Oak

Just had Oak at the recommendation of our AirBNB host. The atmosphere is cool. It’s hooked on to the sister Ale house via a cool shared patio. The wine list is extensive, and the live music was good, albeit a bit loud. We opted for the eggplant bruschetta (amazing, especially if you like goat cheese), shrimp tacos (delightful with a slight kick), brussel sprouts (likely the best I’ve had, and shockingly, my boyfriend’s favorite part of the meal) and the lamb poutine (interesting combination but the taste wasn’t my favorite). We ate around 9pm and by the time we were finishing, it was getting fairly crowded with what seemed like a college crowd. Not sure it would be our scene at night, but the service was good, wine was delicious and the food was tasty. Plus it was just a short walk from where we are staying.

Oak is an upscale bar on (as the name points to) Oak Street in the Riverbend neighborhood of New Orleans. On this visit, we met some friends for after-​dinner drinks and had the fortune to be there when the establishment was having a complimentary wine tasting.
Product: Drinks of all types and light snacks/​meals. I didn’t have any food on this visit, but the drinks were fine enough, though a bit pricey, and it was a plus to be able to try the wines being poffered for tasting. 4 stars
Service: Counter service at the bar. I’m not sure on how food was ordered, but we did sit at a table, and those who has ordered food had it delivered to them. I had the pleasure of meeting the proprietor of the establishment on this visit; he was friendly. 3 stars
Facilities: A wonderfully refurbished building right on Oak Street. The inside is spacious, with vaulted ceilings. There is an alleyway with outdoor seating which connects to a beer-​themed bar owned by the same person (I did not go in that bar). Seating includes stools at the bar and long tables with chairs for larger groups and those wanting to sit down and eat or drink. Artwork and other décor was slick and fit the minimalist motif of the establishment. The bathrooms were spotless. 5 stars
Bonus: Occasional wine tastings — contact the business to find out when they’ll have their next one. They also regularly have a small music ensemble performing in the evenings.
Overall: A really nice bar for before/​after dinner or an event. I’d suggest it to anyone going out in the Riverbend for an evening, and looking for something a little more elevated in style over the Maple Leaf. 4 stars

GORGEOUS interior, but great furniture isn’t what’s going to make me come back to a wine bar.
Happy hour: wines are well priced at $ 5 a glass. My friends and I had 4 of the wines listed on the hh menu.
two reds: the pinot was light and uninspiring, and the other was downright terrible.
chardonnay: meh
a fruity red sparkling wine: tasted like juice, definitely for your friend who doesn’t like wine.
Moral of the story: you get what you pay for
Other notes:
Charcuterie ($ 15) sparse and forgettable

3.5
Bartender was great accommodating a food allergy and suggested a cocktail she could alter for me… it turned out fantastic and was greatly appreciated. We had the fried oyster appetizer, it was just ok… more breading than oyster but they can’t all be winners

We were staying in a home just around the corner from Oak and wandered in a couple of times. Each time was an excellent experience. Drinks were skillfully prepared and service was fantastic. The décor alone make coming here worth it. It’s a well done mix of old and new French style. We came back another night for the wine tasting and that was fabulous as well. They do a $ 5 cocktail of the day and you really can’t go wrong. We consistently saw the same bartender who remembered us each time. We never ate here but the food looked quite fabulous.

Service was a little unpolished, but this place has potential. The combo with Ale next door is great, so you can hang out in the courtyard and both beer-​lovers and wine-​lovers can rejoice.
Food was mediocre, however. Fried Brussels Sprouts were good, and the regular fries were OK. But poutine was a travesty that embarrasses New Orleans and does not deserve the label poutine. I don’t expect perfect poutine here, in the same way I wouldn’t expect a piece of decent fried catfish out of a food truck in Ontario. But a food truck in Ontario wouldn’t be dumb enough to try to serve fried catfish unless they knew what they were doing (like, they’re actually transplants from Mississippi). And I have had decent poutine in New Orleans, so it can be done.
Wine list looks good, and the half price bottles (Wednesday special?) is a steal. Happy hour was a little disappointing. $ 5 options included wines I wouldn’t drink, and a cocktail that wasn’t much of one (liqueur poured into champagne, which I do at home on lazy Sundays).

