Awesome service and amazing wines. We had the best time here. I totally recommend this place for great wines!!!

We love to head up to Carpinteria whenever we can. It's just a few minutes away, but it always seems as though we've gone on vacation. This trip we were looking for a fairly inexpensive place that wasn't too formal. Corktree Cellars fit the bill. We tried the Little Bites of Heaven, which are andouille sausage wrapped in bacon with blue cheese bits and a sweet sauce. The table next to us ordered it too. The bacon was nice and thick, but it still had crispy edges. The flavors merged well and it was obvious the chef had a good palate. Both plates on both tables were inhaled. My husband ordered a hamburger and I got the steak sandwich. We both got the truffle Parmesan fries, although my husband was annoyed one of us didn't order another flavor. But once we got the fries we decided we liked them so much that it was ok that we had so many. They were crispy and nicely seasoned, with just the right sprinkle of cheese. I didn't get much truffle though, just a faint umami undertone. My husband's burger was a little less than medium rare, way short of current burger temperature guidelines. But it was GOOD. We threw caution to the wind and my husband relished it, giving me occasional bites. My steak sandwich waswell balanced, but the meat was tough. I actually had to yank it out and gnaw smaller pieces off with my incisors like a cavewoman. Service was excellent and our waitperson didn't even flinch when we kept bugging her for additional condiments, graciously accommodating each request. (I was annoyed by us.) Overall a nice place to get some good, basic food. read more

I love this place!!! Everyone is so nice and friendly. You are greeted from the moment you walk in and seated pretty much immediately (weekends are much busier!!). I would definitely recommend going in on a Tuesday because the owner, Jessica, is there and she is a blast to talk to! All of the wine flights are delicious (yes, I've had them all!) and the food is just as good! Being vegetarian, my favorite is the Lee Lee's Caprese! The Bunni Burger is great too! My boyfriend's favorite is the lobster mac n cheese....one word: YUM!!!!! Oh ya, make SURE to try the FRIES too! DELICIOUS!! :) read more

First time here. Reserved this place for a celebration based on the good reviews and photos of the food from yelp. The ambiance was nice and the service was great. I ordered the Chicken Piccata, the chicken was good but my pasta was over cooked and flavorless and drenched in butter. The lobster mac was ok, nice and cheesy, had one piece of lobster...(does that still count as lobster mac?) My daughter had the grilled cheese sandwich with fruit, needless to say the grill cheese was barely touched and her fruit was all gone. My husband had the burger which he thought was good. The pizza was plain according to another guest. The shrimp scampi was only ok. All in all this place was only A-OK and a little pricey for the food quality. read more

Great discovery. Wasn't very hungry so only tried the tapas tonight. Bruschetta, steamed clams and mussels, chicken and artichoke soup, all great and very flavorful. They have a nice outdoor patio which made the experience even better. Chill vibes and very friendly service. Will def be back to try the cioppino. read more

Corktree Cellars - New American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

I stopped here for dinner while on a business trip in Carpinteria. It was a Wednesday evening, and the dining room was well populated, but not too busy. The bar was a bit full when I arrived, but quieted down relatively soon after I ordered. The staff was very friendly and seemed to genuinely like working here, which is always nice to see when I'm trying out a new restaurant. I ordered a glass of white wine upon recommendation from the bar tender, along with an appetizer (pork tacos) and salad for dinner. Everything was delicious! The wine was a great suggestion, and the food tasted fresh and flavorful. I was really impressed with the combinations of ingredients; everything blended nicely together. I felt comfortable sitting by myself at the bar, since the staff made an effort to chat and engage while I was eating. I was pleasantly surprised by the hospitality, and hope I am able to return some day. read more

This restaurant has been consistent with delivering food worthy of ordering a second and third time. Great presentation, fresh, flavorful, satisfying. Timeliness of the arrival of your order is lagging; yet it was a busy Friday Night. Wines are great. Love going during happy hour. That's where you get the best deals since cost can be pricey. read more

My first time going here and the food was great. Better than expected. Lots of wine and dine selections of beer. I would go here again. I went around 2pm and there weren't many people there. However the service was great. read more

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Food was great. Try the steak and frites. The steak had a delicious pesto sauce and the fries had an impressive cheese sprinkle. Service was amazing. If not a bit over the top. The house wine was a Syrah that was undrinkable but I hear they change out the house wine. They took out often an took it off our bill after we didn't touch it. read more

