Welcome to Barrel and Fork
At Barrel and Fork, located in a charming 1906 house in Cornelius, NC, every meal is a journey of flavors and experiences. Known for its upscale American cuisine, the restaurant features a seasonal menu that showcases in-house creations, from decadent wagyu meatloaf to perfectly seared scallops over risotto. Guests rave about the attentive service and intimate atmosphere, making it a popular spot for romantic dinners. The eclectic drink menu, highlighted by expertly crafted cocktails and a curated bourbon selection, enhances the culinary adventure. With a commitment to quality, Barrel and Fork promises an unforgettable dining experience that keeps patrons returning for more.
- 20517 N Main St Cornelius, NC 28031 United States Hotline: (704) 655-7465
Welcome to Barrel and Fork, a culinary gem nestled in Cornelius, NC, where American fare meets an atmosphere that radiates romance and sophistication. With a charming setting in a historic house built in 1906, the restaurant’s quaint character is complemented by contemporary touches, making it a delightful spot for date nights and special occasions.
The ambience is invigorating, featuring both indoor and outdoor seating options, along with a full bar that boasts an impressive array of bourbons and expertly crafted cocktails. Whether you prefer the lively buzz inside or the tranquility of the outdoor patio, Barrel and Fork caters to diverse dining preferences.
- Diverse Menu: The menu at Barrel and Fork is a concoction of traditional and innovative dishes. Notably, diners have raved about the Elk Rib Eye and Wagyu steak, with patrons praising their remarkable flavors and textures.
- Specialty Dishes: The candy pig (bacon), gnocchi, and perfectly cooked scallops stand out among regular highlights. Shoni A. was particularly enamored with the Pig Candy and other in-house specialties.
- Catering to All: Barrel and Fork takes pride in offering vegan options and catering to dietary preferences, ensuring everyone can find something delightful to enjoy.
- Vibrant Community: The staff's knowledge and passion enhance the dining experience, as highlighted by multiple customers. Enthusiastic mixologists at the bar provide a personalized touch, making you feel right at home.
Additionally, the service here shines brightly. Whether you’re greeted by Matt, Joseph, or other team members, expect attentive, friendly service that fosters a welcoming atmosphere. Reservations are encouraged, particularly on busy nights like Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the restaurant truly comes alive.
While expectations for upscale dining come with a price tag, guests find that the experience is worthwhile. As expressed by one customer, "Prepare yourself for a pricey meal $$$$!"—but with such quality dishes and a welcoming vibe, you leave feeling satisfied.
From the delectable flavors to the inviting ambiance, Barrel and Fork earns its place as a must-visit establishment for food lovers and couples alike. As you plan your next dining adventure, don’t forget to indulge in their remarkable desserts, particularly the passion fruit cake and key lime cheesecake.
In summary, each visit to Barrel and Fork promises to be a memorable affair, adorned with exquisite dishes that speak to the passion of its culinary team. This restaurant isn't just about food; it's about creating experiences that linger long after the last bite.
For reservations, call (704) 655-7465 or visit them at 20517 N Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031. Don’t miss out on this beautiful experience that food enthusiasts are raving about.

Awesome food, awesome drinks, awesome service! This is our favorite date night place to go, we never leave disappointed.

Some times on your second visit, a restaurant that scored a five the first time loses its "first time" excitement. Not Barrel and Fork, another wonderful experience. Try the Elk Rib Eye, it was amazing.

Went to barrel and fork for our anniversary. Have been to restaurant bunch of times prior and had great experience. This time was unfortunately not the case. We were seated next to the bathrooms and kitchen, so needless to say not very romantic setting. Usually don't care where I am seated but for special occasion need to be better location. For appetizer we went with the calamari which was good but wish restaurants would stop putting marinara as the sauce. I ordered the wagyu steak and it was saltier than McDonald's fries which ruined the steak. The side dish risotto was amazing and my wife's scallops were great as well. Overall the food was great besides my steak. Will definitely come back since prior experiences have been great. Only suggestion is when making a reservation and it asks if there is a special occasion and you answer yes it should factor in seating location or why even ask if you do nothing with information.

First, make sure you have allocated for an expensive meal before deciding to come here. It is going to be costly, so if you are a tight wad like my brother, prepare yourself! After checking out the seasonal menu for over a year we decided to get this spot a try. The service was excellent! Our server was fast, efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly. We started with the gnocchi and it was arguably the best part of our meal! The texture was unbelievable and unlike any other gnocchi we have tried. The sauce that night was a beef white sauce and it was so very savory and rich. We both had salads - they were tasty and good, but not necessarily memorable. My wife had the scallops over risotto - perfectly cooked and well seasoned. I had the meatloaf and it was an umami bomb in your mouth! We finished the night with a slice of key lime cheesecake - it was good but they do not make in house. The seating is intimate, so if you don't like stranger danger, prepare yourself! We are not drinkers, so my wife tried a ginger mock-tail and she loved it! Again, prepare yourself for a pricey meal $$$$! Then don't stress because you budgeted for it! We will definitely be back! To those about to dine, we salute you!

