- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Uncorked The Wine Tasting Bistro
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Wine Bars American (New), Wine Bars [Edit]
63 Memorial RdWest Hartford, CT 06107
(860) 216-2620
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 4 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 12 am
Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
31 reviews for Uncorked The Wine Tasting Bistro
Review Highlights
"They allow you to get a full glass, 3 oz, or just 1 oz..."
(in 7 reviews)
"Great atmosphere, wonderful crowd."
(in 2 reviews)
"As to food, the watermelon shellfish salad in summer makes..."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
31 reviews in English
-
Review from Luana P.
New Haven, CT
Updated - 1/30/2012
CLOSED - It turns out Uncorked has gone out of business! Too bad :o(
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/28/2011
Uncorked, we'll drink to that! We have been to Uncorked several times and we have never been… Read more »
-
-
Review from Kasey B.
Storrs, CT
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I were at Uncorked on a Friday night, the day before Christmas Eve. With everyone out finishing up their holiday shopping as well as it being Friday, you would think that the place would have anticipated lots of people. They did not. The tables at the bar and only two tables in the dining area were being served. The 10-15 other tables in the dining area were "closed" because they did not have any waitresses on that night. The tables that were "open" were occupied. The young lady at the bar (one of two people working out there) told us to come back in 30 minutes. When we came back the wine steward (the other of the two) seated us. The young lady told us she'd help us and then forgot, and then after 10 more minutes just disappeared. The wine steward was very nice, but very busy and all by himself. A whole party of 6 people walked in and then walked out 20 minutes later because no one came out to serve them. The service was really the downfall of this place.
They had a fair selection of different wines. The steward was very good with recommendations if you knew what you liked, but did not know which wine you should order. He was well informed, helpful, and honestly the one good thing about the place. I had such high hopes for the place. Blueback Square is a really nice area, and this place looks great, but it was so disappointing. We did not try any of the food. If it really is that good I may change my rating, but my first visit overall was definitely summed up in two stars. -
Review from Joel K.
Avon, CT
12/30/2011
Wow, what a disappointment.
We went for dinner on a Thursday night and were immediately seated. OK, so far so good. We were handed our menus and that is where everything went downhill. 5 minutes later someone came over to give us water (we thought it was a bus boy but later learned it was the bartender). Another 5 minutes later our waiter finally came over. To me this is unacceptable especially in an 'upscale' restaurant. This isn't Chili's with $6 hamburgers and you except crappy service; this is a wine bar with $14 glasses of wine!
Anyways, the waiter seemed knowledgeable and recommends a good wine tasting of full reds which I rather enjoyed. Sensing a night full of terrible service, we ordered a cheese & artichoke appetizer with the drinks. The appetizers were good, not great. Not really a standout at all.
For entrees we ordered the lobster pasta & the crab cakes and two glasses of wine. Better. They were very well-made, well-seasoned and very good.
This is where my 1 star rating comes through. Once the hostess (not the waiter) brings our dinners to the table, we do not see him again until we are leaving. Yes, he never came to check on the food or the wine. Never got another glass of water and was never offered desert or coffees. I literally had to flag down the hostess to get our check. Oh and to make matters worse, there were a total of 4 tables seated.
I will never go back and will recommend everyone I know to avoid this place. Why would you allow this to happen when there is another wine bar down the street with much better service and food? Unreal. -
Review from Megan R.
this restaurant is now closed
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/27/2010
West Hartford has been upscale without a wine bar, so now, status just flies through the roof.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jillian C.
West Hartford, CT
6/29/2011
Uncorked is just what West Hartford needed! The atmosphere is wonderful-- lively by the bar and comfortable in the dining room. It has been very crowded the few times I've been there, so call ahead if you mind a wait.
The route I would recommend is to order a few of the small plates at a time, along with the suggested wine pairings. This was really enjoyable for us-- if we liked the wine, we would get a glass. Then on to the next tasting! There is a nice selection of meats and cheeses-- something for every palate. Those worth noting are the foie gras pate (excellent) and proscuitto (buttery and delicious). The shellfish trio (scallop, shrimp and crab) did not disappoint. Some really interesting chocolate combinations caught my eye; we will have to try them on our next visit. It goes without saying that they have an unbelievable selection of wine to taste. Enjoy! -
Review from Michelle L.
Minneapolis, MN
2/25/2011
Overall, my experience with Uncorked was disappointing.
