Diner
$7 something for lunch - cheeseburger, side of mac n chz & diet coke
I was heading to the new Coffee Cup with a friend when I heard it had not yet passed its health inspection. Being on that side of uptown and not knowing of any good options, we dead ended into Art's (corner of McDowell & Morehead). I've seen this place for years on the outside but never been in. It reminds me of Mr. K's but not quite as nostalgic. The food was good and greasy, and it was really nice to have side options other than fries. I think they had green beans, pasta, and other stuff but I zoomed in on the mac n chz once I saw that. Plus, they serve coke products so I automatically like it better. The only problem was no ice cream. Anyway, if you're looking for cheap, greasy and good, it's a good option.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Dolce - Dilworth
Italian
$40ish dinner - Pollo Romano, 2 glasses of wine & split gelato sampler
I've been meaning to go here for a while but with so many Italian places in town, it took wanting to try something new to finally get here. I went with a friend for dinner on Thursday night and we sat outside. It's a quaint Italian restaurant where at least the hostess had an accent (which I can only assume was real). It's a white tablecloth kind of place with a small sitting area outside and a larger restaurant inside. Almost everyone was outside this night. I ordered the Pollo Romano - chicken w artichokes, sun dried tomatoes in a white wine sauce. It was awesome! They served it with oven roasted potatoes and a vegetable medley. Whatever it was, it was some good stuff. They served bread, of course with the white bean thing similar to Luce and Toscana. The wine was nothing I was familiar with but the cute waiter helped me pick something out and I enjoyed it. I still have no idea what it was but it was good. For dessert, we split a sampler of three gelatos: vanilla, chocolate and hazelnut. It's not quite as good as being there, but it's a lot better than D&D's gelato. The vanilla and chocolate were really good, the hazelnut was okay but I'm not a normal fan of it anyway. The setting is a little weird driving up (it's next to the Roly Poly) but you didn't feel like it once you stepped inside. It's definitely on the higher side of local Italian but I'll definitely go back. Probably a good place to bring the parents.
$40ish dinner - Pollo Romano, 2 glasses of wine & split gelato sampler
I've been meaning to go here for a while but with so many Italian places in town, it took wanting to try something new to finally get here. I went with a friend for dinner on Thursday night and we sat outside. It's a quaint Italian restaurant where at least the hostess had an accent (which I can only assume was real). It's a white tablecloth kind of place with a small sitting area outside and a larger restaurant inside. Almost everyone was outside this night. I ordered the Pollo Romano - chicken w artichokes, sun dried tomatoes in a white wine sauce. It was awesome! They served it with oven roasted potatoes and a vegetable medley. Whatever it was, it was some good stuff. They served bread, of course with the white bean thing similar to Luce and Toscana. The wine was nothing I was familiar with but the cute waiter helped me pick something out and I enjoyed it. I still have no idea what it was but it was good. For dessert, we split a sampler of three gelatos: vanilla, chocolate and hazelnut. It's not quite as good as being there, but it's a lot better than D&D's gelato. The vanilla and chocolate were really good, the hazelnut was okay but I'm not a normal fan of it anyway. The setting is a little weird driving up (it's next to the Roly Poly) but you didn't feel like it once you stepped inside. It's definitely on the higher side of local Italian but I'll definitely go back. Probably a good place to bring the parents.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Cabo Fish Taco - NoDa
California fish taco place
$8.50 - BBQ Mahi Tacos (didn't buy so don't know actual bill)
I have to admit that I've never been a huge fan of the food at CFT. I like the atmosphere and the idea, but the food was never great in my opinion. Granted, I usually get the Cabo Fish Tacos (beer-battered cod w/ cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes and sauce) which are good but a little too greasy for me and never leave a good lasting impression. The chips are fine and the salsa is a fresh corn and tomato salsa which is good, but I prefer real Tex-Mex salsa so it's not my favorite. However, this has all changed. I discovered the BBQ Mahi Tacos (bbq mango marinated mahi with same fillers) and it was AWESOME!!! Definitely makes me want to go back and get them again. They serve coke products, another plus and this meal was so good, I could care less about the salsa. The sides are all fine but not my favorite (cucumber salad, mexi-slaw, beans and rice I think). Anyway, I'd encourage you to try these out and if you've never been before, it's a fun place to go in a cool part of town. If you like fish tacos, I hear these are some of the best but clearly they aren't up my alley. Anyway, hope you enjoy.
$8.50 - BBQ Mahi Tacos (didn't buy so don't know actual bill)
I have to admit that I've never been a huge fan of the food at CFT. I like the atmosphere and the idea, but the food was never great in my opinion. Granted, I usually get the Cabo Fish Tacos (beer-battered cod w/ cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes and sauce) which are good but a little too greasy for me and never leave a good lasting impression. The chips are fine and the salsa is a fresh corn and tomato salsa which is good, but I prefer real Tex-Mex salsa so it's not my favorite. However, this has all changed. I discovered the BBQ Mahi Tacos (bbq mango marinated mahi with same fillers) and it was AWESOME!!! Definitely makes me want to go back and get them again. They serve coke products, another plus and this meal was so good, I could care less about the salsa. The sides are all fine but not my favorite (cucumber salad, mexi-slaw, beans and rice I think). Anyway, I'd encourage you to try these out and if you've never been before, it's a fun place to go in a cool part of town. If you like fish tacos, I hear these are some of the best but clearly they aren't up my alley. Anyway, hope you enjoy.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Chowhound.com
I've discovered a new website called chowhound.com which is a restaurant website based on location. I love it. If you go to their website and click on South, you can google Charlotte and all of the relevant blogs/postings pop up about different restaurants in charlotte. My favorite is My Charlotte Recommendations. Different people can ask questions like, "where's the best bbq in Charlotte?" and random people respond. I've read through a few strings and found it really helpful. I was looking for a seafood place in Carolina Beach and there was a posting about that exact thing. I bought shrimp from the recommended spot (something Brothers) and it was really good. I placed a link from here but I recommend checking it out, especially if you're heading out of town and looking for places to go. Anyway, just a suggestion. Thanks!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
City Tavern - Uptown
American
$46.5 - Chicken Panzenilla, Chicken Saltimboca, 1 glass Fat Bastard Chard, 1 Diet Pepsi
Not that great. We went here on Saturday night before going to see Lion King, and it was really disappointing. The restaurant wasn't that busy and there were a lot of open tables but for some reason our waiter never seemed to be around. The food was okay, not great and I probably won't go back. It's been a while since I've eaten at the one on East Blvd, but I remember my experience there as much better. First of all, there seemed to be a little fighting among the wait staff for who had the table next to us...awkward. My water glass kept getting empty (server faux pas) and when my friend ordered diet coke, the waiter didn't mention they only serve pepsi, he just brought her a diet pepsi instead!! The nerve, ticks me off! Anyway, the food was really bland which was a bummer but we were on our way to a better time so the evening wasn't a complete waste. All that to say, I wouldn't recommend this place.
