Charlotte Yvonne Ackerman Charlotte Yvonne Ackerman

Flour Shop

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Background:
Flour Shop opened early 2018 under Trey Wilson, the owner and chef of Customshop in Elizabeth. Jason and I are big fans of Customshop (although we haven’t been in forever), so we were super excited when Flour Shop came to the Backlot of Park Road Shopping Center. We like Flour Shop so much that it made our Top 25 Restaurants in Charlotte list last year, and we can’t believe we haven’t given you a more detailed run down before now! Read on to get the scoop on what we deem the best pasta in Charlotte.

Eat This:
The star of the show at Flour Shop is the house-made pasta, but the other offerings on the well-curated menu shouldn’t be ignored.

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House-made Foccacia

I wish they brought out this bread in unlimited quantities. That’s my only complaint.

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Grilled UGF Mushrooms, January ‘19

Caesar-style, with radicchio

I love, loved the bitterness of the radicchio with the whole mushrooms. This version was better than the previous iteration below.

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Grilled UGF Mushrooms, March ‘18

Caesar-style

Good last March, but definitely much improved in the latest version.

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Barbecued Spanish Octopus

With stewed corona beans, house-made chorizo, & grilled ciabatta

So rich and savory. Perfect for a cold night.

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House-made Burrata

Butternut squash and burnt-honey vinaigrette

This dish has to be a top-seller for them––it’s all over Instagram, and I always see it at nearly every table. And for good reason: it’s fabulous. This one looks a bit different these days (this photo is also from the March visit), but I am confident it’s just as delicious.

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Butter Lettuce Salad

With Granny Smith apples & pickled onions

This salad inspired me to go out and buy butter lettuce. Why is butter lettuce so good? The most refreshing salad I’ve had in a while.

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Benton’s Ham Croquettes

with Manchego fondue

These have been on the menu since the beginning, and we can see why. Whenever we see Benton’s ham, we go for it. And with hot cheese? Oh dang.

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Ricotta Stuffed Ravioli

With mushrooms & squash

Little pillows of flavor perfection. The sweet squash purée added such a lovely dimension to the mushrooms and cream sauce.

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Ricotta Ravioli

Red sauce, red peppercorns, Marcona almonds, crispy kale and pecorino Romano cheese

I liked this red sauce version of the ricotta ravioli (from March), but I must say the above, more recent version is better. And that’s coming from a girl who nearly always goes red sauce over cream sauce.

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Prime Rib

On special, served with a baked potato

Jason’s order. His thoughts: well-cooked, but the sauce was far too sweet and spoiled the flavor of the meat.

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Squid Ink linguine

With shrimp & chorizo

Wayne’s order! He said he liked it very much, and I can concur, since I ate his leftovers. Fabulous! Wayne isn’t always easy to please, so you know this one’s a keeper.

Dessert:
The dessert offerings are slim. On our first visit, they didn’t have dessert yet, and the last time we were in they had cookies and a bread pudding.

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Bread Pudding

With ice cream

Good, not great. They need a more robust dessert menu, stat.

Drink:
A great wine selection and fun cocktails. On our last visit, I saw a lot of people drinking their Blood Orange Spritz, which looked quite refreshing.

Atmosphere:
Flour Shop is super tiny. There are only about 15 tables, and you can also order the full menu from the bar. The bar is a great place to sit, since you can watch the chefs in action in the open kitchen. The feel is rather fancy and very Myers Park (in the Myahhs Pahhk way), and there are lots of couples on dates.

Image courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Image courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Backlot Hospitality:
Hm. We’ve had great service here, and rather rude service. As in, our server made us feel that our visit was a massive inconvenience. This was on our last visit, and truthfully, it has possibly put us off going back in for a while. As you know, service can make or a break a dining experience, and I hope that our bad one was an anomaly.

Close-up on those croquettes

Close-up on those croquettes

Frankie’s Notes:
The parking situation at Park Road Shopping Center is a literal hell on Earth, which is rather ironic considering the word “park” is right in the name; Myahhs Pahhk is a state of mind, not an area of Charlotte––if you know, you know; A dessert menu should not be an afterthought, in Scallionpancake’s opinion; Do you think Wilson would be willing to call his next restaurant Pug Shop?

