Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants may be known for their vast selection of house wines, but their food is nothing short of exquisite. This modern casual chain serves beautifully presented contemporary American cuisine in a stylish but comfortable setting. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and children’s menu options are available, making this an excellent choice of restaurant for groups or families.
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Bringing People Together
When Tim McEnery opened the first Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant in 2005, he was determined to create experiences around food and wine that bring people together. Visit any of the nearly 50 locations and you’ll discover that he was quite successful in his endeavor, which is undoubtedly why this chain continues to grow.
Walk through the door and you’ll find yourself immersed in the warmth and elegance of a Napa-style tasting room. For a small tasting fee, you may sample seven to eight of their nearly 60 wines, presented from dry to sweet. (Please note: At the time of this review, advance reservations must be made for tastings as part of the restaurant’s response to COVID-19. Wine tastings may also be unavailable at times.)
Tasters choose a preselected listing of sweet wines, lux, reds, whites, or a variety, then relax as a wine steward guides them through tasting the flavors of each. These wine tasting selections change monthly, so you’ll always be able to find something new! Linger long enough and you’ll find yourself drawn into conversation with other tasters as your shared experience brings you together.
The Dining Experience
While my party did not partake in wine tasting on this visit, we were greatly looking forward to our dining experience. (Please note: At the time of this review, dine-in was available at select locations only. Carryout, delivery, and curbside pick-up is available at most locations.) While the wines at Cooper’s Hawk often take center stage, the food definitely shines on its own!
Whether you choose to enjoy lunch or dinner in the dining room, each meal begins with a complimentary loaf of pretzel bread and whipped butter. The bread is pillowy soft with a delightfully chewy crust, and it never disappoints. If you or someone in your party cannot tolerate gluten, a gluten-free version of the bread is available. Gluten-free patrons will never feel like they’re missing out, because the GF version is every bit as delicious as the original.
But that’s not where the complimentary fun ends! Each diner (who is 21 years of age or older) receives two complimentary wine tastings at the table. Some restrictions do apply, but I would estimate that 90% of the wine list can be tasted. Not only do you have the opportunity to try a type of wine you may have never had before, but you can also narrow down your choice of the perfect glass for dinner!
The Menu
One thing that I love about Cooper’s Hawk is the menu. Each entry is just two to three lines long, but so much information is there! Gluten free and vegetarian items are designated with symbols, and food that is served intentionally raw or undercooked is also clearly marked.
The Life Balance section is a portion of the menu designed for diners who are conscientious about the calories they consume. Each dish listed there is 600 calories or less, and the exact calorie count is listed for each item.
If you’re looking for the perfect glass of wine to go with your meal, check out the bin number printed after the entree on your menu. That number refers to a group of wines on the wine list that would pair well with your food. Bin numbers are listed for everything from appetizers to desserts, so if you enjoy food and wine pairings, you’ll love this feature!
Appetizers
After sampling wine and tantalizing our tummies with pretzel bread, our party ordered appetizers. There was plenty to choose from, with over ten selections, including vegetarian and gluten free options. We chose to share Mexican drunken shrimp and crispy Brussels sprouts.
The Mexican drunken shrimp appetizer ($14.99, gluten-free) was featured on the menu, and we could see why! Five jumbo shrimps were wrapped in bacon, fried, then placed upon a generous dollop of fresh guacamole. They were drizzled with a deliciously sweet tequila lime butter sauce and served hot. Luckily for us, there were five people in our party, otherwise we probably would have fought over them like children!
The crispy Brussels sprouts appetizer ($12.99) was designated as a Cooper’s Hawk Favorite, and again the honor was justly given. Brussels sprouts were quartered and broiled with chopped cashews and mint, then topped with sweet Thai chili and creamy sesame-sriracha aioli.
The result was a cooling yet crunchy sensation over the crispiness of the slightly charred sprouts. We devoured the platter in no time at all. If you think we were crazy to order Brussels sprouts as an appetizer, I encourage you to give it a try, because it was nothing short of amazing!
Main Courses
We frequent Cooper’s Hawk a few times each year, and I yet to find a dish that isn’t fantastic. Our latest visit was no different.
If you’ve been a fan of this blog for a while, you know that I am currently living a ketogenic lifestyle. Since Cooper’s Hawk does not offer a designated keto menu, I chose a dish that aligned with my dietary needs as best as I could.
I chose the blackened ahi tuna ($27.99), which is served with Asian slaw and cilantro citrus rice. Upon ordering, I asked my server if the rice could be omitted, and she graciously offered grilled broccoli in its place, which I accepted.
I couldn’t believe how beautiful the plating of this dish was! Tuna slices were formed around the Asian slaw and topped with ginger, creating a very pretty aesthetic. The tuna was seared perfectly and crusted with just enough seasoning to create a contrast between the delicate red center and the spicy exterior. I used a bit of wasabi sauce, which elevated the flavor of the dish even more.
The Asian slaw was meant to be enjoyed with a sauce that was served on the side. Since I wasn’t sure of its sugar and carb content, I didn’t use it, so my slaw wasn’t as zingy as it could have been. But that didn’t bother me in the least–what I had was still delicious!
Another favorite dish at our table was the trio of beef medallions ($33.99). Each medallion was topped with a crust of horseradish, bleu cheese, and parmesan. The beef (cooked to medium doneness) was so tender it nearly melted in my mouth, and the crusted tops of each medallion brought out the natural flavor of the meat.
