Lincoln's Haberdashery

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.

 

Charlotte Gets Social

This article also appeared in the January/February 2018 issue of Epicurean Charlotte magazine.

All images courtesy of the QC Social Lounge Instagram page. 

If you ask any Charlotte native just how far our city has come in recent years in terms of dining and recreation, they will tell you without hesitation that Uptown has evolved substantially from what it used to be, that is--a ghost town outside of the hours of 9-5pm. Now, we have a rapidly growing dining scene bolstered by the proliferation of high-rise apartment buildings and hotels. However, anyone who frequents Uptown after dark knows there is still a need for something more in order to put us in true competition with larger cities. However, Charlotteans can rejoice in the New Year, as we now have the perfect player to capture our city’s enthusiasm and desire for innovation in our city’s nightlife. Enter: QC Social.

QC Social is, at its essence, an “enthusiast’s lounge,” describes General Manager Morgan Leitert. Every moment of a guest’s experience at QC Social is curated and finely tailored, from the drinks to the culinary selections. At once a bar, lounge, and venue, QC Social draws on collaboration from its creative team, staff, patrons, and our city’s local talent to ensure each visit offers a snapshot of the Queen City at its very best. This ethos is evident everywhere from the innovative cocktail menu to the vision for the lounge’s place in the community. QC Social will feature local artists and artisans everywhere--from their menu and talented bar staff to their walls and stage area, where they will host artists, musicians, and performers. “We want to highlight people's’ talents and what they can bring to the table,” says Bar Director Jade Finn. The feel of the lounge is above all intimate (think: cozy lounge seating), but the vibe can change night-to-night, depending on whether QC Social is hosting live music or showcasing a local artist.

Charlotte’s storied history will also take center stage, from the design of the building to the cocktail menu. In the building process, QC Social worked to preserve the history of their space rather than tearing it all down and starting fresh; the team sought out local metalworkers and woodworkers to enhance the original exposed brick and wood in the open and airy lounge. Celebrating Charlotte’s past is central to QC Social, and this philosophy is realized most fully in their graphically designed libations and elixirs menu. Going far beyond a simple description of their cocktails, Finn crafted a vision for a menu that is at once an illustrated history of Charlotte and an inspired list of libations whose creativity and style goes well beyond what we have seen from any cocktail menu in the Queen City.

Part cocktail menu and part graphic novel, the list of drinks is sorted into sections, each inspired by a piece of our city’s history. The opening part of the innovative menu describes Charlotte’s founding days and is titled after our city’s most famous (and infamous) descriptor by General Cornwallis of our city as a “hornet’s nest of rebellion.” The cocktails in this section draw from a well-curated spirits list and are inspired by Charlotte’s fiery beginnings, like the Yeoman’s Uprising and the Whistle-Belly Vengeance. Finn describes this section of the menu as drinks you would find “in a tavern in colonial North Carolina, but with a modern twist.”

Although just that amount of originality would be enough to impress, the cocktails are even more than their clever names and adherence to the local theme--they take the art of mixology to a new level. For example, rather than using only egg whites, the Yeoman’s Uprising incorporates a whole egg, and all of its ingredients are shaken with whiskey barrel aged wood chips which imparts a woodsy, smoky flavor profile to the finished product. Cocktailers create their own shrubs, cordials, and barrel-aged spirits for all of the 32 cocktails spread across four menus. The themes of the other menus relate to the ascendency of Charlotte as a banking empire and celebrate our city’s diversity with globally inspired cocktails.

Each cocktail is made using an advanced ice system--purified water is used to create hand-cut ice cubes for each drink. QC Social’s attention to each detail, right down to the ice, ensures that each cocktail’s flavor profile is well-balanced. Sometimes, the ice even is used to enhance the flavor of the drink, like in the Uptown Cavalier, which uses a hopped grapefruit bitters-flavored ice cube to add both flavor and chill. Another cocktail, the Mecklenburg Farmer #4, uses hand-shaved ice flavored with sage, cucumber, and Aviation gin.

Beyond cocktails, QC Social serves a variety of wines and beers. The tap beer menu is “regional and rotational” says Leitert, and the bottle menu is also regional, unique, and includes Belgian and Trappist beers. The feel of the menu is “curated and not overwhelming,” says Leitert. The wine selection is focused on small Italian producers and unique varietals. QC Social is passionate about highlighting smaller producers on all of their menus, and there are plans to host tastings to introduce the Charlotte community to their selection of wine and beer.