Great wine list. Really. But the service was abysmal. The only attempt at eye contact came as she left the check. Our small plates arrived at vastly different times. The place is kind of noisy. The menu options certainly did not honor the rich culinary traditions of New Orleans. We couldn’t wait to leave.

Loved this place for after dinner drinks (had dinner at Jaque-imo’s down the street). Try the Dicki-​Dicki cocktail… if you like pink grapefruit flavors. I love the cream colored décor, bar staff is friendly and prices are reasonable. Across the outdoor patio is Ale, where they have tons of great beers on tap. I’ll definitely be back! :)

So me and a girlfriend of mine were looking for wine on a Friday night and Unilocal led us here. I’m so glad I didn’t read the reviews before I came cause that may have steered me away.
Cute little spot on Oak street with outside seating and the inside interior is so chic. White EVERYTHANG! Definitely girly as one fellow Unilocaler mentioned.
Now wine was on our agenda but the beers and cocktails caught our attention more.
And the band… let me just say it wasn’t overly loud as some have previously mentioned. They were great! Played covers of Anita Baker and some local Ricky B (Shake it for Ya Hood)…lets just say the music snob in me was in heaven.
This place wasn’t pretentious at all. No one was overly dressed looking to catch a sugar daddy or anything like that. Just groups of people mingling&talking and enjoying the band in between sets.
Maybe I picked a good chill Friday night. I’m glad I did. I’ll definitely be back for the half off bottles of wine during HH.
I’ll have to update this review once I can try the food… kitchen was closed when we arrived :(
Overall great experience! It gets added to my after work drink spots for sure.

We were in the neighborhood looking for a nice place to have a glass of wine or cocktail. At first we sat at the bar to look over the wine list and was greeted by the bartender. She was obviously on some sort of sedative as her movements were not aligned with her speech. I was amused just watching her so it added a little lagniappe entertainment. She was friendly though and suggested we sample a couple different wines since we couldnt decide.
After ordering, we decided to sit at one of their cozy tables off to the side. The clientele was probably between 19 and 24 which made me feel old but the atmosphere is so relaxed and refined that it remained a place I wanted to stay.
I’m not sure I would drive out of the way to return but if I were ever in the area, I wouldnt mind having another drink here and maybe sampling their small plates.

Great service, swanky vibes, classy ambiance, insane music, and superb drinks. My fiancé had an old fashion to which still stands as the best old fashion he’s ever put in his mouth. I had the El Sancho and let me tell you it was nothing short of B-​O-​M-​B.

Since I was traveling — I asked Chef Stew what is/​ar the best items on menu? This young talented guy — Stew (great name for a chef by the way) recommended the Grilled Broccoli and the Chickpea Cavatelli (fancy name for pasta). The balance of sweet and sour with the Sesame dressing on the Broccoli was delicious– portion was perfect too. Then came the Cavatelli. Oh my stars. The lamb & mushroom was amazing– the basil used to accent the dish was ideal– fresh, delicate, not overdone — WELL DONE STEWART FREEMAN!
The evening was complimented by the house red and not one, but two desserts that again, Chef Stew and co– worker recommended. The chocolate mousse was creamy, dark chocolate flavor– that was worth every calorie consumed. But then came the fruit tart. Splendid! Loaded with blueberries and a great crumb– this is comfort food and fine dining wrapped up in a wine bar. Well done Oak! Cool patio you all share with Ale too!

I want to like Oak… I really do. A self-​proclaimed wine and small plates lover, I find that Oak is simply inconsistent in their service and food quality. I’ve been here on too many nights where you grab a table (that in and of itself is rare, depending on the night of the week you stop in) and are basically overlooked and/​or given attitude. Sure, I get that I’m in the under 30 range which, in a lot of upscale places in NOLA, translates to «this group of kids won’t tip.» But that’s sort of a self-​perpetuating cycle, right?
Your best bet is to go up to the bar, order a glass, and… fight to find a spot. With Ale open now, there is a lot more seating which is a really good thing. It was sorely needed given the bar’s popularity. I love the wine! The food is a little inconsistent and a little overpriced but overall just fine. I like coming in here if I’m in the neighborhood and want a nice glass of wine.

