Easy to drive past Seaboy and think it's a shop or a takeout spot rather than a phenomenal…read morerestaurant. The exterior belies the real space, which is cozy and intimate and buzzy. And WHAT A MEAL. Explains why it's tough to get in! We arrived early for our reservation and were seated in the bar (which we like) rather than the main dining room. A little slow to start (perhaps we threw off their rhythm)...but went on for a great meal. Nice selection of reasonably priced and interesting wines by the glass. We started with the crab dip which is served with a lot of delicious focaccia. Truth is, that might have been enough...but we continued! She had the scallops, and I the swordfish. Both really outstanding. The swordfish in particular was impressive -- sizable and thick filet that was, nonetheless, not dry in the least. It's pricey. It's hard to get in to. And that's because it's really, really good. We'll be back for sure.

This gem of a place is unbelievably good! It's a quaint spot, so reservations are highly…read morerecommended. I visited here over the holiday and was immediately excited, as the entrance provides a view into the kitchen, so you're able to see how precise every cook is about the food that's being served. We were seated towards the back which provided a more intimate vibe - much appreciated. Our server was pleasant and well-informed on both the history of the place and the food menu. As other reviews have pointed out, it's a seafood spot but you have options if your tastebuds call for something else. From the oysters to the main dish - EVERYTHING was great! I've put this place on my list of spots to keep in rotation, because it sincerely is that good! Make a reservation and go check them out!

We arrived on a Sat around 11am with 2 kids under 3 and as first timers. Absolutely fantastic…read moreexperience. Seated quickly with outside views. Our waiter Chris was proactive to bring goldfish for the kids and waters. Super nice guy! Oysters were delicious and the Stone Crab was out of this world. Love the fish tacos with hatche chile tortillas. Never had them like this before and they are amazing! Pickles are a fun touch! Plus the French rose was delightful. Thanks for an awesome lunch! The view didn't hurt either. See you next time!

Hello, Sailor deserves way more than a 3.3--it's honestly one of the most underrated spots on Lake…read moreNorman. A lot of the early negativity came from people comparing it to Rusty Rudder. I get the nostalgia, but let's be real--the Rudder was a dive with average-at-best bar food. This is a completely different level. Hello, Sailor is polished, fun, and has an atmosphere that actually feels like a destination on the lake. More importantly, the food is outstanding. Creative, well-executed, and far beyond what you typically expect from a waterfront spot. What surprises me most is how many people still won't give it a shot because of old opinions. That's a miss. If you go in with an open mind, you'll realize quickly this place is doing things right. It's absolutely worth trying--and once you do, you'll wonder why the ratings don't reflect it.

My daughter and I dined at Choplin's on a Thursday evening and used a Groupon voucher and had no…read moreissues despite reading about others having some issues with theirs. Our experience was outstanding- we shared the lobster bisque and bread offering, both were amazing. Afterwards, we each had the large filet mignon entree, which was also delicious and cooked perfectly. For dessert we shared the tiramisu and it was incredible. Our server, Skye (sp?) was so fun and charismatic, and she provided a "just right" level of attentiveness to our needs. Can't wait to return.

Here's your updated review with those details added:…read more Extremely disappointing experience. We came in on a Saturday night for my friend's son's birthday with a 6:30 reservation for six people and didn't receive our food until nearly 8:30--almost a full three hours later. It was very clear the restaurant was severely understaffed, with only two servers handling the entire dining room and no bartender. Our server, Linda, truly did everything she could and remained kind and attentive despite the situation, but it was simply too much for one person to manage. Unfortunately, when the food finally arrived, it only added to the frustration. None of the steaks were cooked correctly, and the food was not served at an appropriate temperature. The only items anyone in our group really enjoyed were the shrimp appetizer and the French onion soup. At that point, after such a long wait, we didn't even feel it was worth sending anything back. This situation felt completely avoidable with proper staffing and management. While we appreciate Linda's effort, the overall experience was unacceptable, especially for what was meant to be a special birthday celebration, and prices of food! The only reason I gave two stars instead of one is because Linda tried her hardest!