Rating: 4 out of 5

 
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Charlotte Yvonne Ackerman Charlotte Yvonne Ackerman

Inizio Pizza Napoletano

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Background:
Grant Arons opened Inizio in March 2016, and there are now two locations, the original in Ballantyne and one in Dilworth. Arons makes his pizza according to the strict standards set by the governing body of Neapolitan pizza. The flour, tomatoes—even the water used for the dough—are all imported from Italy. The pizzas cook for 90 seconds in a super-hot wood-fired oven, and they are best eaten immediately after cooking. Inizio recommends not getting the pizza cut into slices if you’re taking it to-go, as this can cause the crust to get soggy. However, we are bad pizza-eaters, and we usually get ours cut and to-go, because we don’t own a pizza cutter for some reason, and pizza is best eaten on the couch in front of the TV.

We have been to Inizio several times for blog promotions, but we are regularly there on our own dime as well. What is our go-to pizza? You’ll see below that we've pretty much tried the whole menu by now, but we certainly have our favorites!

Eat This:
Inizio is not a build-your-own pizza joint, rather they have some tried and tested flavor combinations you can get in a choice of two sizes. You can add or subtract toppings, but they recommend you go with one of their concoctions. We also think that you should trust their combinations, because they are darn good.

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PISTACCHIO

Rosemary, sea salt, ricotta, Buffalo Mozzarella, garlic, pistachio pesto sauce, pistachios

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NAPOLETANA

Anchovy, Kalamata olives, San Marzano tomato sauce, Buffalo Mozzarella, basil

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MARGHERITA

San Marzano tomato sauce, Buffalo Mozzarella, basil, garlic, Pecorino

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CAPRICCIOSA

Artichoke, prosciutto ham, mushroom, San Marzano tomato sauce, Buffalo Mozzarella

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DIAVOLA

Spicy salami, Calabrian pepper, San Marzano tomato sauce, Buffalo Mozzarella, Pecorino

One of our favorite things about Inizio is their seasonal offerings. You never know what direction they’ll go in for the future, but here are the ones they’ve had in the past:

Spring Pizza

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Pizza Di Parma

Imported prosciutto, roasted asparagus, Buffalo Mozzarella, garlic, sea salt, & Pecorino

Summer Pizza

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Limone Capra

Thinly sliced lemons, fig jam, goat cheese ricotta, Buffalo Mozzarella, & fresh thyme

Autumn Pizza

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Pumpkin Pizza

Pumpkin, basil, Buffalo Mozzarella, ricotta

Winter Pizza

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Pizza Toscana

Potato, sausage, & kale, with a creamy vegetable base

From Winter 2019

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Patate al forno

Paper thin red skin potatoes, rosemary, sea salt, smoked mozzarella & Buffalo Mozzarella

From Winter 2018

Dessert:
Cannoli and gelato from scratch--what more is there to say? In addition to the staple chocolate chip, pistachio, and lemon cannoli, Inizio offers a seasonal cannoli, too, and last summer had a v. v. special dessert pizza!

OG Cannoli

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Pistachio & Chocolate Chip

Spring Cannoli

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Oreo

Photo courtesy of Inizio’s Instagram page

Summer Dessert Pizza

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summer PIzza

Nutella marshmallow s’mores pizza!

Autumn Cannoli

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Pumpkin

with white chocolate chips

Winter Cannoli

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Apple Crumb Pie

From Winter 2019

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Peppermint Mocha

From Winter 2018

Drink:
Inizio offers wine, beer, soft drinks and UpDog Kombucha, but they also have really fun house-made juices and teas, like peach iced tea, strawberry lemonade, and others.

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Atmosphere:
Both locations have tall ceilings and a bustling atmosphere, since they are both constantly busy. They frequently host musicians and often hold events with the SPCA, which we think is so wonderful! There are lovely patios at both locations, too.