The Shareable plates menu will adhere to the finely curated feel of the beverage menus. Food options are small plates with a focus on local and seasonal items, many of them plant-based. Leitert and Current Culinary Olympic Team member Master Chef Jason Hall developed the menu to incorporate items from local growers and producers. Their charcuterie plate will feature cheeses from their neighbors at Orrman’s Cheese Shop, and their produce will come from local farms. Look for inventive shareable plates like a polenta and white bean tart, or a beet and apple mille feuille. The menu items will surprise even those already familiar with the North Carolina farm scene--like a vegan cheesecake made with (wait for it) North Carolina passion fruit (when in season). Their signature dessert is also plant-based and pure decadence: a chocolate chestnut tart with shortbread crust. QC Social’s small plates menu has an attention to detail and excellence writ large in the experience of the lounge as a whole.

With their grand opening this at the end of this month, QC Social is breathing new life into Uptown Charlotte, and its creative and management team believes in the Charlotte community, “We feel strongly about promoting our scene and talent here,” says Finn. He recognizes that many people from larger markets are moving to Charlotte, and they arrive and want that same dining scene that they are accustomed to. People are ready for creative food and drink options, and they do not want to be limited in their choices. “It’s a good time to be in Charlotte,” says Finn, “and we want to be a part of that movement.”

QC Social is ushering in a new era with their social lounge concept by providing a place for patrons to enjoy great drinks, small plates, and music in a relaxed atmosphere. Gone are the days when Charlotteans have to venture out of town for an experience that is a cut above--QC Social provides something for everyone. Each evening at QC Social, the team will go out of their way to ensure guests have an experience that is at once unique and focused on excellence, and that philosophy is ultimately what will put Charlotte on the map as a destination city.

QC Social is located at Northside Station 300 N College Street Charlotte, NC 28202

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.

Caffeinated Charlotte

This article also appeared in the September/October 2017 edition of Epicurean Charlotte magazine. 

Whether it’s the beyond essential Monday morning cup or a leisurely Sunday afternoon iced concoction, there is nothing like good coffee. Charlotte is home to many great coffee houses, many of which are roasting their own beans or procuring beans from North Carolina roasters. Here are the top spots in your neighborhood that are perfect for grabbing a quick cup of coffee on the run, or for enjoying a leisurely afternoon catching up on work over a latté and a pastry.

The Spot:
HEX Coffee
Neighborhood:
South End
Caffeine Fix: 
HEX stands out because they roast their own coffee beans and also for the unique technique they use to brew their coffee: the coffee shot. Through this method, which is essentially brewing coffee through an espresso machine, the coffee experts at HEX can ensure the flavor in each cup is rich and consistent. In addition to their hot coffee, there is cold brew on tap as well as seasonally rotating tap creations like a draft vanilla latté. Grab a bag of their beans to take home, and ask the awesome staff for tips on how to brew flavorful cups in your own kitchen.

Eats:
Grab some locally made Whisk and Wood pastries (often vegan and gluten-free), or a chocolate bar from Videri Chocolate Factory, based out of Raleigh.
Tip:
HEX shares a space with Good Bottle Co., which offers loads of local and craft beer. Hit up HEX in the morning and Good Bottle for a nightcap!

The Spot:
FABO
Neighborhood:
South Charlotte
Caffeine Fix:
The name FABO stands for “fabulous art buying opportunity,” and the café features and sells the work of local artists in addition to a wide array of coffee and espresso drinks. FABO is super friendly for those who need to spend a few hours nursing their coffee as they work on their laptops, or to book clubs looking for a place to gather. They even host local musicians and offer evening art and wine classes! FABO is open late and serves wine and beer on tap if you find yourself holed up in this cozy spot long enough that you want to switch from a latté to rosé.

Eats:
Grab a muffin or a scone from a local bakery to enjoy along with your coffee!
Tip:
Check out FABO on Thursdays: $6 glasses of wine all day long and trivia at 8pm!

The Spot:
Coco and the Director
Neighborhood:
Uptown
Caffeine Fix:
Coco and the Director is located in the recently renovated (and gorgeous) Marriott hotel, and every bit of this local gem feels special, from the stadium seating to the locally roasted coffee beans. Enjoy your coffee brewed from an aeropress, a pourover, or served up as a cold brew. Their dirty chai tea latté (chai tea mixed with milk and a shot of espresso) is the best iteration of this drink in Charlotte. It’s extra spicy, strong on the espresso, and not too sweet.

