Oak Inn - North Branch

I visited this restaurant for a late lunch and noticed there were only three patrons at the bar, along with the bartender. A sign instructed customers to seat themselves, so I chose a booth near the bar and kitchen entrance. Unfortunately, no one came to take my order. The bartender stood at the bar chatting with the male customers, completely ignoring me even though it was clear I was there. The waitress passed by, cleaning a table outside, but also failed to acknowledge my presence. After waiting for about five minutes without any service, I decided to leave. It's really disappointing, especially given that there were only three people at the bar.

We started with deep-fried cheese curds that were piping hot and wonderfully melty. My friend ordered a massive hot dog cleverly named "Mexico's Favorite Hotdog," which was loaded with toppings and received rave reviews from him as he devoured it. I opted for the chicken and ribs, not anticipating the mountain of food that arrived. The chicken was juicy and perfectly cooked, while the barbecue sauce on the ribs had a delightful smoky sweetness that suited my taste. However, I did notice that the ribs, while not cold, were not as hot as I would have preferred. Both of our meals came with steak fries that were cooked almost perfectly. The ambiance had its drawbacks; the bar area was open to the dining room, which made it feel somewhat exposed while trying to have a conversation. I doubt anyone could hear us over the rowdy bunch at the bar, whose laughter and yelling created quite a distraction. It was a bit annoying. Overall, I would definitely consider returning to the Oak Inn because the food exceeded my expectations, and the prices were quite reasonable, but perhaps not on a late Friday night.

I figured it was time to visit this place again, you know, for a change of pace. Unfortunately, nothing has changed. It still needs a thorough cleaning! Since it’s summer, the ladies' restroom isn’t freezing, which is a plus. The bartender was friendly, but the food was just mediocre. On the bright side, they do have unlimited peanuts. It’s a shame they don’t have turkey burgers on the menu anymore—I really enjoyed the one I had here before. Just another S M A L L T O W N R E S T A U R A N T.

Generous portions and very tasteful food. Hamburger was hand patted and delicious. The onion rings were about the best we have ever had! Service super good and friendly. Shout out to Kristy, who was prompt and took the time to walk through a lot of items on the menu. Will definitely stop here again!

How do you screw up a chicken strip? Well, these guys have managed to do just that. Flavorless and greasy. Better food at a Kwik Trip. It's too bad because the staff are really pretty great.