I am very passionate about food and cooking. So eating out sometimes is difficult for me because I dissect every thing. The sunset cork room was a wonderful surprise. The atmosphere is nice and romantic the service was impeccable and the food was amazing. I highly recommend this place to others. The braised short ribs may have been the best I have ever had. My hat is off to the chef and everyone who made my night special thank you Captain Scotty.
(5)
Jamie W.
Excellent, Excellent.... Need I say more!!! Service was top notch!!! We had the cheese tray.... Yum yum!!! I had a Sunset Salad... Again.... excellent!!! My husband had the wine.... Very good Cabernet We weren't very hungry so this was just perfect!!! Prices are great too!!! Must try!!!5***
Can't really agree with the two-star reviews below. Coming from a big city, this place was a treat compared to the standard deep fried shrimp baskets at the other tourist restaurants in & around Gulf Shores. The staff was extremely friendly and prompt, seated immediately. They were very attentive and friendly. Great wine flights; large volumes! Dinner was well portioned and priced. Definitely worth dining at if you're of the normal fried fare. Try the grouper, shrimp & grits! Steak was good too.
(4)
Carolyn K.
Sunset Cork has a different vibe than other spots in the area. We had a nice quiet drink at the bar around the holidays. The staff was very friendly!
(5)
Ray T.
Our friends told us to get the steak here and we should have listened. The seafood platter grilled was terrible or really bad tasting. The homemade mac and cheese also very bad. They did have an excellent wine selection and reasonably priced but that wAs the ONLY reason we have it two stars. We won't be back as there r too many great restaurants in Gulf Shores.
(2)
Anne W.
Great meal, great service (Liz.) The Sunset Cork Room is the perfect upscale spot for locally sourced food. My husband had the Shrimp and Grits; the Gouda cheese was a nice touch. I had the Catch of the day- Cobia, served with mashed potatoes and asparagus which complimented the firm fish nicely. For starters we had the Elberta Cheese Plate and the White Bean Soup- both excellent. If you want to support a restaurant that features fresh and local, you will not be disappointed. We were very happy with Sunset Cork Room tonight!
(4)
Andy D.
At first my opinion of the Sunset Cork Room, was that of unspectacular. I felt as if it had the ambiance of a funeral home. Dark tones dimly lit and an unnecessary divider wall with equally medicinal curtains separating the bar with the dining area. As far as the bar is concerned, it's nice and makes a good addition to this steak house. There's a TV to watch when you drink; however, your watching "Fun Facts" and other interesting (not) tales of Alabama, I soon became numb to "Favorite Toasts, who owns the largest US yacht, ect, ect" I'd rather watch MSNBC or the endless Debt Debates. The TV's program looping would remind you "you are here too long" each and every time you looked up. The food was slightly better then the ambiance. My first introduction was the bread, sorry it was tasteless. The Rudy Salad, tries to copy the wedge, except the wedge salad succeeded and Rudy's is doesn't. Although it was basically the same, Rudy certainly didn't invent this one. The filet mignon was good, a good crust on the outside and it was perfectly cooked, but it was just that, basically alone on the plate, on top of mashed potatoes, so very dull, now the mashed potatoes, did they come from a box? The Sunset Cork Room is on the right path, but falls short of these five star reviews ( sorry ). Would I come back, probable not, as it doesn't have the draw I am looking for. The bar was nice,the wine was good, the service was good and friendly; however, the ambiance needs updating, the menu needs updating as does the plating.
(2)
Kerstin H.
We love this place! Whenever we are in Orange beach, we'll make sure to have a fine dining evening here. Still our favorite, amongst all the restaurants in the area. The menu is short but sweet. Food is always fresh and perfectly prepared. The waitress (we had Elizabeth the last few times) is very knowledgeable about wines, just trust her and ask what works best with your meal. You can't go wrong. Their wine list is very good, and not overpriced. So, go treat yourself to a visit to the cork room - especially if you are looking for a romantic place for fine dining without breaking the bank.
(5)
John L. H.
