... which I will consider the substitute for the couple disappointments. If I had eaten in i would have sent the burger back and they probably would have " made it right" so 4 stars are about right. read more

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There has never been an occasion where I wished I could leave a zero star review but I suppose there's a first time for everything. First and foremost, the waitstaff at Oak is shockingly and profoundly inept. We arrived on time for an 11 am reservation and were seated in an empty restaurant. We waited 25 minutes for a waitress to even welcome us, even though she had passed by our table, avoiding eye contact, at least a half dozen times. By this point we were mildly disgruntled, but proceeded to place our order, during which we were told that they didn't have orange juice. After another 20 minutes a few of my colleagues received mimosas, signaling to us that our waitress must either be some degree of brain damaged or otherwise entirely ignorant as to the workings of her own establishment. At this point we were laughing at the absurdity of the wait and the lack of service, and began hailing other waitresses in a futile attempt to get our drinks. After flagging down another waitress we were finally told that a new pot of coffee was being brewed. We then proceeded to wait yet another 15 minutes for *coffee* which was delivered to us in glass Mason jars (safety hazard) alongside a few loose packets of fake sweetener and cream in a plastic sauce container. Keep in mind that we have now been at Oak for 75 minutes, and had placed our order a full hour prior. We had to ask a third waitress to get our appetizers, which came out as a partial order (we only received 2/3 plates) and soaked in oil. This is now a full 90 minutes after arriving and ordering. We decided to cut our losses and not ask about the third plate, and instead waited for our entrees. They came out cold, under seasoned, and stale and were less than entirely underwhelming. I wouldn't have accepted this food for free, and it was absolutely not worth the wait. We asked to speak to the manager and were given an extraordinarily lame excuse that he was "busy" and "on the line with the chef". We were shocked at the lengths our waitress was going to cover her own shoddy service. There is absolutely no excuse for this sort of behavior. In sum, the horrendous service, which consisted of us begging anyone we could reach for some sort of update/refills/ETA for our drinks, appetizers, and entrees, an utterly incompetent, deceitful, and otherwise unapologetic waitress, and the disgusting food make this place one of the worst dining experiences I have had in my entire life. read more

OAK - Tepid mac and cheese - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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We went to brunch for Mothers Day and sat outside on the patio on high top. The food was delicious, the service thoughtful and it was wonderful. My son is in the College of Veterinary Medicine and I haven't spent Mothers Day with him in 5 years. OAK was perfect, it did not feel like your typical College hang out - it felt special! read more

I enjoy the chance to try new places in my town even though opening week can spell trouble as new businesses get off the ground. Respecting the experiences of others who stopped in for a visit, I have to say that OAK is gearing up to be a fun contribution to downtown so long as they listen to their patrons. The Space A primetime location smack dab in the fray of downtown, OAK managed to nab a lot of real estate for building out a folk-chic atmosphere. Perfect for Gainesville's cozy, rural attitude, you will enter to a display of sunflowers on your right, walls and walls of barrel wood, and mason jars carrying candles to warmly light up the night. An accommodating bar area sits in the center of the room to handle people from the patio, the lounge area near the entryway, or those in the back of the room at the stretch of hightop tables. They do serve a solid amount of food options, and the seatings dedicated to those who come for dinner is both ample and spaced out enough to not overcrowd those just coming for a time on the town. Awesome asides include a giant Scrabble on the wall for passing time, shuffleboard, and a TV in the lounge area for catching the game. There are a lot of TVs in general, but that space is densely packed with the most fun. The Service Off on the right foot, a hostess waits outside the doors to direct dinner patrons or just welcome bar-goers. I came after dinner mainly because I had recently read about it and we were right next door, and found the bar approachable, as well as the bartender informative. A few quick questions and I was off to enjoy one of my new favorite things ever... The Selection A wall of self-serving taps. If you follow my reviews and recreations you will likely assume this is exactly the gimmick that I am a sucker for. They have a full bar or you can have them pour a pint at a flat rate, if preferred, but you give a man a row of local and legitimate craft beers to sample on a per-ounce basis and you have made a happy man. It seems they put effort into arranging the taps by type, and I am happy to report they support local breweries as well. Plenty of clean pint glasses cycle in as the night goes on, so get comfortable with a unique opportunity to explore your interests. Think "kid in the candy shop", but instead more it is lad/lass in a liquor store. And speaking of liquor, two whiskeys are also included in this by-the-ounce beverage experience. You can find lemons, limes, and ice to mix up your ideal sour. Final Thoughts I did not try the food and, from what I read, that may be a solid decision for now. No hearsay will stop me from giving these guys another visit. I had a fantastic time at a fun, inviting place that has something for everyone and that alone will get me in the door for a meal soon. read more

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I went here with a girl friend and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere. It's quirky and fun...dimly lit but still vibrant enough with its scrabble wallboard and chalkboards on one side of the wall adjacent some couches. I ordered a margarita-like drink (a sour watermelon?). There was barely any taste of the patron tequila I had paid $10 for, but the drink was very well-presented and tasted like a pleasant punch. I prefer a little more kick in my alcohol, and so I ordered a straight whiskey ("Is that straight whiskey?!" Asked a man at the bar. Yes, yes it is sir.) I am not a whiskey drinker myself, but the Fresh Rose (small barrel) was so good. At first a warm caramel and cinnamon unfolds and the finish is a mellow oak/vanilla with some clove notes. Straight, chilled whiskey is an experience like no other. I think I might have found a favorite liquor. And for $6, that's not too bad. The atmosphere was fun enough, but I was disappointed with the $10 cocktail. I don't have enough whiskey experience, but I really enjoyed the whiskey there and I think a whiskey expert could find something she could enjoy...there's enough to satisfy a beginner and an expert on the menu. TL;DR...cocktails aren't anything stellar, but the straight whiskey is something to go back for. If you know what you want and don't experiment too much I think this place could be a "regulars" type of bar. read more

OAK - Watermelon sour - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Amazing Benny! The service was great, Natalia never left our mimosa empty and was so friendly! Simply the best for great drinks and a chill vibe! read more

Downtown near my hotel, OAK was an easy choice. I've been here several times and each time the experience is consistent. A fine meal by all accounts. read more