Amazing food! Great selection of wines by the glass as well as bottles of wine. Was staying in Carpinteria for the weekend, to attend a dissertation presentation at Pacifica Graduate Institute and decided to try this spot for dinner, based on the yelp reviews. I was not disappointed! My mom had the barley & sausage soup and the whole grain mustard glazed salmon. I had "Little Bites of Heaven" - Bacon Wrapped Andouille Sausage with a Secret Sauce reduction and Gorgonzola Crumbles. The sauce is divine!! For the entree, I had the steak frites, cooked to perfection. I would definitely return here if I'm in the area. Nice vibe. The crowd picks up around 6pm (on a Saturday night) so you might want to consider reservations if you have a party of 4+ people. read more

Wow I should have wrote this review months ago but i'm glad i finally got around to it. I had my Graduation dinner at Corktree this past June and I really loved it. Santa Barbara gets booked up during the grad season and my family ended up staying in Ventura and Carpinteria. In the end it worked out great because i saw this little place and decided that's where I would have my dinner. There was around 20 of us altogether and they didn't seem to have any trouble accommodating us (but i did reserve it like a month in advance). The staff was great, especially our waitress who took such great care of us and even brought me a mini bottle of champagne for the occasion. It was just a great night, even the other customers were nice! The food was amazing! The wine was great and they just went out of there way to make it a special night. I would definitely go back =]. Thanks Corktree! read more

I'm kind of picky about food so for restaurants in Carp, I'd give this 4 stars, but compared to wine bars everywhere, it's a 2 star place. The service was very friendly and we sat outside this time. The appetizers were nothing special. The wine was okay, not great. The lobster mac and cheese was pretty good, much more cheesy flavored than lobstery by far. But the location on Linden Ave is convenient and outdoor seating is nice on a slightly breezy summer day. read more

Cork tree looked so inviting that I had to come in and try them. The ambience is appreciable; I like the soft lighting. I chose a simple cheeseburger and it was divine (big&juicy!). They have my favorite fries out of anyone yet. So they made a slight mistake on my order, but corrected it and even paid for it on the house! My server was very sweet and apologetic. Despite the simple mistake made, my experience was a pleasant one and I'd be quick to recommend them any time (: I can't believe I forgot to leave her a tip ! My server made all the difference read more

Corktree Cellars - Parmesan fries were a must Check out that size - New American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

Can be pricey, but it sure is good! I love getting a flight to try a few wines, and the flights are always changing!

We had an amazing, five star ++ meal at corktree tonight! i had the ciopinno and it was over the moon crazy delicious! The fish was divine! The broth a perfect flavor ... 5 stars does not completely tell the story! The staff, the wine and the food all top notch! And the cubs hit a grand slam ! Sorry you missed that Chef! But your food was fabulous !! read more

Corktree Cellars - New American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

Great little spot in downtown Carpinteria. I went during happy hour (starts at 4pm) and I thought the service was great! I had the sangria and an order of chicken tenders. The meal was a little dry, but overall it satisfied my cravings for fried food. The food from the regular menu was little pricey, but they have a decent selection. It seems like a very casual place to grab an afternoon drink, and I will definitely be back. read more

Really enjoyed our lunch here. We sat on the patio with our 3 kids 6 and under and our dog. We had a wine flight that was really nice. I enjoyed the fig burger and my husband had the lobster roll. We both really enjoyed our lunch. We would definitely come back when we are in the area! read more

When this restaurant open, their menu had burgers, sandwich and french fries. The food was good, but just for the occasional night out. Carpinteria didn't have much at the time, so choices were limited for a good dine. The service and the music were good, but the management was to say the least awful. Long story short manager left, and we decided to go back. Surprisingly they have a long list of goodies; it's hard to make a choice! Lots of wine, lots of beer and great appetizers also. Everybody is happy now! read more