$46.5 - Chicken Panzenilla, Chicken Saltimboca, 1 glass Fat Bastard Chard, 1 Diet Pepsi
Not that great. We went here on Saturday night before going to see Lion King, and it was really disappointing. The restaurant wasn't that busy and there were a lot of open tables but for some reason our waiter never seemed to be around. The food was okay, not great and I probably won't go back. It's been a while since I've eaten at the one on East Blvd, but I remember my experience there as much better. First of all, there seemed to be a little fighting among the wait staff for who had the table next to us...awkward. My water glass kept getting empty (server faux pas) and when my friend ordered diet coke, the waiter didn't mention they only serve pepsi, he just brought her a diet pepsi instead!! The nerve, ticks me off! Anyway, the food was really bland which was a bummer but we were on our way to a better time so the evening wasn't a complete waste. All that to say, I wouldn't recommend this place.
Ru Sans - Dilworth
Sushi
$50 - 2 people, various sushi items & 4 beers
My friend and I ate here on Friday night and ended up sitting at the sushi bar...what a great idea. First of all, it's a much better experience as you not only get to see how they are making stuff, but you can also interact (i.e. flirt) with the sushi chefs. They started us out with an itty bitty cucumber salad thing in soy sauce which was yummy (we didn't order it). We did order Edamame to start, which was served really hot with salt on the side. For dinner we got a bunch of different sushi including tuna, california rolls (of course), rock & roll, and the Rising Sun (salmon, tuna, cream cheese and avocado lightly fried) which was huge! Everything was really good and really fresh, but as always it was too much. My friend took home the rest in a doggy box and said it was still good the next day. A few interesting things to note about Ru Sans. First the chefs yell a lot, for someone's birthday, sake bombs (shots), pretty women who come in and who knows why else. There were also a lot of groups of cute young guys who were eating there. I don't know why this surprised me, but it did. They've expanded the restaurant since last time I'd been there too which is good because now there's a ton of space. If you've never eaten here, it's really good sushi and a fun atmosphere. It's definitely not a quiet place to go for a relaxing meal, try elsewhere for that. There's some outside seating but it looked a little awkward meaning everyone walks through it on your way inside. I would think that's a pain if I were sitting there. They do serve other stuff for anyone who doesn't like sushi, but I've never had any of it. I do know they have a sushi buffet at lunch but that's a little weird to me. All in all I'd recommend it as a fun place to go with friends for dinner.
$50 - 2 people, various sushi items & 4 beers
My friend and I ate here on Friday night and ended up sitting at the sushi bar...what a great idea. First of all, it's a much better experience as you not only get to see how they are making stuff, but you can also interact (i.e. flirt) with the sushi chefs. They started us out with an itty bitty cucumber salad thing in soy sauce which was yummy (we didn't order it). We did order Edamame to start, which was served really hot with salt on the side. For dinner we got a bunch of different sushi including tuna, california rolls (of course), rock & roll, and the Rising Sun (salmon, tuna, cream cheese and avocado lightly fried) which was huge! Everything was really good and really fresh, but as always it was too much. My friend took home the rest in a doggy box and said it was still good the next day. A few interesting things to note about Ru Sans. First the chefs yell a lot, for someone's birthday, sake bombs (shots), pretty women who come in and who knows why else. There were also a lot of groups of cute young guys who were eating there. I don't know why this surprised me, but it did. They've expanded the restaurant since last time I'd been there too which is good because now there's a ton of space. If you've never eaten here, it's really good sushi and a fun atmosphere. It's definitely not a quiet place to go for a relaxing meal, try elsewhere for that. There's some outside seating but it looked a little awkward meaning everyone walks through it on your way inside. I would think that's a pain if I were sitting there. They do serve other stuff for anyone who doesn't like sushi, but I've never had any of it. I do know they have a sushi buffet at lunch but that's a little weird to me. All in all I'd recommend it as a fun place to go with friends for dinner.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Lulu - Midwood
New American Bistro - dinner
My hot date picked this one up :)
I met a friend here for drinks and dinner and what a great place to do so. We sat outside where the setting is urban and fun. (Side note: I've been here three times and never been inside.) Lulu's offers lots of "locally grown and small business offerings" which makes you cheer for the little guy. However, they were changing out their menu last week so lots of things weren't available. Their Chardonnay is really good and a complete unknown (to me anyway). i.e. I doubt you could pick it up at HT. We got the calamari for an app which was lightly fried and served with a slightly sweet dip. It was good. For dinner I had lavender roasted half chicken with brie served with mashed potatoes. It was really good but too heavy for 80-degree weather in June. J got a salmon in soup thing which tasted better than it looked. However, they are changing the menu so I don't know what will remain starting in July. All in all, Lulu is a fun place to meet someone for drinks or apps. Dinner is good, but not the best in town. Prices are on the higher side so it's not someplace to drop by any night of the week for a quick bite. However the atmosphere is festive and the outdoor patio is my favorite. Hope you enjoy.
