Cork Wine Bar & Bistro

I had a wonderful dinner at Cork last night with a friend. We both ordered the Jamaican Jerk Salmon over jasmine rice with mango salsa, and it was outstanding—moist, flavorful, and a very generous portion. Our server, Jennifer, was fantastic. Professional, warm, and extremely knowledgeable about the wine list. Easily the best service I’ve had at Cork. One small note: I originally came in excited to order the scallops, and only learned they were unavailable when I tried to order. Not a big deal since the salmon ended up being delicious, but a quick mention upfront or a note on the menu would have been helpful. Overall, a great experience—I’ll definitely be back!

Came here for my wife’s 40th birthday brunch. I will say the menu was on the smaller side but still had plenty to select from. We both got the Hash and I got a side of sausage. It tasted great however, I would recommend asking for the hash to be cooked to crisp. It was a little too soft for my personal liking. Will definitely be back tho!

Wow! Great place, great service and amazing atmosphere! Joy recently becoming our newest friend lived up to her name “Joy” as she was pleasant, professional, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu as well as the wines. We had the chicken parmigiana and it was delicious! Having lived in Italy for six years I can tell you this could rival some of the better restaurants over there. Impeccable from start to finish! Go check it out and free tip, call ahead for a reservation. Buon appetito!

We've been dining at this restaurant for over two years, and it continues to impress us every single time. Without a doubt, it's the best restaurant in town. The food is consistently exceptional, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service is nothing short of professional—every server we've encountered has been courteous, knowledgeable, and attentive. This place could easily compete with top-tier establishments in cities like New York or Boston. The quality, presentation, and flavor of the dishes are truly big city caliber. Some of our personal favorites include the parmesan truffle fries—perfectly crispy and bursting with rich flavor—and the French onion soup, which is deeply savory and comforting. The lobster roll is another standout—fresh, buttery, and absolutely on par with anything you'd find in New England. And we can’t forget the burger—juicy, perfectly cooked, and packed with flavor. It's one of the best we've had anywhere. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just craving an incredible meal, this restaurant delivers every time. We're lucky to have a spot like this right here in New Bern.

Food was okay but it took a long time - we got 2 appetizers (stuffed mushrooms and charcuterie board) and entrees, we were there 2.5 hours (with only a few other tables). Wine selection was great. The fake flowers hanging from the lights were not cute and made the place look cheap and cheesey (only thing they were "good" for is collecting dust).

am thrilled that I decided to pop in for a late lunch today. I was so surprised by the beauty of the venue and how quickly I was told to find a seat. Great wine list! The menu was so special and detailed ingredients that it was so hard to choose! I chose the Spicy Italian Hoagie. I can say it was fresh and made to order and honestly one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. The portions were huge and I finished off the rest for dinner. Seriously so excited for this new business and I think it is EXACTLY what New Bern needed. I will be back!

They try to sell themselves as an upscale restaurant they aren't. Food was so chewy I couldn't cut it. They did replaced it with veal and it was amazing! Our waitress took forever and kept coming back to ask the same questions after we answered. Edit to respond to the owner. Wow! Never seen an owner so offended about one review. Try to get better rather than attack me for the truth. Two bites of the chicken isn't half. The waitress was very sweet but she was having a difficult keeping up. She forgot our table was hers so we sat with nothing, she struggled opening and closing the wine,and she repeated questions after we answered. Good luck in your bussiness I hope it is successful and you learn how cook chicken- try to season it and tenderize it.

Wow! I didn’t think I’d find food of this level around here so we were beyond pleasantly surprised. I got the Maine lobster roll and while I was worried seeing anything more than just light mayo on it, it was absolutely incredible. The homemade chips were great too. My husband got the crab cake Benedict which had a generous amount of crab and very light breading. He said one of the best crab cakes he’s ever had. His came with a side of sweet potato home fries with blueberries and the flavors were great together. Very impressed and eager to try more there!

