Ollie's Bites: Date Night in Charlotte

Image courtesy SiliconHills

Hello, Loyal Scallionpancake Readers! 

Welcome to a new series on the blog--Ollie's Bites. All of the articles featured here are also featured on the super cool travel website Localeur, for which Scallionpancake recently started writing. You should download the Localeur app posthaste, and use it to get insider recommendations from locals whenever you travel to a new place. Localeur is in tons of cities around the world and is growing daily. It's a damn fine concept, as getting recommendations from trusted locals is a hallmark of meaningful travel, in our humble opinion. Even though many of our readers are local, we like to think our recommendations are good for Charlotte natives or those just passing through. We hope you enjoy!

Here's the first installment--Date Night in Charlotte: 

Growler’s Pourhouse

Image courtesy of QC Exclusive

Start your night out at this NoDa neighborhood bar, which is a super chill spot for hipsters and mere mortals alike to grab a drink before dinner. In addition to a wide range of local craft beers and cocktails, you would be remiss if you didn’t order a round of oyster shots to get your night started on the right note. Feeling hangry while you wait for dinner? Never fear--there’s complimentary popcorn for you to nosh on.

Stick those babies in a shot glass and drink up!//image courtesy of Charlotte Five

Haberdish

Before heading to Growler’s, definitely put your name on the waitlist for this super popular southern eatery. Use the Nowait app, if you would rather avoid the half-block schlep. Can’t miss items include the mac and cheese (don’t you dare neglect to add the spicy chicken skin on top) and the sweet potato dumplings. Colleen Hughes is the master mixologist behind the cocktails here, and the quality and creativity of her drink menu has rightfully earned her a fair amount of local fame. Thus, you should have a drink. Heck, maybe have two. There’s not a bad one in the bunch, guaranteed.

Popbar

Us Charlotteans are beyond excited to get our first location of this New York gem. Do you like gelato? Obviously. Would you like it even better on a stick? Of course you would. The options for customization are endless--you can get your pop dipped (full dip, half dip, or a drizzle) in white, milk, or dark chocolate, and then covered with as many toppings as your heart desires. Don’t despair if there’s a line out the door--it moves fast, promise!

The Comedy Zone

HAHAHAHAH//image courtesy of The Comedy Zone

After walking the previous three spots, it’s time to take a quick drive just one neighborhood over for some entertainment. The Comedy Zone is open seven days a week, and they pull pretty big names; I’ve seen Bob Saget and Margaret Cho here, and both were magical. Is the offering an open mic on the night you’re in town? Well, congratulations--you’ve just hit the jackpot. Charlotte has some awesome local comedic talent, but it is a truth universally acknowledged that awkward stand up is sometimes even more delightful than quality stand up.

8.2.0

Image courtesy of d3 Studio

Just a short walk away from The Comedy Zone, you will find this funky little joint that’s just right for a nightcap and some fun to keep your energy up into the wee hours. Highlights include the karaoke room, arcade games, or the sorta-secret speakeasy library (hint: push the bookshelf!). I highly recommend a boba cocktail and some french fries (with all the dipping sauces) for a late-night snack.  

Soul Gastrolounge

Background: 
Soul Gastrolounge is the crowning jewel of Plaza Midwood. Soul is owned by Lesa & Andy Kastanas, who also own The Diamond. What makes Soul so special, other than their creative cocktails, unique tapas, and a peacock on the wall? Well, it just so happens that Soul is the spot of Scallionpancake's first date. We started with pork belly watermelon tacos and ended with a kiss in the CVS parking lot (and then, ya know, a wedding)--so Soul holds a special place in our hearts. What makes Soul worth waiting two-plus hours for on a Saturday night? Check it out!

Check out that huge peacock!//image courtesy of Charlotte Magazine

Eat This: 

Serrano ham & Manchego on toast

Soul is a tapas joint, so we always get a lil' bit of everything. Our favorite menu items are often the specials, and we never neglect to order the sushi roll of the day. Soul's most notable dish is the Asian Glazed Pork Belly Taco, which is a perfectly cooked cube of pork belly with a piece of watermelon, rolled up in a flour tortilla. We don't often order this, but it's definitely a dish you should give a try on your first visit. 

Roll of the day

roll of the day

Another day, another roll

roll of the day

We love the roll of the day...can you tell?

salmon nigiri

Pan con tomate

Shrimp ceviche

In coconut milk and lime, with plantain chips

Asian Glazed pork belly taco

Image courtesy of Yelp

hummus of the day

Miso

Ahi tuna skewers

With sesame and soy drizzle

chimichurri beef skewers

With chimichurri sauce

grilled caesar

Garlic-oil romaine, toasted sourdough crouton

Vanna White sushi hands

Dessert:
Soul offers rotating dessert specials, and they are always awesome. On one of our earliest visits, we had a fig hand pie that I am still thinking about!

guinness chocolate cupcake

Sometimes, though, we head on over to Jason's favorite place of all time--Fu Man Chu Cupcakes. 

Jason's mothership//image courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Drinks: 
Soul's cocktail menu is, on its own, a reason to visit the restaurant and brave the crowds. The menu changes seasonally, and I always want to try literally every option they offer. I often leave Soul a little on the tipsy side just for this reason. 

