The Portrait Gallery Restaurant — Restaurant in Matthews

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Matthews, The Portrait Gallery Restaurant is not just a dining establishment; it's an experience that keeps me coming back week after week. As a regular patron, I've found this gem to be an unparalleled destination that seamlessly blends exceptional food, warm hospitality, and an inviting atmosphere.

From the moment you step through the doors, Brandon and his friendly staff at The Portrait Gallery exude warmth, making every visit feel like a homecoming. Whether you choose to sit at the cozy bar or opt for a more intimate table setting, the attentive service consistently exceeds expectations. The genuine smiles and personalized attention create an environment that feels both upscale and approachable.

Speaking of the atmosphere, The Portrait Gallery Restaurant has mastered the art of creating an ambiance that caters to both casual diners and those seeking a more refined experience. The tasteful decor, adorned with carefully curated portraits, contributes to an inviting setting that's perfect for a solo escape or a romantic date night.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the food. Chef Johnny’s menu at The Portrait Gallery is a testament to his culinary creativity and skill. Each dish is a masterpiece, and the flavors are nothing short of exceptional. My personal favorites include the addictively delicious truffle fries, a perfect balance of crispy and truffle-infused perfection that I find myself craving regularly.

For a heartier option, the fried chicken sliders are a must-try. The chicken is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside—a delightful indulgence that leaves a lasting impression. Ask for extra jalapenos. Additionally, The Portrait Gallery's commitment to seasonal offerings is evident in their rotating menu, with the pork tenderloin standing out as a particular highlight. Cooked to perfection, it's a savory symphony of flavors that showcases the chef's dedication to quality ingredients.

In conclusion, The Portrait Gallery Restaurant in Downtown Matthews, NC, has solidified its place as a culinary haven that transcends the ordinary. It's more than just a restaurant; it's a destination where exceptional food, warm hospitality, and a captivating atmosphere converge. Whether you're flying solo at the bar or sharing the experience with a special someone, The Portrait Gallery is a culinary masterpiece that I...

The 1 Star I am giving is for waitress as she was working incredibly hard to keep up with all the tables she had, she was very professional and nice, and that was the only positive from the evening.

Unfortunately, the food at The Portrait Gallery is mediocre at best, and for the price they charge it is not worth going to. The atmosphere was actually quite welcoming and fun, our first round of drinks were good (we ordered the Illusion with gin), and we started to order some of the small plates. Our waitress after 30 minutes came over to let us know that the kitchen is now going to start working on our food, which we were shocked to hear, but accepted that maybe the staff was limited like many restaurants right now.

When our food did come out we were sadly very dissatisfied. The food was lacking taste, the amount of food you received was almost an insult, $15 for 3 small meatballs is crazy. We were so shocked that we actually asked if that order was correct as it looked like someone had grabbed it from the back too fast and before all the food could be put on the plate. Don't get me wrong, I understand I ordered a "small plate" so to say there wasn't enough food, makes me seem like I don't understand what a "small plate" means. However, if you are going to do a small plate offering, and charge $15 a plate you MUST make the small plate absolutely amazing. You need to make the customers walk out of there saying "that was worth every penny" not thinking that the meatballs in their freezer taste the exact same. Okay, enough about the meatballs, onto some of the other dishes. The oysters were terrible, but maybe that was our mistake for ordering seafood in Matthews, NC, the tacos were probably the highlight of the meal and were decent (difficult to go wrong with tacos). The end of the meal, $125 later, and we just felt that the Portrait Gallery has so far to come to be the restaurant they are trying to be.

The easiest way I can sum up the Portrait Gallery is a "want to be" Good Food on Montford. They are trying to have high end small plates and cocktails, they want to charge the price that goes with that, but fail to hit the mark on many fronts. I hope to come back and try this restaurant again, but sadly, that will not be happening...

This pains me to rate this so low. I've debated it for weeks however I really feel like people should have a little more information before they go. My wife and I have been to TPG four times now. Three of the four times we've ordered food and drinks. The fourth was just for drinks. We enjoy getting small plates and drinks around uptown, southend and NoDa and were excited to have a small plate restaurant right around the corner from our house.

We were even more excited about the ownership. The main investor has become a friend of ours and is also behind Seaboard in Matthews (among others). He's an awesome guy who loves this town and has a great vision for it.

THE GOOD: The food is fantastic. Everything we've had (about 8 different plates) have been beautiful and delicious. The place/vibe is classy and cool. The staff for the most part are friendly and enthusiastic. The small patio is great and will be a favorite for brunches in the spring/summer months. The owner/operator who runs the place has a strong passion for food. He stops at nothing to make sure every plate is served up with the best/freshest ingredients and that it looks fantastic.

THE BAD: To call this place a "small plate" restaurant is a stretch. It's more of a micro plate restaurant. We go to tapas places all the time and have never experienced portion sizes this small. Along with the smaller plates are much higher prices. I think the problem here is that the GM of the place is a culinary arts professor at Johnston and Whales. He sees this as an art and we are paying for art more than food.

Our last experience there was ordering a squid ink ravioli. The plate came with 3 very small ravioli. It cost $14. After ordering that plate, two cocktails and tipping we were in for over $60.

We were extremely excited about this place and a new concept coming to town. As much as I like this place and the ownership, I feel like they will need to reconsider what they are doing in order to stay in business. Having to cancel their $100 NYE menu was probably the first indicator. I hope they can adapt to the wants/needs of their customers. This could be a great long term dining option...