Sophie's Cork & Ale

Came for a Saturday lunch. No wait and service was excellent. AJ took great care of us. Drinks were quick and cold. Food was fast and hot. We had the Muenster Jam burger with a gluten free bun and the Deep South burger (pictured). Everything came out perfect. Would highly recommend both burgers. But the deep South was where it's at.

Sophie’s is a such a favorite for our family! My husband and I and our two teens have been coming for almost two years. The good: 1. There are solid menu items that are consistent faves (flatbreads and salads, tartlets, their Chorizo & Smoked Gouda Nachos, paninis)….but it is their specials that shine here! The special burgers get super creative. I’m talking about French toast burgers with incredible breakfast ingredients or bugers topped with calamari, tartar sauce, bacon tomato and onion. The pasta specials are also really interesting. Once I had seared venison tips and smoked bacon with Chapel Hill cheese and penne. But perhaps our favorite is the special salad. I hope they make it a regular menu item, as it seems to pop up a lot. There is usually a salmon salad offereing (oftened blackened) with candy-striped beets and their cherry white balsamic vinaigrette, which will knock your socks off! 2. The atmosphere is so much fun and really feels like a neighborhood place, but also somehow upscale while being deeply comfortable. The lit-up tree made out of wine bottles is so much fun. 3. There is a menu item or everyone! My daughter is pescatarian (and floating toward being a vegan) and she can always find something to eat. I have a lot of dietary issues including gluten problems and I also can always find something to eat. The carnivores are all happy with their big juicy burgers. 4. The servers are great. Often you’ll have several people come to the table to see if you need anything. 5. As mentioned, the wine and beer list is stellar. They have selections from local places, but also a really great smattering of wines and beers from elsewhere. 6. The prices are reasonable and the portions are big, especially the nachos, which are served with such a flare in a long dish. 7. The live music (when available) is really lovely. As somebody who grew up in the 80s, I really appreciated a particualr trio one night. They were playing acoustic, and it wasn’t until later, that I realized they were playing Nirvana and some other bands I grew up, but with a folksy twist. Such a treat! The bad. 1. I only have one negative comment, because this really is a favorite go-to place. The place can be smoky. Not cigarette smoky, but smoky like a kitchen-smoke, it’s subtle but sometimes it burns my eyes a bit, and I asked my other folks in the group, and they said they definitely feel it’s a little smoky, sometimes, but I’m probably the only one who is sensitive to it. Again, it is not lots of smoke, it’s just a bit of the type of atmosphere you get when you are in the kitchen and there’s a lot of cooking going on. I wonder if they could have some sort of extra ventilation installed? Orderering and other tips: 1. There are some board games at the front when you walk in, so it’s a fun option if you have kids (or even adults) that wish to play trivia or something easy while you’re waiting for your food. 2. In addition to the tables and fun furniture for larger parties, there are two or three small intimate tables near the bar that have beautiful lighting. And they feel private and a bit intimate even if they’re near the bar. 3. Get the nachos! The presentation is tons of fun (see photo).