Take shots/drank

Tiki Taboo

Atmosphere: 
Soul is the ideal spot for a date--it's romantically lit, and loud enough to cover any weird silences. Also, the people watching is almost as central to the experience as the food. We often run into people we know at Soul, and, this is one of many reasons why you should sit at the bar. The bar is going to be your best bet for eating and imbibing relatively quickly, and, as one of the buds we ran into at Soul pointed out--sitting at the bar offers a glimpse into the changing vibe of Soul throughout the night. Hint--it gets younger and rowdier as the night goes on. Not that Javon can stick around for much of this portion of the night, as we usually turn into pumpkins around 10:00 when we come home, have tea and watch The History Channel. 

Oh--and fun fact! The billboard currently up just around the corner from Soul by artist Scott Partridge is a replica (with slight variations) of the print that we commissioned for our wedding. It's pretty surreal to see what's above your bed also on a billboard. The one above our bed has little versions of us and the two pugs though, duh. 

Above our bed--check out us and the pugs, bottom left!

And on a billboard, sans pugs

Javon's First Date Hospitality: 
The service is great--all of our servers have been able to navigate the chaos of how busy they can get and the close quarters of the tables to ensure that we always have a special dining experience here. 

Frankie's Notes: 
Kissing in the CVS parking lot is classy as hell, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise; So is kissing on the first date, when the feeling is right; We have Scallionpancake stickers all over the Plaza now--check us out!; Sometimes, after dining in P.M. we like to head over to Common Market so that we may be stared at judgmentally by hipsters; I love the Goldfish at the Common Market, because the serving is solid, even when they are a little stale; Jason is the one who stole the letters out of the Comida sign--shh, don't tell; Just kidding it was Ollie; Just kidding x2, don't prosecute us. 

Rating:  5 out of 5

 

Baku

Background: 
Baku, which originally opened in 2013, went under new ownership in late 2016. New owners Birdie Yang and Janine Lu also own Yama Asian Fusion in SouthPark and Yama Izakaya in Plaza Midwood. Scallionpancake came here on a media night to try some offerings from the new chef (who was formerly at Bistro la Bon), and then we came back again with our bestest friend Lorin (AKA Hamiltoe) for a more detailed look at their menu. 

On media night, we met their fabulous PR manager Bruce Hensley, who also manages restaurant week in Charlotte. Did you know that the bi -yearly restaurant week results in an 8.2 million dollar economic impact for the city? Holy food service, Batman! Bruce was great, and he gave us lots of cool insider info, like that owner Yang is a Level Two Sake Sommelier, and that the fish Baku uses in their sushi is flown in daily from New York and Hawaii (original origin: Japan). I also learned that Bruce's daughter is getting married soon at the Foundation for the Carolinas, which is where Scallionpancake tied the knot! So, we obviously chatted wedding details for most of the night. 

Here are some shots of the interior of the restaurant...

So mood lighting. Much hip.

Makin' the soosh

Eat This: 
There is not a thing I tried on the menu that I wouldn't recommend, but here are some favorites...

Calamari

Look at the sauce it was so good omg

Wagyu Beef Tartare with house made potato chips

Wagyu Beef Tartare with housemade potato chips

Spicy Hamachi Rice Crispy Treat

Lil' bites of heaven

Enoki Mushrooms

For health

Kurobuta Pork Belly Skewer

For fun

Assortment of sushi rolls

Mostly salmon and a little bit of tuna for the J man

Dessert: 
The desserts at Baku are all made in house (more on that below), and we loved both that we tried. 

Beignets

'Nawlins flare

Chocolate Lava Cake

Basic B dessert tho

Drink: 
Baku's sake collection is beyond impressive--they have the most extensive collection in the state with 75-80 different varieties on their menu permanently, and then they also offer 10-15 rotating sakes on special. They even offer a bottle that is 1K! Yeah, save that one for an *extra* special night (like, maybe when you win the lottery). We enjoyed some budget friendly cold sake, and it was light and refreshing for summer. 

When liquor is prettier than you

Presentation is everything

Atmosphere: 
Baku is a great date night spot, as it is romantically lit and feels a little fancy, but not so much so that you feel the need to get dressed to the nines. It works perfectly as a mid-week spot to catch up with your spouse and do something a little more elevated than a usual weeknight dinner. 

We would sit outside, but Jason hates bugs and weather

Asian Fusion Hospitality: 
The service we received was impeccable, and not just on media night. It was just as solid when we returned for a repeat visit. Our waiter checked in on us frequently and had a great sense of humor. 

Modern vibes

Lorin calls this look "resort chic"

Frankie's Notes: 
Restaurant week is like Christmas in January/July for Charlotteans; You can get tipsy on Natty Light, or you can get tipsy on a 1K bottle of sake--this is America, guys, and the choice is yours; That is, if you believe that the American Dream still exists; Not trying to get heavy, just questioning the possibility of social mobility in 2017 and the disappearing middle class; On a lighter note, Jason has a physical inability to not order pork belly when he sees it on a menu; Hamiltoe requested to take the above sheep home, and was brutally rebuffed; I casually questioned whether the chocolate lava cake was made in house prior to ordering it, and while I was in the bathroom Jason and Lorin told on me to the waiter and said that I vocalized my doubt re: the origin of the cake and shamed me; I don't know why I go out with them at all; Just kidding, they are my favorites!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Disclaimer: One of the meals above 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.

 

Selwyn Pub

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

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

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

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 

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 

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?!

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.”

