The Cork Gin & Whiskey — Restaurant in Waitematā

Worst experience I’ve had at a bar in Auckland for a long time. I have been coming to this bar for around 5 years including having cork host my birthday and organising a leaving function. I understand bars go through waves/periods of having staff affect the business and unfortunately this seems to be happening at cork, especially looking at recent reviews. The 2# bar staff are on a ‘My way or the High Way trip.’ They are extremely rude, and when you question why they are being rude or why they serve you the complete incorrect drinks, they have the bouncers remove you - after taking your money. I went 2 nights in a row, early on, one with work and one with friends. The same thing happened. I was not involved either nights with the ‘rude behaviour’ but watched the whole thing in awe. Didn’t surprise me to walk past the bar being ever so quiet this weekend, it seems the staff just want their friends there and that is it. If there is a reason to go to this bar anymore, it’s to experience the rudeness first hand. I really hope they reconsider their customer service...

Being relatively new to the world of enjoying differing varieties of whiskey’s, bourbons and gins I highly anticipated the thought of experiencing my first whiskey bar. Thinking to myself along the way that taking the time out on our very brief holiday to Auckland, and travelling nearly an hour through heavy rush hour traffic in the afternoon would be worth the time spent convincing my wife against her better judgement that it would be a good idea to go. I congratulate my wife on her intuition because if I had taken her objection as seriously as I should have, I would not have been as disappointed as I am. It is such a shame the woman behind the bar is as welcoming as a strainer post, and if she had been half as happy to see two new customers as she was to see the dog that was lead in behind us, I may have been somewhat satisfied with that. It’s incredible how the attitude of one staff member- possibly the owner (from previous reviews) can ruin what could otherwise be a wonderful experience. Thankfully there are plenty of other bars in the area...

Went here on 15 July 2023. I initially liked this bar but the bouncer was aggressive against me simply because he thought I walked in faster than I should have. (I mean if you're going to make that a criteria, specify what speed people should enter then?) Really have no idea what his problem was when I wasn't even particularly rowdy nor was I cantankerous. Wasn't even causing any trouble, I was simply looking in to see if my friends are inside because we were there previously. I think things could have been handled a bit better than that and they should hire people who are not judgemental like that bouncer have been. Anyway, I assented without arguing because I was honestly flabbergasted by what was said to me. Wouldn't recommend this bar to...