131 MAIN Restaurant

We visited on New Year’s Eve, and it was a fantastic experience! If you’re looking to be genuinely well cared for with exceptional service, 131 Main is the place to go. Our server, Olivia—whom we’ve had the pleasure of dining with at other establishments—truly exceeds expectations every time. Her personality is warm, engaging, and unforgettable. My husband ordered the fish, and of course I had to sample it—absolutely delicious. I chose the ribs with fries and an Asian-inspired slaw. The portion was generous and incredibly satisfying. We also enjoyed shrimp cocktail, a Caesar salad and soup, all of which were very good. One standout detail: the croutons are actually made from cornbread—such a creative and tasty touch! We even took a cornbread home, and I highly recommend reheating it the next day at 350° for about 8–10 minutes. Perfection. Overall, our visit was wonderful. I also had the pleasure of meeting Rae, one of the managers, who is an absolute delight. Bon Appetit 🍴 Josephine Local

Maverick was a great server. The food was delicious and the service was great and you get checked on often. The portions are very big and full of flavor. I got the blackened chicken pasta, it was 10/10. My husband got the filet mignon and mashed potatoes and it was also great. Cocktails were also good/strong.

❤️ Valentine’s at 131 MAIN Restaurant – Where Love Meets Steak 🥩🍷 This Valentine’s Day we found ourselves in beautiful Cornelius, North Carolina visiting friends, and when it came time to choose dinner, we went with the heavy hitter: 131 MAIN. Because when the reviews are strong and your wife deserves romance, you don’t experiment… you execute. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was whispering, “Yes sir, this is the place.” Warm lighting, elegant vibes, cozy but classy the kind of spot where you sit up a little straighter and pretend you don’t normally eat dinner in sweatpants. Perfect atmosphere to celebrate love. Now let’s talk about the food… We started with that legendary cornbread golden, fluffy, slightly sweet, and looking like it just came out of a Southern fairytale. I cut into it like I was performing surgery. Respectfully. The shrimp cocktail? Fresh, plump, perfectly chilled with that classic sauce that clears your sinuses and your soul at the same time. We also had that wedge salad loaded with bacon, blue cheese, and enough dressing to make you reconsider your gym membership but it was Valentine’s Day, so calories respectfully mind their business. Then came the main event. Everybody at the table ordered steak. No warm-ups. No safe choices. Just straight carnivore confidence. I ordered the ribeye with this pineapple glaze situation that tasted like it had been blessed before hitting the grill. Sweet, savory, perfectly charred that steak didn’t just melt in your mouth… it moved in and paid rent. The rest of the crew went with filet mignon paired with red potato mash and grilled asparagus. And let me tell you the silence at the table was holy. The only sound was knives cutting through perfection. Even the mashed potatoes deserved a standing ovation. Creamy, buttery, with just enough texture to remind you they came from actual potatoes and not a box. And then… dessert. Crème brûlée with that perfect crack on top the kind you tap with a spoon and feel accomplished. Plus a banana dessert drizzled in caramel and chocolate that should honestly require a warning label. We didn’t share because we love each other. We shared because we had to. Now let’s give flowers to our server John (Jonathan). A true gentleman. The man didn’t just take orders he narrated ingredients like he personally raised the cow and churned the butter. By the time he finished describing the dishes, I was ready to order the entire menu out of respect. Overall? 131 MAIN delivered romance, flavor, service, and that “we are definitely coming back” energy. If you’re anywhere near Cornelius and want to impress your significant other or just treat yourself like royalty this is the spot. Five stars. Full hearts. Full stomachs. And zero leftovers. ❤️

We love visiting 131 Main not just because it has an awesome date or celebration vibe, or because the service amazing but because the food here NEVER disappoints. My husband had the Double Cut Pork Chop (huge and delicious) and I had the Thai Steak noodle salad and it was on point in the meat temperature and flavors. Don't EVER forget the Jalapeño corn bread or the banana bread pudding. Also, our server Clara was attentive, funny and sweet.

