Fort Oak advertises itself as an ‘ode to fire and the sea’ with Chef/Owner Brad Wise using a wood fire to cook much of the food.   They supplement that with a large raw bar for seafood.  They are open for dinner every night but Tuesday.  In a separate room where the wood-burning hearth/kitchen is they also have a Chef’s Counter for 10 guests on Thurs and Fri nights.  The tasting menu also has optional beverage pairings.  We were not able to secure a place at the tasting counter but our server walked us by the window to the room to see the chef and his team in action.  The  main dining area is in an historic former car dealership space with the horseshoe shaped bar being in the old showroom and then various dining rooms are in and outside.  A lion statue was supposed to be a tribute to the actual lion that the car dealership owner brought with him to work.  Tile, glass and wood make up the various stylish spaces filled with music.  The menu is designed to have shared small plates and we did just that – sharing a number of items.  While they were creative, I would say the food was mixed in tastiness, but the fun in lots of little plates is that some will delight you while others are just food.  Let me know what you think when you visit. Continue reading →