Oak City Bar & Grill

The Scene
This casually elegant restaurant, with open-beam ceilings, large exhibition kitchen and simple mural of an oak tree dominating one wall, is as comforting as the food it serves. The quietly efficient restaurant appeals equally to business diners and couples out on date night. The service is friendly, efficient and professional.

The Food
The menu focuses on all-American favorites found at mom-and-pop joints across the nation. But this restaurant takes such comfort staples as meat loaf and roasted chicken and adds some contemporary razzle-dazzle. The iceberg wedge salad expertly matches that most American of greenery with creamy avocado, ripe cherry tomatoes, smoked bacon and rich basil-buttermilk dressing. The burger is dense, succulent and topped with thick white cheddar cheese and grilled red onions. The signature dish is, not surprisingly, the mac and cheese gratin, which melds three types of cheese into a gooey pasta dish that kids of all ages will adore.