One thing they have going for them is their huge wine selection. You can choose to have just a sip of a $300 bottle if you want, but there is a HUGE price to pay. I found that even for West Hartford, prices were greatly inflated.
For an Entree I had a simple Halibut. It was pretty bland, not bad, had it not been overpriced to begin with, it might have tasted a little bit better.
For dessert I had what they call on the menu "chocolate bacon" for over $10 ( i don't remember the exact price). All this was was literally a cube of chocolate that had been pre-bought. When you pay that much for a dessert, you definitely don't expect a chunk from a chocolate bar.
Would I go back? Not unless I had a %50 off coupon to make prices where they should be.Comment from David R. of Uncorked The Wine Tasting Bistro 3/18/2011
Thank you for your feedback, we appreciate all of our… More » -
Review from Ryan S.
West Hartford, CT
5/11/2011
Great wine and cheese/meats/olives! Perfect place to sit or stand for a casual get together before a dinner and to try some new wines. They allow you to get a full glass, 3 oz, or just 1 oz taste and have an enormous selection. The bartender/sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and made some great recommendations.
That being said my girlfriend and I stayed and ate dinner here which was a disappointment. VERY LITTLE dinner selection what they had was not very good. Dinner was the only reason I didn't give 5 stars.
Will definitely be back for the wine and cheese and then moving on to another destination for dinner. Good thing is there are a bunch of great restaurants within walking distance! -
Review from o l.
Hartford, CT
Overpriced wine, and their selection is nothing out of this world that you can't find yourself -- a $30 bottle being sold for 16-18$ a glass.
Food is OK.
You can find better places to go in the area; In the end, all you're paying for is their high rent. -
Review from elizabeth c.
West Hartford, CT
11/23/2010
Oh just go already. Get over the fact that it's in Blue Back. This place is the bomb - the wine, the food, the ability to taste anything your heart desires (though your heart might not desire the accompanying bill after acceding to your tasting whims). A locally-owned, smallish-sized beautiful gem, and a real welcome addition to West Hartford. This is a great spot for a date, but also to meet friends, coworkers, colleagues, family, whatever. I enjoy standing at the actual wine bar as well as sitting at the bar itself (which is fully stocked in a top-shelf way if you want some booze or beer).
As to food, the watermelon shellfish salad in summer makes me swoon. Bread with olive oil is delish with the wines. -
Review from Noelle G.
New Haven, CT
Updated - 12/20/2010
I've gone back a few more times since writing my initial review and Uncorked has hit it out of the park each time. Hats off to everyone who works there but especially to Catherine and David.
Going to Uncorked is like taking a mini-vacation. What more can I say? I love this place!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/23/2010
This place is a wonderfully and artistically executed idea born from the minds of three young men… Read more »
-
-
Review from lisa l.
Ashford, CT
7/24/2011
I don't know, maybe I'm just not a wine bar type a gal- I like wine, but I am not crazy about all the fussiness that can accommodate it. This place was that for me.
It is sleek and well decorated- not comfy and as this was an unplanned outing- (ran into my friend at the market , she said lets go grab a drink)- I felt fairly under dressed in my t-shirt and dress shorts.
The service was sparse- I started to wonder who our waiter was when I still hadn't gotten water in my glass after at least 10 minutes... and had that feeling that we should have just gone for a beer at The Counter round the corner...But, my companion is very wine savvy and had been curious about the place so I stayed silent about the vibe I was picking up. The menu did impress my friend who has studied wine- it overwhelmed me- and I was just not in the mood to be that cerebral about a refreshment! When our waiter did join us- he described some of the choices my friend had inquired about, it was just a bit pretentious- he described a wine as symphonic- I mean, really? I had an eye roll to myself over this. When the waiter delivered the wines to us my companion tasted them and declared something was very "off" about the harmony of that symphonic one- so she tried again to find something pleasing...in the mean time we ordered some food to go with our selections. See- this is my category. I know my food. The menu has some entrees but as this was really just supposed to be a drink with a friend I ran into, we thought it would be nice to just have something light. They have a cool looking Cheese and Meat section of the menu for just such an idea- you can choose what you want off of each side. Being that I am vegetarian we went with a marinated mushroom, asparagus and two cheese that I am pretty familiar with. the cheese was fine and dandy- but the veggies- well, they were the reason some people think vegetables are gross. the focus is clearly on the wine but I see no reason for slimy mushy asparagus and rubbery mushrooms and felt really sad about the $8 bucks we spent on each of these selections. Then it took a turn for the worse, the menu is a little confusing- you seem to have the option of 3 different glass servings- which was not clear to those of us that need reading glasses. So that "symphonic" selection turned out to be a $20 glass- of course the waiter had comped that one since my friend had sent it back- just so you understand to look carefully at the pricing.
