We came in on a Saturday for late lunch(2ish) the place was hopping. So much fun!! The staff was super friendly and polite. Our server was top notch. The chicken wings were so delicious. Very very good all around read more

Nice well rounded menu. Atmosphere and service were outstanding. Looking forward to another visit.

It was our first time here with a family of 8! It was such a great experience. Our waitress Misty was so genuine and kind, the food was fast, and the atmosphere was so great. The kids enjoyed it and loved the food. We will definitely be returning! The drinks were really diverse as well and the menu had something for everyone! read more

We recently came here for lunch. Here are my thoughts. Atmosphere: Hello, Sailor is located on Lake Norman. It has a beautiful outdoor patio to sit on and enjoy the views of the lake while you enjoy a meal. The outdoor patio had two levels and was nicely covered and shaded. They have a large indoor dining space as well. Restrooms: The restrooms were nice and clean. They have male and female restrooms with multiple stalls. The female restroom has a changing pad for babies. Service: The service was spot on. All of the staff was friendly and attentive! Food: We enjoyed our lunch at Hello, Sailor. The food was fresh and delicious. For an appetizer, we tried their 'Hushpuppies' and 'Watermelon' dishes. The hushpuppies were very good. I loved the homemade butter that came with them. The hushpuppies were greasy which was a plus. We didn't care for their watermelon appetizer. It came with lime and hot sauce on it. The flavors just didn't mend well for me. For my entree, I tried their 'Shrimp Tacos with Coleslaw'. I enjoyed the tacos. The tacos were fresh and flavorful. It was the perfect portion size. The food was good and fairly priced. For a drink, I asked for a surprise sweet and fruit mocktail and the bartender made an amazing drink for me. It had hints of pineapple and mint. It was delicious! The food and drink were good at Hello, Sailor. Overall, this is a great place to come for a nice lunch with views of Lake Norman. read more

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The staff - top notch, friendly, accommodating Food - so good especially the Caesar dressing Atmosphere - good outside as long as the lake water is not too low. The inside is as it's always been - rustic, multilevel, clean read more

There's so much wrong with this menu but the location is a 10 outta 10. Watermelon. Horrible. Bologna sandwich which is so hard to mess up. Horrible. Club. Mid. Pickles. Okay. Queso. Phenomenal. Hushpuppies - nothing like good southern hushpuppies. T shirt - they celebrate 3.4 stars on yelp. Please fire the chef that designed and maintains this menu. Clueless. Make this a Great Lake front restaurant please. read more

Always such a great time at Hello Sailor. Today we stopped by on the boat and grabbed a drink at the outdoor bar. The bartender was such a fun guy and even let us try the snackeries before he made a fresh batch! read more

Hello, Sailor - Snackeries - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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I love this restaurant. the weather was perfect this evening and the food was ABSOLUTELY delicious 10s across the aboard and I will be returning soon read more

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We made a reservation for 7 (2 kids and 5 adults) for a Wednesday night at 6 in June, which was helpful because it was getting busy. Other families with younger kids were wrapping up and groups of adults were coming in as we were finishing. The kids loved walking down to the dock to check out the boats, turtles, ducks, and catfish while we waited. We've sat on the covered patio before, but enjoyed the A/C this time. Cool mid-century modern vibe and very friendly staff from the hosts to the servers, bartenders and manager. Good variety of craft beer and food options. The ribs are great, and I enjoyed trying the curried fish sandwich. Great spot for an enjoyable dinner out (alone or on a date), especially for families and groups. read more

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Lake view was cool but blocked by umbrellas. There should be a warning on the Salty pickles. Service was good and the food was just okay. I will visit again just to give it another chance! read more

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It is a real shame how much this place has gone downhill since it originally opened 8 years ago. Food lacks quality. Drinks are bland and uninspired. Joe must not care anymore, and his arrogance shows when you walk in the door and see the merchandise he's selling, like a shirt literally touting the phrase "3.2 stars on Yelp". If you can look past your own hubris, maybe you can recognize that you're disappointing North Carolinians with inadequate food and drink choices. Great views, sure, but being as renowned as this place is, we need to see improvements. read more

Hello, Sailor deserves way more than a 3.3--it's honestly one of the most underrated spots on Lake Norman. A lot of the early negativity came from people comparing it to Rusty Rudder. I get the nostalgia, but let's be real--the Rudder was a dive with average-at-best bar food. This is a completely different level. Hello, Sailor is polished, fun, and has an atmosphere that actually feels like a destination on the lake. More importantly, the food is outstanding. Creative, well-executed, and far beyond what you typically expect from a waterfront spot. What surprises me most is how many people still won't give it a shot because of old opinions. That's a miss. If you go in with an open mind, you'll realize quickly this place is doing things right. It's absolutely worth trying--and once you do, you'll wonder why the ratings don't reflect it. read more

