Old Post Tavern is Where the Beef is

The Old Post Tavern, located at the corner of Post and Unquowa Roads, opened its doors to the public last week. The space, formerly occupied by Bravo Restaurant & Bar, has been completely transformed.

Inside, it's light and airy with a contemporary New England look (whitewashed walls, polished wood tables.) Tables line the wall of windows overlooking Post Road, while the large bar area overlooks the action of the Community Theatre plaza and Unquowa Road.

The outdoor terrace has a sprinkling of tables where everyone from groups of two to eight can comfortably enjoy al fresco dining.

Old Post Tavern's food is an interpretation of the modern American steakhouse. Sure, you'll find the stray pasta or chicken dish, but this is really the place to come when you want a juicy steak or a piece of fish.

The menu is on the small side and organized in a somewhat confusing manner. Instead of clear divisions for appetizers, entrees, etc., Old Post prefers to categorize by "share" or "not share."  If you're sharing, there are raw bar selections, such as clams casino, baby back ribs, steamers and oysters. Of course, you could always go for the Grand Platter. Priced at $68, it has all of the usual suspects plus a one-pound lobster. Crab cakes, tuna tartar, and clam chowder are among the other appetizer choices.

Dinner selections include daily specials but focus on steaks, available in filet mignon, sirloin, and ribsteak cuts, and seafood. The sides are extra and include mashed potatoes, french fries, macaroni and cheese, and creamed or sauteed spinach. The children's menu has the typical selections - pasta, chicken fingers, etc.

I dined at Old Post Tavern on Friday night. It was bustling at 630 p.m., and we were seated outside since all of the tables inside were already taken.  The waitstaff was very polite, if somewhat green. It's evident that they are still smoothing out the kinks (our waiter even said this to us as he introduced himself.) Several tables around us were given bread baskets but our table was skipped.

I tend to be on of those "When in Rome" diners, so I opted for seafood and steak since this seemed to be their specialty. The Caesar salad was on the wimpy, somewhat bland, side. Grilled tuna steak was of good quality and served with a rich buttery sauce. The filet mignon was the stand-out, however. Crusted with Roquefort cheese, the filet was melt-in-your-mouth good and cooked perfectly to order. All of the sides must be ordered separately (something that I personally find chintzy, though I know it's tradition at steakhouses.)

The prices range from $5 to $68 for appetizers, though most hover in the $10 to $12 range.  Entrees ranges from $19 to $35 and most sides are an additional $5.  Children's meals are $8.  The wine list is very comprehensive and organized in a nice way (categorized by light and crisp, rich and full, etc.) There are plenty of wines by the glass, ranging in price from $8 to $14.  There is a wide variety of expensive bottles ($400 for Insignia) as well.

Old Post Tavern's bar was jammed when I left closer to 8 p.m.  While some looked like they were waiting for tables, others were there to simply catch up over cocktails. The scene is sophisticated and the setting is nice. While they need to polish a few things and could benefit from a few more menu items, if you're in the mood for a good steak, don't want to travel far and don't mind dropping a few clams, this new spot should be on your list.