My hot date picked this one up :)
I met a friend here for drinks and dinner and what a great place to do so. We sat outside where the setting is urban and fun. (Side note: I've been here three times and never been inside.) Lulu's offers lots of "locally grown and small business offerings" which makes you cheer for the little guy. However, they were changing out their menu last week so lots of things weren't available. Their Chardonnay is really good and a complete unknown (to me anyway). i.e. I doubt you could pick it up at HT. We got the calamari for an app which was lightly fried and served with a slightly sweet dip. It was good. For dinner I had lavender roasted half chicken with brie served with mashed potatoes. It was really good but too heavy for 80-degree weather in June. J got a salmon in soup thing which tasted better than it looked. However, they are changing the menu so I don't know what will remain starting in July. All in all, Lulu is a fun place to meet someone for drinks or apps. Dinner is good, but not the best in town. Prices are on the higher side so it's not someplace to drop by any night of the week for a quick bite. However the atmosphere is festive and the outdoor patio is my favorite. Hope you enjoy.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Kabob House - Dilworth
Middle Eastern
$25 - Mixed Kabob Grill (4 skewers with beef, lamb, chicken and something with 2 delightful side items (Omar's Salad)) & Mixed Veggie Plate (with Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Tabbouleh, Potato something, Grape Leaf, Spinach Puff thing and something else), pita bread and two waters
This place rocks!! The food does anyway and the service. It's a tiny spot, maybe 10 tables in the Harris Teeter shopping center on East Blvd. Our waiter was really friendly and helpful. We ordered the mixed options so we could share and try different things. A few things were awesome: most of the skewers, Omar's salad, hummus, baba ghanoush, pita, etc. One of the skewers tasted like a hamburger, and I'm not a huge fan of tabbouleh to begin with so those were blah. The potato thing was really good too; it was essentially a french fry with garlic mixed in. I was pretty hungry but there was plenty left over so the portions are big. I'll probably get the same thing again if I go back cuz I really like the variety. They also gave us this little sweet pastry thing for dessert. I don't know if everyone gets it or we did because we were so clueless, but it was yummy and just the right size. Kind of like a fortune cookie with Chinese. They have belly dancing on Fridays supposedly although I can't imagine where she dances; this place is tiny. Anyway, I always forget about this place but highly recommend it.
$25 - Mixed Kabob Grill (4 skewers with beef, lamb, chicken and something with 2 delightful side items (Omar's Salad)) & Mixed Veggie Plate (with Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Tabbouleh, Potato something, Grape Leaf, Spinach Puff thing and something else), pita bread and two waters
This place rocks!! The food does anyway and the service. It's a tiny spot, maybe 10 tables in the Harris Teeter shopping center on East Blvd. Our waiter was really friendly and helpful. We ordered the mixed options so we could share and try different things. A few things were awesome: most of the skewers, Omar's salad, hummus, baba ghanoush, pita, etc. One of the skewers tasted like a hamburger, and I'm not a huge fan of tabbouleh to begin with so those were blah. The potato thing was really good too; it was essentially a french fry with garlic mixed in. I was pretty hungry but there was plenty left over so the portions are big. I'll probably get the same thing again if I go back cuz I really like the variety. They also gave us this little sweet pastry thing for dessert. I don't know if everyone gets it or we did because we were so clueless, but it was yummy and just the right size. Kind of like a fortune cookie with Chinese. They have belly dancing on Fridays supposedly although I can't imagine where she dances; this place is tiny. Anyway, I always forget about this place but highly recommend it.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Pewter Rose - South End
Sunday Brunch - Dad picked this one up too
Utter disappointment!! I used to love Pewter Rose for Sunday Brunch, and it was a highlight to go there. They served these awesome butterscotch scones and coffee in cool glass mugs. My old favorite thing on the menu was the Breakfast Burrito, a tortilla filled with spicy scrambled eggs, black beans, spanish rice and salsa. I took my parents there on Sunday, and they've CHANGED THE MENU!!!! There was a similar item called Huevos Rancheros which was no where nearly as good. I am so sad, I don't know what to do. Where will I go with people in town for Sunday brunch again?? Is there no where else? The decor has changed recently which is a nice upgrade. It's more open and not as eclectic feeling. However, the brunch menu has shrunk and what I got was completely average. It was fine ($9) but so disappointing compared to my old favorite. The scones were still there but are much smaller and doughier which can be good depending on your preference. My waiter was super nice and really cute so that helped, but the food was blah. I'm torn. I used to love and rave about Pewter Rose as the best place for Sunday Brunch but now I just don't know. I must go back and try something else. You're on your own folks! Any ideas?
Utter disappointment!! I used to love Pewter Rose for Sunday Brunch, and it was a highlight to go there. They served these awesome butterscotch scones and coffee in cool glass mugs. My old favorite thing on the menu was the Breakfast Burrito, a tortilla filled with spicy scrambled eggs, black beans, spanish rice and salsa. I took my parents there on Sunday, and they've CHANGED THE MENU!!!! There was a similar item called Huevos Rancheros which was no where nearly as good. I am so sad, I don't know what to do. Where will I go with people in town for Sunday brunch again?? Is there no where else? The decor has changed recently which is a nice upgrade. It's more open and not as eclectic feeling. However, the brunch menu has shrunk and what I got was completely average. It was fine ($9) but so disappointing compared to my old favorite. The scones were still there but are much smaller and doughier which can be good depending on your preference. My waiter was super nice and really cute so that helped, but the food was blah. I'm torn. I used to love and rave about Pewter Rose as the best place for Sunday Brunch but now I just don't know. I must go back and try something else. You're on your own folks! Any ideas?
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Providence Cafe - Myers Park
American Cafe
Somebody else was buying...Thanks Dad!