Behind the scenes with Tax Pug

Behind the scenes with Tax Pug

Napoletano Hospitality:
You order at the counter at Inizio and your order is brought out to your table. The service is quick and polite. You can also order online and your pizza will be ready when you arrive, if you’d rather eat your pie at home, like us!

The finished product of the above photo shoot!

The finished product of the above photo shoot!

Frankie’s Notes:
Frankie was always on Team Inizio during the Scallionpancake #pizzawars of 2017; Not sure what would be so hard about adding a pizza cutter to my next Amazon cart, but for some reason it just doesn’t happen; Inizio: we are sorry we get the pizza cut!! The Limone Capra is the best pizza we’ve had outside of Italy, no joke; Frankie loves that Inizio does pizza fundraisers in honor of pups like him––thanks, Inizio!

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Charlotte Yvonne Ackerman Charlotte Yvonne Ackerman

Dot Dot Dot

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Background: 
Dot Dot Dot opened in July 2017 in the Backlot of Park Road Shopping Center under Stefan Huebner and Conrad Hunter, who were already players in the Charlotte bar and restaurant community prior to this much anticipated opening (Huebner was a mixologist at Heist and Hunter also owns Foxcroft Wine Co.). Although technically a private club due to state regulations regarding maintaining a certain ratio of food to beverage sales, Dot Dot Dot boasts an insanely delicious food menu. However, the club aspect means you need to pay a $10 membership fee (per year), though each member may bring up to three guests at a time. Signing up online is highly encouraged in order to cut down on wait times at the door. 

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This spot has such heavy speakeasy vibes that I had a hard time finding it when I visited on a warm spring night with Allie from EatDrinkCLT to sample some new menu items. Prohibition style: on point.  

Eat This: 
Chef David Quintana has a culinary pedigree from Johnson & Wales and worked at Wylie's Dufresne's wd~50 in NYC and Four Moons in South Carolina. He joined Dot Dot Dot just after they opened, and he has built the menu into one that reflects his focus on fresh ingredients and artistic plating. 

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Crab Cake

scallop mousseline, lump crab, mache, blood orange, nasturtium crumble 

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Sea Scallop

morel mushroom, asparagus, fava bean, artichoke, Iberico lardo de bellota, vanilla olive oil

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Burrata

strawberry, roasted beet, arugula, black pepper, pedro ximenez sherry vinegar, black garlic molassses, crustini

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Garganelli with veal meatballs

pecorino, peas, light cream, pea tendrils, mint

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Pate en croute

moulard duck, pork, smoked duck ham, pistachio, savory pastry dough, pickled vegetables, dijon mustard, cumberland sauce

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American wagyu flat iron

truffle veal glace, pickled mustard seed, cripsy trumpet mushrooms, creamed spinach

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Cold-smoked fried chicken

celeriac puree, house-made sorghum hot sauce, petite braising greens

 

Dessert: 
It appears that Dot Dot Dot does not have any dessert offerings. Gasp! You could always go to Va da Vie gelato in the front of Park Road Shopping Center, or even swing by Amelie's in the Backlot for a pastry or two. 

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Va da vie gelato

We love this place, but prepare yourself to spend 10 minutes hearing about the integrity of the gelato 

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Amelie's

is bae

Drink: 
As you can imagine from a speakeasy style bar, the drink game is on point. Like the food menu, the drink selection changes seasonally. Huebner really knocks it out of the park, and I was especially digging on the creative names of the cocktails, like the "Lily Wants a Pony" and the "Boulevardier of Broken Dreams."

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French-75

Sutler's gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, champagne, served up

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Local gin

Used in the above cocktail--local & made in small batches. And check out that bottle!

