Wining without dining is like wearing a freshly washed shirt without drying it—it smells good and suits your stomach but can cause disaster on refrigeration plant tours. Indulge in sips and savories simultaneously with today's Groupon: for $15, you'll get $30 worth of acclaimed fondue, wine, small plates, and creative cuisine at Corks. Situated on bustling Charles Street, Corks couples a wine-friendly menu with a fun, energetic atmosphere for a memorable meal.

A fascination with edible science and unexpected mixtures motivated Chef Pellegrino to dream up Corks' menu of new American cuisine. Whet your appetite with a mug of smoky tomato bisque ($6), crostini on a bed of traditional hummus ($5), or chips and dip ($5). Corks' specialty, fondue, is served in three cheese blends. Gorge on gorgonzola ($10) or epicuriously experiment with the house blend ($7). Heartier selections include an alfredo-coated pasta with fresh veggies ($14) and a black-truffle meatloaf sided with baby field carrots and mashed potatoes ($20).

Heralded as the area's most wine-friendly menu, Corks' library of grapen goodness has a pour to match every plate. Whether seeking floral and vibrant or umbonate and remorseful flavors, oenophiles will find a white or red by the glass or bottle. Exposed brick, dim sultry lighting, and a small dining room make the intimate eatery feel as cozy as a refurbished tree fort catered by your favorite lunch lady. Get this Groupon for an adult alternative to grilled cheese, a delicious brunch, or a buzzy spot to unwind with friends you made at the bus stop.

This Groupon is not valid toward daily specials.

Reviews

In addition to earning Baltimore magazine's Best Fondue in 2009, Corks got positive notice from the Sun, Baltimore City Paper, and Gayot. Seventy percent of Urbanspooners like it, and Yelpers give it 3.5 stars:

• Corks…has reinvented the once popular '70s party favorite with gourmet cheeses like white Cheddar, Gouda, Gruyère, Brie, and Gorgonzola in three different variations…Bison meatballs, Bliss potato slices, and pretty crudité—like asparagus, real baby carrots, and celery—are just some of your temptations to sop up the silky, melted cheese. – Baltimore
• It still has an all-American wine list - wide-ranging with some very affordable choices as well as top-of-the-line selections. – Elizabeth Large, Baltimore Sun
• …the clear and dedicated effort by the whiz of a kitchen and impeccable staff to surprise and awe its diners. The menu of entrées (changed every month) is engaging and adventurous, and the preparations, beyond being terrific tasting, complex, surprising, and zestful, are eye-pleasing doozies. – Richard Gorelick, City Paper
• More serious entrées, called “larger thoughts,” include black truffle meatloaf and pan-seared scallops with lemon-ginger beurre blanc. Cheese is a major menu focus, with an ample selection of American boutique varieties, and three kinds of fondue. The waitstaff knows the wine list well and delight in consulting, so query to your heart’s content. – Gayot