I took my parents to Providence Cafe as there are lots of good options here, and it's reasonably priced. The atmosphere is okay and it's a good place for a group as there always seems to be one when I'm there. I've met people here for drinks on multiple occasions and it's easy to do. There's one male bartender in particular who is really friendly and serves a generous pour. Two lady bartenders I've had were a little stingy. Providence Cafe is always consistent, but for some reason it's not my favorite restaurant of this type (I much prefer Village Tavern which is similar to me). The Cafe Chicken Salad is my favorite thing on the menu, and it's usually what I get. Mixed greens with fruit (mainly cantaloupe and melons but also has grapes, strawberries and sugared pecans). My dad got the Tarragon Chicken Pasta and he loved it. They serve pretty good bread beforehand which is nice but not the best ever. Parking is a pain here which I always forget about. I was with some friends last time I was here and we ordered the two most popular apps: fried spinach wrapped asparagus and spinach dip. The spinach dip was really good, the asparagus was good but random. Not sure that I'd get that again. All in all, a fine place to meet up with friends but probably not top of my list.
Somebody else was buying...Thanks Dad!
I took my parents to Providence Cafe as there are lots of good options here, and it's reasonably priced. The atmosphere is okay and it's a good place for a group as there always seems to be one when I'm there. I've met people here for drinks on multiple occasions and it's easy to do. There's one male bartender in particular who is really friendly and serves a generous pour. Two lady bartenders I've had were a little stingy. Providence Cafe is always consistent, but for some reason it's not my favorite restaurant of this type (I much prefer Village Tavern which is similar to me). The Cafe Chicken Salad is my favorite thing on the menu, and it's usually what I get. Mixed greens with fruit (mainly cantaloupe and melons but also has grapes, strawberries and sugared pecans). My dad got the Tarragon Chicken Pasta and he loved it. They serve pretty good bread beforehand which is nice but not the best ever. Parking is a pain here which I always forget about. I was with some friends last time I was here and we ordered the two most popular apps: fried spinach wrapped asparagus and spinach dip. The spinach dip was really good, the asparagus was good but random. Not sure that I'd get that again. All in all, a fine place to meet up with friends but probably not top of my list.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Mama Ricotta's - Midtown
Italian
$35 - 2 people (1 glass chianti, 1 family style penne ala vodka, 1 small tuscan salad)
Mama's is a great restaurant and is always on the back burner when thinking, "where should we go to dinner?" It's great for groups, the food is consistently good although pretty rich, and it's reasonably priced. My friend Lauren turned me on to the Tuscan salad which is romaine, mozzarella, tomatoes, red onions tossed is an olive oil vinaigrette. It's really good but the onions are a little strong for me (and I don't think it's as good as Hawthorne's but don't tell Lauren). The Penne Ala Vodka has prosciutto and penne in a tomato cream sauce. It's so yummy that I get it almost every time I go. It seems like everyone has a favorite there. The broccoli and chicken is really good too, as is Mama's pasta (although it's too rich/creamy for me). They have amazing rolls they serve at the beginning of the meal but I like 'em soft so you may have to get another basket if they're too hard. Two appetizers are yummy, the goat/marscapone cheese and bread spread and the calamari. Great for group eating too. The Nutella pie for dessert is affectionately known as "crack" it's so good, but it will make you sick if you're not careful...it's awesome!! I recommend Mama's as a good place for a birthday party, date night, or somewhere not too fancy to take your parents. It also makes for great take-out. Yummy!
$35 - 2 people (1 glass chianti, 1 family style penne ala vodka, 1 small tuscan salad)
Mama's is a great restaurant and is always on the back burner when thinking, "where should we go to dinner?" It's great for groups, the food is consistently good although pretty rich, and it's reasonably priced. My friend Lauren turned me on to the Tuscan salad which is romaine, mozzarella, tomatoes, red onions tossed is an olive oil vinaigrette. It's really good but the onions are a little strong for me (and I don't think it's as good as Hawthorne's but don't tell Lauren). The Penne Ala Vodka has prosciutto and penne in a tomato cream sauce. It's so yummy that I get it almost every time I go. It seems like everyone has a favorite there. The broccoli and chicken is really good too, as is Mama's pasta (although it's too rich/creamy for me). They have amazing rolls they serve at the beginning of the meal but I like 'em soft so you may have to get another basket if they're too hard. Two appetizers are yummy, the goat/marscapone cheese and bread spread and the calamari. Great for group eating too. The Nutella pie for dessert is affectionately known as "crack" it's so good, but it will make you sick if you're not careful...it's awesome!! I recommend Mama's as a good place for a birthday party, date night, or somewhere not too fancy to take your parents. It also makes for great take-out. Yummy!
Friday, February 23, 2007
California Pizza Kitchen - SouthPark
American/Pizza
$28 - large Waldorf Salad, 1 mushroom pizza, 2 waters
I always forget about CPK but it's so good to remember. First of all, this salad (I hope I'm remembering the name correctly) is so good. It's field green and romaine with grilled chx, granny smith apples, candied walnuts, and gargonzola cheese. It was like eating dessert that's good for you. The flavors go so well together but be warned, the large salad is big. They also have it in a half portion which is still a good size. A friend and I split the salad and the pizza and we definitely had leftovers. The pizza here is also really good and with some crazy combinations, it differentiates itself some from the other 50 pizza places in charlotte. The crust is thicker than Brixx but not has thick at Mellow. However, it's a little bit sweet which I really like. The portion size is slightly smaller than brixx too so it's good for one or splitting with a salad. A couple of things to note about CPK. 1. The bread really isn't that good that they serve beforehand. For a pizza place, this is surprising. 2. If you pay with AmEx, beware that you could shut down the computer system. Something about the magnetic strip...I don't get it but it happened to me once. Just warn the waiter when you pay. 3. I'm not a huge fan of their two tops near the front. If you can get a bigger table, I would. 4. They have an outdoor patio that looks pretty nice so I would definitely think about it for the summer.
