Quick Shot
While the name “Old Oak Tap” might summon thoughts of an old-school neighborhood bar with wood paneling and taxidermy, this West Town imbibery instead offers a trendy lounge and spacious front patio—though they do have a stone fireplace. Old Oak Tap opened in 2008 by the owners of The Continental (and we don’t mean Christopher Walken) and Darkroom. The food served by Old Oak Tap puts it more into the gastropub category with its impressive selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, and weekend brunch, all served on rectangular porcelain plates and created by the executive chef formerly with the now-defunct Mas Restaurant. I had the superb duck confit sliders with raspberry aioli (the Wednesday food special), and my wife had the Grilled yellowfin tuna nicoise salad with green beans, red olives, new potatoes and Dijon vinaigrette. As an added bonus, the menu offers 48 different beers with a dozen on tap and 36 in bottles, including such noteworthy local brews from Half Acre, Metropolitan and Two Brothers, as well as Legends Fraoch Heather Ale—a style of beer first brewed by Scottish Picts in 325 BC. For more information, check out the Old Oak Tap website. Siúd ort! (or if you prefer Sláinte!)