Service is great, food is hit and miss. Wine is GREAT. First, everyone has been very friendly in the 10-12 times I've dined here. There are a couple of seemingly inexperienced waitresses who don't come back to check on you if it's busy, but that's something that can happen anywhere. Overall, it's been great service and definitely friendly and a lot of smiles. Unfortunately, the food is hit and miss. The truffle fries are great, most of the salads are very tasty and seem quite fresh. The cheese plate has been outstanding (one time) and lackluster (a few times) with fridge-exposed cheese edges and also stale, almost soggy crackers from Trader Joes (we saw the package, maybe they were out of their regular crackers??) A friend got a burger that was not great on very hard bread. He couldn't actually chew the bread, it was that hard. The wine selection is great, a lot of central coast wines and the prices are really competitive (cheaper than Vons, about the same as TJ's for New Zealand whites, for example.) Bottom line: If you happen to order something they do well on that particular night, you'll likely have a great meal. Service is very friendly and warm and the wine is really good. Would not call this outstanding or very good for dinner or lunch, though, without a few tweaks in food quality. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Carp! I usually would come here for an appetizer/drink and always loved it! (The artichoke dip is my go to). I recently brought my family here for dinner and everyone was really impressed with their meal. The drinks are made really well and service has always been on point. Definitely recommend read more

We've vacationed here 4-5 times now and have never tried this restaurant. Soooo glad we did now! This place has the best food in town. We tried the artichoke kale dip, lobster bisque soup, carnitas torts and tri tip dinner. ALL were excellent. Yummy wine too. Our 7 yr old daughter had the torta and said she wanted to come back tomorrow. Really nice relaxing atmosphere... ignore any bad reviews, try this place! read more

Great food, great staff, great atmosphere! We are Carpinteria locals and we love Corktree! Corktree Cellars is all about the wine. Their list is inventive, occasionally surprising and for the most part, affordable. Their menu is inventive, occasionally surprising and for the most part, affordable. The ladies that serve during lunch are very happy to be there and that always helps make the meal more enjoyable. Anne is the manager there and is one of the sweetest ladies in the business. She makes a point of remembering your name and being a gracious host. They do lack in the hostess department so it is not uncommon to wait for a table a little longer than you may be used to when they are busy. Once you sit down, there is never a point where you feel rushed or unwelcome. Their business model is pretty unique in that most of their wines can be purchased retail and enjoyed either on or off the property. If you choose to stay, they charge a modest corkage fee (less than $20 I believe). A great place for snacks and small plates...great for sharing. You can have a nice date here, business lunch or dinner, or just come have a glass by yourself after work. read more

Amazing! Had a great time, the services was awesome. Thanks Josh :) We even had 3 kids with us read more

If you want mouth-watering, thoughtfully prepared, nicely presented food in a cozy, fun restaurant that lets you have your own conversations without yelling across the table, and if you want to test flights of wines with clever names, that are also exotic to erotic, I say, give yourself a treat and go to the Corktree Cellars in Carpinteria. It's unique, open yet somehow you feel you're in your own world, it's woody and outdoorsy and chic. You can sit along the wall on well padded booth style seats, or get a table for two or six, sip at a pub table in the windows, or gather around on the couches martini lounge style. Belly up to the bar if that's better for you and get a good mental lift from all the titles of their food and wine flights. This is a dream realized when everyone said it wouldn't work. And the soul of this owner and place proved the world wrong. Go to the Corktree Cellars, not only will you not regret it, you will want to go back at your first opportunity. I'm happy it's in my own back yard. It's a friend of mine and I love the staff. They are the broth all the good tastes float in. read more

LOVED this place, started out the night with some rosemary Parmesan fries with the garlic aioli sauce, and the chipotle aioli sauce, which set the tone for the night, they were EXCELLENT! The menu was filled with great options for vegetarians like myself, meat eaters, and picky eaters, not to mention the little jokes sprinkled throughout it! The margherita pizza was AMAZING, and the presentation of the food is beautiful! The food, the atmosphere, and the service was above and beyond! Absolutely come here!! read more

First time at Corktree. A lot of menu choices and all looked delicious. However we finally decided to shared Murph Panini with Sweet potato fries and a Jolly Peno with salad. Both were quite good. The house wine and Sangria both very good. Recommend if you are in Carpinteria to give this place a try. It was packed for a weekend night however we chose to sit at the bar and enjoy our meal. Ambience very relaxed and the restaurant is tastefully decorated. Not too noisy either and outdoor patio seating available. read more

