Upscale Bourbon bar, experimental bar food at new eatery in Henderson
HENDERSON, Ky. − After two years of anticipation, the Cap & Cork bar and restaurant has opened on the Henderson riverfront just in time to catch the beautiful breezes of spring in two open-air dining rooms.
A number of restaurants have occupied the building at 104 Water Street over the last 10 years – it was the original home of Tacoholics, then the Coyote Mexican restaurant, then the Café on Water Street.
The view and patio seating were lovely, but the space for indoor seating was tiny. The Cap & Cork team remodeled and expanded the building, increasing the dining area from roughly 700 feet to 3,700 feet, enclosing the patio and adding a second floor with a full bar. The new areas are fronted with garage-type doors which can be raised in good weather.
Three couples came together to open the restaurant. Brian and Justina McDaniel own Henderson’s Beverage Barn liquor stores. Aaron Nelson and Michael Ervin worked together at the Bourbon bar inside the Beverage barn, and they, with Aaron’s wife Heather and Michael’s wife Danielle, are co-owners.
Aaron had extensive bar and Bourbon knowledge and is the Cap & Cork bar manager, and Michael has culinary background and is the executive chef. Danielle is running marketing and front-of-house operations.
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Initially, the partners envisioned Cap & Cork as a higher-level bar with some food offerings, but excitement for a new restaurant in the area meant the food side took on more importance, until it became a full-fledged restaurant. The culinary philosophy is “experimental bar food,” and we’re already seeing some unique offerings with more to come.
“We didn’t want to be another wings-and-pizza place,” Danielle Ervin said. “We really wanted to elevate the experience to offer something that Henderson was lacking. So, we have the upscale Bourbon bar, and Michael has always really done well with steaks, so we have different steak options and a rotating menu. We use fresh produce and never use frozen meats.”
While Cap & Cork has definite upscale attributes, the partners have kept things casual enough that diners will enjoy dinner and a drink any night of the week. Wednesday is Pint Night, with $2 off draft taps and $2 off burgers and tacos.
On the menu at Cap & Cork
The menu is small but mighty and will change often based on the availability of products, freshness and seasonality. There are a few menu staples that have already become house “classics,” but most of the menu will change frequently, sometimes daily. Here are some examples:
Bone Marrow Butter and Bread ($12) – This wasn’t supposed to be a menu staple but everybody loves it so much it will stay around forever. Beef marrow bones are roasted, and the rich marrow is combined with butter to spread on grilled focaccia bread with embellishments of black lava salt, herb-based salsa verde and garlic oil.
Brown Sugar and Bourbon Marinated Pork Chop ($22) – A 14-ounce chop is served with the house Bourbon brown gravy, potato and asparagus.
Steak and Fries ($29) – It’s Steak Frites in French. The coulotte steak or sirloin cap is called picanha in Brazilian steakhouses and is one of the hidden gem cuts of beef, tender and flavorful. It’s served with fries, herb-based salsa verde, garlic butter and a horseradish cream sauce.
Twin Filets ($24) – These will rotate off and on the menu. Each is a small 4-ounce beef tenderloin filet, served with horseradish cream sauce, asparagus, and a salt baked potato or fries.
Local collaborations at Cap & Cork
The crew at Cap & Cork enjoy collaborating with other local food producers. The “Hendo” tacos are an example. The pork is braised in lager beer from the Henderson Brewing Co. and finished with barbecue sauce from Thomason’s Barbeque, and the desserts on the menu are sourced from The Momz, a local Henderson bakery.
The bar at Cap & Cork
At Cap & Cork, they’ve made it a mission to offer higher-end Bourbons you don’t often see, such as some from Buffalo Trace Distillery that are very rare indeed -- for example, the Double Eagle Very Rare and Old Fire Copper, which go for a mere $669 for a one-ounce pour.
Also available are the full Van Winkle line and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. In all, roughly 150 whiskeys (Bourbons and others) are available.
While the bar is Bourbon and whiskey-centric, it has any drink you might like. There is a specialty cocktail list including an espresso martini made with cold brew Antler espresso from Henderson; alcohol-removed cocktails, wine, draft beer and more.
Kids' menu at Cap & Cork
Cap & Cork may be an upscale Bar with sophisticated dishes, but it's also very family. A kids' menu offers chicken tenders, a hot dog or beef slider with cheese, and a small-sized kids' steak.
Cap & Cork
Location: 104 Water St., Henderson, Kentucky
Phone: 270-833-1101
Hours: Sunday noon-5 p.m., Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 4-10 p.m.; Friday - Saturday 4 p.m.-midnight; closed Tuesday
Website: capncorkhendo.com
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Cap & Cork restaurant and Bourbon bar opens in Henderson Ky
