Arrived on a Thursday night and the place was packed. We came a lot later than usual and it was Halloween, so that was on us. We sat in a nice waiting room for about a half hour, maybe more, but the folks around us were super nice and we just enjoyed socializing until our table was ready. It was almost as if they were doing seatings because at the same time a number of tables opened up. The hostess was overwhelmingly nice and the waitress was perfect for a local spot. Both were well seasoned and charming. I ordered the Lively Combo which was just about all the seafood lightly fried. Almost a Calabash style. Fish, clams, shrimp and oysters. For the sides I went with green beans and mashed potatoes w/ gravy. Both of which would have been just the way my mom made them. Finally, since that wasn't enough, they lured me into the desserts. There were over a half dozen options and I went with the Lemoncello cake which definitely put me over the edge of awesome. Definitely a recommended home town spot. read more

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A very comfortable and casual restaurant that makes you feel like you are being taken care of in someone's home. It's like your favorite Aunt Mary is spoiling you for a Sunday night dinner. The decor is country cozy while the service is very friendly and welcoming. Make sure your entire party is there before you try to get seating- I saw a group have to wait at the bar or on the porch until the rest of their group arrived. The menu is not overwhelming and consisted of some traditional foods that they do well. We enjoyed the rib eye and the boneless pork chop at our table. The baked potato, a trip to the salad bar, the beets, and the boiled cabbage were all part of the variety of sides enjoyed. I loved the salad bar. Everything on the salad bar was very fresh. Dinner was enjoyed with a round of red wine by everyone. read more

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Ordered takeout from The Oaks and everything was hot and very good! I had the shrimp entree, which was a dozen peeled de-tailed and de-veined, and spouse had the chicken fingers with their homemade honey mustard sauce for dipping. They, also, had potato casserole on the menu that night and it was so yummy! Definitely recommend a trip there. Spouse said the place was packed and parking lot was busy. read more

Great steaks and friendly people in a comfortable local hangout on the Northern Neck.

It's a fabulous place. Service was great, everyone was very nice. I had a ribeye, baked potato and a trip to the salad bar. The steak was cooked perfectly and how can you go wrong with an old school salad bar. Coconut cake for dessert was to die for. I'll definitely be going back. read more

Food and service were fantastic. Crab cakes were some of the best I've had. My wife's steak was very good cooked perfectly.

Rude owner, ruder waitress, great food...unfortunately you can't enjoy the special of the night when it's served with attitude! We were a party of six and the six of our other friends who happened to be there also witnessed it. Oaks just lost 12 regular diners...by now probably 24. This wasn't the first time and probably wouldn't be the last. If you don't love what you do then close up shop. What a shame! read more

Wonderful food - great service. The official restaurant of the CLAN TAYLOR. The have a great cook and the prices are reasonable. A good reason to make the trip to downtown Lively. read more

Local and friendly place. Real good steaks and burgers. Nice bar I highly recommend the Oaks. read more

10 out of 10 I'm not from the area, but when we are in Lively on a Friday or Saturday evening I want to go to The Oaks. I've had their steak every time! It's so delicious that I can't move on to try something different on the menu...and the butter beans are the absolute best! Staff is very friendly. read more

I'm so mad I didn't try this place earlier! Clams A+ Huge portion! And they were amazing! Hot and you could tell they were super fresh. They come with this amazing cocktail sauce. I would get them again! And I would absolutely recommend. Onion Rings A HUGE portion again. They are more of the bread crumb type, not the batter kind. I would get these again too Buffalo Shrimp A Not super spicy or bland, same kind of bread crumb as the onion rings. They came with this amazing dip too. They also had a really good (on the small-er side) salad bar. I would recommend getting it, as they have homemade potato salad and pasta salad that is OUT of this world. I will be back and recommending to everyone. read more

This is a happening place. Have noticed it is always crowded when we've camped near by and finally had a chance to try it. Food and service were on point. They knew their menu items well and gave good advice. Our drinks were always full. A great find and now will be a must do when we are in the area read more

Oaks Restaurant - This was a half rack of ribs. - American Near Me - Lively, Virginia