Saw HS had dipped below 3.4 stars so doing my part to keep their amazing t-shirts relevant. We've been eating here regularly since they opened and have just lol'd the bad reviews over the years. And, I use the word bad vs negative very intentionally. Suffice it to say that we love how HS has been such a welcome addition to the LKN dining scene. Every single visit has been 5-star worthy from both a food and service perspective. Throw in knowing they replaced the oh so disgusting Rusty Rudder and the story just gets better. Thank you Kindred family for doing what you do so very well. read more

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The view is great, but thats about it. The food was cold and soggy. Three of the four meals were not good. The service was terrible from the waitress's to the bartenders. We enjoyed being on the water but at that price and hype online we expected more. The Blackened Shrimp Tacos were the only good meal we had. read more

Hello, Sailor - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

It was my first time at Hello Sailor and I have to say it will likely be my last. The food was just okay, nothing remarkable other than it's over priced. The service is poor. While the servers are friendly, they are terrible in bringing your drinks in a timely manner. They also don't check back in with the table often enough and don't even think of asking for a glass for your canned beer, it takes forever to get a glass. The beer is nearly room temperature by time it gets to you. Like I said, the food is nothing special. The prices are way too high for the quality and the poor service. The ambiance is great with the outdoor patio/deck over looking Lake Norman. This is there greatest strength, but to me, it wasn't worth it. read more

We visited on a beautiful sunny day which allowed Hello Sailor to showcase its lakeside location. We sat outside under an awning with an unobstructed view of the lake. Our waitress was delightfully friendly and attentive. We tried a basket of popcorn shrimp (served over fries) which was pretty good. I had a mahi-mahi sandwich also with fries which was delicious and perfectly seasoned. Other dishes were conch appetizer and a crab roll, both of which were reportedly excellent. read more

My family and I (4 of us) visited Hello Sailor on a sunny Saturday around 2:00 p.m. for lunch during a quick trip to Lake Norman. The place was packed (always a good sign), but the hostess greeted us right away, and we were seated within 15 minutes, pretty impressive for peak weekend hours. It was blazing hot out, so we opted for a table inside, and the AC was a welcome relief. The indoor space was trendy, casual, and full of energy, with a mix of small tables, families, and friend groups. Their patio overlooks the lake, so I can see it being a great outdoor spot when the weather's more forgiving. To start, we ordered two cocktails: a margarita slushie and an Aperol spritz. Both were refreshing and hit the spot, especially the slushie, which had just the right balance of tart and sweet. Then we kicked things off with the crispy buffalo shrimp appetizer, which came with banana peppers and a side of buttermilk ranch. It was a table favorite, crispy, flavorful, and gone within minutes. For our main, my husband and I split the Chicago-ish fried bologna sandwich with giardiniera mayo, shredduce, and pickles on an everything bun. We weren't sure what to expect, but it was a standout. The thick-cut bologna had great flavor, lightly crisped on the outside and warm all the way through. Every bite was perfectly balanced. My other family members got the spicy chicken sandwich with an arugula salad on the side and a double patty skillet burger with a side of fries. They both enjoyed their meal and said it was exactly what they wanted. Each of the portions were generous, drinks were fairly sized, and everything came out in a timely manner. Our server was fantastic, very friendly, helpful, and gave honest recommendations that really hit the spot. To cool down, we each grabbed one of their soft serve ice creams with a vanilla and citrus swirl, and it was everything on a hot day. Light, creamy, COLD, and just the right touch of sweet after a flavorful meal. Prices felt more than fair for the quality, service, and lakefront location. It's a great spot to treat yourself, take visiting friends, or enjoy a relaxed summer meal by the water. I'd say that this is a must-stop food destination during your summer vacation. It's so worth visiting! I've already recommended it to friends, and yes, I'll be back for that bologna sandwich and the soft serve again soon. Love this place! read more

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Nothing beats eating and drinking lake side on a nice day! We decided to try Hello, Sailor and were quite impressed. They were quite busy for a weekday early afternoon, but still had great service. Please note they take reservations. We did a walk-in and had to wait but enjoyed drinks at the bar. Our staff are very friendly-from the bartenders, waitress Lily, and managers, everyone was accommodating. The food was good for casual dining and great views. We drove to the location but saw several that docked their boats to grab a bite and drink. read more

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This is a great spot. The food was good and the atmosphere is fun! We had a small issue with our order and the manager and server went above and beyond. Great customer service. We will return for sure! read more

Terrible food and worse service. I keep coming back year after year hoping they will get it together.