So, let first start off with the food and cocktails at Burtons, which always represents! I have yet…read moreto order anything that was not a hit. What really stands out with Burtons at Birkdale is the service! I have only eaten at a table once, I tend to eat at the bar. Like previous bartenders, today was no different. I had a great conversation with Sam this evening; who made the Pappardelle Bolognese recommendation. Great job Sam! She really made my dining experience pleasant with her conversation; without neglecting the other customers at the bar. As for the ambiance, it is always a nice place to dine. I am grateful to live walking distance from Burtons Management, keep up the good work. The staff seems to enjoy working at Burton.

Came here with a last minute reservation with my dear hubs the other night as he requested we go…read moresomewhere healthy. I was seated immediately while waiting for him to arrive. My server was amazing as we (Im)patiently waited for him. I ordered the roasted beet tower to start. Finely diced marinated beets with a thin slice of goat cheese topped with mixed greens and a vinaigrette. This dish tasted so fresh! My husband's only complaint was chasing the tiny beets around the plate (first world problems) I chose to have a cup of their creamy chicken soup. No rice, no potato filler - cream based, fresh chicken mushrooms and carrots danced around my mouth. Topped with Gruyère (I think) each bite was like a rich warm hug from grandma Our entrees arrived in a timely manner - him having the ahi tuna poke bowl. He chose to substitute the rice for mixed greens. He devoured the entree and noted the tuna being sweet for the longer sear - his fault, he forgot to ask for it to be cooked extremely rare or done raw, poke style as it was to be a poke bowl which is typically served raw. I chose the harvest bowl. A base of rice and quinoa topped with Brussel sprouts, beets, greens, goat cheese, and butternut squash. I chose to add grilled shrimp. Holy cow. I felt like all of the vegetables were home grown from the chef's garden. Perfectly roasted and seasoned. An impressive rice/quinoa topped vegetable ratio exceeded all expectations!!!

Nestled inside of King Canary Brewing (Davidson location), Marlee Jeans is a fresh casual fare…read moreseafood restaurant with options for those allergic to seafood. Chef Erick + team take every measure to prevent cross contamination for those with allergies - whether seafood or gluten. I also love the way their set up is: order your drinks from king canary, order your food from the Marlee Jeans side. It's perfect for gathering with a group as they give you a number tent and the server/food runner brings you the food as soon as it is prepared. In my opinion, this prevents food from sitting in the windows and getting cold cause "it's not my table." The concept of gathering your own utensils (not plastic) is spot on as it allows those who only want to drink and sit and socialize not feel pressured to order a full sit down meal, thus washing cutlery that's never been used. For this most recent visit, I took advantage of their snow-weather special: $30 for 1 dozen raw oysters as well as their lobster Mac and cheese. Coming out hot and bubbly with a cheese crust, I had to wait for the Mac and cheese to cool off to eat. I sat at the raw bar and watched Chef Erick personally shuck my oysters. My short rib quesadilla was just as flavorful though I think I prefer the short rib panini instead.

Stopped by Marlee Jean's Raw Bar & Kitchen while in town and thought it was such a cute little…read morespot. The inside had a really fun vibe and decor, but we ended up sitting outside on the patio since we had our dogs with us. Super relaxed atmosphere and a great place to hang out for lunch. You order food and drinks at the counter and they bring everything out to your table. I originally wanted sweet tea (sadly they didn't have any ), so I switched it up and ordered their spicy Bloody Mary instead... and WOW. Holy moly, it was GOOD. Easily the highlight of the meal for me. We tried a few different things -- the tuna wontons, burrata salad with shrimp, panini, and potato wedges. The presentation was great and everything was decent, but the food itself was just okay overall. Atmosphere and drinks definitely carried the experience for me. Giving this one 4 stars because the vibe was really nice, patio was dog-friendly, and that Bloody Mary deserves its own shoutout.

131 Main in Lake Norman strikes the perfect balance between upscale and inviting. The atmosphere is…read morepolished 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.

Still our favorite close to home. The burgers are the best…read morein 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 !