We were looking for a fancy dinner while vacationing in Gulf Shores. The reviews for the Sunset Cork Room were great on Yelp so we called to make a reservation. When we arrived we were seated immediately, but the place was empty. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is small and was incredibly dark when we sat down. It was so dark we could barely read the menu. They did turn the lights up later, but it was odd how dark it was. The soup of the day was jalapeno corn and came very highly recommended by the server. I didn't like it. It wasn't bad, but it was a bit bland and flavorless. I guess I expected more of a kick from the jalapenos, but it wasn't there for me. One of our party had a Caesar salad which was also a bit off. They said the dressing was homemade which I normally love, but not this version. Something seemed a bit off for my tastes. It didn't taste like Caesar dressing at all. I went with a ribeye for my entree. The rest of our table had fillet and lobster tails and grilled fish. My steak was good. It was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. It was atop mashed potatoes with sour cream and dill. The potatoes were good, but the ribeye was the star of the dish. The rest of our party enjoyed their entrees as well, but the difference in entree compared to appetizers was striking. Our bill was $170 with tip. I don't mind spending that on a restaurant, but didn't feel like this experience was worth it. I really wanted to love this place. Maybe it was an off night or maybe I expected too much, but this was not a five star experience.
(2)
Larry J.
A wonderful place with outstanding food and entertainment. We especially like Tuesday night with the $2 wine. We come back every time we're in Gulf Shores.
(4)
Don C.
What a pleasant surprise - we will be back!
(4)
Andrew D.
Best food in Gulf Shores! If you're looking to get away from the "standard" beach goer food then look no further. This restaurant offers truly fantastic food, a quaint and intimate environment and top notch service. The menu changes regularly according to what's fresh. What more can you ask for from a restuarant nearly on the water? Both of the owners are there regularly and act as servers. Every single item ordered was presented beautifully and tasted even better than it looked. There are only a few issues with this restaurant both of which are quite minute: 1) If you are not exactly sure where it is you will have much difficulty finding it; 2) The lighting was quite bright for dinner. If you wish to have a truly great dining experience then find the Sunset Cork Room and enjoy!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Scotty B.
I am very passionate about food and cooking. So eating out sometimes is difficult for me because I dissect every thing. The sunset cork room was a wonderful surprise. The atmosphere is nice and romantic the service was impeccable and the food was amazing. I highly recommend this place to others. The braised short ribs may have been the best I have ever had. My hat is off to the chef and everyone who made my night special thank you Captain Scotty.
(5)Jamie W.
Excellent, Excellent.... Need I say more!!! Service was top notch!!! We had the cheese tray.... Yum yum!!! I had a Sunset Salad... Again.... excellent!!! My husband had the wine.... Very good Cabernet We weren't very hungry so this was just perfect!!! Prices are great too!!! Must try!!!5***
(5)James S.
We wanted an upscale restaurant for a special evening and we weren't disappointed. The Gulf Shrimp and Grits were amazing. My fiancé had the filet, also amazing. The atmosphere was quaint and the staff were friendly and helpful. The menu is very simple and a bit pricey, but the food and atmosphere are worth it.
(5)Mike T.
Can't really agree with the two-star reviews below. Coming from a big city, this place was a treat compared to the standard deep fried shrimp baskets at the other tourist restaurants in & around Gulf Shores. The staff was extremely friendly and prompt, seated immediately. They were very attentive and friendly. Great wine flights; large volumes! Dinner was well portioned and priced. Definitely worth dining at if you're of the normal fried fare. Try the grouper, shrimp & grits! Steak was good too.
(4)Carolyn K.
Sunset Cork has a different vibe than other spots in the area. We had a nice quiet drink at the bar around the holidays. The staff was very friendly!
(5)Ray T.
Our friends told us to get the steak here and we should have listened. The seafood platter grilled was terrible or really bad tasting. The homemade mac and cheese also very bad. They did have an excellent wine selection and reasonably priced but that wAs the ONLY reason we have it two stars. We won't be back as there r too many great restaurants in Gulf Shores.
(2)Anne W.
Great meal, great service (Liz.) The Sunset Cork Room is the perfect upscale spot for locally sourced food. My husband had the Shrimp and Grits; the Gouda cheese was a nice touch. I had the Catch of the day- Cobia, served with mashed potatoes and asparagus which complimented the firm fish nicely. For starters we had the Elberta Cheese Plate and the White Bean Soup- both excellent. If you want to support a restaurant that features fresh and local, you will not be disappointed. We were very happy with Sunset Cork Room tonight!