 

Yamazaru

Still getting used to taking blog pictures without feeling like a creeper 

Background: 
Yamazaru opened in March of 2017 in the ever-booming South End neighborhood of Charlotte. The location could not be more perfect, as it's right next to Sycamore and within walking distance of tons of breweries that have limited menu options, or even just the occasional food truck. Yamazaru is owned by the sushi gods behind Ru Sans [read our review on what we consider the best sushi in Charlotte], so naturally we went in with high expectations. 

However, we tend to make the mistake of going to a new spot too soon, and making rash judgments when they are still figuring out their service groove, and this visit was no exception. We visited Yamazaru on a Friday night in late April with Jason's brother, Adam, and his awesome girlfriend Emily. Despite some service snafus, we had a great time due to the awesome company and banging sushi. Check it out...

Stop looking at me, swan

Eat This: 
Here we have your basic Japanese restaurant Americanized house salad with ginger dressing. It was alright. I actually prefer the crappy iceberg lettuce to this fancier stuff. #whitetrashtendencies

Nutrients & such

Yamazaru Roll
Crab salad, avocado, tuna, baked eel, and scallops

Green Dragon, Tamago Nigiri, Angry Spider, and Salmon Avocado Rolls

Dessert: 
We did not eat any desserts at Yamazaru, but we for sure went to Golden Cow Creamery after, which is conveniently just down the road!

Clearly not the ice cream from our visit that evening (hence the sunlight), but what can we say? We go here a lot. 

Drink: 
We shared some cold, unfiltered, sparkling sake! It was good, but I think it had the alcohol content of fruit juice. Yawn. On a Friday night I just don't want to feel feelings anymore, okay alcohol? 

Atmosphere: 
Yamazaru is super compact, as obviously real estate is at a premium in South End. Much like Ru Sans, it's a little difficult to navigate where to stand while you are waiting for your table. This is no big deal in nice weather, but of course when it's cold and/or rainy it means everyone is huddled awkwardly by the host stand. It was nice weather when we went, but we still huddled awkwardly by the host stand because we were hungry, and you know, out of sight out of mind, etc. 

Oh! Yamazaru means "monkey" in Japanese, and we enjoyed the hidden monkeys splashed around the decor!

Ohx2--look for the booth that is one-sided and faces a wall. Look for it, but try not to be sat in it. Especially if you're with a co-worker or something. Awk sauce nation. 

I don't know where to stand/Hi, Adam and Emily! 

South End Hospitality: 
Ughhh, we had terrible service on our first visit, unfortunately. Everyone was polite, but the servers seemed like they were still dealing with the madness of how busy they were. Our host sat three parties ahead of us who came in after us, and, once we were sat, we waited at our table for about 20 minutes without being greeted. I would definitely chalk this up to them working out the kinks of opening up a new restaurant. I am sure it will get better!

Frankie's Notes: 
Jason and Emily are super chill in the face of slow service--Adam and I? Not so much; I have lots of white trash tendencies, like enjoying Dave & Buster's on occasion; If the host can feel you breathing on them, you'll be eating faster--that's just simple restaurant math; South End is so hip with its painted magic carpets and brewery yoga classes; No seriously, take how often you think Jason and I go out to eat for dessert in the average week and multiply it by four to get an accurate count. 

Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Yafo Kitchen

Do you hear angels singing? 

Background:
Yafo Kitchen is brought to you by Frank Scibelli, the same restaurateur who pioneered other Charlotte staple restaurants like Mama Ricotta’s, Midwood Smokehouse, Cantina 1511, Paco’s Tacos and Tequila, and Bad Daddy’s, which he recently sold for beaucoups and beaucoups of money (shout out to Tyler’s uncle on S-Town). So, Scallionpancake clearly loves Scibelli and all that he brings to the proverbial and literal table for our burgeoning Charlotte food scene. But with Yafo Kitchen, he has clearly outdone himself. Yafo is billed as Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern, and Jason and I definitely took note of the Israeli flare, from both the food offerings (the chef is Israeli) and decor (check out the giant pic of halvah on the wall next time you go). 

Rice and bulgur wheat 

Basically, Yafo Kitchen is the Chipotle of Mediterranean food, and that is just a straight-up genius concept. You feel healthy AF eating here, even though the serving is enough for two hungry men, and the laffah bread probably has enough calories to sustain you for a week. But the fresh vegetables! The hummus! It’s the kind of healthy meal you would make yourself at home if you weren’t so much of a lazy bum.

Everything your heart desires 

Eat This:
It seems obvious that the only way to go here is the create your own bowl, right? Right. You can create the base of your bowl with hummus, babaganoush, tzatziki, salad, rice, or the seasonal grain offering--or you can combine any of those ingredients for a 50/50 bowl. You could even throw your ingredients into a laffah wrap, or you could just eat your laffah on the side, which is our preference.

Where the laffah gets made

What is laffah? So glad you asked. Laffah is similar to pita bread, but it is more dense and more delicious, basically. It’s also called taboon bread or Iraqi pita. You can watch the employees making the bread fresh while you wait--it is served hot and you will wonder why you have never heard of this magical bread before.

Magical sauces! They have granch (Greek yogurt ranch) and schug (cilantro jalapeno sauce). Get both of these and use them liberally.

The Sides! The greek yogurt mac and cheese with toasted bread crumbs is a definite winner.

