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!
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.
Too bad atmosphere isnt everything.Ever since I moved to Carp, Corktree has been on my list of cool looking eatery's Ive wanted to try. Finally took a chance and tried it out one afternoon. I sat at the bar with an empty stomach ready to try some of the interesting creations the menu had to offer. Sadly I left disappointed. I tried the lobster mac n cheese and the truffle fries...both were underwhelming. The lobster in the mac n cheese tasted like that packaged imitation stuff you find vacuum sealed at grocery stores and no prominent flavors stood out except for the parmesean crust. The fries were ok, the deeper into the basket you ate the better the flavor of the truffle oil came out. Then I got the So Cal Ahi Tuna salad and I have to admit it was the poorest quality salad I have ever had!! Its obvious this place does not prep out most of their proteins rather they purchased the readymade garbage from a distributor. The tuna was AWFUL! The greens were dingy and unwashed, the won tons were stale and they literally put three drops of sesame dressing on. Flat out I didnt receive what I paid for and left unsatisfied and overcharged.
I cannot recommend this place for eating. If you wanna a decent place to have a drink or two Id say go to Island Brew, The Palms or even Nutbelly. Its all pomp and fluff....really not worth it sadly
When I think of Corktree, I think FUN, DELICIOUS, and more importantly WINE! Nothing bad there! The staff is friendly and attentive. I prefer sitting at the bar, but they have great outdoor seating if its a nice day, which it almost ALWAYS is in Carpinteria. Their soups are aways fresh. They have a great happy hour. They also have this amazing cheese called Red Dragon. My favorite FAVORITE cheese....besides Lamb Chopper. It's a casual, laid-back place to enjoy time a lone or with friends and family. Great place. Go there...often :)
Review Source:great wine, yummmm. also you have to get the truffle oil fries, lobster mac and cheese, and little bites of heaven (the sauce is to die for). Â I was underwhelmed by the veggie sandwich and chicken sandwich but the homemade donuts w/ nutella, raspberry, and glaze sauces for dessert were fun and delicious...
Review Source:I went to cork tree for the first time on Friday while visiting from san diego and what a pleasant surprise! The lobster Mac n cheese is simply amazing! Probably the best I've ever had. We also ordered the carnitas flatbread and pulled pork po boy with truffle fries. I have to admit I was a bit nervous with all the variety on the menu  but everything was delicious!! We also had a few glasses of sangria which was refreshing and not too sweet. All this plus great customer service, what a treat! We are going back tonight!
Review Source: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!
I spend a lot of time in Carpinteria visiting family and this spot is our "Cheers." Wait staff recognize us, smile and wave when we arrive and (until recently) the manager knew our regular orders, would bring us free items on special occasions and was just so wonderful to talk to. Â Well, that manager has left, but thankfully Corktree Cellars is still our favorite spot in town. Service seemed a little off the last time we were in (as-in perhaps they haven't found a new manager to keep things running smoothly in the front and back of house), but we still enjoyed ourselves.
As far as the food and wine goes, the flights are great fun for a first visit or a fiftieth visit. Â My favorite is the "Drawing a Blanc" assortment of three different Sauv Blancs. My husband always enjoys a glass of the Snolqualmie Syrah. It should be noted that you can purchase a bottle from their wall (at the retail price) and enjoy it with your meal (a great deal!).
The charcuterie (meat plate) is awesome--tasty ham and proscioutto, just spicy enough andouille and a decent salami. Coupled with spiced pecans (YUM), olives and a fig jam (my dad and husband LOVE this stuff). Family faves on the rest of the menu include the Murph panini, the veggie ratatouille, the Wild West Burger (only on the lunch menu, but can be ordered at dinner if you ask), steak frites (tasty chimichurri sauce), and pizzas. I have taken to customizing the Margherita by adding bacon to it and love it, they use high quality bacon.
The restaurant is not especially large and can be busy during the summer months, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. I'd recommend a reservation. If I lived in Carp I would definitely come out for First Fridays (happy hour all night!).
I love this place, plain and simple. Is it the best restaurant I've ever been to? Â No. But it's a great independently owned thriving spot in my favorite sleepy little beach town. Highly recommended next time you are in Carpinteria.
