Elegantly innovative.
Cork & Flame opened its doors in 2018. Its history can be traced back to 2004 when Roger Strohl opened The Vineyard Wine Market. After a successful 13 years as a standalone wine market, Strohl partnered with Chef Justin Hayes to form a truly unique dining experience.
After its opening, Cork and Flame became known for being the premier stylish, upscale restaurant in Columbia County. Unlike any other restaurant in this area, most of our menu is cooked over oak or hickory wood flames on our open Argentinian hearth. Our menu's creativity paired with innovative cooking techniques yields a genuinely exceptional experience each time you visit.
Patrons at Cork & Flame can also partake in winemaker’s dinners, exclusive chef’s experience dinners, and weekly wine tastings. In addition, we currently have a majority of our staff with WSET certification so that we maintain high standards of wine knowledge to share with you each visit.
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With our substantial growth in the community, we have also extended our brand to offer Cork & Flame Hospitality services under the direction of Executive Chef Justin Hayes for your off-site and private dining needs.
executive chef justin hayes
Passion is not taught; it comes from within. Chef Justin Hayes has harnessed this gift and applies that attitude to every aspect of his culinary career. With no allegiance to a particular style of cooking, his attention is captivated as long as it is sourced properly and cooked with purpose, balance, finesse, and respect. Justin has honed his culinary skill and passion while garnering a reputation for combining acutely seasonal items with elegantly innovative techniques. After studying with American Academy Award Chef Heinz Sowinski, he took the helm at Edgar’s Hospitality under Master Chef Marcel Biro. He later left to pursue his education under Chef Biro’s mentor in Germany, Master Chef Robert Rauh where he cultured his education further. He has returned to Evans now as Executive Chef and Partner of Cork & Flame. As a Chef, Justin remains dedicated to his trade and continues to nurture and please guests with his innovative creations.
Roger Strohl
Originally from Shelbyville, Illinois, wine aficionado Roger Strohl graduated from Millikin University with a degree in Biology-Medical Technology. After graduating, Strohl worked in pharmaceutical sales, but his passion for fine wine continued to grow. As a pharmaceutical representative, traveling across the country was a large part of the job. During his extensive travels, he would make a point to stop in different wine stores to speak with the owners and bring back home the best wines each had to offer. After Strohl relocated to the Augusta, Georgia area in 1999, he decided it was time for a change. In 2004, the Vineyard Wine Market at Evans was born and quickly earned a reputation as the CSRA’s premier wine shop. Strohl and Hayes joined forces in 2018 to open Cork and Flame, and the wine market continues to offer the finest selections in the area as it did as Vineyard Wine Market just under a new name.