Oak Room Restaurant

"Too many restaurants merely serve Steaks. We worship them."

(617) 892-4209

138 Saint James Ave (Dartmouth Street)
Boston, MA 02116 42.35011 -71.073819

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Back Bay, Prudential / St. Botolph

www.theoakroom.com

Hours:

Breakfast: 6:30am - 11:00am

Lunch: 11:30am - 2:00pm

Dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 5:30pm -10:00pm | Friday and Saturday, 5:30pm - 11:00pm

Sunday Brunch (a la carte): 11:30am - 2:00pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 12.20.11

Category:

Restaurants, Lounges

Payment Methods:

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, Travelers Check

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Fine Dining, Brunch, Business Dining

Cuisine:

Steakhouse, New American, Traditional American

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

Email Business

What People Are Saying About Oak Room Restaurant

The Owner

Oak Room Restaurant

Owner

Named 'Best Steakhouse' by Boston Magazine, the Oak Room is much more than a steakhouse; it is a gastronomic experience.As part of The Fairmont Copley Plaza's $20 million plus restoration project, the space containing the award-winning Oak Room restaurant is being updated and refreshed. Starting in early January, the restaurant will continue to operate out of the beautiful St. James Room, offering a luxurious, intimate atmosphere and serving the same distinctive menu during breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Provided by CityGrid