Eats:
If you are in the mood for something sweet, their homemade banana bread is to die for. If you are craving something more substantial, grab a sandwich made with their carved-to-order roasted meat of the day, like brisket or smoked pork shoulder.
Tip:
Coco offers fun evening activities like movie viewings and networking events. Check out their instagram for the lineup!

The Spot:
South End Grind
Neighborhood:
South End
Caffeine Fix:
Seattle native and Queens University graduate Freddie Nordhoff opened South End Grind in June 2017 at Urban MVMNT, a mixed-use space that combines strength and conditioning classes, spin, and now: great coffee. Nordhoff brews beans from local favorite roaster Pure Intentions, and serves up creative seasonal options like the Gym and Tonic, a mix of espresso, tonic water, and honey-lemon syrup poured over ice. If you are looking for a more traditional cup, you can get yours brewed from an aeropress or traditional drip.

Eats:
Grab some doughnuts from Move That Dough Baking Co. But arrive early if you want one with your morning joe--they tend to sell out very quickly.
Tip:
SEG sometimes offers pop-up events, like a recent collaboration with Two Scoops Creamery where you could enjoy a shot of espresso or cold brew over ice cream for a delicious affogato! Follow Southendgrindclt on Instagram for upcoming events.

The Spot:
Rush Espresso
Neighborhood:
Ballantyne & Uptown
Caffeine Fix:
Rush serves Di Bella coffee and espresso, and the flavor of each cup is rich and smooth. The menu offers some unique options, like the rarely seen iced cappuccino (expertly shaken with lots of foam), or the Café Viennesse, which combines espresso and whipped cream for a truly decadent pick-me-up. While the Uptown location of Rush is designed for morning commuters, the Ballantyne location urges you to stay a while. There is ample seating and a huge selection of breakfast and lunch items (both served all day), along with a dinner menu available after five pm. Rush Ballantyne also has a full bar menu with wine, beer on tap, and cocktails.

Eats:
For breakfast, you can’t go wrong with the bacon jam and eggs or the tomato crostini with whipped feta.
Tip:
Rush Ballantyne offers live music every Friday and Saturday night and open mic on Wednesday nights!

The Spot:
Central Coffee
Neighborhood:
Plaza Midwood & South End
Caffeine Fix:
Central Coffee brews each cup with beans from NC-based Joe Van Gogh, and the result is consistently smooth and rich coffee and espresso. Central is perhaps best known for serving up one of the city’s first and best cold brew coffees, and its full-bodied caffeine hit does not disappoint in the warmer months. For speciality drinks, they make several of their syrups in house, and nothing beats their spicy mocha in the winter--Central sources freshly ground local peppers and blends them into the chocolate espresso.  

Eats:
The food at Central Coffee is so good, you may have a hard time choosing what to order. Standouts include homemade quiche, the best-ever zucchini bread, and a wide assortment of pastries including baklava and Greek biscotti.
Tip:
The original location has limited seating, and patrons are encouraged to share a table if they are sitting alone. If you are willing to share precious laptop real estate with another customer, grab a sign at the counter to place on your table to show that you are open to making new friends.

The Spot:
Smelly Cat
Neighborhood:
NoDa
Caffeine Fix:
Smelly Cat brews their own beans, and they have been a NoDa institution for nearly twenty years. Enjoy your super fresh cup as a pour over, or in an espresso drink--particularly high marks go to the dirty chai frappé and the sledgehammer, which is espresso blended with dark chocolate. All iced drinks are made with crushed ice, which immediately ups the deliciousness quotient of any cold beverage. There is plenty of indoor seating, as well as an outdoor seating area with a bowl of water if you want to stop by with your pup.

Eats:
Enjoy a slice of quiche, or breakfast sandwiches on house-made biscuits. There is also a variety of assorted pastries.
Tip:
Make sure to get your Instagram-friendly shot of the mural on the outside of the building--“drink coffee, be cool.” Bonus points if you sing Phoebe’s famous song from Friends while you snap and sip away.

Wu's Cajun Seafood

Background: 
Wu's opened in Charlotte's South End neighborhood in June 2017, and is owned by the same restaurant group that owns Ink N Ivy, Oak Room, Hot Taco, Whiskey Warehouse, Brazwells, Slate, and All American Pub (where Scallionpancake met!), so they definitely know their way around the restaurant scene.

...or they should. We had a not-so-great meal at Wu's. It was our first (and likely last) visit. Maybe our experience was a fluke, but it was so off-putting to our dining companions and to us that we cannot see returning any time soon. 