Had a great dinner at Cork last night! The Jamaican Jerk Salmon was fantastic--moist, flavorful, and a generous portion. Jennifer was an excellent server: professional, warm, and very knowledgeable about the wine list. Best service I've had there. I did come in hoping for scallops and only learned they were out when ordering, so an earlier heads-up would've been nice. But the salmon made up for it. Overall, a great experience. I'll definitely be back!

One of the places open on Monday night in New Bern. I went because I met the owner the night before at MJs and she told us about Cork and the amazing lobster rolls. I went because that sounded really good. Pro Tip: They only sell lobster rolls on Sunday. It appears food cost are rising and the orders don't fully justify the expense in the customers eyes. The menu still looked good so I stayed. Olivia was my server and she was great. Super knowledgeable about the menu with great suggestions. I wanted the brussel sprouts but was a little reluctant because of the beets. She said it was good and give it a try. I glad I did what a treat. The brussels were lightly fried. The real treat was the flavor profile. The bitterness of the brussels, pickled sweetness of the beets, creaminess of the goat cheese with the crunch of the pecans....wow. So good and it was lightly dressed with the pickling liquid. I went with the jerk salmon for the entree. The salmon was cooked perfect and had a nice crust on it. It was served with a citrus (mango forward) salsa on top of jasmine coconut rice. It is all a great idea and the combo was good. Only feedback was the red bell peppers seemed out of place and took away from the dish and the jasmine rice was a little too bland. I could taste the hint of coconut which was good but some seasoning or a touch of salt on the rice would have paired great with the salmon and orange glaze. Over a gem in New Bern with great service.

They made me love beets and brussel sprouts salad. I know it doesn't sound possible but healthy food can taste great! Also got the lobster roll in butter. Delicious! My husband loves the mussels. On site parking. They were out of several of the wines we chose. This happened at 2 separate visits, so perhaps a better inventory system is needed. Good restaurants near Oriental are much needed so glad to find one.

The cioppino was excellent. Filled with shrimp, mussels, clams, and fish. We will be back again soon.

We keep trying after all the accolades. Went for Fathers Day Brunch. We both had the crab cake Benedict. $40 a plate but hey if the crab cake is awesome worth it. Well they were not great. Disappointing. Dry, over cooked and well, crabby in a bad way. The sax player was nice. Service was okay. Bloody Mary good. But $80 on brunch and both of us felt the same way. Those crab cakes should have been abundant and yummy. Not.

Looking for a new place to try on our way to the beach, I found this on Yelp. Nice place , not quite sure they have the ambiance right, needs something to warm it up. The food and wine were great though! Pretty busy for a Saturday evening, I made reservations which you can only do by phone, they also have some days they are closed so check their website. Once seated, our server gave us menus, for food and wine, and after two tries we finally got wines they had in stock! Decent prices on glasses and bottles. I had a nice red blend, my friends had a Chardonnay and a prosseco. They have small plates and larger plates. We had a couple of each, the truffle fries were amazingly good, not frozen, these were house cut and nice and thick, served hot, drizzled with truffle oil. Delicious. The French onion soup was super gooey and cheesy, and fresh and hot. The beet and Brussels , now this was unusual but really good, with pecans, golden beets that were nice and tangy, with goat cheese, and dried cranberries, and flash fried Brussels, this was kinda like a salad, nice and different though, loved the beets. The mussels I had were fresh, big meaty mussels, and I chose the tomato broth with garlic, served with some nice charred bread, I loved this light but plentiful dish. Gotta love fresh seafood. My friends rigatoni alla Norma, also served in a huge bowl, nice big pasta, not too much eggplant though, but good sauce and cheese. Good sharing larger plate. We took the leftovers home. We tried the Italian cream cake , and this was my first time ever having this cake and yes definitely wave this Super moist, nutty, vanilla cake with Italian cream frosting again, so deliciously light but probably not! Also had coconut in it, this was a great different choice for me who usually goes with chocolate. 3 of us ate off one slice, so again big serving. We really enjoyed eating here, their lunch and brunch menus look great too. Just like I said needs a little help with ambiance....food, drinks and dessert were very good though.

