When elevated skills pair with a casual bar atmosphere, you end up with a place like this. Located at 135 4th Street, there is a constant revolving door of street parking in this downtown area. On the day of my visit, I lucked out and nabbed a spot just a few feet away.
The dark woods and deep red and brown color hues make for a relaxed vibe that would work very well after dark. The food was made for sharing, but the flavors made me want to keep dishes all to myself. The service was friendly and attentive, but without the feeling like someone was hovering over me the whole time. This is definitely a nice enough place for a date night, but also casual enough to meet some friends for drinks after work or the weekend.
http://jacksonsbarandoven.com/
Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.
Neoclassic Buffalo Wings. These were very delicious wings. The very light batter made for a crisp exterior and the meat was hot and juicy on the inside. This was served with a creamy blue cheese sauce and a tangy buffalo sauce. The balance of sauces kept every dip and every bite interesting.
Oven Roasted Calamari Salad. I don't tend to order salads when at restaurants, but the calamari were calling my name. I was surprised, but definitely pleased, at the generous amount of calamari. The perfectly acidic dressing was light and coated every piece of vegetable and seafood evenly. The roasted fennel added dimension and a nutty aroma and the frisée had a bit of bitterness that balanced the whole dish. I enjoyed this very much.
Lamb Stuffed Flatbread. Another winning plate with surprisingly generous portions of lamb, which was cooked until tender but not falling apart. The flatbread had a nice char and chew and paired with the garlic-seasoned lamb and spiced hummus very well. The optional side of fries were hot and crispy and also did a good job as a utensil to help devour the hummus.
