About

The Cork is a Tucson steakhouse that has served prime rib, steaks, and seafood from the same Tanque Verde Road address since 1966, making 2026 its *60th anniversary*. The restaurant began as a Cork 'n Cleaver location before passing through three ownership eras, most recently Glenn and Sally Murphy, who bought it in 2023 and kept its adobe-brick dining rooms and prime rib recipe intact.

Head chef Matt Kraiss, previously of the Mountain Oyster Club, runs a kitchen that blends the restaurant's original steak-and-seafood core with Southwestern flavor and exotic game like buffalo and ostrich, a tradition dating back to chef Jonathan Landin's ownership in the 1990s. Staff describe the bar as a *cheers-like* scene where bartenders know regulars' names and drink orders on sight.

What to expect

The menu centers on prime rib, the dish The Cork has built its reputation on for six decades, alongside steaks like the bison filet mignon wrapped in jalapeño bacon with a creamy peppercorn sauce. Seafood includes a macadamia-crusted halibut and rotating daily specials — a salmon and ribeye of the day plus a themed weekly special that cycles through seafood, barbecue, and game meats.

Starters include sautéed mushrooms, jalapeño bacon-wrapped shrimp with red chili mornay sauce, and a newer prime beef and prime rib carpaccio. The kitchen bakes its own bread daily and runs a *house-made syrup and infused liquor* cocktail program at the bar.

Highlights

The Cork is one of Tucson's longest-running restaurants, having operated continuously at the same address since 1966 and reaching its *60th anniversary* in 2026. Its adobe-brick dining rooms, fireplaces, and Southwestern art give it a distinct, romantic setting that regulars and first-time guests both cite as a reason to return for anniversaries and celebrations.

Daily happy hour and a bar staff that greets regulars by name have made The Cork a local fixture rather than a special-occasion-only stop, while the kitchen's rotating game and seafood specials keep the menu moving through the year.

Pricing

The Cork sits at the *upper end* of Tucson dining, in line with its steakhouse menu of prime rib, steaks, and seafood. Daily happy hour from 3–6:30 p.m. offers reduced pricing on cocktails and appetizers at the bar and on the patio, making it a lower-cost way to try the kitchen.

Good to know

The Cork is open daily starting at 3 p.m., with dinner service running until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; happy hour runs 3–6:30 p.m. daily at the bar and on the patio. Reservations are available through OpenTable and are recommended for weekend dinners.

The restaurant sits at 6320 E. Tanque Verde Road, a short drive from the University of Arizona campus, and participates in Sonoran Restaurant Week each year around Labor Day. Guests celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, or reunions make up a large share of the restaurant's business, and staff note that regulars often request specific servers by name. The restaurant marks its *60th anniversary* later in 2026 with a planned week-long celebration.

Hours

Monday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Recent reviews

Absolutely fantastic experience! My husband had the filet mignon, and I had the salmon, and both were cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. We also started with the shrimp cocktail, which was fresh, flavorful, and…

Stacy Maxwell · 5/5 · a month ago

Happy Hour on a Saturday afternoon? Yes, please! We stopped by The Cork and had a great experience. Brendon was our bartender and was personable, welcoming, and knew the menu inside and out. He made us feel right at…

Shannon Crist · 5/5 · 2 months ago

I went to this place for the first time last week and within a week I'll be there three additional times! The menu is amazing the service is great and the patio is beautiful and private. I especially enjoyed their…

Kiajeen · 5/5 · 3 months ago

Links

Reserve a table Phone Website Facebook Instagram Google Maps