We've had dinner at the portrait gallery before and were pretty impressed with the food. We figured lunch here would be just as good...wrong. The quality was just not there. The burgers had that pre cooked microwave bacon and the "famous fries" were just curly wedges you can get at any college bar. That was a whopping 6 dollars for an addition of truffle mayo and pre shredded Parmesan. The lunch menu only has burgers and tacos. If you're gunna do all this to take away from your regular dining experience you may as well not do a lunch menu at all. I started reading other reviews and apparently this place has the same menu dinner and lunch. Seems like theft to allow the previous reviews and menu to be online. Only to serve people mediocre store bought tacos and burgers. read more

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Amazing experience! I ordered the NY Strip with Brussel sprouts and my friend ordered the burger with fries. The Strip was better than the filet I ordered on a previous visit, and this time I asked for the Brussels sprouts well done and they are perfect. My friend burger was amazing she absolutely loved it. She also noted that the ranch is delicious. Our drinks were also fantastic. Very well made and the bartenders were awesome with communication and getting our requests met. I'll be back! read more

Portrait Gallery Restaurant - NY Strip with Brussel Sprouts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

I am ashamed to say I'm a Matthews native and still live here and I literally had NO clue this was a restaurant lol. But in any case now that I know, best believe me I will be back. The outside is the small town charm of Matthews, but the inside is modern big city vibes. It is absolutely beautiful in there. Service was great and food and drinks amazing. I went on a Tuesday with a huge group of Facebook Group friends and we had a ball. We got the whole dining area reserved for us and in spite of a large crowd, the two waitresses were awesome. On Tuesdays cocktails are half off so I got the margarita and it was delish. For food I got the truffle fries and short rib sliders. Both were phenomenal! I couldn't even eat it all lol because even though small plates, I felt they both were filling. This place is great for a date night, hanging with the girls or even going solo to hang out at the bar. I can't wait to get back! Only thing that could make this place better is some live acoustic music sometimes, it would set the ambience off even more. Spoke with the owner and he said they do cocktail classes as well, they don't have them listed on the website but working on it, but said can email them for the info. I certainly will! lol read more

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This place has gone downhill. When it was a tapas menu, the food and drinks were great, but now the menu is just unoriginal and drinks are not as good anymore either. The worst though? I made a reservation for Christmas Eve a few weeks before Christmas. It was not blocked off on their calendar. I even received a text the day before confirming the reservation. When we showed up on Christmas Eve, there was a sign that said the restaurant was closed! They left a family of 6, with 2 little kids, scrambling on Christmas Eve. Now of course it is their right to close on Christmas Eve, but they should have managed their reservation system and blocked off that day. I do not recommend Portrait Gallery, and they have now lost a customer for their poor managing and service. read more

Service drinks food all a 10! Small but mighty place. Parking on the street and a great selection of spirits. Kitchen staff and servers were awesome. Blake is the man behind the bar! Come check this place out! read more

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just reading the alleged 5 star reviews, the friends that are these definitely 5 star reviews are lacking real visits to this meeh place, because its really a starless place, this was my second visit, and is just as mediocre as the first drunk visit , which i think u have to be 4 drinks in to enjoy the pre first year culinary student food they are servicing , one the 11 truffle fries they served , burrata on beef steak tomatoes , that a choice , but brussels sprouts with apple cider vinegar sugar emulsion is gutsy but presented half conceptualized is tell to the rest of your menu, i would say something Whitty but just stay away from the burger it 1000 better across the street, i know why this place is always empty , i world work on your food before opening up you out side. not trying to be counterproductive but maybe revisit school!!! Matthews deserves better read more

This restaurant is always a stop when we are in Matthews! A family owned business that serves great food in a great atmosphere! The food is delicious and well prepared and there are daily specials to enjoy! And look at the updates on the inside and outside dining areas! read more

The Classic Burger was just that. Classic! 8/10 imo. The drinks and the wine were good. The service was great! Isabel (i think) was awesome and was working really hard the whole time. We sat outside in the summer time/evening and it was a little hot which isn't their fault but the ambiance was 9/10 but a bigger fan would be nice! read more

