One of the most anticipated restaurant openings of 2017 is The Charter Oak up in wine country.
Coming from chef Christopher Kostow from The Restaurant at Meadowood, a three Michelin starred restaurant in Saint Helena, The Charter Oak is a casual restaurant focusing on fresh and vibrant local produce as well as wood fired dishes that is located in the same city. Since I haven’t dined at The Restaurant at Meadowood yet, the normal tasting menu will set you back $275 without beverage, I was intrigued to try his more approachable restaurant.
The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous with brick walls, dark wooden tables, and a hearth located near the open kitchen. The outdoor patio is also beautiful but not suitable for the sweltering summer heat of Saint Helena but will be perfect for spring or fall weather. The menu itself is divided into three sections: small bites, medium plates, and main courses. They also have a small bar menu with various sandwiches.
We started off with two cocktails, both extremely refreshing and light and perfectly suitable for the hot weather. I tried cocktail no. 1 (amaro angeleno, schramsberg, lillet, passionfruit, lemon, and soda) and Tommy tried cocktail no. 6 (spiced germain robin, apricot chutney, orange, lemon, and ginger).

Personal Utensil Drawers Inside the Table.

Charter Oak Bread with Cultured Butter (8/10).

Spicebush Cured Ham (8/10).

Vegetables from the Farm with Fermented Soy Dip (8.5/10).

Tartine of Green Garlic, Peas, and Lardo (8.5/10).

Grilled Avocado with Rhubarb, Ember Oil, and Mayonnaise (8/10).

Rigatoni of Durum Wheat with Vegetable Bolognese (8/10).

Trout with Wild and Cultivated Greens and Fermented Onion (7.5/10).

Beef Rib Grilled Over Cabernet Barrels with Beets Dressed in the Rendered Fat (8.5/10).
For desserts, they actually have a moving cart where you choose what desserts you would like.

Date Cake with Whipped Cream (8/10).

Pavola with Strawberries (8/10).

Chocolate Mousse with Cookies (7.5/10).
For only being open for three weeks, The Charter Oak pretty much nailed their menu. The food was not only beautifully showcased, the flavors were up to par and satiated my appetite. Service was also on point so my rating is a 8-8.5/10.
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