Came here for cocktails with the girls so this review is only based on drinks and ambience. Loved the upscale hotel loungy feel. Cocktails were fantastic… My favorite was the tequila/​jalapeño cocktail (can’t remember the name).

This place is filled with gold diggers and older men wanting to upgrade their menopausal wives to a younger version thereof.
I have given Oak 4 — 5 chances. If you’re dressed casual, don’t bother coming bc service will be slow and crappy. Locals, especially neighbors living around Oak will not be treated with the same attention, quickness, or friendly attitude as obvious tourists with cameras, or ppl extremely dressed up in suits, cocktail dresses, and nice bling.
Do not waste your $ 15 on the charcuterie plate. It only comes with three items, one of which is straight up inedible lard, a salami which tastes like plastic, and fatty smoked ham. Disappointed.
If you are a gold digger and you are reading this, put on your Las Vegas ho dress and your 6 inch stilettos and stiletto your way to Oak bc it’s a gold mine in here, full of extremely divorced men looking to distract themselves with phony beauties such as yourself.
Service is not worth tipping 20% and that is sad and a very non– New-​Orleans thing to do.
Wait staff: this is Nola, not NYC!!!
I cannot wait for the bartender to check in on me so I can tell that I’m ready for the check.
Not coming back again. This was my final chance for Oak. Oh, and the sound here is a real problem. Way too noisy.

I live a street over and have been here several times. It is a neat spot and the décor is fitting, given the atmosphere.
The food is hit or miss, mostly very good. Although the meat pie was terrible and had zero taste. Seriously, the thing tasted like kaka poopoo. The bruschetta is VERY good though, so make sure you get that. Overall the food and drinks were very good and worth getting again… However the waitresses have attitudes and literally pass by tables with clientele under the age of 30. Yep, they skipped us over both times and paid EXTRA attention to the rich old men.
Quick tip — stop dressing like a Bohemian festival kid and learn to wait on customers bra.
Quick tip 2 — skip waiting for the service, go grab a damn menu yourself, it’s a lot easier. Capiche?
Cheers,
Tha Rikles

This place is really cute. It can get pretty loud (and not many people were in there) so we actually grabbed one of the tables off to the side. They had ½ price bottles so ordered a bottle and cheese tray. Everything was perfect. No complaints. The waitress was super attentive and always coming back to check on us (which I was happy about since we were ducked off in the corner). She even dressed sheek to fit the building (weird thing to say I know) but it was just the perfect fit. The ambiance and décor of this place is really nice.
There was a scent in the menus that smelled kind of «old»…I can’t really explain it. It wasn’t repulsive or anything but it was noticeable. One of my friends noticed it first. trust me we don’t go around sniffing menus. lol Just wanted to bring it to someone’s attention in case that wasn’t intentional… maybe something from the ink or sitting on a shelf… not sure.
There’s an outside area but it was wayyyy to cold to sit outside so definitely a reason to go back.

The thing I like about Oak is that in this city, which is chocked full of bars, this one stands out a bit. Oak isn’t smoky, it’s not a dive bar, it attracts a bit of an upscale crowd and theres opportunity to hear live music. Yes, when there’s a band, the acoustics are pretty awful and so it is hard to hear, but it does depend on the band too. Some bands are just louder than others.
Oak has plenty of seating, both inside and out (although I’ve never sat outside), the décor is minimalist and upscale and the crowd typically big, but I’ve never been there when it felt horribly overcrowded either. In a city with lots of bar options, this is a great one as a choice for a date. Go for drinks before dinner or go for after dinner drinks with some live music. Just remember, deep conversation isn’t going to be achieved when the music starts. You can be a bit dressed up and be around a professional crowd, but not feel you’re in pretentious surroundings either. It strikes just the right balance for my taste.

Not sure how this place has bad reviews. The food is fantastic.
The french fries are out of this world good. Highly, highly recommend.

My first instinct for this place was a total «meh»…but now (some time after patrolling there) I feel it’s probably more apt to give it 3 stars. Not sure why, but there you have it.
This place is trying to do something, but I feel like it’s kind of missing the mark. At first glance, it appears hip, sleek, modern, etc., but I felt like the details were a little rough around the edges. As others said, the acoustics are rough, likely due to the concrete floors and sparse modern décor. Not much to absorb the sound so bring your hearing aids. ;) We were seated in a little nook which was nice. They have wine flights and decent priced cocktails – although none of the cocktails were too exciting to me, and I would love to see more bourbon concoctions. Our service was fine, but our server seemed a little disinterested in the process.
All in all, not bad, not great. Meh to A-​ok.