First visit to this little place, and my girlfriend and I had a great time. My girlfriend loves a great  glass of wine and was not disappointed. However, I do not drink, so I cannot comment on the wine. We spilt a cheese platter, which was awesome, and then I had a very great seared ahi salad. My girlfriend had one of the salads with grilled salmon, and I was very impressed with how they cooked the salmon. There were quite a bit of other entrees that I wanted to try, so I will be back again. Service was excellent. Just the right amount of attention for my taste.
Review Source:I finally tired this place and have to say it's absolutely fantastic. Lovely atmosphere, so beautiful inside and fast polite service. I was very happy with my Kobe beef burger, so tender and juicy. Â Large wine selection and I felt the servers really knew what they were talking about when I asked for a suggestion. Will definitely be coming back!
Review Source:If I'm not at The Spot with my friends, I'm here with my wife. Â The atmosphere is casual because the staff makes you feel at home. Â It could easily feel stuffy but they are so friendly I feel like I'm a guest at their house. Â The beer and wines are great, the panini's are awesome, but the Guinness onion rings are the best. Â We kick back at a window seat and watch all the weirdo's go by. Â It's great, you gotta go.
Review Source:Charming place- but that's it.
The Wine selection was underwhelming.
The food here is just terrible.
I tried the arugula  prosciutto fig pizza which seemed like it was reheated with the arugala and figs on it- browned arugala and dried figs are Brutal. Also the prosciutto did not make the pizza, rather it was a tiny, crispy piece of bacon. So we sent it back and asked for a simple margherita flatbread instead bc we figured it is hard to screw that up. It was even worse than the first one- completely inedible. We took one bite and asked for our check... Left the whole pizza there.
I just ordered a salad and asked for my vegetables to be raw instead of grilled. I was told that isn't possible, because all of the veggies are already grilled. Really? I shan't be back.
Beware. Beware. Beware.
(This review was from May- I actually just forgot to post it. I might smoke too much weed.)
very cute wine bar. Â we came here on our anniversary and we each indugled in a flight and shared a chicken panini sandwich and half sweet potatoes fries & half truffle fries...which were perfectly crisp and delish.
The flight was a cute presentation..3x 3oz wine pours on a wine tasting flight board, and you move the penny to description that most matches your opinion- put a bottle on my tab, not for me, like it, love it. Â my flight was called hailing a cab and i enjoyed the William Hill and the Niner the most (like it).. The husband had the Que Syrah Syrah.
overall casual and classy place to go for a drink or snack. all the servers are super sweet and they don't mind answering any questions. Â This place is not snobby or rude like some wine bars can be. If I lived in santa barbara I would be a regular at this wine bar ... a girl can dream :)
After a grueling 6 1/2 hour drive from Sacramento, through the rain, and past traffic, my sister and I decided to put our feet up and get some nice dinner before turning in for the night.
We started with two tapas, the artichoke dip and the stuffed mushrooms. The mushrooms were absolutely fantastic. I usually hate mushrooms but even I couldn't lie to myself. The artichoke dip on the other hand was different. While it was spicy, it was bland and dry.
We then shared a Bianca flatbread pizza. It was interesting with the arugula. However, too much of it made it salty.
Overall, it was a bit pricy but I think if we had ordered the right stuff, it would have been a good experience.
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.
A group of us ate here after our friend could not stop raving about their food - it definitely lived up it's recommendation.
Where do I start? Â The Lobster Mac & Cheese was so thick and flavorful, the Pizza was crunchy and delicious but the Three Pigs was probably the best thing we ordered, in my opinion. Â We washed everything down with local brews and left full and happy.
I am used to well prepared meals in SF and was so pleased to find a really well rounded menu with prices that didn't break my budget. Â My advice for this place is to go with a nice group and order as many different things as possible and share. Â That way, you wont agonize over what to order - as there are a lot of things that will catch your eye!
Just an excellent bistro, serving great food with a comprehensive and interesting wine list. The service in the dining room is a little uneven, so you'll mostly find me at the bar for dinner and wine. Bar service is always near-perfect and if the inimitable Annie is working, it will be spot-on and delightful.
I recommend the flights of wine, as they're a great value and you get a nice little education to go along with your drinking. The charceuterie plate with cheese is very good, and frankly enough for a meal for two when you pair it up with some bread. That said, the entrees are good, they have a great burger, and the warm, freshly made donuts with dipping sauces for dessert (with a nod to Tom Douglas) are worth heading over for, no matter where you had dinner.