I see no reason to go back here personally, I see that they have their fans- but I wasn't wowed by anything besides the ostentatious-ness.
As we walked back to our cars we passed "the Counter" and my friend said- "we should have gone here!". -
Review from Cyanne D.
Central, CT
8/1/2010
Went here with a few girlfriends after dinner on Friday night and was amazed at how much of a following it's already obtained in West Hartford. The place was packed!
The wine selection is fantastic - a 2006 Caymus is rare in this area - and the pre-paid cards to get tastings, half-glasses, or full glasses is just brilliant. The atmosphere was wonderful; it felt alive, yet we were able to converse easily without feeling like we were going to lose our voices. Just what you want in a wine bar.
My only complaint is that the normal servers admit that they don't know anything about wine. In a wine bar, it's important to hire people who know what they're talking about, even if they're not a sommelier (2 of which were working that night, but were being hogged by larger groups).
I will definitely be back! -
Review from Audrey S.
West Hartford, CT
1/1/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I gave this place 2 stars because I really did NOT enjoy the meal I had here. I was very disappointed in both the dishes I ordered- a salad with a grapefruit dressing (which I thought had a weird aftertaste) and butternut squash "ravioli" (which were undercooked, under-filled, and kind of gross).
Despite those negatives, there are a lot of positives, and I would probably give this place another try to just have drinks, but not food.
The wine selection is impressive and the staff were very helpful and knowledgeable about their offerings. You have three options for the wine- a small taste, a half glass, or a full glass. This was very cool, but be careful- your bill can rack up pretty quickly from these little tastes of wine.
The ambiance and decor was very nice, and cozy, yet stylish.
I would recommend this place for meeting up with friends and having a few drinks, and maybe a snack. -
Review from Michele T.
Hartford, CT
7/2/2010
As I have been told, in accordance to CT liquor laws, the Sommeliers swipes your card to serve you the wine pours.
To me that defeats the purpose of this sort of set up. The cards aren't preloaded either as they are just synced with your credit card, so this adds steps to the whole getting a glass of wine process.
.
Why don't I just give the Sommelier my credit card, that way I don't have to wait around and stand in line to get the card?
However, the wine list is diverse enough for me and you can get some wines that are typically reserved for bottle service only at other restaurants.Comment from David R. of Uncorked The Wine Tasting Bistro 8/5/2010
Just want to clear up that the WineStation technology we use… More » -
Review from Peter M.
5/4/2011
Broad and varied selection of interesting wines across a pretty fair price range. The art of this place is you can get a glass of wine in three sizes: mouthwash, grande, and big gulp. Or maybe they were called something else, but after 5 or so big gulps, who can remember such details. Anyway, the point is you don't have to take a huge budgetary risk on a wine you may not care for at the time, even though you probably won't remember it later anyhow. The small meat and cheeses are great for pairing. The bartenders are knowledgeable and freely offer suggestions. The sitting bar is small, but there is a standing bar area that surrounds the non-dining room, so plenty of opportunity to belly-up. Great place for a tall pour. Remember, pinkies out and Salute!
-
Review from Emmabel M.
Hartford, CT
3/20/2011
Haven't been there for food yet, but I love going for a glass of wine. It's fun to try an array of wines without committing to a full glass.
Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly.
Atmosphere is relaxing, easy to sit and sip wine for hours.
I like that the manager or owner is usually seen walking around making sure everything is up to par.
Cocktails are unique and delicious. Very creative names too! A bit pricey but worth it.
The only reason I give it four stars is because they offer no dessert. I would love to sit and have a glass of port or a coffee cocktail with a chocolate mousse. It seems very odd that they don't offer this.
I will go back to try some food soon. Maybe by then they will have a few yummy desserts to choose from :)Comment from David R. of Uncorked The Wine Tasting Bistro 4/4/2011
Emmabel - Thank you for your review! Next time you're in,… More » -
Review from Seth S.