All locations of 131 main are consistent and such a great dinner/lunch spot! The quality of food and the pricing is so good! I always go for the “big island ribeye” and they never disappoint. I’ve been a customer for 5+ years now! The quality of ingredients are great, they can accommodate food restrictions, the atmosphere is so relaxing and peaceful. They give you several waitress/waiters to accommodate during your visits and it makes the process so much easier and quicker. Everyone seems to be very friendly and very well trained. Always my go to date spot! Highly recommend! This location specifically has a beautiful outdoor patio that is a great spot in the evening!!

While the food here is tasty, it is really the service that makes it worth the trip. We did not have a reservation but we were seated quickly and served with care. It was one of those times when it was all about the experience.

My little family and I went here for the first time tonight after hearing so many amazing things. First off, our waitress Liz (blonde hair), was incredible. She took wonderful care of us. We will ask for her every time. The food was amazing, big portions, cooked and seasoned to perfection. The alcoholic drinks were perfect. What topped everything off was espresso shots for dessert.

Great service, amazing food. Recommend the tuna poke app and shrimp and grits. Can’t wait to come back and try some different dishes.

Great restaurant! The star of the night was our waiter Kristin J! She was amazing and deserves all the recognition. She was attentive, helpful, aware, friendly, and courteous. We started with the chili which was meaty, cheesy, and delicious. It was very hardy. The cast iron cornbread was delicious. You can taste the chiles and corn within the bread. It was reminded me of a Mexican corn bread. So good. The Cedar Plank Salmon with Wild Rice Salad was good. The salmon was amazing and perfectly moist and lightly cooked. The wild rice salad was okay. I don't think I would want it again, but my partner loved it. The cowboy salad was great! The chicken was perfectly grilled and seasoned and I loved the black beans, kale, pickled onions, and chipotle dressing. It was huge though so I took it home with me. The restaurant was packed but we did have a reservation so we were seated quickly.

Great Service, Solid Spot for Work Lunch I went to 131 Main for lunch with coworkers, and I have to say--it's kind of ideal for a work meeting. It's calm enough to talk, but not awkwardly quiet, and the layout works well for conversation. The standout here was 100% the service. It felt like everyone on the floor took ownership of our table. Whoever walked by would quickly check in if we didn't have food yet or if anything looked like it might be needed. It was simple, unobtrusive, and made us feel seen and taken care of. It even made the wait for food feel shorter than it probably was. The food itself was good, not mind-blowing but solid. I had the deviled eggs, the ahi tuna salad, and shared a salmon appetizer. All were enjoyable, especially the salmon, but not necessarily the kind of dishes I'd come back for on their own. Overall, the service is what makes this a four-star experience for me. I'd happily come back here for another work lunch.

Looks like the last time I reviewed 131 Main was during Covid after they started curbside pick up. It was five stars then it was five stars before then and it's still five stars. They were one of the first non-chain really good restaurants to open after we had moved to the area and they have been on point with consistently great food and service since day one. Whether dining in or getting takeout like we did yesterday for lunch it's a real joy to experience 131. Will end with a bonus tip. Don't sleep on the hot dog during lunch!

Reservation made and honored at specific time. Another great experience. Exceptional service and food. Food is made fresh never frozen and made to order.

131 main has been on my list of restaurants to try for a while. When we arrived, it was very crowded and it bit more upscale than anticipated. The restaurant was loud but in a good way. Friends and family were having a great time. Our family of 4 came and we did have one child. They did not have a kids menu...the waiter had to list out the options which was weird. We ordered the shrimp and grits, pasta, and the filet. All dishes were pretty good. I do plan to come back on a date night...it was not a place i would bring my kid again for a side of fries

We came for a lunch visit with my parents. There's plenty of parking pretty close to the door. The staff members were absolutely amazing from the moment we stepped in the door. We were immediately seated and provided menus. Our server explained the specials and answered our questions about the options. The ambiance is semi-upscale, I felt comfortable in business casual clothing. I went with the Salmon entree and a side of green beans. It was the perfect size for lunch and tasted great. I also tried my husband's Shrimp & Grits and I will definitely be ordering that next time. To wrap up our meal, I tried the Strawberry Shortcake with ice cream. The cake was warm and the strawberries were fresh. My parents tried the brownie & ice cream dessert and, of course, I had to try a bite. The brownie is topped with nuts as well as chocolate and caramel sauce. The scoop of vanilla ice cream was the perfect pair. You truly can't go wrong with either dessert. Like I mentioned, service was perfect throughout our visit. The dining room and bathrooms were very clean. And everything was simply delicious. I HIGHLY recommend 131 Main and can't wait to visit again.

