I was so happy when I heard that Oakleaf was moving to Carrboro. I think the food has gotten better since the move, but it was always wonderful. My wife and I had dinner last week and it was outstanding. The flavors were beautifully combined, the service was great, and the waiter recommended a wonderful bottle of wine that didn't break the bank. read more

Great meal at the bar. Loved the salad and the cheese plate. Chef was responsive and love his approach to food.

Oakleaf has always been my favorite in the triangle fir years, sophisticated but not pretentious with excellent gourmet local foods. We finally tried the new Carrboro location last night and could not get in the mood: the grey/black/blue/tile decor is cold and unwelcoming, it was cold and I had to leave my coat on, the lighting is gloomy and dark, no lights on the art and a miniature bar to sit on. The food was good but the portion were very small particularly for the price (except for the chickpea fritters). We had the gem kale salad, that was just ok, the dressing however was delicious. The wine glass portion were ridiculous for the 15 dollars price, service was ok but when we left, no one even noticed or acknowledged us. Overall elaborate food, depressing setting and overpriced, I will not be back, I miss the Pittsboro experience. read more

Popped in here to have dinner when I was in town for work. The food was good and fresh but it took a VERY long time. The wait staff was very apologetic and attentive. Seems like a place where a lot of people come for a nice date dinner. read more

First-timer. Never made it to the Pittsboro location, so no wistful reminiscing here. I'm impressed. Started things off right with a maple syrup whiskey sour. It was a really nicely-executed cocktail (and not too sweet) with a perfect egg-foamy head. We ordered a few starters, a half-portion of pasta, and one main. Everything was delicious. It took some time for the food to arrive, but we were appeased with two helpings of free sliced house baguette with butter. And the rest was worth the wait. I got the flounder and I do believe it was the best fish I've ordered in a restaurant. Perfectly done with a crispy exterior and delicate flaky interior. No skin or bones to work around, just super fresh fish done right. Thank you. The duck fat potatoes for the table were damn good. I tried some of the angnolotti with asparagus (wow), the market greens with buttermilk dressing and the ricotta-topped sourdough. Everything made me smile. Dessert was a slight step down, however. We ordered the "Chocolate" and it was enjoyable enough, but not exciting. It didn't help that there was only about a tablespoon of the delicious malted milk ice cream to balance out the heavy chocolate and it seemed to have been plated by a preschooler. But I won't let that get me down. We will be back. Excited to try their lunch. Carrboro has too many mediocre restaurants. Thank you for raising the bar. read more

My wife and I came here for our 25th wedding anniversary dinner, and we were glad we did. Our dining experience was phenomenal. We were greeted cheerfully with an opened door, and seated immediately even though we were early for our reservation. The waitstaff was personable, attentive, and helpful with the menu. The actual menu changes more often than they can update their website, so set expectations accordingly. It's a small inconvenience for a seasonal farm-to-table restaurant. But the staff has the menu memorized cold. We enjoyed our house cocktails, Summertime Blues and Paradise Punch, sharing generously between us. The cocktails were pleasant, fruity without being cloyingly sweet, and the alcohol bite was softened (gin and vodka). The basil sprig in the Summertime Blues sent the nose in a different direction from the drink, and added a nice complexity. We started with a pickel-etto appetizer which has two pieces each of asparagus, spring onion, mushroom, and turnip. All were good, but the spring onion was great - sweet, airy, crunchy with a nice aftertaste. The turnip was the most stubborn vegetable that transformed the least from pickling and frying. The basil aoli was a nice complement, and found its way on our bread, too. Since this was our first time here, we decided on each getting two half plates of pasta as entrees. This was a wise decision for us as it provided more variety and a less bloated feeling when were done. My wife's agnolotti was so good she insisted I take a bite of hers before I even had a bite of mine. It's amazing what they could do with ricotta cheese. She also made the decision to eat this slowly to savor it more. When is the last time you felt that way about a dish? I found the tagliatelle similarly delightful - lemony, buttery, served with a pungent green for contrast (kale, collard? - not the broccoli on the online menu, a good substitution). Often dishes like this are salty, but not this one. Our second dishes were good, and perhaps only suffered in comparison to their predecessors. If I were to order two half dishes again, I would have requested a 10 minute delay in the serving the second dish so it would be hot after we ate our first. My wife enjoyed her tortelloni as did I enjoy the gnocchi (closest to a signature dish since it is on the menu the most often). For dessert, my wife got the Dark and Stormy, the more experimental choice. She liked it, especially the ginger ice cream, but longed for my choice. I like pairing chocolate with coffee, so I ordered the Chocolate. I enjoyed it, but have had better. It was a bit hard/dense and the texture changes were not as pronounced or evenly distributed. Perhaps something like mousse, cake, crumb, and a thinner chocolate wafer would be better? The accompanying coffee was rich, dark, and strong - very good. We would recommend this restaurant and gladly return. Next time, we'll order regular entrees just to have a new experience. read more

