Barrel and Fork is top shelf!! Dined there last week with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday early. The atmosphere is so chill and welcoming! The service was outstanding. And the food.....well worth it as it was fantastic! Everyone in our group loved their meal. It was nice to have a leisurely dinner and not feel rushed by the staff. After dinner we enjoyed their updated outdoor patio. The new owners have outdone themselves!!! Highly recommend! read more

Lamb chops were so good! The ambiance is historic with a cool story as well. We were seated on the porch & really enjoyed. They also offer craft cocktails. read more

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I think this restaurant is the only place I've ever eaten where I had absolutely no notes. From the atmosphere, to the presentation, to the service, to the taste, it was a 12/10. Every single thing we ate was the best version we'd ever had of that item. I enjoyed the La Bamba margarita, the summer special Hugo Spritz, while my boyfriend tried two different Old Fashioneds and an espresso martini. For dinner, I had the hangar steak which was cooked perfectly and so flavorful. I especially loved the red chimichurri which gave the meal a unique taste that was out of this world. My boyfriend had the filet mignon and didn't leave a single speck of food on his plate. We split the cheesecake for dessert and both agreed it topped any other cheesecake we've ever had. Our server, Chris, went above and beyond and his passion for the restaurant and their food was clear in his knowledge and presentation of the dinner. He also treated us to a champagne toast and a vase of flowers for our anniversary. We can't wait to go back! read more

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We went to celebrate our 40 anniversary. 6 people for dinner. I had lamb chops, they were very good. My husband had the 8 oz filet which he said was very tough and chewy. My son and another guest had the amber jack special and thought it was delicious. My other guest had scallops (3 that's all) for $58.00, she said they were rubbery. I felt that everything was very overpriced. That is why I gave it 4 stars. read more

Barrel and Fork - Lamb chops - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

Amazing. Everything was fabulous--service (Chris our waiter), food (Calamari appetizer and savory Filet, craft cocktails, and atmosphere..all on point. My espresso martini served in a vintage milk glass dessert glass was the icing on the cake! read more

Barrel and Fork - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

Birthday celebration for our college son and some of his friends and B&F was, once again, outstanding. B&F is in a house on Main St., has a charming fire pit outside if you arrive early, and is a series of small rooms inside, so the feel is cozy. Our table was one of two in the room... so it felt private and intimate. One of our party compared (favorably, I might add) the feel to an old haunted house...charming with a history that makes you want to learn more. Server was thoroughly knowledgeable on the cocktail menu, the wine selection, the apps, and entrees, and was personable, professional, attentive, and otherwise outstanding. Absolutely top tier. And the food. Oh, the food. The bacon and calamari for apps -- great to share and super delicious -- the calamari sauce isn't just run of the mill marinara but is instead a tasty aioli. Our entrees ran the gamut from short ribs to a filet to the halibut to my favorite, the elk, which I had at the server's recommendation (you can get a steak or pork chop anywhere -- and while I've had the latter here before and enjoyed it, the elk was unique and delicious...looked like lamb chops but with a cleaner taste). Each of the entrees was served with some complements; we also added the Brussels sprouts (phenomenal...even the non vegetable eaters agreed) and the mac and cheese (because who doesn't like mac and cheese). Finished things off with the flourless chocolate cake and house made donuts, but of which were phenomenal. Not cheap -- certainly comparable to a steakhouse -- but a much more interesting experience and a more varied and creative menu. Earned every one of the five stars. read more

Terrific casual dining experience. Restaurant is a converted house with seating on front porch as well as in rooms of first floor. Bar is situated in the front foyer area. Was able to get a reservation same day and waited about 15 min for table to free up. Have a cozy fire pit in front yard to relax around while you wait. We were seated at a table outside on the front porch. Excellent spot on a nice evening. Menu was well appointed. We ordered calamari as appetizer and salmon and short rib entrees. Everything was absolutely delicious. Cooked perfectly. Service was attentive and friendly. Prices were about what you'd expect. A very good option for anyone looking for fine casual dining in Cornelius. read more

Looking for a spot to have a good cocktail and a really good meal. You found it. Service was on point and the atmosphere was perfect for an enjoyable evening. read more

The short ribs were the best I ever ate! My husband ordered the scallops and was shocked he only received four for the price charged. This restaurant is over priced for the amount of food you receive. Service was good as well as the atmosphere. Liked the book you received the check in. Funky. read more

Barrel and Fork - Scallops - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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We went there last week and most of us had the 68 dollar filet mignon which I don't believe it was really a filet, it was more like a chewy tough Sirloin that was hard to cut through and even harder to chew, I would NOT recommend the filet. read more

Some times on your second visit, a restaurant that scored a five the first time loses its "first time" excitement. Not Barrel and Fork, another wonderful experience. Try the Elk Rib Eye, it was amazing. read more

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The best brunch and Bloody Marys anywhere around! Highly recommend! Make reservations ahead of time.

