text: Little did I know that my favorite restaurant was right up the streetnnThings started off a little rough though My boyfriend and I got there early so we could have a drink at the bar The contemporary decor and ambiance was impressive as was the glassed wall of wine just inside the front door and the patio seating outside Everything was looking good We grabbed the last two seats at the small bar and spent the next minutes trying to order a drink The bartender was having none of it He was very friendly and would talk to us but midsentence he would dash off to serve someone else It was bizarre at first then frustrating then just comical It happened like times Our dinner guests showed up soon thereafter and we were shown to our table drinklessnnThe four of us were seated in a secluded row of booths down the middle of the room with copper mesh chain curtains separating the booths Lighting was intimate and the colors were deep browns leather and golds It was edgy and cool The floor was cork Not at all what you would expect in a strip mallnnThe drink menu was inspired and the wine list varied and reasonable Many many wine choices under I ordered a raspberry mojito and asked for it to be sugarfree It took them two tries to remember not to put any sugar in it but when they got it right it was awesome nnOur super friendly waitress handed us the menus and explained Corks smaller plates concept She recommended we choose to dishes per person to share Each dish was between and or so Expecting the typical tapassized toaplate samples usually found on small plates we decided on appetizers salads and entrees It turned out to be plenty of food Way too much we thought at first but it was so crazy good we managed to eat it all Next time we will probably pare it down a bit and save some dough Here is what we had nnAppetizersnn Lion Paw Scallop Barolo Braised Veal Shoulder Veal Meat Loaf Roasted Sweet Potato Puree Hunters Sauce nn Corks Mac and Cheese BBQ Pork Belly Smoked Bacon Chanterelles yr Old Widmers Macaroni nn Seared Foie Gras Confit Duck Crueape Caramel Spiced Squash Goat Cheese Fondue Preserved Lemon Balsamic nn Charcuterie Plate Torchon au Foie Gras Smoked Antelope Roulade Elk Pastrami Muelange of Accoutrements nnSaladsnn Baby Rocket Salad Basil Parsley and Dijon Vinaigrette Roca Parmesan Croustade nn Baby Little Gem Lettuce Goat Cheese Spiced Cashews Applewood Bacon Red Onion Apple Vinaigrette nnEntreesnn Charred Duck Breast Foie Gras Risotto Butternut Squash Candied Pecans Grand Marnier Cranberry nn Grilled Organic Lamb Chop Braised Lamb Shank Matsutake Orangini Mirepoix Puree Mustard Zinfandel nn Butter Basted Swordfish Sweet Potato and Jalapeufo Gnocchi Snow Peas Honey Lavender Glaze nn Buttermilk Fried Chicken Yukon Mashed Potatoes Haricot Vert Brown Gravy nnOur favorites were the fois gras mac cheese the duck and the lamb although everything was delicious The only thing we did not dig was the Buttermilk Fried Chicken It was beyond crispy overdone and dry Oh and the Gnocchi on the Swordfish was rubberynnDessert was a trio of sorbets I think they were watermelon pear and um I cannot remember Good thoughnnI cannot wait to go back