A slice of Europe has been recreated at the newly launched The Oak Tree in Gurgaon. Seeking to recreate the concept of a bistro that developed in France in the early 19th century, The Oak Tree is the NCR’s first international bistro located at Supermart 1, DLF Phase 4.

A comfortable restaurant serving the most authentic flavours in a modest setting – that’s what a bistro is. Taking off from the French experience, The Oak Tree offers a 71-cover, informal eating experience in a cozy, relaxed environment.

Here you can simply drop in after a day of hectic shopping, put up those tired feet and wash away your fatigue with a tall glass of fresh fruit julep or just stroll across in the evening in a pair of shorts for a glass of exquisite French wine. For The Oak Tree is all about taking a break from the grind and chilling amidst the comforting environs of the place.

The brainchild of Ajay Dhar, a young entrepreneur with widely held interests in travel, gastronomy and music, The Oak Tree serves as an oasis in the suburban jungle of Gurgaon.

The warm yellow tone of the interiors, washed by natural light and dressed in a blend of soft furnishings and crisp lines is as inviting on a hot summer afternoon as the shade of an old oak tree. The oak tree leitmotif has been recreated in the décor – in the rich brown felt screens with cutouts of dispersed oak leaves, on the double layered organza curtains, the imported wallpaper, and the wine racks.

By night, the place transforms itself into a soft, muted place lit up by candlelight, which brings into focus the porcelain tiled, antiquated salvaged stone, the natural wooden lamps and the herring bone patterns on the upholstered chairs. A hint of the contemporary is seen in the cherry blossom steel artefacts on the walls. The warm, comforting and universal look and feel perfectly complements the menu that comprises foods that are nurturing, nourishing and comforting, served in filling portions and value-for-money.

Bistros are defined mostly by the foods they serve. Slow-cooked foods created with a lot of love and attention to detail is typical of The Oak Tree. The place offers a creatively designed menu, 80 per cent of which comprises European and Mediterranean foods from Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Spain and the South of France, and the remaining 20 per cent is made up of Asian delights from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

Here, the accent is on redefining the classics with a creative twist. You could opt for the Baby Lamb Shoulder (a typical bistro food) treated to a tongue-in-cheek manner and served with broth and couscous. Or check out the Hainanese Chicken served with rice and a spicy dip.

Roasting, grazing and grilling of meats are done employing the lava or volcanic stone. This is a method of stone grilling that can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians and Vikings and is today recognised as one of the healthiest forms of cooking. The produce is trimmed of all fats and no added oils are used.

The Oak Tree reintroduces this long forgotten art of cooking vegetables, seafood and meats by searing foods quickly on the outside while sealing the natural juices and nutrients inside. The bed of lava stone operates on a contact-free grilling principle with the food becoming appetizingly crisp brown on the outside while remaining aromatic and juicy inside. Volcanic stone dissipates heat more evenly to the food and imparts a delicate flavour to the food item. As a result of this intricate process, the seafood or meat acquires a genuine ‘outdoor’ flavour.

The restaurant seeks to recreate classic, authentic street foods that you may find as you walk down the streets of Madrid or Paris. Go in for the 48-hour Chicken Nuggets, marinated to the extent of being pickled and served with garlic mayonnaise in a butter paper cone. You could also opt for the flavoured and mildly spicy chicken wings to go with your drink.

The Oak Tree understands the situation vegetarians have to undergo at many places therefore it prides itself on an exhaustive ‘Vegetarian Only’ menu. Check out the signature dish – Vegetables en Papillote – with pearl barley, fennel tomato confit, carrots and mushrooms. It’s a classic revisited!

And for the little ones, there is a separate menu to choose from. From chips to burgers, sandwiches to the yummiest pastas, The Oak Tree makes sure that a kid’s menu is no child’s play.

If you want to avoid the cacophony of a pub and wish to savour your drink in the company of light music and conversation, The Oak Tree is the place to be. The bar, recreated to resemble age rings around an old oak tree, is your watering hole for its selection of imported premium wines, single malts, martinis, cocktails and mocktails, all moderately priced to complement the theme of a bistro.

The accent is on choosing the right wines to go with the food – Cabernet and Shiraz to accompany European cuisine, lighter white wines to go with spicy Asian fare and Sauvignon and Chardonay to accompany the lighter chickens and salads. There’s also a range of New World wines that are easy on the palate.

Check out the selection of single malts and martinis. You could also dip into the exquisite collection of cognacs and liqueurs for that post dinner indulgence.

And for those of you who wish to keep their summer drinks light and breezy, there’s a range of cocktails and mocktails made with fresh juices. Mind you, no IMFL is served here. The highlight is on imported liquor that’s not too heavy on the pocket.

All this accompanied by the muted strands of retro and live music makes The Oak Tree a place of calm and tranquility where you can watch the world go by as you soak in the lively spirit of an international bistro.