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The Queen City Swizzle

Dragon Moonshine rum, green chartreuse, mint, sugar, angostura bitters, served over crushed ice

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Mint Julep

Maker's Mark bourbon, simple syrup, mint, served over crushed ice

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The Anchorage

Aviation gin, yellow chartreuse, lemon juice, simple syrup

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Lover, Dreamer, & me

Plantation 5-year rum, orange curacao, raspberry syrup, lemon juice, served over ice 

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Pepper le Pew

Lunazul Primero tequila, black peppercorn-honey syrup, lime juice, cardamaro, egg white, served up

Atmosphere: 
Dot Dot Dot is housed in a former storage room, and the feel is cozy and old school class. I was geeking out over the bookshelves and the art deco divider between the bar and dining area. Dot Dot Dot is not huge, and I can imagine that it gets incredibly packed on weekends (we visited on a Tuesday night, so the crowds were light).

So Myers Park rn

So Myers Park rn

That divider tho

That divider tho

Speakeasy Hospitality: 
Since I was joining Allie for a media preview, it is hard to give an unbiased review of the service. We were treated like queens on this particular visit, however. I can't wait to go back incognito with Jason. 

Frankie's Notes: 
When the speakeasy vibe is so authentic that it takes you ten minutes and asking for directions to find it = good thing it's not actually prohibition days; Not sure why they aren't using bathtub gin for that 1920s real feel; What about getting raided by the cops to add an extra level of excitement?; Park Road Backlot is a nation unto itself; Going out with EatDrinkCLT is dining with Charlotte food royalty, and I was honored; We love Va da Vie’s gelato and all, but we have to block off half a day to in order to hear about the authentic Italian spoons.

Disclaimer: This meal was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are our own, and we were not compensated for this review.

 
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Charlotte Jason Ackerman Charlotte Jason Ackerman

Burtons Grill & Bar

Chilling with lovely blog friends!

Chilling with lovely blog friends!

Background:
Burtons Bar & Grill in Park Road Shopping Center is part of a chain of restaurants that has been open since 2005 and has locations in seven states. Our Charlotte location is the only one in North Carolina, and we are so lucky to have them! Burtons has an extensive menu with lots of small plate options and larger entrees. Burtons is unique in that they maintain a high level of diligence when it comes to preparing menu items for patrons with food allergies. If you have a food allergy, a manager will drop off your order, ensuring that there is no cross-contamination from the time you place your order until the point it is delivered to your table.

Bloggers behind the scenes

Bloggers behind the scenes

We recently had the pleasure of visiting Burtons with our blog friend Jessica @TheSweetSeoul--check her out on Instagram! On our visit, Burtons was rolling out a new fall cocktail menu, and we were able to sample plenty of drinks and a huge variety of menu items. Jason and I also visited solo a couple of weeks prior, so these photos are a combination of both visits.

Eat This:

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

grilled chicken, blue cheese, cheddar, corn tortilla chips

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General Tso's Cauliflower

Thai chili sauce, ginger aioli

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Point Judith Calamari

cherry peppers, tartar sauce

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Stuffed Grilled Zucchini

herbed cheese, zesty tomato sauce, Parmesan

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Roasted Beet Salad

goat cheese, grilled sweet onions, candied walnuts, mustard vinaigrette

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Superfood Salad

quinoa, baby spinach, dried cranberries, feta, grape tomatoes, avocado, julienne vegetables, grilled lemon, lemon vinaigrette

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Short Ribs

aged certified Angus beef, mashed potatoes, broccoli, red wine jus, horseradish cream

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Salmon Romesco

bronzed gulf of Maine salmon, romesco (red pepper) sauce, herbed jasmine rice, julienne vegetables, citrus fennel slaw

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Crab Cakes

super lump blue crab, vegetable slaw, fresh cut french fries, mustard sauce

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Lobster Shrimp Pasta

fresh tomatoes, snap peas, Parmesan, fettuccine, tomato cream sauce

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Wild Mushroom Risotto

snap peas, goat cheese, lemon zest

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Stuffed Avocado

crab, quinoa

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Short Rib Grilled Cheese

braised certified Angus beef short rib, pickled onions, maple sriracha, Vermont cheddar, griddled ciabatta, red wine jus, fresh cut french fries

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Maxx Burger

hand packed certified Angus beef, american cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, house made pickles, Burtons special sauce, crispy onion strings, griddled bun, fresh cut french fries

Dessert:

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Key Lime Pie

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Trio of Puddings

Butterscotch, mascarpone with berries, chocolate

Drink:
I only tried one drink from the new fall cocktail menu, because it was so good I couldn’t dream of ordering something different. Two of these babies went down way too easily!

