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Award Winning Restaurants

New Restaurant Awards Program in 2011: Bigger, Better

Coming 2011! Wine Enthusiast is offering an editorially-driven, even more comprehensive list of America's top wine restaurants, replacing our former program. Look for more details here soon. Restaurants, our editors and writers in cities throughout the U.S. will be reaching out to you to learn more about your offerings. No application fee is associated with the new program.
 

To find a previous award winner, search our database below, organized by city, region, cuisine type and award level. In past yeras, three levels of awards were given to applicants: the Award of Distinction; the Award of Unique Distinction, and the highest, the Award of Ultimate Distinction.

0/8 Seafood Grill & Twisted Cork Wine Bar

Categories:
  • Previous Restaurant Award Winner

Essential Information

Street Address 900 Bellevue Way
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone425-637-0808

The name says it all. Superb local fish and seafood share equal billing with wine, something co-owner Matthew Bomberger champions. This is evident by the intentionally visible wine storage in every part of the restaurant, the tasting bar in the private dining room and especially by the slightly elevated Champagne Lounge, which is the jewel of the restaurant. (The “Dream Flight”—Dom Perignon, LA Grande Dame, Vintage Krug—is a must.) Wine director Michael Andersen has his Court of Master Sommeliers first-level certification, and he puts it to good use—whether tinkering with the 50-plus wine listings in the Twisted Cork spirits lounge,hosting a weekly public tasting called Sacye or pairing CIA–trained Chef/co-owner Dan Thiessen’s Sashimi Scallops with Long Shadows Poet’s
Leap Riesling.

The Stats
Number of selections: 350
Bottles in inventory: 2,100
Number of wines by the glass: 87
BYO: Yes. Corkage Fee: $20
Wine list highlights: Strong focus on regional Washington and Northwest wines, including a vertical of DeLille’s Harrison Hill (1995–2005). Major presence from Betz Cellars, Chinook Winery and Long Shadows Vintners. List is Pinot-heavy with such stellar producers as Oregon’s Panther Creek and Torii Mor.

Additional Information

2008 Award: Award of Ultimate Distinction