$28 - large Waldorf Salad, 1 mushroom pizza, 2 waters
I always forget about CPK but it's so good to remember. First of all, this salad (I hope I'm remembering the name correctly) is so good. It's field green and romaine with grilled chx, granny smith apples, candied walnuts, and gargonzola cheese. It was like eating dessert that's good for you. The flavors go so well together but be warned, the large salad is big. They also have it in a half portion which is still a good size. A friend and I split the salad and the pizza and we definitely had leftovers. The pizza here is also really good and with some crazy combinations, it differentiates itself some from the other 50 pizza places in charlotte. The crust is thicker than Brixx but not has thick at Mellow. However, it's a little bit sweet which I really like. The portion size is slightly smaller than brixx too so it's good for one or splitting with a salad. A couple of things to note about CPK. 1. The bread really isn't that good that they serve beforehand. For a pizza place, this is surprising. 2. If you pay with AmEx, beware that you could shut down the computer system. Something about the magnetic strip...I don't get it but it happened to me once. Just warn the waiter when you pay. 3. I'm not a huge fan of their two tops near the front. If you can get a bigger table, I would. 4. They have an outdoor patio that looks pretty nice so I would definitely think about it for the summer.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Coco Osteria - Uptown
Light Italian
$12 entree for lunch, don't know about the total cost
My coworkers brought me here for lunch and I love this place. Two walls are floor to ceiling windows which makes the place bright and airy. It's rather small in size but is always crowded when I've been here. The entrees ranges from $10 - $14 I think and everything around the table looked great. I had the Macceroni alla Buttera which was large tubed pasta with snap peas and sausage in a light tomato cream sauce. It was excellent. I love this place because they serve the diet coke with a lime and you don't even have to ask. Coke comes with a lemon. I don't know if they have a different menu for dinner but I would highly recommend this place for lunch. They don't take reservations so you have to get their early but it's so good, it's worth it. It's owned by the same guy who owned Luce & Toscana but it's less formal and not as pricey. A highly recommended uptown place to go!
$12 entree for lunch, don't know about the total cost
My coworkers brought me here for lunch and I love this place. Two walls are floor to ceiling windows which makes the place bright and airy. It's rather small in size but is always crowded when I've been here. The entrees ranges from $10 - $14 I think and everything around the table looked great. I had the Macceroni alla Buttera which was large tubed pasta with snap peas and sausage in a light tomato cream sauce. It was excellent. I love this place because they serve the diet coke with a lime and you don't even have to ask. Coke comes with a lemon. I don't know if they have a different menu for dinner but I would highly recommend this place for lunch. They don't take reservations so you have to get their early but it's so good, it's worth it. It's owned by the same guy who owned Luce & Toscana but it's less formal and not as pricey. A highly recommended uptown place to go!
Nolen Kitchen - Myers Park
American
Entree was around $15 I think, no idea about the drinks or apps
Nolen Kitchen is where the old Kaffe Frappe used to be and I think it's a much better place. The food is good and ranges from mid-priced sandwiches and salads to higher end entrees. The portions aren't so big that you feel stuffed but everything I tried was really good. Our table got fried zucchini which was awesome and I picked veal gnocchi as my entree. It was the perfect sized portion and really good. Their fries are seasoned with lots of salt so they are really good too. We ended up with a few desserts and the banana creme brulee was my favorite. We tried the girlscout coffee drinks with godiva and creme de menthe, but it wasn't very good. Too watery tasting I would say and nothing really special about the presentation. The bar tender was really nice and made me a special drink for my birthday (the Love Potion). It was tasty and fun with a splash of cinnamon on top. A few of us ran into people we knew which makes it fun I think when you're in a restaurant. Nolen K is a good date place or place to go with a group to celebrate something. I'll definitely go back. www.nolenkitchen.com
Entree was around $15 I think, no idea about the drinks or apps
Nolen Kitchen is where the old Kaffe Frappe used to be and I think it's a much better place. The food is good and ranges from mid-priced sandwiches and salads to higher end entrees. The portions aren't so big that you feel stuffed but everything I tried was really good. Our table got fried zucchini which was awesome and I picked veal gnocchi as my entree. It was the perfect sized portion and really good. Their fries are seasoned with lots of salt so they are really good too. We ended up with a few desserts and the banana creme brulee was my favorite. We tried the girlscout coffee drinks with godiva and creme de menthe, but it wasn't very good. Too watery tasting I would say and nothing really special about the presentation. The bar tender was really nice and made me a special drink for my birthday (the Love Potion). It was tasty and fun with a splash of cinnamon on top. A few of us ran into people we knew which makes it fun I think when you're in a restaurant. Nolen K is a good date place or place to go with a group to celebrate something. I'll definitely go back. www.nolenkitchen.com
My Birthday Week
It's my birthday this week, so I've been eating out a lot. I've gone to some great restaurants, but I don't really know the bill. So I'll tell you what I thought, but not how much it cost. Hope that's okay.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Brio - Southpark
Italian
Working lunch that someone else paid for so I don't know the full bill. I had a mini pizza and side salad that listed around $10 I think.
My friends have been raving about how good Brio is. We went for a late lunch and it was packed. It's much bigger inside than it appears and the scene was nice. A good place for a date night or when your parents are in town. The food was really good and everyone seemed to enjoy what they ordered. It's a little hard to gauge with a business lunch but I'll say there wasn't a lot left over. The pizza really was a mini but I don't know if they serve that size at dinner. The menu contained typical Italian fare but I've heard it's one of the better Italian places in town. I'd agree that it's pretty good but it's still a chain (I've never been to Maggiano's so I can't compare it to that. One major negative...Pepsi. Enough said.
Working lunch that someone else paid for so I don't know the full bill. I had a mini pizza and side salad that listed around $10 I think.
My friends have been raving about how good Brio is. We went for a late lunch and it was packed. It's much bigger inside than it appears and the scene was nice. A good place for a date night or when your parents are in town. The food was really good and everyone seemed to enjoy what they ordered. It's a little hard to gauge with a business lunch but I'll say there wasn't a lot left over. The pizza really was a mini but I don't know if they serve that size at dinner. The menu contained typical Italian fare but I've heard it's one of the better Italian places in town. I'd agree that it's pretty good but it's still a chain (I've never been to Maggiano's so I can't compare it to that. One major negative...Pepsi. Enough said.
