Lineberger's Cattle Company: The Sherrills Ford Steakhouse Since 1972

Lineberger's Cattle Company Steakhouse & Saloon is the oldest major restaurant on the western shore of Lake Norman, serving dinner from a log-style building on NC-150 in Sherrills Ford since August 18, 1972. It is a dinner-only, steak-first spot known for aged beef, a help-yourself salad bar, and the Lake Norman Mudd Pie, with a dining room big enough for weddings and reunions. Here is what to order, the real hours, and the honest details on parking and the room before you go.

The story: the west side's original big night out

Lineberger's opened on August 18, 1972, which makes it one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the whole Lake Norman area, and easily the longest-tenured in Sherrills Ford. In five-plus decades it has stayed a destination rather than a roadside relic: roughly 300 seats, a full bar, and a calendar that still fills with rehearsal dinners, team banquets, and family reunions. The building itself is part of the draw, a big rustic log structure with a Western steakhouse feel that you can see coming up the highway.

Ownership has changed hands over the years while the concept has held. Jim and Tamra McCann bought the restaurant in 2020 after relocating from Mississippi, and the official site now lists Brian and Melissa with their daughter Abby as the family running the kitchen and the room. For the rest of what is worth eating on this stretch of the shore, the Sherrills Ford restaurant directory has the full list.

What is on the menu

Steak is the anchor, and the menu leans into the cattle-company branding with cowboy-named cuts. The Trail Boss is a 12-ounce ribeye rubbed in a sweet spice blend that blackens into a crust, and it is the item first-timers are pointed to, at about $37 on the current menu. The Cowboy, another 12-ounce ribeye, is the other marquee cut, and the beef tips at about $23 are the value move for people who want steak flavor without a whole cut. Steaks come with the self-serve salad bar, which is a real fixture of a Lineberger's meal rather than a garnish table.

Beyond the beef, the menu covers the bases a place like this needs: chicken, seafood including a seared ahi tuna appetizer around $13, and sides that stand up on their own. The dessert people drive for is the Lake Norman Mudd Pie, a chocolate ice-cream pie at about $9 that has become the unofficial closer for the western shore. The full menu is on Lineberger's website, and there is a full ABC bar with beer, wine, and cocktails.

Hours and the practical rundown

As of late 2026, Lineberger's is dinner-only: Tuesday through Thursday 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., Friday 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday. The Saturday opening at 3:30 p.m. is the thing to plan around if you want a table before the standard dinner rush, and Friday and Saturday are the fullest nights of the week. Hours can shift with the seasons and staffing, so a quick call to (704) 483-2276 before you drive across the lake is always the safe move.

The other honest notes: reservations are not required, though the house recommends calling ahead for larger parties, and the big dining room handles walk-ins on most weeknights. Parking is a free lot right at the entrance. There is outdoor seating when the weather cooperates, the dress code is smart casual with plenty of jeans in the room, and kids are welcome. This is not a waterfront restaurant, so there is no boat access here; it is a road destination on the western shore, which is exactly how most people have always arrived.

Who Lineberger's is for

Lineberger's is for the people who live on the western side of the lake and for anyone willing to make the drive for a proper steakhouse dinner. It is the spot for birthdays and anniversaries, for the parent who wants a salad bar and a quiet booth, and for the group that needs a reservation-free room big enough for half the neighborhood. It is not a trendy place, and it does not try to be; the appeal is the reliability of a steakhouse that has done the same job since 1972.

It sits apart from the waterfront scene on purpose. When you want dinner and a view in the same trip, the waterfront restaurant rankings cover the dock-and-dine side of Lake Norman, and the steakhouse rankings show how the western shore's original compares to the newcomers in Cornelius and Mooresville.

How Lineberger's fits in with the western shore lineup

The west side of the lake has a small number of serious dinner rooms, and each one owns a clear role. Here is how they line up:

Three nearby options in Sherrills Ford and Denver

If Lineberger's is full or you want a different pace on the same side of the lake, all of these are within a short drive:

• Butcher Boy Cafe · 6347 NC-150

  The Sherrills Ford diner on the same highway, known for old-school affordable breakfast and burgers. Open Monday through Saturday until 2 p.m.

• Joey's · Sherrills Ford · 7600 NC-150

  Italian and pizza from the Joey's family, open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., a reliable counterpoint to steak in the same little town.

• Royal Bliss Brewing Co. · 7532 Royal Bliss Ct, Denver

  The far-west brewery with a relaxed taproom, a food menu, and live music, the right stop for a nightcap after dinner.

Lineberger's Cattle Company in Sherrills Ford, answered

Where is Lineberger's Cattle Company in Sherrills Ford, NC?

Lineberger's Cattle Company Steakhouse & Saloon is at 6747 NC-150 in Sherrills Ford, NC 28673, on the western shore of Lake Norman. The log-style building sits right on the highway, easy to spot coming up or down NC-150, with a free parking lot at the door.

What is Lineberger's Cattle Company known for?

The steakhouse, open since August 1972, is known for aged beef like the Trail Boss ribeye, a help-yourself salad bar, and the Lake Norman Mudd Pie dessert. The rustic log building seats about 300 and has long handled large gatherings and events.

What are the hours at Lineberger's Cattle Company?

As of late 2026, Lineberger's serves dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., Friday 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday. Hours can shift, so call (704) 483-2276 before you plan around them.

Does Lineberger's Cattle Company take reservations?

Reservations are not required, though calling ahead for larger parties is recommended. Friday and Saturday are the fullest nights, and parking is a free lot at the door. For the bigger western shore picture, the Sherrills Ford directory has every restaurant on this stretch of highway.