Oak Bar

So old and majestic. It was kind of magical to be in this room. I could just picture it when it opened 100 years ago. A bunch of establishment types drinking brandy and smoking cigars. They discussed politics, and mistresses, and who know…
For that reason I ordered the Brandy Alexander. I had never had it, but the room inspired me. I braced myself for the $ 20 cocktail but since it comes in a boxcar it was really the martini, with a small carafe of more of the mixed drink to keep pouring. So really it was 2 ¹⁄₁₂ drinks.
Go and enjoy…

I had lunch here a couple of times, nothing special but service is very good so it compensates the food. However I had dinner here once and never will probably come again. Had a very expensive bill, no wine, and a party of 7. The food was average if not below. Even thought the ambience is great and the hotel looks nice, the food lacks of quality and is nothing close to the Oak Room in NYC.
I can’t reccomand it for dinner at all!

Oak Bar Review:
We went here for a light dinner and a drink. The waitstaff was a bit green, set drink trays down on the tables with people sitting at them to deliver the drinks, instead of being able to handle balancing the tray while delivering the drinks, but otherwise it was a good experience. The ambience was romantic, old world charm, and sitting there I couldn’t help but wonder about what it was like back in the 1920s. I had a pinot noir and the ahi tuna (which to my surprise was tuna tar-​tar it was good but a bit more salty then I would have liked). There were couples dancing to the piano player and a range of cliental from suits to jeans and heels. A nice mix and a place well worth checking out.

this place is absolutely beautiful. the ambiance is very romantic and whimsical and charming and definitely inspires a level of nostalgia and history just by being in back bay boston. it is definitely a time honored institution and you feel like you’re really a part of the city. i’m going on a bit of a rant but honestly after living here for a little over a year i finally feel like a real bostonian after visiting the oak room.
the food is good but unfortunately the prices are outrageous. the online deals sound like the way to go. if it wasn’t for some friends visiting and knowing one of the waiters, sad to say i probably would have missed out on the experience because it’s just too expensive. lunch/​brunch is cheaper and casual vs formal attire required if you’re going to go for dinner.
the boston cream pie won a few awards and is definitely my favorite out of the ones i’ve tried. it’s light and cake-​y and the melted chocolate and strawberries are perfect toppings. the crab cakes were also really, really, really good. it’s a huge portion as an appetizer and it comes with a roasted red pepper sauce that’s great. the other stuff we tried was good but not amazing. you’re pretty much paying to sit in a really elegant room but it was definitely worth it for me.

The BuyWithMe deal for $ 89 was most enticing, so my friend and I came by right after I got back from vacation to nom on some otherwise über expensive food! Between us, we had the raw oysters, oysters rockefeller, two steaks (prime filet mignon and bone-​in ribeye), creamed spinach and sauteed mushrooms for sides, and the crème fraîche cheesecake and Boston cream pie for desserts.
The apps were quite good, but the steaks were pretty darn sub-​par factoring in the ungodly amount that the Oak Room charges. They weren’t bad by any means, rather they just paled in comparison to Grill 23, Ruth’s Chris, etc. by one big margin. The sides were also nothing out of the ordinary (relatively speaking, Ruth’s Chris’s creamed spinach pwns theirs).
As for the desserts, the cheesecake was delicious and mad creamy. The Boston cream pie, on the other hand, was generic and not particularly fresh. I ended up just eating the melted chocolate and leaving most of the cake untouched… bear in mind, this is coming from a guy with a major sweet tooth!
Oh yeah, gotta make note of the bread basket as that was pretty fantastic with cranberry bread, garlic bread and ciabatta served with butter, house-​made hummus and some kind of olive spread.
Regarding ambiance, I have to agree with a number of other reviewers about the almost excessively ornate and stuffy atmosphere. Though generally very well-​mannered, our server fit right in and I did feel like he was trying a little too hard to sell us on the champagnes, wines, etc. The place also looked worn down over the years, eg. the chipped, loose pieces of tile in the restroom.
Overall, it was a pretty solid deal for $ 89 for the amount and decent quality, but I shudder at the thought of shelling out for what would’ve otherwise been extremely overpriced, mediocre food.

Ok, so you go to the Oak Room knowing you’re going to spend a little more and maybe dress up a little more than usual. Not sure what all the complaints about being «stuffy» or too expensive… chances are you know what you’re getting into when you book a reservation here.
I LOVED this place. My boyfriend and I went here during restaurant week last year and fell in love. The steak was the best we have ever had in this city, I mean melt in your mouth incredible! I would totally recommend checking this place out for amazing steak.

