Nathaniel Clark, Julia Holody – A&E Editor, Staff Writer

nuc5002@psu.edu, Juh664@psu.edu

The Cork 1794 is a pinnacle of fine dining in the Erie area.

The Cork 1794 is located at the end of West Erie Plaza. With a stunning copper and black color palette on the exterior, the building pops out in comparison to the creams and whites located throughout the rest of the plaza.

Debuting in 2014, The Cork 1794 is owned and operated by Red Letter Hospitality. The management group is responsible for some of the best fine dining options in the Erie area: the Skunk & Goat Tavern and Molly Brannigans. The Cork 1794 is no exception to this quality.

The general manager of The Cork 1794 is Michael Keller. A Behrend graduate, Keller originally started as the restaurant’s lead bar manager before moving into his current role. Even though he leads the business, Keller still has his band in the restaurant’s beverage program, choosing craft beer, cocktails, wine, etc.

On the food side, The Cork 1794’s Executive Chef is Jason Finnerty. Getting his start at Hard Rock International, Finnerty had over ten years of executive experience before working with Red Letter and The Cork.

The Cork 1794 aims to set a new standard for cuisine and comfort. With seating for more than 200, The Cork offers various arrangements for whatever their customers desire. 

If you prefer a more intimate experience, there is the chef’s table which gives a perfect view of culinary creation at work. If you have a larger party and still desire intimacy, there are various other rooms available. Located throughout the restaurant, the Stagg’s Leap, Calistoga, and Clock Rooms offer varying amounts of privacy depending on the size of your party.

If you are looking for more open spaces, the dining room’s banquettes and outdoor patio are the ultimate gathering spots. The main dining area offers a very intimate view with its candlelit tables and hardwood chairs. The exterior is lit enough to provide sight, yet dim enough that it does not ruin the ambiance. The outdoor patio is a considerably more open experience. With fireplaces and TVs, the patio is a place to unwind, beverage in hand. The patio area is enclosed in dark wood fencing, blocking any view of the parking lot or 12th Street. 

The Cork has an overall classy yet cozy aesthetic. The restaurant has the feel of an old nightclub, likely more evident when there is live music playing. The only piece missing to sell this atmosphere would be a haze of cigar smoke above. However, The Cork 1794 is a non-smoking restaurant and dining space.

In a similar vein to their atmosphere, The Cork 1794 has some of the best cuisine options in all of Erie. Rotating menus every season, there is always something new to try at The Cork. Currently, they are serving their Spring lunch and dinner menus throughout the week. On the weekends, the restaurant serves its brunch menu from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and continues to serve dinner throughout the rest of the day.

For starters, I highly recommend the Fire Cracker Shrimp. After being breaded and lightly fried, the shrimp are coated in a sauce consisting of sriracha and sesame seed aioli. When plating, the delicious and bite-sized portions are coated in a dusting of chives. 

Main course-wise, there are a similar amount of fantastic options. For example, the pan-seared seasonal salmon is delectable. The thick-cut piece of fish is served upon a bed of roasted purple potatoes, fava beans, romanesco broccoli, and sherry sabayon, all coated in meyer lemon relish. Every ingredient felt purposeful in creating the best-tasting fish I have had the pleasure of eating. There is also the Surf and Turf: shrimp and beef short rib are mixed in with aged cheddar grits, andouille sausage, cherry tomatoes, and trinity vegetables. For flavor, a delicious pairing of jalapeño oil is given to add some spice.

As expected with any restaurant, this high-quality food does come with a higher price point. However, The Cork 1794 is one of the few cases where the benefits outweigh the cost. With delicious food, excellent service, and beautiful ambiance, The Cork is one of the only restaurants where it feels like every dollar is being spent on continuing this fantastic establishment.

The Cork 1794 is perfect for any form of celebration: birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, etc. Due to this restaurant’s popularity though, it is best to make reservations. Luckily, making one is easy by either going onto the restaurant’s website or using OpenTable. 

Being the pinnacle of fine dining in the Erie area is a label which The Cork 1794 holds with stride and strength.