A nice scenery as this place is located at Lake Norman. I came here after a work event and saw lobster rolls in their photos. Unfortunately they no longer serve lobster rolls so I decided to try their kale caesar salad. It was interesting. I like the kale concept, portion size, and the texture with the crouton crumbs but the flavor of the caesar dressing lacking. It wasn't giving caesar salad. I also had a sparking wine which was served flat. After being asked to confirm by tasting it again I sat there with a look on my face which said it was nasty. They went and got me another glass. They were super pleasant and I also discovered that they're connected to the tiki bar next door. However I will probably not return. I came, I saw, and that's where I'll leave it. read more

Hello, Sailor - Kale caesar salad and sparkling wine. - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

On a comfortable May Day why not look for a patio with views of Lake Norman? You'll find lots of outdoor seating here. The menu has sandwiches, steak, some seafood, and ribs. There are about 8-10 cocktails, lots of local beer and wine options, and a full bar. Food came out very quickly and our waitress was proactive with ketchup and checking to see if we needed other condiments. The pit-pork chicken was good. The shrimp basket was also good and the star of the meal was the beef fat fries. They have a kids menu with Mac n cheese, cheeseburger, chicken tenders, and grilled cheese. My son devoured his grilled cheese sandwich and said he enjoyed it. Covered seating is limited so bring a hat and sunglasses if you're going to be outside. The lower patio is by the water but there is a solid surround which may block part of your view, especially if you are shorter. This place sells t-shirts saying 3.4 Stars on Yelp. I'm going to give them 4. The food was good and I could see myself enjoying a few beers or cocktails while watching the boats go by. read more

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Came here on a Sunday -- no brunch type menu but more lunch style simple menu. Hangi out on the patio, watch the boats on the lake, Hush puppies with some good beer. Tasty butter they use. The puppies delivered. I ordered the Spicy chicken sandwich, Dad had the roasted turkey club and the Queen Mum had the calypso flounder sandwich. The sandwiches were good, but over priced. The decor is like I stepped into some Palm Springs California dive spot yet it's right across n Lake Norman. The restaurant is all good except for a marketing suggestion--serve the chicken sandwich as is W/O the spicy sauce (which is more like a Buffalo hot sauce). With out would def make it a different sandwich but possibly better -- simpler but good since it comes with great condiments --but...now if you want spicy -- charge another $1 or $2 -- boom extra profit! lol. The Service I have to say was somewhat subpar -- given it was good when we ordered, and got our food but then somehow disappeared when we were ready to leave. Not sure what happened. Idk. I hate bugging the server but sometimes it's better when he bugs us. lol. Overall it's a cool spot esp if you come off the lake to have a bite or a beer. Great spot. Hope another visit will improve next time. Cheers! read more

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Love the vibe at hello, sailor! The hushpuppies and the mussels were the stars of the show. We went on a Friday afternoon and there was a bit of traffic in the area so be aware when planning. read more

Hello, Sailor - Crispy buffalo shrimp and tuna crudo and a crispy Coke - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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Ordered a pick up order online. Paid for sauces that never made it into the bag. Got a wedge salad and ordered a ton of ranch since I'm not a blue cheese gal. Get home end up pouring blue cheese all over my salad and no ranch in the bag to be found. Got other menus items . Spent $60 and just was super bummed they didn't make sure the order was correct so I could enjoy my food the way I wanted it. Bummer . read more

Eight of us arrived by boat for lunch and everything was excellent from start to finish. Hello Sailor is a destination for our girls weekend each summer, but this year, we did not have a reservation... not to worry, as the Host (Scottie) was very accommodating and was able to pull tables together for us in the Tiki Hut (outdoors, covered and cool breeze) and introduced us to our waitress, Kaitlin (sp) who was wonderful. Each of us enjoyed our drinks and food... AND the impressive wait staff. Will certainly return soon! read more

My 11 associates and I ate at Hello Sailor after our long awaited boat day. We started the boat day early in the morning at around 9am with Captain BD, whom fellow boat day attendee Am*nda seemed to be fond of. We enjoyed a fruitful and riveting dip in the lake from 9am to Noon, then proceeded on over to Hello Sailor. Expectations were high as we had an eventful morning with Captain BD. We ordered the spicy watermelon, wings, oysters, and buffalo shrimp as appetizers and everything was delicious. One of our associates, Gr*cyn, had multiple pieces of the watermelon and really seemed to enjoy it. The 3 baskets of wings and 2 plates of wings only lasted on the table for about 3 minutes. For my main course, I had the shrimp basket and it was delightful. I also had a CSD Slushee drink and it elevated my experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant to all who are looking for a classy bite. read more

