Ollie's Bites: Charlotte's Best Bar Eats

Bee sting wings from Selwyn Avenue Pub

This article first appeared on Localeur's website--check them out for travel recommendations! Localeur features in-the-know locals giving food, drink, and recreation recommendations from all over the world!

Selwyn Avenue Pub

Pizza so good that MJ orders it

Selwyn Avenue Pub is a Charlotte institution. Located in the heart of Myers Park, this part indoor/part outdoor bar and grill has plenty of large-screen TVs and shady trees and is packed on beautiful fall game days. They are famous for their transfusion drink--vodka, grape juice, and sprite--and for their delicious pizza. The pizza is so good that local Michael Jordan is known to stop in often for a pie. Other solid menu items include their chicken wings and sliders. Parking can be a beast here, so an Uber is highly recommended.

Lebowski’s Neighborhood Grill

Wangs//Image courtesy of Charlotte Agenda 

Tuesday night trivia at Lebowski’s in Dilworth is the best Charlotte trivia in terms of the quality of both food and trivia questions, but in order to keep it possible to get a table, let’s keep that between us, okay? This bar with Buffalo roots does all of the Upstate New York favorites justice, like roast beef on ‘weck and the very best chicken wings this side of the Anchor Bar. Wash it all down with The Dude’s favorite--a White Russian. Be mindful that if you are going on Tuesday, for trivia or just to eat and imbibe, reservations are a must. And that’s not just like, my opinion, man.

The Cellar at Duckworth’s

Truffle fries//Image courtesy of Loop Charlotte

Below sports bar Duckworth’s in Uptown Charlotte lies a hidden speakeasy gem. The Cellar has a variety of seating from high tops to cozy booths, but I always choose a spot at the bar. Here you can watch the master mixologists craft inventive cocktails like my favorite, the Cellar Smash, which is essentially a grown up “slushie” with ginger, citrus, and elderflower. To soak up all of those delicious drinks, you can’t go wrong with the tuna tartare with wonton crisps, truffle fries, or the truffle mac and cheese. The Cellar also offers full entrees, but the shareables and small plates are the way to go here. The Cellar is a decidedly more upscale locale for bar bites--if you are looking for a more traditional bar experience, Duckworth’s upstairs has tons of TVs and great food, as well.   

VBGB Beer Hall & Garden

Giant pretzel//Image courtesy of Charlotte Agenda 

VBGB, located in the AvidXchange Music Factory, is a playground for grown-ups. Fun happenings include life-size games like Jenga and Connect Four, a covered patio, trivia on Thursday nights, and a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. The food is not your typical bar fare, in that most of it is homemade and much of it is somewhat healthy--like the nitrate-free brats or quinoa salad. However, my favorite menu item is the biergarten classic: a jumbo pretzel with a side of homemade beer cheese. Don’t forget to sample all of the varieties of mustard lined up in the condiment station, too.

Dandelion Market

What's this color called, because I love it?//Image courtesy of Dandelion Market

Dandelion Market Uptown is a great bar to get a little bit of everything. Earlier in the evening, the bar is laid back and rather quiet (especially downstairs), but come 10pm or so, this place gets bumping--literally: the floor upstairs shakes a little when everyone starts dancing, but that just adds to the fun, right? The food here is a cut above for bar bites--don’t sleep on the potato croquettes with cheddar and bacon, prosciutto crostinis, or the brussels sprouts. And although I’ve never done it, but have always wanted to, you can even order the entire menu for $295.

Fork!

Background: 
Fork!, located in Cornelius, NC (right next to Davidson) is a farm-to-table restaurant situated in a quaint old house with a sprawling porch. Tim and Melanie Groody have owned Fork! for about four years, and they recently opened up Ramen Soul in Mooresville. Jason and I ventured here for date night on an unseasonably warm evening in February. Check out what we tried below!

FORKKKKKK!!!1!!!!

Eat This: 

Spicy Chicken spring rolls

Wasabi, plum sauce

Our waiter told us that he recommended the hickory smoked pork dumpling appetizer, but then Jason ordered these. Why would he do that? I don't know. You'll have to ask him. I don't like spring rolls, so I passed, but Jason reported that they were good. I'll eat you one day, pork dumplings. A lot of the menu items had an Asian or island-y flare, which we found interesting for the venue and rest of the menu (mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, etc.). 

Smoked caesar romaine salad

Garlic croutons, shaved artisan cheese

Simple and flavorful greens. They were even nice enough to split this into two portions for us, without us asking. Hospitality plus! 

Grapevine smoked wahoo

Bagna cauda, yogurt, arugula, pickled cauliflower greens

Fresh and citrus-y. 

All natural beef bistro steak

House made worcestershire 

The only dish we didn't like. We both felt the steak was a tad overcooked and lacked seasoning. 

Pan Seared mahi

Sorrel charmoula & basil collard pesto

The mahi had a crispy sear and great flavor. I love that the meats came with the option of sauce on the side. Obviously I ordered two (un-pictured). Because sauce. 

We don't know exactly why, but we didn't order enough dinner. Maybe the above would be enough for mere mortals, but we are hobby eaters. The only thing we didn't like was the steak, but for some reason we didn't feel like ordering anything else. It's a bit of a mystery, even to us. However, we had devised a game plan...

Dessert: 

Whit's frozen custard

...From down the way

I mean, we were only about a mile from Whit's, so...

And Whit's is only a half a mile from Kindred....

Kindred Milkbread

Yeah, that happened 

What have we done?!

We were weird. We know it. We are sure that Fork! has lovely desserts, and we will be back to try them one day. But on this night, we needed custard and some bread. I would recommend that Fork! implements a bread basket. But that's just this blogger's opinion. 

Drink: 
Jason and I stuck with tea (iced for him, hot for me) but Fork! had an inventive cocktail menu we will also be back to try. 

Atmosphere: 
Fork! was adorable, and while we liked the food, the real standout to me was the ambiance. We happened to be here on a gorgeous evening at dusk, but I have a feeling that Fork! just has good and cozy vibes whenever you go. It felt at once relaxed and upscale. 

Heyyy Jason 

Davidson Hospitality: 
Our server was super nice, and we felt awful, because we seemed to spook him with our picture taking. It wasn't his fault that we didn't order enough food and had to go to two more restaurants. That was solely on us. We are strange and we freely admit it. 

Frankie's Notes: 
We made it weird at Fork! and we don't really know why; The siren call of Kindred's milkbread is like a magnetic force field; Getting island vibes in Cornelius is confusing and exciting; Wrap-around porches make everything better; Why does Fork! have an exclamation point in it? 

Rating: 

3 out of 5

 

Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth

Scallops & pork belly

Background: 
Halcyon, located in Uptown Charlotte, shares a building with the Mint Museum and overlooks downtown Charlotte from its second story venue. Halcyon sources local ingredients and makes all of their food to order daily. Chef James Stouffer does not even serve previously frozen items--the only food kept in the freezer is their homemade ice cream. 

Our good friend Stephanie from @lifebychipsahoyt invited a large group of bloggers out one Thursday in February to sample Halcyon's fresh and seasonally rotating menu. We had such a blast, and although Jason and I had been to Halcyon in the past, it had been a while, and it was so great to see all of the fresh offerings for spring 2018. 

Hi! We are cute

Eat This: 
We started the night with a smorgasbord of snacks, spreads, and shareables. Diners can customize these small bites in whatever combination they choose. 

House-made bread & pita

Whipped Butter. Lemon Oil. Paprika.

Ate about five pieces of that bread in the back. And allll of that monogrammed butter. 

House-Cured Duck

Assorted Cheeses. Pickles. Mustard.

Chicken liver pate, n'duja, smoked salmon spread

hamachi crudo

Jardiniere Vegetables, Castelvetrano olives, artichokes barigoule

Oysters

Horseradish. Mingonette.

Lyonnaise Salad

Frisee. Benton’s Bacon. Poached Egg. Mustard Vinaigrette.

Roasted Kale & Farro Salad

Farro. Kale. Cauliflower. Golden Raisins. Marcona Almonds. Tahini Dressing.

Brussels Sprout Salad

Sea Island Peas. Hominy. Peanuts. Tobago Aioli.

Scallops & Pork Belly

Local Maitake Mushrooms. Roasted Green Onions. Spicy Aioli.

Braised Bison

Trumpet Mushrooms. Roasted Shallots. Poached Egg. Grilled Baguette. Bacon.

I am usually not a chicken girl, but this was my second favorite dish of the night. The mole and the phyllo made this such an unexpected delight. 

