Oak Wood Fire Kitchen: Upscale Casual Dining Done Right

Oak Wood Fire Kitchen

715 E. 12300 South, Draper

Dine-In: Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.

801.996.8155 | oakwoodfirekitchen.com

Oak Wood Fire Kitchen lies in an unassuming neighborhood strip mall, wrapped in a warm multicolored brick exterior. “There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who love pizza and liars,” reads the backlit, changeable letter sign hanging on the wall adjacent to their brick oven and opposite the entryway. The sign sets the mood for guests from the start. The chic interior combines white tile, wooden features and plenty of greenery under dozens of Edison light bulbs to create a relaxing atmosphere. The décor and ambiance foretell what caliber of experience guests can anticipate and—spoilers—it’s a great one.

Not your typical, garden-variety pizza place, Oak Wood Fire Kitchen provides a menu appropriate for many occasions—a celebration, a romantic date or a casual night out with friends. My date and I started our meal by ordering hand-crafted adult beverages. The Woodfire Maple Old Fashioned ($13.00) featured Desolation rye, bourbon barrel smoked maple and Angostura Bitters. It was smoky, but smooth with a hint of malty sweetness. The Sunsets in Draper ($14.00) contrasted wildly against it. The brightly colored drink consisted of Dented Brick rum, Amaretto liqueur, house grenadine and orange juice. It was a tangy and refreshing drink.

At our server’s recommendation, we ordered the Oak Bread ($6.00) next. This came as an uncut flat bread of housemade dough with a drizzle of olive oil, roughly chopped fresh rosemary and a dusting of grated parmesan. It had been fired in the wood pizza oven, which gave it a rigid texture without drying it out. As the pizzas were somewhere between personal and small in size, we decided to split a classic Margherita ($13.00). The charred, hand-tossed thin crust was sturdy enough to hold its shape when a single piece was lifted. The fresh mozzarella and basil, savory tomato sauce, and mild olive oil on the housemade pizza dough made for a lovely combination. Both acidic and sweet, the subtle minty-pepperiness of the basil highlighted the richness of the cheese and the tartness of the tomato base without distracting from the crispness of the pizza crust. 

Again, we deferred to our server’s advice for our next dish, and from her suggestion we chose the Chicken Pot Pie ($16.00). This soup-pie hybrid came in a blazing-hot cast iron skillet, featuring chopped chicken, diced celery, carrot onion and a thick, creamy sauce. A square of flakey, golden puff pastry floated in the center. The seasoning was balanced, the sauce was emulsified and smooth and the flavor was piquant. 

We finished our meal with an order of the Cinammon Doughnut Holes ($8.00). This arrived on an oval platter with nearly a dozen fluffy balls coated in a sugary sweet cinnamon powder and a heaping scoop of tempered vanilla ice cream. The classic pairing of cinnamon and vanilla with the opposing textures of ice cream and bread made for an amusing and delicious end to the meal.

Oak Wood Fire Kitchen isn’t just a pizza place by any means, and they demonstrate this with their menu variety. From Ricotta Meatballs ($14.00) to Fried Cauliflower ($13.00) to Seared Salmon ($22.00) to Steak Frites ($24.00), they offer a little of everything without overwhelming diners with complicated or extensive options. They even have a dedicated Little Ones menu for younger guests. While I have not participated in their Sunday Brunch, their menu is enough to inspire a repeat visit with dishes such as Beignets ($7.00), Wood Fired Pancakes ($10.00), Biscuits and Gravy ($13.00) and Chicken and Waffles ($14.00). 

Simple and unpretentious, Oak Wood Fire Kitchen sets itself apart as an upscale, casual dining establishment that puts a lot of love into every dish they send out their kitchen. For more information, find Oak Wood Fire Kitchen on Yelp and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @oakwoodfirekitchen.