Wine & Bourbon Bar | Visited: Tonight

Let’s start with the win: the kids were at the Reading Phillies game with the in-laws, which meant the Mrs. and I got an actual kid-free night. In Berks County, a good glass of wine and solid small plates is not exactly easy to find. Uncorked has been our go-to for exactly that, and we’ve never left disappointed.

We got there late enough that the restaurant side had already closed down, so we were relegated to the bar. The cast of characters for the evening: a couple at the end of the bar, another couple in the middle who could not keep their hands off each other, and us, perched at a two-top high table pretending not to notice. Service was handled entirely by the bartender, which is a lot to ask on a night like this, but it held up fine.

Now, the real story — the bourbon shelf. I spotted a bottle of Heaven Hill 19 Year, something I’d been wanting to try for a while, sitting right there like it was no big deal. I ordered it immediately. It was worth the wait.

Food-wise, we ordered three small plates and every single one delivered:

• Whipped Ricotta ($13) — honey, balsamic glaze, arugula, crostini. Simple and well-executed.
• Seared Ahi Tuna ($16) — blackened, spicy aioli, crispy tortilla strips, mango salsa, soy sauce on the side. A lot going on, all of it working.
• Pierogies ($14) — porcini mushroom cream sauce, truffle powder, scallions. I’ve genuinely never had mushroom pierogies before tonight, and now I’m wondering why that isn’t more common. These were the standout of the night.

No wait to get seated, which on a random weeknight isn’t shocking, but still nice. Prices trended slightly high, especially for the wine pours, but the quality mostly justified it.

The Verdict: We came in expecting the usual high bar and somehow they cleared it anyway — the drinks matched the reputation, but tonight the food is what actually stole the show.

Rating: Actually Overwhelmed

Would go back without hesitation, and already sending people here. If you’re in Berks County and tired of settling, this is the place.