My first experience with the Oak Room was a disaster, but I decided to give it another chance when I saw their BuyWithMe deal a little while back. $ 89 for two appetizers, two entrees, two sides, and two desserts? Sure, why not? My steak alone was $ 59, so I probably made out like a bandit (not that any steak should ever cost $ 59).
The first time I visited the Oak Room, which looks like an incredibly lavish hunting lodge, was for Restaurant Week, and I would like to pretend that experience never happened. The website advertising Restaurant Week made no mention of the fact that the Oak Room was not serving their prix fixe menu that night (a Saturday). I would say that approximately half the people I saw come in for dinner got up and left moments after sitting down, but my boyfriend and I decided to stick it out. We didn’t get all gussied up for nothing! We then proceeded to order the least expensive (and probably blandest) items on the menu, the mozzarella candy wrapper pasta and the thyme and rosemary roasted half chicken. Ordering the two cheapest entrees the Oak Room had to offer still managed to set us back $ 70, and that was without tip, which, truth-​be-​told, was rather small because our waiter was a douche. He was clearly mad about the whole mix-​up, and decided to take that out on us. Not cool. I was probably crazy to go back, but that BuyWithMe deal was calling my name…
Luckily for me, my return to the Oak Room was a triumphant one. My 3-​star review definitely takes into account the first visit, but everything was better the second time around, including the service. Our Haitian waiter was charming and professional, and even offered me some helpful cooking tips.
The food was very good, but probably not worth the regular price tag. Our appetizers (Jonah Crab Cakes and lobster bisque, respectively) were nothing to write home about, however, so I’m glad we got them out of the way first. My steak (filet mignon, of course) was tender and juicy, but I actually enjoyed my boyfriend’s 20 oz bone-​in ribeye better. Although not quite as tender, it was about 10 times more flavorful. The truffle mac & cheese we had for a side was heavenly, but the mashed potatoes may as well have been instant.
We ended our meal on a high note with two pitch perfect desserts. My boyfriend got the crème fraîche cheesecake topped with strawberries and a rhubarb compote, while I opted for the dark chocolate tart on a bed of vanilla mousse with a side of cappuccino gelato and a generous heaping of delicate white chocolate. Both were divine.
Overall, my boyfriend and I had a wonderfully classy time, and I’m definitely glad I made the return trip to the Oak Room.

Ugh, no.
The ONLY reason I came here was because I had a voucher and it was about to expire. If you want inattentive service that consistently ignores you in a chi-​chi frou-​frou, overly ornate setting that would make Kate Middleton feel under-​dressed combined with mediocre food that most places charge half as much for… well, then come on down to the Oak Room where you won’t be disappointed!
Both the boy and I got the brunch special which is a whopping $ 39 EACH for a starter, entrée, choice of dessert and coffee/​tea/​juice. His crab cakes were bland – crisp but flavorless. I got half a dozen oysters because they would have otherwise cost a ridiculous amount. Nothing much to say about that except all oysters are good when they’re fresh.
For entrees, he had the Steak and Eggs and I got the Tenderloin. Both steaks were pretty juicy, the Tenderloin noticeably better and more flavorful, but nothing to write home about. The accompanying asparagus on my place was overcooked to the point of melting and the fingerling potatoes were greasy. I chose the berries for dessert, which were oddly warm in parts as if they’d been sitting under a heat lamp (ugh) and the boy got the Boston cream pie, which wasn’t bad but then it’s Boston cream pie and how do you screw that up?
Probably the only standout thing was the garlic bread that was served at the beginning. Garlic pieces are actually baked into the bread, making it incredibly fragrant and flavorful. But don’t expect to just be served a bread basket like any other place. You’ll have to flag down a waiter first and then wait some 15-​odd minutes for them to get around to giving you your dough.
Unless you have a voucher you HAVE to use, I suggest going to pretty much any other steakhouse in the city. But then, if you like pretending you’re old money and dining in some cavernous, antique-​y mansion with bad service and forgettable food, by all means waste your money here.