Had a late lunch today and it was great! Sat at the bar and was treated well. Love that the bar area feels quaint and comfortable. Solid experience as always!!! Can't wait for artichokes to come in season.

The vibe in this place is just sophisticated and beautiful. Always packed so it's best to make a reservation, as you will wait a while for a table. The we had a reservation but sat at the bar. Went to celebrate a birthday. Jack was our bartender and server. He was fantastic. The service was superb! And always is whenever I go. The food is so fresh and delicious! It was amazing can't wait ti go back. The chicken was light and juicy. Ribs were tender and falling off the bone. Just yummy.

Decided to have Christmas Eve lunch here and it definitely didn't disappoint!!! The food was so good I only took a picture of the salad and dessert!!! John was absolutely a gem with the service, it was such a beautiful day so we sat on the patio!! Highly recommended!!

We had a lovely weeknight dinner at 131 Main. The food was great and our server was attentive. We will definitely be back! For drinks, we got a French 75 and an Old Fashioned. We ordered the corn bread with honey for an appetizer. It was delicious, crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. For dinner, I had the slow roasted chicken which was phenomenal - so tender and well seasoned. My husband got the prime rib sandwich which was good as well, but I ordered better ;)

Phenomenal experience. Greeted with smiling and warm faces to an amazing dining experience. Our server was Rafael who was spectacular. He knew the menu very well and sold us on several items. We started with the shrimp appetizer, Tortillas with pimento cheese and guacamole and cornbread. Our main entrees were the ribs OMG, chicken Alfredo and the lump crab cakes! No fillers we also had the burning chair (several) and cosmopolitan. Delicious. The ambiance was so elegant and romantic. Everything about our dining experience places this on our must return list. Chefs kiss to the whole team including the manager who came out to speak with us so we could share our experience. She was so kind to take time to do so!

I was happy to dine at this location, in comparison to my favorite Southpark location. The ambience was bright, intimate, and cozy. The restaurant was packed with a constant flow of customers. My waiter was amazing (Maverick??). He did not miss a beat, and he recommended delicious food options to try. I enjoyed my crab cakes, broccoli, potato soup, and garlic mashed potatoes. I have no complaints, and I will return again soon.

I've been here a couple times and it never fails. Service is always on point and the food and product quality is 10 out of 10. They also do not charge a corking fee for wine which I think is a nice touch and will be coming back again this week after another epic visit last week.

Always really good food & I've never had bad service here. The servers rotate so you don't have the same one, and perhaps that's part of the successful key to good service? Maybe other restaurants should adopt this? I've eaten here many times over the past 10 years and I've never taken the time to write a review. I mostly go here with Girlfriends, it is one of my GF's favorite places that she loves to come. The food is fresh and the mix of flavors are delicious. I usually get the chef's special. I recommend a reservation as they always seem busy. It's a bit loud but not overbearing and the place has a good energy vibe to it. Like I said, it's a good place for a GF's get together.

Great food with reasonable pricing. We always love the deviled eggs and cornbread for starters. So good!

Best cornbread and banana cream pie ever! Great coleslaw too. Loved the service. Perfect date location or celebration spot.

I was admittedly a little hesitant about this place as I didn't totally understand its identity from its web presence and I'll say some of the pricing seems a bit much. But ultimately we really enjoyed our meal here. I got the steak taco special of the day. Two tacos for $22 is certainly more than I feel is warranted but it came with chips + guac/salsa, which made up for it. The flavoring of the tacos were delicious if a bit overfilled. I do wish the steak pieces were cut up more because with such a full taco they fell out and I ended up eating most of them separately or in whole chunks, so they would benefit from being smaller. The chips themselves were shockingly good. Salsa was pretty standard and the guac was good but just shy of being TOO chunky (i.e. the chips kept breaking, etc.). The service was phenomenal and super attentive. The vibe itself I don't totally get just yet having only gone to lunch but I appreciate it. There were a lot of people there doing work on laptops so maybe it's a business lunch place? We were able to walk in pretty easily, which was appreciated. But again, the menu can be a bit intimidating as I do think things are a bit pricey for what they are and I'm not sure if that's reflective of the vibe they're trying to create, which is fine but I'm not sure it totally matches the area for lunch.

