131 Main in Lake Norman strikes the perfect balance between upscale and inviting. The atmosphere is polished yet comfortable, and the menu delivers consistently well-executed American classics with a refined touch, especially the wood-fired dishes. Service is attentive without being overbearing, making the entire experience feel seamless. It's a go-to spot whether you're celebrating or just want a reliably elevated night out. read more

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Still our favorite close to home. The burgers are the best in all of Charlotte area, IMHO, & the trout is always good. My husband loves their pork chops & something else I can't recall. We both cook a lot and well so it's nice to have a meal out that is actually as good as your own meals at home ! read more

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. read more

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Thank you Yelpsters, visited due to ratings and comments this week as I visited NC. What an amazing restaurant. Ample free parking. Enjoyed the lighting and interior. Prime Rib sandwich was outstanding. The mean was tender, lean, not too salty, juicy and piked high. Accompanied by a dipping bowl of au jus and a huge side of hot French fries, overall, 10/10 for flavor, temp and quality. One of the best Prime Rib sandwiches I've ever enjoyed. Service was attentive and friendly. Overall, a wonderful dining experience. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - Menu March 2026 - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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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. read more

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! read more

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131 main is the definition of consistency, no matter the time you come in the customer service is always accommodating, everyone paying attention to details. The helpfulness of the staff helps you to choose the right meal. No matter lunch or dinner the foods always fresh and delicious. It's a testament on how you can never go wrong choosing 131 main. read more

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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 ;) read more

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Prime rib sandwich is now in my top entrees. The meat is so tender and the au jus has a great balance of saltiness and broth. Their fries are a great pairing with the sandwich because they are light and crisp. read more

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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 read more

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

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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. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - Salmon & Green Beans - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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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. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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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. read more

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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. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - Prime Rib Sandwich* - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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

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Great food and service. You must have a reservation because it is always busy. Modern and open kitchen. I've eaten there many times always great! The crab cakes are 100% crab meat no fillers. Shrimp and grits and the Trout excellent choices. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - Shrimp and grits - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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131 Main is a Pearl. The ambiance was wonderful , the food was seasoned and delicious with good portion sizes. We shared the delicious cornbread, a must have. I enjoyed the salmon on the plank with red mashed potatoes and a Caesar salad; which I could barely finish. My husband ordered the blackened chicken pasta. He enjoyed it very much. We ordered a margarita and a Rum and Coke, both were very well made. Also the staff was extremely friendly our server gave us great recommendations. I so look forward to visiting again. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - Salmon on plank, Res mashed potatoes, Caesar salad with an amazing homemade dressing - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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! read more

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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. read more

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Stopped in tonight after running an errand in the area- remembered they had a great wedge salad. I sat at the bar, where Jack and Mary assisted me with drinks and food. I love that their menu is simple, yet flush with tasty items. I ordered a small wedge salad while I perused the menu. I decided to mix up a daily special with a classic, because I couldn't decide between the two (filet medallions with red wine demi-glacé vs crab cakes) and they suggested they could do one and one- a crab cake and filet medallion. Filet was cooked perfect medium-rare and everything was delicious. Ultimately splurged and got the white chocolate crème brûlée. Everything was awesome and I always felt completely satisfied with service and all. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - Crab Cake and Filet Medallion and smashed red potatoes - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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If I could give this place 10 stars I would. Let's see: Great food Great service Great ambience Very personable staff There is absolutely nothing even mildly bad to say about this place. It's our go to for every occasion. read more

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!! read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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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. read more

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. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - Ahi Tuna Salad - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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. read more

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! read more

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Food - Always excellent Service - Always excellent Ambiance - Very comfortable 131 has been a "go to" for years.... Keep up the great work.. read more

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. read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - Prime Rib Sandwhich & Lemon Drop Cocktail - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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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*** read more

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The restuarant, appetizers, main course and cocktails are amazing. We had three appetizers, two drinks.

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. read more

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The rib eye and shrimp and grits were great! We also really enjoyed the strawberry shortcake. Lane was a fantastic! Thank you for the outstanding service. read more

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 read more

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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. read more

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 read more

131 MAIN Restaurant - American Near Me - Cornelius, North Carolina

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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!!! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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. read more