Check out that mac and cheese! Photo courtesy of Charlotte Magazine

You can also order a number of other items like sandwiches or a whole chicken with all of the mezze (side) dishes. 

Dessert:
We can vouch for the chocolate chip cookies, which they also make in house. This place is the real deal, right?!

Drink:
Yafo has a fun drink counter, similar to Chopt’s offerings. You can get cucumber mint limeade, hibiscus tea, lemondae, organic unsweetened black tea, or regular sweet tea. They also have local beers!

Atmosphere:
Yafo is fast casual, so the decor is nothing fancy, but the layout is easy to navigate, and the tables are kept bussed and clean so the constant influx of customers can get in and get out with a belly (Scibelli) full of laffah. There are TVs if you would like to watch the game while you eat.

South Park Hospitality:
The folks behind the counter are a marvel of speed and efficiency. The line moves shockingly fast, considering how many add-ons and customizations can be used on each order (and many people are often ordering for a whole family). Yafo is a well-oiled machine, and we like that.

The only complaint is that it’s located in South Park, which is kind of off the beaten path for a lot of folks, and the traffic around that area can be a beast--not to mention the parking in the Morrison shopping center, which is a nightmare. This is going to get worse with the recent opening of Sabor right across the parking lot. We need more locations, Mr. Scibelli! If possible, one location should be in our kitchen. Thanks.

Frankie’s Notes:
Frankie and Frank Scibelli are going to open a fresh new restaurant concept this fall: Pugs ‘N Pops; Jason does not like halvah, blintzes, or cream cheese: is he really Jewish at all?; If S-Town Alabama had a Yafo Kitchen, would they still be S-Town?; What’s the deal with cousin Rita?; Did Tyler ever find the hidden treasure?; What can we do now with our lives now that S-Town is over?! Send all comments and suggestions our way.

Rating:
4 out of 5

 

Haberdish

The cocktail that launched a thousand yuppies

Background:
AHHHHHH Haberdish. That’s how this restaurant makes us feel right now.

I see the lights, I see the party lights 

Haberdish is owned by Jeff Tonidandel, who also owns Growler’s Pourhouse and The Crepe Cellar--sooo, he basically owns an entire block of NoDa. While Scallionpancake likes Growler’s, and is so-so on The Crepe Cellar, we were blown away by Haberdish. Haberdish was poppin’ on our first visit on a Friday night, right around two months after their opening in December. Like many others that night, we were drawn like moths to a flame to a Charlotte Agenda instagram picture floating about of a gorgeous pink cocktail adorned with one of their signature flower ice cubes. We saw the picture, we made plans to go--just like the rest of Charlotte on one fine Friday night (cue two and a half hour wait). Read on to see why this place is our new jam--we have been back once more since our first visit, and it’s one of our new go-to spots.

Rose gold silverware and flowers in my drink: is this heaven?

Our second visit was during the thick of tax season--it’s possible Jason and I bickered like everyone’s favorite married Jewish couple, and it’s also possible he fell asleep at the table. Yay, March! The best part? My dad was in town! Yeah, Wayne!

Wayney is here!

Eat This:

Brined Smoked Chicken
Tossed in Alabama white sauce

Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? 

Fried Chicken
Brined, battered, fried

You know I like my chicken fried

Sweet Potato Dumplings
Hand-spooned with brown butter, sage, parm

The dumplings are so good your camera hand shakes 

Mac & Cheese
with optional spicy crispy chicken skin--not included in this picture

Better than the blue box

Tater Tots
Housemade tater tots

Are those housemade tater tots, or are you just happy to see me? 

Hushpuppies
Fried cornmeal dough with sweet tea butter

Photographers were not quick enough for how fast this dish went

Biscuits & Bacon Jam
Snowflake flour, lard & butter/served with homemade bacon jam

My favorite 

Pickled Candied Striped Beets

Wayne's favorite 

Dessert:
We have yet to try dessert here, because PopBar is right across the street. Have you guys been to PopBar?! It’s the freaking best. We are hoping to get sponsored by them, considering we go two-three times a week.

#fulldip

Drink:
UGGGHHH the cocktails. Colleen Hughes is the mixologist with the mostest--she also is in charge of cocktails at Tonidandel’s other restaurants, but she has outdone herself here. The cocktail menu had changed from one visit to the next, but some amazing staples remained, like Daniela’s favorite, the house mint julep, aka “the adult slushie.” The drinks are fabulously strong and the flavors are inventive--no basic sweet concoctions to be found. Two and a half hour wait? No worries, we will be posted up at the bar!

Ransom Old Tom Gin Smash

Bartender's Best Friend 

Atmosphere:
With its tall ceilings, exposed brick, and steel beams Haberdish nods to NoDa’s history and aims to call to mind the textile mills of the 1800s. The lighting is soft and romantic, and it’s the kind of place you want to linger (much to the chagrin of others waiting hours for a table).

These two lovebirds certainly up the atmosphere quotient! 

Southern Hipster Hospitality:
The servers and bartenders are nice, but they certainly seem harried--which makes sense considering how slammed they have been lately. You do get the feeling they want to rush you out the door a bit, and on our first visit our server forgot a dish (and still charged us for it). She was super sweet and took it off right away, but it feels like they still need some time to adjust to just how popular this place is going to be on Friday and Saturday nights.

The beast emerges from his tax-season lair. Do not approach or look directly in the eye!

