Cork and Co.
Categories: Wine Bars, Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown308 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78799 (512) 474-2675
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 3:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.
Sat 12:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sun 5:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
30 Reviews for Cork and Co.
Cork is an unpretentious wine bar, with tvs and a somewhat casual ambience. Definitely like it better than cru, which reminds me of Dallas. Their flights are fun and have fanciful names, but there's not much in the way of food. It's our favorite stop after dinner downtown. The staff is usually friendly and it does seem like a fun place for a bachelorette party or shower. Also the trivia rocks.
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I remember living walking distance from this place, the bar staff always gave me a little discount which was quite kind of them.
They have a good selection, especially the wine flights.
I don't eat the desserts, but more than once I've seen packs of women huddling over them as if they were pure gold.
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I was a little embarrassed that Cork and Co. wasn't on my radar until reading about it on Yelp. I love wine and learning about new reds. After scanning overwhelmingly positive reviews, I was compelled to try it immediately. I was not disappointed.
On a Saturday night, the joint was crowded yet not uncomfortably packed. I like a bustling restaurant or bar, but I don't like being forced to rub shoulders (or anything else for that matter) with other patrons. I was happy to see not one "bro" or a single "business executive dood" (you know the type, the ones that loudly guffaw, purveyors of the two handed shake/backslap) in there. Music was played at a perfect level - loud enough to hear that it was an indie-friendly selection of New Order, Fiest, Magnetic Fields and English Beat - yet easy to talk over. I mean, Magnetic Fields, right? That completely won me over wine aside.
Leslie L. and I tried the French Connection and Southern Stars (Australia/New Zealand) flights (reds). Both were reasonably priced at $12/person. At Cork and Co. flights are the way to go. They have many well-curated samplers that suit a range of tastes and do a great job at mixing up grape varieties within each. It's also helpful that they provide note cards for each flight that explain each selection thoroughly, so you can remember next time you're at the store. This is something Wink Wine and Vino Vino do not provide.
The selection of cheeses was small but appropriate. We ordered olives (served warm!) and manchego. They served an appropriately sized portion of each and the cheese plate included crackers, walnuts and dried cherries, all great pairings for wine tasting. I did have an issue with the crackers. They were Club Crackers (the buttery, rectangular Ritz-like wafers I associate with Ponderosa-style salad bars) - not exactly fitting for higher end wines and cheeses. A Carr's-type of cracked pepper or water cracker would have been a better choice.
The staff was helpful but not overbearing; they were quick to bring us our check and accept payment (always important to me). This is certainly a place I will visit again!
PS: Bathrooms were very clean.
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I came here with a friend randomly one night after we'd been out to an art exhibit. Stepping inside on a Saturday night, the atmosphere is warm and would be extremely romantic if it were not packed to the gills with people.
The service is probably some of the best I've had in Austin (a huge statement coming from me as I'm fairly critical on service). The owner himself was present and made it a point to welcome us even though there wasn't immediate seating. In fact, he'd consistently greeted everyone who stepped inside, which impressed me. The staff (aside from one grouchy man-boy behind the bar) was quick and attentive.
Sitting at the bar until a table opened up we had the chance to peruse the menu. An impressive selection of wines, lovingly labeled, are showcased on it. They also have a fair selection of beer too, but as the name implies, that's not their focus. Coupled with the drinks they have a very nice selection of chocolates and other treats to pair with the wines...and even as noisy as it was, I'd still recommend wrapping up a date here to anyone. When we were seated, the staff even made it a point to bring us over a card game to play while we talked. I thought it was a nice touch and kept the conversation going while we waited.
I'd happily return...it's a great change of pace for hanging out downtown and almost a polar opposite to the chaos of 6th street.
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Since I originally posted this, my review has more or less completely changed. It started as two stars with a side of bitching and has now gone to five stars with a big entree of happiness. Why? Excellent friggin service.
In a nutshell, my original experience blew because of misinformation from a waiter about changes to the cheese flight. I posted a review about it here and very, very quickly had a concerned message from the owner correcting said misinformation. Lots of messages went back and forth, culminating in me making a return visit with a friend of mine. And let me tell you, they were *amazingly* on the ball about taking care of us. The original trip was for the boyfriend's 21st birthday, so it was really a bummer that it didn't go well. The return visit did a lot to eradicate the bad one from my mind. I would seriously recommend that if you have a bad experience, you contact them and give them a chance to make it right, because holy crap, they will.