What a Fun and Memorable Dining Experience! This gem in Cornelius, North Carolina is an absolute delight. The ambience is perfect--warm, inviting, and just a short stroll from downtown. We started our evening at the cozy fire pit out front, enjoying a few creative cocktails from their cleverly music-themed menu. Each drink came in a unique vintage glass, adding charm and personality. The martini was especially smooth--James Bond would have approved! For dinner, the Braised Wild Boar Shank was outstanding--tender, flavorful, and beautifully paired with creamy Grits Milanese. The Chicken Marsala was equally impressive, served over rich mashed potatoes that practically melted in my mouth. Portions were generous, and everything was expertly prepared. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive, adding to an already wonderful evening. All in all, a fantastic experience that blends great food, atmosphere, and service. I can't wait to come back! read more

Barrel and Fork - Wild Boar Shank with grits Milanese - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

I wanted to take my hubby on a nice dinner date. I searched on Resy for a nice restaurant and found Barrel and Fork. I first noticed the 4.5 star rating but as I delved deeper, I read some exhilarating reviews regarding this restaurant. The more and more I read the reviews the more I became intrigued by the restaurant. I booked a reservation on Global Dining by Resy. We drive about 30+ minutes to Cornelius where the restaurant is located. Our reservation was for 5 PM. We got there about 10 minutes early and noticed a line had formed at the entrance of the restaurant. We waited outside until they opened at 5 PM on the dot. We were seated promptly once we got to the hostess stand. The restaurant is in an old house built in 1906 (if I am not mistaken). The floors creaked as you walk on them and you can feel the floors moving as people walked by. Our waiter came over to go over the cocktail menu. My hubby decided to opt for the smoked Old Fashioned and I opted for the bourbon flight (I did not modify it although you can). We also ordered a caesar salad and candy pig (bacon). Our drinks came first followed by the salad and bacon. The flights I ordered were 80, 104, and 95 proof respectively. The brand of bourbon is called Penelope. They were strong but satisfying. My hubby stated that his drink was "interesting" but good. It had a nutty flavor. The salad was delicious and the candy pig was basically pork belly. It was fatty and sweet, but very flavorful. We ordered our entrees next. I ordered the brazina fish which came with rice and veggies and my hubby ordered the wagyu meatloaf with mashed potatoes and succotash. My branzina was charred and seasoned to perfection. Although boney (I had to pull a ton of bones out of mouth so be careful when ordering this dish), it was delightful the sides were good too. My hubby loved his meatloaf. He said it was definitely one of the best meatloafs he has ever tasted. He loved his veggies and mash too. Finally, we ordered dessert. I chose the passion fruit cake and my hubby opted for the key-lime cheesecake. The passion fruit cake was like a strawberry shortcake that included passion fruit. It was sooooo good. It was the favorite dessert between the two. The key-lime was good but average. The service was good as well. We were checked on by the manager and by our server, Joseph constantly. Joseph gave great recommendations. My hubby knocked over my empty flight glass by accident. Luckily it did not break, and the manager came over promptly to see if we needed anything to be cleaned up and/or drinks "topped off". Once we finished, they brought over one of the most unique things. It was a tincture made with boiling water, dry ice, assorted plants, and spices. It smelled so good and made for a great photo. Hubby's Ratings: Smoked Old fashioned - 3.5/5 The Burrows (Manhattan) - 4.5/5 Caesar Salad - 4/5 Meatloaf - 4.5/5 Key-lime Pie - 4/5 Passion fruit cake - 4.5/5 Customer Service - 5/5 Ambiance - 4/5 My ratings: Flight - 4/5 Candy Pig - 5/5 Branzina - 5/5 Passion fruit cake - 5/5 Key-lime pie - 4/5 Customer service - 5/5 Ambiance - 4/5 Overall, I would highly recommend Barrel and Fork for couples looking for a nice romantic meal in a quaint restaurant with great cocktails and flavorful cuisine. And don't forget to get a slice of that passion fruit cake. You'll thank me later. read more

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Went with another couple and we were sat right away. Service was good but overly pushy and fast. $72 filet had zero flavor at all. I asked the other 2 at my table that also ordered filets and they agreed it was not good. We emptied the salt and pepper shaker on our steaks no flavor. Won't be back read more