Salmon Koulibiac

Carolina Grit Rice. Cabbage. Mushroom Duxelle. Spinach. En Croute. Swedish Mustard.

Chicken Pastilla

Stewed Chicken. Potatoes. Capers. Olives. Green Mole. Chipotle Glaze. Phyllo. Herbs.

My favorite dish of the evening. Sooo much dill. Dill forward, even. 

Bloggers hard at work!

Post-cut

Venison Saddle

Braised Red Cabbage. Parsnip Puree. Cocoa Nibs. Toasted Oats.

Dessert: 
I forgot to snap a photo, but we were served the most delicious hand-rolled dark chocolate truffle for dessert. Other dessert options include house-spun ice cream, warm apple cake, chocolate mousse, & chevre cheesecake. I can't wait to go back and try them all!

Drink: 
Halcyon has an epic wine selection, and we enjoyed a dry white on this particular evening. Seasonally rotating cocktails are also available. The first time Jason and I came here, it was for his birthday in October 2014, and we enjoyed an epic pumpkin cocktail. That was pre-blog days, so no photo, but I still think fondly of that drink. 

Atmosphere: 
Halcyon is stunning, and the decor parallels their natural approach to cuisine. Some of the tables are made from long slabs of petrified wood, the light fixtures look like bird's nests, and there is a vibe that is at once upscale and woodsy. The restaurant faces the west, so if you come at dusk you can catch a gorgeous sunset over the Queen City.

Earthyyyyy

You seriously do not want to go out to eat with any of us

Locavore Hospitality: 
Halcyon is owned by the Mother Earth restaurant group that also runs Fern, Flavors from the Garden and Something Classic Cafe and catering company. On this visit and on our previous visits, we received top-notch customer service and servers who are attentive and well-informed about the cuisine. 

Frankie's Notes: 
If you go out to eat with bloggers, you just need to accept that your food is gonna get cold before you can eat it; Bird's nest chic is the new black; The way we swooned over the salmon koulbiac you would have thought it was a Backstreet Boys concert circa 1998; Monogrammed butter is how we do fine dining in the south; What is petrified wood so petrified of, pray tell? 

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.

 

Chima

Hey, that's not a meat!

Background: 
You might be surprised to find out that Charlotte's favorite (and only) Brazilian steakhouse actually originated in Brazil. If you've ever been to Chima, this shouldn't surprise you, because it feels authentic af. Ft. Lauderdale got the first US location in 2004, and now Chima has four US locations, and Charlotte is lucky enough to be included in that exclusive club. If you have ever been to a Brazilian steakhouse, you know how magical they are.  Close to twenty different varieties of meat brought to your table on skewers? It's every American's Brazilian dream come true! We have long been Chima fans, particularly during restaurant week, as you can get so much bang for your buck here--you can save $20 per person off of the typical rate during restaurant week! Jason's history with Chima is particularly storied, and you can hear more about his meaty history in detail on this episode of the podcast (preview: his muscles get bigger with every bite of meat he takes). We felt completely and totally honored when Chima invited Scallionpancake out a few weeks ago to formally review Charlotte's meat amusement park. They seriously treated us like royalty. Look! We even got a sign: 

OMG QUIT YO DAY JOB

Eat This: 
Okay, here is how Chima works, for the uninitiated: 

Wonderful servers bring food accessories to your table (meat-cessories!). This includes mashed potatoes, polenta, fried bananas, turkey pate, meat croquettes, and, the very best thing of all: cheese bread. You can try a little bit of everything else, but eat all of the cheese bread. If you have any of it left over, please DM us and we will send you our P.O. Box number where you can send us all of your uneaten bread.  

Then, you hit up the salad bar. There are differing opinions on this, but I like to be liberal at the salad bar. It's all fresh, tasty, and it counterbalances the meat situation that's about to hit you hard. Jason is dainty at the salad bar, as he thinks it is foolish to use valuable stomach space on anything that isn't meat on a stick. On our last visit, he broke his own rule and went all out and ate a heart of palm (yes, just the one), and a sliver of Parmesan. 

When you feel prepared, you should turn your attention to your "meat button." Don't overthink that term, thanks. Your meat button has two speeds: orange, which means: "Yes, please, I would like all the meats" and black, which indicates: "I am on the verge of a physical and mental breakdown and I need a brief meat hiatus."

When you flip that button to orange, it is GO TIME, BABY. The meat comes fast, and you've gotta be ready. Do you want top sirloin? YES. Lamb shank? YES. Filet? SIR, YES, SIR Parmesean pork? YUP. Hot dog? GTFO of here with that noise. No offense to the hot dog and the chicken, but that's not what you're here for. You are here for the best of the best, and you must plan wisely. 

What if you are here with...gasp...a vegetarian/vegan??! No worries. They don't have to starve. Plenty of options for them on the salad bar, plus these two skewers for them--vegetables and, the newest option at Chima, cinnamon roasted pineapple! Whhaaatt. I know. Pretty great--even if you're an omnivore. 

Jason and I love the sauces at Chima, and sampled them all on our most recent visit. Our favorites are the hot sauce and the horseradish. Put it all over everything! Even your date, if you want to get weird. 

If you only learn one thing from this blog post, we need it to be this: Chima is not over when you're full. Chima is over when you hate yourself. And that's the best lesson I can give you. Now is not the time to be conservative. Now is not the time to diet. You are gonna meat out, k? You need to be in a full-scale meat sweat by the time you leave. 

Think you're full? NO! Eat this bread, too! Eat it all! Get a plate full of butter because you are living

Dessert: 
Our most recent visit is the only time we have found valuable stomach space for dessert, and we are so glad we did. We tried the chocolate peanut butter lava cake and the Brazilian trio. The cake was good, but if you are only getting one dessert, we highly recommend the trio. It comes with a walnut cream, a beijinho, which is a mixture of coconut and condensed milk, and a brigadeiro, which is a chocolate and condensed milk concoction. The coconut was our favorite of the three, and we would like an entire vat of it. Well, two vats. One for each of us. Everyone knows I hate to share dessert. 

Post-fork 

The Scallion behind Scallionpancake 

Drink: 
If it's your first visit, you absolutely must try the Caipirinha, which is Brazil's national cocktail. A traditional Caipirinha is made with cachaca, sugar, and lime. How is it different from a Mojito? A mojito is made with rum, which is distilled from molasses, and cachaca is a liquor distilled from sugarcane. Chima also makes a mango and strawberry variety in addition to the traditional lime flavor. 

We also recommend a nice red wine to accompany all of that meat. 

Atmosphere:
Chima has great lighting and a hip vibe. Also, with everything going on, Chima is a great spot to go with friends or on a date--it's as much entertainment as it is a dinner. 

Brazilian Hospitality: 
The servers are so attentive at Chima. There is always someone asking you if you need anything. When your meat button is on "go" the food comes around so quickly, but the servers are very aware if you are on a meat break, and they won't bother you if your button is turned to black. 

Frankie's Notes: 
Jason's muscles really do get bigger when he eats meat, but only the muscles on the top half of his body, so he collapses like an accordion; Why aren't meat-musement parks a thing?; I wish every restaurant brought around items on skewers--right down to the check; We really do have a P.O. Box filled with Charlottean's unwanted bread; Or do we?; After eating at Chima, you need to lie down within 20 minutes before meat fatigue kicks in--you've been warned.

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.

 

Zeppelin

Don't feed this to a Millenial gremlin after midnight

Background: 
Zeppelin opened in South End, Charlotte, in late 2017, and shares a building space with the soon-to-open new South End Common Market and the recently opened Bang Bang Bites. Head Chef Vince Giancarlo worked previously at Baku, Aquavina, and Cantina 1511. We found the overall Zeppelin experience similar to Soul Gastro--small plates in a hip and cozy atmosphere with a banging cocktail list. Zeppelin is tiny and super hot right now, so prepare yourself for a wait (and make use of the Nowait app--hear about the trials and tribulations we endured just to get a table on the podcast). 

Eat This: 
The menu is divided into "Smalls" and "Biggies," and below are our orders from two visits. 

Maine Lobster Avocado Toast

Butter poached, homemade brioche, herb aioli, bacon, preserved lemon

The thick and sweet brioche toast with that generous lobster claw? Avocado toast perfection, we say! 

Scratch Buns

Sweet miso Heritage pork belly, shaved cabbage, pickled chilis

Love, love, love. 

American Wagyu Tartare

Taro & sweet potato chips, black truffle yolk, egg custard, roasted tomato relish

The tartare was just okay--we felt this dish was concerned with presentation over flavor. 