I've had several flights here and they've all been excellent. To me it's a really fun way to go because you can compare and contrast, which I find very entertaining - and they're very reasonably priced. I have a particular fondness for the Bubbles flight. They changed their cheese menu up and I loved the new selections. The honey-covered goat cheese rolled in crushed nuts = love. The gouda = love. I love smoky cheeses. I loved the gouda so much that I got a single portion of it after we finished off our 3 for $12 cheese plate. I wanted more of the goat cheese too, but my companion put me on a budget. Sniffle. We also had the cheesecake truffles, which were, in the words of my friend, "chocolate sex". That's not all she had to say in the "these truffles are as good as sex" vein, but the rest of it was pretty vulgar so I'm keeping it to myself.
Err, this review got long, but after the work they put into making us happy little customers I really felt obligated to write a significantly nicer review. And really, I've never had a single thing to eat or drink here that wasn't delicious, so I'm glad they've convinced me to keep going back. Once again highly recommended.
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We've established that wine is good yes? OK, then let's move on.
Cheesecake truffles.
Good Lord. Thank you.
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Hmm...wine? Yes, please.
I've never been disappointed with the wine or the numerous selections. The staff seem to know their stuff and are good with recommendations. Never had a flight here, but they do have fun names.
Took a class here--worth a try if you're so inclined. Apparently some classes are very full, mine was pretty small. Actually, I felt quite inadequate in my wine-smelling abilities, but I still learned a lot.
Cheese flight = awesome
Truffle flight = freaking awesome
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I'm a wino. There, I said it. It's my sad addiction and my problem and I'm dealing with it....
...one fine glass at a time.
But it's people like Tori and Cork and Co that feed my helpless self as I peruse their awesomely oddball menu looking for selections to sample and enjoy, whilst making witty banter with my co-addicts.
Also, they have chocolates if you're in the mood. I'd never even looked at them, since I'm too busy with my lips attached to a glass, slowly addicting myself more helplessly to the delicious red liquids they keep handing me. Until the other night, when four of us split an order of them and let me just say wow. Maybe I'll be here for post-dinner dates from now on and not just to have glass of wine at random. But I'll undoubtedly do that too.
Indeed, were it not for the fact it's not next door to my house, and I'm not independently wealthy, I'd be here enough that I'd have a blood type of TZ (Tempranillo/Zinfandel).
Help me, Cork and Co., for I may drink again.
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Do not buy wine by the glass... get a bottle!!!!
I immediately liked this place as soon as I walked in. Wine rack from waist high to the ceiling. Comfy sectional couches in the storefront. Hot bartenders. Good looking patrons. Host with a big smile.
We sat at the second to last table in the back. The menu was already on the table when we got there. The menu... was confusing as hay-ull. What in the hell is a FLIGHT? Where are the per glass prices for wine? Can you tell I've never been to a true wine bar before?
I don't work well in these types of situations. So my husband seeing how confused and frustrated I was ordered me a glass of Malbec. At that point I took the time to look through the menu... and it's actually quite clever. What they've done is create a tasting menu for you, wines that are similar by region or grape or notes are put together and priced per glass, per taste or per 2 oz. sample for all 3.
They also have a Beer Flight for the non-wine drinkers out there, featuring Shiner beer with pretzels and cheese for just $10 and a cheese tasting menu which you can add olives, nuts or cold cuts to for an additional charge.
After looking at the menu for quite some time, it was decided that this place and it's "wack"y menu would actually be a great place to spend an evening with anyone else that was a fan of wine and cared to try different wines.
That being said and back to my original statement... order a BOTTLE, not a glass. My two glasses of wine were $18 total. I could have gotten a bottle of wine for that amount or a slightly better brand for just a fraction more of what I paid for two glasses for an entire bottle.
But you try and you learn. And that is what I did. The fact is that I love going downtown, escaping my suburban day to day, and I'd like to spend many nights at Cork & Co. with friends.
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Gotta love a place that not only has inexpensive wine flights, but names them things like "My Mind is a Total Blanc" (sauvignon blanc flight) and Chocogasm (chocolate & champagne).