Apologies on behalf of my dad (The Wayner) who simply cannot understand the fast-talking youth of today, and asked our waitress if she was speaking Polish. We laughed; she didn’t.

Frankie’s Notes:
When Charlotte Agenda posts, the whole of Charlotte responds like lemmings; If Jason will wait more than once for two hours for a restaurant during tax season, you know it is legit; It’s way better to be in a faux-textile mill in 2017 eating fried chicken than working in a real mill in 1887, worried about losing a digit; I am sure Wayne would hate Gilmore Girls; Wayne lost his life alert; Wayne drank several glasses of fifteen-year-old bourbon; Are the last two things related?

Rating:  
4 out of 5

 

Good Food on Montford

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 

Carnitas

Lot of corn happening here. 

Heirloom Tomatoes

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 

Korean Beef
Crispy rice, scallion kimchi & gochujang

Meat & carbs = together forever 

Prince Edward Island Mussels
Green curry, coconut milk & cilantro

Mussels, Muscles, Mollusks

Tempura Vegetables
Assorted

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 

Garganelli
House-made Italian sausage, toasted garlic & tomato

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 

Brownie Sundae

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

 

Stoke

In all her glory 

Background:
I can't imagine being a guest at the Marriott City Center and coming down to grab a bite to eat and seeing the grandeur that is Stoke. This beats the heck out of an airport HoJo’s, to say the least.

Stoke and the coffee shop CoCo and the Director are both a part of the Marriott’s recent renovation that included their guest rooms as well. And man, what a renovation! The head chef here is Chris Coleman, formerly of McNinch House and The Asbury. Even though The Dunhill is dead to us (due to their part in a major wedding snafu that I will not blast them on the internet for...well, anymore than I just did), that’s still a pretty impressive resume.

Eat This:
Stoke is true to their stated mission of changing their menu seasonally. I love this, as so many restaurants say they do this, but nothing ever seems to rotate out.  That said, here are a few of our favorites from visits throughout last summer, fall, and this winter. We personally can't wait for the mac and cheese to come back!

Pretzel Brioche with rotating trio of butters and spreads

You've gotta start here--don't argue!

Wood Roasted Avocado Toast
salsa verde, arugula

Oooh we're getting healthy now!

Pimento Cheese
buttercup & blue, wood-roasted chiles

Southern manna 

Beets
sunflower granola, orange-infused UAV ricotta

Beets by Dre

Chicken Liver Pate
Peanuts & muscadine jelly

Peanut butter liver time

Trout

Here fishy, fishy

Sticky Pork Shank
Chili-sorghum glaze, peanuts, benne

Don't forget to eat the leftover glaze like an animal!

BBQ Carrots
Carrot top pesto

Bunny food

NY Strip Steak

Simple & delicious 

Carolina Gold Rice Grits
63 degree egg, aged white cheddar

Put an egg on it!

Mac & Cheese

Jason's fave!

Dessert:
Um, let’s talk giant donut. If you haven’t been to Stoke yet, I have no doubt you have seen this beauty on Instagram. Behold: Giant Donut of Your Dreams. This baby is filled with one pound of diplomat cream and an entire heath bar. Favorite donut moment (of many)? When our party of four decimated this guy, and the party of four sitting next to us only managed to finish a meager quarter. Hah! Serious amateurs in the world of binge eating! Joke’s on them!

Great Big Donut Filled with Love
Filled with one pound of diplomat cream and a crumbled Heath bar

Oh, here you are again!

Drink:
The cocktails are my favorite thing about this place, and now that you have read the above, you know that’s saying something. The menu includes “pressed” cocktails, which are served in a coffee press! My favorites? The Barrio (El Jimador Anejo, dubonnet rouge, xocolatl bitters) and the Aged Green Point (Redemption Rye, yellow chartreuse, punt e mes, angostura bitters).

No drinks in this shot, but itsn't that the cutest couple you ever did see?

Atmosphere:
It is ridiculously cool it here--from the open concept kitchen to the hanging sculptures, it just feels very upscale without being at all stuffy. I love watching the wood fire oven and food prep while we eat. We never feel weird about going to a hotel to eat--nay, we feel fancy and footloose!

The atmosphere on the night we went during the riots and the SWAT team joined dinner. 

Hotelier Hospitality:
The service here is top notch, from the hostess stand to the servers. Sometimes they bring out the food all at once instead of pacing it with the starters and the main courses, but otherwise the staff is on point and super personable.

Frankie’s Notes:
Marriott > The Dunhill and I am not yet ready to talk about what happened at the latter; But seriously don’t stay there; People who try to go easy on a giant donut because they think it might negatively impact their cholesterol are big losers, okay?; OKAY?!!; I would like to order room service from Stoke while in a hotel bed watching Bravo; A french press ups sophistication quotient 47-54%; The airport HoJo’s: forever in our hearts.

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

The Flipside

Grandma with the skeptical fork stance 

Background: Chefs Jon and Amy Fortes decided to open a restaurant together after years in the business. They own two locations of The Flipside, The Flipside Restaurant in downtown Rock Hill and The Flipside Cafe in Ft. Mill. The Fortes’ also run a very active catering business under the same name, and they have the distinct honor of catering the #javonwedding in December, so, clearly, we are fans. Read on to see why.

Eat This: We have only eaten at the Rock Hill location, so our review will focus on their offerings.

