Red Oak Bistro: A local’s honest review
There are several ways the Red Oak Bistro stands out. For instance? Its (669) Glades Road location is not in the traditional areas of the Gatlinburg culinary scene. Beyond that, the menu – based on what is available through local farmers and producers – changes so often, they don’t even bother trying to put it up on their website.
Also, the small location, inside a renovated A-frame home, requires reservations. In fact, when we visited recently, there was a sign on the door saying they weren’t taking walk-ups that evening. In fact, the availability is such that when we walked through the door, we were greeted by name by Chef Olga.
“You must be John,” is not a way I’m used to being greeted in area restaurants. It was… disarming and welcoming and it led to one of our favorite dining experiences in recent memory.
What is Red Oak Bistro?
It’s a small European-inspired restaurant in the Glades Road Area of Gatlinburg. It is located on the main floor of what appears to be a former A-frame residence in the area. The renovated space is dark, cool, and welcoming. If you’re seated over by the fireplace, you feel like you could be in a friend’s chalet back in the 70’s when there was a cool kind of glamour that involved the formal wearing of turtlenecks, and there was a strong passion for fondue.
The vibe is broken somewhat if you’re closer to the bar. Not because the bar doesn’t fit with the vibe, it’s just that you can’t imagine being friends with someone who has that cool of a bar in their home. Speaking of bars, while the Red Oak Bistro doesn’t post its food menu on the website, its extensive wine, beer, and whiskey selections are up for perusal.
The Bistro is operated by a husband-and-wife team with over 20 years’ experience in the service industry. And it’s really popular with a 4.8 rating on Yelp! and 4.7 on Google. Also, the restaurant is open Thursdays through Sundays starting at 4 p.m.
What is the menu like?
It’s heavily influenced by the traditions of Mediterranean and Eastern European cuisine. The entrees are served as small plates and designed to be shared. When we were there, the menu featured a starter sampler with hummus, tzatziki-style sauce, fresh feta cheese, stuffed grape leaves, and charcuterie and cheese boards. Leslie ordered pierogies topped with red cabbage. I got a spaghetti squash with lentil ragu – both were excellent.
Other items on the menu included a chicken liver pate, salmon roe caviar, a caprese flatbread, and smoked salmon bruschetta. I almost went with the Kebabche, a Bulgarian-style pork sausage served with white beans in tomato sauce and cucumber salad.
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The European-style flavors
If you are not accustomed to European-style flavors, it is an opportunity to expand your horizons. However, there will also be enough on the menu to satisfy the less adventurous diners.
What I like about the Bistro – aside from the fact that they treated me like Norm from Cheers – is that Chef Olga doesn’t change her vision to meet the lowest culinary denominator. If this isn’t your kind of thing, that’s cool. There are plenty of places in town where you can find your kind of thing. But at the Bistro, they’re not throwing chicken tenders or mac and cheese on the menu. They will offer a variety of culinary options, but they are going to be in line with Chef Olga’s plan. It is a rare case where the customer has to go to the mountain. And it is why the Bistro is one of the best restaurants in the region.
Is Red Oak Bistro worth it?
Absolutely, it is. The small plate setup is different, especially if you’re not used to tapas-style dining. But most options are around $20, and although the pierogi portions were small, the spaghetti squash portion was a healthy serving. We finished with a rich chocolate moose and left with a bill that wasn’t cheap but wasn’t outrageous. I can promise you that I’ve spent a lot more for a meal that wasn’t half as good as the one provided by the Bistro.
In a region where so much of the experience is based on cookie-cutter success, one restaurant is successful, and three more will quickly pop up. But the Red Oak Bistro stands out in nearly all aspects, a welcome bit of excellence and variety.
I’m not ready to say Red Oak is my favorite restaurant in town, but it’s certainly in the running. For more information on the eatery, follow the website here.
Have you tried Red Oak Bistro? Share your thoughts with us in the comments and on the socials!