There are some pricey items, of course, but most of the items are very accessible. Good lord, they've got a beer and peanuts flight, so feel free to take your palateless frat buddy. And let him watch the game on one of the TVs so he'll shut the hell up while you're enjoying yourself.
I'll likely be able to comment more thoroughly as I come back, but my first impressions are very favorable. A great place to stop for a respite.
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I've seen some bachelorette parties go the way of trashy and sloppy so it was refreshing to celebrate my friend's upcoming nuptials by starting the night at a tasteful wine bar sipping from flights of sparkling wine and nibbling on chocolate truffles.
I'd recommend planning a birthday party or celebration at Cork and Co. for anyone you know who loves wine. The servers were friendly and helpful (though I wasn't sure what was going on for awhile -- or when I could start drinking). There was plenty of room for our group of 10. The menu is extensive and they have many flights to choose from if a chocolate-themed-flight-party is not up your alley (...I guess I don't know you). In fact, I'm already looking for an excuse to go back...someone get in engaged or have a birthday or get a promotion or get a new job or something...and fast!
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Thank you classy wine bar! I have been here for every Pottery, Paint and Prosecco night that they have had (granted they lost two of my pieces but then two months later somehow found them which in turn gave me another reason to come back and forced me to have a glass of wine there...brutal). I also like to start the night out there, it gives a nice air of sophistication to the eventual debauchery waiting to ensue. And though they keep losing my pottery (I think its because it is so good that someone keeps stealing it and claiming it was their piece...I will find them, don't worry) the owners are always ready to make it up to me with a warm smile and a glass or two, three,four, bottle...of vino. Makes me forget I even had a pottery piece!
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Went one time but it was great. Sat on the sides near the front with cushioned seating - comfortable and roomy, but still intimate. Server was cool and down to earth - when we had a question he asked someone more knowledgeable behind the bar to get clarity, and came back with a great recommendation which we enjoyed. Which is better of course than trying to cover or so, and recommending something on a whim. Was a Monastrell to be specific.
Also fantastic location - right downtown, right across from the Elephant room if you're into Jazz, and just a block or so from the warehouse district - enough said about the location!
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Finally . . . A great happy hour for wine lovers!
Since I am not much of a beer drinker, I rarely get lured in by the $1 beer happy hour prices. The best I can find is a $1 off wine, which doesn't save much money when ordering a $9 glass of wine.
Cork and Co offers a menu of $5 wines during happy hour and $4 cheeses that come with plenty of crackers, nuts and berries.
I have also been on weekend nights, but it can be quite hard to get a table and good service, so I suggest go earlier during the week for the best experience. Also, look out for their classes and tastings, and I heard they have some type of pizza night?
Cork and Co is also a great idea for birthday parties, showers and bachelorette parties, as long as the party is relatively small.
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I've always really liked Cork and Co. Their employees usually have great recommendations and the service is always friendly. They go out of their way to accommodate non-profit charity events, which really makes them stars in my book.
BUT, but but...
yesterday I had an experience here that made me rethink my high opinion of Cork, and while it wasn't enough to dismantle my love for them, it certainly was enough to end the honeymoon. It went something like this. Stay with me, because the only way to communicate the experience is word for word.
ME: Which of the sparkling whites on the happy hour menu do you recommend?
THEM: Well actually we have this new one that is not on the happy hour menu, its not a white, but it is sparkling, and its served in this really cool glass over ice with lime. Its fantastic- you will love it and I'll take it back if you don't.
I hesitate because serving anything at a wine bar over ice seems counterintutive
ME: Well, I really think I'd like to stick with a sparkling white. (hint: on the happy hour menu)
THEM: Oh, this is sparkling! You will love it- I promise.
at this point i feel like I am being pushed, and I do not want to argue, so I agree to the drink. as promised, it is incredibly fabulous, and goes right to my head. Naturally, I order another.
ME: Awesome! I'll have another
THEM: Well, I probably should warn you it is $16!!!
!!! !!!
Upselling someone on the first drink and then telling them the price tag on the second?! Dirty pool!
Still, I love them for everything else they do. Just watch your back on the upsell.
