131 MAIN Restaurant — Restaurant in Charlotte

★★★★★ An Exemplary Dining Experience with Stellar Service from Sarah

I stopped in for a solo dinner on a weeknight after work and had an absolutely fantastic experience. A heads-up for others: this place is popular for a reason, and there's almost always a wait for walk-ins. I highly recommend making a reservation. As a party of one, my wait was about 30 minutes, and I appreciated the text notification system that allowed me to work from my car until my table was ready.

The hostess team was friendly and efficient, but the true star of the evening was my server, Sarah N. She provided, without a doubt, the best service I’ve had in a long time. She struck the perfect balance—attentive and knowledgeable without being overbearing. She gave a great explanation of the specials and her menu expertise was a lifesaver as I was too hungry to decide.

As a business professional myself, I really appreciated her skillful and professional suggestions and upselling. She even brought me a sample of the soup, which was hearty and full of flavor—a wonderful gesture that I truly valued.

I ordered the cedar plank salmon, substituted with mashed potatoes. When she mentioned the chef recommends it prepared medium, I happily agreed. The order came out fresh and hot. The cedar plank salmon was cooked all the way through and was absolutely amazing. The mashed potatoes were the ultimate comfort food and hit the spot.

The entire team operates like a well-oiled machine. The support staff was incredibly professional and swift; any time I moved an empty plate or glass to the side, it was cleared away immediately and seamlessly.

Although I was too full for dessert (I opted for another perfectly made Dirty Tito's martini instead!), the offer was appreciated. This place consistently delivers, and I’ve never had a bad plate here. Five stars all around, especially to Sarah for making it such a...

My son and I were looking for a nice restaurant with fresh, quality food. We found 131 Main, the reviews were promising so we decided to try it. The restaurant was very clean!

After being seated we ordered the smoked salmon appetizer with toasts and a sauce. OMG! So delicious! Next we ordered our meal. My son had the butterflied trout w/kale and quinoa salad and I tried the shrimp and grits and a salad along with a nice bottle of champagne. Our waitress was attentive and professional! My salad was a simple Caesar salad but the romaine lettuce was so nice and fresh! No brown areas on the lettuce at all!! Every bite of the food was better than the first bite! Very fresh seafood and hats off to the chef! The shrimp and grits had a different take on them, they used prosciutto ham and asparagus tips surrounding the bowl of grits with a simple roux. It was delish! I like my grits to be a bit creamier, these were on the coarse side but still good. I ordered crab cakes w/fries and the fudge brownie and ice cream to go. All so very delicious. The crab cakes were full of big chunks of lump crab meat, fresh, and few to no fillers. The chef maintained the integrity of the crab, nicely done!!

Dessert was fabulous! Our attentive waitress boxed our food and champagne! We had a lovely experience! I’m sorry I cannot remember her name but she was beautiful inside and out! I’ll definitely go back again! I’m an excellent cook so to find a place that meets or exceeds my expectations is amazing! Thanks for a great dining...

Wow! How to do 131 MAIN justice in a review? I’ll break it up in categories:

Ambiance: There are multiple ways to celebrate and experience 131 MAIN. Looking for an energetic fun atmosphere? Their open bar seating is bright, enthusiastic, and full of options! On the other hand make a reservation to have one of their darkened spot lit tables and you will have an amazingly intimate and secluded dining experience. The darkness and special lighting really make the meal here! Or enjoy their evening shaded patio complete with outdoor fireplaces and relaxing music for an easy going night out escape.

Food: All around the food is impeccable and unparalleled. Masterfully prepared and presented you can expect consistency from the exclusive dishes they offer. My favorite entree is definitely the braised lamb shank. Cooked to perfection and fall off the bone tender the flavor and decadence of the meat, sauce and potatoes can take your breath away and have you planning your next time to come back for more! Please take the opportunity to try their cornbread, they honestly need to be awarded for this creation as it far surpasses any other cornbread offering I have tried in the south!

Price: I’d describe their pricing in the $$$-$$$$ realm, however it is well earned. If you are after impeccable service and connoisseur level drinks and dinner plates this is the place for you at a reasonable rate for level of service and portions.

A true five star experience, 131 MAIN should be on your list of top places to go for a visit or...