Roosters - Southpark
Mid-scale American
$46. - dinner for two (1/4 white chicken, mashed potatos, sugar snap peas, salad, french onion soup, 1 dessert and 2 waters)
Roosters is a new spot opened by the guy who runs Noble's. It's lower scale than Nobles, but the food is still really good. We arrived on a Monday night and it was packed. We ended up sitting at the bar which was a bar facing the cooking stations rather than a traditional bar. It's a cool setup at the "bar" where you can watch sous chefs prepare their specialties. We sat in the soup and salad section and watched the guy prepare a few. The menu is a la carte and ranges in price from $6 - $12 per item (less for sides but not much less). The salad was great ($6 for small portion) and the soup ($8) was a little rich both in flavor and price for me. Becky had the chicken and raved about the sauce it was prepared in. We split the sides which were really good and fresh tasting. The mashed potatos had a perfect amount of garlic but were a little small if the intention is to share. We split a dessert called chocolate peanut butter crunch with vanilla gelato. The flavor was nice but the texture was a little too crunchy and kind of hard to eat. It sounded better than it tasted. However, the gelato was awesome!! The interior of the restaurant is typical with the exception of one entire wall covered with stuffed Roosters. It was little strange, especially since we faced that direction the whole meal. All in all, I'd definitely go back. www.roosterskitchen.com
$46. - dinner for two (1/4 white chicken, mashed potatos, sugar snap peas, salad, french onion soup, 1 dessert and 2 waters)
Roosters is a new spot opened by the guy who runs Noble's. It's lower scale than Nobles, but the food is still really good. We arrived on a Monday night and it was packed. We ended up sitting at the bar which was a bar facing the cooking stations rather than a traditional bar. It's a cool setup at the "bar" where you can watch sous chefs prepare their specialties. We sat in the soup and salad section and watched the guy prepare a few. The menu is a la carte and ranges in price from $6 - $12 per item (less for sides but not much less). The salad was great ($6 for small portion) and the soup ($8) was a little rich both in flavor and price for me. Becky had the chicken and raved about the sauce it was prepared in. We split the sides which were really good and fresh tasting. The mashed potatos had a perfect amount of garlic but were a little small if the intention is to share. We split a dessert called chocolate peanut butter crunch with vanilla gelato. The flavor was nice but the texture was a little too crunchy and kind of hard to eat. It sounded better than it tasted. However, the gelato was awesome!! The interior of the restaurant is typical with the exception of one entire wall covered with stuffed Roosters. It was little strange, especially since we faced that direction the whole meal. All in all, I'd definitely go back. www.roosterskitchen.com
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Reid's - Uptown
Deli/Market/Grocery Store
$18 - lunch for 2 people & drinks (Thanks Jen!)
I love Reid's! To go at lunch there are quite a few options, a deli/sandwich bar, a hot lunch option and great make your own salads. They also have prepackaged sushi, sandwiches and other options to go. They have fresh baked cookies and desserts and an awesome fountain drink machine. My favorite thing to get is either Spiedie's sub or Spiedie's chicken with two sides. It's marinated grilled chicken with green and red peppers and onions either on a sub roll or alone. It's awesome and especially good with a side of mac & cheese and something green. The mac & cheese is great, big noodles and yummy melted cheese baked to perfection. In the past Reid's had a cookieman at lunch who would walk around passing out samples of the fresh baked desserts. I haven't seen him in a while so if you want one, you have to buy your own. They are big, usually warm and really good. The fountain drink machine has Coke products, of course, but also Dr Pepper and their lemons are always high quality...so good. The salad bar is always a good choice too with two sizes and lots of good options. They have soup too but I've never gotten it. I think they also have a coffee bar where you can order different coffee drinks. Because it's also a market, they have lots of good wine choices and do wine tastings once or twice a month. I've never been but heard they're fun. The final thing I'll add is they let people park free under 90 minutes and have their own section of the parking garage. It's an easy place to meet people who are coming uptown for lunch because of this.
$18 - lunch for 2 people & drinks (Thanks Jen!)
I love Reid's! To go at lunch there are quite a few options, a deli/sandwich bar, a hot lunch option and great make your own salads. They also have prepackaged sushi, sandwiches and other options to go. They have fresh baked cookies and desserts and an awesome fountain drink machine. My favorite thing to get is either Spiedie's sub or Spiedie's chicken with two sides. It's marinated grilled chicken with green and red peppers and onions either on a sub roll or alone. It's awesome and especially good with a side of mac & cheese and something green. The mac & cheese is great, big noodles and yummy melted cheese baked to perfection. In the past Reid's had a cookieman at lunch who would walk around passing out samples of the fresh baked desserts. I haven't seen him in a while so if you want one, you have to buy your own. They are big, usually warm and really good. The fountain drink machine has Coke products, of course, but also Dr Pepper and their lemons are always high quality...so good. The salad bar is always a good choice too with two sizes and lots of good options. They have soup too but I've never gotten it. I think they also have a coffee bar where you can order different coffee drinks. Because it's also a market, they have lots of good wine choices and do wine tastings once or twice a month. I've never been but heard they're fun. The final thing I'll add is they let people park free under 90 minutes and have their own section of the parking garage. It's an easy place to meet people who are coming uptown for lunch because of this.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Pike's - Southend
Diner
$8 - cheeseburger, fries, water
If you haven't been to Pike's in a while, they've updated their menu recently which means they have most of the same stuff, but it's more expensive now. Gone are the days of the $3. burger. The burgers are really good though, as are the fries and the Carolina Burger with chili, slaw, mustard and onions is a classic. They have hot dogs, turkey burgers, quish (sp?), salads, pastas and a few other things I don't notice because I only go there when I'm craving a cheeseburger. It may not be the best in town, but it's pretty darn close. They also have a soda fountain where you can get cherry phosphates, vanilla pepsis, orangeades, limeades and incredible milkshakes. They might make you sick, but they are awesome! My only issue with Pike's is they serve pepsi at the soda fountain. They do have mini bottles cokes, but I think they're kinda pricey. Pike's is a nice family and friend place to go. They have Sunday brunch (although I've never eaten there then) but the soda fountain isn't open on Sundays so be forewarned. Cheeseburger is the way to go!
