The Cork and Craft

The Cork and Craft

Last month, Ranch Bernardo welcomed a sleek-yet-casual triple threat to its west side with this multi-faceted venue from Abnormal Wine Company. What was once a small, single-suite urban winery has expanded to include an on-site brewery and upscale restaurant with oodles of inventive cuisine spilling over from a lively, open kitchen. It’s a group effort expertly orchestrated by Mike Arquines, a classically trained chef (and co-founder of RB’s Mostra Coffee) wowing North County inlanders with black cod and green tea soba noodles in miso consommé, chicken Ballontine with whipped black garlic, and sous vide, grilled octopus with piquillo pepper sauce as well as casual offerings such as tater tot poutine with short rib gravy, salt-and-pepper chicken wings and a daily tasting of crispy skins from myriad proteins (pork, chicken, salmon and more). Abnormal’s vino is up for sampling in a tasting room that matches the beautifully appointed, modern-meets-organic dining room. And once the on-site, glass-enclosed brewery is operational, the same will be true of its house beers. Those will be produced by Karl Strauss alum Derek Gallanosa, who intends to go with a 50/50 split of hoppy beers and lighter-bodied, sessionable ales. There’s a little bit of everything here, and it’s all quite good. (858.618.2463, www.thecorkandcraft.com)   BRANDON HERNÁNDEZ