Incredibly rude and arrogant owner. She gave us a hard time from the moment we came in. Another reviewer remarked on her and that review was "not recommended" by Yelp. Read that one too. One steak ordered medium well was charred beyond recognition and our concern was not well dealt with. That diner then waited an inordinate amount of time for the correct steak, almost as a punishment it seemed. We were not offered a comped drink or steak or anything. Left a bad taste. We asked if we could take the charred steak home for the dog and were told we could but we would have to pay for it. Just unpleasant experience all around. Not the way to treat customers, that's for sure. We will not be back. read more

The Oaks is the perfect local restaurant. Good food. Friendly and attentive staff. Huge portions of solid American fare. All the grilled food is perfectly grilled. The fried food as a very light coating on it - no heavy overpowering batter. The desserts are homemade - many made by the owner herself. And in season, the vegetables come straight from her garden. read more

Had a nice ribeye grilled to the requested doneness. The green beans were out of a can, probably best to go with an alternate side. Good little bar area, kinda busy on a Friday night. Decent prices with a friendly staff. Salad bar had the essentials. read more

Oaks Restaurant - Ribeye medium rare with canned green beans - American Near Me - Lively, Virginia

Local restaurant with lots of good food on the menu. They are noted for their ribeye steaks, which are delicious. Great service and local atmosphere. We'll be back soon. read more

Very nice little restaurant in a quaint little Virginia town. I'm pretty sure it's a family owned and run business. The place is casual. The food is very good and the service is very friendly and the prices are very reasonable. We will definitely be back. read more

1st time eating there. Excellent food. Well prepared, fresh. Huge portions. Will definitely be back. read more

Our first time. We will definitely be back! Very casual atmosphere backed up by a hard working staff and great food. We had lamb chops - as good as it gets and liver and onions... just like home. Salad bar was just enough with dinner. We took dessert home... Cocoanut cake was very sugary- chocolate cake was great. See you soon! read more

My favorite seafood restaurant in the area. From the fried oysters to the salad bar and local friendliness. This is a place you want to check out! read more

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A gem! We kept a boat in the area during the pandemic and needed to get off the boat for real food. The owner and staff were very accommodating and welcoming to the "come here'rs". The food is excellent and huge portions. It's been over a year now and it's still our go-to place. The specials vary and are an excellent choice as well as your soon to be favorites. Desserts are good, excellent salad bar. Steve rocks it in the kitchen. Miss Nancy runs a fine restaurant and Michelle at the bar strikes the perfect balance of service and fun. The other patrons are nice and fun to talk to if you like to eat/sit at the bar. We are from Alexandria, Va and kinda picky about our restaurants and have had no complaints/issues with this place. So glad we decided to stop in. read more

This is a charming local restaurant. It is small, so get there early if you want a table for dinner! Four of us enjoyed sautéed rainbow trout and flank steak entrees with baked potato and green beans. Best of all: the homemade chocolate cake and peach cobbler. Yum! Terrific, attentive service. I would not hesitate to return! Thank you, Nancy! read more

Went on a Saturday night and the place filled up right after we walked in, so don't wait too late to get there. The menu has a good variety and a range of prices. The seafood items naturally cost the most, but lucky for me, I don't eat that mess. I got the hamburger steak because, well, I just don't see it around that much. It was a novelty order, but it was ridiculous. The burger was really thick, cooked to order, and had char on the outside, which dedicated burger places can't seem to pull off. The gravy was good and it came smothered in grilled onion. This was really, really good. The sides were good, lima beans and pickled beats. The standout of the night was the bread pudding. Made in house. It is a large piece and comes covered in a vanilla pudding sauce and whipped cream. I highly recommend telling them to leave off the pudding and whipped cream. The bread pudding is crazy good and that other stuff is just in the way. It's a cinnamon and raison bread pudding, but the cinnamon isn't over done and it is served warm. I will likely stop in just for this in the future. Get it. read more

Absolutely the worst experience of diNing I've ever ever had!!! The owner sat down at our table and chewed me out for getting an extra plate for a Very small amount of potato salad and two beets, and only reason I got another plate is because I didn't want it mixed with my salad ! She was obnoxious, arrogant and extremely rude!! I had to contain myself to keep from making a scene, hope she reeks what she sows, I'm a business owner myself and I have Never talked to anyone like that, I absolutely Highly Do Not recommend!! read more