Sooo disappointed in the service here ; it's not busy and the service is HORRIBLE . Our waitress was slow , forgot everything, only bits and pieces of our order showed up and when asked about them she said they were coming , ...we had to request our food twice and after everything , WE had to ask to have the forgotten food discounted . My thought ...take pride in ur job , try at least to deliver exceptional customer service to practice for tomorrow knowing that success is determined by attitude and loving what you do ; love the process girl and be aware of your weaknesses (I.e. Poor Memory can be compensated for by writing things down . We tip for quality service !) read more

My go-to place for food and wine. Lobster mac is a fave! Friends and I stop in here regularly and love it. We love the warm atmosphere and great service. read more

Stopped here for lunch on our way to LA, delicious food, great selection. The lobster roll was yummy and the rosemary parmesan fries were amazing, tacos were also very good. Would definitely return and recommend! read more

Solid restaurant in downtown Carpinteria. Freshest food! The service is among the best I've received in this town. read more

Corktree Cellars - Lobster bisque - New American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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Would be more fun with a group. Nice happy hour prices on wine. Burchetta was too sweet.

Well that was... and experience. We were told the wait for an outside table was about 30 min and were seated about an hour later. Not a big deal. It was busy. We put in an order and within 20 minutes we had our wine flight and calamari. It bums me out when a "wine bar" serves reds hot and whites ice cold, it defeats the purpose of a tasting but not a big deal. It happens pretty often. The calamari was decent. An HOUR later we were still waiting on food- and not complicated items either. We're talking lobster bisque, lobster mac, and spinach and artichoke dip. Appetizers. We also made the mistake of ordering a lobster roll. The food came out and it was not good. Think microwaved Trader Joe's frozen items. Heavy. Greasy. Lobster did not taste remotely of lobster. But we were starving. Then the lobster roll came. I've had many lobster rolls. I've never had a bad one. It's really hard to screw up, but they did. It was stringy artificial crab in some sort of red sauce smothered in dill havarti. We had one bite and couldn't take another. They ended up apologizing and taking care of most of the food or it would have been less than one star. The staff was pretty amusing. When asked how the roll tasted the reply was "I'm just the busboy and I haven't had it yet, but there have been a lot of angry people." Fortunately I'm not a lobster fisherman or I would have started sobbing... or given the chef a black eye. read more

Context: Valentine's Day, I am a local surgical resident who works 100hrs/week. We are young couple, two kids we are a RN & MD and busy. We don't have much time to connect. We are believers in local business, and love my community in Carpinteria and support it whenever I can. We planned ahead and made reservations. Found a babysitter on Valentine's Day (not easy right?!?). I finished my call shift (30hrs) showered and with a very excited wife got out the door. The meal was nice. 1hr 40min into dinner the "manager" came over. She interrupted our in-depth conversation (rare in our world) to tell us "there is a party of 6 coming in with reservations, you need to move to the bar." Speechless and in silence, the manager (who didn't introduce herself as a manager) walked off. We were left embarrassed, awkwardly deciding what to do. I am upset at the total derailment of the evening, kindly asked the waitress to speak to the manager, and the same lady that told us to move to the bar (saying this time that she was the manager) comes back to the table. I explained the above narrative. The manager said "I don't understand, I would be fine to move to the bar"... dismissing the issue entirely. She offered nothing in way of solutions beyond her awkward silence. I didn't think about what the owner would say, but of all of the hard customer service / business issues to deal with, this problem would not have been difficult to appease with some grace... however there was none attempted. I paid my $130 tab and left, obviously bitter at the valentines night this establishment has taken from my relationship. I won't be back, sadly. read more

I love this place. They have so many different kinds of aioli! In addition, they have vegetarian options. Everything is always cooked perfectly. Whoever the chef was on 11/25--kudos to you. The atmosphere is great. I love sitting outside on the patio. read more

I've been to Corktree a fair amount while living in the area for the last few years. I think I've sampled a wide range of the menu for the most part (it's more extensive now than ever). The service is always awesome. The food is good, but can be a little off some days, I had a relatively soggy pizza there not too long ago. I think the wine flights and cheese/charcuterie are where Corktree excels...the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is light-hearted & friendly but still maintains a certain accessible sophistication...if that makes any sense. Overall, it's a great place to unwind with a glass (or a few) of wine. read more

