Formerly open only to members of Lakewood's Oakbrook Country Club, the Oakhouse Restaurant and Bar has been redesigned and is now open to the public. Located right on the golf course, the boys decided to live a little of the high life this week.

Jake: Somehow, I found myself hungry in the middle of the afternoon, and since the Oakhouse is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., it seemed like the perfect time. Apparently I was the only one hungry that day . . . I dined alone.

Jason: Well, you never have been one to follow the crowd!

Jake:  Whether you are dining with your kids or with the guys, no appetizer brings a smile to a man's eyes more than tower of onion rings, and the Oakhouse serves them up tall and hot with both ranch and a barbeque mayonnaise ($8.99).  These are made like onion rings should be made . . . crispy and hot.

Jason: In addition to the great up close view of the golf course, it offers more than onion rings as well Jake, the appetizer offerings also include calamari, Buffalo wings, nachos and steamed clams if you feel like breaking out of your shell.

Jake: My server was friendly and attentive; she even took the time to ask me what sporting event I would like to watch while I ate.

Jason: Sporting event? There are several TVs throughout the restaurant. I was watching football, baseball AND golf all at the same time. 

Jake: Ya, ya ... let's get to the food!  The menu offers many choices - from salads and sandwiches to chili and chowder. There's also cheese quesadillas, calzones, chicken, Coho and cod.  However, even with all the choices, I really wanted to know how well a high-end burger would pair with my light beer, so I ordered the Kobe beef burger with mushrooms and Swiss cheese ($11.99).  The mushrooms were fresh and tasty, especially when combined with the tanginess of the Swiss cheese.  However, I ordered my burger medium rare, and the burger I received was extremely well done and without any of the juicy flavor that makes a burger so enticing.

Jason:  I'm always a fan of anything that includes bacon, so I ordered the TBLA sandwich that includes turkey, smoked bacon, tomatoes, crisp lettuce and avocado on toasted sourdough bread ($9.99).  Not only was this sandwich tasty, but it was piled at least five inches tall!  I've enjoyed different versions of a BLT, but with the addition of the turkey and avocado, this one is a winner.

Jake:  All the sandwiches include a side of fries, fresh fruit, coleslaw, side salad or you can also enjoy sweet potato fries for an additional dollar.  And my salad was big, almost meal size big, so I can't complain about portion size.

Jason: Agreed, and the overall pricing is easy on the wallet as well.  I almost ordered the most expensive item on the menu, the 10-ounce rib eye steak for only $22.99, just so I could say that I did.  There are other items on the menu that I'd like to try too, especially the drink menu that offers several lively martini options.

Jake: I'll skip the bar and give the chocolate cake, crème brulee or an ice cream sundae a tasting next time.  Now, if I could just figure out how to get a game of golf in as well.

(Oakhouse Restaurant and Bar; 8102 Zircon Dr, Lakewood; 584-8888)