Checkit: another wine bar review! I know I sound like a broken (drunken?) record but, as they say, you write what you know and I know me a good wine bar dangit. Oak fits the bill when way up in the Riverbend.
The space is a departure from the smaller, darker wine bars that populate this city (and that I populate) and it’s quite lovely. They somehow maintain this fairy light glow with the lightly-​colored walls and furniture illuminated by pretty light fixtures. I’m gonna say it: a more feminine vibe, but that doesn’t mean a man couldn’t — and shouldn’t — feel comfortable here.
And on that note, the crowd isn’t primarily female, so there’s that (calling all the single ladies). The crowd is very Uptown –grad student rather than the undergrad ubiquity at places like Monkey Hill and St. Joe’s Bar (and Delachaise on weekends). Mature and polite young people for the most part and god, do I sound like my Great Aunt Tillie right now. Very different from the all-​ages scene at my beloved Patrick’s Bar Vin.
Staff is top notch at Oak! Although the place was bordering on very busy when we arrived, we were greeted and seated, but then opted for the circular bar that is awesomely situated in the middle of the room. Both bartenders were extremely friendly and attentive, even asked us if we wanted food. Sadly, I had just consumed enough Japanese food to feed a small village down the block at Chiba, so all I could do was admire the brief menu that promises tasty bites of exquisite things like frites and cheeses and olives. Oh and you small plate haters be rest-​assured they have full entrees, too.
Wine list is as you’d expect: lengthy! I’ve been on a bubbles kick again and they’ve got ‘em. A good selection of reds by the glass but definitely not as extensive as Delachaise & Patrick’s. If vino ain’t your thing, they have beer and a full bar.
One minor thing: not sure about the acoustics of the room. The band playing was just too loud for the otherwise delightfully hushed setting. A sound person would have rectified the situation (I could be wrong but it seems like the band did their own sound and that is never a good thing. Take it from someone who worked in the biz for years).
I’m looking forward to returning to Oak. I should remark that I came here on a Thursday night and it was the final frigid night of the week, yet it was still comfortably busy. Not sure if it’s packed on the weekends, but I wouldn’t be surprised, after all this is Oak St, quite the happening Uptown corridor. I’ve been kind of allergic to weekends in most cities these days because I can’t deal with crowds. Hey, Monday’s the new Friday for cranky types like Yours, Truly!

I’ve been to Oak Wine bar a few times, but I’m finally getting around to writing a review. That is fortunate for Oak because my review for this visit is the most favorable!
Oak is a nice wine bar on the ever growing scene on Oak Street.
I really love the atmosphere at Oak. There are tables outside, which I always love at bars. The inside is warm and classy with pretty lighting and fixtures and comfortable seating.
One thing that really stands out for me there is the service. They offer waiter service at the tables and not only is it friendly, but I NEVER have to wait to order. They are always right on it as soon as I’m ready for another drink.
As far as food goes, I’ve only had the French fries with garlic aioli. They are huge, cooked perfectly, delicious and plenty enough for two or even three people to share.
The craft cocktails are of normal price at $ 9-​$ 12 each and they are tasty. The beer is a little pricey at $ 5. The wine selection is impressive.
All 3 times I’ve been to Oak, there has been live music. I saw Kristen Diable (I highly recommend her), and I’ve seen Mia Borders (also HIGHLY recommend), and one other person that I can’t remember.
The reason this trip to Oak gets a higher rating than my other trips? The acoustics! For the other two shows that I saw, the acoustics were TERRIBLE! It just sounded bad and you could barely carry on a conversation with the person sitting right next to you. Plenty of Unilocal reviews complain about this very thing, and apparently they finally did something about it. On this visit, the acoustics were fine. Both me and the person I was with commented on how much better it sounded than on previous visits. I don’t know what they did, and I don’t care… I’m just glad.
With that being said, I can now not only recommend Oak as a great place to go with the girls for some wine, or for a date, or a stopping ground while waiting for a table at the restaurants close by… but also a solid place to hear some good live music in a classy setting.