After reading yelp reviews I was nervous about getting a seat. We called while fighting highway traffic and were told they had a couple seats at the bar. We crossed our fingers and said little prayers. We grabbed two low back bar seats, settled in, and cozied up at at the bar with the most amazing mixologists. Dinner, drinks and well received education. We tried a couple new bourbons (they have quite a few) the most amazing gin drinks, and kangaroo. Loved the competed experience. B&F was booming for a Thursday. Great atmosphere and vibe all around. The porch had well appointed heaters. If we didn't enjoy the bar experience we would have loved to sit out on the porch of this beautiful home. Our food came in a timely manner and we cleaned our plates. The exploration of flavors from carrot puree, mustard collards, and softly sautéed mushrooms appeased all the senses. From a last moment chance at a seat this turned into a complete customized dinner experience. We had tickets for another event down the road but were sad to leave. Will be back soon. With more of our family. read more

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This place never disappoints. There is always something unexpected. This time it was an over the top fogging flower arrangement. Last time a cocktail for my daughter served in a swan! The food is great. I always end up with the steak or pork chop. I'll keep coming back for date nights. read more

Barrel and Fork - Before dinner drinks - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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OMG!! This was an excellent choice for date night. The food was amazing. The service was excellent. The bartender was very helpful and knowledgeable about the whiskey tower as well as the mixed drinks that he prepared for us. Five stars all day long the ambience was really nice. If you sat outside, you had a table by the fire and inside was a nice quaint environment again with excellent food. read more

Amazing cocktails and food! The Brussels sprouts are out of this world! Great place to celebrate a special occasion

Good food. Great service. We enjoyed the specialty cocktails and the yummy charcuterie read more

First, make sure you have allocated for an expensive meal before deciding to come here. It is going to be costly, so if you are a tight wad like my brother, prepare yourself! After checking out the seasonal menu for over a year we decided to get this spot a try. The service was excellent! Our server was fast, efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly. We started with the gnocchi and it was arguably the best part of our meal! The texture was unbelievable and unlike any other gnocchi we have tried. The sauce that night was a beef white sauce and it was so very savory and rich. We both had salads - they were tasty and good, but not necessarily memorable. My wife had the scallops over risotto - perfectly cooked and well seasoned. I had the meatloaf and it was an umami bomb in your mouth! We finished the night with a slice of key lime cheesecake - it was good but they do not make in house. The seating is intimate, so if you don't like stranger danger, prepare yourself! We are not drinkers, so my wife tried a ginger mock-tail and she loved it! Again, prepare yourself for a pricey meal $$$$! Then don't stress because you budgeted for it! We will definitely be back! To those about to dine, we salute you! read more

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This place definitely kept a little piece of my heart with it! It's loaded with character, artwork, knowledgeable staff and soooo many item made in-house! It's a small quaint restaurant with delicious food, a great playlist and a cozy feeling inside and outside! The Pig Candy, Peach, Salmon and Bronzini was fantastic! Matt our server did a phenomenal job taking care of us too! Had a chance to chat with a few other ppl that work there and everyone was so kind, and excited about B&F too! Can't wait to return! Such a great experience :) read more

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AMAZING FOOD! My new favorite restaurant. The service is excellent, everyone who works there is super nice. Walking in the door, you know you are in a special place. It is an extremely beautiful restaurant where you can go for a special occasion or just a great meal. read more

Quaint place - we had a reservation, were seated at our table and it took over 20 minutes for them to come take a drink order? One of our place settings was dirty - had to change that out - good food but terrible experience - disappointing. read more

My friend and I had a wonderful dinner last evening at Barrel and Fork ! The food was delicious and beautifully plated. The ambience was warm and lovely and the service was excellent! We felt so welcomed and relaxed, we didn't want to leave. Carson was an attentive and friendly waiter and Taylor, the bartender, made the most beautiful and delicious drink for my friend and recommended the PERFECT wine for my meal! I'm looking forward to the next time I dine there! read more

I stopped in for a quick drink. 100% atmosphere Drinks were spot on! Bar tenders were most personal & professional. The GM is very professional & efficient. It was a very speakeasy kind of place. read more

Excellent food served hot and delicious! Service is excellent as well as the cocktails.

Food was great, ambiance was nice, cocktails were fantastic. Would recommend to anyone looking for a special night out!