Everything ! We just left, we went to celebrate our anniversary. The moment you walk in it smells of a very strong mildew odor. We were the first guests and our food was cold ! The portions were extremely small, the rice ball appetizer were the size of a walnut and cold. We asked for a to go cup for our drinks and the waitress said they haven't had any containers for two weeks and she informed the owner ( not really customers issue) for a $100 we were robbed, not even a complimentary anniversary dessert or drink. Without stating the obvious, we will never be back and unfortunately will have to pass on our disappointment. read more

Just no. Obligatory "our server was nice but..." This is the most insane pivot I've ever seen for a restaurant. We came in for the first time in a few months and found that they suddenly became a taco and burger place. On the same street as several other established taco and burger places. Which would be fine, but it wasn't particularly good. I wanted to like it, but I couldn't. We got an assortment of tacos, some fries, and drinks - and won't be coming back. On top of the odd food surprise, this is a very European-style restaurant with a very European-style courtyard. A beautiful courtyard. Literally nothing about it indicates you'll be having a taco or plastic basket of fries. I don't know if the folks at this place read these, but please just abandon ship on the rebranding and do something interesting before an institution like yours closes. We had to go eat at Santé after. read more

The staff is great as is the food. They never disappoint. Bartenders provide a broad range of options. Love this unique option in Matthews.

Y'all, after the Chicken & Waffle incident, I just gave up on going back to PG, but girlfriend asked me out and she picked the location. She is very fond of this place, but it just never stuck with me. I hadn't seen her in a while and just wanted the company. Had already convinced myself I would just nurse one drink all night. Get there, and she's already eating and 1 Martini in. I decided on the Gin Martini, thinking "you can't go wrong." The bartender Blake, is very pleasant and attentive. He even offers up a little chatting when he serves my drink. I immediately start to warm up and release chilled feelings I had from my last visit here, where the staff seemed highly annoyed that I would interrupt their conversations to ask for the simple things in life, like a fork to eat my meal with or black pepper to season. I decide to get a bite. Nothing too complicated, just the beet salad with goat cheese crumble. It is very tasty, but I do realize right away this is not goat cheese, it's feta. I asked Blake if it was substituted because they were out of goat cheese. He checks in back and learns the Chef grabbed the wrong cheese when preparing and offered to take it back. I never send food back for correction and decided it was not too bad with the feta. Just wanted to make Blake aware that if you're substituting an item, please make your patron aware before serving. This could have gone way south if it were someone else. Overall, this was a nice evening with a friend. he drink was soothing, the salad was tasty, Blake was a complete breath of fresh air in staffing changes. Thank you, PG read more

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Food was sooo disappointing. Steak was salty to the point it was inedible. Salmon was raw, and equally as salty. We brought friends there who were visiting and they said it was the worst meal they've ever had. We were so embarrassed. read more

Really not worth it!!! The curly fries were the best things here. Complementary chips and salsa, nice. Salad with oil and vinegar - the oil didn't taste good so it ruined the salad. Tacos - my friend said they were not anything special. Really not worth it. read more

Food and service were excellent. Loved the atmosphere. Kaylee did a great job and appreciated Brandon talking with us.

Went tonight and thought I was given wrong menu No, it's the right one and horrible It's Mexican now, totally not the The Portrait Gallery A couple of taco salads, 4 different tacos and 4 burgers , that's it Not worth it... I will not be returning read more

Identity crisis much? A 3rd menu change was certainly not the charm unfortunately. We tried the last concept of tacos & burgers--they were ok at best. And tonight we were optimistic about the new steakhouse theme...it was an epic fail. We ordered the truffle-parm fries as an appetizer & were given approx 20 aioli drenched, room temp fries (it was just sad). We then did our best to choke down their version of a filet--the meat was very mealy, dry, and tough. And the sides (mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese) were underwhelming. The only consistency has been the slow/bad service. It's a shame this place can't seem to get it together. read more

Welcome Back! I decided to take myself to brunch so I chose one of my favorite spots @portraitgalleryrestaurant in Matthews. I haven't been here in a few years but the experience remains the same. It gives the perfect ambiance like Miami but it's a hidden gem in Matthews. The food was delicious and the Mimosa flights are always sufficient. I missed my favorite waitress Caress but Mikayla did an awesome job. I ordered the avocado, toast, and beignets. Definitely not bad for a weekend wind down! #CharlotteBrunch #brunch #sundayfunday #matthewsnc #solo #single #blackgirlmagic #avacadotoast #eggs #daydrinking read more