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Blood Moon Rising

Milagros Silver, Salerno, blood orange puree, blood orange shrub, spiced salt rim, smokey blood orange crisp

Atmosphere:
Burtons has a surprisingly funky vibe for its location. It has tall ceilings and cool artwork--my favorite was a gallery wall that consisted of a motley mixture of art and photographs--my favorite was the portrait of South Carolina native Aziz Ansari.

Swanky/photo courtesy of Burtons Grill

Swanky/photo courtesy of Burtons Grill

Not the gallery wall I mentioned--forgot to take a picture of that one--but I like these guys, too/photo courtesy of Charlotte Business Journal

Not the gallery wall I mentioned--forgot to take a picture of that one--but I like these guys, too/photo courtesy of Charlotte Business Journal

Park Road Shopping Center Hospitality:
Burtons employees go above and beyond to make sure each customer is satisfied. On both of our times at Burtons, our server and a manager stopped by to make sure that everything was up to our standards, and frequently checked in to see if we needed anything. Burtons ensures every customer is well taken care of, which makes for a lovely dining experience.

Amazing vintage shot of Park Road Shopping Center/image courtesy of Style Blueprint

Amazing vintage shot of Park Road Shopping Center/image courtesy of Style Blueprint

Frankie’s Notes:
Burtons is a great place to really settle into your corn fear without shame; When bloggers get together, you can forget eating your food while it's hot; When you chug your first drink, you need to sip you next one, lest you embarrass yourself in front of your new blog friends; I would like a gallery wall filled exclusively with Aziz Ansari photos; Old school Park Road Shopping Center makes me want to have a malt while I wear a boy's letter jacket. 

Disclaimer: This meal was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are our own, and we were not compensated for this review.

 
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Charlotte Jason Ackerman Charlotte Jason Ackerman

Selwyn Pub

Iconic Charlotte 

Iconic Charlotte 

This article also appeared in the May/June 2017 edition of Epicurean Charlotte magazine. 

A cold beer, Bee Sting wings, and lounging in the sunshine on a sunny Carolina afternoon? That’s just what the doctor ordered--Doc Foster, that is. Regulars of Selwyn Avenue Pub will know Jim Foster as Doc, the co-owner of Myers Park’s number-one neighborhood destination for gathering with friends to eat, drink, and cheer on a Duke vs Carolina game. It’s no happy accident that Selwyn Avenue Pub is the premier destination for those searching for a grown up bar in Charlotte. Doc and and his father, Jim Foster Sr., also known as “Coach,” credit their long-lasting success with listening to their customers since they opened the pub in 1990. As Doc puts it, “We have stayed in business for 27 years because we listen to our customers--we want people to feel welcome and comfortable. What you see here is the result of 27 years of improv with audience participation.”

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Bee Sting Wings

Bee Sting Wings

The results of customer input can be seen everywhere from the menu (customers asked for the Ahi Tuna Wrap that’s now one of their best selling items), to the enclosed TVs on the patio (a customer suggested the alcove for housing the TVs back in the early 90s when no other bars had outdoor televisions). The customers are the heart and soul of Selwyn Pub and play a central part in its identity. “We want people to feel welcome here, and to feel comfortable,” Doc says, and he believes it’s impossible to become stale in the restaurant business unless “you become tone deaf” to your customers’ demands. Doc has watched many fads in the Charlotte dining scene come and go, but he and Coach maintain a steady focus on a business model that cultivates longevity and customer loyalty. The equation is simple, says Doc: “If you want to hang out in Myers Park with a lot of nice people, we’re it.”