You're going to be in Carp, you're going to be hungry, and you're going to want to wash your day at the beach down with some wine and some great food. You're going to go here. Enjoy.
I love wine bars and this place did not disappoint, all that much - lol.
Our table got the Kobe Beef Burger, Blackened Salmon Burger, Chicken Sandwich, and Cesar Salad with Chicken (and a side of Ranch Fries). Everyone LOVED what they got. The Ranch Fries are out of this world. The taste was not strong but just a little hint of spice which made it perfect for any dipping sauce. Their fries in general were out of this world. All the food was amazing.
Their wine by the glass wasn't impressive at all considering all the bottles they had. The choices of red wine available by the glass was depressing. Â Plenty of white wine options with clever section titles - "In White Satin" (Moody Blues reference, my dad and I were impressed with that). Â Their happy hour wine was a cupcake wine, not a good meal wine. Their cheese options were ok, but the price of a cheese plate was ridiculous.
Their menu is pretty small but there is something that will sure please everyone. Promise.
The decor was lovely, inviting and comfortable. The music was a little low and I think that contributed to everyone feeling as though they had to whisper, awkward. Â The service was amazing, our girl was beyond helpful.
Its my favorite restaurant on that street and probably the only place I'll go to when visiting Carp.
Dropped in on a Sunday afternoon for appetizers and drinks. Â The staff was very friendly and helpful, particularly the waitress from Indiana. Â We had the Half and Half plate (charcuterie with cheese), the portions were very generous and priced right.
They offer wine flights that let you sample 3 wines...we had a couple, the "Night in White Satin" and "Hailing a Cab...". Â We sat inside where they have a very nice bar with screens, while the rest of the room is divided in 2 parts, the main dining area and a smaller area with more casual seating arrangements. They have a small patio area as well which is off to the side of the restaurant, has about 6 tables or so.
They have a nice menu, I would definitely go again and order a meal next time.  I highly recommend the Corktree - I hope my next  visit is as pleasant.
Came with some friends to grab some drinks and lunch and we absolutely fell in love with it. It's such a cute and endearing place. We sat in the little lounge area where the couch was and it was such a nice and relaxing time.
The staff was so friendly and always checking on us to make sure we were ok. They have a ton of different wine flights to choose from, although they are a little on the pricey side. You get 3 different wines to taste. I had the Nights in White Satin flight and unfortunately only one of the wines I really enjoyed, I did end up buying a bottle of it and the bottles I must say are cheap. Also, they bring the wines out on this little paddle type thing w/pennies, it's such a cute idea b/c you can keep track of which ones you like.
On to the food!!! We shared a cheese and charcuterie plate w/Brie, Manchego, and Humboldt Fog. The Humboldt Fog was by far the best, especially when paired with the fig jam, we couldn't get enough of it. It also came with ham, salami, andoullie sausage, and prosciutto de parma. They were all delicious.
For our entrees I ordered the lobster melt. It came on a crisp ciabatta bread and the Dill Havarti cheese really made the dish. It was a mayonnaise lobster salad and you could see the chunks of lobster in it. I really enjoyed this dish. It came w/choice of fries which I went with the truffle parmesan that came with a garlic aoli. They were soo good and you could really taste the truffle, I preferred them without the aoli.
My bf had the pulled pork sandwich and this was amazing, I think I liked it better than the lobster melt. The meat was tender and the sauce delicious, the coleslaw added a nice crunch. I don't remember tasting the creole mustard though. I would highly recommend this dish.
All and all this is definitely a place I would return to over and over again if I lived near by. There were a lot of food options that I would have loved to try and they have a vast array of wines to try. A nice chill place with friendly staff and nice atmosphere.
We visited Corktree Cellars for the first time on Saturday night, and I have been raving about it since we left.
First, the service was incredible. We were greeted and helped by Annie. I hope the owners realize and appreciate what an absolute gem they have in her! She was knowledgeable, sweet, sincere, extremely friendly, and really made our night even more enjoyable.
The wine flights - a great value - are presented creatively and accompanied by detailed information on what you can expect to taste. The portions were generous. We each had two flights. I had the "Nights in White Satin" (a trio of unique whites and Chardonnay flights. We even ended up bringing two bottles home. And, unlike a lot of wine bars, the prices on the bottles aren't astronomically marked up - we paid under $18 for each yummy bottle!