Point Judith Calamari

Korean chile, yuzu, pickled bacon dashi gel, serranos, HRF shishitos

Our new favorite calamari in town--sorry to Luca. The dashi gel took it to another level. Slightly spicy, slightly sweet, and just lightly fried. 

Bacon Dashi

served with the calamari

Pacific Yellowtail Crudo

Coal-kissed, pickled & smoked red onion, sriracha tartare crispy rice, serranos, ponzu, truffles

Delicious--get everything below in one bite, and it's a thing of beauty. 

Maine Lobster Mac & Cheese

House-made fettuccine, uni bechamel, truffle froth, brioche crumbs, bacon-poached lobster tail

One of our favorites--we were licking the bowl. Can you blame us? 

Notorious P.I.G Puppies

Braised HRF pork cheek puppies, Eastern Carolina BBQ, whipped honey butter, house BBQ sauce

These cute little puppers were a table favorite! The savory barbecue flavor paired with the crispy fritter perfectly. 

Dry Aged Crispy Duck

Local wildflower honey, sansyo pepper, coriander, fleur de sel, arnaud olive oil, fresh herbs, compressed persimmon

Only I really liked this duck--other dining companions complained that the flavor was off.

Dessert: 
There are currently three options--a chocolate cake with Biscoff ice cream, a Krispy Kreme bread pudding with dulce de leche, vanilla-yuzu ice cream and candied rose petals, and a trio of ice creams (the biscoff, vanilla-yuzu, and a chocolate variety). We loved both of the options below, but if you have to pick just one, we recommend the chocolate cake. 

Chocolate Cake 

with Biscoff Ice cream

Krispy Kreme bread pudding

with dulce de leche, vanilla-yuzu ice cream and candied rose petals

Drink: 
Bartender Ryan Hart crafted a gorgeous and novel-esque cocktail menu with a mix of innovative cocktails ("Remixes") and old school 1900s "Classics" like gin fizzes and sazeracs. 

Gin Fizz
Gin, lemon, egg white, sparkling mineral water

This cocktail was rather poorly mixed--some pockets of egg white and lemon were suspended in a viscous trap of blech, but subsequent cocktails were all fabulous (no pictures due to: too lit. Whoops). 

Gin Fizz

Behind the magical bar

Atmosphere: 
Zeppelin calls to mind early 1900s vibes, and stays on theme with zeppelin drawings and a giant metal zeppelin hanging above the dining area. Random liquor bottles, knick knacks, and the odd bird cage (or three) complete the look, but we felt that the decor went a bit overboard in this respect and was somewhat cluttered (particularly on the empty bottle front). We did, however, love The Savage Way's giant preserved moss "Z," which is certainly the visual focal point of the restaurant. 

Wide shot of Zeppelin interior/image courtesy of Charlotte Business Journal

A divider down the center of the restaurant keeps the side farthest from the bar from being to noisy, and creates a private atmosphere for each table. 

World War I Hospitality: 
Shout out to server Tony, who we have had the pleasure of having on both of our visits. He provided attentive service, always checked in and thoroughly explained each dish to us. We love you, Tony!

Insert big-eye emoji here

Frankie's Notes: 
Has avocado toast jumped the shark?; Biggie Smalls is so hot on Charlotte restaurant menus right now; Apparently the Hindenburg was a rigid airship and a zeppelin is a semi-rigid airship; Scallionpancake drops facts like candied rose petals; The romanticization of the turn of the twentieth century needs to be replaced with a renaissance of the Mesozoic Era and dinosaur themed restaurants; Forget about activated charcoal--what about asteroid debris lattes?; No dinosaurs were harmed in the making of this post. 

Rating: 

5 out of 5

 

Hello, Sailor: Exploring One of Eater's Top 18 Restaurants in America

Crisp AF

Background: 
Hello, Sailor is brought to us by Joe & Katy Kindred, the culinary masterminds behind the Davidson favorite and their namesake, Kindred. Hello, Sailor is located just down the road from Kindred in Cornelius, in a space formerly occupied by the Rusty Rudder, a decidedly less upscale seafood joint than Hello, Sailor. This highly anticipated opening (like, for real, for real anticipated...Eater named it in its list of the 16 most anticipated restaurant openings of 2017) in December created a buzz in the Charlotte food community, and as more and more people tried it, the reviews grew more mixed. Hello, Sailor has gained a lot of haters, which is odd considering the success of Kindred. Apparently people are highly upset about loud dining rooms, overpriced entrees, and the loss of their beloved Rusty Rudder (really?). We decided to check it out for ourselves one Sunday night in January with our friends, Tamara and Zan. 

This writer's opinion: photo booths should be free for all to enjoy with the purchase of food & drink

Eat This: 
Former Charleston chef Craig Deihl runs the show in the kitchen, and he has devised some exciting options for seafood lovers. Lobster rolls, oysters, and crab legs--oh my! How could we possibly choose? Here is what we went for: 

Hamachi Poke

Benne seed, lobster roe, macadamia nut

Hands down, the poke was the highlight of the meal. All of the herbs on top made this dish flavorful and there were so many different textures happening. Ten out of ten, would eat again. The kitchen even makes a vegan version using watermelon, and that is what our dear vegan friends Tamara and Zan enjoyed. They loved it, too! 

Oysters

East vs West coast, fernet mingonette

Good oysters--super fresh and the mingonette had a strong acidic bite. Loved the signs designating these as East Coast oysters with the Biggie pic--cute (and v. hardcore, obviously).

Hushpuppies

Yuzu kosho-honey butter

Everyone at the table went wild for these light and crispy hushpuppies. 

Twice Fried Sunchokes & Caviar

Solid dish. 

Grilled Caesar

Parmagiano, breadcrumbs (pictured with shrimp add-on)

Overly dressed, but still a good salad. Jason maintains his preference for the grilled Caesar from Soul. 

King Crab

Broiled with ghee & chili salt

This was my entree, and I loved it, at first. I have never had a restaurant slice the claws in half like this, and easy to eat crab legs are a dream of every fine, upstanding, healthy, normal American [girl]. However, after a while, I noticed just how over-salted the crab was--it made my mouth dry, and it made the crab dry, too. I really didn't want to finish it at around the halfway point. However, it was market price, so you know I finished it. Crab is just too delicious to be ruined with an abundance of seasoning. People should stop being mad about acoustics and start being mad about overly salted food, because this is an issue with have also noted in the past at Kindred. Someone in the kitchen has a heavy salt [bae] hand. 

Is that you, Sous Chef at Kindred & Hello, Sailor?/image courtesy of NBC News

Watermelon

Al pastor, sea salt 

Fine--watermelon. Nothing special happening. 

Avocado Coleslaw

In the words of Jimmy Fallon--ew. Overly dressed in mayonnaise, and where the hell is the avocado? We assume in the dressing, but it really just tasted like mayo. We were also expecting even a small slice of avocado. Do not promise avocado and then fail to deliver! We are millennials. We will riot. We are triggered. Pass on this side. 

Dessert: 
Dessert options include soft serve, a seasonal hand pie and a chocolate poke cake. We went with the poke cake and the hand pie, and while the bourbon pear hand pie was super good, the poke cake blew me away. Under the top layer of chocolate cake was a crumbly, slightly under-baked German chocolate cake situation, and I was living for it. 

Poke!

Grip-able 

Drink: 
The drink selection is so fun--some of the cocktails come in exciting cups, like a tiki man or a shark, and there are bendy straws, too! I was dying over the cuteness. We ordered the uber sweet Cherry Negroni Slushie and the Sea Legs, which was an even more syrupy sweet mezcal drink that was a major disappointment, cool cup aside. I have never found the cocktails at Kindred to be quite this sweet, and I know there is a beachy vibe and all, but cocktails this sweet are just a recipe for a hangover, or at least a killer headache. 

Shhh...tiki man is sleeping 

Atmosphere: 
The Kindreds describe the vibe as "North Carolina Fish Camp meets mid-century Palm Springs," and we were loving the retro color palette (hello, millennial pink!) and fun touches, like a photo booth and a waiting area that makes you feel like you are in an episode of Mad Men. After reading reviews online, it seems that much has been made about the crappy acoustics in here, and yeah, we noticed it. The sound bounces all around the restaurant and the space does not have the coveted intimate feel that Kindred emanates. 

I spy...bananas!

Fish Camp Hospitality: 
Everyone from the hostesses, to the bartender, to our server was super nice and helpful. Our server patiently went over our questions, and the pacing was good. 

