We've tried The Oak Tavern several times hoping each time it'll be better than the last, but it never is. Unfortunately the food looks way better than it tastes. The Buffalo chicken pizza (which I've ordered twice) has been watery each time, with toppings sliding right off the limp crust. We've ordered the fried pickles a few times too, and they taste like they were fried in old oil. If you've had fresh fried pickles versus ones fried in bad or old oil, you know the difference. The beef nachos came out cold, served in a big cast iron skillet that also was cold (why serve cold nachos in a cold skillet?). Service at the bar has also been slow every time. Regulars get priority with very attentive service. As a former bartender myself, I get it: the regulars are sure tippers and people you get to know on a personal level. But every customer deserves attentive service regardless if it's their first time in a bar or their 100th. Also something odd about the bar service: each time I've ordered a mixed drink like Jack and Coke, they serve it in a pint glass. Industry standard for a single serving of Jack and Coke is in a short glass/rocks glass, not in a tall glass unless a customer requests it. The first time I thought it was a simple mistake, but it kept happening the other times we went too. This might be policy here to keep the bartender from having to make drinks more often? But it's not industry standard and is strange.
I literally never leave negative reviews, but living locally it really sucks this place isn't better. We make the drive to Grain Valley or Blue Springs if we want to go to a bar because we keep getting disappointed. I'll update my next review of The Oak Tavern with pictures if we decide to try again. Rating 2/5 stars because my husband said his smoked wings that were on special were good! And like I said, the food always does *look* pretty. I hope it's better next time if we decide to try again. read more