$8 - cheeseburger, fries, water
If you haven't been to Pike's in a while, they've updated their menu recently which means they have most of the same stuff, but it's more expensive now. Gone are the days of the $3. burger. The burgers are really good though, as are the fries and the Carolina Burger with chili, slaw, mustard and onions is a classic. They have hot dogs, turkey burgers, quish (sp?), salads, pastas and a few other things I don't notice because I only go there when I'm craving a cheeseburger. It may not be the best in town, but it's pretty darn close. They also have a soda fountain where you can get cherry phosphates, vanilla pepsis, orangeades, limeades and incredible milkshakes. They might make you sick, but they are awesome! My only issue with Pike's is they serve pepsi at the soda fountain. They do have mini bottles cokes, but I think they're kinda pricey. Pike's is a nice family and friend place to go. They have Sunday brunch (although I've never eaten there then) but the soda fountain isn't open on Sundays so be forewarned. Cheeseburger is the way to go!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Showmars - Uptown (3rd & Church)
Greek Fast Casual
$9 - grilled chicken pita, fries, diet coke & tip
Showmars on 3rd recently went through a major update and almost isn't recognizable. It has slate tile on the walls, warm paint colors and all of the food pictures are gone. If it weren't for the hostess who knows everyone's names, I would have thought I made a wrong turn. The food at Showmars is pretty good. The pita bread is really nice with lots of options to fill it up. The fries are okay, too crispy for me, but the best thing is the ice...shaved ice with diet coke. It just doesn't get any better. The service is super friendly and when they learn your name, they use when they can. It feels like a local diner and the 3rd street location is my favorite. Breakfast is a good choice too with melt in your mouth buttered biscuits (not fat free). The ice is so good though, who cares?!
$9 - grilled chicken pita, fries, diet coke & tip
Showmars on 3rd recently went through a major update and almost isn't recognizable. It has slate tile on the walls, warm paint colors and all of the food pictures are gone. If it weren't for the hostess who knows everyone's names, I would have thought I made a wrong turn. The food at Showmars is pretty good. The pita bread is really nice with lots of options to fill it up. The fries are okay, too crispy for me, but the best thing is the ice...shaved ice with diet coke. It just doesn't get any better. The service is super friendly and when they learn your name, they use when they can. It feels like a local diner and the 3rd street location is my favorite. Breakfast is a good choice too with melt in your mouth buttered biscuits (not fat free). The ice is so good though, who cares?!
Monday, January 08, 2007
Brixx - Uptown
Wood-fired Pizza
$11 - Wood roasted chicken salad with water (tip is always included in the price)
Brixx is a classic Charlotte restaurant. They're all over town and they seem to epitomize what Charlotte like to eat. Their pizzas are flat, serve one (or could be shared with a salad) and are pretty good. My favorites are the Mexican (with black bean spread), the Artichoke, BBQ Chicken and Plain with mushrooms. Their salads are also really good and the Wood-roasted chicken salad is a town favorite. Mixed greens with chicken, goat cheese, pines nuts, croutons and balsamic dressing. It seems like this salad is all over town now. They are really consistent, the food is good and the prices are reasonable. The original one on East is always packed so I like the one uptown or near Fairview if you're closer to those parts. The one at Fairview also serves Red Oak which is a huge plus. My only issue is Brixx is I've eaten there too often in my tenure in Charlotte and I'm looking for something new, hence my love for Hawthorne. If you're not burned out, it's a great place to go.
$11 - Wood roasted chicken salad with water (tip is always included in the price)
Brixx is a classic Charlotte restaurant. They're all over town and they seem to epitomize what Charlotte like to eat. Their pizzas are flat, serve one (or could be shared with a salad) and are pretty good. My favorites are the Mexican (with black bean spread), the Artichoke, BBQ Chicken and Plain with mushrooms. Their salads are also really good and the Wood-roasted chicken salad is a town favorite. Mixed greens with chicken, goat cheese, pines nuts, croutons and balsamic dressing. It seems like this salad is all over town now. They are really consistent, the food is good and the prices are reasonable. The original one on East is always packed so I like the one uptown or near Fairview if you're closer to those parts. The one at Fairview also serves Red Oak which is a huge plus. My only issue is Brixx is I've eaten there too often in my tenure in Charlotte and I'm looking for something new, hence my love for Hawthorne. If you're not burned out, it's a great place to go.
Lulu's - Midwood
New American (i.e. locally grown and organic wannabe)
$12 - Chantilly Turkey (sandwich), fries (lulu's frites) and Cane Cola at lunch
This little place off of Central was quite a treat. I went for lunch and it looked like they had some good options. It's a little quirky with Boylan's Cane Cola products, locally grown veggies, different kinds of cheeses and a desire to be organic whenever possible. The menu breaks out the options by price ($6, $8, $9 & $12), which was nice and the options seemed pretty good. I ended up with the Chantilly Turkey, a cold sandwich with turkey, lettuce, tomato & Gruyere cheese. It comes with Lulu's Frites which are seasoned fries. They're pretty good although not as good as Bojangles, but good nonetheless. They don't have coke products, but didn't serve Pepsi either so it was okay. They have Boylan's Cane Cola, Cream Sola, Root Beer and something else. The wines looked reasonable for Charlotte but I was there at lunch. I heard the desserts were awesome but I didn't try that either. There's a different dinner menu which I believe is pricier but this is a nice alternative at lunch to Providence Cafe. It felt like a similar place but more eclectic being in Midwood. I'd recommend it if you get the chance.