(4)Andy D.
At first my opinion of the Sunset Cork Room, was that of unspectacular. I felt as if it had the ambiance of a funeral home. Dark tones dimly lit and an unnecessary divider wall with equally medicinal curtains separating the bar with the dining area. As far as the bar is concerned, it's nice and makes a good addition to this steak house. There's a TV to watch when you drink; however, your watching "Fun Facts" and other interesting (not) tales of Alabama, I soon became numb to "Favorite Toasts, who owns the largest US yacht, ect, ect" I'd rather watch MSNBC or the endless Debt Debates. The TV's program looping would remind you "you are here too long" each and every time you looked up. The food was slightly better then the ambiance. My first introduction was the bread, sorry it was tasteless. The Rudy Salad, tries to copy the wedge, except the wedge salad succeeded and Rudy's is doesn't. Although it was basically the same, Rudy certainly didn't invent this one. The filet mignon was good, a good crust on the outside and it was perfectly cooked, but it was just that, basically alone on the plate, on top of mashed potatoes, so very dull, now the mashed potatoes, did they come from a box? The Sunset Cork Room is on the right path, but falls short of these five star reviews ( sorry ). Would I come back, probable not, as it doesn't have the draw I am looking for. The bar was nice,the wine was good, the service was good and friendly; however, the ambiance needs updating, the menu needs updating as does the plating.
(2)Kerstin H.
We love this place! Whenever we are in Orange beach, we'll make sure to have a fine dining evening here. Still our favorite, amongst all the restaurants in the area. The menu is short but sweet. Food is always fresh and perfectly prepared. The waitress (we had Elizabeth the last few times) is very knowledgeable about wines, just trust her and ask what works best with your meal. You can't go wrong. Their wine list is very good, and not overpriced. So, go treat yourself to a visit to the cork room - especially if you are looking for a romantic place for fine dining without breaking the bank.
(5)John L. H.
We were looking for a fancy dinner while vacationing in Gulf Shores. The reviews for the Sunset Cork Room were great on Yelp so we called to make a reservation. When we arrived we were seated immediately, but the place was empty. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is small and was incredibly dark when we sat down. It was so dark we could barely read the menu. They did turn the lights up later, but it was odd how dark it was. The soup of the day was jalapeno corn and came very highly recommended by the server. I didn't like it. It wasn't bad, but it was a bit bland and flavorless. I guess I expected more of a kick from the jalapenos, but it wasn't there for me. One of our party had a Caesar salad which was also a bit off. They said the dressing was homemade which I normally love, but not this version. Something seemed a bit off for my tastes. It didn't taste like Caesar dressing at all. I went with a ribeye for my entree. The rest of our table had fillet and lobster tails and grilled fish. My steak was good. It was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. It was atop mashed potatoes with sour cream and dill. The potatoes were good, but the ribeye was the star of the dish. The rest of our party enjoyed their entrees as well, but the difference in entree compared to appetizers was striking. Our bill was $170 with tip. I don't mind spending that on a restaurant, but didn't feel like this experience was worth it. I really wanted to love this place. Maybe it was an off night or maybe I expected too much, but this was not a five star experience.
(2)Larry J.
A wonderful place with outstanding food and entertainment. We especially like Tuesday night with the $2 wine. We come back every time we're in Gulf Shores.
(4)Don C.
What a pleasant surprise - we will be back!
(4)Andrew D.
Best food in Gulf Shores! If you're looking to get away from the "standard" beach goer food then look no further. This restaurant offers truly fantastic food, a quaint and intimate environment and top notch service. The menu changes regularly according to what's fresh. What more can you ask for from a restuarant nearly on the water? Both of the owners are there regularly and act as servers. Every single item ordered was presented beautifully and tasted even better than it looked. There are only a few issues with this restaurant both of which are quite minute: 1) If you are not exactly sure where it is you will have much difficulty finding it; 2) The lighting was quite bright for dinner. If you wish to have a truly great dining experience then find the Sunset Cork Room and enjoy!
(5)