Raleigh bourbon bar, scratch kitchen celebrates grand opening Saturday

This new scratch kitchen and bourbon bar is hoping to have a longer life than 618 Bistro, which previously occupied the space on Lake Boone Trail. 

Open for two months, this neighborhood bar is celebrating its grand opening Saturday with a cook-out. (Details on that below!)

Riek said he envisions The Oak as a great neighborhood bar that also has great scratch made food. With 99 percent of the items scratch made - they can't make their own bread yet - Riek said they are hitting grocery stores every day to pick up essentials. And they are determined to buy as much locally as possible. That includes Heritage Farms pork, bacon and pork belly. Staff purchases what is available, so sometimes entrees like smoked salmon will run out. 

The menu is expected to shift every two months or so, Riek said. 

As for the bar, the bourbon barrels will be a main attraction. Riek is planning to display the larger ones prominently next to the bar.

Right now, smaller barrels are placed around the concrete bar. They hold a mid-grade bourbon being aged with a Tahitian vanilla bean - just one of the house-aged bourbons available now. There will be a second house bourbon without the vanilla tapped on Saturday. These house bourbons are being served alongside Maker's Mark, Blantons and 1792. The growing bourbon collection is expected to reach upwards of 30.

The idea to start a bourbon bar actually came from The Oak general manager Hali Haught. While talking with some friends, she discovered that it was a concept that was lacking in the industry. With a background in fine dining, Haught actually came to the Triangle from Chicago, just to start up The Oak with Riek.