We came during brunch but would come back again for a dinner meal. My wife enjoyed a Maine lobster roll and I enjoyed a brunch burger with fries.

We dined at Cork last night got the first time. Started off with an incredible bottle of Pinot Noir by Sick-Dryer which was hands down one of our favorite noirs we've had in a while (5 stars for the wine!). For food, we ordered the mussels, scallops, and small charcuterie board. The mussels were so delicious with the blue cheese crumbles and the sautéed onions! The scallops were large and also rather tasty but they were served over a bed of rice that was by far the worst rice I've ever tasted. Several others at the bar also got plates with rice and made it apparent that they also really disliked the rice - it was super mushy, watery, and had literally zero flavor. The small board was great and the 10 year aged Gouda was definitely our favorite cheese. I was really disappointed there was no meat on the small board... I definitely think it would be great to have an add on feature for the small board to add on a meat for an additional price as the large board is just too big for two people. My biggest complaint would definitely have been the constant gathering and bickering amongst the staff at the end of the bar where we sitting. Waitresses were constantly coming up beside me and leaning all the way over the bar looking at their bar ticket in line, arguing over whose drink order was first and whose should be poured first and even talking negatively about the patrons they were serving. The atmosphere was great - super sultry, quaint, and romantic and if someone would've been singing acoustic in the corner, that would've really been the cherry on top. Overall, Cork was good, has a great appeal to downtown New Bern, most of the food was tasty, and is different than anything else in town; despite the cons, we'll likely be back.

Cork is our go to restaurant in New Bern. We've been there for brunch and lunch and are looking forward to going for dinner in the near future. The lunch menu is fantastic - love their Caesar and Italian Chop salads with the Connecticut lobster roll then add in the Truffle fries and it's a filling and delicious combo. Brunch is a delightful treat as well. Banana's Foster French Toast and the "to die for" Angus Burger. This brunch set up the recipe for a special celebration. My mom turned 80 and we hosted an intimate brunch with the help of the extraordinaire staff - a banner for the birthday girl and flashy horns for the guests! Chicken and waffles, Angus Burger, Caesar Salads and CT Lobster rolls. The birthday girl received a slice of Tiramisu cake with a candle playing "Happy Birthday". I just cannot rave enough about Brooke, Olivia and the rest of the staff at Cork!!!!!!!!!!!

Arrived a bit early for reservation but were seated immediately. our server was excellent and very attentive. Drinks and crab dip were very good. We waited over 30 minutes for our entrees. We could see that our server continually checked into the kitchen. Myhusband's veal was charred and my shrimp scampi was completely flavorless. In the past the food was exceptional and always worth the price; but not this time. probably will never return.

We came here on a Thursday evening for dinner with our daughter and granddaughter. The owners wife was very friendly and super knowledgeable about the wines that they had to offer. We did a flight of white wines and also we tried the recommended red wine which was amazing. Between the four of us we had the truffle fries, and polpette (meatballs) appetizer. We recommend ordering garlic bread with the polpette as the sauce was phenomenal!! We also had the crab cakes which were so good with mock choux base and the Connecticut lobster roll was divine. Perfectly buttery and loaded with lobster! Great prices, great food, lovely atmosphere...definitely will be back!!

We have eaten here a cpl time a few things were off a little and some were really good, this would be a 3 1/2 star rating if I could give a half star. First let's start with the good the Appetizer of stuffed squash blossoms was excellent, my lamb chops were perfection, good wine and our waitress was excellent. Now the not so good scallops were good well, good flavor and what ever the corn on the bottom was amazing however the scallops had a bit of grit perhaps needed to be cleaned a little better, penne Ala vodka great flavor but penne was over cooked. Now the mussels in white wine, butter and garlic extremely salty so much that it was beyond tolerable, the mussels appeared to be frozen mussels and my question is a restaurant that can put out the flavors this place does and being so close to the ocean why would you use any frozen fish items. I really do love this place and these items bothered me the flavor and items they have on the menu is different from anywhere else in the area. Will I recommend this restaurant yes I will but not the mussels and please clean the scallops better.

