We visit restaurants for many different reasons. Sometimes, the prospect of cooking another lasagna or pork roast in our home kitchen is simply too exhausting; other times we long to be cosseted by an attentive waitstaff instead of wiping children’s faces and loading the dishwasher after dinner. And then there are those of us who seek adventure in our restaurant experiences—we want to taste exotic new flavors and revel in an unfamiliar environment, enjoying a sensory vacation from the (at times) monotonous repetition of our lives. If it’s adventure you’re seeking, Oz Korean B.B.Q. offers it in spades. Perched aside Highway 50 on Bradshaw Road, the craggy, weathered exterior of the restaurant is no indicator of what lies inside. Oz is a beautiful, striking establishment—the lobby, featuring long, flowing fabric banners and gorgeously painted walls depicting an earth-toned Korean naturescape, leads into a cavernous dining area that manages to feel both rustic and thoroughly modern at the same time. Dark, heavy exposed beams loom over the room and flickering televisions add animation to the somber, elegant color scheme. The adventure at Oz, in addition to its complex and exciting Korean cuisine, is that diners can choose to barbecue their own meal at their table. A gas grill is embedded into the center of the marble tables, and knowledgeable, enthusiastic waiters will guide you carefully through the steps necessary to cook the meat provided. Grillable items include marinated boneless short ribs, chicken and pork strips, as well as prawns and scallops. A raft of intriguing side dishes is included with these dinners—we loved the sesame-kissed strands of lotus root, the spicy, crunchy kim chee and the silky-smooth sautéed spinach and crumbled tofu. Also included is a plate of red leaf lettuce leaves and thick-salty soybean paste (to spread on the leaves), which some patrons use as a “wrap” for their grilled items. The process is smoky—though there are hoods above each table to suck up the smoke—and messy, and downright fun. However, if table grilling doesn’t sound like an appealing experience for you, veer to other sections of the menu, where you’ll find intriguing items such as the traditional bibimbap, rice piled with chunks of sirloin, crispy-cooked vegetables, eggs and chili sauce; and Korean-style crab “cioppino.” There also are some entrees available for vegetarians, such as a stir-fried tofu salad and clay-pot buckwheat noodles with broccoli and bean sprouts. Service is prompt and friendly, and kids are warmly welcomed (they have their own menu) as long as they’re old enough to keep their hands away from the grill. Oz would also be a great place for a first date or a lively—and, yes, adventurous—staff luncheon. — Kira O'Donnell

Insider tip: Oz offers an all-you-can eat tabletop barbecue meal Sunday–Thursday for $17.99 ($9.99 for children 9 and under).

Reservations: Recommended daily

Payment methods: AmEx, MasterCard, Visa

Alcohol: Full bar

Corkage fee: $15 for first bottle, $10 for subsequent bottles

Hours: Monday–Thursday: Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Dinner 2:30–9:30 p.m.
Friday: Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Dinner 2:30–10 p.m.
Saturday: (Dinner menu all day) 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sunday: (Dinner menu all day) 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.