Oak & Third: A Restaurant Where Taste, Tranquility and History Merge
Story and photos by Mary Hill and Barbara Vinson
Oak & Third, a new restaurant at the Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas, made its public debut November 6.
The restaurant, which draws its name from the hotel’s intersection at Oak Avenue and Third Street, offers a diverse menu of global flavors with Texas roots aimed at satisfying every palate. Oak & Third pays tribute to Mineral Wells’ deep-rooted history of health and wellness by honoring the original locations of the Crazy Hotel Bathhouse and Service Drugstore.
Under the leadership and vision of executive chef Stefon Rishel, Oak & Third marks a new chapter for the historic hotel’s culinary program. A recent “first look” media event conducted by Rishel and his team included a curated sampling of signature dishes and cocktails designed to reflect a fresh, modern take on Texas dining.
Rishel, known for his signature mohawk, brings to Mineral Wells his expertise as one of Fort Worth’s top chefs, having won Fort Worth Magazine’s annual “Top Chef” competition in 2015. Other restaurant concepts led by Rishel include Fort Worth’s Wishbone and Flynt, and its accompanying bar, the Amber Room.
“We are so excited to have Stefon working with us,” said Bridget Shelton, general manager of the Crazy Water Hotel. “He’s won all the awards you can win in Fort Worth.”
Locally sourced meats and seasonal produce anchor the restaurant’s menu, and each meal begins with a burst of flavor, from shareables such as the pimento cheese tater tots with a homemade yellow curry-sriracha catsup and dill buttermilk dressing, to a variety of unique flavored wings, including PB&J, truffled garlic parmesan and al pastor. Main dishes include a variety of options, from pan-roasted grouper and duck breast to Niman Ranch braised beef cheek and tomahawk pork chop. For a lighter main-dish option, diners can choose the margherita pizza with hand-pulled mozzarella, which offers fresh flavor and culinary simplicity.
Guests also are welcome to enjoy a beverage by choosing from the restaurant’s extensive back bar, curated wine list and craft cocktails that aim to complement the bold flavors featured on the menu.
For desserts, choices include Mexican hot chocolate pot de crème and sticky toffee pudding, and both aim to provide a delightful conclusion to a flavor-filled meal.
The restaurant’s grand opening also included a preview tour of the soon-to-be Crazy Water Spa (Spa at the Wells), led by Rebecca Eivens, director of spa and wellness. With Mineral Wells having been designated the official “Wellness Capital of Texas” in June 2023, the city is focused on wellness tourism, Eivens said, adding that the spa plans to leverage its natural mineral water resource for all soaking areas by tapping into the well at the northwest corner of the building.
Eivens said the spa’s approach to wellness will include “back to the basics” offerings, such as mineral soaks and warm towels steeped in mineral water with arnica oil, as well as infrared saunas. Other services will include facials, massages and access to a café space, where guests can order food from Oak & Third for delivery.
Pictured above: The restaurant’s grand opening also included a preview tour of the soon-to-be Crazy Water Spa (Spa at the Wells), led by Rebecca Eivens, director of spa and wellness
Both gender-specific and communal areas will be available for guests to use, in addition to a larger treatment room with its own soak tub and steam showers to accommodate couples and groups. The fixtures, flooring and other design elements of the spa aim to compliment the period of the original bathhouse, and Eivens said the plan is to make sure to use as much of the original bathhouse materials as possible – with exception of bathtubs and showers, which have been removed.
The center space of the spa will be a co-ed relaxation area supplied with wellness snacks and drinks provided by Rishel, and Eivens said she is working with the chef to lean into the wellness aspect of the hotel. As emphasized by several team members at the recent restaurant reveal, this business venture is a celebration of renewal, story-telling and community coming back to life in the heart of Mineral Wells.
Oak & Third will be open Thursday through Sunday until January, when the restaurant will transition to being open five days a week. Days and times are as follows:
Thursday: 2 p.m.-10 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