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Such a gem! The Portrait Gallery has a limited menu, but everything we tried was absolutely delicious. The charcuterie board was amazing--perfectly paired with a glass of wine. I also had a lemon drop that was right on time--fresh, balanced, and just what I needed. The staff were super friendly, and the whole place has a great, cozy vibe. Can't wait to come back! read more

I just started working in the area and was looking for a quick bite and a beer after work. After stopping by Seaboard brewing first and noticing that their bites weren't the best for a guy eating solo I found this lovely establishment via my yelp app. I ordered a stout and the shrimp and grits. With this being a tapas style/small plates kinda place I didn't have extremely high hopes for a great meal and a full stomach on a $15 plate. I was pleasantly surprised at the portion size, the number of shrimp and the overall quality of the dish. Everything was spot on! The beer was supposedly a cookie dough flavor, but me and the bar tender both admitted that wasn't quite what we tasted. Great beer none the less though. Quick, attentive and friendly service taboot. I'll be back again and again as long as I'm in the area. By far my favorite spot that I've tried in Mathews as of yet. read more

The last time I had dinner here was prior to Covid and last night we were looking forward to a wonderful meal with friends. Sadly, no more small plates and the menu was very limited. My filet wasn't that great and everyone else's meal (salmon, burger, shrimp Alfredo) were so so. Definitely not the amazing place it use to be. The service was very good. We should have sat in the front room for more ambiance and fewer flies. read more

Recently visited portrait on a date night with my wife and we loved it! Started the night with a nice cocktail which was great and moved on to a charcuterie plate to get things going before our burger sliders came out which was perfectly cooked! We was slowly getting full but then ended with some delicious pork belly tacos and they was just so so good, wish we had like 10 of them haha. Overall, service was top notch, drinks were great and food was off the chain. Highly recommend checking this place out for any occasion and you won't be disappointed :) read more

Portrait Gallery Restaurant - slider burgers - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Came here for dinner last night with some friends. We ordered the salmon, burger sliders, fried chicken sliders, and Brussels for dinner to share. Everything was so delicious! The Resturant/bar itself is so cute. Ample parking in the area. The drinks looked good as well but we didn't get any. Definitely check this place out! read more

Please bring back the tapas menu. This new menu is very similar to the Matthews Social House directly across the street (same burgers, even the names, same fries, etc). read more

I stopped into Portrait Gallery for a solo date night and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and the food. I'd heard good things so I had high hopes and wasn't disappointed. The At the Beach cocktail was a lavender lemon and vodka drink and while it was tasty, be forewarned it is VERY heavy on the lavender and vodka and not at all sweet. The bartender warned me and she was right! I enjoyed it, but if you're looking for a fruity cocktail, this isn't your drink. The salmon was incredible. It was served over an arugula cream which I could've easily had a bowl of on its own! The desserts aren't made in house which I found disappointing, but I was delighted to find out they're made at a local bakery and brought over. The cheesecake with crème brûlée topping was the perfect finish. Definitely recommend! read more

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My husband and I love visiting The Portrait Gallery! The food is always phenomenal. Some of our favorites are the Truffle Fries, Four Cheese Flatbread, and the Pan Seared Salmon. Recently I tried their Espresso Martini. It is perfect! Definitely a go to drink. The service is always amazing. The waitresses are welcoming and knowledgeable. The bartender is kind and it is always fun watching him make drinks! Our go to for date nights! read more

Portrait Gallery Restaurant - Espresso Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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So chic & the cuisine was plated beautifully & was exquisite! I love the artwork & our server Aspen was amazing! I enjoyed the avocado toast & many mimosas! The staff was so friendly & sweet! Even the owner came out to check on everyone. Restaurant was clean with exemplary service! Would definitely recommend & would love to come back! read more