Frankie’s Notes: 
I have one question: wtf is a fish camp?; Biggie vs Tupac oysters gave me a measure of anxiety--too soon/am I choosing a side?/I don't want to get popped; Eating with vegans is fun, because you never know what those little rascals are going to order; FYI: Conrad Birdie is coming; Someone call the meme police: Salt Bae is on the freaking loose in the kitchens at Kindred and Hello, Sailor; When millennials don't get their avocado the earth tilts off its axis, dammit; Seriously: what's a fish camp? 

Creep on creepin' on, Scallionpancake friends 

Rating:

4 out of 5

 

Dilworth Tasting Room

Background: 
Dilworth Tasting Room opened in 2016 in the former Dilworth Billiards spot on Tremont Avenue. Specializing in low production, high quality wines, DTR serves a much-needed role in Charlotte as a low-key spot to have a glass of wine and a cheese plate on a weeknight (try Thursdays when they have half off Cabernet Sauvignons!). In addition to wine and cheese, DTR has an amazing cocktail menu and heartier entree options. We have been to DTR several times, and, on one visit with the Charlotte Food Bloggers, we got to try the wide array of menu items below. Check them out!

Eat This: 

Cheese & Charcuterie Board

Snack Caddy

Mixed nuts, mixed olives, selecton of seasonal pickled vegetable (pickled in house), orange mustard marmalade. With an assortment of house made fatbread breads & crackers

Bruschetta

Classic, & sauteed mushroom

Bruschetta

Roasted grape & ricotta

Bruschetta

Roasted artichoke with garlic cream cheese

DTR Market Salad

Spring mix lettuce, warm root vegetables, goat cheese bark, nuts with a raspberry sherry vinaigrette

Asparagus Soup

Chicken & Dumplings

Parisian gnocci in chicken jus finished with herbs and spices

Pan-Seared Scallops

Roasted broccoli, black risotto, with corn veloutee

Pan-Seared Pork

With a sweet potato dauphine and a roasted apple gastrique

Horseradish-Encrusted Beef Tenderloin

Braised fingerling potatoes, asparagus, carrots, with a mushroom glaze

Dessert: 

Special Seasonal Dessert

Dark chocolate glazed coffee frozen custard with butter toffee layer and pumpkin spice creme anglaise

Drink:
You really can't go wrong with any of the wines at DTR, and they sell all of them by the bottle as well, so you can take one home to enjoy for later. In addition to the Thursday Cab special, they also offer half off Japanese Toki Highballs on Wednesday nights. Also, when I recently took my book club to DTR, I found out they are very accommodating about helping parties split bottles of wine on their bill--the staff made it so easy, and no one had to do any math, woohoo!

Atmosphere: 
Well, the most stunning part of DTR is their secret garden-esuqe courtyard. Seriously, when everything is green and the weather is warm, this patio is so lush and inviting. It's the perfect place to sip a prosecco on a May evening! Gah, is it spring yet?!

Dilworth Billiards Hospitality: 
Everyone at DTR is so nice, and they do a lovely job accommodating larger parties, and they also take reservations on their website. On each visit, I have left pleased with the service.  

Frankie's Notes: 
Frankie tried to play billiards once, but he's much more of a ping pong pug; An epic charcuterie plate can improve your week 150%; Putting grapes on bruschetta is the best thing that came out of 2017; Math is terrible and you should avoid it whenever possible; Yvonne once tried to create a secret garden inside her house; She used a blue blanket to replicate a stream; Is that weird? 

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.

 

Lincoln's Haberdashery

#jewfood

Background: 
Lincoln's Haberdashery opened just this month in South End, right down the road from Chef Michael Shortino's first restaurant, Futo Buta. Futo Buta has long held as my number one favorite restaurant in Charlotte--in fact, it was the very first post here on our little corner of the internet--check it out here (and also see our our style has changed since August 2015!). We also talk more in depth about Lincoln's on this week's episode of the podcast!

Decisions, decisions 

Lincoln's Haberdashey feels like it belongs in a much larger city than Charlotte, and that's one of the many things I love about it. It is part restaurant, coffee shop, retail space, ice creamery, wine bar, well--you get the idea. It reminds me a lot of Bi-Rite, one of my favorite San Francisco spots. The vibe is hip, yet cozy, and I can't wait to spend an afternoon there reading or doing blog work. The other night, Scallionpancake was absolutely honored to be invited to their media preview, and although we had already visited once the previous week, the media night gave us even more to love about Lincoln's Haberdashery. Read on to see what this new space has to offer Charlotte. 

Peep that beer ice cream float!

Eat This: 
Lincoln's Haberdashery makes all of their bread in house, as well as their ice cream. Whatever they don't make from scratch, they source from the best of the best. For example, the olive oil they use on "The 13th" sandwich is from award-winning Queen Creek Olive Mill in Arizona, and the mozzarella on that same sandwich is made in-house. It's all just a wonderful amalgamation of the best things--both made and curated. By the way, that olive oil is the absolute best I have ever tasted--it's so spicy and fresh! We were given a bottle to take home, and I finished a quarter of mine in approximately four days. A bottle of that, some flaky salt, and a fresh loaf of bread makes for a great breakfast the morning after your visit. Here is a snapshot of everything we sampled, from both our solo visit and the media night:

Mornin':

Mary's Muffin

Scrambled egg, tomato, Duke's mayo, with a choice of "protein" (Hickory Nut Gap ham, bacon, or avocado)

Sticky Biscuit

Hickory Nut Gap ham, rosemary cheddar biscuit, and wildflower honey butter

Stuffed Flapjack

Lemon ricotta, pure maple syrup, and berries

Let's get a close up on that, shall we? 

Avocado Toast

Lemon EVOO, baby arugula, shaved onion

Take it to the Bridge
 

ACME smoked salmon, house toast, dill, red onion, capers, and Ikura (salmon caviar) 

Sandwich & Soup: 

Grilled Cheese

Gruyere, shallots, and thyme

The 13th

House-made mozzarella, La Quercia prosciutto, fresh basil, Queen Creek EVOO

Dessert: 
Oh my god, the DESSERTS. Ugh, all of the pastries are made in-house, and they are beyond delicious. 

Carrot cake pie

With pistachios

Pistachio strawberry choux

Are you drooling yet?

I want to live in this pastry case, thanks 

Assorted ice creams

Ice cream flavors rotate, and the flavors range from the classic (vanilla peach) to the adventurous (mushroom! bacon!). 

Case of dreams 

Drink: 
Lincoln's Haberdashery offers a small selection of wines by the glass, and some beers and local favorite Updog Kombucha on tap. They also have an enormous selection of bottled and canned beer and bottles of wine for purchase. And don't forget the beer float--you can get a chocolate porter with vanilla fig soft serve and have the best float of your adult life.

Stovepipe Latte

Pure Intentions espresso, steamed milk, honey, & cinnamon

And don't forget the coffee! They have two signature espresso drinks, the Stovepipe (espresso, steamed milk, honey, & cinnamon) and the Mary Todd (espresso, steamed milk, lavender, & house-made lemon sugar). And they sprinkle cinnamon on top in the shape of Lincoln's head. Well then. 

Buy all the booze!

Apple spice kombucha!

Atmosphere: 
The marketplace portion of Lincoln's Haberdashery offers so many fun things--pet treats and accessories, candles, magnets, keychains, mimosa kits (!!!) and more. Also, there are tons of cool details, like a refurbished bureau with tiny "thumbs up" knobs. 

For da pugs 

Two thumbs up for Lincoln's Haberdashery 

Mr. Ed

#justiceforbarb

Shortino Hospitality: 
Just like at Futo Buta, Shortino's staff is gracious and quick to offer suggestions and recommendations. You can tell that everyone enjoys working here, and the vibe is chill and relaxed. 

Frankie's Notes: 
2015 blog was so yesterday, so yesterday--just like Hillary Duff says; Is it wrong to drink olive oil straight from the bottle?; I still haven't finished Stranger Things Season Two--does Barb come back from the Inside Out, or what?!; If Abraham Lincoln and Barb had a baby, would it be a ginger?; We think they should sprinkle a cinnamon pug's head on at least one beverage. 

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.

 

Oak Steakhouse

Background: 
Oak Steakhouse is a small chain that started in Charleston and now has locations in Atlanta, Nashville, and, as of earlier this year, Charlotte! Charlotte has plenty of chain steakhouses already, from Sullivan's and the Capitol Grille to BLT in the Ritz Carlton. However, we heard from many trusted sources that Oak stuck out among the masses for being unusually delicious and unusually modern for a steakhouse. We checked it out with some friends last month, and we were enamored with the perfectly cooked steaks and delicious side items. Check out what we tried below!

