After buying and running the well-known fine dining restaurant Daniels in December of 2013, which had been a staple in the Village of Hamburg for nearly 25 years, owners Scott and Lisa Donhauser felt the time had come for a change. Enter their new destination — Craft and Cork Gastropub — which opened on July 11 of last year.
With their one-year anniversary on the horizon, change continues as the Donhausers give customers even more reasons to visit their unique culinary destination.
Described as a lively yet comfortable gathering place featuring creative pub food, craft beer and cocktails, and a unique wine list, Craft and Cork also puts a lot of emphasis on the quality of their service, much like the fabled Daniels.
“Our staff is friendly, knowledgeable and available to answer any questions you may have,” said Scott. “We do not boast an excessively large beer or wine list but we do select what we feel are the best and most seasonal products available. We want our guests to feel comfortable and welcome to stop in anytime and make Craft and Cork their neighborhood place, whether it’s a seat at the bar, in the dining room or on our cozy patio.”
The patio to which the owner refers is a new addition this year, complete with a warming fire pit. Located in front of the restaurant, the patio will be a great place to meet, relax and enjoy a conversation with friends.
But at Craft and Cork, it’s the food that really has people talking! Scott spends the majority of his time behind the line in the kitchen. His passion for cooking became a big part of his life when he was younger and traveled across the country playing soccer. The need to take care of himself in the off-season and stay fit year-round was the driving force behind his decision to attend culinary arts school in Florida. After soccer, he found himself back in New York where he met Lisa at a restaurant where they both worked.
“Lisa is the most important part of this team’s success,” said Scott. “She manages our social media and keeps all of us grounded.”
Together with their dedicated team of employees, Scott and Lisa have added a lot of extras to their menu offerings, including a variety of popular weekday specials, a relaxing happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and a weekend late-night menu from 9 to 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.
Coming in May, Craft and Cork is planning a Cinco de Mayo Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5 featuring a themed menu and a variety of drink specials. Guests who arrive wearing their favorite sombrero or poncho will receive a $10 gift certificate to be used on a future visit!
Mother’s Day Dinner will follow a week later from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 12. Diners will be able to choose from the restaurant’s regular menu or a special Mother’s Day menu. After Mother’s Day, Craft and Cork will close for a week so that the staff can enjoy some vacation time and begin to prepare for the establishment’s one-year anniversary.
“While Craft and Cork is unique, we kept what made Daniels so popular for so many years, and that is making food from scratch and buying from local farmers to offer the freshest ingredients available,” said Scott. “While we’re still fairly new, our traffic has been great from surrounding areas such as Hamburg, Eden, Boston, Orchard Park and East Aurora. Our next step is to reach beyond those borders and attract people from Buffalo and beyond who are looking for and appreciate a unique dining experience.”
Craft and Cork Gastropub is located at 174 Buffalo St. in Hamburg. For more information, please call 648-6554 or visit www.craftandcorkgastropub.com. You can also follow the restaurant on Facebook for frequent updates.
