Inspired by the Season - Summer Specials Menu

In continuing with our commitment to offering specials that are up to the minute for this season, we are now offering a Special Menu that will be available for the duration of the season.

Inspired by the flavors of summer, we've included some lighter items that complement our pub fare quite nicely.

Now through Labor Day, enjoy summer at Cork's with our Summer Specials Menu!

Inspired by the Season

Soup & Salad

A cup of our chef-crafted soup with house salad {your choice of dressing}.

Half Club & Soup

1/2 of our famous Club Sandwich served with a cup of our chef-crafted soup.  

Berries & Brie Salad

Berries & Brie Salad 

Mixed Greens tossed in Strawberry Vinaigrette. Topped with seasonal Berries and Sliced Brie. 

{Add Chicken}

Apple & Brie Chicken Sandwich

Grilled Apple & Brie Chicken Sandwich

Grilled Granny Smith Apple Slices and melted Brie with a grilled Chicken Breast and topped with a Balsamic Reduction. 

Served with your choice of side. 

Cherry Chicken Salad Wrap

Dried Cherries, Cashews, and Chicken Salad wrapped in a Whole Wheat Tortilla. 

Served with your choice of side. 

Strawberry Shortcake

Pound Cake topped with Macerated Strawberries and fresh Whipped Cream.

Stop into Cork's this week and see for yourself just how tasty summer can be!

Cork's Specials through July 17

Yum! Yum! Chef Erik's at it again with some brand new specials this week. In addition to our usual menu fare, which satiates the palates of our guests on a daily basis, Chef Erik has whipped up three fabulous summer specials to get you through your week.

Available now through next Wednesday, July 17, the following sandwich, entree, and dessert await your order.

Smoked Chicken Wrap - $13

 Thinly sliced cold Smoked Chicken with Tomato Aioli, Mixed Greens, Havarti Cheese, Red Onion and Diced bacon. Served with your choice of side. 

Teriyaki Beef Udon

 Teriyaki Beef Udon - $16

Beef Tips sautéed in a Teriyaki Glaze with Asian Vegetable Mix, all served over Japanese Wheat Noodles. Topped with Scallions and Sesame Seeds. 

Molten Lava Cake - $8 

Warm and rich Chocolate Cake with pooled Chocolate Ganache in the center topped with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce. 

Less than a week left to enjoy these tasty specials, so hurry in to Cork's and try one today! 

Otherwise, like us on Facebook and join us for half-priced lunch on Friday (including the Chicken Wrap and Beef Udon among all your other delicious options) for Facebook Fan Friday. 

NEW Lunch Specials Available through Sunday, June 23

Summer, summer, summertime means two things: grilling and berries! Our Executive Chef Erik has taken it upon himself to combine these wonderful elements with smooth, creamy Brie Cheese into some great summer lunch specials this week.

Head into Cork's today through Sunday, June 23, to enjoy the following summer sandwich and salad at unbeatable prices!

Grilled Apple & Brie Chicken Sandwich 

Grilled apple, creamy brie cheese, and a balsamic reduction on a grilled chicken sandwich with your choice of side - $11

Berries & Brie Salad               

Mixed greens tossed with a strawberry vinaigrette and topped with sliced almonds, brie, strawberries, raspberries, and black berries -  $10 

{Add chicken for $4 more}

We hope you're nice and hungry, because these lunch specials can't be beat! Stop in and try one today since they won't be around for long. You'll leave satisfied and singing the praises of summertime (and Chef Erik).

See you soon!

Northern Spark in Lowertown - June 8, 2013

We are so excited for summer in the city. Lowertown is such a great place to be during the best season of the year.

This weekend is a perfect example, as Northern Spark takes over Lowertown for a night of art, experiencing community, and simply enjoying the creativity and beauty that the Twin Cities have to offer. A free, outdoor arts festival that is open and welcoming to patrons of all tastes and ages, Northern Spark 2013 will take over Lowertown with hundreds of artist projects in many different venues from local and national artists all in one night.

"Northern Spark is a portal to a new experience of the Twin Cities. Throughout the night we each pick a route accompanied by friends or in the companionship of familiar strangers. Together we look at art, experience community in a new way, and see the cities in a new light."