Friday night dinner with my man. Weather was a perfect September night, so we waited around the fire pit until our table was ready. We ordered cocktails & wine while we waited & was provided some history on the establishment. Once we were seated, our server promptly greeted us & took our app order. We went with the calamari which was fried perfectly and the marina it came with had just the right amount of spices! For our entrees we had the Meatloaf and the bone-in Veal parm, both were amazing! read more

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Loved this place! Service and food were amazing. Julie, Josh, Charles, Ben & Tyler were all throwing out the rec's for bourbon and cocktails and we were blown away by their passion and knowledge. Would highly recommend. My fav on the food side was the lamb! read more

Barrel and Fork - Some of their bourbon selection - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

We had a reservation for 6 at Barrel & Fork on Saturday. The restaurant is located in a renovated 1906 home and you can tell they tried to keep it as original as possible. The seating is set up in various rooms of the home and it gives it an intimate vibe. The service was top tier from the manger Brendan to our server Rai. Rai really gave us 5 star service from her attentiveness to her food & drink recommendations. I would highly recommend this restaurant not only for the service but for the food & bourbon selection. No one at our table had any complaints, we were all pleasantly surprised. read more

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Food was great, service was great, did not have a reservation but had some seats at the bar. Enjoyed the prohibition style drinks and the Bourbon & Whiskey selection was great.. Old house from 1906 converted into a great little restaurant, with porches and fire pit out front. Perfect for a quiet date night. read more

I like to research a new and interesting restaurant to visit each time I travel to NC to see my parents.. This trip I chose Barrel and Fork for dinner. I agree with others that the parking is a challenge, since the lot behind the restaurant is small. Luckily we had an early reservation so we didn't have an issue. I also agree that the music could be turned down. The playlist was great but it did make it difficult to have a conversation. The food, however, is fantastic. We had the cheese board to start, which featured a lovely variety of local cheeses, honey and housemade jam. I always enjoy trying local goodies when I can, and my mom hasn't really done that kind of thing much before so she was absolutely delighted, which put a huge smile on my face. We also had the fried calamari which was very light and tasty and not at all oily. It had a couple hot peppers in it to keep you on your toes. We ordered cocktails and I asked if they could surprise me with something bourbon based, which they did. I ended up with a riff on an old fashioned which was less creative than I expected but still good, but the really fun part was the aromatherapy vase full of flowers and dry ice that came to the table shortly after. Super pretty and very entertaining. My mom had the Monkey in a Sidecar (Cognac, Lemon Juice, Orange Liquor, Banana Liquor, Macadamia Orgeat) which she liked as well. For mains, my SO had the Bone in Veal Parmesan, I had the Sea Bass and sadly I can't recall what I parents had.. but everyone enjoyed their choices. We also ordered the lobster mac n cheese for the table and that was delicious and decadent. The wine list is not large but well done. Since it was my SO's and my birthday month we couldn't get away without having dessert. For the table we chose the creme brulee cheesecake and the cherries jubilee, because when was the last time you saw cherries jubilee on a menu? They don't flambe it tableside unfortunately but it was still perfect, as was the cheesecake. Service was great, the house is beautifully restored, and everyone was really friendly. I wouldn't hesitate to come back again. I'd either sit at the bar (if it was just two of us) or outside on the porch next time if possible. Super fun. read more

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Great food. Great drinks. Great atmosphere. We went for my husband's birthday. Had gone another evening with my daughters. Food was amazing both times. read more

Need to (unfortunately) update my previous review. Came here as a party of six as family was in town. It may be better for a date night or max party of 4. Let's start with ambience: I was the only one in our party comfortable as I was siting in front of the in-window AC unit that was running full blast - I had to put my hair back as it kept blowing it everywhere like a golden retriever with his head out the window. Since the AC was on full blast, the front room we were sharing with 3 other parties meant we were all speaking loudly at each other to hear. I felt so bad for the couple trying to have date night. Secondly, service. Our server, while.....nice, was kind of scatter brained and had zero wine knowledge. He kept running back and forth to ask questions about specific bourbons and wines - white and red options. On top of it, there was an additional service charge for the old-fashioned to be smoked. That was something odd to see for this kind of establishment. The food - 3 people ordered the scallops over citrus risotto and the scallops looked absolutely amazing... and I started having serious FOMO as I had ordered the Wagyu meatloaf over mashed potatoes with a semi-glacé. My brother-in-law ordered the veal Parmesan, which he said was his favorite thing on the menu and he promptly demolished. My husband ordered the and substituted the risotto for the mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, the fillet was cooked properly, and was extremely tender... There was absolutely zero seasoning to be used, fortunately there was enough salt in the risotto to make up for it, but to eat the steak by itself... I make something better at home. For the Lovely price of $62 I definitely expected more especially when it been amazing the last time. Now, onto the Wagyu meatloaf... There's enough fat in Wagyu, that the meatloaf should not have been drier than a hungry man microwavable dinner. Whatever was used as the binder was way too much because the meatloaf was incredibly dense. The succotash was hard with the butter beans and corn having a white freezer burnt appearance two bites and I was done. The Demi Glace was separated, and you could see the droplets of fat. Fortunately, the server was more than gracious and I substituted for the scallops. The scallops were buttery and very flavorful, but the risotto was too salty for me to really give a great opinion on, and you could not taste the citrus notes that were utilized in the cooking process. The server did let me know that they took both meals off of our ticket, which we definitely appreciated. After three alcoholic beverages, a wedge salad, key lime pie cheesecake and my husband's filet our total was still $165 after tax. Even with there being such a lack of fine dining restaurants in the area, I doubt we will return. read more