This was a late stop for us, so we didn't have a full meal. We shared the cheese plate (our choice of three for $16) and enjoyed a creamy brie, manchego, and humboldt fog served with fresh grapes, sliced apple, crostini, crackers, and their homemade fig paste. My only complaint is that we REALLY wanted to buy some of the paste, but it's not for sale. We had a salad as well that was fresh with a great dressing.
If you do nothing else while you are here, be sure to order to chocolate dipped coconut macaroons. Heaven in your mouth!!
If you are looking for a wine bar with a great selection, delicious food, and spectacular service without an ounce of pretentiousness then you must check this place out! I guarantee you we will be in anytime we are even remotely close to Carpinteria.
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.
The Corktree is a gem among excellent offerings in Carpinteria. Â The bulk of the eclectic menu contains a vast selection of wines. Â However, the second billing in this wonderfully decorated wine bar and bistro is one of the best restaurants in the area. Â
The service, ambiance, and artwork matched the artistically-presented, high-quality food. Those shopping for high-quality paintings of local scenes will be impressed by the affordable paintings for sale on the walls.
The juicy Kobe burger and incredible salad made my mouth water the moment I saw them. The menu includes salads, tapas, sandwiches, steaks, lasagna, and salmon among others. Â However, my $10 burger was a great choice with its juicy texture, generous avocado, and perfectly cooked bacon. Â The side salad was a feature unto itself with toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and generous roasted tomatoes garnished with mixed greens and other vegetables.
Back here last night, and this place is still going strong, if not, even stronger.
I had the Lobster Salad Pannini. Ever so fresh & tasty. I'm said to say I've never tried it before. We've been here well over a dozen times.
Had also, a new Pinot special that balanced very well with our meal.
As always, Annie is the bomb. We all should have an Annie on our staff!!
I was here with some friends for one of our friend's birthday, so we had a fairly good size group. Â Despite the size of the group our service was excellent and the waitress was willing to break up the bill for us.
The food was good, but wasn't great. Â Had I been reviewing this on the food alone, I would have only given it three stars. Â My partner and I shared the Half and Half as an appetizer. Â It was a cheese and meat plate. I chose the cheese, so even if I didn't like them (I did), it would be unfair to judge them on that. They do have a good cheese selection and someone else in the group let the waitress pick his cheeses and his were very good. The meats on the plater weren't as good as the cheeses. Â They seemed to be something you could get at most grocery stores. Â For my main I had the Steak Frittes which was over cooked. Â It came with fries and an arugula salad. Â I don't like arugula and the fries were nothing special. Â
What was great about this place was the wine selection and the atmosphere. Â Living in the Central Coast I would expect more places to have a wine selection like Corktree Cellars. Â They have wines from here in California and all over the world. Â The atmosphere was great. Â There is a nice quiet and relaxed setting where you can sit and enjoy a nice glass, or two, or three, of wine.
I'd definitely recommend this as someplace to try a few different wines and have some appetizers.
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.
Oh corktree cellars, my home away from home away from home.
When life in LA gets too much, I always find myself driving from the San Gabriel Valley to Carpinteria. After making that left on Linden, I make the first right, park in the free parking, and stroll into Corktree Cellars usually on a weekday morning to visit my favorite server Katie. She's the nicest sweetest most open honest person and she deserves 30% tips (nudge nudge).
They've got lots of wine labels you'll have never heard of and after tasting you'll be glad you did. Their wine flights are served on cute wooden paddles with pennies over different sayings such as "love it" "like it" "put a bottle on my tab" and "not for me" - get it? Penny for your thoughts.
hyuck hyuck hyuck.
Truffle parmesan fries are also a fave especially during happy hour from 4pm-7pm.
Sometimes they have someone playing guitar and singing. Always they have a patio for you to sit on. And the bathroom is cute with lots of cute sayings on the walls, but nothing tacky.
And of course this is all in walking distance from the beach. Great ambience, friendly folks, delish drinks and food. And 30% is the new 20% tip folks!
Had dinner here a few weeks ago, and unfortunately did not enjoy the experience.