Join with fellow friends of the arts in your community on Saturday, June 8, beginning at 8:58pm. The festival runs over night until dawn (5:26am) on Sunday morning, June 9. There is plenty to see, do, and of course eat, with many food options interspersed throughout the festival. Plus, Cork's is open until 1am for your refreshment needs.

To enhance your enjoyment of the evening, Northern Spark has information to plan your night and create your own Northern Spark experience on their website. From there, you can select one of their suggested journeys, but deviation from the plan is always encouraged! Let the night take you where it will.

For a full schedule of events/exhibits, please CLICK HERE.

If you're feeling that staying up all night just isn't your thing, but you want to take part in the festival, make the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown (conveniently located just blocks from all the Northern Spark happenings) your home base for the night. To reserve your room for the evening, simply CLICK HERE.

Catch a few ZZZ's and then grab Brunch (and/or some famous BYO Bloody Mary's at Cork's)  before heading home.

We hope to see everyone at Northern Spark tomorrow night!

Go Social with the Embassy Suites St. Paul

Since Cork's makes our home within the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown, it's only natural that we want to share the love, so you can 'Like' and 'Follow' them just as you have with us.

With new specials and promotions posted frequently, liking the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown on Facebook and following them on Twitter not only makes sense, but it could pay off too!

If you were fanning or following, you would already know about their two big specials. The first is a State Fair Package, where you get your suite plus the famous cooked to order breakfast, two one-day Fair passes, and complimentary transportation all for one low price.

Further, they've even extended a special promotion for all of their social media fans and followers. If you like the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter, you qualify for 10% off your rate automatically.

So, what are you waiting for? Make sure you Like the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter today. That way, you can start taking advantage of all the great promotions they run right away!

National Night Out - Tuesday, August 7, 2012

As proud members of our downtown St. Paul community, we're thrilled to participate in the Wacouta Common 2nd Annual National Night Out celebration once again.

Held each year, National Night Out is a community-based program that promotes "neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation."

This year's downtown celebration will be held on Tuesday, August 7th from 5pm to 7pm. The party will be held in the field on the corner of Temperance Street and 10th Street, (just about a block from our parking lot).

Cork's will be serving up root beer and bottled water and just like last year, Black Sheep will be providing their delicious coal-fired pizzas. There will also be music from KFAI radio Deejay Larry Englund, and we're sure many of our neighbors will be coming out to get to know one another better and celebrate the strengthening of our community.

So, stop on by tomorrow night for some root beer, pizza, or even just a water, and a great time with your neighbors! We'll see you there!

Trivia Mafia Returning August 1

We're pretty excited to report that after a brief hiatus for summer, Trivia Mafia trivia will be returning on Wednesday nights starting next week!

A longstanding pub favorite (and tradition to boot), we're looking forward to Martin Devaney, our unofficial mayor's, return.

So mark your calendars and hold on to your hats, ladies and gents. 8pm on Wednesdays just got a whole lot prettier!

Irony Wines on Special NOW!

We're happy to announce that select Irony Wines are back. Featured over the holiday season last year, they were a big hit, and we're pretty excited to offer them again at an even better deal!

This time, we're featuring Irony Wines' Chardonnay and Merlot for just $5/glass and $22/bottle!

Winemaker's Notes: A distinct and subtle Chardonnay, in a medium full style. It is dry, smoothly textured, well balanced, and quite long on the palate, with a lingering finish. Its flavors are complex and restrained, reminiscent of peach, pear and apple, with overtones of vanilla, toast and spicy oak.  

Winemaker's Notes: The Irony Merlot is a classically styled Merlot with medium body and firm tannins. Rich aromatics of black cherry, currant and plum intermingle with hints of vanilla and cedar. Well-balanced with a lingering finish, flavors of blackberry, licorice and sweet oak compliment the wine's bright acidity and structure. 

Irony Wines is a three-generation California winery that produces great varietals that are approachable and balanced, perfect for every occasion.

Stop in this week and see for yourself what the Irony's all about!