Barrel and Fork - Filet over risotto - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

Went to Barrel and Fork once pre-COVID and really enjoyed the quality of the food and cocktails but had not been back until this week. It was a spur of the moment, been a stressful work week but it's nice out so lets invite sis-in-law and the three of us go for a splurge meal. Once again the food and cocktails were high level, service was friendly and the food and drinks came out in a well-timed manner. We had three different cocktails, two from an evolving list where the bartender does some experimentation and one from a list of favorites. One gin-based, two with vodka one of which was advertised as spicy and it sure was! That's a good thing for me. Love a little heat (Yes, I infused some vodka with Carolina Reaper peppers to stock my bar) and get disappointed with drinks that say they are spicy but don't deliver. My wife and sister-in-law both split a huge salad and got the Wagyu Meatloaf. I got a Caesar and a pounded out, bone-in Veal Parmesan. All the food was delish with plenty to take home for the next days lunch. This is one of those, why don't we think of this place more often kind of restaurants and I commit to doing a better job keeping them top of mind more often. read more

I visited again about a month ago and was just as pleased as the first time. Went with a group of friends, and although we made last-minute reservations, Barrel and Fork was very accommodating, and even texted to remind us about the reservation. It was pretty crowded when we arrived, but while we waited for our table, the server explained menu items, cocktails, and made recommendations. He was awesome, I hate that I didn't write down his name. Once we were seated, we ordered a cheese board, calamari, and Mac and cheese, which was delicious. I also had a Caesar salad, it was so good! I ordered the wagyu meatloaf for my entree, which came on a bed of mashed potatoes, also very good. Just overall a great time. I love B&F so, and cannot wait to return! read more

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I will start by saying that Barrel and Fork is absolutely amazing!!! After looking for a restaurant to grab dinner at, we came across a Barrel and Fork on yelp which had great reviews. We took a chance and did a walk in without reservations. Upon arrival, we had to wait for about 30 to 45 minutes. However during the wait, we were given drink menus outside in the Adirondack chairs and they also put out citronella candles to keep the bugs away. It was worth the wait! We were given two spots at the bar inside, which in my opinion, is the best place to be! I ordered the lemon basil gnocchi (which was the last one of the night) as well as the Grand Hotel salad. Both of these were phenomenal! Then came the drink options! If you have the chance to visit Barrel and Fork, please make sure that Jade is making your drinks! While their drinks listed on the menu are amazing, venturing off the menu is highly recommend! He will ask your flavor profile, things you like in your drink, strong or sweet, etc. From there you will be provided with an amazing cocktail! Hands down, these have been the best drinks that I have had in the area! Additionally, you will find that there are many locals that frequent Barrel and Fork as well. So you are guaranteed to have an all-around enjoyable time! Barrel and Fork is located in Cornelius, on Statesville Avenue, and there is a parking lot in the back of the restaurant. While it is not a huge parking lot, you will likely find parking, as patrons are coming and going. In addition to the bar seating, there is also table seating inside as well as seating on the porch outside. Don't miss out on the opportunity to visit in Barrel and Fork for amazing food and drinks and a great time! read more

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I really liked the vibe of this place - dark and moody, great for a celebratory dinner. Like others have said, parking was difficult to find, but we just parked across the street since Ace was closed. We had the ravioli for the appetizer which was so so good! For mains, I had the Veal Parmesan and my boyfriend had the Braised Pork - pork was definitely the winner, but you couldn't go wrong with the veal parmesean either. As a side, we shared pimento mac & cheese - star of the meal!! SO good!! We didn't get dessert, but to end the meal the server brought an aroma flower vase which was such a cool & unique detail to leave a meal on!! Looks like the menu rotates quite a bit, so we'll be back to try out other menu items! read more

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Superb food with a great atmosphere and excellent service. We were thrilled with our time and have added this to the top of our list for future date nights read more

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