Somerville, MA
3/13/2011
I've been meaning to review Uncorked for a couple months! My wife and I visited Uncorked while in town seeing friends over New Years. The first thing we noticed, upon walking in, was the absolutely charming wine bar area. The dining room kind of wraps around the bar and wine-tasting area, which is the center of the restaurant. Along one of the walls is something I can only describe as a computerized "wall of faucets." It's like something from "THX 1138" minus the dystopoia and ennui. This is where the night's wine is stored: the wall consists of compartments, each of which features a different wine, and the supercomputer behind the faucet pours the specific portion you ordered (taste, half-glass, or full glass). It's extremely fun to watch. If you sit at the wine bar, you could spend the whole evening just ordering wine and watching the magic faucets. (This would make an extremely fun first date, btw.) Even if you're sitting in the dining room, you benefit from the wine wall's extensive selection. Our server was very helpful and knowledgeable: we tried several "tastes" of different wines over the course of the evening, which she paired extremely well with each of our courses. (I told my server that I generally prefer wines that taste like a forest floor, and she brought me a delicious array of earthy wines over the course of our meal.)
Also: don't let my description of the magic wall of wine deter you, or make you think you'll be drinking wine with HAL from "2001." The whole atmosphere, as I said, is extremely relaxed and charming. The wall of faucets is just really neat and fun. And if you're not into wine, the beer selection was really great, and they seemed to have some interesting cocktails, too. Seeing as it's called UNCORKED, my wife and I stuck pretty much to wine.
On the night we visited, Uncorked featured a special New Years Eve prix fixe menu, which included a few items from their regular menu (homemade ravioli, filet mignon) and some variations on items from their regular menu. My wife and I have a prix fixe pact: we aren't allowed to order whatever the other person ordered, so that we both get the broadest range of whatever the restaurant is serving. Yes, we're THOSE people, and it allows us to say with confidence that the food at Uncorked is great. Everything was extremely well-proportioned and delicious, even across a fairly wide spectrum of flavors and ingredients. The ravioli and steak were cooked perfectly. The highlight of the meal was an Asian-style tuna appetizer, which doesn't seem to be on their regular menu, but which was absolutely perfect. I know, I know: every moderately-priced, vaguely French-American restaurant in the United States has an Asian-style tuna appetizer...but this was really special. I would order seafood here with absolute confidence.
Finally, a word about the prices. Skimming over these reviews, I've noticed quite a few complaints about the prices. I don't remember exactly how much the prix fixe menu cost, but it wasn't exorbitant. I just looked at their regular menu on the website, and the prices are all extremely reasonable...especially compared to New York or Boston, where you'd pay much more at a comparable restaurant. I can't imagine anyone would walk away from these plates hungry. You're paying for delicious, well-made food and a really lovely - but fun - atmosphere. If we lived closer, we'd be regulars. -
Review from T. m D.
Hartford, CT
11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Great wine selection but you cannot buy the bottle which is odd. We paid $26.75 for a glass of Cakebread Reserve which I would rather buy the bottle. The staff was really, really good- the bartender even came out from behind the bar when she heard us discussing the lack of bubbly in a glass of champagne we ordered and immediately replaced it. Food was good- we tried the hangar steak, pad thai, seafood app, and a few meats and cheeses which did come with bread. I would go back but would rather go to Grant's or Bricco's on a Sunday and get half price wine bottles instead of a $400 bill for a mulitple glasses of wine. PLease add bottle option to menu.
-
Review from Eli Z.
Meriden, CT
11/18/2010
Stopped for a glass of wine last Thursday night in the middle of a mini restaurant crawl. First time going and we were pretty impressed. Great selection of wine albeit a little pricey. Cheapest full glass started at $8.25.Wife had the 08 Barbera Piedmont from Piazzo and I had the 06 Tinto Rey from Matchbook Vineyards for $10. Serving at the correct temperature makes all the difference. Both wines exploded with flavor.I think they would benefit from a few cheaper selection as the place was pretty empty for a Thursday night. Looking forward to trying out the dinner options next time.
-
Review from Rolf L.
Hartford, CT
This wine bar in Blueback Square has a nice clean, well decorated look to it and right when you walk in you can see all the different wines on the wall. Classy surroundings, bit still a casual feel. You're able to pick and choose what meats and cheeses to make your own plate, which is nice, but at $8 a choice it is extremely pricey to fill yourself. Though we went before 6pm and found out it was two for one on the appetizers so we got 10 choices for $40 instead of $80. Needless to say this is the way to go! A tasty selections of meats, cheeses, and pate to choose from, it's hard to choose which you want to sample. This place is defiantly worth a try, but unless you go during happy hour, be prepared to pay the inflated West Hartford prices.