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I've been to cork for one on one cozy wine tastings or for a girls night out with 11 other people. I have great experiences with both because the people are there are very friendly and for the most part, the service is very good. When I have had a large party there, I call ahead and they are happy to reserve a table for the time we are coming in. You can get a flight, glass or bottle, but I have to say that I think the flight is the way to go. The glasses are pretty expensive, at least $12 each, but if you find a wine you like, it's worth it. The cheese plate is a great addition which includes goat cheese, manchego, smoken gouda and brie along with dried cranberries, walnuts and grapes. To avoid crowds and get a coveted hightop table near the window, go later in the evening when the number of patrons has started to thin out about - around 10pm.
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This place is a good middle-of-the-road wine stop. They get an extra star for location, especially if we are planning on going across the street to the Elephant Room (where they have horrendous wines)
The atmosphere is good, cozy almost. I like their trivia on the tables but they could do better with food/snack options. They do seem to have a lot of special events and tastings which is a good way to know they change up their flights and wines. Some of the wines you've had on the flights, but they do a nice job of mixing those up with smaller labels. A fun stop when you have more to do in an evening.
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OK, Two disclaimers to start - 1) I'm not a wine connoisseur so I assume that if the wine doesn't taste like vinegar then it's a winner, and 2) a close friend is one of the owners of this place and I like to go there to see him.
That being said...
This is a really nice, relaxing place to hang out and enjoy some time with friends. I've been there for happy hour, private events, and just for a 'drop by' when I'm doing stuff downtown. There is always a nice feel to Cork and Co. when you go in there.
Here are reasons to love Cork and Co.:
1) the staff is VERY friendly. Being a wine idiot they always take pity and help me with selections in a non-snobby way. If you've been to wine bars you know how incredibly rare that is;
2) the prices cover a wide range from very reasonable to 'are you kidding me - no drink is worth that' (realize that I have a low bar for the price thing);
3) the decor and ambience is relaxed and comfortable. High tables in the front, low tables in the back, and a great set of seats at the bar where you can watch the action;
4) a nice crowd of people there. Usually skews more towards professional and non-student demographic. I like hanging with the younger folk but sometimes I need some adult places to go. This is one of them.
Not a place for meals, but the appetizers are good and I believe that they will make accomodations for patrons through Manuel's next door.
Give it a try. Definitely a favorite for me.
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Cork and Co is really a lot of fun, but the atmosphere feels a little stuffy and has a slightly older demographic than most of the trendier downtown places. My friends and I were probably the youngest people there, save for our waiter.
The cheese place was good, though not unique or even particularly high quality. But it was a VERY generous portion -- it managed to temper the appetites of me and my two other friends (including one male).
I think this place would be better if it was a bit brighter on the inside, or perhaps if it has better outdoor seating. It just feels a little confined on the inside. However, the best part about Cork and Co is that they supply you with these neat little decks of trivia questions, about fun topics like food, cheese, wine, chocolate, and of course, sex. These made for an entire evening of fun, entertainment, and a LOT of laughter.
Though I had some good flights here, but if I'm going downtown specifically to get wine, it's probably going to be at Cru and not Cork and Co.
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The wine selection is good and the wine fights offer a nice way to try different wines. The delivery lacked a bit from what you would expect based upon the presentation and ambiance.
The flight ordered from the menu came with a different set of wines, which my wife's friend found confusing and disappointing. The worst part, which made my review less than great was the cheese plate. Cheese must be server at room temperature to be able to really taste anything, especially brie. While the selection was nice and the portions adequate it came right out of the fridge. The waiter said they usually keep them out but ....
I would still recommend this place, I hate to sound snooty myself, but after all isn't that what wine is all about :)
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A lesson in ergonomics: small bars can get crowded fast. I wouldn't say that's typical of Cork and Co., but it was on this night, and boy, were they scrambling. Smiling, but scrambling.
I can see how others may have had a mixed bag of experience here: the place tends to wax mellow, which can equate a perfectly amenable evening of flight tasting (which depends somewhat on your wine flight and your palate), but during an especially busy happy hour, the room doesn't much lend itself to pleasantness. This was one experience where elbow-to-elbow meant so literally.
