After my last visit to this restaurant, I've reached the conclusion that Mabi Tropical has stopped…read moretrying and given up. When I initially visited (in their first couple of months after opening) I was super in love with this place. Unfortunately every experience after that has been super inconsistent. I've ordered their seafood sancocho three times and every single time I've gotten a different dish. The last time I ordered it - it was more so vegetables with 2 teaspoons of broth, some rice and old fried yucca. If you look at the photo - I believe you can tell the yucca looks like it'd been in the fridge for days and they just threw it in there for good measure. The waiter didn't smile and generally looked miserable to have to deal with me. I asked for hot sauce that never came. Just overall, really disappointed in my last experience here and unfortunately won't be retuning due to how inconsistent my last few visits have been. You might get something that tastes decent, you might not.

Queen feast try! It was great. Not very busy but the location makes parking a challenge or costly…read more The service was great helpful with making recommendations. As the restaurant got busy we saw her less and there was some odd issue with the bill. I loved the decor. I'd go back and try a few other things. The food was good. None of us had a bad bite! I enjoyed the cocktails I must remember to snap pics of the food.

Consistently the best. We love everything on the menu…read more Always with the specials, the artichoke appetizer , the for ever martini with stuffed olives , wine selection , anything with mushrooms

Failed Expectations: A Brunch That Looked Better Than It Tasted…read more We were genuinely so excited for this brunch! It had been sitting on my Charlotte bucket list for ages, and we finally locked in reservations during my visit. First things first -- the space itself is adorable. Every detail feels intentional, from the spotless dining room to the perfectly set tables to the lighting that ties it all together. You could tell immediately that this place takes real pride in its presentation. It was warm and inviting from the second we walked through the door. The drinks were excellent, too. I especially loved the garnish spread for the water -- citrus of every variety, mint, cucumber -- such a small, thoughtful touch that instantly elevated the experience. Unfortunately, the food just didn't live up to the rest of the experience. We started with the roasted oysters, which came so heavily breaded that the actual oyster flavor got completely lost underneath. In hindsight, I should've just ordered them raw. The Eggs Inferno was next, and it fell flat across the board -- it needed salt, it needed acid, it needed some kind of richness to bring it to life. I wouldn't order it again. My friend's seasonal focaccia toast was equally underwhelming and forgettable. But then -- the fingerling potatoes. Honestly, I wish we'd just ordered three plates of those and called it a meal. Fluffy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside, and packed with flavor in every single bite. Hands down the highlight of brunch, and genuinely one of the best sides I've had in a while. Maybe dinner would tell a different story, but for brunch, I walked in expecting so much more than what we got.

We got on the walk-in list 30 minutes before arriving, but when we got there, the host told us it…read morewould still be about an hour wait. There were several "reserved" tables that remained empty until after we had finished eating, so I think the restaurant could benefit from a better reservation system with more accurate buffer times to accommodate walk-in guests. To avoid the wait, we decided to sit at the bar, and I'm glad we did because the food was amazing. The fried chicken and waffles were perfectly seasoned, and the waffle had a unique texture and flavor that reminded me of a combination of a traditional waffle and a soft pretzel. The cheesy potato cake was absolutely delicious. The fruit bowl was also good, but I wish they had been a little more generous with the blueberry pudding. The shrimp and grits came with large tomatoes, which may not be for everyone, and my friend felt the dish was lacking grits overall. She didn't feel like she got her money's worth. Would I go back? Absolutely. My meal was delicious, and I can't wait to return and try more of their homemade, fresh dishes. I also think it's great that they partner with local farmers to help curate their menu.

Great food!! Loved the fried chicken and biscuits the most. The fried green tomatoes were so good…read moreand it was my first time having them. I also tried the charred okra which was good. Mac & cheese was alright. Cocktails were great. We also tried their champagne tender and it was super crispy and had the taste of champagne. Service was decent. Only downside is if you make a reservation online, you will not be refunded the $3 per person fee and it is also not taken off your bill.

I had an enjoyable experience. I ordered the NYC falafel which, although it could be a bit larger,…read morewas very good. The default side was fries and I asked if there were any substitutions. One was a small side Caesar salad which I got. I was disappointed in the continuing practice for restaurants to charge for small changes like this within informing the customer. Waitress was very nice, however and attentive. What is also quite unique about the restaurant was that you could order small 4 oz beers, just for tasting at $2-3 each. The place is quite large and must get incredibly noisy at times with the hard surfaces and multiple TVs. There is an option to sit directly at the bar or at tables.

The Degenerate is a cool, industrially designed space featuring great bites and drinks. What I love…read moremost is that the menu puts a unique spin on a lot of traditional, classic items. If you are looking for recommendations, I highly suggest trying: The Meatballs: A fantastic twist on a classic, served in a delicious lemon dill sauce instead of a typical marinara. The Sliders: Perfect pulled pork paired with fried green tomatoes and a tangy horseradish sauce. They also feature a highly creative and unique cocktail menu. Two of my personal standouts are the Beetle Juice, which incorporates fresh beet juice, and The Fishbone, which brilliantly highlights their house-made aquavit. Overall, it's a wonderful spot for a great atmosphere and an inventive menu!