We have visited the following 131 Main locations: Asheville NC, Lake Norman NC, and Sarasota FL. They are consistent with food quality, service, and ambiance. The cornbread appetizer is a must try, drizzle honey overtop for perfection. I usually get the Ahi Tuna salad because it is simply scrumptious. However, they have a wide variety of menu items to choose from. Reservations are accepted and parking is free. Menu prices keep me from going regularly but for special occasions, it's a great option. It is worth the price as I've not had a bad meal or poor service at any location. It's highly recommended by me and my family.

Food and cocktails are amazing. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I would definitely recommend you go!!

Started off on a great foot! We had a reservation @8p for a party of 4. Seated with in 10 mins of our reservation. We started with the cornbread, and the side of honey was such a nice touch! My husband and I each had the Prime Rib Sandwich. We were honestly sold on it after an Instagram review we saw. And it did not disappoint, my eating experience was truly crafted. Bread was perfectly warmed without a crust that would tear up the top of your mouth. The steak was shaved so I'm not ripping and gnawing at the table and it FELL APART in the most perfect way. If I wanted to nit pick, I wish the jus was a little more powerful. But the focus was the prime rib, and it delivered. In between I was taking bites of my ultra thin fries, perfect accompaniment.

Went to 131 Main for the first time the other day. Overall, really great experience. The ambiance is awesome. Got there at about 12:30 on a Friday (without reservations). Had about a 12 minute wait which was absolutely reasonable. Once seated, we ordered and received our food within 10 minutes and whoa, I get why this place is known for this Sandwich. Absolutely perfect. Thin, thin, thin cut! No weird globs of fat. Au Jus was delicious. They serve the horseradish sauce on the side which is really wise since I've definitely had some prime rib sandwiches that are reallllly overpowered by it. Fries were also utter perfection. Crispy and flavorful. Also - the service was great. Our sever was really sweet. She also took the time to explain that their Lemon Drop was unique in regard to how it was served and some of its flavor profile. I really appreciated her taking the time to explain that. 1000/10. Will absolutely be back to try out the rest of the menu.

Another great night at a great restaurant. Met up with some friends after work. It was extremely busy for a Tuesday, but we made reservations so we were seated almost immediately. I guess I can't say enough good things about this place. I have yet to come here and be disappointed in their food or in their service - tonight was no different.

I treated my to a TERRIFIC dining experience on a Thursday at 4:50 pm. The waitstaff, ambiance, food was delightful. This is my now favorite restaurant in the area, though expensive, it was worth it given the quality of the entire experience (based on my meal 2 weeks ago by myself). I ordered the special: 2 filet medallions with Demi glaze and blue cheese, cooked to perfection (medium rare), smashed potatoes. The Caesar salad was the best I have ever eaten: plentiful dressing and large croutons. George was the consummate waiter, polished, attentive, but not overbearing. The Pinot Noir was delicious. I wish I saved room for dessert! Next time! Note: The ambiance was perfect for a peaceful meal by myself during the week. The restaurant was busy but I called in advance to make sure I would be seated in a table in a quiet area. It was perfect in every way. It was so great that I made reservations for Sunday with 2 others.

We always enjoy 131 Main. The food is great. The service is great. Always a nice night out. They generally have nice specials we like to try. Plenty of parking, but be sure to make a reservation. It can be really loud inside, so order a water to talk over the crowds.

Slightly on the pricey side, but consistent and strong value for the $. Excellent service and very attentive and knowledgeable. Somewhat boisterous at times, but manageable. A good place to make a business meeting or a quick dinner substitute. A blend of casual vs blazer crowd.

The appetizers and main courses were very amazing. The presentation for everything was great and tasted amazing.

