If you are in the mood for a meal that takes its bourbon as seriously as its food, The Oak Raleigh is worth a place on your list. Tucked into Midtown Raleigh at 4035 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 113, it has been running since 2014 as a scratch kitchen and bourbon bar, which is a fair description of exactly what you get when you walk through the door. The menu leans into elevated American fare made from scratch, and the bar is built around a deep bourbon selection that goes well beyond a few bottles on the shelf.
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What sets the place apart is how much it leans into the bourbon side of things. Beyond the standard pour, there are craft cocktails, house-aged bourbons, bourbon dinners, tastings, and even an adopt-a-barrel program for the truly committed. The full-service bar also carries an extensive wine list, so it is not strictly a bourbon destination. For food, the crowd tends to steer toward the Sunday brunch, the grits, the bourbon sliders, the braised pork shoulder, the brussels sprouts, the beef sliders, the bread pudding, and the truffle parmesan fries served with a house-made malt vinegar aioli. The house cocktails get a lot of love, with some calling them the best in the RDU area, and the 'Love Is in the Bubs' is the one that keeps coming up.
It is a full-service spot, which means you can book a table through Resy or by calling (919) 787-9100 rather than just walking in and hoping for the best. There is outdoor patio dining, takeout, and special menus for groups, so it works as well for a quiet dinner as it does for a larger get-together. For private parties and special events, the general manager, Hali Haught, handles the arrangements at hali@theoakraleigh.com. The staff gets a fair amount of shout-outs too, with Justin, Quay, Shaun, and Sean being the names that pop up most often in customer reviews.
On price, it sits in the middle of the pack, with a meal for two generally landing in the $30 to $70 range, so it is not going to break the bank. The hours are worth a quick check before you head out, as they shift depending on the day: lunch runs Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, dinner is Tuesday to Thursday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Friday to Saturday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday brunch is 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The restaurant also keeps a Bourbon Blog, written by Renee Fregenal, that walks through things like small-batch versus single-barrel bourbon, sourced whiskey, and barrel proof guides, which is a nice touch if you want to know what you are actually drinking.
Whether you are there for the scratch-made food or the bourbon, The Oak Raleigh is a reliable Midtown spot that has been doing its thing for over a decade. It is the kind of place that rewards a little planning, so a reservation and a quick look at the hours will make the visit a lot smoother.