Due diet restriction, it was a challenge, the truffle fries were amazing my husband said, he had salmon, at first glance it didn't look like salmon he said it didn't taste like it either, we had 5 of us at the table, the family said the food was good but, didn't think it was worth the value, the service was, just I guess strange, he appeared scared and unsure of himself couldn't hardly hear him at all, lack of knowledge! The service was very slow! My chicken was dry so was the rice, taste like they hung it out to dry, no flavor hospital if that ! As for the atmosphere nothing big, felt like I was in a sports bar, you walked in you see the kitchen, above the bar a tv, fyi remove the tv get soft music! The tables were like they got them at Salvation Army ! Not impressed! Won't be back! Needs to improve on everything! 320.00 bill it was like for what ripped off on all !

What Mike and his Family doesn't know about putting a menu and experience together isn't worth knowing. We enjoyed every moment and every bite. The crab cakes especially were out of this world; 99/01 in terms of fresh crab to "breading" ratio. Insanely delicious. Thank you Mike and Family.

Wow, wow, wow! As soon as I heard about Cork, I suspected it would be my favorite restaurant in New Bern. After dining there last night, I am delighted to report that the reality is even better than my expectations! Great wines, fabulous charcuterie options, and a sexy menu. This is a great spot for a first date, intimate dinner, or gathering of friends. I loved the atmosphere, and LOVED the food! I almost had to give this place a rave review, because I almost want to keep this amazing gem to myself! As soon as word gets out about this fabulous restaurant, I'm afraid it will be packed every night!

Stopped by for lunch because all the signage and website said they were open. No note on the door --nothing. A guy comes out says nothing gets in his car and leaves. Cork continues to be as unprofessional as ever. Went to Cedar Hall had a wonderful lunch.

Cork is a nice addition to the dining scene in New Bern. We went to the soft opening last year and they were going through the usual hiccups that come with opening a new business. However, the staff was professional and tried their best. We only had apps and drinks last time, so we took the opportunity to eat brunch there today. Our table had the Croque Madame, Shakshouka, Brunch Burger, and I had the Wings & Waffle. All were good with a few comments: my waffle wasn't crisp enough (but the wings were expertly fried), and the burger was ordered well done but was clearly still pink in the middle. We ordered a bottle of Rosé that was a tad pricier than expected, but an excellent wine nonetheless. Cork is a pleasant place for a drink or a meal. One star off for the food, which I hope will continue change with interesting menus, but more so for the staff at the counter who seemed to not be in the best of moods. A friendly goodbye is always a good thing for repeat business! Still, we will definitely be back and enjoyed the experience!

This place is perfection. The owners are incredibly sweet, hardworking folks and I've never had a bad experience here. The food is fantastic, it's right up there with Cypress Hall. The wine selection is amazing and reasonably priced. We always eat at the bar and have a great time. Brunch is also amazing! This is a must-try if you're in town.

The food was amazing! I had the salmon and it was perfection!! My husband loved his steak! The wine selection was great and the staff was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu! This was out first time there and we will definitely be back!

The food was delicious.... However it did take a VERY long time to be delivered. It seems there was only one waitress for all the tables. She was running in 10 different directions...and couldn't blame her for not the best service. The place itself needs to be a bit cozier. Seems like a mini-cafeteria. Just needs a few tweaks with the entrance and the main room to make it more cozy!