Cork's & The Embassy Suites St. Paul - Summer Staycation Destination

As we're sure you're aware, Cork's is nestled inside the beautiful Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown, making us the ideal destination for a summer staycation!

When you stay with us overnight, you're treated to not only pristine accommodations, but also our evening Manager's Reception and Complimentary Cooked-to-Order Breakfast. Our Manager's Reception is offered nightly in our beautiful garden atrium, where you can unwind and enjoy complimentary cold beverages and maybe even catch a glimpse of our famous ducks.

Then, the morning following your stay, we'll even make you breakfast, cooked to your specifications. From assorted fresh fruit, yogurt, and cereals to hot items, such as pancakes, eggs, bacon, and our world-famous omelets, we've got you covered.

In close proximity to the Xcel Energy Center, The Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minnesota Children's Museum, the Minnesota History Center, and all the shopping and attractions that downtown St. Paul has to offer, Cork's is happy to serve you lunch between outings, show you why we've got the best happy hour in St. Paul, or even whip you up a late dinner or dessert when you get back.

This summer, don't fret about nothing to do! Stay with Cork's and the Embassy Suites St. Paul - Downtown and take advantage of the best St. Paul has to offer.

Happy staycationing!

Twin Cities Jazz Festival

The 14th annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival begins today (June 28) in Mears Park. Running through Saturday, June 30, the festival features some of today's best jazz artists in what remains the Twin Cities' largest jazz event.

This free outdoor, all ages festival has a killer line-up again this year, and all they ask is that, "if you're already a big jazz fan, bring along a few friends who don't yet know they are jazz fans." Therefore, we think it would be a grand idea to make a date of it. Gather a few friends, plan on meeting at Cork's for Happy Hour drinks and apps or even dinner. Then, take a less than 10 minute walk through beautiful downtown St. Paul to Mears Park.

Metro Transit is even offering FREE rides to the festival. (You can certainly hit up Cork's responsibly on the way home in that case).

Great food, fun drinks, and even better jazz music. What more could you ask for?!

For more information on the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, please visit their website or 'Like' them on Facebook.

Enjoy the festival!

St. Paul's Dessert Destination

This week we unveiled our new summer desserts and just can't wait to share all the sweet eats with you. Adding three choice additions to our dessert menu, the Mango Mousse Cake, Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake, and the White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, they're the perfect ending to a meal here. 

These new cakes round out our dessert menu that also includes Crème Brûlée, Triple Berry Crisp, and our famous Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae. 

Mango Mousse Cake
A refreshingly light mousse with a rich mango flavor in a pool of mango puree  with fresh strawberry. 

Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake
Layered rich chocolate cake with milk and white chocolate mousses are complimented with a blackberry coulis, fresh berries, and whipped cream.

White Chocolate & Raspberry Cheesecake
Rich vanilla cheesecake drizzled with raspberry coulis and garnished with fresh raspberries and crushed pistachios.

Each of the new desserts is refreshingly light and packed with the perfect flavors of summer. Stop in and try one (or three) this week and let us know what you think!

Summer In the City

We're so excited for summer around here, as we're sure you are too! The heat, the sun, all the hustle and bustle in the city, it's all great. To help you get your summer off to a great start, we've compiled a list of the top five things to do at Cork's in the summer.

1. Sit outside at one of our awesome sidewalk tables. People watch and nosh in style!
2. Join us for Weed Wednesdays, where Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka and any mixer is just $3 all day. 
3. Try our Grilled Salmon Salad - Mixed greens tossed with a poppy seed dressing topped with
   toasted almonds, fresh strawberries, and a salmon filet. Don't just take our word for it, though. According to local rap group, Heiruspecs, "That salmon salad is from another world. and that world is better than the one we live in."
4. Grab one of the bar tables that overlooks the atrium for Happy Hour. Not only will you be getting a ridiculous deal on food and drinks, but you might even see our famous ducks hanging around in their habitat.
5. Take in a show at the X, browse the neighborhood, and make sure you soak up all St. Paul has to offer before spending the night at the Embassy Suites - St. Paul. Adjoined to Cork's, you can hang with us until you retire for the night, and we'll even make you breakfast in the morning. 

Happy Summer, friends!