New awning vibes

New awning vibes

Slider nation

Slider nation

There is a comfortable familiarity about Selwyn Pub that resonates with its customers, but Doc never stops innovating. Case in point? A brand new retractable awning (AKA the “Selwyn Pubadrome”) was recently installed to replicate the beloved oak tree that had to come down in November of 2015. Doc knows how important the tree was to so many of his customers, and he did everything he could to salvage it. The tree, he notes, had more “check-ups” than his own children. Ultimately, however, all of the experts Doc consulted agreed that the tree could not be saved, and the soil was not amenable to planting a fresh tree in that spot. Doc spent many hours searching for a viable replacement that could replicate the feel of the tree, if not the exact look. The new awning provides many qualities the tree provided-- the sun shines through when the awning is out and allows in some warmth, but it will block heavy rain and much of the blistering heat of the sun’s rays in the height of summer. The awning stands tall at 11 feet high, so it never feels suffocating, and it maintains the patio’s open and breezy feel . Doc feels that the awning “keeps the spirit of the tree” in that the patio remains a comfortable gathering spot for the Myers Park community, and he knows his customers will be relieved to not have to cover their beers and race inside when a summer rainstorm blows in. Along with the awning, the outdoor heaters and comfy new seat cushions will ensure that Selwyn Pub remains a year-round destination (yes, all year--even on Christmas and “snow days”).

Class 'n Sass

Class 'n Sass

 

Once you are comfortable and climate-controlled no matter the weather, it’s time to focus on food, and diners know Selwyn as a reliable spot for quality pub food. The focus, Doc says, is on “shareable items, because they support our main purpose--people come here to meet their friends.” The food, like the pub itself is “communal” and Doc and his father know that customers crave simple and high quality menu items, so their focus is straightforward: “Buy absolutely the best ingredients and don’t screw it up.” What does this mean in practice? Angus chuck beef for hamburgers, fresh not frozen hand-breaded chicken tenders, sashimi grade Ahi tuna, and Boar’s Head meat products. Their most popular item, according to everyone from the rich and famous of Charlotte to the Myers Park teenage set, cast a unanimous vote: that pizza. With unlimited free toppings and a thin and crispy crust, you really can’t go wrong with a Selwyn Avenue Pub pizza.

Veggie Pizza 

Veggie Pizza 

Dougbert's Dirty Martini

Dougbert's Dirty Martini

Doc is the first to admit that the menu is a bit schizophrenic, but it’s merely the result of listening to customers’ demands over 27 years. Initially, Doc and Coach, who are of Irish heritage, had the idea of opening up “a little Irish pub in the neighborhood.” They quickly found, however, that as much as people enjoy Irish food here and there, or as a novelty on March 17th, most customers don’t crave that type of food on a day to day basis while they watch the game with a beer. So, true to their mission, they switched up their menu to what the customers craved. And while it’s mostly wings and pizza, sometimes it’s that fancy tuna wrap that’s now a bestseller, or anything else a customer might suggest in the near future. Selwyn is unpretentious quality at affordable prices. What to wash it down with, beyond the beer, of course? “Many people” Doc says, “are surprised at our wine menu--it is a wide selection of high quality wines at pub prices.” The drink options range from ciders to cocktails to a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc.

 

Jim "Doc" Foster 

Jim "Doc" Foster 

If you’re looking to peruse a menu online, though, you won’t have any luck; “the customers” Doc says, “are our social network.” One of Doc’s daughters did hook up the pub with a Snapchat Geofilter, but that’s as far their media presence goes. This philosophy meshes with one of the challenges Doc often finds himself pondering in his other gig, where he is a tenured professor of Law and Ethics at Queens University’s McColl School of Business. He notes that for all of the social media savvy today’s students demonstrate, they sometimes struggle with talking to one another face to face, and he believes that Selwyn Avenue Pub provides that place of social connection. Selwyn Avenue Pub harkens back to an earlier time of the village green, where people would gather together to discuss local issues and politics face to face, and not over Facebook or text; “People come here primarily because they want to socialize with their friends and meet new people, and we provide that comforting and inviting place for them to do that.” Doc believes that people crave that gathering place in their community, and Selwyn Avenue Pub is more than pleased to provide that space for the Myers Park and Charlotte community.