Eat This: 

Salmon Tartare Lettuce Wraps

Rogue farms butter lettuce, preserved lime, sweet sour soy glaze

Grilled Octopus

Sea island red pea salsa, local greens, red pepper caramel

Grilled Salmon

Roasted garlic mashed potatoes, haricot vert, toasted pumpkin seeds, lemon butter

Debragga Of NYC 20oz.

Dry Aged Certified Angus Beef Bone-in Ribeye

Truffle Frites

We also had a most incredible filet mignon, but, alas the photo was too blurry due to #shakymeathands

Dessert: 
Everyone else at the table just picked at this dessert, so I obviously had to do the hard work of finishing this on my own, plus being the only heifer at the table still able to put food away after all that meat. Oh, the humanity!

Apple Crisp

Almond streusel & vanilla ice cream

Drink: 
There is a super healthy cocktail menu, plus plenty of great red wines to stand up to all of that red meat. Jason had the lovely libation pictured below!

Atmosphere: 
One of the things we noticed right away was how far apart the tables in the dining room were, and we liked that. It provided a small amount of privacy and seemed to keep the restaurant from getting too loud. We were also sat in a small side room off of the kitchen, which felt very intimate and lovely. 

Image courtesy of Open Table

Carnivorous Hospitality: 
Oak Steakhouse is part of the same restaurant group that owns the O-Ku chain (Charlotte location in South End), and, on the whole, they offer the same level of fabulous customer service at both restaurants. However, on this particular evening, we felt that our service was a bit rushed--our waiter encouraged us to order everything at once after we told him we were only ready to order an appetizer, and someone took Jason's cocktail away when it was still at least a quarter full! 

Frankie's Notes: 
Our meat shakes often verge on the uncontrollable; How many times do we have to tell you, if you try to take a beverage before it's gone you're gonna be dead to us for one million years; Sorry, not sorry; Sharing dessert is my most difficult first world problem to bear; Jason likes to dress like Fred Flintstone when he eats bone-in meat, and orange is a great color on him. 

Rating: 
4 out of 5 

 

Terrace Cafe

Background: 
Stewart Penick opened the first Terrace Cafe in South Park years ago with his nephew, Jacob, who at the time was a recent graduate of Johnson and Wales. After the success of their first location, they opened another in Ballantyne, and they now have a location in Greenville, South Carolina, with plans for another in Ft. Mill in the spring/summer of 2018. A couple of months ago, Penick and his team invited the Charlotte Food Bloggers out to check out their Ballantyne location and some new menu items. You no doubt have heard of Terrace's legendary fried chicken and red velvet waffle, but read on to check out some dishes sure to become your new favorites!  

The famous red velvet waffle/image courtesy of Terrace Cafe

Eat This: 

Sriracha Deviled Eggs

Smoked bacon & baby arugula

Wild Mushroom & Cheese Crostini

Garlic crostini, three cheese spread, & wild mushrooms
 

Oyster Spinach Salad

Flash-fried NC oysters, fresh spinach, caramelized onions, & warm bacon vinaigrette

Cranberry Apple Pork Tenderloin

Roasted and then sliced pork, sage-scented apples, dried cranberries, cranberry-peach marmalade, potato pancakes, & vegetable medley

Dessert: 
Terrace's dessert menu is absolutely amazing, and includes gems like a coconut cream bread pudding and a mini chocolate waffle stack! I want to go back and try them all, but that night we tried the...

Peanut Butter Brownie Cheesecake
 

Rich peanut butter and brownie chunk cheesecake layered over a chocolate brownie crust, topped with chocolate ganache and peanut butter cup pieces

Drink: 
All Terrace locations offer a full bar with plenty of options for cocktails, wines, and beers, including many local favorites.

Atmosphere: 
We have been to the Terrace in South Park and now Ballantyne, and both locations were cozy and spacious booths (my favorite) are abundant. 

Ballantyne Terrace Cafe//image courtesy of Open Table

Southern Hospitality: 
Everyone we have dealt with on this visit and previous visits have been lovely and provided top-notch customer service. 

Frankie's Notes: 
If you don't like chicken and waffles down here, they make you move back up above the Mason-Dixon line; We love potato pancakes no matter the season; A spacious booth makes it easier for Jason to lie down and take a nap after a meal; Frankie loves coconut cream bread pudding, but he's only had it in his dreams. 

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.

 

Burtons Grill & Bar

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

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:

Buffalo Chicken Dip

grilled chicken, blue cheese, cheddar, corn tortilla chips

General Tso's Cauliflower

Thai chili sauce, ginger aioli

Point Judith Calamari

cherry peppers, tartar sauce

Stuffed Grilled Zucchini

herbed cheese, zesty tomato sauce, Parmesan

Roasted Beet Salad

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

Superfood Salad

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

Short Ribs

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

Salmon Romesco

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

Crab Cakes

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

Lobster Shrimp Pasta

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

Wild Mushroom Risotto

snap peas, goat cheese, lemon zest

Stuffed Avocado

crab, quinoa

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

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:

Key Lime Pie

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!

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

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

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.

 

Ollie's Bites: A Pizza my Heart in Charlotte

This article first appeared on Localeur's website--check them out for travel recommendations! Localeur features in-the-know locals giving food, drink, and recreation recommendations from all over the world!

Benny Pennello's

Photo courtesy of Twitter

If you're in the NoDa neighborhood and craving a late-night slice, Benny Pennello’s is going to be your savior. The slices are beyond huge – it takes two plates just to hold one. The topping options here are not extensive and not customizable, but if you are looking for a simple pepperoni or veggie slice with a beer, Benny’s has you covered. They are open until 3 a.m. on weekends, and they serve local beers (in cans), as well as local favorite King of Pops popsicles in the freezer case.

Photo courtesy of Thrillist

Alino Pizzeria

Although this gem is located about 25 miles away from Downtown Charlotte, it’s well worth the drive. This Mooresville pizzeria imports buffalo mozzarella, “00” flour, and San Marzano tomatoes weekly, and they bake up their pizzas in wood-fired ovens that are custom-made in Naples, Italy. Top off your authentic Italian experience with gelato or a cannoli, both of which are made in-house. The counter service is quick, the employees super friendly, and you can always catch a soccer game on one of their many TVs. Don’t miss the caprese salad –
getting to taste that fresh mozzarella in all its glory is simply divine.

Inizio Pizza

Inizio Pizza has locations in Ballantyne and Dilworth, and they pride themselves on recreating classic Neapolitan-style pizza, which is baked in a wood-fired oven for 90 seconds. This quick cooking time, as well as the imported Italian “00” flour, results in the chewiest and most delicious crust ever. Make sure you order the crowd favorite: Pistacchio Pizza with rosemary, pistachio pesto, and buffalo mozzarella. My personal favorite is the Maria with a variety of mushrooms and truffle crema. Make sure to save room for cannoli or gelato; both are house-made and well worth the splurge. 

Pure Pizza

Photo courtesy of Thrillist

Pure Pizza has locations in Plaza Midwood and in the Seventh Street Public Market in Uptown. Pure has so many creative menu options, particularly their crusts – you can get original, gluten-free, or sprouted ancient grain, which is made with quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat. Their toppings are no less innovative – try the chorizo pizza, topped with shaved radishes, cilantro, and lime juice, or the smoked salmon with capers, dill créme fråiche, and red onions. Their salad offerings also go far beyond the usual pizza joint house salad and venture into kale and goat cheese territory. 

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Hawthorne's Pizza

Photo courtesy of Groupon

For a classic New York-style slice, you can’t go wrong at Hawthorne’s. Their ultimate spinach pizza topped with mozzarella and Gorgonzola is my favorite, and they are well known for their buffalo wing pizza. This pie is not only delicious, but it is called “The Inducer” as it has been known to put many expectant mothers who are past their due dates into labor! Another great option, pregnant or not, is their thick and chewy Sicilian-style pizza. Round out your meal with the garlic knots and a Hawthorne’s salad, made with pepperoncini and tossed in a bleu cheese balsamic dressing. 

