July 26th, 2012
The appreciation and consumption of wine within Asian countries has witnessed spectacular growth in recent years. With increasingly discerning consumers, the demand for specialised wine-centric venues has spawned the concept of stylish wine restaurants and lounges in all the major Asian cities. In Jakarta, one of the early leaders in this field was CORK & SCREW who opened their first venue back in 2007 in the Kuningan business district. The concept for CORK & SCREW was to incorporate a wine lounge and restaurant within a specialised wine shop- offering customers both a retail selection of wine bottles to take out, or if they prefer, a casual but stylish lounge and restaurant where the wines could be shared with friends over a meal.
Following the popularity of the first venue, a second CORK & SCREW was opened in early 2009 at the prestigious Plaza Indonesia Mall in central Jakarta. Occupying a street level space with a long glass frontage that overlooks the iconic Selamat Datang Roundabout, the room has a bright, airy ambiance during the day, and a more cozy feeling in the evenings with the city lights and bustling road traffic providing a colorful backdrop. CORK & SCREW is open all day- with lunches and dinners being particularly busy,and the afternoons also seeing many guests just coming to hang out and socialise, enjoying a bottle or two of wine in a relaxing and comfortable environment.
As expected of a premium quality wine store, CORK & SCREW has an impressive display of wine bottles that are showcased on blond timber shelving that extends almost the entire length of the interior. The floor to ceiling wine bottle display also forms an effective partition, separating the retail wine shop and cellar from the lounge and restaurant space at the front of the room. The interior design exudes an understated sophistication, with a muted palette comprising essentially blond timbers and black. The lounge and restaurant furnishings have a clean, modern style- simple and comfortable. Another feature of CORK & SCREW is the long bar counter that extends across the inner section of the back wall. The bar area offers customers the option of sitting at the well-stocked bar- with the expert bartenders providing an interactive experience as they prepare the innovative cocktails for which CORK & SCREW is also highly regarded.
Wine display shelves separate the bar area from the restaurant & lounge seating
Lounge section in the foreground, with dining tables extending beyond
Communal table near the entrance
The wine selection at CORK & SCREW extends to over 500 wine labels sourced from all the leading wine growing regions around the world. The majority of the wines are in an “accessible” price range – ranging from around Rp300k to Rp600k. An extensive list of premium wines such as vintage French, Italian and Australian wines, and Champagnes are also featured- including first growth Bourdeaux such as Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Margaux at over Rp25,000k. A selection of House Wines are available either by the glass or bottle. The knowledgeable service staff can provide advice for pairing the wines with dishes from the food menu.
Cocktail connoisseurs are also well catered for at CORK & SCREW, where the bartenders are highly regarded for their innovative cocktail concoctions. One of the highlights is the “Ten Signature Wine Cocktails”– with examples such as Sage, Elderflower and Cucumber Sangria- Sage Leaves, Elderflower Syrup, Dry Gin, Chardonnay,Fresh Lime Juice, on top Sprite; and Scotch Blueberry Martini– Scotch Whiskey, Orange Liqueur, Red Wine, Blueberries,Lemon Juice, Sugar. Other cocktail selections include “Forgotten Classics”; “Signature Cocktails”; and “Wine Cocktails”. The impressively stocked bar also offers a large range of Single Malt Whiskys, and extensive selections premium spirits.
The long bar counter with impressive bottle display on the back wall
SELECTED SIGNATURE COCKTAILS
Smoky & Fruits- Jack Daniels, strawberries, lemon juice, egg white, strawberry syrup, rosemary leaves
Smoke Blueberry & Tea- Johnnie Walker Gold Label, Orange Liqueur, Blueberries, Lemon Juice, Blueberry syrup
Apple Ice Wine Martini- Dessert Wine, Apple Flavored White Rum, Vodka, Fuji Apple, Apple Syrup.
The kitchen at CORK & SCREW serves an delicious range of dishes from both European and Asian cuisines- with flame grilled prime cut steaks being a specialty. Popular European dishes include salads, sandwiches, pastas, and mains such as Lamb Shanks with apricots and couscous; and Pastrami lasagna with bechamel. Standout Asian dishes include the Oxtail Soup served with steamed rice; and Hainan Rice served with a choice of chicken or duck. Dessert temptations include Mille Feuille-Thin layer of pastry with cream and chocolate filling served with vanilla ice cream; and Yoghurt Panacotta with blueberry compote.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE KITCHEN
Appetizer– Pan Fried Foie Gras- with crispy kailan and balsamic vinegar
Appetizer- Mushroom Cream Soup- with puff pastry and baked to a golden crust
Mains- Organic Roast Chicken– served with roasted vegetables and potatoes
Mains- Beef Cheek Bourguignon– with beef bacon and truffled mashed potatoes
Dessert- Large Apple Tart
Dessert- Triple Chocolate Melt– with milk, white and dark chocolate
CORK & SCREW, Jakarta
Address: Plaza Indonesia, 1st Floor, # 127 A-D. Jl M H Thamrin Kav 28-30, Jakarta Pusat, 10350. Indonesia
Reservations: + 62. 21. 3199 6659
Twitter: @corknscrew
Website: corknscrew.biz
Opening Hours:
Monday- Sunday 10:00 am till midnight