It’s good bread city here. First, they have complimentary homemade peach butter served with their yummy sourdough bread. Eat thirteen pieces of this, then:  

The Greatest Thing to Ever Happen 

MOAR BREAD: You have got to go order the UAV Ricotta & Mozzarella Pull Apart Bread. Seriously. It should be the very next thing you put in your mouth after you read this. Delicious sourdough with PEPPERONI SAUCE and basil oil. You will probably be too full to eat anything after this, so plan accordingly.

Huh?

Also a hit under the appetizer category, Amy’s Pimento Cheese served with warm pretzels.

But my favorite starter, or main dish if you just ate your weight in bread, is their tomato soup. Tomato soup is one of my favorite things and theirs is perfection. It’s well seasoned, and topped with crystallized basil and grilled cheese croutons. Yes, they sandwich cheddar cheese in between two sourdough croutons. The sweetness of the basil paired with the salty soup is simply, heaven in a bowl.

Is that crystallized basil, or are you just happy to see me?

Their burrata salad is also standout, and they usually have a fun twist on it--right now they are offering a strawberry beer-rata version (beer infused burrata cheese). Grandma ordered it and was not impressed, but have you read Grandma’s take on all restaurants HERE? Regardless of Grandma’s feelings on exotic cheese, Flipside is one of the few restaurants she will still agree to visit, so that’s saying something.  

Their lunch sandwiches are also creative and delicious. They have a Pressed Ham and Cheese, served with prosciutto, brie, and fig jam on a pretzel bun and a Crab Cake BLT with arugula fennel salad and tomato jam served on brioche. 

When it comes to dinner offerings, Flipside offers a great deal where you can get an appetizer, main course, and dessert for $30. Not bad at all!

Our favorite main courses have been the Heritage Farms Pork Loin with sweet potato spaetzle (although the spaetzle was on the bland side) and the Hot Coal Grilled NY Strip with tasso ham and mushroom mac & cheese.  

Grilled NY Strip...treat yo self!

Dessert: The desserts are the one area where we feel Flipside can go pretty wrong. We had one particularly awful experience with a chocolate torte with a citrus sauce that just did.not.work. At all. As in, you couldn’t really eat it. Actual Grandma quote: "If I served this to you all, you would think I was creepy." 

On our last visit with our dear friends Tamara and Zander (#tander), we decided to try four of the desserts, which threw our waitress into a vortex of confusion.

Here was the conversation:
Us: We would like [these four desserts].
Her: WOW. Okay.
Us: …
Her: So you want *incredulous tone* [lists all desserts].  
Us: Yeah...

You could try Sears?

Yeah, she said "Wow," alright. LOUD AND CLEAR, LADY. Cue everyone feeling weird over what could only be termed collective fat shaming. Four desserts for four people is not that bad, right? Is that unheard of? We didn’t know how to feel.

Awkward service snafus aside, these desserts were better than on our previous visits. The Maple Bourbon Banana Creme Brulee was a table favorite, as well as the Sticky Toffee and Apple Bread Pudding. We had high hopes for the Strawberry Pistachio Cake, but it was on the bland side, and included a fake, bright red strawberry sauce.

Maple Bourbon Banana Creme Brulée

Drink: The Flipside offers a full bar and some great local drafts.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere at the Rock Hill location is lovely: nice lighting, cozy booths, and shady patio area.

Southern Hospitality: Minus the dessert encounter detailed above, our service at Flipside has been mostly wonderful. We have also seen owner Emily a few times, and she always stops by the table and checks on us (and Grandma, especially). She is super sweet!

Grandma: not amused. 

Frankie’s Notes: Downtown Rock [Thrill] is a throwback to the 1950s; You will tell Grandma that burrata is cheese four times and she will not believe you until the dish is placed in front of her; peach butter is medicinal and should probably be slathered all over everything; When the waitress is shocked that you are eating so much sugar so you go home and do 45 sad crunches; Our wedding is going to have THE BEST food, thanks to Flipside!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Et Cetera:
The Flipside Restaurant:
129 Caldwell Street
Rock Hill, SC 29730

The Flipside Cafe:
3150 Highway 21 North
Ft. Mill, SC 29715

http://theflipsiderestaurant.com/

 

Babalu

Background: Babalu is opening in Dilworth TODAY in the old Cantina 1511 spot. This tacos and tapas joint is a chain located in several southeastern cities, and now Charlotte is getting in on the party. Owners Bill Latham and Al Roberts named their restaurant after Ricky Ricardo's number one jam, so we were predisposed to like this place. 

Eat This: Scallionpancake (plus Adam, aka A-Dizzle) was able to get the inside scoop this Saturday (#fancy #bigstars #thepress). We were ordering from a limited menu, but everything we tried was pretty darn good!

Adam "don't put me on the internet" Ackerman

The table side guacamole is the jam. Do you want them to add jalapeños and bacon? You bet your sweet behind you do. Bacon is an excellent addition to guacamole and we are gutted to have not heard of this one day sooner. 

Ooh yeah girl run that game 

To round out our starters, we also ordered the Yellowfin Tuna Ceviche. This was fresh and citrusy--ceviche high fives all around.

How I love le poisson

For entrees, you can choose from tapas, tortas, or tacos (alliteration station). We tried two of the tacos and two of the tapas options--but the Torta Cubana kept going by our table and we had some major ordering regret--next time, for sure. 