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – With its carved plaster ceiling, baroque Edwardian woodwork and deep-red draperies, the Oak Room is as gorgeous as it ever was. Diners may find themselves seated next to a youthful couple and their dressed-up, well-behaved kids out celebrating a birthday--or the same kids 20 years later applauding Mom and Dad's anniversary. The menu relies on perfectly grilled, massive slabs of fish and meat, as well as appetizer classics like oysters Rockefeller and clams casino.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Dress accordingly--jeans and sneakers are not allowed.
ambiance
95.0% positive
  1. “The Oak Room is the perfect location for a nice evening of live music and fine cocktails.”
  2. “The decor stayed amazind, verging on over-the-top, but the service was just as good.”
  3. “The atmosphere in both the bar and the dining room is perfect.”
  4. “Magnificent atmosphere and very food”
  5. “Deserts were great(and on the house because of the mishap) and the decor and ambience is definitely something that one should experience.”
  6. “would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic luxury steakhouse.”
  7. “great food, great service, great decor!”
  8. “Not many places have the sheer ambience of this very big, yet small room.”
  9. “The decor is beautiful but the service is so terrible that i will never dine here again.”
  10. “The ambience was romantic and the dining room had an old world feel to it.”
dessert
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “the service and the food was just mediocre, from the appetizers to the entrees to dessert!”
  2. “The waiter's recommendations were excellent: you have to try the crab cakes!”
  3. “The food was very good (spectacular dessert, fine steak, best bread basket and butter we have had in Boston)), but what was really special was the quiet, lovely room and the great service.”
drinks
72.22000122070312% positive
  1. “Great restaurant diminished by a poor opening at the bar.”
  2. “have been to this restaurant/bar twice and both experences were so awful that I will never return.”
  3. “The Oak Room is the perfect location for a nice evening of live music and fine cocktails.”
  4. “Although the drinks are expensive ($15) it's worth the price.”
  5. “If you're looking for an upscale bar with live music, the Oak Room is a perfect pick.”
  6. “The atmosphere in both the bar and the dining room is perfect.”
  7. “One disappointment was that our server wasn't decisive in recommending wines and then didn't have the correct year for the one he did suggest.”
  8. “The Oak Room is a great place to enjoy a drink and a nice cigar.”
  9. “The bar is an amazing site.”
food quality
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. “Shrimp cocktail was outstanding, with huge shrimp that made me fear I wouldn't be hungry for the main course.”
  2. “The food was delicious but I was glad we were there with a gift certificate as the service was indifferent and complicated by language issues, and the food was just heavy.”
  3. “While I rarely eat steak, my husband (the steak fanatic) remarked that this was the best steak he'd ever eaten!”
  4. “Great food, atmostphere”
  5. “the service and the food was just mediocre, from the appetizers to the entrees to dessert!”
  6. “As for the sides, the onion/potato crisps and the mushrooms were both very good.”
  7. “yes I got to see a huge chunk of the menu with 17 plates at the table) but if this kind of place is a once and a while thing for you, there is no point in going if you do not get the steak.”
  8. “oh and the steak is fabulous also!”
  9. “ALLLL of the food on the menu is great”
  10. “Wonderful food, great service, but expect a similar price-range.”
  11. “In fact, a college student like myself can be a fish out of water.”
  12. “The food, while very expensive, was great.”
  13. “The tenderloin is the most tender I've had in my life, and the steak au poivre has a great sauce.”
  14. “Magnificent atmosphere and very food”
  15. “The steaks were excellent, except that both my wife's and mine were overdone.”
  16. “Haven't been to Capital Grille or Grill 23, so I can't draw comparisons, but food at Oak Room was amazing!”
  17. “The waiter's recommendations were excellent: you have to try the crab cakes!”
  18. “great food, great service, great decor!”
  19. “delicious food from 1950 (chops, steaks) served by waiters who knew nothing about it from 2007.”
  20. “Went for a birthday meal, the mood was perfect, and the table was great.”
  21. “Nothing like a martini and some oysters before a good steak.”
  22. “My 14 ounce kobe beef filet was perfect.”
  23. “Great variety of brunch items and you really get a lot of food.”
  24. “The food was very good (spectacular dessert, fine steak, best bread basket and butter we have had in Boston)), but what was really special was the quiet, lovely room and the great service.”
  25. “As a college student, it's rare for me to splurge on something like a French bistro (I weep for the loss of affordable Metro) or a fine hotel restaurant, and half the time you end up paying for food that you can't pronounce and won't eat.”
  26. “... Sadly enough, I don't think I will ever give it a second chance and I haven't recommend it to anybody who loves food!”
  27. “We have as good food at the Palm, or Capitol Grill, but the former was so cold in summer we couldn't finish our meal, and the noise and overly intrusive waiter at the latter made us never want to return.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “ALLLL of the food on the menu is great”
  2. “yes I got to see a huge chunk of the menu with 17 plates at the table) but if this kind of place is a once and a while thing for you, there is no point in going if you do not get the steak.”
  3. “On Valentine's Day 2005 they had a special menu which was wonderful as we had little idea of what to try.”
  4. “Great variety of brunch items and you really get a lot of food.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “The Oak Room is a great place to enjoy a drink and a nice cigar.”
  2. “It you wnat to sit in take, the Oak Bar is a great place to do it, but if you want attentive service, it is a joke.”
return potential
50.0% positive
  1. “We have as good food at the Palm, or Capitol Grill, but the former was so cold in summer we couldn't finish our meal, and the noise and overly intrusive waiter at the latter made us never want to return.”
  2. “have been to this restaurant/bar twice and both experences were so awful that I will never return.”
service
80.55999755859375% positive
  1. “The waiters were not attentive nor friendly and the place wasn't even packed!”
  2. “the service and the food was just mediocre, from the appetizers to the entrees to dessert!”
  3. “One disappointment was that our server wasn't decisive in recommending wines and then didn't have the correct year for the one he did suggest.”
  4. “delicious food from 1950 (chops, steaks) served by waiters who knew nothing about it from 2007.”
  5. “Wonderful food, great service, but expect a similar price-range.”
  6. “after such terrible service we didnt even want to argue over it, we just wanted to leave, so we paid the bill.”
  7. “The decor is beautiful but the service is so terrible that i will never dine here again.”
  8. “The waiter was very attentive, treating us like we were his only guests that evening.”
  9. “We have as good food at the Palm, or Capitol Grill, but the former was so cold in summer we couldn't finish our meal, and the noise and overly intrusive waiter at the latter made us never want to return.”
  10. “The service was fantastic (and the waiter was very patient with me as I asked him to explain what fromage was.)”
  11. “It you wnat to sit in take, the Oak Bar is a great place to do it, but if you want attentive service, it is a joke.”
  12. “The waiter's recommendations were excellent: you have to try the crab cakes!”
  13. “The food was very good (spectacular dessert, fine steak, best bread basket and butter we have had in Boston)), but what was really special was the quiet, lovely room and the great service.”
  14. “great food, great service, great decor!”
  15. “This restaurant is great if you're looking for one special night to impress someone with, and the service was very professional even to a young couple like me and my boyfriend.”
  16. “Our waiter was so great and friendly we were almost shocked at how attentive he was.”
  17. “The decor stayed amazind, verging on over-the-top, but the service was just as good.”
  18. “The food was delicious but I was glad we were there with a gift certificate as the service was indifferent and complicated by language issues, and the food was just heavy.”
value
72.22000122070312% positive
  1. “Shrimp cocktail was outstanding, with huge shrimp that made me fear I wouldn't be hungry for the main course.”
  2. “As a college student, it's rare for me to splurge on something like a French bistro (I weep for the loss of affordable Metro) or a fine hotel restaurant, and half the time you end up paying for food that you can't pronounce and won't eat.”
  3. “The food, while very expensive, was great.”
  4. “Wonderful food, great service, but expect a similar price-range.”
  5. “It is an expensive place to eat at, but is definitely worth it and their portions are very big.”
  6. “Ridiculously expensive and worth every penny.”
  7. “We have been to a few "top of the line" steakhouses around Boston and I can honestly say that this was a huge letdown.”
  8. “yes I got to see a huge chunk of the menu with 17 plates at the table) but if this kind of place is a once and a while thing for you, there is no point in going if you do not get the steak.”
  9. “Although the drinks are expensive ($15) it's worth the price.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/25/10

Staff Is Excellent

by Karalyn12 at Citysearch

Had the pleasure of being served my Maryanne - what a sweetheart!!! She provided top notch service with a giant smile!

Food and drinks were stellar as well. I would highly reccomend the Oak Room in the Back Bay.