Only one word to describe entire experience. Exceptional. Food quality/ preparation/ presentation/ service. All off the charts great. Went for wife's birthday. I had Chicago Ribeye. Best steak I have had in Lake Norman area. Wife had Maryland Crab cakes - fantastic and bountiful. Love this restaurant.

131 Main is hands down one of our favorite restaurants. It's always our go-to for birthdays and special celebratory occasions. The food is always exceptional. My favorite is the trout, which is consistently grilled to perfection. Some other highlights include excellent wines to pair with any menu selection and decadent desserts. I love the atmosphere, which blends an upscale elegance with the cozy warmth of the soft lighting. The service is always flawless, which wows! us each time we visit. The knowledgeable and attentive servers go above and beyond to ensure the dining experience is special. 131 Main offers exceptional dining that we look forward to reliving

I highly enjoyed my food. The devil eggs had good flavor. The salmon was so flavorful. I am definitely coming back here. I was craving my food days later. Great job!!!

For 20 years it seems we have been dining here - always top notch and one of best restaurants we ever go to. Consistent great food. Great drinks. Always great service. 131 is the type of restaurant all others should aspire to be. Pricey - yes but you get what you pay for.

We go here once every 2 to 3 weeks for lunch after cycling. The food is always cooked to perfection and the staff are friendly. We are so lucky to have this restaurant in Cornelius! The prices are reasonable and the portions are a good size. I really enjoy sitting on the patio in the warmer months.

The service was superb. Every person we interacted with was professional, kind, and attentive. The ambiance was great, the music wasn't too loud, and our entire party enjoyed the atmosphere. The food was amazing. We started with the smoked salmon dip, 10/10. The ribeye, filet, and prime rib sandwich along with the Thai Salad were so delicious. The steaks were cut and cooked excellently. Also, the fries were so good. We ended with the peanut butter pie, so so great- highly recommend! Positive shout out to Ethan S., our waiter who was unbelievably great. We appreciated his thoroughness, attentiveness, patience, and being awesome for our after dinner 'coffees'. We will be back!

Our second trip here, this one for our 51st anniversary. We were seated quickly with our reservation. Soft lighting with table lights, make a nice romantic atmosphere. This trip we ordered the crab cakes with mashed red potatoes, prime rib also with mashed red potatoes. Caesar salad and shrimp cocktail for appetizers. Shrimp are 4 huge colossal shrimp with 1/2 lemon, horseradish and cocktail sauce (which as a pleasant kick in itself). Caesar salad is piled high with wonderful croutons. Payton, our server was very attentive and patient. Crab cakes are stuffed with crab meat and very little breading. Each are about 3" across and 1" thick. The prime rib was a perfect medium rare as ordered. It comes with a great au jus for dipping and a creamy horseradish sauce. The prime was cooked great but it wasn't as tender as the first time we ordered it. Since it was our special occasion, we ended the meal with a complimentary creame brûlée. This restaurant is for us, a special occasion night, it's not fast food, so you pay for great food, great service and great atmosphere.

The food... for years has been exquisitely sourced and prepared. Literally 3 years went by and the same meal tasted the same if not better than the previous time ordered. Our hostess was pleasant and welcoming even being a military "on time" (20 mins early). The waitstaff was flawless and have an amazing routine, Lauren, our server, stood out with her intent to listen and zero reserve to help us choose between starters, mains, sides, and even desserts. The medium light ambiance and the low to medium noise level make this establishment an absolute pleasure to entertain private conversation without having to raise your voice or ask for them to repeat themselves. Overall I will continue to hold 131 Main in the highest regards. Thank you again for another incredible experience.

I am sure that this is an unusual experience but this one time turned out to be a disaster for me. The shrimp appetizer was fantastic but then I ordered the salad with tuna sushi grade and it had to be the worst. I tried to eat it but ended up getting sick from it. I lost a lot of weight that night. Not sure what was in it but I lost it that night. Maybe the others had great meals. Apparently there is a secret menu that includes prime rib which is not on the menu. This was a great dish to order. All I can say is do not order the salad with tuna unless you want to lose some weight.