Walked in and stood at the front door for about 6 min before being greeted. - minus one star
Waited 10 mins. once seated before the server took our drink order. Â The server was not friendly. - minus one star
Waited another 10-15 mins to get drinks. Â Two of the four drinks were incorrect... another 10 mins passed before they were corrected. - minus one star
The server finally took our order, and surprisingly the food was brought out reasonably quick. Â I had the steak frittes, which was pretty good. - plus one star
So, it started out pretty rocky with bad service, but the food and atmosphere was making up for it... but then we got the bill. Â Our server decided to charge us for three large bottles of Voss water ($3.75 each)- wtf? - minus one star
We were never asked if we would like Voss water, and they never brought out the bottles. Â We each had a glass of water with ice and lemon. Â You don't serve Voss water on ice with lemon, and without the bottle none the less. Â This kind of backhanded thing really pisses me off... they were trying to get away with one here, and is exactly how you get a two star rating.
I'm sorry, but with this kind of experience, I cannot recommend this place. Â I will give it some time, come back and see if there are any improvements.
This place has to be the best in Carpinteria and one of the best restaurants in Santa Barbara. Amazing!
The ambiance is nice, but not overly formal. If you like wine, being greeted by rows and rows of bottles on the wall is a nice welcoming.
I sit at the bar and get the ahi salad usually when I eat there. The staff is welcoming, the other patrons are friendly and happy, and the food is delicious. Great wine and dessert selection as well.
I had an excellent Friday night dinner here with a bunch of ladies this past weekend. There was a sidewalk sale earlier in the day so the restaurant was really busy. The great thing about this place is...it closes at 10 pm. You laugh but remember, this is a small town!
We ended up on the couch in the middle of the restaurant, and actually ate our food there and chatted up with another friendly group. I tried the Veggie burger, Calamari and Truffle fries and am happy to say all were excellent, as excellent as appetizers can get. The fried stuff was crispy and light and I got a generous portion of lovely green salad with my burger.
I bought a bottle of white from their wine collection, tried a few glasses myself. Will definitely come back to this restaurant if I'm ever in Carp again.
We were so close to giving it 5 stars until we had dessert. We had the brownie a la mode, and that's basically all it was. It tasted like an out of the box made brownie that was over done and the ice cream was so so.
However, everything else we had was delicious! The spinach-feta bites, the artichoke dip, and the caprese salad were all excellent! We liked trying the different wines and getting to choose our favorite one. Very good service, very friendly, good food, and decent prices.
This was a few weeks ago, hopefully they have figured out who their target clientele are..;;
we were a LARGE group of close to 25. Â Our friends were throwing a b-day party and she even went in the night before and told them how many people we had and they said: "hmm, not sure if we can accommodate that many". Â
Uh? Â really? Â like you don't want a bunch of people who have jobs and are willing to spend money on fine eats at your establishment?? Â really??? Â call me confused.
So, this place definitely recently opened -- it looks half decorated. Â It's like the space used to be a jewelry shop or something and they ripped out everything and painted everything a piss urine yellow -- I think they were trying to achieve an "aged" look... Â paint fail.
the couches and everything were nice and I will say, the side with the booths -- yeah, I think that would have accommodated 15-20 people.
So, we get there and as our group gets larger they have no where to put us but OUTSIDE. Â this was a few weeks ago when it was still drizzly at night so they move us outside and they didn't have the heat lamps set up yet! Â WTF?? Â
at least make it a positive transition -- you know something like I know it's outside and we apologize but we have the heat lamps all set up for you and here you go.
Is it me but often times in the Central Coast I encounter lack of properly staffed restaurants -- no, waiting does not make me want your food more. Â mm'kay?
anyway, so we sit but then we had to stand b/c they had to move the heat lamps here and oh, that one is out of gas, gotta get the gas to that lamp -- it became really fucken annoying. Â really.
We had two servers, the main one was nice and she was a good server. Â Another older woman was helping her and she was calling out beer names and happen to add this bit of TMI: "____ beer, who's is it? Â Been 20 years sober honey, don't tempt me!"
UH, lady you work in a WINE BAR. Â HOW does that make sense?? Â
anyway, our night was sort of annoying, but I'm sure if you go with a group of no more than 4 they are more than happy and adequate service.
Plus, food is really good, great fries and sweet potato fries -- so I have to say that if I happen to be in Carp, I would likely stop in again. Â but like I said, the most annoying part is that our friend went in the night before and still our party wasn't really served. Â I hope they've figured out their target audience and their service worked out.
three glasses of wine, fries, onion rings and calamari was about $50.
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