Coming to the Oak Room is to have an experience in keeping with a living in a more formal and genteel era.
I’m always up for the occasional visit to spots where one has an excellent excuse to dress up while enjoying comfortable old-​world surroundings.
And even though I may sometimes totter on my beloved high heels, that doesn’t mean I don’t love an excuse to totter somewhere extra nice.
A few years ago, I came here for a birthday dinner. It was a wonderful experience in beautiful surroundings were I felt well-​taken care of by the wait-​staff while enjoying good food and drinks.
Time has moved forward and with that, so have the things I will and won’t eat. Given the Oak Room’s emphasis on meat and seafood, this has stopped being a special occasion dining destination.
The Oak Room has since become a spot to pop in on occasion maybe after a show or dinner elsewhere for an elegantly served cocktail rather than as a dining destination.
On this latest visit we did opt to have a bite to eat and while I wish the menu included more options for vegetarian and vegan eaters, I was able to cobble together a delcious salad and a quite tasty eggplant-​tomato panino.
Alas, that’s about as «updated» as the menu gets.
The service, is as I’ve always found it to be, attentive, polite, on-​point but without being intrusive.
With the exception of couple who came in wearing Saturday «going out to weed the garden clothes» and sneakers everyone else was more pulled together and gosh darn it, it felt terrific to sit in those surroundings.
The old-​school clubby atmosphere, the dark carved wood on the walls, the intricately detailed and molded plaster ceiling and the soaring windows give this place an elegant and classic charm.
You’ll find yourself day-​dreaming that you’re sitting in your own dining room with your ladies-​in-​waiting, waiting for you (which is what they do best) and your husband’s gentleman’s gentleman pouring his after dinner drink in the drawing room.
So here’s a toast to the Oak Room. I’ll certainly be back again for any one of the well-​made drinks, the intimacy and the relaxing ambiance.
Perhaps if they broaden that menu to be a bit more inclusive of non-​meat eaters, they may welcome a whole new generation of diners wanting to pass through those amazing doors.

This is old worldish, high ceilings, lots of dark wood, very attractive. We had lunch there the other day, it is pricey… the martinis were very good with the remainders served in a carafe in a bucket of ice (nice) the burger was very good and cooked as ordered, the Chateaubriand sandwich was wonderful, tender and flavorful, service was very pleasant and attentive BUT then we were finished and couldn’t get out, couldn’t get a check… waited…we finaly got the check and the waiter explained they had been busy all week for lunch due to a convention there (but shouldn’t they have known that, that staff was running around in a sweat)…nice place, very good food and good service BUT!

This place is good for one thing, and one thing only.
BOSTON CREAM PIE. Nothing else is worth the arm and leg.
There are layers of moist-​mother-​of-​god cake laced in between fluffy cream. The milk chocolate goodness that goes on top is to die for– way smoother than the Old Spice guy. And on top of that, there are curls of white chocolate that Ina Garten would be jealous of. I don’t even LIKE white chocolate– it’s so thin and beautiful that it just becomes all about the texture.
$ 12 for a slice, but sooo worth it. The slice is big enough to share, but, why… if you’re worried about your wallet, skip their average drinks and get coffee instead.
Oh, god I die thinking about this baby.

The Oak Room takes you back to a Bygone era. It’s one of the few places in Boston you can go to see what old money was all about. Gold leaf ceilings, dark wood, the big historic windows, that vibe that makes you say Wow, look at this place.
After a few hours of shopping I came in here for a drink with my fiancé.
A martini here is the way to go, priced at $ 20 it amounts to almost 2 drinks. They give you a small decanter on ice with extra portion to use. Even with just drinks, service in the lounge area was very slow.
I could imagine the place being more exclusive back in the day. When I was there people were in very casual attire and there were even families with small kids breaking out toys like a playroom. It just took away from what the place used to be or an experience someone may look for. For the price they are charging they should work on keeping the upscale standards by enforcing a dress code/​age limit at least.

This is a review for the bar only.
They have a great martini selection, but it’s very pricey. I had the berry martini, which was too sweet, but very strong. My friend had the simple martini, which she noted was strong as well. Martinis are expensive though ranging from $ 15-​$ 20. They come in a little carafe chilled in ice. They also give bar snacks like pretzels.
Ambiance is nice, great for an intimate setting like a date or small group of friends.
It’s a classy place with great drinks, but be prepared to spend!

This is a nice place to take someone for a romantic evening, a discussion, or a celebration.
Cold Seafood Platter is very nice, and everything tastes really fresh and, for $ 53, I think it’s a great price: Clams, Oysters on the Half Shell, Lobster, Shrimp, Yellow Fin, Tuna Sashimi*, Hickory Smoked Salmon, King Crab Legs.
Japanese Wagyu is tender.
The Chateubraind is very nice and served tableside. Side dishes were great as well.
I am afraid to write much more, for fear that my current fiancé will get jealous because I didn’t take her. Let’s just say I’ll update as the time comes. Enjoy yourselves.

We were here celebrating my grad school commencement. Service was great and extremely professional. The venue is absolutely gorgeous, as others have mentioned. Yes, this is one of the more expensive meals I’ve had ($ 40 and up for most dishes; I think the Menupages menu is a bit outdated), but it was worth it.
Everyone I was with loved their food (boyfriend, sister, father, & family friend). Between the 5 of us, we ordered venison, salmon, butterfish, beet salad, escargots, cheesecake, and chocolate dessert. Boyfriend said the wine was good. The bread basket was delicious.
I feel this was definitely the perfect place to celebrate a super special occasion, and would go back if I had the chance.