Some people judge a meal by cost/quantity ratio, some people by cost/quality. I belong to the second group. Oakleaf has quality in so many dimensions! I'll start with "healthful," though it will quickly transition into other qualitative praises: as an older eater, I am delighted when a meal that tastes good also makes me feel good--nothing is drowned or drenched in condiments, nothing is too buttery, too creamy, too salty. Oakleaf knows how to make potentially heavy foods (deliciously sauced pastas, for one) feel light, with flavors that sing. I love it that the portions are never grotesque, the salads are the freshest and crispest (one of the only area restaurants where you can get a beautifully cleaned and dressed bibb lettuce salad), the flavorings are honest and fresh, the high quality of the meal is consistent week after week, the house-made bread is superb (a lovely crusty French-style loaf with a chewy crumb--pure no-gimmicks bread). The service is the same blend of attentive and down-to-earth that makes the thoughtfully balanced menu always taste welcoming. Oakleaf is no more pricey than other area high-end restaurants, but it is a better restaurant than most--better for one's body, better for one's taste buds. And it is open for lunch and dinner! I have eaten at every expensive and not-so-expensive Chapel Hill restaurant, and Oakleaf has emerged as my default go-to place for a great meal. read more

Fantastic place to eat for a special occasion. It was wedding anniversary 32 for us. Dining is ala cart but still very reasonably priced for a fancy restaurant. Our server, Tim was one of the best we've ever had. Made a spot on wine recommendation and attended to us well. Food was absolutely delicious! read more

Wow!!!! Probably the best dining experience I've had in at least six months. The atmosphere is pleasant and welcoming. Don't be confused by the outdoor sign, with the previous name. I had the gnocchi and my boyfriend had to keep me from literally licking the plate. Everything from the service to the clean bathrooms and outstanding dessert exceeded expectations. read more

Fine dining at its best! We first experienced Oakleaf at its Pittsboro location and were impressed enough to drive 45 minutes to Carrboro to go again. We were not disappointed. Fabulous farm to table food in a beautiful setting with amazing, knowledgeable wait staff. The fried oyster appetizer was light and fresh. From the Black Sea Bass to the duck breast, everything was amazing. Do not pass up the fingerling potatoes in duck fat, large enough to share. We will be back. read more

Truly memorable food and exceptional service. We had the melon and tomato gazpacho which was perfect. Not too sweet nor too tart. The salmon was perfect and the tagliatelle, freshly made pasta and delicious crab was out of this world. We don't get desert but we saw them and they looked out of this world. read more

Oakleaf joins the upscale-big names of Chapelborro. With a per-person price point in the $30s, smaller sized plates, and an emphasis on artisanal it's a nice addition to the area, if not a novel one. I'd never visited Oakleaf before its move from Pittsboro but I've been told it was unrivaled. In its new home, never for want of a constant crowd, Oakleaf competes with more established Carrboro staples like Acme, Venable, and Tandem. Its foci are decidedly small-plate and cuisine farm-to-table American. What's stand out in those things is the emphasis on simple, perfectly prepared dishes like duck ragu over tagliatelle or 'crazy-much-Parmesan' polenta (which was just the right amount of over the top Parmesan by the way). Sweet-salty Berkshire prosciutto and arugula make a simple sharing plate. Between shared dishes and one of each of the day's deserts was great conversation with outstanding bartenders tending original cocktails. Deserts, by the way: textural, thematic, and complementary. Lemon, yuzu, and graham; chocolate and some; or coffee, toffee, and biscotti. The goal of Oakleaf is as much feed as it is to provide and experience, with linked dishes, which many restaurants claim to do but few live up to. I might not go back on a whim for dinner, but for a light meal with drinks or a special occasion, Oakleaf is a great option in a busy area, without blending into the scenery. read more

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Superb Dining Oakleaf has it all--great food, outstanding service, and an elegant new location in Carrboro. The prices are very reasonable for such a first-rate experience. The menu changes frequently, often driven by what the chef finds at the market, I am a long-time customer, having eaten at the former location in Pittsboro roughly seventy times. Oakleaf was easily my favorite restaurant when in Pittsboro, and I like them even more after the move. read more

Love this carrboro gem. Food and service were both excellent. It was a nice night so I am glad they had a patio seating option (and they are dog friendly!). In addition to outdoor tables, there is a nice outdoor lounge area if you wanted to have a drink before dinner. The griddled sourdough and scallops were my favorite. We also got the risotto appetizer and two half-sized pastas (pictured) and were not disappointed! The pastas were flavorful but light. Lastly we ended with the mascarpone cheesecake. Again, Light but flavorful. Oh and the bread they give you with the meal is . Might be my new favorite CH/carrboro spot! read more