Image courtesy of Scoop Charlotte

Luca Modern Italian Kitchen

House-made pasta

Background:
Luca has a long history in the Charlotte area. Owners and husband and wife team Chef Luca and Jessica Annunziata first opened their restaurant Passion8 in Fort Mill in 2006. In 2014, they made a move to the row of fabulous restaurants along Elizabeth Avenue. Most recently, the team re-branded their menu and name to Luca in the spring of 2017. What stayed the same? Their city-famous calamari which is fried to perfection and topped with a jalapeno honey and citrus butter. What changed? The new menu focuses on Chef Luca’s Italian heritage and combines and variety of old school Italian favorites and modern takes on classic dishes. All of the pasta at Luca is made in-house, and is always perfectly al dente. On Wednesdays, you can enjoy bottomless pasta at Luca for only $30! This deal also includes an appetizer and dessert--it's a value that seriously can't be beat!

Although we had been to Luca several times (both as Passion8 and under the Luca name), we had our best experience yet on our most recent visit. We were invited to dine at Luca with our lovely blog friend Stephanie from @lifebychipsahoyt--check her out on Instagram! Jessica, Chef Luca, and Stephanie were fabulous hosts for the evening, and we had a lovely time. Check out everything we sampled below. 

Exterior of Luca/photo courtesy of Charlotte Magazine

Eat This:
Seriously, everything at Luca will knock your socks right off, but we always start with the calamari, and it has my heart as my favorite dish on the menu. The jalapeno butter is the perfect complement to the crispy, chewy calamari. 

Calamari Famosi

"Infamous" calamari tossed in a jalapeno, honey and citrus butter

Caprese Moderna
 

Crispy stuffed heirloom tomato, Stracciatella mozzarella, oregano, EVOO, crispy prosciutto, basil, salsa verde

Arancini Alla Siciliano

Fried risotto balls filled with short ribs, sweet peas, sun-dried tomato, four cheese fondue

Burrata

Charcuterie Platter

Peperoni Imbottiti

Stuffed pepper sweet Italian sausage, fried crusty bread, anchovies, orange zest, olives

Fagioli all'Ucelletto con Crostini

Cannelloni and Barlotti bean salad with heirloom tomato, garlic and oil, fresh basil and ricotta

Maltagliati Pasta Con Coniglio

Pasta with Rabbit Ragu and Fresh Goat Cheese

Fettuccine con Prosciutto Cotto, Funghi, Piselli e Gorgonzola
 

Fettucine Pasta, Ham, Mixed Mushrooms, Sweet Peas, Gorgonzola

Dessert:
On our latest visit, we tried the mascarpone and peanut butter gelato, but they also have cannolis, affogatos, and house made limoncello, if you are feeling saucy.

I will take both, thanks 

Drink:
We love everything about Luca’s cocktail list and extensive wine menu. The Bosco Bubbles (pictured below right) is my current fave cocktail.

Bosco Bubbles
Barolo red wine and raisin berry compote with prosecco

Cheers!

Atmosphere:
Luca has one of my favorite qualities in restaurant ambiance--darkness. Why do I like dining in the dark? I just feel like I can enjoy my food more thoroughly if my dining companions can’t see how thoroughly I’m enjoying it--to quote Damien from Mean Girls: “Don't look at me.”

Luca: It's dark/photo courtesy of Occasion Genius

There are several sections to the dining room at Luca, which makes it feel quite cozy. Wherever you are seated, you feel like you are tucked into a private alcove. Che romantico!

Italiano Hospitality:
The servers are very knowledgeable and attentive, and they always make sure you know exactly what you are eating and that you have a drink in front of you while you do.

Co-owners Jessica & Chef Luca/photo courtesy of CLTure

Frankie’s Notes:
I would die for that fried squid that already died for me--that’s how good it is; Have you ever thrown pasta at a wall to see if it sticks? Unsure if that is a scientific test for al dente, but it sure is fun; Exciting new concept: I will open a restaurant that is so dark that people just bump into each other and spill their food everywhere; I want my pink shirt back.

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.

 

Essex

Uptown Famous Butter Chicken

Background:
Essex is nestled into the ground level of the Omni Hotel at the intersection of Trade and Tryon. A welcome addition to the slowly growing restaurant scene, Essex was opened in August of 2016 by four restaurateurs, two of whom also co-own Enso Sushi Bar in the Epicentre. The menu is diverse, and the cuisine ranges from Indian to Mediterranean, and even includes some killer house-made lox. #jewfood.   

Exterior of Essex/photo courtesy of Uptown Evolution

Uptown vibez/photo courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Eat This:
Essex's signature item is their butter chicken, and we order it every time. Guess what the best part is, though? All of their bread is made in-house, like the delicious naan that comes with the butter chicken, the pita bread used in the shawarma, the tortilla chips with the huevos rancheros, and the bagel that comes with their lox platter. Scallionpancake loves bread more than Oprah does, hand to God. Homemade bread?! 

Oprah: I feel you

Butter Chicken

Chicken marinated in Indian spices, herb tomato sauce, micro cilantro, garlic naan

The salad offerings are a favorite--we have heard great things about the Warm Brussels Sprout Caesar, but we always end up with the Kale & Apple salad. 

Kale & Apple Salad

Kale, radicchio, and spinach blend, granny smith apples, candied pecans, goat gouda, and apple cider vinaigrette

Shawarma Pita

House-made pocket pita, shawarma, harissa, tahini, grilled onion and tomato, Mediterranean mix

This is Jason's new favorite dish --and check out those crispy waffle fries!

Essex also runs a mean brunch game. We liked everything we have tried, with the exception of the omelette pictured below, which was rather thin and dry. 

Huevos Rancheros

House-made corn and flour tortilla, tomatillo salsa, queso fresco, black beans, topped with a sunny side up egg, sour cream, and cilantro

Mediterranean Omelette

Parsley, cilantro, green onion, feta, and tomato confit/served with Essex home fries

Khachapuri

Cheese-filled naan with sunny side up egg

Nova Scotia Bagel

House-made fresh bagel, cream cheese, house smoked salmon, capers, onions, tomato//served with Essex home fries

Dessert:
Okay, so last fall and winter Essex served a dessert called the Golden Apple, and I think of it to this day. It was an apple enrobed in caramel and then white chocolate sauce was poured over it tableside. TO. DIE. FOR. I am not sure why they haven’t brought it back for this season?! Come on, Essex! We also more recently ordered a pistachio chocolate mousse dome that was excellent.

Elusive, beautiful/photo courtesy of Trip Advisor

pistachio chocolate mousse dome

Drink:
Cocktails are on point at Essex--try the Queen Scarlett made with gin, green chartreuse, strawberry puree, lemon juice, agave, and muddled basil. They also offer several cocktails on tap, including a Moscow Mule. 

Gimlet/photo courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Atmosphere:
Essex is unique in that there are several different sections to the restaurant, and they all have different vibes. There is a sizable outdoor patio that overlooks all of the hustle of Uptown Charlotte, a sun patio, a dark cozy bar, and oversized cushiony booths--you can sit wherever fits your mood and the vibe of your party. Warning--you are very unlikely to catch a street parking spot on Tryon, but you can get your parking validated if you park in the garage off of Church street.

Bar/photo courtesy of Open Table

Uptown Hospitality:
The service at Essex has always been great, and we have visited multiple times. Also, the food comes out super quickly. My only complaint is that they only carry a sriracha-type hot sauce and no “Louisiana style” hot sauce, and this pains me to my very core.

Frankie’s Notes:
Willy Wonka had the golden ticket, but in the winter of 2016 I had the golden apple, and that was significantly more important to me; Who is Queen Scarlett? Did she die in the library with a wrench?; Trade and Tryon gets weird sometimes, and I love that; You can wave to the Halal truck man from the patio of Essex; Nothing breaks my heart as thoroughly as insufficient hot sauce options.

No freaking Frank's Red Hot?!

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Your Pie

Background: 
Your Pie was opened in 2008 by Drew French, after he visited his wife's family in a small town outside of Naples, where he fell in love with the simple and delicious art of wood-fired pizza. Today, Your Pie is a franchise with tons of locations across the Southeast and Midwest. Charlotte's very own Your Pie opened in July 2017 in Southend, and we were honored to be included on the invite for their media preview day. There are so many create-your-own pizza places in Charlotte now, but we really felt that Your Pie distinguished itself with its food and service. 

Eat This: 
Obviously, the name of the game is the create-your-own pizza, but if you aren't feeling particularly inspired, Your Pie has created some topping combinations for you. Ankor Patel, the owner of the Southend franchise, recommends the Southern Heat--a blend of buffalo sauce, chicken, red onions, mozzarella, and jalapenos. The pizzas can be made on white or wheat crust, or even a 50/50 blend of white and wheat if you want to go healthy, but you don't want your pizza to taste 100% like cardboard. All of the veggie toppings used at each franchise are locally sourced, and the freshness really comes through in each pie. 

