Oak Long Bar :

Boston’s New Hot Spot

The Fairmont Copley Plaza’s Legendary Space gets a Makeover

Our wine was delicious, perfectly balanced with acidity and minerals. It paired well with all our appetizers.

Everyone knows my love for salads…so, when I saw the unique Red Quinoa and Summer Vegetables $10, I had to try it. The light, earthy combination of flavors and textures played to the sweetness of juicy grilled peaches, toasted pistachios, and the nutty delicate grain. I was thrilled to see this "protein powerhouse", once only found at health foods stores and crunchy vegan cafés making its debut here.

The Main Event
Onto the main event…we decided to try something from land, sea, and hearth. For a fish dish we ordered the Nova Scotia Halibut $26, served with summer vegetables and a lemon, thyme and parsley butter. The fish was cooked perfectly, crisp exterior, and moist inside. It was delicate, fragrant with herbs and wonderful with the abundant veggies underneath it. For something richer, the hearth Roasted Maine Lobster $32, is the way to go. It came with the unique combination of basil faro (a chewy, hearty grain similar to spelt or wheatberries), crispy kale, and a citrus butter. The lobster was sliced open for easy access to the tail, and the claw meat out of the shell. Our waiter highly recommended the “Bone Out” Ribeye $39, as one of the signature dishes on the menu. Attention steak lovers: this one’s a winner. It is dry-aged, and served with grilled bone marrow, Roquefort butter, cabernet jus, and crispy onions. All of these components spell over-the-top. The steak is buttery rich in itself, with intense beef flavor from aging. The cabernet jus, was ink-like, and at first sight it appeared like it may have been over-reduced, a term us chefs use when a sauce just cooks too much and gets too thick and salty. Not this one. The flavor was big, yet nuanced and complex; a perfect foil to the well- marbled meat. The crispy shoestring onions were a nice crunchy addition. We ordered a half bottle of the 2008 Stag’s Leap “Artemis” Cabernet $55, from California which was big, silky and lush…the perfect complement to the sauce and all the flavors in this dish.

Amazing Dersert Heaven
After sipping on a digestivo of Cynar, and a creamy espresso, we got a second wind and decided to try dessert, especially after seeing what a friendly neighboring couple ordered…the Chocolate Whoopie Pie Ice Cream Sandwich $10. They came in just for this, as it seems this gigantic frozen treat already had made itself a reputation as the “not to be missed” dessert on the menu. It’s two enormous chocolate cookies filled with chocolate gelato, then drizzled with a dark fudge sauce and served with a glass of milk to wash it all down. Fun, kid-friendly, and loved by all. The Vermont Crème Fraiche Cheesecake with hibiscus poached cherries $10, was my favorite. The cheesecake texture was unique, almost like a firm creamy mousse, pleasant and tangy, not-too-sweet. The cherries added the perfect tartness and contrast to the dish.

The Skinny
The Oak Long Bar + Kitchen is truly a special warm and inviting place to enjoy fresh farm to table cuisine with very friendly, attentive service. Next time, I’m coming back for that martini.

Other dishes we tried:

Jonah Crab and Asparagus Gratin $15
Organic Mushroom and Arugula Flatbread $16
Roasted Beet, Blue Cheese and Pecan Salad $12
Hand-Cut Tagliatelle with Lobster, Zucchini Sofrito and Braised Short Ribs $28
Warm Peach and Summer Berry Crisp $10

Stefan Jarausch, Executive Chef

Hours: All Day…Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Snacks, Dinner, Late Night, and Sunday Brunch

Address: 138 St. James Avenue (at the Fairmont Copley Plaza)
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 585-7222

Website: www.oaklongbarkitchen.com

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