A solid 3.5 stars.
I previewed the menu, I perused the website and against my better judgement I bought the Groupon. I don’t often go to restaurants with dress codes. I like to wear what I’m gonna wear and talk/​laugh loudly with my companions — but the Oak Room called to me. Meeeeeaaaattttttt so much delicious meeeeeeeaaattttt. Okay. Fine. I’m going.
My betrothed and I stepped into the Oak Room fifteen minutes early for our reservation. We chilled in the Oak Bar (which apparently doesn’t have a dress code, cause there were some wicked shulbs up in there. Take off your backwards cap, young man. You’re in a fancy joint.) We received an ice cold exchange with the cocktail waitress where we ended up declining service. No big thing though — we were whisked off to our table right quick.
The dining room is out of this world. Beautiful wood trim, windows to the ceiling, crazy ornate tables and chairs, an assortment of mounted deer heads — the works. We sat at a throne for 2 and were waited on by Frank — an adorably polite gentleman.
Frank brought us some wine, a tasty boat of olives and a basket of bread. We mulled over the menu and made our choices. Bone-​in Ribeye. Wolfe Neck Farm New York Steak. Spinach and some truffle mac and cheese. No apps, no soups, no salads. I was there to eat 20 oz of meat.
The rib-​eye was heaven on a plate. Perfectly crusted on the outside and cooked to a perfect medium rare. I cut into it and the first (sauceless) bite was incredible. Tender. Juicy. Flippin’ delicious. Before I could ask for a taste of the other steak, my dude had mowed his way through it (he had saved me a sliver — that’s love right there). The spinach was delightful and the mac was decent. But the steak stole the show.
After a belly full of food and a few glasses of wine, Frank brought over the dessert menu. The bread pudding was calling to me — but when I asked him about it, Frank did not seem sold. Very good, he said of it — but I could see right through him. I asked for his favorites and his eyes lit up when he talked about the cheesecake. It was accompanied by huckleberries and candied ginger. I like ginger. I was sold. We shared a piece and were satisfied. The candied ginger really brought the whole thing together.
Though the price was a bit steep, my Groupon saved us some dough and we escaped unharmed, full and ready for a nap.

Business dinner earlier this week. Service was impeccable. The special of the day was a cod was very tasty.
However, the prices are unreasonably high and therefor its is not a place I would frequent.

The other reviewers are right, this bar is terrible. Don’t come here.
:)

So we came here for restaurant week. I distinctly remember last year, for restaurant week, it was so crowded that you couldn’t get a reservation here. This year it was empty.
So Reservations — My roommate accidentally made the appointment incorrectly, and when she rescheduled the person on the phone got the time wrong (30 minutes before they open for lunch), and the number wrong. Part of this is probably because we changed the elimination, but no points for getting it wrong people.
So we got there 45 minutes early — When we got there at 1045 for our 11 reservation, they were like sorry we dont open until 11, and instead of seating us and giving us water, they made us sit in the hotel lobby. They also could have let us sit in the bar area, but no, apparently not. So then at 11 they come out and apologize but they really don’t open until 1130? I didn’t get it… whatever
So then they seat us — So we look at the restaurant week menu, and yea, two choices, iceberg wedge with bacon and blue cheese and a vinaigrette (which was served with peppers, and drowned in vinaigrette, a bit excessive) and the New England Finnan Haddie (this is apparently smoked and salted haddock) Chowder (surprisingly light, good, with potatoes and oyster crackers). All three of us ordered the Cabernet Marinated Strip Loin, which was quite good. This was served with a side of broccolini (tall brocolli, very strange, but tastes like broccoli) and sweet potato fries, which were good, but could have used some seasoning in my opinion. For dessert we were served espresso pot de crème (which was pretty much espresso mousse), with amaretto whipped cream and almonds. Very good, very rich.
All in all, glad I went, but not going back. The food was good but not amazing, the waiters were kind of snobby (and we even dressed up! Jeez…), and the service overall was ok.
Also, it was really hard to find the Bathroom!!! I should not have to leave the restaurant and go down a flight of stairs to go pee… just saying.

What a sad fall.
This used to be where anyone could come in off the street and get treated with a touch of class. On our last visit, it had become a caricature of class.
Table after table was left uncleared mid-​Saturday-​night. But we found one that wasn’t so bad, just a few glasses. Someone eventually came to clean up, then someone eventually came to give us menus, then…
Nothing.
Twenty minutes after arriving, no drink order had been taken, and we just left.
Seriously — you’re the most public face of an historic hotel. How can you take it so lightly and project an image that looks like South Station after New Year’s Eve? Get back to basics and try harder, please. I used to like coming here and would like to again.