Oak Steakhouse

Reviews

• TC

  Tim Chambers

  Nov 10, 2025
  5.0
  We were there for Sunday brunch. Our server Violet did a great job. Food was excellent, as usual. Picture I took between guest of a nearby table. The view at The Oak is always stunning!
• BB

  Brent

  Oct 30, 2025
  5.0
  In my opinion, this is the best restaurant in Highlands North Carolina. Sure other restaurants down in town have a good vibe but none of them come close to the quality of Oak. Yes, I know it’s a chain, but they set the bar high. Their staff is head and shoulders above other wait staff in the area. The steaks are absolutely amazing and the Smashburger is the best I’ve ever had. Can’t say enough good things about this restaurant.
• KJ

  Katie J.

  Oct 29, 2025
  1.0
  We had a terrible dining experience due to how the server “Brooke” treated us. From the very first interaction of her questioning if the day of our dining was my “actual” birthday, and a flippant comment of “we have no specials today, I’ll be back to take your order”she continued to be rude, dismissive, and made us feel unwelcome throughout the meal. Her attitude overshadowed the entire visit and left a very negative impression. As we sat, we listened to the servers around us ask if it was guests first time dining in (which it was for us), offer explanations of where the produce comes from, how the steaks are cooked etc. Exactly what you would expect of a high-end steak house. Interaction we never received. Yet, I asked Brooke a simple question of the difference between blue cheese crust and blackened seasoning on a steak, and her response was a sarcastic tone “One is blue cheese, and one is blackened”. My boyfriend looked at me in shock at how dismissive she was. I ignored it, and ordered my steak medium (which I heard the server next to us explain to guests it’s a steak best ordered medium-rare). My steak showed up over-cooked, but I was uncomfortable voicing it based on Brooke’s treatment of us. As she dropped the food off, she literally slammed the plates on the table, turned her back, and never asked if our $100+ steaks were cooked to our liking. She asked if we wanted a birthday dessert, dropped off the dessert menu and turned her back before we could even ask a question. In our 1.5hrs at this table, Brooke never once offered any explanations, recommendations or interacted with us over the menu. Due to this, we had no idea when we ordered dessert that she would also be bringing an on-the-house ice cream as well. So now we had TWO desserts dropped off at our table with zero interaction. Very off-putting. My boyfriend was so upset at how she treated us on a special birthday dinner we planned weeks in advance, he spoke a manager before we left. The manager asked for my contact information, but I never heard from him. While the food was decent, I would NEVER recommend this place due to how poor the service was. It absolutely dampened our experience, but we did our best to not let their server Brooke ruin our time. Oak Steakhouse Management - I suggest you help Brooke find another career, and have a higher sense of urgency reaching back out to guests who make reservations weeks in advance, spend $300+ on a meal, and notify management of such terribly poor treatment of guests. And btw - we still left a generous tip since I’ve worked in the industry and would like to believe this young woman took her bad day out on us. Do better Oak Steakhouse of Highlands.
• MF

  Matt Ford

  Oct 23, 2025
  2.0
  High expectations, subpar experience for the price. We started at the bar and ordered two Old Fashioneds with Woodford Reserve — the tab for just those two drinks came to over $60. Total rip-off. Bread for the table was another $8, and it wasn’t anything special. Our server highly recommended the venison Wellington, calling it one of their best dishes. I went with it, only to find out it was made with farm-raised “elk” from New Zealand. The meat had almost no flavor, which was disappointing — I eat a lot of wild elk and venison, so I know what good should taste like. Ordered the side of mushrooms which none of us cared for either. My wife ordered the 8oz filet with $22 side of Oscar crab. The steak was seasoned well and actually tasted much better than the rest of the food. Our kid got pasta, which was basically plain shells with barely any sauce We had to pour the Oscar crab cause on the pasta for it to have any flavor. For a family of three, dinner totaled more than $240. I walked out feeling like I’d been robbed. I don’t mind splurging on a great meal now and then, but this wasn’t it. If you’re even slightly price-conscious but still enjoy quality dining, this is not the place to spend your money.
• MS

  M Stenger

  Oct 23, 2025
  3.0
  We were celebrating my husband’s birthday. We would have appreciated a chance to order a drink before dinner, but the waiter only came to get our meal selections. The drinks were indeed good though. I ordered the filet mignon and it was charred, which was disappointing because it was a nice cut of meat. I couldn’t taste the beef. I didn’t want to disappoint my husband so I didn’t send it back. Especially since the man next to me sent his undercooked one back and a young man on the other side of me had some food issue. Our expectations were higher than that which was performed there and for e high cost. We did appreciate the dessert and candle they brought my husband for his birthday. Unfortunately, we’re already having issues with our stay at the lodge.

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