08/22/2026
✨️ Forkd Find of the Day: OAK & THIRD.✨️
Tucked inside The Crazy Water Hotel in downtown Mineral Wells is a restaurant that was created to be more than a traditional hotel restaurant.
Oak & Third was developed as part of the continued restoration and reimagining of The Crazy Water Hotel, with the goal of becoming a dining destination for Mineral Wells while still feeling approachable to the local community and welcoming to travelers staying at the hotel.
From the beginning, the team wanted Oak & Third to stand on its own as a restaurant while still feeling connected to the history, character and energy of the hotel and Mineral Wells.
The team summed up that philosophy perfectly:
“Elevated is the environment, not the attire.”
Oak & Third is designed to fit a lot of different occasions. You can come in for a date night, celebrate something important, sit at the bar for Happy Hour, bring the family, or walk over after spending the afternoon downtown.
Executive Chef Stefon Rishel leads the kitchen. He has spent his career developing restaurant concepts throughout Texas, and Oak & Third gave him the opportunity to bring that experience to Mineral Wells while creating something specifically for the community.
Oak & Third is a scratch kitchen. Many of the dishes, sauces and components are prepared in house. The restaurant is also 100% seed oil free and fries with beef tallow. Chef Stefon prioritizes quality ingredients, and the team works with local and regional vendors whenever possible.
📸 Pictured: Oak & Third’s Tomahawk Pork Chop, photo provided by Oak & Third.
If it is your first visit, Oak & Third has one clear recommendation:
Try the PB&J Wings.
They feature spicy Thai peanut sauce, blackberry coulis, chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro
Oak & Third described them this way:
“It’s almost like Pad Thai slapped a PB&J in the face.”
The dish has followed Chef Stefon for nearly a decade and has become one of his signature dishes.
You can also substitute U13 shrimp or cauliflower. The PB&J Shrimp have developed a following of their own.
Chef Stefon’s current favorite is the Prime Rib French Dip, served on a local bun with Gruyère and au jus.
Oak & Third also has a strong R&D culture in the kitchen. Chef Stefon is known for bringing test dishes out to familiar faces and regulars to get their feedback.
One recent R&D item was a Lengua Cheesesteak layered with rajas, blistered onions and poblanos, topped with Monterey Jack cheese on a locally made hoagie bun.
The team is hoping it eventually makes its way onto the menu.
Oak & Third’s Happy Hour runs Tuesday through Friday from 2 PM to 5 PM and rotates every two weeks. It gives the culinary team a chance to experiment with new dishes and flavors, and some of those ideas have eventually made their way onto the regular menu.
There is also Fried Chicken Sunday.
On the last Sunday of every month, the culinary team serves an eight piece fried chicken dinner featuring the entire bird for $30.
One regular described it this way:
“It takes me back to my childhood and my grandmother’s Sunday after church fried chicken.”
Oak & Third also regularly hosts wine and spirit pairing dinners, chef collaboration dinners, community gatherings and other culinary events throughout the year.
Because Oak & Third is located inside The Crazy Water Hotel, a visit can also include the hotel’s shops and the original Crazy Water Coffee & Water Bar before or after your meal.
One thing the team especially wants local diners to know is that Oak & Third is not only for special occasions.
You can celebrate an anniversary or have a date night there, but you can also come in wearing jeans, grab a burger and a drink, bring your family for lunch, meet friends for Happy Hour, enjoy Fried Chicken Sunday, or simply decide you do not feel like cooking.
Their words say it best:
“Elevated is the environment, not the attire.”
Oak & Third wants to feel like Mineral Wells’ restaurant, a place locals are proud to claim and visitors are excited to discover.
📍Oak & Third
Inside The Crazy Water Hotel
Mineral Wells, Texas
Hours
Tuesday through Thursday: 11 AM to 9 PM
Friday: 11 AM to 10 PM
Saturday: 10 AM to 10 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 3 PM
Happy Hour
Tuesday through Friday
2 PM to 5 PM
For upcoming events and featured experiences:
tinyurl.com/O3Reservations
Follow Oak & Third on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
📸 Pictured: Oak & Third’s Tomahawk Pork Chop, photo provided by Oak & Third.
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