Did you see Selwyn Pub on Southern Charm?!

Did you see Selwyn Pub on Southern Charm?!

The only snafu? The notorious parking situation: “We proudly acknowledge that we’ve got the worst parking in the state,” Doc says with a laugh, but he notes that the upside is that everyone who manages to get here is “paying us the greatest compliment--they had to go through a lot to get here” he jokes. But seriously--take an Uber or hitch a ride with a friend and get down to Selwyn Avenue Pub ASAP to enjoy a few of those quintessential sunny southern afternoons this summer. And don’t waste any time, as Doc notes, “your friends are already here.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Charlotte Jason Ackerman Charlotte Jason Ackerman

Good Food on Montford

I don't want none unless you got pork buns

I don't want none unless you got pork buns

Background: 
Good Food on Montford is owned by Bruce Moffett, who also owns Barrington’s and Stagioni. The concept is seasonally and locally sourced tapas in a funky and relaxed setting. Good Food consistently runs a long wait, especially on weekends, even eight years after their opening. Even as the landscape of Montford has changed around them, Good Food continues to bring a touch of class to this well-known drag and bro-heavy hangout.

Eat This:
The visit featured was not our first to Good Food, but it was noteworthy as we dined with our lovely friends Tamara and Zander when they were expecting their little one, who has now arrived! Welcome to the world, little Dalton! Here is what we ate on this particular visit:

Falafel
Hummus, cucumber & greek yogurt

Hummus among us 

Hummus among us 

Carnitas

Lot of corn happening here. 

Lot of corn happening here. 

Heirloom Tomatoes

Summer on a plate

Summer on a plate

Steamed Bun
Five spiced rubbed pork belly, hoisin, & pickled vegetables

Somebody told me that you had a pork bun that I had February of last year 

Somebody told me that you had a pork bun that I had February of last year 

Korean Beef
Crispy rice, scallion kimchi & gochujang

Meat & carbs = together forever 

Meat & carbs = together forever 

Prince Edward Island Mussels
Green curry, coconut milk & cilantro

Mussels, Muscles, Mollusks

Mussels, Muscles, Mollusks

Tempura Vegetables
Assorted

Working on the summer bod

Working on the summer bod

Gnocchi
Braised duck, greens, toasted pecans & roasted squash puree

It's possible we dug into this one before the picture was taken? Shh, don't tell 

It's possible we dug into this one before the picture was taken? Shh, don't tell 

Garganelli
House-made Italian sausage, toasted garlic & tomato

That's a spicy meatball...or sausage

That's a spicy meatball...or sausage

Overall, we feel Good Food is just that: good. Not great, and a bit overrated. It would be worth it if the parking was not a full-on nightmare and the wait a bit more manageable. Although the menu is supposed to be seasonal, it doesn’t rotate out all that much, and the offerings feel like they need a fresh dose of innovation.

Dessert:

Cannoli Cheesecake

Eh 

Eh 

Brownie Sundae

Brb, going for PopBar

Brb, going for PopBar

Both of the desserts were Applebee’s quality. D+ at best.

Drink:
Good Food bartenders make a mean cocktail! We didn’t indulge on this visit (we were all in solidarity with pregnant Tamara), but all past samplings were delicious.

Atmosphere:
Good Food is small and popular, so naturally it can feel rather cramped. The decor itself is modern and simple, but it is very easy to feel suffocated in here on a busy Friday or Saturday night.

Bro City Hospitality:
Our service on this visit was fine. Nothing to write home about, and our server forgot a few items and had to be reminded.

Frankie’s Notes:
Montford can be a scary place on a Saturday night; RIP Andrew Blair’s; Johnny (aka Jonathan) says Moosehead has the best wings in the city; RIP Maverick Rock Taco; When one friend is pregnant we are all pregnant, i.e., we all ate for two; If I had to put the word “Applebee’s” in this review, you know that automatically knocked it down a star.

Rating: A bit overrated and only worth a <30 wait...4 out of 5

 
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