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I most definitely have a new favorite restaurant! The burrata appetizer was so, so good. All the pastas were superb. All home made and good variety. Cocktails were unique, delicious and strong. Perfect! Service was fabulous. So happy they moved from Pittsboro (I liked the Pittsboro location and especially the decor, but I think the food in Carrboro was better and I can't beat the convenient location). Parking is a bit of a pain. Go to the parking garage connected to the hotel. read more

Absolutely the best meal I have eaten at a local establishment. Service was terrific we really enjoyed our conversation with the waiter. I had a Manhattan for a cocktail which was excellent. Arugula salad with hazelnuts and Sourdough appetizer were delicious. Complimentary bread was to die for . For main dish my mother had a duck which was "like buttah" , I had a delicious roasted flounder and my husband had the steak.The dinner and cocktail were so satisfying that did not feel the need for a dessert . If you are looking for a dinning experience that provides the highest quality ingredients then Oakleaf is for you. read more

Bad night or just bad? We had heard good things so we were really surprised at how bad the service was when we ate there on Saturday night. Our waiter was terrible. He was slow, argumentative and uninformed. We asked about the day scallops we had seen on the website, simply inquiring if they had them that night, and we got schooled at length on how the homepage is not accurate (his words) when all he needed to say was that they didn't have them. We were seated for 45 minutes before he took our order. He came back to tell us (after the appetizers were served) that three of the entrees we ordered were no longer available. Finally, to finish it all off, we were there to celebrate a birthday which he completely forgot about. We didn't say anything because we just wanted to be done with it all. Too bad.... read more

To begin, Susan, a hostess who has moved with Oakleaf from Pittsboro to Carrboro, is absolutely charming and a real professional. Without fanfare, she takes care of the many details that make a restaurant run smoothly. My husband and I sat on a lovely banquet that faced out into the room and enjoyed the scene before us. It was a busy Thursday night and the waiters and waitresses kept a good pace serving the many diners. We started the meal off with a delicious bourbon drink with aperol along with some of the warm, fresh bread and salted cheese we've always enjoyed at Oakleaf's former location. My favorite dish of the night was a tomato salad that was seasonal perfect and perfectly seasoned. My husband pasta with pesto was scrumptious. We had other dishes as well so we had no appetite for one of their great desserts. read more

The food was excellent with lots of local menu items and a good atmosphere. The portions were a little on the smaller side but that is to be expected for an upscale restaurant. read more

The agnolotti with ricotta & parmigiano filling, fennel pollen, orange zest, pistachio burro fuso for $24 is the best pasta dish I've ever had outside Italy (and my wife and I have dined at ever Michelin star restaurant in Tuscany). It was marvelous. My wife had flounder and we shared the Brussels sprouts and raved about both. A magnificent meal . . . best in class. Bravo!!! read more

After loving this place 3x in a row, we were completely disappointed tonight in everything. Our waiter was disinterested and awkward; steak was almost cold; peaches with burrata were tasteless.... read more

So few higher end dining experiences open right now, and there were already so few in Chapel Hill given it's size. This was a refreshing break and really enjoyed the patio environment. Food was amazing, cauliflower could not have been done more perfectly. A definite repeat. read more

Wonderful service (5 stars); good food (4 stars). Leaning towards 3 stars for location (not a fan of restaurants in a " strip mall", but it's Carrboro.... so based on the service personnel, giving 4 stars overall. read more

Starting to really love this place. The food, decor, and service is good. The bartenders are nice, and quite knowledgeable. They make sitting at the bar an enjoyable experience. The food is fresh and quite good. It's not on the inexpensive side, but worth it if you are looking for a nice meal. read more

This restaurant is quite eclectic so if you want a spaghetti and meatball dinner - head to Olive Garden. The menu is varied and includes many ingredients which none in our party had ever seen. We asked many questions and our server was great but was " learning" as well. Portions small. It was an ok dinner - perhaps would have been better as a Chef led experience. read more

Amazing! The chef's tasting menu was delicious. Really enjoyable dining experience. Chef accommodated my request for no meat. Local asparagus was a highlight as were the two different fish courses. The ravioli with arugula pesto was perfect. Highly recommend the bar, too. Engaging staff and nice mix of traditional and original cocktails. read more

The "new" Oakleaf has a serenely subtle interior, reminiscent of the original setting in Pittsboro. The menu is limited to what Brendan can turn out excellently. Service was perfect. Worth a trip from anywhere in The Triangle, and beyond !! read more