For the tacos, we tried the Carne de Cerdo (pork belly) and the Ostra (fried gulf oysters). They serve these babies on your choice of blue corn or flour tortillas. The blue corn was a nice touch, but the Brothers Ackerman both proclaimed their tacos a bit on the dry side. 

PSA: Things that are from the gulf are [probably] cool to eat now! 

Blue Velvet Corn Tortillas 

Under the tapas section, we sampled the Costillas--smoked baby back ribs with a sweet pepper glaze served atop a cilantro vinegar slaw. This dish was the winner of the afternoon. The ribs were seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the slaw lightened up the flavor profile. 

"I want my..."

Right before we left, the servers offered an orphaned Seared Sesame Crusted Tuna served on a jicama round, which we were more than happy to take off their hands. This was a lovely little dish--the tuna had great flavor and the jicama kept it light and healthy. 

Artsy low-carb tuna

Babalu is not really Mexican--it has shades of Mexican, along with Cuban, Spanish, and Southern elements. The menu has a lot to offer--but not so much that you are overwhelmed. 

Desserts: All of the dessert options looked baller, but we could only choose one. I made the executive decision (bossy) and chose the Spicy Mexican Fudge. These are served in three, perfectly bite-sized pieces and are dusted with cayenne, crushed pepitas, tajin (chili powder, lime and salt seasoning), and powdered sugar. Yum. 

Chocolate fudge alert

Drink: Adam and I each tried a cocktail--he got their signature Baba-rita (a margarita made with POM juice) and I tried the Mojarita (a margarita with mint). There was nothing about these that was offensive, but we didn't love either of them. Too sweet, not strong enough. Ricky Ricardo would have made his displeasure with such a drink known, for sure (AY YI YI). 

"Why you always singing that baby-lu?"

Atmosphere: For anyone who had been in the old Cantina 1511 space, you will be blown away by the changes they have made to the interior. They took a poorly lit and awkwardly laid out space and made it light, bright, and fun. They have a mix of bar seating, high tops, and booths, and they project a film on one of their walls (on Saturday it was a black and white Western--a super fun touch). They also have colorful concert posters lining the walls along the ceiling. 

One of the best parts about Cantina 1511 was their patio, and Babalu has only made it better--the patio will be open year-round, rain or shine, thanks to a retractable roof and sides. 

Mexi-Cuban Southern Hospitality: The service we received was top notch! I hope it stays that way past the soft opening. Everyone was exceedingly friendly and the food came out quickly. 

Frankie's Notes: Jason feels really cool and a little embarrassed going places with our big, fancy camera; Yay for Kid Cashew not being the only thing people are talking about on East Boulevard; Do you think that Johnny from Lebowski's trivia will go to Babalu with us one day? Asking for Jason & Daniela; Ricky Ricardo's best song was far and away "Cuban Pete"--no disagreements allowed; Ricky would have thrown a weak, sugary drink right in Lucy's face, both because they had a violent relationship and because the 50s were a bad time for women in America; But seriously: why couldn't Lucy be in the show?

Chick-chicky-boom

Rating:  3 out of 5

Et Cetera: 

1511 East Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28203

http://eatbabalu.com/menu/

 

The Pump House

Cheerwine Chocolate Cake

Trout

Filet Mignon

Southern Fried Shrimp & Grits

Calamari

The Pump House!

Thar she blows

Background: The Riverwalk area in Rock Hill is growing like crazy. The walking trail is busy every day and packed on a beautiful weekend. There are new apartments and homes going up at warp speed, a wine bar just opened (a second location of The Grape Vine--a Baxter staple), and a hair salon and a Brixx Pizza are coming soon. Not to leave out the pinnacle of Riverwalk, of course--the shiny, beautiful BNA building.  A close second, however, is the brand new restaurant, The Pump House.

The Pump House is the vision of Ell Close and Colby Mosier, who, along with Jeff Conway, the owner of Napa on Providence and Ruth's Chris Steakhouses in Charlotte, have turned the dilapidated Celanese Textile Factory pump house into the one of the most unique and best restaurants in York County. The restaurant sits directly on the Catawba River, offering 180 degree views of the river. It is a five story restaurant--the top story is the bar, the fourth floor is reserved for special events, and the third floor is the main seating area. The second floor is used for storage and the first floor is where you enter. You can even see the original pump sitting outside of the restaurant!

Full disclosure: Jason's parents are a 1% owner in the Pump House, so we got to go the investor dinner before their official opening. Riverwalk perks!

Eat This: The menu is what we'll call "Modern Southern." Their entrees average around $20 and include three types of shrimp and grits, steak, trout and catfish, and many other southern delicacies.

The calamari was light and tasty. Other appetizer options included a rock shrimp cocktail, tomato soup, and caesar salad. 

The filet and the trout were both served over pureed butternut squash and greens which were seasoned and sautéed to perfection. Also, the filet was cooked a perfect rare, as requested--only good restaurants are willing and able to cook rare steak, so that's a good sign. The southern fried shrimp and grits came with collard greens and house made bacon, and tasted like we imagine great-grandma used to make them (not a Jewish grandma, obvs). 

Dessert: We tried the Cheerwine molten chocolate cake, which might have been the best chocolate cake we've ever had. It was so good that the two of us ate it all and didn't save any for Bernie (The Bern), who was politely talking to the couple next to us while we ravaged it. We then convinced our waiter to let us have another one for the table. Alas, The Bern still didn't get to eat that much of the second one. Oops. You have to be fast with your fork when you dine with us. 