-
Review from Joseph G.
Hartford, CT
2/13/2011
The local oenophile's dream...
Love it! It's a great chance to taste a lot of different wine without paying for a full glass!
Really knowledgeable staff and they have a sommelier on staff picking the wine. Wines are delivered in 3 sizes, starting with a 1 oz. tasting.
The food menu looked great too as well as being able to order tastings of meat, cheese, olives or even chocolate. The only drawbacks, were the wait for a spot in the bar and the stench of grease on our clothes because we stood near the kitchen. Other than that, this place deserves a try.
It can be pricey, but hey, you're worth it!! -
Review from Megan S.
Seymour, CT
7/7/2011
Great atmosphere, wide variety of wines (about 70 when we went), as well as a normal bar. Love that you can taste the different wines, get a half glass, or full. The food was amazing. Only cons were it is a small place (so the air is somewhat smoky because of the kitchen), and very slow service. We waited about 2 hours from the time we sat down to order and the time we left, but the food was worth it!
-
Review from Jill B.
Seattle, WA
12/2/2010
I loved Uncorked! The wine was amazing..so many choices, the service was unbelievable and the food to die for. It is my new favorite restaurant in the area. They were very humble and so friendly. They really appreciate their customers. Love it!
-
Review from Todd M.
Cromwell, CT
7/11/2010 4 photos
I've been frequenting West Hartford's Blue Back Square for quite some time and "Uncorked" is certainly a tremendous addition. I had never seen the wine machines that they have, although I've heard about them from friends in California. The machines dispense wine from a taste, half glass to a full glass. So it's fun sampling the various wines from different regions, especially the higher-end ones. The food was also "gourmet" delicious. My party shared the steak, halibut and pork entrees and had some meats, cheeses and chocolates to taste with the wine. Also a very upscale atmosphere, we saw some of the ESPN on-air guys there plus some former NFL players. We'll be going back very soon!
-
Review from Derek C.
New Haven, CT
7/7/2010 2 photos
Excellent!! Great atmosphere, wonderful crowd. All staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I would definately recommend for a night out. Small plates are fabulous. Can't wait to go back.
-
Review from Ann T.
South Windsor, CT
7/10/2011
Go for the wine and avoid the food! The husband ordered some olives and salami and they were good, but really how can you screw that up? I ordered the shellfish trio which sounded great but was pretty much flavorless. I told the bartender that the dish was bland and that it seemed like there was an ingredient or two missing. Their response: It is exactly as it is supposed to be. Okay, I guess that means uninspired food is what you can expect. No thanks!
-
Review from jennifer d.
Niantic, CT
1/4/2011
Went on a Sunday afternoon and it was empty. Didnt stop us from checking it out for the first time. Uncorked had the perfect balance of knowledgeable staff, great ambiance and wine/liquor selection. Had a great time with the staff and tasting a good selection of wine. Ps: price is right! We tasted 16 wines, one being a super treat, and it only came out to $50. Not bad ! Definitely looking forward to going back.
-
Review from Lynn L.
Feeding Hills, MA
11/26/2010
Extensive wine selection and delicious food- perfectly prepared. The menu was small but perfectly tailored for any palate. My pork shoulder was excellent, my sister's halibut was cooked to perfection (without being overdone) and my husband's Pad Thai was tasty. The bacon chocolate was to die for! Our server was extremely helpful and honest. A very satisfying and fun experience. Can't wait to go back.
-
Review from Kahille Y.
West Hartford, CT
2/27/2011
Large wine selection, really good cheeses and meats...completely aloof service, twice.
-
Review from Oliver S.
Middlebury, CT
7/28/2010
As good as it gets!!! Wow!!! The food is fantastic and the service is equally good. As I read through the reviews, I couldn't help but notice the one that mentioned one customer getting screwed out if wine when a bottle ran out. The same thing happened to me and the sommelier explained that the cool wine technology only charges for what is served. I checked this myself and sure enough I was charged exactly to the penny what was poured in my glass. Beyond a ridiculously good wine list...try the food and cheeses. Yum!!!! Reasonably priced...couldn't be better. Go!!
-
Review from Josh G.
Hartford, CT
2/5/2011
Went to Uncorked for dinner with friends on Monday. I had the curried halibut. A delicious dish that was presented well. Everyone enjoyed the food and wine. The service was a bit slow.
