Oak & Ola

Calling all brunch lovers! If you enjoy brunch just as much as I do and are looking for a new unique spot to try, check out Oak and Ola. This amazing brunch spot is located inside Armature Works with a nice open restaurant concept. Here you are able to have a view of the lawn area in front of Armature Works, a glimpse of the Hillsborough River, as well as downtown Tampa in the background.

As a starter, our waitress recommended the Spanish Chorizo Gravy and Cornbread. This consisted of house made griddled cornbread topped with Tambuzzo chorizo sausage accompanied by a light and creamy orange sauce which brought together the entire dish. I have to admit, although this would not have been my first choice for an appetizer as it was nothing like I have tried before or thought I would like, it was absolutely incredible. The cornbread was hot, freshly baked and provided an irresistible sweet flavor that kept you coming back for more. The chorizo sausage that was paired with the corn bread was the perfect touch. It was extremely flavorful and broken down to bite size pieces making it very easy to pair with pieces of the cornbread. The entirety of this appetizer was amazing and I would suggest this to anyone that finds themself at Oak and Ola for brunch as you will not be disappointed.

After indulging in that delicious Chorizo cornbread starter, I went ahead with the Monte Cristo for a sweet and savory dish. This dish was a twist on your traditional French toast as it was battered and lightly fried. The French toast was stuffed with Jambon de Paris which is a Paris style ham and Gruyere cheese and was accompanied by a house salad. I enjoyed every bite of this dish as it was extremely flavorful and cooked to perfection. The outside of the Monte Cristo had a nice crispness to it from being lightly fried and the raspberry jam that was provided on the side to pair with the sandwich added the perfect touch!

During my time, I received phenomenal service from my server. She was very knowledgeable about the restaurant’s menu and provided us with excellent menu recommendations. She also was very friendly and attentive throughout the duration of our time there.