Best food and service we've had in the Chapel Hill area in a long time, and we've been to most of the highly-lauded restaurants over the past few years. Imaginative food, meticulously prepared, impeccably plated and served. Among the 6 of us every one loved their main, salad, firsts and dessert. Additionally, we let the server know as we were seated that two of us have severe shellfish allergies. Most places now are very good about accommodating this or at least telling you what dishes you can't have (e.g., something fried in the same oil that is used to fry shellfish). However, I have never had a restaurant go to this extent: we asked about the fried brussels and were told that they are fried in the same oil as seafood. While the two of us with allergies were mildly disappointed, we ordered the brussels anyway for the rest of the table. A few minutes later, our server returned to tell us that the chef instead was going to pan-fry the brussels (which were delicious). Also, I ordered the arugula salad. When brought out, the server informed me that the chef did not like the looks of the arugula so he instead made it with mache (which also was a delicious salad). Again, most other chefs would have either served the subpar arugula or just stated that they were out. Oakleaf is different. Try anything there; you won't be disappointed. Go soon and go often. read more

I have enjoyed dinner many times at Oakleaf when it was located in Pittsboro. I was very excited when I heard it was moving to Carrboro as this is so much closer to home. I went for an early dinner at the new Carrboro location and my excitement faded fast. We were among the first four people in the restaurant. The hostess struggled with where to seat us. The manager finally took over and quickly seated us. Then we sat at the table and waited for someone to come to our table. The other table had been served drinks before anyone came to our table. We had to ask for a drink menu and the waiter did not know the drink menu. His lack of knowledge became very apparent when we moved to food menu. His description of items were very basic and certainly not what you expect at a good restaurant. He served an IPA with about 1.5 inch head on it. I commented that it was a very poor pour. He argued with me that there was nothing they could do about it. When the food arrived, it was ok but certainly not great. The service remained poor throughout the meal. They have only been open for two weeks but they will need to improve dramatically if they are going to win me over as a customer. read more

What a wonderful surprise! Visiting here from the San Francisco bay area, we chose Oakleaf based on the reviews and they are more than well deserved. This is REALLY good food! We obviously haven't tried every restaurant in the Carrboro area, but of the ones we've tried, Oakleaf is in a league of its own in terms of flavors and quality. As for the service, super friendly and welcoming, many congratulations to all of you at Oakleaf! read more

Everything that touched my lips was amazing. Will especially recommend the Dirt Candy.

I'm giving it 5 stars because that's as many as Yelp will allow me to give. We had a company celebration for about 18 people, and Leslie expertly helped us plan and execute (in 48 hours!) the most excellent experience. We have a number of dietary challenges in our group that needed to be accounted for in planning the menu for the night, and Chef Brendan Cox made sure that everyone had a delicious meal that addressed their needs. We were given our own private room and the two young men who served us - Nick and Alex - did such a fantastic job of making sure the wine glasses stayed filled, the appetizers delivered as soon as everyone was seated and comfortable and just generally keeping the experience absolutely top-notch. Every menu item, from the cheese plate to the smoked nuts, the entrees, and of course dessert - was expertly prepared, delivered promptly, and utterly delicious. Honestly, I'd be hard pressed to name a Chapel Hill/Carrboro restaurant that did a better job of delivering a curated wine list, fabulous food and wine and 5-star service. read more

We could not be more pleased with our experience here. Service was top-notch. Food was delicious. The pasta dish I ordered was incredible and easily on par with meals I've had in Italy. My husband had the duck and said it was the best duck he had ever had at a restaurant. The only negative was the deviled eggs which were pretty mediocre so skip that option. We will definitely be back! read more

Absolutely amazing. From the deviled eggs to the chicken sandwich it all was amazing and made my day the food was that good. Very inviting atmospheres read more

In a word: uneven. Our first time here and we brought another couple for a celebration. Setting was fine, I never saw the other location so nothing to compare it to. Service was off and on - right there and then gone for long periods. But what surprised us was the unevenness of the food. Three of us got the duck as our main. It was frankly, terrible. It looked awful - like a brick of duck. Very unappetizing. And it tasted like nothing. I was amazed at how mediocre it was. We started with a bruschetta which was just boring....we cook and we make far better bruschetta than this. I had a good salad as a first course. The one person who had a pasta main loved it and I tasted it and thought it was excellent. Two people had a pasta first course, also good. SO I would suggest get a salad and get a pasta main. For background, we live in NYC. We get to go to great restaurants every week. We travel. We have high standards. But lots of medium sized towns are doing great food - we've recently been to Portland Oregon and Pittsburgh and had one great meal after another. On our visit here. we ate at both Fearrington House and OakLeaf and were very underwhelmed. Come on Triangle area, you are settling for mediocre. read more