Honestly, this is a bit difficult to write, as we rarely write negative reviews. However, after long and involved discussions at Scallionpancake headquarters, we decided that we want our readers to trust us, and it is difficult to trust a review blog that only publishes the glowingly positive. And, if Tom Cruise taught us anything in Vanilla Sky (and I believe he taught us so many things), it's that the sweet is never as sweet without the sour. Read on to see what went wrong at this Asian/Cajun fusion restaurant on one sultry August night, not too many moons ago. 

It was as disastrous as Blanche and Stanley, minus the sexual tension

Eat This: 
The menu is a mix of Asian and Cajun, with a healthy dose of seafood, a staple of both cuisines. We had heard good things about the seafood (specifically the boils), the gumbo ramen, and the Kung Pao cauliflower. So, we ordered these items, plus a few others. 

Fried Gator Roll

Tasso ham, cilantro, fresno chili, money sauce, green onion

Kung Pao Cauliflower

Fried, tossed, scallions, sesame, fresno chili

These two appetizers were the highlight of our experience. They came out in a reasonable amount of time, though I think it can be argued that thirty minutes on a Tuesday night in a not-at-all crowded and overstaffed restaurant is not reasonable, we were honestly not fazed at this point. We were catching up with our good friends Daniela and Jonathan, and we were having a relaxed evening. The apps were solid--we really liked the gator roll, and it was our favorite dish of the entire night. The cauliflower had a bit too much breading and not enough spice for my taste, but everyone else at the table enjoyed it. 

Raw Oysters

Kimchi cocktail sauce, white wine gochujang mignonette, lemon wedge

So, a word on what happened before these oysters coming out. Our poor waitress, who truly should shoulder very little blame in all of this, dropped her entire tray filled with our food as she tried to juggle setting up the tray stand and a ridiculously heavy tray of food. Previously, our hostess and the same waitress had dropped a fork and a menu, respectively, in this same spot. This area of the floor was clearly slippery and/or haunted. No one came by to dry it or wave some sage over it, which could have likely prevented Tray Drop 2017. 

I just want to be clear. We were not at all upset with our waitress for dropping the tray. In fact, the three of us traded stories about dropping items in our food service days (the winner was Daniela, who honest to god spilled food on an infant, making him cry). I say three of us, as Jason has led a very cushioned life where he has not had to serve food to the citizens, and for this he is very blessed. We tried to make our waitress feel better about what happened, and told her it had happened to (most of) us before. We assured her it was no big deal and told her we were not in a hurry when she said the kitchen would re-fire our food. 

What was weird, however, was that there were six tables sat in the dining room, and four tables sat outside, and our waitress was in charge of at least five of them. There were about six waitresses and a bartender on duty, and it was hard to understand why our waitress was the sole one harried and stressed out. It even took several minutes for someone to come over and help her with the tray of food on the floor. There were two waitresses standing around talking for most of the night, as we watched our waitress rushing around like mad. Team work makes the dream work, amiright?

Wish Winona was here tho

After Tray Gate, our waitress brought out the raw oysters, as those were always due to come out on a separate tray. Then, a waitress came out (she did not identify herself as a manager, so I will assume she was a waitress and likely a shift supervisor or closer) and apologized for what had happened. We assured her we were not concerned with the tray drop and that these things happen. She said she would offer us all a round of drinks on the house to make up for our delayed food. We told her that as none of us had a drink, we didn't want one, but we would love some water refills. She said she would get us that, and that she would comp our meals.

Our regular waitress came back around with water, as the other waitress straight up disappeared, and after she left we realized that the oysters had not come with plates, oyster forks, or lemons. We didn't want to further stress our clearly very overwhelmed waitress, so I asked another server for these items. She blew me off and no one brought them. Eventually, I asked our waitress for them, and she brought them, though at this point the oysters were basically gone, as we were starving (we had been at the restaurant for an hour at this point). 

Anyway, the oysters. There was no mignonette that I noticed--there was no flavor at all, not in the oysters or the "kimchi" cocktail sauce. That was 100% regular cocktail sauce. This was fine, as we like straight-up oysters and regular cocktail sauce, but it was not the dish the menu promised. We ate them all, because oysters are freaking expensive and again, starving. 

Gumbo Ramen
Gumbo base, andouille, ramen noodles, crawfish, charred cabbage, kimchi marinated soft egg

No picture due to hunger-induced delirium.

Daniela: "I thought the gumbo was more of a noodle dish since there was little to no broth. The flavors were muddied to me, and it was almost gritty in texture." 

