Welcome back to the newly renovated waterfront spot in Sherrills Ford, The Landing Restaurant, Tiki Bar and Marina. Dustin Keith, the new owner spent last year on overhauls for the space starting in February 2022. Dustin has done a great job of taking the original integrity of this Lake Norman gem and providing upgrades, not only to the food, but the design theme as well. A new patio, upgraded indoor space, and planted palms are just a few to mention. The menu has been elevated to keep fast casual dining but with a chef’s touch. While the primary focus is on handhelds, they’ve expanded their menu to add more high-end dishes, serving items from pizza to filets. Chef Drew Moseley is doing a fantastic job of keeping the fan favorites of this establishment alive, while providing a higher quality standard.
Take your pick of driving or boating up to this tropical oasis, located on the west side of Lake Norman. If driving in by land, head around back to the patio to be seated. If by boat, there’s about twenty courtesy docks for boaters, but if those fill up don’t worry, because there’s a tiki transport boat for anchored guests awaiting to be shuttled in once their table is ready. One of the best things about this spot is that there are some great spaces to hang out in if there is a wait. There’s a tiki deck and sandbox beach area for the kids, with seating if you want to enjoy drinks or takeout. The inside even has a game room to entertain the little ones!
Now, let’s get to the food! We began with the Millie’s Meatballs, which were six hefty sized meatballs, nicely seasoned, topped with parmesan cheese and basil. Shockingly enough, the Brussel sprout basket is the most popular starter which I was surprised to hear, until I tasted them! Roasted to perfection and packed with flavor, they were tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Either of these are great shareable items for the table. We also got to test out the “Lava Flow”, a non-alcoholic kids cocktail which came in a fun tiki cup, topped with an umbrella and light up ice cube.
Next, we had a classic pepperoni pizza loaded with cheese and a tasty crust. There are seven fixed pizzas, or you can make your own with fifteen toppings to choose from! All pizzas are about twelve inches and hand tossed with gluten free options available.
Under their “South of the border” section we tried the new street tacos and pork belly tacos which are being added to the menu. Both tacos come with your choice of a side. With ten to choose from we opted for the chips and homemade salsa. The street tacos aka quesabirria tacos were three pressed soft shells with braised beef, mozzarella, salsa, cilantro, and onion served with consommé for dipping. The pork belly tacos were one of our favorite items! They were loaded to the brim with flavorful pork bites that were super crispy.
We ended our meal with a taste of the new filet entrée which did not disappoint. The eight-ounce hand cut filet was deliciously flavored with roasted garlic and herb butter demi glaze. This was a highlight of the meal and a perfect representation of what Dustin and Drew are bringing to the table with their elevation of this restaurant. It’s one of the more upscale items on the menu which allows for a wider variety for guests who want both quality handhelds and more premium options.
More to note is their live music every Saturday and Thursdays from spring to late summer. They are connected to the Aquaventure Boat Club and also offer kayak rentals year-round. They even have tropical snow cones on the property with nearly 100 flavors to choose from during the warmer months!
Furthermore, this location is not merely just a restaurant and tiki bar. It’s a landmark that has been in the Lake Norman community since 1993. Upstairs, The Landing has a waterfront motel (the only one on Lake Norman) and overnight guests will enjoy newly renovated waterfront rooms, free kayak rentals, free transient docking, use of the boat ramp and discounts on food.
We can’t wait to come back in the summer to see this spot at its liveliest. This restaurant is especially perfect for families with plenty of places to play and food that everyone will love. It’s truly a kids and adults paradise on Lake Norman. Great views and great food. What else could a restaurant goer ask for? This place has it all!