You know youv'e got a good thing going when, as a restaurant, you disguise yourself as a Portait Gallery, yet still pack'em in on Saturday evening. Seriously, I have driven by this place a dozen times since its opening nearly a year ago, and had it not been for Yelp, would still be completely unaware of its existence. Thank you Yelp! Actually, the owners opted to keep the name of the prior business that occupied the same space for years, which I appreciate, but I have to believe that adding the verbage "small plates and tapas" beneath their Portrait Gallery sign would only be advantageous. But on to what really matters... the cuisine. They specialize in artistically displayed small plates and tapas made with locally produced ingredients. Most plates run $8 to $12. Cheese and charcuterie boards are also available for $12 to $32. Wine by the glass starts at around $10. Our group of three ordered the Lamb and Sauteed Herb Crepes, Red Snapper, Pork Tenderloin and Pork Belly with grilled peaches, Grilled Watermelon and Kale Salad, Arancini Caprese and Roasted Broccoli Salad with Arugula and Goat Cheese. Everything was expertly prepared, beautifully presented and arrived amazingly fast. My favorites were the Arancini Caprese which was five deep fried rice balls stuffed with mozzarella and coated with bread crumbs paired with sliced tomatoes and a balsamic reduction. Both the Lamb Crepes and Pork Tenderloin were also excellent. The red snapper, however, I found a bit dry. Both salads we tried were very tasty. We finished things off with a chocolate cake concoction and a butterscotch flan. We also ordered a latte each. Everything was made in-house but we found the chocolate cake, although beautifully displayed, to be more than a bit dry. The flan was just okay. The lattes were very good. Our server, Tianna, was delightful and provided friendly and attentive service. We chose an outside table on the beautiful patio, as inside seating is somewhat lacking. You can choose between the patio, the front bar area where there are five or six hi-top tables in addition to the bar and two or three tables in the back adjacent to the patio and near the kitchen. The sanitation score was 95. Overall we were very pleased, and plan to return. This is a wonderful addition to a rapidly growing downtown Matthews' restaurant scene. read more

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The food and drinks were both good, but the interior and the menu could use some updating.

I went there to check out the Tuesday special that my friends told me about. I was clear to say I was interest on the drink specials...so I ordered what I mentioned would be on the cocktail specials...I was surprised with the bill and so I asked for the itemized. When I questioned why are the three cocktails not the special priced, I was told that ended last month. Hello!? Couldn't you tell me that when I mentioned I was here because I heard of the coattail specials?!?!?!?. Anyways...people!!! Just be truthful to your patrons!!! I would have stayed anyways because of the ambience of the place and paid regular price. BUT if people lie or don't be straight with you , sorry no ambience or good drinks or good smiles will have me or most people go back to your establishment. I am sorry to say, as much as I enjoyed it...honesty is always the best policy for me. read more

My husband and I really enjoyed our dinner at the Portrait Gallery...half price wine Wednesday was a nice surprise...we both got the Salmon and shared the brussel sprouts..both were delicious! Will definitely go back! read more

Went here last night and was surprised to see that the menu was a COMPLETELY different menu and style from my previous visits. My friends and I did enjoy our meal and our margaritas were yummy, but I missed the uniqueness and variety of the previous menu more. Why the switch? It was unlike any other place in downtown Matthews which is what I LOVED about it and based on other recent review, I was not the only one. Now its just competing with Moo & Brew and White Duck Taco . Was this an ownership change? If so, please return this gem into more of what it used to be. I fear it will get lost with the other options in the surrounding area. Outside of the above comments, our service was nice and attentive and the food came out quickly. Again the food was good. I will be back at some point but with less urgency. read more

Yay for a nice tapas restaurant in Matthews! This place is soooo cute! We went to celebrate my birthday with a group of 7. I was able to make reservations in advance and we were seated immediately. We ordered meat and cheese plates, mushroom, roasted potatoes, veggies, orzo, lamb crepes, salmon, tenderloin, pork, and filet. Everyone loved everything. Our favorite being the beef, least favorite the salmon. The service was really good even though the restaurant was packed! Some of our food took a little longer to come out but the restaurant made the wait worth our while. We brought in a cake for my birthday and celebrated after dinner! We will be back. read more

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Really good food but under seasoned. Mushrooms were fresh, nicely prepared but lacked flavor. Tuna again was fresh but the Wasabi had no kick whatsoever. Beef sliders were the hit, very good and perfectly prepared. Fried chicken sliders but for the jalapeño again lacked in flavor needs seasoning. read more

