Uncorked Tasting Room & Wine Bar is a new gem in Austin. While the sophisticated and delicious entrees here are reasonably priced, they are a little on the small side, so this is definitely a place for sharing. The wine list is expansive and the service is wonderful; you can tell that everyone who works here is passionate about wine and good food. There is ample parking, which is increasingly rare in the downtown area.
The Essentials
Address:
900 East 7th Street
Austin, TX 78702
Phone: 512.524.2809
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 3 p.m. - Midnight
Saturday: 3 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Sunday: Closed
The Feel
When I opened the front door of Uncorked Tasting Room & Wine Bar, I was unsure if I was stepping into an eatery or someone’s home. Originally a residence, the building was Angie’s Mexican Restaurant before its current incarnation. The residential front door, coat rack on the wall, wooden floors, and separate rooms emit a cozy sensibility, but the dark leather seating, framed photographs from local artists, funky light fixtures, and soundtrack of the likes of Imogen Heap and Iron & Wine give the place a very modern feel.
Uncorked is located on East 7th Street, just on the other side of the freeway from downtown. Some of the windows have incredible views of the skyscrapers. While scoping out the digs, I found a dim side room full of plush brown leather couches. Was this an extra-comfy waiting room? A post-stuffing-my-face nap room? No – it’s the lounge, which can be privately booked. When we first arrived, the venue was quiet, but with time a decent crowd began to buzz, especially at the bar.
The Drinks
Uncorked takes great pride in its selection of 127 wines from 13 different countries. The prices range from extremely cheap to very costly, so it suits all budgets. There is a separate menu of wine flights, each of which include a sampling of three different wines. When the wine is delivered to your table, you also receive a card with the name of each wine and a circle for each glass, so you can keep track of which is which. My guest indulged in (and loved) the Bianco Bianco flight, which included a pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, and a cortese. The restaurant serves beer as well, but only beer from Texas.
The Food
We ordered the selection of four local goat cheeses, which comes from CKC Farms. When served on bread with drizzles of honey, they were just divine. Uncorked also serves a selection of international cheeses, in addition to a collection of dried and cured meats.
The brown butter sage gnocchi are aromatic and tender, and the delicate pork tenderloin comes in a tangy sauce with a bit of a kick. The seared ahi tuna has a rich, roasted sesame flavor and melts in your mouth. Another oceanic dish we wish we had tried was the steamed mussels in a saffron tomato broth.
Some of Uncorked’s most unusual foods are the chocolate truffles. One is flavored with three types of pepper and is very spicy, and another is a creamy mix of chipotle and raspberry flavors. I’m dying to go back for the cookie sampler, which consists of the flavors Not So Thin Mint, Sadie’s Peanut Butter, and Sticky Texas Pecan.
Please note that while this review is fully objective, the meal was complimentary.
