HAMBURG, NY – Foodies will soon be able to look forward to a new dining experience in Hamburg. After running the well-known fine dining restaurant Daniels for nearly four years, Chef Scott Donhauser and his wife Lisa have decided to switch culinary gears and change the concept of the restaurant to offer a more casual, fun and affordable dining experience with the introduction of Craft and Cork Gastropub.

“Four years ago we were privileged enough to take over a restaurant that Dan and Debbie Johengen built which had a tremendous reputation and following. We have enjoyed carrying on that tradition, but at the same time, are looking to offer a menu and atmosphere that is more of an everyday dining experience to our customers and believe that Craft and Cork will be just that,” said Scott Donhauser.

Donhauser has been making interior changes to the restaurant for the last several months, including the addition of a full-service bar, which the restaurant has never had before. An extension of the outdoor patio that was built in 2017 is also planned for the front of the restaurant this summer, as well as an additional dining room upstairs.

The menu will focus on creative pub food to include “beef on weck” wings, a seafood charcuterie board, craft burgers, salads, vegetarian and gluten-free options as well as entrees and house-made desserts. “The menu is still under development but think ‘comfort classics with a twist,’ ” Donhauser said. A value-focused wine list with most bottles between $20 and $50 will be offered in addition to a craft and domestic beer list to include draft and bottle options.

“The quality and service that Daniels has always been known for will be carried on at Craft and Cork,” said Donhauser, “just with a more casual feel. We are excited about offering something new to our community. The changes we’ve made to the interior will lend itself to an atmosphere where people can come in and have really good creative food and cocktails and have some fun too. We’re looking to be more approachable as opposed to the formal, fine dining, special occasion restaurant that Daniels was known for,” said Donhauser.

Customers can get their “Daniels fix” until the end of June with the last dinner service on Saturday, June 30th, Donhauser said. After that he plans on closing for a week to prep the new menu and complete renovations and reopen the week of July 9th. Hours of operation will remain the same, Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. with plans to institute lunch service down the road. Donhauser said Daniels gift certificates that were previously issued from May 2015 on will be honored.

For more information please contact Lisa Donhauser at (716) 949-6235 or via [email protected].