I got the white crust okay JUDGE AWAY

Not feeling pizza? How about a panini, or a salad in bread bowl? Salad in a bread bowl is a game changer for me--like, I want to be healthy and have vegetables and fiber and things, but you know: CARBS. Talk about the best of both worlds. 

The bowl is BREAD/image courtesy of the YourPieClt Instagram page

The best thing we tried, though? Their cheesy bread sticks. These reminded me of eating Papa John's at middle school sleepovers, and I freaking loved it. 

Dessert: 
Part of what makes Your Pie stand out from the other pizza places like it, is their gelato and sorbet offerings. It seems as though most pizza places offer a shrink-wrapped cookie or brownie, and that's it. While Your Pie offers those trusty staples as well, their gelato steals the show. We tried the blood orange sorbet, which was perfect for a sweltering July day. I can't wait to get back and try some of their other flavors soon. 

Drink: 
In addition to soft drinks, Your Pie offers a large selection of wine and beer, and they always offer beers that are local to the franchise area. 

Atmosphere: 
There is ample seating, if you are not taking your pizza to go. A fun local touch? This beautiful green wall created by Torri from The Savage Way

Pizza, love, and hoppiness//image courtesy of the YourPieClt Instagram page

"Make Your Own" Hospitality: 
Sometimes, the service at create-your-own places is lacking, and of course, there is always the completely legitimate concern that the employees are skimping on the topping options. This is not the case at Your Pie--you can rest assured they will load up your pizza with a smile. 

Frankie's Notes: 
Salad in a bread bowl solves the timeless conundrum of: I don't want to die of malnutrition, but I'm freaking starving; Southern Heat is also the name of Frankie's basketball team; Cheesy bread sticks plus John Hughes movies equals pure nostalgic joy; Shrink-wrapped desserts by the register are kind of sad, but it doesn't mean I won't eat them; There is nothing like the stress of watching an employee neglect to put enough cheese on your order. 

 

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.

Tea Fusion Cafe

Let's get exotic with our desserts, shall we?

Background: 
Tea Fusion Cafe opened in 2016 in the University area of Charlotte. It's a popular hang among college students and Charlotte millennials who need their bubble tea fix. Other menu options include shaved ice cream, bahn mi, and a blended mango and chili powder/mango smoothie called a mangonada. If driving to the University area seems like too much of a hike, let us assure you that Tea Fusion is well worth the drive. Put on your favorite podcast, and get ready for the best Asian field trip this side of Super G Mart. 

Eat This: 
We always go for the bahn mi, although savory offerings also include a variety of small bites, including popcorn chicken, calamari, fried tofu, and edamame. When it comes to bahn mi, you have a choice of ten filling options, ranging from a simple fried egg to unagi (eel). Picture below is the M8--Bulgogi, or Korean barbecue beef. All of the sandwiches also include the traditional mix of pickled vegetables, including carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and daikon radish. 

Bulgogiiiiiiii

Dessert:
Although there is a dessert case filled with various cakes and macarons, we can only recommend the shaved ice cream. It is not easy to find shaved cream ice outside of a major city, and you would be silly not to jump on this opportunity. The only other place to get this delicacy in Charlotte, that we are aware of, is the pop-up Snow Fluff Shavery. If you know of any others we are missing, let us know in the comment section! 

Shaved ice cream is made by freezing large cylinders of ice cream, and then shaving those cylinders into ribbons of deliciousness using a magical unicorn machine. The result is a light and creamy texture somewhere between traditional ice cream and a snow cone. The flavor options at Tea Fusion Cafe are green tea, strawberry, taro, and coconut, and we always go green tea or taro. Once you chose your flavor, then you can load up your ice cream with all of the traditional Asian toppings: red bean, sweetened condensed milk, mochi, popping boba, and a wide variety of fruits. 

Green tea shaved ice with mochi, red bean, condensed milk, and strawberries

Taro shaved ice with popping boba//Photo courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Drink: 
The drink selection is one of the best things going at Tea Fusion Cafe. Their most popular option is their mason jar tea refresher, which is a blend of sweetened tea with a wide variety of mix-in options ranging from chopped fresh fruit to chia seeds and jellies. They also have all of the traditional bubble tea options, which you can get as simple milk tea, or blended up as a smoothie. Popular flavor options include Thai tea, green tea, taro, and avocado. 

Mangonada//Photo courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Bubble teas with boba and jellies//Photo courtesy of Yelp

Atmosphere: 
Check out that Ikea light fixture, though! I feel like I see that thing in so many restaurants these days. Tea Fusion is filled with comfy seating options, and even a highly sought after couch where you could comfortably sip your bubble tea for hours. There are lots of college kids here socializing and working on laptops, and it's the kind of place where you feel comfortable enough to stay a while after your meal. 

Ever-popular Ikea light//Photo courtesy of Yelp

Bubble Bubble Bubble Tea Hospitality:
Although Tea Fusion is a counter service cafe, the employees go out of their way to make you feel welcomed. They are very patient with customers taking a long time to navigate their menu, and they are quick to offer suggestions if you are unsure of what you're craving. The service is also super quick, and don't be discouraged if there is a long line—they keep it moving at a fast pace. 

Frankie's Notes: 
Cool Asian college kids will never let you get that prime couch spot; Why doesn't Super G Mart have shaved ice?; What kind of weird science makes popping boba pop?; I bet Ikea gave out those light fixtures as a free gift with purchase; If you are driving all the way to University, you should definitely make a quick stop at Ninety's Ice Cream, too. 

Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Aliño Pizzeria

Background: 
If you read our post on Barcelona Burger Bar, then you already know we are huge fans of Michal Bay's work (not to be confused with Transformers director Michael Bay--we are decidedly not fans of his work). After our awesome experience on the right side of the converted Mooresville mill (AKA the burger side) we were invited to head back on a recent night to check out the left side (AKA the pizza side). Aliño Pizzeria has been serving up authentic Neopolitan-stye pizza since February 2015, and the people are loving it. There are regularly lines out the door, although you won't wait long, as the staff has the process of getting you in and fed down to an art form. 

How authentic is their pie? For starters, every week the restaurant gets shipments from Italy of San Marzano tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella, and "00" flour, a designation which means the flour is very finely ground. The pizzas are baked in custom wood-fire ovens for a mere 90 seconds. All of these steps are part of the process of making true Neopolitan pizza that has a signature soft and doughy crust with the perfect amount of chew. The ingredients used are of the highest quality, and it is evident that each pizza is made with a great amount of care. 

Eat This: 
We went with our friends Jess, Andrew, and Lorin, and splitting two pies turned out to be the perfect amount of food. 

Bellucci

Cremini mushrooms, caramelized Cipolline onion, fresh garlic, truffle oil (no sauce)

Sorrento

Pepperoni, San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, fresh garlic

The pizzas were incredible. The crust is like nothing else I've ever had, and the toppings were all flavorful and oh so savory. 

We also tried a caprese salad, and we were so glad we did. I have never tasted Buffalo mozzarella as fresh as this. The spicy greens and the late summer tomatoes drizzled with some high quality olive oil--ugh. I was just in heaven eating this salad. Which is really saying something when the pizza was so delicious. The caprese was the perfect accompaniment to our meal.

Caprese Salad

Fresh, ripe tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil

One of my favorite parts about Aliño was their sauce and condiment bar. As a gal who likes a lot of red sauce for dipping, this allowed me to get as many servings as I wanted without feeling embarrassed. Hooray!

Dessert: 
As we mentioned on the Barcelona post, all of the gelato and the cannoli are made in house. There is also a wide variety of cakes from a local bakery, so no matter what you are craving at the end of your meal, Aliño has you covered. 

Chocolate raspberry Cake

cannoli

Chocolate chip & pistachio

gelato

Drink: 
Like its sister restaurant Barcelona Burger, Alino has a large assortment of wine and beer, and the ever-popular freestyle Coke machine. 

Atmosphere: 
Whether you want to sit outside in Alino's covered patio area, or inside in the spacious dining area, you will be comfy and cozy. 

Napoletano Hospitality: 
Everyone at Alino is so friendly, and everyone always seems to be in a good mood. The folks at the counter who take the order are knowledgeable and efficient and the food runners are fast--seriously, the last time we were here our pizzas beat us to the table because we took so much time playing with the Freestyle Coke machine. 