This dish is normally served with Mary’s potatoes, which are delicious, but broccoli was again substituted as it is aligned with a keto diet. I am not sure how it was seasoned, but this broccoli was flavorful, crisp-tender, and with the slightest bit of yummy char. It was quite impressive for a substitution!
A Relaxing Meal
At the end of our meal, too stuffed for dessert, our party lingered at the table, finishing wine as we enjoyed one another’s company. My thoughts drifted back to CEO Tim McEnery’s vision of providing a place where food and wine allow communities to form. Looking around the restaurant at tables of laughing diners in rapt conversation, it was clear to me that his mission was accomplished. And I, for one, was grateful to have experienced it.
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Thank you for this lovely and awesome post. Really enjoyed reading it
Thank you. I hope you’re able to check out Cooper’s Hawk soon!
Looks like such a fun place to dine.Thank you, for sharing.
I don’t know of anyone who has been dissatisfied by their experience there. Definitely go, if you can!
Oh how I miss Coopers Hawk! Love their wine and steaks – can’t wait to go back!
They are definitely a restaurant that inspires patrons to come back again!
Such a gorgeous looking place to dine! Your descriptions had us right there dining with you!
I’m glad you enjoyed the review. Thank you so much for letting me know!
Glad they have gluten free and vegetarian options too!
I enjoy establishments that are accommodating to patrons with different dietary needs. In my experience they have been fantastic honoring allergies, sensitivities, and preferences.
It looks like a great place to dine!
We love going there to celebrate, whether it’s a birthday or just a TGIF night. 🙂
That food is mouthwatering! And what gorgeous views!
Oh my gosh, the food is always amazing. Every single time!
I’d never heard of this place but what grabbed me most of all was how you described the menu having so much information, as having a wife with specialty dietary needs, sometimes getting the information is very difficult. I would very much love to go there sometime.
I understand how difficult it can be to dine out with dietary needs. Of the six in my family, one is a vegetarian, one cannot tolerate spice, and two of us cannot tolerate much gluten. Trying to find one restaurant that we can all enjoy can be difficult. I’m glad the information I provided is of value to you, and I hope you’ll be able to experience Cooper’s Hawk someday! In my experience, they are very accommodating, which is just another reason why I love going there.
Looks like a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing meal!
It truly is, especially in the summer on the patio. I love it!
This place looks fantastic! I would totally order those brussels sprouts for my meal. Yum!
The Brussels sprouts would definitely make a great lunch!
Looks like an amazing menu selection and wine pairings.
I love how easy they make it to choose a wine to compliment your dish. It’s comforting to know that anything you choose from the recommended bin will be perfect!
Looks like an amazing and delicious experience!
It’s so relaxing, whether we’re there for lunch, dinner, or just to share a bottle of wine and some snacks!
Wow sounds like a lovely place. I haven’t had wine in such a long time but I think I would splurge a bit here. Ha Thanks for sharing!
You deserve to splurge every now and again, and this is the best place to do that!
Looks like a beautiful dining experience and delicious food!
It truly is! Every time I go, I choose something new from the menu and I’m always delighted!
Sounds like amazing place to visit. Thank you for a great review!
Whenever we go, even if it’s just for dinner, it ends up feeling like a celebration.
The pretzel bread looks so yummy!
Ohhhh, you are correct. Luckily, if you finish a loaf, they are happy to bring another!
Looks delish. Thanks for the review. We’ll have to give them a try,
I’m glad you found it helpful! Enjoy your visit when you go!
Ooh, the pretzel bread looks amazing!
Trust me, it tastes every bit as good as it looks!
Wow this looks amazing!
In the summer, I love eating on their patio. There’s something about al fresco dining that makes me feel so good!
Looks like a nice place! And the food looks really delicious! I love trying new restaurants!
I do, too. And it’s always so exciting to find one you love to visit over and over again!
I love wine tasting with a meal. It makes me feel special when I get to try a new wine.
Same! I love when we do tastings. I always learn something new, even if I’m tasting an old favorite.
What a cool place! I love the vision of bringing people together over food and wine!
And it really does. They host events that I didn’t get into in my blog, like monthly food and wine pairings and even cruises. I’ve been to a number of pairings and they were all a lot of fun!
My mouth is watering! Looks like a wonderful restaurant!!
If you ever have the opportunity to go, I highly encourage it. You won’t be disappointed!
Coopers Hawk looks amazing! My mouth was watering at these pictures lol
It’s one of my favorite local restaurants. Our family makes it our go-to spot to celebrate birthdays.
This place looks amazing! I love going to a place that feels special like this!
Me, too! In “normal” times, they have events scheduled each month featuring wine and food pairings. Those are tons of fun, too!
It sounds like such a lovely restaurant. and the food looks utterly amazing
It truly is! I’ve never had a dish here that I didn’t love.
This looks like a great dining experience. Will have to see where the closest one to us is!
I hope you’re able to find one. Have fun!
I would love to experience this venue. The review was perfect and the descriptions of each dish were wonderful. I am not a fan of Brussels sprouts but based on your review of this dish I am willing to give it a go. Thanks for sharing.
It’s crazy how a food can become a favorite when it’s prepared a new way. Those Brussels sprouts are absolutely delish!