Let me just say, I would've given this restaurant 5 stars a few months ago. The small plates and uniqueness of this place was amazing. While the food is still good, there is really nothing unique about this place anymore. It's pretty much like going to a Mexican restaurant that also has burgers. We frequented this place before, but probably will only come back for drinks in the future. I will say the bartender and wait staff is amazing, but very disappointed in the change of the menu. This was a really good date night spot where you actually had to make a reservation or get on the wait list. Now, it is just another ordinary place. I'm sad :( read more

Nice modern and cozy restaurant. I drive past this place often until one day I look up places I haven't tried. There is shared parking out front. They have family styled shared seating for guests. We sat in the front room area. The staff were nice and attentive. The place was clean and this is including the restrooms. The food was great. They change their menu often so I don't want to recommend something and you go and they don't offer it anymore. I definitely recommend and hope to return soon. Hope you enjoy! read more

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Truly Phenomenal food and service! Portrait Gallery restaurant is a jewel in downtown Matthews. The food was like a work of art in presentation to match the art on the walls and ceiling. This restaurant had exceptional service too--thanks to Roz and Dyamond! The menu is a wonderful collection of small plates tapas style with delicious variety including vegetarian and gluten free options. We ordered the squid ink arrancini--rice balls with cheese and using squid ink for divine flavors!! My favorite dish!! You get four and I could have eaten them all!! Then we had roasted asparagus which was tender and savory with a vinaigrette dressing. The Beef tenderloin looked like a sculpture in a museum truly inspiring presentation!! Great tasting food! We also sampled the Lamb crepes, which were tasty unique flavors of lamb and spinach in savory sauce. For Blueberry crumble dessert Excellent bread and cornbread Wine list was diverse and included my favorite vineyard Adelsheim tried the rose, loved it! My friend had the blackberry mock tail and said it was delicious. Community Tables are in the front near the art ceiling decorations(so clever to playoff the former business Portrait Gallery), which are clever and inspiring. They hung portraits on the ceiling! The bar is open and busy on a Friday night. They have a hidden patio that is good for warm weather. Brunch on Saturday and Sunday is my next visit!! No reservations but we had an easy time getting a table on a Friday night We had an incredible culinary experience for reasonable prices. I'm excited for my next night out! Street parking is available nearby the library or by the public lot off downtown Trade street. read more

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Interesting and tasty Sunday brunch and excellent service. Beignets are a special treat.

Thoroughly enjoyed our 2 meals. The hamburgers were excellent -- seemed to be first quality meat, cooked as we wished, and with very nice I'll call them flour rolls that tasted freshly-baked. Service fine. Enjoyed the patio. We'll be back. read more

We used to enjoy the portrait gallery so much but after the rebrand I don't know that we would return. The drinks were good, the food was edible, but with all the other options in the area, I wouldn't recommend this spot for the price or quality. The food used to be more bistro style, elevated small plates with great wine and cocktails to pair with, but now it is a confusing Mexican/burger place. We were given chips on "fish & chips" restaurant paper and what was evidentially jarred Tostitos salsa. My husband ordered the aloha burger, which claims to be freshly made but he wasn't prompted to order to a specific temperature and it tasted frozen. I ordered the taco salad with chicken and it was average, it tasted like crockpot chicken and a homemade salad but not in a good way. There's only 4 tacos and a few burgers on the menu, no rice, beans, and an assortment of fries with sauce. For the same cost of our meal, we could've had higher quality burgers and fries just half a block over at moo and brew. Everything tastes like it came out of a freezer bag or a can. Our server was kind, and indicated that they made these changes for budget cuts, and while I can empathize I do not think this was the right move at all. If you want to cheapen ingredients you also cheapen the experience. Also, a commitment to the theme would've helped, but it was clearly not well thought out. Truly, how expensive can making fresh salsa be, rice is a cheaper side than frozen steak fries. Overall super disappointed, we could return for drinks only but the food is not up to the standard of the surrounding restaurants. It's not fair to the staff who are really kind or the bar tenders who work really hard and have always been great at their craft - I really implore the owners to rethink this approach! read more