We visited Fin & Fino at Birkdale for dinner. As a bonus, they were participating in Savor…read moreCharlotte. We'd made reservations, were greeted warmly and seated immediately upon arrival. We didn't use it on this visit, but they offer valet service, which is useful because of the parking congestion that can occur at Birkdale. My first impression was that this is a very beautiful restaurant. There is lots of lighting, thoughtful artistic pieces, and it has an airy, aquatic ambiance. Even the restrooms were lovely! There is an outdoor patio, as well as a front dining area where the bar is, and a rear dining area with visibility to the kitchen. The front and rear areas are separated by a glass waterfall sign bearing the restaurant's name. We had an absolute outstanding server named Saige. She was attentive and made great recommendations for us. To start, we had Caesar salads. The presentation of these was unique, having somewhat of a ruffled appearance. For the second course, we tried the sautéed shrimp with Cajun spice and charred bread as well as bacon wrapped scallops with Calabrian tomato jam. Finally, for the third course, we had the hanger steak with blue cheese butter and new potatoes. I love blue cheese, and I really loved it as an addition to this dish. Every item I tried, I would order again. Unfortunately, we didn't save room for dessert, but we've heard they are fantastic...next time! After dinner, we went and sat at the bar for a little while, and the staff there was just as delightful. Dining here was a whole experience that I plan to repeat again in the future!

My husband and I have gone to Finn & Fino a few different times recently, and it has quickly become…read moreone of our favorite spots. It's a very nice restaurant, but they truly take you as you are--you don't have to be dressed up to feel welcome. Every hostess we've encountered has been incredibly friendly, and you can tell the staff genuinely cares about making sure you have a great dining experience. The manager even comes around to check on guests, which is a thoughtful touch that you don't see everywhere. They also have amazing happy hour deals, especially on the oysters. The French fries are fantastic, and the burger is just as good. We've had consistently great experiences and look forward to coming back again.

Really big fan of this spot! Great food, service, drinks and ambiance. Every drink I've tried and…read moredish I've had has been great. It's also reasonably priced for being on the water. I like how it feels like three places in one - there's an outdoor area, dining room and bar. It's also kid friendly - shoutout to our waitress for taking care of us and making sure the kids were taken care of. Would highly recommend for any occasion. And make sure to try all of their fun drink infusions!

Dined here with a group of friends for a Sunday lunch. The restaurant is dock side with outdoor…read moredining and a beautiful view. We dined inside with a comfortable dark wood setting. We had a attentive waitress, a nice Sunday brunch menu. The food was plated nicely, hot foods came out hot, prices upscale, portion size fine. We ordered items such as lobster chowder, frittas, turkey sandwich, hamburger, Greek salad, shrimp cocktail and crab cake plate. My salad was the last item to come to the table whole others were eating their hot foods.. One diner did not like her hot turkey sandwich as the bread was very soggy, otherwise everyone basically was satisfied with their menu choices. Overall a nice dining experience.

Great service, fresh fish, wonderful food…read more We stopped here for a late lunch that ended up being our early dinner. Mrs. K. and I do enjoy poke and it fits well when I'm on my keto diet. My vacation officially started this afternoon, so I'm not on keto. My bowl with tuna was on a brown rice base! Delicious, lots of different textures here and a big portion considering that this was the "small." The young lady at the counter was friendly and helpful and put together two of their "bespoke" bowls but asked along the way if we wanted to customize in any way. A delightful meal and we'll be back to Poke Lakes. [Review 1013 of 2025 - 4359 in North Carolina - 24567 overall]

There are clearly people who come in who are regulars! It must mean that their food is good…read more I came in and ordered one of their pre-decided bowls, but the woman asked me if I wanted to change anything multiple times! I like that she wanted to check it was what I wanted. The food was good and fresh! Some people sat in and ate, with plenty of space to sit. Nice and clean inside. I took mine to go but I would be fine eating in!

Came here for a last minute date night…read more The lkn roll is a good "starter" sushi for non sushi eaters. They have rolls for experienced sushi eaters as well which is the one my husband enjoyed. The potstickers have an amazing flavor, highly recommended.

Stopped in around 1 pm for lunch on a Tuesday. It was quiet and we had our pick of seats. They have…read moreabout 16 different rolls plus sashimi, bowls, and appetizers. I wasn't looking for a beverage at lunch but they did have a full page menu of wine, sake, and cocktails. Their also had a long beer menu on their screens above the bar. Service was quick and the rolls were very good. The Not Your Typical Potstickers were a unique treat between the duck and corn dumpling - a great way to start the meal. If you're in Downtown Cornelius and looking for sushi stop by Cool Fish.