Raising the Bar - The Oak Tavern in Oakley

Opening on Madison Road in July, the comfy Oak Tavern quickly drew in bar-hopping crowds. Completely renovating a former Chinese restaurant, the owners of Oak Tavern have come up with something slightly sleek, but still sporty at heart.

Happy hour brings specials on beer and well drinks from 4 to 7 p.m. daily. Live music fills the space weekly, and 15-inch plasma-screen TVs, a pool table and darts are also available.

Owners say they plan to add a full menu by mid-September, with lunch and dinner offerings including burgers, soups and sandwiches. For now, you can feast on peanuts. An outdoor patio should also be open by either fall or spring.

My boyfriend and I stopped by the new spot for drinks on a recent Saturday night.

THE EXPERIENCE

I totally lucked into a parking spot on the street right outside the entrance to Oak Tavern. Inside, the bar was packed, with few open spots for sitting or standing. We eventually squeezed our way up to the bar and ordered two draft beers - a Blue Moon for me and Christian Moerlein for my date ($3.50 each).

We headed to the far wall, lined with stools, but quickly realized we were getting in the way of the group of guys playing pool. (Actually, most of the stools on the wall seem like they would get in the way of anyone playing pool.)

We found a retreat near the doors and rested our beers on a ledge. A trio of friends seemed to have a similar problem finding a spot to chill out, so they put a stool in the middle of the floor to use as a mini-table. (Smart!)

DID IT RAISE THE BAR?

Most people at Oak Tavern seemed to be having a blast. Since I didn't have an entourage with me and didn't have a spot to call my own, I felt slightly out of place. The sporty theme and overly loud music playing overhead made it hard to relax and enjoy my drink. But with an overall fun vibe, this bar will do great business in Oakley.