The Oak Room will be taken over by the Lolita folks.

[Unfoodie]

Thankfully the stuffy old Oak Room will close for a matter of months and be rehabbed by the folks behind Lolita. It'll happen within the next year.

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Oak Room
138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

[aadesmd]

I have been to the Oak Room on multiple occasions, and found it not at all "stuffy". There is a certain formality, but I think it comes from the decor and not the staff, who are delightful. I am quite disappointed. I think they have, or had, the best chateaubriand in Boston.

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Oak Room
138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

[MC Slim JB]

I guess I tend to agree, but who else does Chateaubriand for two in Boston? That's sort of emblematic of what will be lost when it goes away. I haven't ordered that dish in years -- I don't really dig tenderloin -- but I would be sorry to see it disappear. The romance of tableside service for two is something we'll miss when it's gone, and the kids will only know as a grandpa story. Sad.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[trueblu]

Agreed -- chateaubriand is not my favourite cut, but it will be sad if the oak room were to disappear. I've always found the service to be superb, and perhaps the carpet is a bit dated, but what it needs is a refurb, not a redo! I for one like that certain establishment retain a sense of formality, which need not, as mentioned, mean stuffy.

tb

[tamerlanenj]

I, too, hope it maintains its essential Oak Room-ness. At least it's different from the generic luxe steakhouses that dominate downtown/Back Bay.

[hazelhurst]

I be sorry to see the clubby feel go, too. I "inherited" the Oak Bar and Locke-Ober from my father who'd enjoyed them in the 1940's/50's..seems like Old Standbys close up more often nowadays. but I gather L-O is going to be open again in a week or two so that's good news. Now if we could get the bleacher tickets at Fenway down to a reasonable price....

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Locke-Ober
3 Winter Place, Boston, MA 02108

[StriperGuy]

Totally agree! Just get rid of that carpet, PLEASE.

[hazelhurst]

You remind me of Oscar Wilde's line on his deathbed--"Either that wallpaper goes, or I do."

[scotty27]

Kind of a shame, isn't it? That an LA based chain tequila driven restaurant is taking over the space?

[citylvr]

agree...freshening up or rehab doesn't have to mean trashing the style and character of a place.

[RichardinJP]

It will be very sad if this rehab causes the bar and restaurant to lose its old world charm. What some people see as stuffy, others, myself included, see as civilized. I fear another spot which will be welcoming to the jean clad, cell toting crowd.

[hiddenboston]

From Grub Street:
http://boston.grubstreet.com/2011/03/...

[hiddenboston]

Yes? You were saying? :-)

[MC Slim JB]

Per the Grub Street story, the Oak Room is denying the Lolita rumor, but I have separate confirmation from an industry source that the rumor is true.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[treb]

Like the food, new make-up needed.

[MC Slim JB]

So, is it the restaurant operators of Lolita who are taking it over? Is it going to be another upscale, gringo-fied Mexican concept with a nightclubby feel there, too?

Or is it just the design team that did the Back Bay Lolita space, and does that mean we can expect more Gothic Bordello Mexican?

Are they replacing the Oak Room, the Oak Bar, or both?

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Oak Room
138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

[Unfoodie]

It's going to stay a steak house with the same operators of Lolita. Both the room and the bar.

[Unfoodie]

The only reason Locke-Ober and Oak Room had survived the recent years is because of old money being spent on celebratory evenings.

What other places like this need a rehab?

[StriperGuy]

Was there two weeks ago, the upholstery and the carpet was shot, and there was an off smell.

The pianist was sad.

The place needs some serious freshening up! Anything will be an improvement.

[digga]

We were there last night, before a wedding reception at BPL. I have to agree with Striper - the room could use some freshening. For some reason, they were jammed yesterday, early evening. Our waiter, a gruff, but great old-timer, was amazed at how busy they were at that hour. The high prices and strains on service made it tough for the out-of-towners to appreciate the room. Honestly, I look forward to the update.

[9lives]

I haven't been for a few years but I'll believe you and SG. Shame that a "Boston institution" should be allowed to sink into such disrepair. I have a fondness for MX restaurant but I have to say I'm saddened at their decline; but biz is biz..:(

[treb]

Like the King's clothes? a bit naked??

[Jenny Ondioline]

Quilty or Humbert?

[L2k]

Took the words . . . I mean, I've been at a hotel where there was a convention of folks in animal costumes, but THIS might have been illegal!

[Berheenia]

Both dining room and bar? I love the bar room! Agree the dining room is stuffy but no not the bar room!

[9lives]

I love the Oak Bar too. Hopefully it will be preserved and retain it's old Boston charm. First Locke Ober and now the Oak Bar. Not good news.

[phelana]

I love it the way it is..oakey and dark and old world charm...