Our first visit to The Oakes. We were quite pleasantly surprised. We were greeted at the door by the owner with a smile and friendly welcome. The waitress gave us the specials. My wife said "why not have something that you don't have at home." Well, they had liver and onions on the menu and I had that. Large portion and I could not finish. It was very good. All home cooking. Several beers on tap. Great atmosphere. We will definitely return! read more

We had lunch there on a week day. Pleasant small restaurant with a bar in a separate room. Pleasant server. I had the tilapia sandwich, my wife had a hamburger, both with fries. She liked the hamburger. The tilapia was large and moist and very good. The fries were fries. There was wi-fi. I wouldn't go out of the way but would stop there again. Three and a half stars, rounded up. read more

Every meal I've had has been great! Just a nice place to go too! Everyone's SO NICE too! (The only two names I know are Michelle and Mary) I always hope we go every Tuesday! Thanks, Your Tuesday Regulars! :) read more

This is honestly the best crab cake I have ever eaten. We come here every time we are in the Norther Neck.

The head chef Steve is one of the best around hear.The food is great and fresh and all homemade

oaks owners marty and nancy are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet. killer crabcakes, shrimp, sides, steaks... but the oaks is more than just a corner restaurant out in the country on the northern neck... the oaks delivers such a sense of community in a region that barely has 10,000 people... on visits down to the river, the oaks is one of my favorite ways to start off (coming from philadelphia, i usually arrive on friday evenings and drive straight to the restaurant instead of our house). just an amazing place with real food. i even keep their magnet on my fridge here in phila: "where good friends meet and eat." read more

Here in the Northern Neck, you needn't go to a waterfront restaurant for seafood. Just stop in at this little, unassuming place and the quality of their cuisine will blow your socks off. The steaks are out of this world. Better than any steak house I've ever been to. The prices are very reasonable as well. read more

We are so pleasantly pleased with ALL aspects of this restaurant. The steak was to die for, butter beans tender and perfectly seasoned, potato cooked perfectly......and the homemade Coconut Cake , yum. Our first visit but not the last. read more

It was a rainy miserable day and I was dashing through the rain towards the front door the kitchen door swung open and I was escorted in with an umbrella and a friendly smile. This typified our entire dining experience. It was a warm and friendly atmosphere, beginning with a delicious brocolli and cheese soup which was most definitely home made. I had the crabcake sandwich with a red skin potato salad as a side and my friend an egg salad sandwich. Both delicious. Wish we had room for the house made chocolate cake. Perhaps next time, since I'll definitely be returning. read more

I love coming to the Oaks. The food is excellent and reasonably priced and the staff are friendly and remember your name after coming just a few times. I always enjoy talking to Chris and Michelle. read more

The blackened prime rib is the best! Had this meal with onion rings and a side salad. Was excellent!

Big portion American food. Beef, seafood served fried and otherwise, kid-friendly, nice folks. Full bar. Crowded weekend nights and after work sometimes. read more

The best restaurant in the area. Great steaks and seafood, plus the biggest/best cheeseburger. Don't forget the specials - the chef is very creative and always comes up with something worth trying. Very friendly staff. read more

Terrific country style restaurant. Very friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Food was good and we were seated quickly. Egg rolls were tasty appetizer like a taquito. fried pork chops with country gravy were huge thick and delicious like they were made with miracle gro. Pickled beets hit the spot. All around yummy place to easily fill your tummy and the kids' too. read more

Great place! Staff is friendly and efficient and the food is great. My fried haddock was a huge portion with just right country green beans. The liver and onions was some of the best our friend had eaten. The grilled pork chops were perfectly done and very large. The salad bar was small but fresh with a good variety. The only negative was the French fries were coated rather than fresh cut. Our group of four couples split our meals do to the quantity except for the liver and onions. The tea is fresh and good. The homemade desserts were wonderful from bread pudding to coconut cake to chocolate cake. A great small place for country style cooking at reasonable prices considering the size of the entree. read more

The Oaks serves the best consistent meals we have ever had. The friendly atmosphere is so welcomed from franchised chains. It is Lively"s answer to an upscale restaurant with a down home feel. read more