We actually found this place in the local 'rag' since we were on a technology 'hiatus'. Now that I'm back online I can share with you what a lovely little gem Corktree Cellars is. While on vacation in beautiful Carpinteria, CA we always take a trip down Linden Ave. You'll see the trendy botiques, multiple antique stores, and various restaurants. If you like fine wine and a little upscale nosh, then you'll have to stop in and enjoy a visit here the next time you wander down the palm tree lined streets of Carp. We had a nice wine flight (a taste of three different wines) in the Pinot Noir style. This we paired with a beautiful half and half plate of cheese and meats with lots of palate cleansing or flavor enhancing accompanyments. This included the smallest baby gerkins I have ever seen, salty Greek olives, sweet fig and onion spread, candied pecans, grapes, sliced apple and various crackers/breads to transport the goodies. The wines were nice, very different from one another for variety and later found our favorite one was inexpensive ($12 a bottle). We bought two bottles of Hob Nob and took them home to enjoy another evening. We sat at the table by the window which was nice, but felt wedged into a space a little too small, since the table next to us was also occupied. The atmosphere was pleasant, cozy, not too noisy and comfortable. They also have a long bar toward the back and a long bench type seating arrangement in the main room along with a few sit down tables for 4. I hope to get back and try more of their food, as the reviews look good for that as well! Enjoy! read more

Sadly the only vegan food I could have was french fries. Big boo for a Californian restaurant. It's not hard or expensive to make delicious vegan food, I promise. However, I think my company enjoyed all of their meals. The wine was lovely though, and the atmosphere was nice as well. read more

Corktree Cellars is a great stop for glass of wine and a artisan cheese plate platter! Carpinteria has a fun flea market on the last Saturday of every month with lots of interesting items. We always stop at the Corktree Cellars for lunch and a glass of wine. I ordered a glass of Petite Syrah and a really fabulous cheese platter. The cheese platter had three different variations of delectable cheeses,fruit, and tasty jam. The Cheese platter was a perfect compliment to our Petite Syrah, which was bold with dark berry flavors. It had an amazing aroma with soft tannins. This is a coastal community and they provide comfy fuzzy blankets as well as heat lamps. I have been here previously and enjoyed my experience every time. The last time I left my daughter in law at the bar with the manager and he graciously entertained her while she sipped glasses of wine and talked his ears off. Needless to say, I will return. read more

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i had a great experience here. the food was great, i will defiantly be back. everyone was so nice, especially Brady and i can tell he works hard. keep up the good work!! read more

I have lived in Carpinteria for almost 2 years and I have never been here. Needless to say, my first experience was everything I wanted and more and I will definitely be back. Especially since I live within 5 minutes of here and I think everyday is an occasion to enjoy wine. I came here with my boyfriend and roommate and we came on first friday. First Friday is like a little holiday in Carpinteria as all the shops on the main street Linden as well as surrounding streets near main street all stay open later, have live music, and just open their doors up for you to experience them. Most places have killer food and drink specials and the Corktree Cellars definitely stands out. First off, on first fridays, they extend their awesome happy hour menu to go until 10p.m. Their happy hour includes 5$ red/white glass of wine, a margharita pizza, which could feed two, lobster mac and cheese, and other tasty delights. When you walk into the doors, you are greeted with a really cool window that is made up of old wine corks. super cool! We were greeted by friendly staff who sat us. The ambiance was so pleasant and warm it is totally a perfect place for first dates, anniversary dinners, fun girly wine nights, and more. I really couldn't get over how awesome this place is and how I had never been in! Once we were seated we were informed of their specials. I definitely wanted to do wine flight because this was a wine place but thought it was neat that they had a HUGE wrap around bar that had plenty of beers on tap including local favorite, Island Brew Co's IPA and Blonde, Firestone, Guinness, and Stella. I was very impressed at their vast selection of premium wine flights. I decided to go with a Chardonnay flight and boy was I in for a treat. The wine was poured very graciously and it was delicious. My flight came with a nor cal wine, a local SB wine and an Argentinian wine. So after my party was drinking we buckled and said lets do food. Wow, I was soooooo impressed when we ordered paninis. Their ciabatta bread is so amazing I highly advise you to try the southwestern chicken as well as the roast beef panini. The food is fresh and you can taste the quality. The bread truly makes the sandwich and I was full with half a sandwich to take home for later. Delicious wine and amazing food. Top it off with FANTASTIC customer service, cool ambiance and a great menu. THANKS and I will be back! read more

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