Hello, Sailor
Hushpuppies and Pickles
It was an absolutely beautiful day out--one of those perfect blue-sky and brunch days--so some friends and I made our way to Hello, Sailor on the lakeside.
Views and vibes
Hello, Sailor is located on Henderson Road in Cornelius, right on the water overlooking beautiful Lake Norman. Just the kind of place you're looking for if you want your brunch served with a certain vibe. And what a GREAT vibe! This place is packed with atmosphere, with a midcentury interior and a phenomenal deck to sit on outside and take in the view.
Great food, a menu with limits
Our server’s name was Oliver (Ollie), and we were well taken care of. The service was seriously excellent! The drinks were great (and by great I mean STRONG, amen!) and the food was very solid. But having said that, the menu is sadly limited. I totally understand the premium for the waterfront vibe, I confess: I found it to be expensive for what it is.
But, you may ask: what is it? Glad you asked!
Okay, here's what we got:
Hushpuppies – Great level of salt; they were just right without being too salty. A perfectly crispy exterior with a nice, moist interior. Served with honey butter on the side. Dreamy.
Pickles – Crunchy with a good hit of vinegar that still allows that good cucumber flavor to come through. Not your average soggy pickle from a jar; sharp and crisp, more like a quickle.
Oysters – Medium-sized and NC-sourced. Nice mild flavor, not salty or briny. Never fear, you won't be tasting the ocean with these.
Seared Cauliflower Steak – Holy WOW, delicious! Incredible sauce, and the addition of fried egg? Inspired. Loved that peanut romesco!
Chicken Sandwich – Quite good! Hot tip (pun intended): get the hot sauce on the side, as it could be very overpowering if covering the chicken. Speaking of, the chicken was juicy and had a nice crunchy breading. The Uni Mayo adds a complex, tasty flavor.
Lobster Roll – Okay. Drop everything. You have to get this. It’s DELICIOUS. Nice mix of meat, but the real star here is the tarragon. It adds a beautiful, complementary flavor. I can’t say it enough: this is a great roll! That tarragon added a new dimension and complexity. Took the whole shebang from good to excellent!
Shrimp – What it says on the tin: salty and crunchy little shrimp. Yum. Need I say more?
Cinnamon Roll – I mean, what’s not to like? This is everything you want in a cinnamon roll: sticky, gooey, the winning marriage of cinnamon and apple. Perfect cream cheese frosting. Not too sweet. The cinnamon roll of dreams. As it if wasn’t obvious, I’m a BIG fan.
Top-notch, but I have suggestions...
Let's be clear: I really enjoyed myself at Hello, Sailor and the food and drinks were very good. Overall, I’ll give this waterfront spot an 8/10, although with some key changes, it could easily be a 10/10. I really do feel that there was missed opportunity with the menu. I’m seriously SHOCKED that they do not offer a seafood tower, or a larger variety of oysters, both of which seem like a perfect fit with the vibe of the place. I’m also surprised that they do not offer a completely over-the-top Bloody Mary at brunch, with crab and lobster and hushpuppies (something like what The Darling does in Charleston).
So, would I return?
I would definitely go back Hello, Sailor, but for the price, it really only makes sense to go on one of those perfect blue-sky and brunch days, when you can really enjoy the good vibes and the gorgeous views. If you get the chance, grab a lovely day and some friends and make your way over to Hello, Sailor!