  • Pros: staff, drinks, food
  • Cons: nothing
3 Star Rating: Average

05/18/10

Upscale bar with live music

by juliacantor , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

If you're looking for an upscale bar with live music, the Oak Room is a perfect pick. The crowd is a mix of the mature and middle aged; people coming for food/appetizers, late night drinks, and after special events. They have a live piano player and some patrons are very enthralled in the music (including the guy next to me who pretended his table was a keyboard...) The Oak Room is the perfect location for a nice evening of live music and fine cocktails.

I went to the Oak Room recently to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday and it was fairly busy for a Saturday night. There was a wait for tables after 9:00 p.m. The cocktails are priced around $20, which are of the highest in Boston. I would say wearing something around business casual is fine, while there were some in full suits and dresses. It is one of the more mature drinking establishments in the city. Boston is known for being fairly casual, but this is one of the more elgant bars.

  • Pros: Interesting drinks, live music
  • Cons: Expensive drinks
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/17/10

A wonderful evening!

by dr1934 at Citysearch

The food was very good (spectacular dessert, fine steak, best bread basket and butter we have had in Boston)), but what was really special was the quiet, lovely room and the great service. We have as good food at the Palm, or Capitol Grill, but the former was so cold in summer we couldn't finish our meal, and the noise and overly intrusive waiter at the latter made us never want to return.

The Oak Room has the virtues of a fine private club, but they need some attention to their veggies.

  • Pros: Meticulous friendly service, great room, good food
  • Cons: terrible "parmesan fries", only fair spinach....
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/23/08

Great restaurant diminished by a poor opening at the bar.

by dh82a at Citysearch

When you want in, you are not in the restuarant, but instead are in the oak bar. It is where you wait, after checking in with the host. I went there for my birthday. In the bar, we waited about 29 minutes to get our drink, then were ignored for the rest of the 40 minutes we waited to be seated. We had arrived that early because we had heard such great things about the decor, that we though it would be fun to sit for a bit. The bar is an amazing site. I can not do it justice using words. You have to see it to believe it. Interesting enough, someone siting next to us in the bar was ordering dinner from the Oak Room menu, so I suppose that you can do it. It you wnat to sit in take, the Oak Bar is a great place to do it, but if you want attentive service, it is a joke. That said, when we were brought into the restaurant proper, it was different. The decor stayed amazind, verging on over-the-top, but the service was just as good. The waiter was very attentive, treating us like we were his only guests that evening. The food, while very expensive, was great. I ordered a steak, and my wife some chicken. We both finished happy with our food. Because of the price, I wouldn't recomment it as a place for anything other than special occations. Also, try to stay out of the bar, because it disappoints. The restaurant, though, it worth it, as it is an experience.

  • Pros: Decor. Food. Restaurant Service.
  • Cons: Price. Pre-Dinner Bar Service.
3 Star Rating: Average

06/01/08

great disapointment

by tranmull at Citysearch

We went to the Oak Room for our office Christmas Party and I have to say that we were greatly disappointed!!! We were impressed with the decor but that was about it...the service and the food was just mediocre, from the appetizers to the entrees to dessert! The waiters were not attentive nor friendly and the place wasn't even packed! We have been to a few "top of the line" steakhouses around Boston and I can honestly say that this was a huge letdown...a restaurant to this caliber should never have an "off" night..we spent alot of money for food that night and the experience was just "OK"... Sadly enough, I don't think I will ever give it a second chance and I haven't recommend it to anybody who loves food!

  • Pros: the decor is beautiful
  • Cons: the food and service is just mediocre

The Details on Oak Room Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great very food
  • great service
  • friendly waiter
  • fabulous steak
  • great place
  • perfect atmosphere
  • just mediocre food
  • enjoy drink
  • ridiculously expensive penny
  • beautiful decor
  • nice evening
  • nice cigar
  • recommending wines
  • great atmostphere
  • great allll
  • perfect pick
  • poor opening
  • great escape
  • perfect beef
  • huge chunk
  • good capitol grill
  • like royalty
  • awesome waiter kenny
  • great restaurant
  • fabulous oh

As Seen In…

Best of Citysearch

Boston

Message from Oak Room Restaurant

  • Upscale steakhouse
  • Sunday brunch
  • Reservations recommended

Named 'Best Steakhouse' by Boston Magazine, the Oak Room is much more than a steakhouse; it is a gastronomic experience.

As part of The Fairmont Copley Plaza's $20 million plus restoration project, the space containing the award-winning Oak Room restaurant is being updated and refreshed. Starting in early January, the restaurant will continue to operate out of the beautiful St. James Room, offering a luxurious, intimate atmosphere and serving the same distinctive menu during breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Oak Room Restaurant
Advertisement

Featured In

Recent Reviews In Boston

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Lucky Strike Lanes

145 Ipswich St, Boston, MA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Sugar Heaven

218 Newbury St, Boston, MA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Clover Dewey Square

Summer St & Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA

4 Star Rating: Recommended

My Thai Vegan Cafe

3 Beach St, Boston, MA

Advertisement