$12 - Chantilly Turkey (sandwich), fries (lulu's frites) and Cane Cola at lunch
This little place off of Central was quite a treat. I went for lunch and it looked like they had some good options. It's a little quirky with Boylan's Cane Cola products, locally grown veggies, different kinds of cheeses and a desire to be organic whenever possible. The menu breaks out the options by price ($6, $8, $9 & $12), which was nice and the options seemed pretty good. I ended up with the Chantilly Turkey, a cold sandwich with turkey, lettuce, tomato & Gruyere cheese. It comes with Lulu's Frites which are seasoned fries. They're pretty good although not as good as Bojangles, but good nonetheless. They don't have coke products, but didn't serve Pepsi either so it was okay. They have Boylan's Cane Cola, Cream Sola, Root Beer and something else. The wines looked reasonable for Charlotte but I was there at lunch. I heard the desserts were awesome but I didn't try that either. There's a different dinner menu which I believe is pricier but this is a nice alternative at lunch to Providence Cafe. It felt like a similar place but more eclectic being in Midwood. I'd recommend it if you get the chance.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Waffle House - Independence Blvd.
Waffles anytime
$7.50 - waffle, raisin toast, diet coke & $2 tip
Waffle House is hands down the best place to go in the middle of the night if you have the munchies. It's also good during sunlight hours. It's always crowded and eclectic, and the food is always great. The waffles are awesome, as is the raisin toast. The hash browns come a dozen different ways including with onions, cheese, jalepenos, tomatoes and other stuff I don't remember. The wait staff are always friendly and definitely one of the main reasons to go. The jukebox is fun but you never know if what you choose is what you'll get. The coffee's iffy but the sweet tea is supposedly a "signature". I most recently went on New Year's Day (yes, while the sun was out) but it was still great. It's open 24, 7, 365 and the food is the same no matter where you are. I've never tried anything else but I've heard it's all good. If no one's done it yet, expect someone to do a documentary on this place. It's an American staple. A little known fact is you can order a camo - waffle house t-shirt online. The website is www.wafflehouse.com
$7.50 - waffle, raisin toast, diet coke & $2 tip
Waffle House is hands down the best place to go in the middle of the night if you have the munchies. It's also good during sunlight hours. It's always crowded and eclectic, and the food is always great. The waffles are awesome, as is the raisin toast. The hash browns come a dozen different ways including with onions, cheese, jalepenos, tomatoes and other stuff I don't remember. The wait staff are always friendly and definitely one of the main reasons to go. The jukebox is fun but you never know if what you choose is what you'll get. The coffee's iffy but the sweet tea is supposedly a "signature". I most recently went on New Year's Day (yes, while the sun was out) but it was still great. It's open 24, 7, 365 and the food is the same no matter where you are. I've never tried anything else but I've heard it's all good. If no one's done it yet, expect someone to do a documentary on this place. It's an American staple. A little known fact is you can order a camo - waffle house t-shirt online. The website is www.wafflehouse.com
Barrington's - Southpark
Upscale American
$18 - $28 entrees (someone else paid this tab)
Barrington's is a hidden gem in a tiny strip mall near southpark where Brixx, Ben & Jarry's and the Caribou are located. It probably has 14 tables but feels much cozier. The food was great, the service friendly and attentive and the feel was very "Country Day parents" or Foxcroft families. It's a great place to take your parents when they are in town or to impress a date. If you go there frequently, you don't need to be reading my blog. It isn't overly pretencious as the menus are on copy paper that are somewhat illegible. There aren't a ton of options which was actually really nice. The chef gets tons of kudos from his peers in town and is frequently written up as a top restaurant in Charlotte. I'd agree. They have a website so if you're interested, check it out. www.barringtonsrestaurant.com
$18 - $28 entrees (someone else paid this tab)
Barrington's is a hidden gem in a tiny strip mall near southpark where Brixx, Ben & Jarry's and the Caribou are located. It probably has 14 tables but feels much cozier. The food was great, the service friendly and attentive and the feel was very "Country Day parents" or Foxcroft families. It's a great place to take your parents when they are in town or to impress a date. If you go there frequently, you don't need to be reading my blog. It isn't overly pretencious as the menus are on copy paper that are somewhat illegible. There aren't a ton of options which was actually really nice. The chef gets tons of kudos from his peers in town and is frequently written up as a top restaurant in Charlotte. I'd agree. They have a website so if you're interested, check it out. www.barringtonsrestaurant.com
Mac's - South Blvd
BBQ Bar & Grill
$20 - 2 Li'l Pig BBQ sandwiches, each with one side, 2 diet cokes and tip
I love the atmosphere at Mac's, an eclectic biker bar with yuppies and artsy folks that's clean and lots of sports on. The BBQ is great but it's best known for it's brisket (sp?). Apparently the Food Network did a feature on this as it's the "best beef brisket in the US". It sure looked good, but I went for the Li'l Pig sandwich with Mac & Cheese on the side. They were awesome! Lots of beers on tap and bottled and Coke products to boot. Why don't I come here more often?? It's always been crowded with a least a few Harley's out front. Parking can be a pain as I've never actually parked in the lot. The wait staff has been really nice but it's more a bar feel than a restaurant at times. The food's great and it's definitely reasonable. If only they had one on my side of town...
$20 - 2 Li'l Pig BBQ sandwiches, each with one side, 2 diet cokes and tip
I love the atmosphere at Mac's, an eclectic biker bar with yuppies and artsy folks that's clean and lots of sports on. The BBQ is great but it's best known for it's brisket (sp?). Apparently the Food Network did a feature on this as it's the "best beef brisket in the US". It sure looked good, but I went for the Li'l Pig sandwich with Mac & Cheese on the side. They were awesome! Lots of beers on tap and bottled and Coke products to boot. Why don't I come here more often?? It's always been crowded with a least a few Harley's out front. Parking can be a pain as I've never actually parked in the lot. The wait staff has been really nice but it's more a bar feel than a restaurant at times. The food's great and it's definitely reasonable. If only they had one on my side of town...
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