About Uncorked
January 2012
When I last updated this page it was just as we were taking over Uncorked. We talked about how we had enjoyed being patrons of Uncorked and how we wanted to continue to improve and make it a better restaurant, a better bar and a better place for you to spend your time – a place for friends to come together.
We’ve changed a lot, albeit slowly, over the last seven months. Our wine offerings have expanded substantially, we’ve almost doubled our beer offerings, we’ve expanded our liquor/cocktail offerings almost four-fold and our menu has almost doubled in size.
We’ve changed the theme of the food offerings to be more focused on tapas-style dishes while still retaining a selection of regular entrees for those who prefer a more substantial meal.
We have introduced new (and some old) special offerings. Happy hour is all day Monday and 4-6PM every other day. During Happy Hour we offer 5 different appetizers and 5 different wines each for $5. We’ve also brought back Half Price bottle night on Tuesdays for bottles priced $30 and up (making some of our Top Shelf offerings a really good deal on Tuesdays).
We’ve spent much of the last six months in conversation with ourselves and our staff on ideas about how to make Uncorked “totally customer focused”. That’s tough work – sometimes it means modifying behavior and sometimes it means modifying processes. We’ve done a lot of both recently and, while we think we have arrived at a really good place, we also believe that our goal is something we should always keep chasing as we can always do better. We are aiming high and we are relying on you to give us the feedback we need to get there.
Chefs Derek and Joe are now running the kitchen and the bar is being operated by Alex, Donnie, Lisa and Lori.
Please join us some evening and sample many of the new items that may be on offer since the last time you visited Uncorked.
And keep giving us your feedback – positive or negative – we appreciate it all.
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May 2011
When we first visited Uncorked eighteen months ago we sat at the bar with a few others and sipped a glass of wine – I believe we had some Olives and Almonds as well that day. After a few more visits we realized that we really liked this place because with each visit we got to know the staff more as well as the other guests. A nice glass of wine, a couple a snacks and a few people who ‘know your name’ – what’s not to like?
As time progressed, unlike with many situations in life, things actually got better! Chef Michael came on board and took the menu to a whole other level. The wine list got better, more beers arrived and finally spirits and cocktails were available. Uncorked got busier but never too busy – small enough that, for those who wanted to, this was still a place where you could meet and talk to other people – but you could also tuck away in a quiet corner if you so desired.
Uncorked was no longer just a Wine Bar – yes, it could now meet most people’s expectations in the drinks department – but more impressively Uncorked had become a truly excellent dining destination. When we travel to England, friends take us to their favorite ‘gastro-pubs’ – and the debate is always about whether people are there for the beer, the wine selection or the food – in the case of the good ones, it’s usually about all three. We felt Uncorked was inching its way there.
When we heard that Uncorked was for sale we were interested immediately – this gave us an opportunity to develop that all around capability of the great gastro-pubs we’d frequented. Chef Michael is working miracles in possibly the smallest kitchen on the Eastside. What could he do if we improved his facilities? Washington produces an absolutely terrific selection of high quality mid range wines – what if we add those as a focus area on our wine list? “Where’s the draft beer” we heard many times – well we’re not turning into a bar/tavern but there’s probably room for one or two nice draft beers to round out our offerings.
And then there’s the music – we are definitely bringing back the music.
We hope to make the right investments to make Uncorked a place where you want to come and invest your time. We know, like everyone, you are busy and there are many choices available to you. We want to hit a level of excellence that will make you and your friends want to be regulars at Uncorked. Everything and anything we do is for naught if you don’t make this journey with us – so please feel free to share your thoughts with us.
Outside the sign says – ‘Uncorked Wine Bar’ – but Uncorked is much, much more than that on the inside. It’s not just a place to go for a glass of wine – it’s a place to go for a terrific meal where you can indeed get a great glass or bottle of wine as well as a fine beer or cocktail if that is your desire. It’s a place to meet friends and where, if not everybody, at least some people will know your name. It’s a place to feel at home.
Robert and Fionnuala, Proprietors
and, of course, the people who make it all happen – Chef Michael, Derek, Lisa, Lori, Alex and Julie