Leave the Cork In if coming for food. My ride or die partner decided to give this place a try after giving it some time to settle down. We decided to hit them up for a Saturday lunch and check out what they are made of. Came in and were seated right away. They have 7 tables, a bar and 3 coffee table sized seating arrangement. Nice looking place, very open which I imagine could get a little noisy if the wine is a flowin'. We looked over the lunch menu and wanted to do the norm and try a number of items as always. Drinks first, well not big drinkers between the two of us so we opted for a Half Sweet and Half unsweet tea...I know......Well, no Unsweet tea so looks like the south won and we got the house wine of the south. Odd that they did not have unsweet but oh well...No Biggie. We moved on to the Cheese board that was very good. This is the 3rd star. The pairing of cheese with a jam was very tasty. Pro Tip...When giving the last bit of nuts from either a bag or jar, please do not include the bit and pieces that collect at the bottom. Looks like the balance of its container were dumped onto the board. My partner noticed that they had a Muffaletta that she has been chasing since we went to NOLA. Still Not found. This was basically a cold cut sandwich with just a small dollop of the olive spread that you will see in the pic which was less than ideal. This was very disappointing to say the least for her and was expected to be the highlight of the meal. I get an Au jus sandwich that did not come out with Au Jus. I had to ask for it so it must be per request. Maybe its because I was expecting something more like a french dip. The bread was soft but that was about the best of it. I do not typically eat all of my lunches and this one came home but ended up going to the pups. It was ok but nothing to go back for. The chips they servers were right out of the bag as well. Not what I was expecting. I think I came here with the expectations of something far more than it was. I was hoping for a upper scale establishment and maybe that is why I was not fond of the meal. At the end of the day, I cannot say the meal was bad, but I can say that we will not be back nor will I advise anyone to go here for the food. We cannot speak on the Wine part and maybe that is AWESOME but we do not know. Best of Luck Cork..

The food is always amazing! We have never ordered anything that was not delicious. My husband loves the Lobster Roll. I enjoy the Angus Burger. Everyone there is very friendly and the service is great. It is a small, comfortable atmosphere. It is a nice place to eat and enjoy conversation. Highly recommend.

The food is fabulous! Staff very knowledgeable. Loved the cozy space and comfy chairs of the barrels. Highly recommend! Wine list is amazing! Yes they have lunch and brunch on the weekends.

The absolute best Truffle Parmesan Fries I have ever had! 10 out of 10 will order again! Amazing bartender and staff.

I happened upon this fantastic spot mid-afternoon after a hot day seeing the sites in New Bern. Welcoming staff (Olivia), great comfortable vibe, terrific menus and a spacious bar. I enjoyed a dry rose and Olivia kept my ice water glass filled while doing side work and conversing with another local customer. Amazed to see non-alcoholic wines on list! Both French Blends: White (Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc) and Red (Merlot, Grenache). Several mussel appetizers and a good variety of small plates and meals. Can't wait to go back!

Stopped in for lunch. We had the lobster roll and burger with truffle fries . Everything was incredible and our server Olivia was great.

Finally New Bern has a menu that changes frequently...never boring! The food goes way beyond what you find around New Bern and brings the palate to another dimension. Cork has an excellent revolving wine list. The servers are happy, excitable, anttentive and professional yet very friendly. Cork's atmosphere is gentle, charming and inviting. It is so worth getting a short way from downtown to experience all that Cork offers. We are fortunate in New Bern to have a restaurant that consistently delivers such high quality food, wine and service .

Incredible dinner last night! The cicchetti is always on point...especially the bisteca cicchetti. Always love the truffle fries. The homemade cannolis last night were great as well. The bistro has a great intimate Italian feel and always feel at home there. Be back soon!

Just tried it out. Found it good but a bit overpriced. A house red wine is $10 and not especially noteworthy. A small dish of vodka penne was $16 and they charge $2 for a slice of bread. The penne was undistinguished. Very bland. I noticed they ask $36 for a crab cake. Those kinds of prices are ridiculous. This isn't the 4-Seasons. The waiters walk around with In Vino Veritas on the back of their shirts. Mine wasn't sure what that meant. Hint: Where the wine goes in the truth comes out. I don't think I'll be going back soon.

