Oak City

This is the most objective review for Oak City you're going to read, I promise.  I spent many good nights loving this place and their ridiculous drink specials.  I've had really good food there.  And now, sometime in the past few months, they are under new management.

What would have been a 4-star rating months ago, is now 2.  It's that bad of a drop-off.

Before this past weekend, the last time I was at the place was on Mother's Day.  They had an AWESOME buffet.  The place isn't exactly built for a huge crowd, but it wasn't terrible.  The food was great.

Now then, I usually frequent the place for two reasons: 1) Their 2 for 1 drink specials run ridiculously long and, 2) the DJ always seemed to play a lot of good music to dance to once those 2 for 1's started to take effect and I became the white version of MC Hammer.  With this new management however, they are now charging a 5 dollar cover and have some craptastic band playing directly on the dance floor.  They changed the lighting so it's not moody anymore, it's just plain bright.  I mean, COME ON.  Nobody goes to a bar to be able to see each other THIS CLEARLY.

The guys at the door taking that cover money weren't exactly friendly.  I hate that.  We're at your place.  Make us feel at home, especially if you're going to take our money.  

The people watching has always been spectacular.  I'm talking muffin tops galore, 60 year old men in Ed Hardy shirts, socks 'n sandals, and every racial stereotype you can imagine.  It used to be fun.  The crowd used to have a good vibe.  Now it just feels dead inside, like it's been put through years of terrible abuse and doesn't know who it wants to be anymore.

It's a shame, really.  The food is good.  The location's not terrible.  The servers/bartenders have always been really friendly.  But I daresay that I won't be blacking out, er, I mean returning to Oak City anytime soon.  And by "anytime soon" I mean "ever again".

Seriously Oak City?  You have a dress code??  Are you aware that you are a bar in a hotel in Bloomington??  Take yourself a bit too seriosly do we???

Yeah my party of 13 was denied entrace at the door by the bouncer (again at a hotel bar in fucking Bloomington).  We went to Olive Garden instead.  Way to miss out on a $1k tab simply because we were wearing hats Oak City.  Ya Putz.

I always enjoy trying out different places, especially when I'm on the road. So while on tour around Minneapolis, me and my friend decided to check out Oak City. We ordered the food. IT was actually quite good. Unfortunately the service was not. I can honestly say I've never experienced worse service in my life. One of the waitresses was new and she was nice, but it seemed like all the established staff there prided themselves in being as rude as possible. I couldn't believe how hard it was to pay the bill. Really Oak City? Come on guys, you can do way better.