Drink: Some super awesome cocktail offerings--Jason tried the River Water, which was served in a mason jar and made with moonshine, blood orange syrup, and love. 

Atmosphere: Sophisticated country vibes abound. Modern seating and stainless steel combine seamlessly with wood panels and a taxidermy beaver under glass ("Justin Beaver"). It was not open on the night we went, but soon the patio will be open (fifth floor), which will be so lovely for drinks and watching the sunset and wildlife on the river. 

Southern Hospitality: Our bartenders and waitstaff could not have been any sweeter. The owners said that all servers would be attending training at Ruth's Chris restaurants in the next week to further hone their fine dining service skills. 

Frankie's Notes: BNA is where Jason Ackerman IV will work; Just kidding, Jews don't name their kids like that; We hope the seafood is not from Lake Wylie; If only the real Justin Beiber could be preserved under glass; We owe The Bern two chocolate cakes; Expect to find the BNA staff dinning al fresco on a Friday evening in the near future. 

Rating: 3 out of 5

575 Herrons Ferry Rd
Rock Hill, SC 29730
Hours: TBD

http://rockhillpumphouse.com/

 

Kindred

THIS BREAD

Blue Crab Gnocchi

Wagyu Beef Tartare

Speckled Trout

Smoked Duck Gumbo

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Pork Saltimbocca

Oyster Tartine

Chocolate Birthday Cake

Salted chocolate chip cookies with cinnamon ice cream

Background: Kindred was voted #7 on Bon Appetit magazine’s list of Best New Restaurants for 2015. Yep--Davidson, NC made the top ten list for the whole darn country. Husband and wife team Joe and Katy Kindred wanted to move back to Joe’s hometown after they met on the Chicago restaurant scene. 

Eat This: We’ve gotta come clean about our first visit. Back in August when we first ventured to the charming college town, we were less than impressed with Kindred. It wasn’t that we disliked it, we just didn’t get what the hype was about. Was it good? Yeah. Top ten in the country good? Calm down, bro.

But...maybe the problem was the hype and we needed to manage our expectations? Did they have an off night? Did we? With all of these super important life queries swirling through our heads, we decided to give it another shot before we reviewed it. We dined with our lovely friends Zander and Tamara. They are also: getting married this year and don’t care one bit about spoiling their appetites on bread before the meal. Twins!

Kindred specializes in small plates that rotate seasonally. Top picks this visit included the Wagyu Beef Tartare and the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. The tartare was served with finely grated dried mushrooms and salty dried fish--absolute perfection. The Bolognese was a table favorite and we agreed it was like something your Italian grandmother would make, if you had one (if you do have one, will you share her with us?) Jason and Zander really loved the Pork Saltimbocca served with grits and red-eye gravy, but Tamara and I just wanted more bread. All the bread. Their bread is “milk bread” served in a round carafe with house cultured butter. The first loaf is free to the table, but you have to pay for additional loaves. Worth it.

Dessert: At dinner, we found out that Zander is kind of a health nut: he drinks bulletproof coffee every morning, engages in intermittent fasting, and eschews dessert. Tamara told us that her other half always acts super non-committal regarding dessert, until it is on the table, practically begging “EAT ME, ZANDER.” And, true to her word, Zander looked at the three of us like we were hungry barbarians when we suggested two desserts after we pretty much had eaten everything on the dinner menu. Then, when it was served he descended upon it like it was a death row meal (disclaimer: Zander is the thinnest of us all, so #judgementfreezone). What did we get, you ask? the Milk & Cookies (salted chocolate chip cookies with cinnamon ice cream) and the Chocolate Birthday Cake. The cookies and ice cream were pretty good, but the cake was the stand-out. On our last visit, we thought it tasted disappointingly similar to Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, but this time we were so glad we ordered it. Top notch.

Overall, we felt the food this time around was much more impressive than at our visit in August. We still aren’t sure it’s “top ten in the whole country good,” but it is definitely great food and easily among the top restaurants in Charlotte.  

Drink: Jason & Tamara each ordered the same girly cocktail (called the Santiago) and gave it high marks. We especially liked the aluminum straw that looked like a dental instrument.

Atmosphere: Kindred used to be a drug store, and they have maintained some original wood elements in the bar area (+ the dental-esque straws). The seating is both upstairs and down, and the kitchen is in the basement, so the servers certainly get a workout! The decor is charming, right down to the sign in the bathroom that says: “Employees must wash their hands...and moonwalk out of the bathroom.” The atmosphere at Kindred definitely feels special--perfect for date night or a fancy occasion.

Southern Hospitality: The service here is laid-back, but helpful. On both occasions, our waitresses have been more than happy to offer food and drink suggestions.

Frankie’s Notes: When you are planning a wedding, you become People Who Only Talk About Weddings--you can feel yourself doing it and yet you are powerless to stop it; Friends don’t let friends feel weird about ordering bread to-go; Dessert is casual until you turn into a T-Rex over some cake; Tamara is planning our honeymoon to Easter Island to see the alien statues; It’s normal to go through a stick of Kerrygold butter a week, right?

Ranking: 5 out of 5

Et Cetera:

131 N Main St.
Davidson, North Carolina 28036
Tuesday-Saturday: 11:00 – 2:30pm and 5:00-10:00pm

http://kindreddavidson.com/