Cork Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in Wilkes-Barre

I have been to Cork 3 times now and have had mixed experiences. Ultimately 1 good visit and 2 subpar visits. Each time I have been there it has been in parties of at least 5, or up to 8.

My best experience there was on Mother's day 2 years ago (2016) during which our food arrived quickly, as well as our drinks, and the prices for their specials were not unreasonable. At no point did I think we were neglected, especially given the bustle of such a busy day. I ordered a salad and Brachiola with pasta. The meat could have been more seasoned (a recurring issue) but was tender without being overdone and I was very pleased with it.

The first time I was there the only thing that I remember was my entree, Chicken Milanese. Bland and tough, it was was not over fried so it was either cheap meat or had sat for some time under a heat lamp. The side veggetables were pale and lifeless, just boiled potatoes and green beans. As far as garnish, a pinch of arugala sitting out of place on top was all there was. I did not want to return.

My third experience was this past weekend (March 24, 2018) and the place was packed. Good for Cork! I was hopeful my dinner would follow my last experience. We place our drink orders and it takes some time, not unsurprising because of a completely full bar and restaurant, but then it takes about half an hour for 7 drinks. To their credit they recognize the delay and offer another round on the house. I had an Old Fashioned and although not the best I've had, was still very good.

We get our apps and they're cooked well, but bland. We ordered the fried calamari, lobster spinach dip, and bruschetta. The best might have been the bruschetta thanks to the addition of some balsamic glaze, but the out of season tomatoes do it no favors. The calamari isn't tough, which is a plus, but the aioli like sauce was a little skimpy and the prosciutto bits tossed throughout were cut too thick to not be chewy. The dip is good, but doesn't taste like much. You can get hints of seafood, and there are nice chunks of crustacean in there, but the accompanying "chips" which seem to be fried wonton wrappers, are cut too small to get much dip and are covered in a handful of pecorino romano. Possibly to make up for not seasoning them?

Entree time. Almost 2 hours have elapsed since we placed our order. Our waitress has apologized and we say it's okay. Our family outings tend to be lengthy from us talking so this isn't a big inconvenience, but it is noteworthy for other diners. If it had just been myself and my girlfriend I would have maybe just asked for my check after an hour and gone for McDonalds. Finally our food arrives. I ordered the short ribs over risotto and my gf ordered the stuffed pork chop with house potato and veg. My ribs are done very well, the meat is tender and still moist with a pleasant chew. Very happy with that. The risotto however is obviously only arborio rice boiled with water. No salt, no pepper, no garlic, onion, or shallot. It was porridge-like. My gf's veg were cooked well, still very bright from being blanched but entirely unseasoned. She said the potatoes tasted like instant potatoes and that the chop was overdone and tough. In addition it was advertised as being stuffed with mozzarella, spinach, and prosciutto but the cheese was completely absent. Not that it had melted out, that there was no evidence of it ever being a component in the dish. The prosciutto in this application was thin sliced and more pleasant to eat than...

I have to say Cork has become one of our favorite restaurants. Take last night for example, my family and I walk in and are greeted by the host. She immediately makes you feel welcome and was very accommodating offering us a seat at the bar while our table was readied. We opted for a drink from their drink menu. Both my wife and my drink were excellent with top shelf liquor and fresh muddled berries. She also makes a mean Sherly Temple for the kids. Very quickly the table was ready and we were escorted by one of the best waitresses I ever had. She was extremely pleasant, organized, and checked on us often. We did not wait or want for anything the entire time. She took our order and soon the food came out. The chicken bites were awesome, the French onion soup was the second best I ever had (God rest Jim Dandy's), and the pot stickers had a signature sauce which made them stand out. The entrees did not disappoint either. I had meatloaf, my favorite, and everyone loved theirs as well from scallops, to crab cakes, and finally the Cajun chicken, which my son loved so much I didn't even get to see it.

I also want to call out the young man that bussed the food to the tables. He was very pleasant and professional making sure to squarely place our food in front of us with an attention to detail often missed by back of house staff. He also, proactively cleared the table when he left.

I also want the reader to know, I would not call this a bar. Sure it looks like they remodeled a former bar but that is where the similarities end. The food it excellent and very high quality. No burgers and wings here. The menue if full of great options from Crab cakes, scallops, steak, and jerk chicken pasta (another favorite).

Finally, Cork is part of a group of restaurants that are the finest in Luzerne County. I am going to miss a few but from Kevins in Kingston (which also has an outstandinghost), to Cork in Wilkes-Barre, Grico's in Wyoming, and the Beaumont Inn and Fire and Ice in the Back Mountain, these places have real food. great ambience and excellent service. Why pay for food at a chain restaurant that came frozen in a bag? I hope you don't think places like Olive Garden or Miller's actually make their food from scratch do you. It is all just reheated (look it up).

Stay local, support local businesses, demand fresh, made to order, from scratch food. If you don't you are missing out on the great food and service these restaurants offer.

Again thanks to the staff at Cork especially the host/bar tender and waitress for making this a very memorable evening. My son goes away to college in a few months and this dinner together maybe one of the last we have together as a family for some time. I am so happy you understand how your simple kindness and love for your craft made a lasting memory I will not forget. With all sincerity, thank...

Had the opportunity to enjoy dinner here during a company party and was very pleased with the fare.

Pictured: Side salad appetizer with the roasted red pepper vinaigrette- dressing was light, tangy, and flavorful Main course of the sirloin with garlic marshed potatoes and asparagus, along with the sriracha garlic butter and house steak sauce. The sriracha garlic butter is superb, the house steak sauce is okay, interesting pairing of traditional worchestire flavor with a hint of cranberry- I was not a fan. The steak was an expertly cooked medium well (I know, I know), very moist and flavorful and a very good cut of meat. I did not like the potatoes, as a matter of personal preference, they were a blend of real and instant potatoes. It makes sense as this kind of side can be a challenge to cook en masse. The asparagus was also great, not over or under done. Dessert was a creme brulee which was to die for- great texture and very good taste. Also pictured was the caramel pecan cheesecake. The cake did not set and split when being plated which was saved by some quick thinking and whipped cream. The wait staff apologized profusely for it which was not even needed as it was ridiculously delicious.

Not pictured: Fig Prosciutto Flatbread appetizer which is something I must recommend. The balance of flavors is sublime and if you're looking for something shareable and different, you must try it. Cork Crab Cakes are definitely a customer favorite for a reason- very tasty and cooked well. The crab meat was not rubbery and there was a good bit, not all breadcrumbs.

Overall a very nice dining experience and fair for the price of the dishes and drinks. Several points of criticism that did not take away from the experience that I'd like to share: Strange set up for the location- the restuarant is clearly a former home made into a business. It adds a quaint, personal touch but can be a little of a shock when moving from the downstairs bar area to the upstairs seating. The food is on the saltier side- by no means a deal breaker but definitely makes for more savory dining. Heavy handed with drinks- I ordered a bourbon cocktail and a Moscow Mule and both, while delicious, were not terribly balanced. It was a busy night and we were a larger party so it's probably not the norm.

All in all, if you're looking to have a nice, fancier dining experience I'd...