It caught my eye right away. A “Wild Game Plate” with Marinated Buffalo Flank Steak, Pan Seared Boneless Duck Breast, Pancetta Stuffed Quail, served with a Red Wine Demi Glaze, Cannelini Salad with Fresh Sage and Sautéed Vegetables. I knew then that The Mighty Oak Barrel Restaurant in Oakmont specializes in offering a unique dining experience. Off the beaten path, it is probably one of Oakmont’s best-kept secrets. I may have never known about this cozy and romantic restaurant, if it weren’t for a friend who told me. The dining fare immediately stands out at The Mighty Oak Barrel. You suddenly realize you are not reading a regular menu. You will not find the “usual” run of selections. Every selection offers a creative preparation for dinner that will make your evening well worth the visit. In fact, if you are a lover of fine cuisine, you may well become a loyal customer as many others have. Even the appetizers offer an interesting array of tempting tastes. Consider Flax Seed Encrusted Yellow Fin Tuna Tower … layered with Fried Won Tons, topped with Cucumber Salsa, laced with Cusabi Vinaigrette, garnished with pickled ginger, or Buffalo Mozzarella Skewer ... with red onions, garden tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and basil infused oil and imported Proscuitto wrapped around gulf shrimp ... stuffed with Herb Goat Cheese, laced with basil oil, just to name a few. Is your mouth watering yet? It gets better. Grainne Trainor, a co-owner with Lisa Rusak, said they specialize in seasonal American dishes with a specially selected influence of wine with each dish. She said the selections are, “very creative and diverse” reflecting Pennsylvania’s seasonal fruit and produce. She also pointed out that a gourmet house salad comes with every meal at no extra cost. That salad consists of spring greens, tomatoes, an array of dried fruits, toasted walnuts, and crumbled bleu cheese. To accent salads, you can choose from an intriguing assortment of homemade salad dressings. They also serve Breadworks freshly baked chibatta bread with a flavored butter. Just to tempt you more, let’s look at the main menu and some specials. We could start with Wahoo... Pan Seared and Grilled Hawaiian Wahoo laced with a Ginger-Orange Butter served over a Chilled Cracked Wheat Salad with Fresh Vegetable sounds great, but how about Boneless Breast of Duck... laced with a rich Port Wine Boysenberry Sauce, served with a side of whipped Mascarpone and Rosemary Rice or Ancho Rubbed Double Bone Pork Chop... layered with Pineapple Chutney, set on a pool of Blackberry Gastrique, garnished with grilled pineapple? And the greatness of this menu is that they change it every season or approximately every three months! You’ll never get bored eating at The Mighty Oak Barrel. The proof of this fact is that nearly 800f their customers are repeat customers. Every month they dedicate two evenings (always a Wednesday and Thursday) for an informal, educational, and invigorating wine tasting. The themes change each month, but all follow the same format: three wines and three gourmet hors d'oeuvres, which are made especially for these particular wines. Reservations are required and space is limited at this popular event.

Grainne told me that even though it is fine dining, meals are very affordable. In fact, prices are far below city or upper scale restaurants. Grainne and Lisa Rusak are both seasoned veterans in the restaurant field and know how to create fine, original, and interesting dishes that are full of color and good taste. They have purposefully established the restaurant as a comfortable and relaxed place where you can be dressed up or dressed down and not feel out of place. Lisa is the chef while Grainne handles the front end of the restaurant. It’s a perfect marriage. One other important characteristic about owners Grainne and Lisa is that they believe in giving back to the community and support many different causes. They don't just give, they participate. Some of these charities are Chris Fennimore WQED-QEX Cooks Appearance for Women's Dine Around; Make a Wish Foundation Annual Golf Outing; Race for the Cure Team for Breast Cancer; a health menu created for a monthly Dean Ornish Heart Patient's Group; Cystic Fibrosis Wine Tasting; Relay for Life, American Cancer Society Wine Tasting Event; and Escape to the Lake MS 150 Mile Bike Tour. What makes this restaurant exceptional is having great owners. Yet they know it isn't about them, but about serving others. The Mighty Oak Barrel is located at 939 Third Street in Oakmont. Visit their web site for more menu items and directions at www.mightyoakbarrel.com. Restaurant hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. They are closed Sunday and Mondays. You may call them at 412-826-1069.