This place definitely kept a little piece of my heart with it! It's loaded with character, artwork, knowledgeable staff and soooo many item made in-house! It's a small quaint restaurant with delicious food, a great playlist and a cozy feeling inside and outside! The Pig Candy, Peach, Salmon and Bronzini was fantastic! Matt our server did a phenomenal job taking care of us too! Had a chance to chat with a few other ppl that work there and everyone was so kind, and excited about B&F too! Can't wait to return! Such a great experience :)

I wanted to take my hubby on a nice dinner date. I searched on Resy for a nice restaurant and found Barrel and Fork. I first noticed the 4.5 star rating but as I delved deeper, I read some exhilarating reviews regarding this restaurant. The more and more I read the reviews the more I became intrigued by the restaurant. I booked a reservation on Global Dining by Resy. We drive about 30+ minutes to Cornelius where the restaurant is located. Our reservation was for 5 PM. We got there about 10 minutes early and noticed a line had formed at the entrance of the restaurant. We waited outside until they opened at 5 PM on the dot. We were seated promptly once we got to the hostess stand. The restaurant is in an old house built in 1906 (if I am not mistaken). The floors creaked as you walk on them and you can feel the floors moving as people walked by. Our waiter came over to go over the cocktail menu. My hubby decided to opt for the smoked Old Fashioned and I opted for the bourbon flight (I did not modify it although you can). We also ordered a caesar salad and candy pig (bacon). Our drinks came first followed by the salad and bacon. The flights I ordered were 80, 104, and 95 proof respectively. The brand of bourbon is called Penelope. They were strong but satisfying. My hubby stated that his drink was "interesting" but good. It had a nutty flavor. The salad was delicious and the candy pig was basically pork belly. It was fatty and sweet, but very flavorful. We ordered our entrees next. I ordered the brazina fish which came with rice and veggies and my hubby ordered the wagyu meatloaf with mashed potatoes and succotash. My branzina was charred and seasoned to perfection. Although boney (I had to pull a ton of bones out of mouth so be careful when ordering this dish), it was delightful the sides were good too. My hubby loved his meatloaf. He said it was definitely one of the best meatloafs he has ever tasted. He loved his veggies and mash too. Finally, we ordered dessert. I chose the passion fruit cake and my hubby opted for the key-lime cheesecake. The passion fruit cake was like a strawberry shortcake that included passion fruit. It was sooooo good. It was the favorite dessert between the two. The key-lime was good but average. The service was good as well. We were checked on by the manager and by our server, Joseph constantly. Joseph gave great recommendations. My hubby knocked over my empty flight glass by accident. Luckily it did not break, and the manager came over promptly to see if we needed anything to be cleaned up and/or drinks "topped off". Once we finished, they brought over one of the most unique things. It was a tincture made with boiling water, dry ice, assorted plants, and spices. It smelled so good and made for a great photo. Hubby's Ratings: Smoked Old fashioned - 3.5/5 The Burrows (Manhattan) - 4.5/5 Caesar Salad - 4/5 Meatloaf - 4.5/5 Key-lime Pie - 4/5 Passion fruit cake - 4.5/5 Customer Service - 5/5 Ambiance - 4/5 My ratings: Flight - 4/5 Candy Pig - 5/5 Branzina - 5/5 Passion fruit cake - 5/5 Key-lime pie - 4/5 Customer service - 5/5 Ambiance - 4/5 Overall, I would highly recommend Barrel and Fork for couples looking for a nice romantic meal in a quaint restaurant with great cocktails and flavorful cuisine. And don't forget to get a slice of that passion fruit cake. You'll thank me later.

Superb food with a great atmosphere and excellent service. We were thrilled with our time and have added this to the top of our list for future date nights

After reading yelp reviews I was nervous about getting a seat. We called while fighting highway traffic and were told they had a couple seats at the bar. We crossed our fingers and said little prayers. We grabbed two low back bar seats, settled in, and cozied up at at the bar with the most amazing mixologists. Dinner, drinks and well received education. We tried a couple new bourbons (they have quite a few) the most amazing gin drinks, and kangaroo. Loved the competed experience. B&F was booming for a Thursday. Great atmosphere and vibe all around. The porch had well appointed heaters. If we didn't enjoy the bar experience we would have loved to sit out on the porch of this beautiful home. Our food came in a timely manner and we cleaned our plates. The exploration of flavors from carrot puree, mustard collards, and softly sautéed mushrooms appeased all the senses. From a last moment chance at a seat this turned into a complete customized dinner experience. We had tickets for another event down the road but were sad to leave. Will be back soon. With more of our family.

Loved this place! Service and food were amazing. Julie, Josh, Charles, Ben & Tyler were all throwing out the rec's for bourbon and cocktails and we were blown away by their passion and knowledge. Would highly recommend. My fav on the food side was the lamb!