Delicious and unique. Very small so Reservations are recommended. Excellent wine list. Friendly staff.

The food was good but very expensive for what you got. The wine also was good but very expensive. I wish they had a small meat and cheese charcuterie board but the only one offered was huge, way too big for two people. We tried the stuffed mushrooms, smoked salmon and crab cakes. Two glasses of wine and two beers. I probably won't return at these prices.

We tried this place out for the first time to try something different. We were pleasantly survived. The bartender (Susie) was so pleasant. Alex was our waiter and he was polite, helpful and the food was delicious. Everything was fresh and absolutely amazing. It may be a good idea to book reservations. Definitely will be returning.

My wife and I had brunch today at Cork. It was outstanding. The lobster bisque was as good as we have head in Maine. I had the crab benedict which featured crab cakes that were the best I have tasted south of Maryland! My wife enjoyed the Croque Madame which was well executed and also tasty. Our server Tracy was fast and efficient. We did not sample any wine at 11am this day but the wine list is very nice and as extensive as any in New Bern. Try Cork!

Atmosphere is lacking but the food although pricey was excellent. Wine options were also good and service is very warm and personal. I will go back

It was okay... I was in town visiting my mom, she had shrimp scampi, I had the lamb. The so called risotto was a joke even my mom was like the rice is good I was like it's not supposed to be just rice. No cream, chicken stock or parm... I get it ppl need help but yeah it wasn't worth $70.00 the money isn't the problem but the food was ehhhhhh.

this bistro is amazing! The food is top notch, great selection of wines and great live music! Do yourself a favor and go check it out! you will not be disappointed!

Awesome food. Great wine list. Friendly service. It's great to have a new restaurant in town, especially one that has Sunday brunch!

We had family from out of town visiting and I thought this would be a perfect time to try Cork as I had been following it on Facebook and it looked amazing. I made a reservation for 5 for Sunday brunch at 11. We arrived a few minutes early and waited in the patio area with 2 other couples. Once open we were seated immediately at our table. Our waitress introduced herself, passed out menus and water. During the 5 or so minutes we looked over the menu several other customers had come in and were also seated right away. There was a male waiter who was also working. We placed our orders, 1 Brunch Burger, 1 Grouper sandwich on special, Chicken salad sandwich, 2 steak and egg breakfast meals and truffle fries , mozzarella stack for appetizers. We were served our drinks and appetizers fairly quickly and other than adding some salt to the mozzarella stack the food was very good. After about 15 minutes we flagged down the waitress to have our drinks refilled. We started to notice that several other tables that were seated after us were already being served their entrees and we realized it was now 11:45. The other waiter walked by and also noticed we still had not been served our food and told the bartender , directly behind our table. I didn't hear her response but she turned out to be the owner. We waved our waitress over and asked her about our food and mentioned that many others had already been served and some even finished with their meals. She replied that she would check on it then left without clearing appetizer dishes or offering to refill drinks. She returned about 5 minutes later with an order of truffle fries as an apology for the wait. Now our table is covered with dirty dishes, and empty glasses. It's about 11:55 at this point and we are on the verge of leaving to find lunch somewhere else. Finally at 12:05 she brings out the chicken salad sandwich and the Brunch Burger, goes back and returns with the 2 steak and egg breakfast with one plate missing eggs and the other with under cooked meat which is sent back. Another 5 minutes go by and she finally brings out the grouper sandwich and a side dish of scrambled eggs. I asked what had been the problem with getting our order out and she replied " What do you mean?" I told her we had now been here over an hour and she just looked at me and walked away. She came back a few minutes later and told us that that this was a bistro and they take their time! The male waiter had already turned all his tables by this time and a couple of hers had finished and left. We paid the $170 bill ( OUTRAGEOUS) and left vowing to never go back. Now with all that has been said the food was good, not spectacular, and we all suspect that she had not put our order in until after 11:45 but she was not apologetic by any means and actually her attitude was very off putting. 2 stars for the food and 0 for the waitress.