Vibes! Right on the water and such a beautiful sight at sunset. Food was good and offers a nice fresh variety for everyone. You can come dressed up or shorts and a bikini top. All are welcomed. read more

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Walked in & was pleasantly surprised by the very chic & cute decor! We were seated outside on the lower back deck with a beautiful view! Sam took great care of our party of 12 as we celebrated a birthday. We had a delicious array of appetizers, handhelds, entrees & dessert!! The drinks were also delicious & satisfying! The view was magnificent & I'll definitely be back!! read more

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Amazing all around! Had the hushpuppies, kale Cesar, catfish and cauliflower steak. Everything was really good! Awesome vibe on the lake and service was excellent all around. Can't wait to come back. read more

I lived in Mooresville for 15 years, have yet been to hello sailor. Went to rusty rudder all the time but something about hellonsailor didn't sick well. I was wrong the food was great and drink strong. Will definitely be back. read more

Hello, Sailor - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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Returned for a Sunday brunch and was just as happy as the first time I visited. I loved my cocktail and the mussels I ordered were so good!! We were pretty hungry upon arrival so we order two servings of fries to hold us over. That did the trick. Such a cool location and I love the MC decor. read more

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Service and ambiance was outstanding!! The food was terrible!! We came in for lunch and ordered the grouper sandwich. It came out within 10 minutes of ordering it. So we felt pushed to eat and leave. It wasn't fully cooked and was the smallest piece of grouper I've ever seen. The side of fries were dried up and cool as well. So other than the pleasant staff and view, I'm surprised this was a Michelin rated restaurant. read more

To my surprise the food here is actually very good. Although the appetizers are the size of a tennis ball and can maybe be enough for 1 person. The entrees that everyone received at my table were all delicious. The vibe of the restaurant is strange however and the wait staff is careless. The beanies that they all are wearing definitely resemble that. read more

Hello, Sailor - Grouper Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

We have been to Hello Sailor multiple times now and have never been disappointed! Most recently, our server Jenna was fantastic. The hushpuppies are a must try, we love the mussels and the crab roll. Location is perfect on the water! read more

I met up here with friends for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, and was glad we had a reservation as it was quite filled up by 12:30/1pm. We sat outside on the lower patio and enjoyed the lovely view. The menu is seafood heavy but there's chicken, ribs, and steak as well. I had the kale caesar salad with seared chicken - I really like the everything bagel seasoning but the dressing was a bit different. Good place to hang out on a nice day and has docks for boat access. read more

Hello, Sailor - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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The popcorn shrimp was tasty, though we didn't enjoy the dipping sauce as much. The fries weren't as crispy as they should have been. The kale Caesar salad was a generous portion, nicely topped with everything seasoning and parmesan, and the dressing was served on the side as requested. The mac and cheese was delicious--we especially enjoyed the creamy sauce. The beautiful view and nice weather made the experience even better, and the staff were very friendly and attentive throughout. Overall, a satisfying meal in a lovely setting with great service. read more

Hello, Sailor - View of the lake - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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Hello, Sailor is a great restaurant in Cornelius, right on Lake Norman! Just being in the lake puts you in a great frame of mind! The ambiance reminds you of something out of the 60s/70s, but super modern touches and beach/lake decor. There inside seating and two outside patios, so you can pull up your boat for lunch or watch other boats come in/pass by. The food is top notch! They have everything from small plates/appetizers to full entrees. And they don't disappoint! The oysters were super fresh, the fries were hot, the catfish was seasoned perfectly on top of the grits and the mussels were full of flavor! The drinks were also super refreshing! The staff were also great and very attentive, checking in regularly on food and drinks. Sunday lunch is a hit! Definitely make your way to Hello, Sailor! read more

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I had this for Mother's Day 5/10/26 and was not satisfied and was highly disappointed. The mussels tasted foul, muddied, spoiled, like they were run through the toilet before they were put in the tomato sauce. No garlic, no seasoning, no parsley, no taste. Not even given a lemon wedge. The toasted crostini didn't help. Never again. This dish needs to be paired with a pasta or something. Fix the recipe. Mussels are not supposed to taste like that. read more

Hello, Sailor - PEI Mussels in red sauce - Seafood Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

At one time I thought the prices at Hello, Sailor was too high. From what I can tell all the restaurants on the lake have similar prices. Took a group today and was very impressed. The service and food was outstanding. Had a beautiful view of the water. Portions were very generous. We will be back. read more