It’s a Celebration
Founded in 2003, The Oak Door is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, so it’s the perfect time to look back on the restaurant’s success and history while also enhancing the interior décor and menu. In March 2018, the renewed space officially opened its doors to the public, showing off an updated look and feel, while paying homage to the restaurant’s past through special touches. One of our favorite examples of this is the old newspaper and magazine articles featuring the restaurant (including a couple from TW’s archives) that have been framed in antique mirror frames and hung on the walls. It’s like a permanent exhibition of The Oak Door’s evolution.
The New Look Was Created By Renowned Designer Tony Chi
Drawing on the spirit of nostalgia, designer Tony Chi (who also designed the restaurant when it first opened) focused on portraying how the beloved restaurant and gathering place has “matured” over the last 15 years. The idea was to reflect on all the stories, memories and connections created with the guests, and also to encourage the creation of new stories. “The Oak Door has built its own culture and cult following that can be attributed to its very intimate, comfortable and cozy experience,” says Chi. The renewal preserves the old world detailing and charm, and maintains its feeling of being “a warm hearth in wintertime, a sun-soaked terrace in summer, and a local neighborhood joint year-round. In short, it’s where you want to be.” Highlights of the renewed décor include an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs in action, originally designed white oak wood chandeliers, and a new entrance door made from white oak wood.
The Bar Feels Like a Sophisticated Cigar Lounge
The Oak Door’s bar has always been an elegant affair, but with the renewal comes a new sense of exclusivity with the addition of curtains and sunken, leather-backed booth seats. These separate the bar from the dining area, offering a more private atmosphere and a cozy spot for sipping on whisky or one of their four new signature cocktails – we recommend the Oak Fashioned made with whisky that’s been aged in an oak bottle, or the Smokey Negroni with cherry wood smoke captured in the bottle. In addition, the spacious wine cellar, which houses 300 varieties of New World wines, has been overhauled to blend into the warm and subtle ambiance of the bar.
They’ve Got a New Chef (and a New Menu)
Chef de cuisine Patrick Shimada joins The Oak Door team, bringing with him an extensive background in steakhouses and grilled dishes, so you can expect the already brilliant menu to reach even higher levels of satisfaction. Shimada says his best cooking secret is “fat is flavor,” with rib eye being his favorite cut of meat. New menu items include Bone Marrow served with grilled sourdough, herb salad, and capers; Iceberg Wedge featuring blue cheese dressing, crispy shallots, bacon and tomato; Baked Tokyo which combines cherry ice cream, cherry jelly, almond and kirsch; and The Oak Door 15th Anniversary Burger which is available until the end of May and boasts a whopping 1.5kg beef patty.
For The Oak Door contact info, see our Concierge listing.
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