ALWAYS give the DAILY SPECIALS a try! They are guaranteed fresh & unique! I've been to this location several times & I always order one of the Daily Specials~never been disappointed Staff are VERY professional & attentive at this location. Again, after several visits, never had an issue or less than stellar service I love the casual vibes of this location. The dark interior is offset by well lit tables. It creates individual cozy nooks. The atmosphere of this location just adds more 'comfort' to the comfort food vibe. ***Do not let the prices deter you~food is high quality & very delicious***

Great Food Great Atmosphere. Me and my Family have been eating here for years. Food is always Hot And Good

The service was top tier! Birthday celebration with a party of 6 was exceptional. The ambiance was intimate and cozy. Booth seating as we were 6 women and fit very comfortably. Food was fantastic! We each had a different dish and everyone gave a thumbs up. Our server was Connor. Very knowledgeable, friendly and checked on us often. We were warmly greeted and escorted to our table. Drinks and appetizers came out quickly. Dinner followed shortly afterwards. Not in a rushed manner either. Desert was scrumptious: caramel covered brownie with vanilla ice cream and a candle on top

One of our favorite places when visiting Lake Norman! The atmosphere is subdued, the food is delicious and the waiters are excellent. I've never had a bad meal. The baby back ribs and salmon are my 2 favorites.

They have great steak great service and a great location plus the people there are fantastic

Our service here was amazing! Food is always terrific. When Company comes into town, it's one of our go to restaurants.

Food was very good here and so was the service. Our waiter was awesome as we were a group of 6 he took good care of us. The atmosphere here is very inviting and the bar area a great place for a pre/post drink. I had the ribs and they were huge! Good wide range menu and priced right. If I'm back in this area I'll be making an effort to get to this restaurant!

LOVE this gem! We went for the first time last night (well, my first time) and it was awesome. It was packed when we got there/were seated and despite that we got the best service from Alison (and David/Dave!) As someone who worked in the industry for many years I REALLY noticed how awesome they were, even when slammed busy. Our drinks were great and never sat empty and the SMOKED SALMON was SO GOOD. A must try. (Also, just fyi it has a really great ambience, def a great date night spot!) Thanks for the top notch service and delish food & drinks! Highly recommend!! (PS I swear I wasn't drunk when I tripped over the stair while leaving & not paying attention, I think David saw that. Haha. Watch that step, ladies!) :D

The food was good, but the service was impeccable!! I meant to leave this review immediately after we left but time got away from me. My husband and I have eaten at some very nice places over the years, from coast to coast...but never have we ever had service this fantastic! The way the whole team works as one unit ensuring all guests are taken care of, without being annoying, is just sincerely, incredible to watch! The food was fresh and yummy. But I intend to come back based on the service alone!

This may very well be one of the best dining experiences I have had. The food and the service were both stellar. The ambience is, well, hard to describe. They have these square drop lights that focus on the table top so that your food is well lit but the area around the table is dim and cozy. The staff absolutely knocked it out of the park! I never had a dirty fork. I never had an empty glass. My wife got up to go to the bathroom and they swooped in and replaced her napkin. They never felt like they were in the way or intrusive. Stunning attention to detail! I had the steak with the demi-glacé. It was cooked absolute perfection, and the boat of demi-glacé was so rich and flavorful. I also had the side wedge and roasted brussels sprouts, also excellent. This is our new date night go to spot!

The restaurant 131Main love the food side grill artichoke loaded dip tortilla chips and drinks

Ate at 131 Main about 10 years ago. It was great then. Went back this year during business trip. Still great. I travel weekly and know a good restaurant when I see one. The atmosphere, service, food and menu are all great. The service might be the best of all these. They care about their customers, and all at a reasonable price. This is rare these days across the US.

Went there for Christmas with the fam. There were 10 of us and we were well accommodated. Cornbread is amazing...and the steaks and fish. Service was excellent. It was crowded and a tad noisy but overall a great experience .

The service was with Jessica H and it was great. Jessica was very polite, helpful and made good recommendations. . This is my first time at this restaurant and in North Carolina, the service food and ambience was 10 out of 10. I had the halibut special, my Business guest had the ribs and my colleagues. Try the salmon dish. Everything was on point. I would come back here again.