Frankie's Notes: 
If they can make mozzarella from buffalo milk, imagine what they could make from pug milk; We covered Alino and Barcelona on episode one of the podcast, and you should definitely give it a listen here; Jason plus a Freestyle Coke machine = unbridled joy; If there is a condiment, sauce, or salsa bar, you can rest assured that I will come back with seven to nine varieties just for me; Don't touch my sauce. 

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.

 

Ollie's Bites: Charlotte's Best Sweet Spots

This article first appeared on Localeur's website--check them out for travel recommendations! Localeur features in-the-know locals giving food, drink, and recreation recommendations from all over the world!

Amelie’s (NoDa, Uptown, Park Road, Rock Hill, Caramel Commons & Atlanta) 

Amelie’s is a Charlotte staple for homemade french treats and delicious coffees. Their claim to fame is their salted caramel brownie, but my heart belongs to the éclair (choose from vanilla or chocolate custard). This is a great spot to linger and read a book, or get some work done as you sip your café au lait. There are now several locations to choose from, and each one offers the same quaint vibe and full range of menu options.

Golden Cow Creamery (South End)

Golden Cow makes all of their ice cream in house, and it’s walkable from lots of South End breweries and dinner spots if you find yourself craving something sweet on a night out! Their offerings change regularly, but try to catch the Honeycomb or Dunkaroos flavors. Bonus: there is outdoor seating for those balmy southern nights.

Sunflour (Elizabeth & Dilworth) 

You can’t go wrong at Sunflour--everything is made from scratch, and their baked goods are to die for. Kids of all ages love their cookies and cupcakes, while more mature palates might go for the almond croissants, vegan raspberry muffins, or the “fig newtons.” On the savory side, their cheddar biscuits are the stuff of Charlotte lore. Make sure you grab a matcha latté or a coffee, too--hot or iced. There are two locations of Sunflour--one in Dilworth and one in the Elizabeth neighborhood.

Two Scoops Creamery (Plaza Midwood & Lake Norman) 

Image courtesy Charlotte Five

Check out this ice cream joint for 70+ flavors that rotate yearly and tons of toppings on deck. Crowd pleasing favorites include Cookie Monster, Crazy Cake, and the Midnight Snacker. And yes--they do offer a signature “two-scoop” cone in case you don’t like it when your ice cream flavors mingle. There is now a Lake Norman location in addition to the original Plaza Midwood spot.

Renaissance Patisserie (South End) 

Photo courtesy Renaissance Patisserie website 

Located in South End, Renaissance Patisserie is the real deal for authentic french pastries. Chef Sylvain Rivet delivers impressively beautiful and delicious treats such as the tarte aux pommes or kouign-amann pastries. There is not much in the way of seating here, but it would be a great place to grab a loaf of bread (and several pastries ) to munch on for the duration of your trip to Charlotte.

Ninety’s (University Area)

Ninety’s, which is located in the University area, brings levity to the Charlotte dessert scene. Their offerings are not only fun, but tasty, too! They have frozen cookie dough pops (yes, cookie dough on a stick), macaron ice cream sandwiches, and their signature yum-ee bun, which is cold ice cream is sandwiched in a warm glazed donut with lots of options for flavors and customization.

Ollie's Bites: Brunching in Charlotte

This article first appeared on Localeur's website--check them out for travel recommendations! Localeur features in-the-know locals giving food, drink, and recreation recommendations from all over the world!

Essex

If you are looking for something different from the usual brunch fare, cozy and classy Essex is the spot for you. Located Uptown, Essex has dishes that span the globe, like the Georgian cheese bread khachapuri, which is a delicious boat-shaped piece of bread filled with melty cheese, two sunny side up eggs, drizzled with a touch of olive oil. Or the Korean steak and eggs with beef, fried egg, pork belly and a kimchi glaze. There is no shortage of traditional brunch fare, like a bagel platter (with a house-made bagel) or french toast.

Vivace

Image courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Vivace’s brunch game is so on point. Start with the bottomless mimosa and bloody mary bar--ideal for getting that ever-elusive extra-spicy bloody or the perfect ratio of champagne to orange juice (80/20, duh). For only $30, you can get the adult beverage of your choice plus two courses--one appetizer and one main course. The options for both courses are ample, and standouts include mussels, meatballs, and braised short rib hash. The high ceilings and large windows that overlook the Little Sugar Creek Greenway make Vivace a bright and cheery place to spend your weekend morning.

littleSpoon

Would you like a side of gangster rap with your brunch? What about giant coffee mugs that are essentially bowls? And instead of bacon, how about crispy pork belly? If any or all of these appeal to you, then littleSpoon will be your jam. Menu highlights include the #BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich), Korean brussels sprouts,cinnamon toast brulee, and oh dear lord--don’t neglect to order the bacon (LS Slab Bacon). Expect a wait on the weekends during prime brunch time, and servers with just a touch of hipster attitude, but fret not--the food is worth the wait.

The Asbury

Photo courtesy of Charlotte's Got a Lot

The Asbury is inside of The Dunhill Hotel, which was opened in 1929. The Asbury itself has a reputation as an old-school Uptown dining spot, but the clientele spans all age ranges. This is a popular spot for a boozy brunch before a Sunday morning Panthers game, or to meet with friends to catch up over Maw Maw’s Cast Iron Biscuits with bacon jam (divine), or the Fried Chicken Sammy (a Southern classic). There is parking validation (up to two hours) if you park in the garage attached to the hotel.

Cafe Monte

Image courtesy of Charlotte Magazine

If you are staying in the South Park area, Cafe Monte is the top choice for brunch. The menu offers accessible French cuisine like a croque monsieur or mussels and frites. For an appetizer, the brie en croute is a favorite. If you are looking for something more traditional, there are plenty of options: omelettes, eggs benedict, and belgian waffles. Wash it all down with a cappuccino or mimosa. PS--Charlotte recently passed the “brunch bill,” which means that you can order booze as early as 10 am on Sunday (it used to be noon). Travelers and locals alike: rejoice!

The Workman’s Friend

Bar by night, The Workman’s Friend in Plaza Midwood is an unlikely--and amazing-- spot for brunch. This is an Irish joint, so their menu offers some nods to the Emerald Isle, like grilled cheese made with Kerrygold cheddar, bangers and mash, and rasher egg toast. There is also a “Caffeinated Libations” menu with cocktails made with a local iced coffee available on draft. You have your choice of mood lighting here, too--the indoor seating is dim and intimate, and there is a large patio in the back if you want to catch some sun while you brunch.

Ollie's Bites: Top Sushi Spots in Charlotte

Salmon avocado roll from Ru Sans

This article first appeared on Localeur's website--check them out for travel recommendations! Localeur features in-the-know locals giving food, drink, and recreation recommendations from all over the world!

O-Ku

Interior of O-Ku//photo courtesy of O-Ku's Facebook page

Located in the ever-growing South End neighborhood, O-Ku is a great spot to meet friends for a drink and some fresher-than-fresh sushi. Must tries include the Green Eggs and Hamachi Hako, which is a boxed style sushi, and the Kiwi Kani roll which incorporates lump crab, avocado, and yes, kiwi, which is super fresh, creative, and delicious. Stop in Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-7pm for half off sushi rolls!

O-ku Sushi//photo courtesy of O-Ku's Facebook page

Ru Sans

Exterior of Ru Sans//photo courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

Ru Sans in Dilworth is a Charlotte staple for quality sushi at a great price point. Don’t be deterred if there is a wait--it usually moves faster than what they quote. While you wait, enjoy a sake bomb at the bar and enjoy the cheers in your honor from all of the sushi chefs. My favorite roll is the Green Dragon, which has tempura shrimp and cucumber wrapped in avocado and roe. Yum!

The infamous sushi lunch buffet//photo courtesy of Trip Advisor

Bonsai Fusion

Sushi burrito!//Photo courtesy of Charlotte Agenda

If you find yourself Uptown for lunch, head over to 7th Street Market. Do not get distracted by the myriad options available in this fun eatery hall--you are here for the sushi, remember? The best deal at Bonsai is their signature lunch special--two rolls for $9! Also, check out the sushi burrito ($10) or the poke bowl. Their options are fresh, quick, and tasty!

Terminator roll//photo courtesy of Yelp

Futo Buta

Salmon belly nigiri

Although Futo Buta bills itself as more of a ramen shop than a sushi joint, their sushi is awesome! My favorite is the Salmon Belly Nigiri, which started as a special but is now a menu staple--it’s topped with a fabulous yuzu mayo tobiko roe. Other rolls are offered on special daily, and at this funky South End eatery, sushi can be an accompaniment to another dish like ramen or a rice bowl. Options abound!

Uni nigiri//photo courtesy of Yelp