The Parlor PS — Restaurant in Mooresville

The Parlor P.S. in Mooresville is certainly an interesting concept, with its 1920s-inspired decor and elegant, vintage ambiance. From the crystal chandeliers to the Victorian furniture and antique tea sets, the space has a refined atmosphere that sets it apart from other local dining options. The classical background music playing adds to the nostalgic feel, further immersing diners in the upscale vibe.

However, while the decor is charming, it quickly becomes clear that the restaurant’s vibe is more suited for adults to mingle in a quieter, more refined setting than for families. While kids are welcome, it doesn’t feel like a place designed for them. Given the surrounding population, I question whether the concept will resonate long-term. Mooresville tends to favor more casual, family-oriented dining, and I’m not sure this type of upscale, alcohol-free tea room with a limited soul food menu will maintain steady foot traffic.

The food has some hits and misses. The homemade tenderloin is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and topped with fresh spring mix, red onions, pickles, tomatoes, and aioli. But the tomato still had its core, which is a detail that is unacceptable. The chicken fried pork chop, while flavorful, was a bit on the salty side and curled up during cooking, likely due to untrimmed fat, affecting its presentation.

The fries were the best part of the meal, crispy and seasoned with grated Parmesan and herbs, adding a nice depth of flavor. The mac and cheese, while creamy, lacked the cheesy punch I was hoping for, and a broiled crust on top could’ve given it more texture.

The grilled asparagus, the chef’s vegetable of the day, was disappointing. The thin spears were overcooked and overly salted, which made them hard to enjoy. The iced tea, on the other hand, was refreshing and brewed well—definitely a highlight of the meal.

While the service was friendly and attentive, the overall experience feels like it's aiming for a more niche crowd. The limited soul food options on the menu don’t quite align with the otherwise refined theme, which can create confusion for diners expecting a consistent menu concept.

In the end, The Parlor P.S. has potential, but I’m skeptical about its long-term success in this area. While the food and atmosphere have their charm, the concept doesn’t quite match the local demographic, and I think it will struggle to maintain a steady customer base. For those looking for something unique and upscale, it’s worth a visit, but I’m not sure it will stand the test of time in...

Second visit was not as great as the first. We had family come into town for a visit and decided to have dinner at The Parlor based on a wonderful first experience a few weeks prior. Unfortunately it turned out to be a mistake. Knowing the restaurant is in a small building, we were expecting it to be pretty full on a weeknight. What we were not expecting, was live music blaring in our ears while trying to hold conversations with each other. I shouldn't have to yell in a restaurant in order to communicate with family. Perhaps future such entertainment events should be advertised on social media so customers who don't wish to participate can dine in another night. As for the food, my mother was denied a grilled cheese sandwich because it's on the kids menu. She was willing to pay an upcharge, but was told the owner does not allow that by our server and settled for a burger instead. I personally tried the catfish and another family member opted for the tenderloin sandwich based on my wife's recommendation. The catfish to my surprise had the entire skeletal structure and fins still in it. Most places would debone as to not risk a choking hazard. I decided it wasn't worth the risk of eating and sent it back. The tenderloin sandwich came out undercooked and my family member decided to send it back as they didn't want to risk getting sick. All the other meals/appetizers ordered were cooked well and tasted great! It was a bummer of an experience cause we want to support our local restaurants in Moorseville. Maybe we'll just come back during lunch hours next time. The Parlor P.S. is advertised as a fine dining experience, but this visit was anything but. On a positive note, the owner was very apologetic and took the returned plates off our bill. We hope to be back someday for a...

Once again, I ate my food so fast that I forgot to take a picture. I thought this restaurant was going to be a little too high-end for my taste. Walking in the door, I felt comfortable, we were greeted by the server who told us to sit anywhere that we wanted. I like that. We sat at the back, near the teapots so that we could admire them and so that we would have a view of the entire dining room. The dining area is nicely decorated with lots of flowers and beautiful chandeliers and lovely teapots, all of it was so nice to look at. I ordered the half fried chicken, baked beans and french fries. My daughter ordered a chicken sandwich and french fries. We had an appetizer of their awesome crab dip delight. I don't like seafood but that crab dip was incredible, I liked it! My chicken was breaded just right, not too much and not too little. The baked beans were excellent. I usually drown my fries in ketchup, but these were seasoned so well, I didn't need ketchup! Everything was hot, freshly cooked and seasoned very well! Have you ever tried bacon jam? Where has it been all my life? There was bacon jam on my chicken and my daughter's sandwich and it was a perfect match! Next time I come here to eat, I will order bacon jam with a side of fried chicken. LOL, it was that good! We also had a large piece of Lemonberry cake, also excellent and so light! Our server was a very nice young lady, very friendly and took very...