Barrel Fork - Cornelius

Love everything about this place. Going back regularly.

My girlfriend has been dying to try this spot so we went for dinner. Immediately was greeted by who may have been the owner and was super nice, our waitress and the bartender were also outstanding people and incredibly friendly. The vibe there is a bit like a speakeasy and trendy for sure. But...Drinks were pretty good, very expensive but they were interesting and still good.Salt and vinegar chips with salmon didn't have a whole lot of flavor. Just raw salmon on chips.Calamari ideally would have been crispier and the batter was just ok.Salmon meal was charred too much, not a crust but actual char. Leeks and mashed potatoes really were just bland and nothing to write home about.The salmon meal came out and my swordfish meal had not even been started yet. 15 min later the swordfish came out also charred and with a very basic couscous. I thought the meal said roasted tomatoes but they were boiled and chimichurri on the swordfish but was just the fish.They were nice enough to credit us about $80 on the meal but honestly even the $130 we still paid for the meal was too high. If I were to go back it would be just for a drink and something small like a lobster Mac and cheese side and nothing more

This was one of the worst meals I've ever had in my life. Our waiter was so aggressive and high strung that he seemed like he was on drugs, and continuously addressed my mother and girlfriend as you guys despite being in a restaurant with $60 entrees and white tablecloths.The first course was fine, but the rest of the food was awful. I ordered a $62 ribeye and asked for it medium, it came out so rare that it was cold in the center and extremely chewy. Inversely, my mother's pasta was so overcooked that it practically disintegrated on the fork.The hostess and the person who dropped off our appetizers (who appeared to also be training a new server) were both nice, but I'd never go back. Drive into the city if you want a decent meal, because you will not find one here.

The new chef has really elevated their food offerings. Staff is largely seasoned and knowledgeable. highly recommended.

Great presentation of both food and cocktails. Great knowledge of menu and each item on it.