Oakleaf

Not available.

Juliana NB

The service was bad. The waitress never pour us the wine we ordered and we had to ask for water several times. We ordered several appetizers (autumn salad, oysters, burrata, baguette) and all of them were very ok. Burrata was fresh, but the size was super small, the oysters were fried and flavor was just very oily, and the salad missed character and nuts! Regarding the entrees, we ordered the duck and halibut. Both were better than the appetizers, but lacked flavor and character. The only amazing dish was the pappardelle. There are so many good restaurants in the area, that I don’t think it’s worth coming back.

Doctor D at UNC

Oakleaf delivered an extraordinary dining experience that transformed my birthday into something truly special. From the moment we arrived, the warmth and thoughtfulness of Chef Brendan Cox and his team shone through – they surprised me with complimentary sparkling wine and a handwritten birthday card complete with a lit candle, setting the tone for an evening of exceptional hospitality. We indulged in the 5-course tasting menu, and every dish was a revelation. The journey began with an amuse-bouche of perfectly crispy tempura shrimp, followed by an exquisite tuna crudo bathed in a sauce that achieved the perfect balance of flavors. The goat cheese ravioli that came next was pure comfort – pillowy pasta enveloping creamy cheese in a rich, deeply flavorful sauce that had us savoring every bite. The snapper filet was cooked to perfection, but the true showstopper was the steak crowned with foie gras – an absolutely decadent combination where the buttery richness of the foie gras melted into the tender, perfectly seasoned beef. Each bite was an explosion of umami and luxury. The meal concluded beautifully with a palate-cleansing blueberry-lime sorbet that was intensely flavored and refreshing, followed by a delightful cheesecake with crumble that provided the perfect sweet ending. The wine pairing deserves special mention – we enjoyed a bottle of Frappato, a Sicilian red that Chef Cox personally discovered during his travels in Italy. It's these personal touches that put Oakleaf beyond typical fine dining. Service throughout the evening was impeccable – attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable without being pretentious, and genuinely friendly. Fresh cutlery appeared with each course, and our server's recommendations and descriptions enhanced our appreciation of each dish. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance of elegant and comfortable, with warm lighting creating an intimate ambiance that makes you want to linger. While the tasting menu was phenomenal, I must also recommend their "Dirt Candy" – a celebration of local vegetables that showcases the kitchen's creativity and commitment to local ingredients. It's become a must-order for us on every visit. Oakleaf isn't just a meal; it's an experience that lingers in your memory long after the last bite. Chef Brendan Cox and his talented team have created something special in Chapel Hill / Carrboro – a restaurant that combines technical excellence with genuine hospitality. Best if all, even when things don't go perfectly (its happened once before to me): They own it and will make things right no matter what. And that's... priceless!

Sonja Miltner

11/10 would recommend their vegan tasting menu! They source fresh, local, seasonal ingredients and create food art for each course. I loved sitting outside on their patio with lots of fresh herbs planted by the tables. I am a vegan private chef in Denver and definitely make time to stop here any time I am in NC. Such a treat!!

Isabella Grandic

Fantastic, flavourful dinner in a low-light environment. Ambient and perfect for conversation. Please get an order of focaccia for every two people. It is exceptional and elevates the rest of the dishes. The EVOO is a highlight, the focaccia is warm and moist yet has an impressive crisp. It has a subtle garlic flavour on top because they added slices of roasted garlic. It’s a gorgeous thing, really. Appetizer highlights were Fois Gras (wow.), “Il toast” and farro. The fois gras had an incredible sauce (I think a red wine reduction ?) that was beautiful with the focaccia. The summer salad was cold and it was awkwardly brought out during our second set of appetizers. In the future, I think it should be brought out first. The mussels were good, but mostly because of the toast underneath and the sauces. Dirt candy was nice and one of the best cost-for-volume deals on the menu. The pistachio pesto is lovely. It’s just missing some spice or a meaningful kick. Just tasted like roasted veg, not much more. We ordered 3 pastas for 4 people and I think that was 1 too many. They called them “half sized” but I really think they were regular upscale dining pasta sized ! Maybe 80% size? Anyway, the Pappardelle is a must. Especially, and I repeat for emphasis, with the focaccia. I thought the tagliatelle had too much lemon (it was unbalanced). And then that the agnolotti was lacking some acidity and spice… however, the pasta itself is clearly crafted with care and the ingredients feel delicious and fresh. For the mains we split the scallops and the duck. Both were nice! Scallops etc were very fresh, but again, lacking a little kick or depth of flavour (maybe some lemon?). The duck was great. My one picky thing is they mayo sauce was too strong in that it distracted from the other flavours. For dessert we went with the cheesecake (highlight), chocolate - tart - type - thing (good, would be better with dark / richer chocolates), peanut butter gelato (meh) and coffee (honestly it tasted like a not good Americano…). I was still happy with how we ended the meal! It was delish and a perfect quench to my sweet tooth. Overall, in terms of food, this restaurant shines in the small plates. Order more of those and less of the pasta/mains. We also had wine throughout and it was really nice. Despite the food being a great success (many 10/10 dishes and several 9/10 with some 7/10’s), I was disappointed with our server. She did not seem interested in serving us at all, she forgot to bring sparkling water but did bring wine, she recorded the wrong pasta order, and took our desert order without specifying which gelato we wanted, so she essentially chose the flavour for us. It felt a little dismissive and rushed and judgemental. She made us feel pressed to order more wine. And finally, it felt a little bit difficult to get her attention. She was nice, and it was fine service (especially given how busy the restaurant was), but it did feel like she didn’t like us and was choosing to be less attentive. Not warm and welcoming like the food or ethos. Nonetheless, don’t let that discourage you. This is a wonderful spot for a memorable, wholesome meal. I had a great evening.