BARREL & FORK — Restaurant in Cornelius

My husband and I, both passionate foodies, recently celebrated our anniversary at Barrel and Fork, hoping for a memorable dining experience. Unfortunately, we left feeling far from impressed and doubting whether we'd ever return. While the restaurant boasts a charming ambiance, set in an old house with an inviting Adirondack chair-strewn yard and a cozy fire pit, and maintained clean and tastefully decorated bathrooms, the overall dining experience fell short of our expectations.

We originally sat on the patio, but due to the wind conditions, which were strong enough to blow over one of our drinks and made it too chilly to enjoy the patio, we asked to be moved inside. Our request was accommodated, which was much appreciated. We noticed another couple was seated in our patio spit. However, after about 15 minutes they also requested to move inside. Perhaps some wind screens or activating the patio heaters would be beneficial in such situations.

The bar area, which had a unique and appealing design, with bartenders tirelessly moving to cater to the bustling crowd. They remained pleasant despite the hectic atmosphere. We arrived for our 8:00 reservation 15 minutes early and were seated promptly after a short wait in the front yard on Adirondack chairs. A server came to take our drink orders, but we were seated at our table before the drinks even arrived.

Now, onto the food. Unfortunately, the cuisine at Barrel and Fork didn't meet our foodie standards. The calamari, a dish that's typically bursting with flavor, was bland and disappointingly chewy. We've had better calamari at chain restaurants like Olive Garden. While my scallops and risotto were cooked to perfection, my husband's elk dish left much to be desired. It was dry, overly charred on the outside, and severely lacking in seasoning. As a Colorado native who has enjoyed his fair share of elk, he found this dish to be one of the worst he's ever had. The pimento mac and cheese were decent but nothing extraordinary. For dessert, we tried the maple bourbon pecan pie, which was enjoyable, but it didn't make up for the shortcomings in the main courses.

Moving on to the drinks, our experience was mixed. We waited a lengthy 30 minutes for our first round, only to be served a two-ounce shot of some unidentified whiskey mixed with something, despite it being described to us as a cocktail. It was far from satisfying, and even my husband, a whiskey bourbon connoisseur, refused to drink it. Kudos to the server for promptly addressing the issue with our initial drink and removing it from our bill. I opted for the Dusty Daisy instead, their take on a margarita, which was an improvement but still fell short of being truly enjoyable. My husband had two smoked old fashions, which he did enjoy. I had a below average expresso martini with desert. Service for drinks was understandably slow given the busy night.

Our server was primarily seen when only taking our orders for each course. She was personable, though, and our interactions with her were pleasant.

I must commend Barrel and Fork for one shining moment during our visit. When we were asked if we were celebrating a special occasion, we mentioned our anniversary. In a thoughtful and appreciated gesture, our server returned with two glasses of champagne to toast our milestone. This unexpected touch of kindness added a warm and celebratory element to our evening and was a highlight of our experience. We were grateful for this thoughtful touch amidst our other disappointments.

Our final bill, including the tip, reached $275, a figure that left us questioning its validity considering the underwhelming quality of both the food and drinks. In Charlotte and its surrounding areas, there is a plethora of restaurants that consistently deliver exceptional dining experiences at similar price points for more superior experiences. Regrettably, Barrel and Fork fell short of meeting...

To be clear I think B&F is in the top tier of restaurants in the Charlotte/Charlotte Metro area and maybe the best restaurant in Lake Norman area - the two star rating only reflects our most recent experience

We had dinner there last night and while the food and service were typically excellent we walked out feeling quite disappointed with a particular practice regarding drinks - I always order the B&F Signature Old Fashion and feel like they make this drink better than anyone else anywhere - high praise indeed and I totally mean it - in fact in all the time I’ve been here everyone has loved every drink they’ve ordered - this doesn’t happen by accident of course - they have a truly sophisticated bar set up and are especially known for their selection of bourbons- last night however I felt like a change and ordered a Manhattan - upon ordering the waitress asked what rye we wanted in the drink ( the traditional ingredient) but I deferred and asked for bourbon - she asked which bourbon and I said I’d leave it up to the bartender - drinks were delivered - they were outstanding as usual and we proceeded to enjoy our meal.

The problem arose when we received our check and my Manhattan was $25 dollars - this seems to me to be an outrageous price for a mixed drink and I immediately asked to speak to the manager - when I questioned him on the price ( by the way all Specialty Drinks (old fashioned etc are $14 and as I said before are excellent drinks) he said that he works hard to source the vast bourbon collection and the bar staff prides themselves on making great drinks which they do - none of which addressed them banging me 50% upcharge over their “ specialty drinks” as priced on menu.

Although the bottom line is it’s my responsibility to specify which bourbon I wanted in the drink to be clear I didn’t ask for anything special just let the bartender decide which bourbon to put in and I felt taken advantage of - if you think the best Manhattan required an $11 dollar upgrade over regular and already excellent specialty drinks then I should have been asked for my approval up front- as a regular customer who has never had a problem with B&F there is a certain trust factor that they won’t play games with a simple request - and again I recognize it’s my responsibility to order what I want ( or don’t want) but still….

So I still wholeheartedly recommend B&F but caution you to pay close attention to what you order from the bar - if you want to be steered to a $25 dollar cocktail they”ll make sure it ‘s a good one - if you don’t…well let the buyer...

Wife and I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Barrel and Fork, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we were received, the attention to detail was evident. The staff inquired if we were celebrating a special occasion, setting a personalized tone for the evening.

We opted for a high top table for two, which provided a cozy and intimate setting.

Our culinary journey began with the pig candy, which was a delightful start to the meal. The combination of flavors was perfectly balanced, setting the stage for the dishes to come.

Scallops and risotto. The scallops were cooked to perfection, with a beautiful sear and tender interior, complemented by the creamy and flavorful risotto. It was evident that great care was taken in both the preparation and presentation of this dish.

The veal parmigiana. The veal was tender and succulent, with a rich and savory sauce that tied the dish together beautifully. Each bite was a testament to the chef's expertise and passion for fine cuisine.

The service throughout the evening was impeccable. Our server was not only knowledgeable and attentive but also made excellent recommendations that enhanced our dining experience. A special mention must be made of the mixologist, whom we dubbed the mad scientist for his creative and innovative concoctions. The drinks were expertly crafted and added a unique flair to our meal.

This culinary adventure cost us about $220 with tip, or roughly $110 per person. Before you think that’s too much, consider this: we enjoyed three good-sized portions and three drinks, including middle to high-shelf bourbon. If you remove an extra drink and opt for regular bourbon, the cost drops by about $30 per person. I challenge you to find a place that offers this quantity and quality for less.

The Barrel and Fork provided an outstanding dining experience with exceptional food, a welcoming atmosphere, and top-notch service. It is a place I highly recommend and look forward to visiting...