The "Wu" Boil with Crab Legs

Seasoned with our signature Wu's seasoning and served with corn, potatoes, and sausage

Daniela: "The boil wasn't bad, although it's hard to mess up crab legs. The shrimp that was added as a peace offering was overcooked and chewy. There were two potatoes and no corn. The spiced butter on the side was pretty tasty." 

Jonathan: "The boil and the gumbo made one hell of a mess." 

Daniela & Jonathan: smiling through the pain

Chopped Kale
Peanut crusted fried goat cheese, carrot, fresno chili, red onion, crispy quinoa, miso-ginger vinaigrette

No picture because, well, at this point there was a mass of confusion and hunger. It was missing the quinoa. Decent salad, if a little overdressed/soggy. I ate it all, however. 

Buttermilk Fried Calamari

Kimchi, lemon butter, cilantro, jalapeno

Came out ten minutes after everything above, even though it's technically an app and we are not sure what took so long in a basically empty restaurant. Didn't taste bad, according to Jason. 

Cajun Fried Crab Roll

Cajun seasoning, money sauce, spicy mayo, green onion, goat cheese, cilantro, fresno chili

Anddd this came out ten more minutes after the calamari. Jason said this roll was good, but that he preferred the gator roll. 

After our meal, our waitress came and took our plates. No one came by to say anything. We waited another forty minutes. We figured this was because they had told us they would comp our meals, but it's super awkward to just leave a restaurant without having a waitress, manager, or really anyone come over and say thank you, have a good night, would you like dessert, please come see us again, etc. We didn't know what to do. Eventually, our exhaustion won out, and we got up from the table and found the waitress who told us she would comp our meals and told her we were leaving. She said, "Did your waitress bring your a check?" (cue all of us thinking: but you said you were comping us?!), and we said no, we had not been brought anything or been addressed at all in the forty minutes since we had finished our food. She said, "Well, I said I would just comp your boils, but I guess you guys can just go." Sidebar, we only got one boil, not multiples. And um, okay. Don't have to tell us twice to leave at this point. We had arrived at 8:00pm and it was 10:00pm. 

Our meal was comped, yes. However, we did not come to Wu's looking for a free meal. We came looking for good food and good service, which is what we always anticipate on a night out. We would have gladly taken the latter over the former. In the words of Jonathan: "It's annoying, because there are so many good places to eat in Charlotte, and we just wasted a night here." 

No manager in sight. No business card offered to contact anyone. We did ask for one, but we didn't use it. We decided the blog could be our comment card. Daniela & Jonathan, however, did email the manager and never heard back. Update: Wu's marketing director did reach out in September, and offered us another dinner on them. We have not taken them up on that offer, however. Daniela & Jonathan never received a response to their email. 

Dessert: 
Yeah, no. Please take me home. I want to get off this ride.

But, because you know how much we love dessert, we tried to stop at Golden Cow on the way home, but they were closed because it was freaking 10 o'clock at night. Wahhh. 

I went to sleep with gum in my mouth, and now there's gum in my hair

Drink: 
As I said above, we all had waters. Daniela and Jonathan were doing a cleanse month, and Jason and I just like to stay hydrated. The water was very good, and we enjoyed drinking it whenever our cups were not empty (which did not happen often, unfortunately). 

Oh sh*% that is fresh

Atmosphere: 
Uh, I am not going to lie. A horror show of over-the-top decor. The slow burn of a Tennessee Williams play dubbed into a Jackie Chan movie. Seppuku on the bayou. Am I beating a dead Asian-Cajun horse? 

We were served Cajun justice, and it didn't have the campy joy of an 80's movie

Confused Fusion Hospitality: 
Uh. See above. 

You know Steph, it was a little rude

Frankie's Notes: 
FYI to Wu's: Seafood is one word, not two; Frankie considers himself very patient as he worked many hard years in the service industry, but unacceptable is unacceptable, and that's right from the pug's mouth; I am not going to lie, Daniela's story of dropping food on a baby made me feel a lot better about the time I dropped lemonade on a pregnant lady at her baby shower; That's a textbook example of schadenfreude; Shoutout to Cincinnati's Bonbonnerie Tea Room and the honest-to-god favorite job I've ever held, minus the lemonade incident of Aught Four; We want to take our waitress out for a drink, because she deserves it after the night she had--girl, it's not your fault! 
 

Rating: 1 out of 5

Charlotte's Best Bites: Guest Post for Off the Eaten Path

Hey party people! Our post for this week is a guest post we wrote for our friend Chrissie Beth's blog, Off the Eaten Path! Click here to check it out! 

Ollie's Bites: Date Night in Charlotte

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.  

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.

 

Yamazaru

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