The retail space idea is handy if you want to sample and taste at home rather than the bar, and my service was congenial if not prompt (they did apologize for the wait). Happy Hour pricing is pretty friendly, and maybe that was part of what all the commotion was about: $5 a glass on select vintages. I'll be back, but next time, I'm timing it just right and making certain I'm not in a hurry.
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Super-friendly staff and a nice selection of well-named, reasonably-priced flights make Cork and Co. stand out. They carried a lot of off-the-beaten path wines -- we tried delicious ones from Connecticut and Hungary along with those from France, California, etc. Also you can buy bottles to take home or even to open, drink a bit, cork, and then take home (yippee for Texas laws). For trivia junkies or those in need conversation starters, check out the "smarts" trivia cards on the tables -- we played Wine Smarts, Chocolate Smarts, and Sex Smarts. Fun!
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My experiences have ranged from ungracious to horrid.
2nd time, sat for 15 minutes before a waiter came over. Seemed like a sad, sad place. The wine was bad to the point of undrinkable (Texas Redhead). We scuttled back to Cru, which is a happy wine bar.
The first time I went with 2 friends the night before my birthday, and we split a bottle of dessert wine ($42). We all 3 threw in 20s, and rather than hassle with change, left an $18 tip. We were leaving, and I mentioned it was my birthday (now, as it was past midnight). They didn't even say Happy Birthday.
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Every time my friends visit, they ask me if I ve found a good wine bar, and every time I have to say no. Not this time! I came here for a massive happy hour on a Thursday night and found it lovely. The happy hour wine flights are reasonably priced ( although after you have one you want to have another, and then a regular glass until your spending like 30 bucks.) They only have tiny appetizer food, which no one really orders, so save the eating for after. The decor is really pretty. I got the Weird Wine flight, and it was all amazing. The staff was very knowledgeable as I butchered all the wine terminology and stared blankly at the menu. Only downside. The service. It took about thirty minutes to get my first flight. Tip: Be aggressive and remind the server what you ordered.
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went to Cork & Co. with a group of 6 after a delicious dinner at Z Tejas.
this place was great! we wanted to ease our way into the night and start off with a flight of wine. i tried a flight of "zin" and was very impressed. i also tried a glass of 2005 stump jump - aussie wine - and it was delicious.
great environment and very friendly staff, i will return for a happy hour
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Nice place but I found the wine selection pretty limited and based on two visits over a 2 month period, the wine selection didn't change at all. If you're looking for more interesting wines or more variety, go to Truluck's bar, for example. Or Vino 100 in Lakeway. Snacks were good but portion seemed on the skimpy side. Best bet are the wine flights.
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San Francisco is a wine lover's heaven when it comes to wine bars, so we were excited to give Cork & Co. a try. Bottom line -- we walked away quite impressed and more than a little drunk. Cork & Co. definitely holds its own against wine bars in SF. There was a great selection of flights with clever names, and the list of wine by the bottle at retail price is something don't find quite often in SF. More importantly, you've gotta love a place that lets you take home whatever you don't finish!
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Cork & Co. is a nice wine bar. great to go with your friends for a fun and simple evening of conversation, wine and perhaps one of the tables games to make a lively evening. the service was extremely nice and so willing to make our evening the best it could be.
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cork & co. is a great place to go out for drinks with the girls. my girlfriends and i have gone there at least once a month since they opened and we always have a five stars good time.
however...
they're only open till midnight, which proves to be much more inconvenient that i would have ever thought. since they actually shut down at midnight you need to be there at the latest by 10:15, 10:30 to enjoy your time. and on the weekends, i just can't seem to get myself in gear by then and i always end up missing them.
and i also experienced this upselling nonsense that Robin S. was talking about. they stopped carrying my favorite wine, so the waitress suggested another one. i tried to back track and get my second favorite, but she insisted i would love this new one. we got it- it was lovely, but the bill came and it was twice what my old favorite cost. yes, i should have asked how much it was before i said yes, but the combo of my wine being gone and all this insisting the pricey bottle would become my new favorite caught me off guard.
all that said, this is one of my favorite places to come. i just know now to ask the price before i say yes.
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i have to agree that the wine flights are the way to go. Bring you wine lover dad here for his special evening. Try the chocolate plates! The staff is uber-friendly, woah, but still very helpful.
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