Elise was amazing she was the best server I've ever had. And she was so friendly! I'm only coming…read moreback to see her again

This is their Noda location. Vibes were great, tables and floors clean, and our waiter was very…read moreattentive. They were busy for Friday night. I can definitely see how they would be in the summer. The wings were definitely a hit with a nice kick of spice to round out the sweetness. The steak fries were good as well but the fry seasoning was a bit too salty FOR ME but my partner enjoyed it. The outdoor back bar had really good heaters but don't stand directly under them for too long because they're strong! Really good place for a weekend night out or just a simple date night. This place fits either occasion!

The bartenders and vibe are relaxed and welcoming. If you're hungry, their Reuben is worth a visit…read moreall by itself and the oyster selection is good. I'll be back!

Growler's is amazing pub style casual spot. It's loud with both chatter and music. It would be a…read moregood place to meet friends for beers and a bite. Our food was just okay. We ordered the kale Caesar, the nachos, and fries. The nacho cheese tasted very processed and they didn't come with salsa. When I asked the waitress for some, she said that they don't actually have salsa. The fries were the best thing we had. I'd go again, but probably just to have a drink.

McHale's Pub is a welcome addition to NoDa! The spacious patio is great, and the wooden interior…read moregives off a truly authentic pub vibe. Our service was solid, and the food came out pretty fast. The Reuben and the Fish & Chips were both excellent choices. My only critique is on the drinks--the cocktail menu is a bit limited (both for listed drinks and off-menu requests), though they have a decent beer list. I'd love to see a more expansive bar selection in the future! I also visited on St. Patty's Day and it was packed as you would imagine, but had a great vibe and quick service.

McHale's Pub opened up within the last year in Noda and it…read more give the NoDa neighborhood an authentic Irish pub. The serve properly poured Guinness, along with a large selection of beers , Irish whiskey and cocktails. We had the Leprechaun Balls. Irish cheddar and cream cheese rolled into bite sized deep fried balls. They were so good ! We also had the Irish Egg Roll. Corned beef , cabbage and cheese deep fried. They were good, but the Leprechaun balls were more flavorful. The staff were friendly and there were several seating options, inside and out. A great addition to Noda.

Their house sauce is soo tasty! Great ambience to hang out with friends and wide selection of…read morebeers. If you come back a few times I'd recommend trying their chef's choice/special on Saturdays, they change it every weekend.

We shared the loaded fries and some wings as apps and they were great. The cowboy burger was yummy…read moreas well. Great service.

Went to Catalina with friends for a birthday brunch. The space is super cute, perfect for a Sunday…read moreFunday brunch. We started with the Crispy Brussel Sprouts - DELICIOUS. So good, in fact, that one of my friends got them as the side with her meal because she couldn't get enough of them haha. The birthday girl and I did the Mimosa Bottle Service, which comes with the choice of 3 juice flavors. We picked passion fruit puree, house strawberry and house lavender. Lavender was hands down our favorite! We also decided to split the Chicken & Waffles and Maine-Style Lobster & Shrimp Roll with fries. Our waiter told us that he could tell the kitchen and they'd pre-split the dishes for us, so that was fantastic and made things simpler for us! There were two small cons for me; the first was that my silverware had a little dried food on it, so I asked for plasticware. And the second being, when we asked for straws, the waiter brought them to us loose in his bare hand. I've never had this happen anywhere else, usually loose straws are brought to you in a napkin. Would be great if Catalina made that the standard moving forward. I thought about taking off one star for these two things but everything else was so wonderful, it didn't feel fair to do that. Our waiter was super nice and informative, the food and drinks were incredible, AND they gave the birthday girl a gift certificate to use towards her next visit, plus a complimentary birthday sundae! You really can't beat that. We will absolutely be back!

Sunday night and all reservations booked but we walked in and got a table outside…read more Met our great server who shared the 1/2 off bottle of wine promotion, so why not? My wife was craving the lobster/shrimp roll, overstuffed with fresh seafood. And I went with the chicken parmesan. It was the lightest, freshest, most delicious! (compared to a really great, but heavier version at Little Mama's). Just finished the leftovers for lunch - and it just hit! We'll be back for sure...

Hands down one of the best karaoke spots around! They have karaoke daily, yes.. daily! Any night…read moreof the week is a good time to go to NODA 101. The songbook is full of songs so you're bound to find something. The bartenders keep the drinks flowing and their prices are very affordable. Hence why you may see a lot of people extremely tipsy on a weekend night. Security is always nice and never overbearing. If you're a fan of karaoke, this is a place you must try.

We visited NODA 101 on a Thursday night for some karaoke while in town for a conference. I fell in…read morelove with the vibes at this place. Everyone is so supportive and we had so much fun. The drinks were good and the karaoke was fun. My only comment is that it was a little crammed in there and hard to get around, but they definitely made the most of their space. The people in this place were so much fun and everyone was really friendly. I'd definitely go back again.