An afternoon of volunteering followed by an amazing date night here. Food was more than delicious,…read moreflavors were on point. It was our first time and my hubby isn't into raw fish but I loved the maki and shrimp croquettes. Great ambiance and service as well. Definitely make a reservation in advance, bar was cool but not super comfy. Our waitress Jonathan gave great recommendations. Next time will definitely try the tiger milk ceviche.

House music + great food. Excellent service…read more Live DJ. Please never stop the house music! Really makes the experience

Our daughter lives in Charlotte, and this was the very first place she took us after picking us up…read morefrom the airport, one of her favorite spots in town. After one meal here, we understood why. Calle Sol has a cool laid back vibe, great service, strong mojitos, and food that absolutely delivers. The ceviche is the star for a reason. Super fresh with bright flavor, and the crispy plantains alongside it were the perfect seafood fish combo. The skinny spicy margarita with the tajín rim and mojitos were excellent too. Our favorite was the Cuban rice. Rich flavor with this aioli on top that made everyone at the table keep stealing bites from each other. The vaca frita (beef) had great flavor with crispy edges done right, and the banana tres leches dessert was flat out dangerous. Easily enough for three people unless your family has zero self control. We don't really have Cuban food like this back home, so this felt like a treat. Safe to say our daughter picked a winner. We'll definitely be back next trip to Charlotte.

Came in on a Friday evening and things were hopping. Loud music and everyone was talking up a…read morestorm. You can make a reservation but we didn't but luckily found a table. Pisco sour: definitely taste the alcohol. I enjoyed it. A little sweet. Not really sour or I couldn't taste it. Chichamora: spiced drink. Light tangy fruity flavor. Like a light punch. Fried yucca and cheesy: 4 stars. Yummy yucca balls filled with cheeses you have to eat hot for the gooey cheesiness but be careful because the are hot. Make sure to eat with the dip for next level flavor. Shrimp ceviche: 3.5 stars. Different toppings provided different flavors (I.e. crunchy corn, sweet potatoes, salty plaintains chips, & soft corn kernels) texture but I wished there was more shrimp and a slight more acidity or lime juice. Also some of the fried corn kernels were burnt so it had bitter taste. Vaca Frita:Garlic/onion shredded braised beef. 4.5 stars. Came with beans, rice, and yucca mash. Overall the flavors were good and I really enjoyed it.

Delicious!! Order at the counter and sit wherever, very casual. Super cute inside! Everyone working…read morewas super friendly. Menu is labeled with gluten free and vegetarian options. Only a couple of each. They have a cauliflower wrap instead of bread for sandwiches but I was skeptical and did not order. The sandwiches look absolutely incredible. My bowl was fantastic. Steak was cooked perfectly! The yucca fries were delicious, so crispy. They validate 1 hour of parking in the parking garage attached. I will be coming back!

Came for a casual lunch. The place was very busy and there was a line out the door. If you come…read morewith someone send them to get a table first because it was so crowded. You order at the counter then get a number. Your food is brought to you. We weren't too hungry so opted to share a beef sandwich. The beef sandwich: 4 stars. Hubby was pretty happy with it. Crispy bread filled with cubed marinated beef. Great flavors. Only issue is the beef kinda fall out if the sandwich. I like that the bread was not too thick. Yucca fries : 5 stars. Well done!! Tender and soft inside, crispy outside. Tastes great with the accompanying dip. Passionfruit juice: tart and refreshing. I enjoyed it well. 4.5 stars. Inca cola: has the special flavor like cola champagne (Central American cola) I would like to come back again to try their other sandwich.

I loved Viva Chicken in Ballantyne...but for some reason, I haven't been back in years…read more This time, I tried this Elizabeth location with my husband...and I have to be frank. This location paled in comparison to that at the much larger and nicer Ballantyne location. Of course that was like 6 years ago? First of all, aesthetically, this place just felt a bit off. The walk-up to the counter was very narrow...and the layout felt a bit too narrow and tight. Also, the menu selection seemed much smaller than I remembered it. At the Ballantyne location, I also remember that they had this Sangria drink...but not here. They did have 2 juice flavors...but nothing too exciting. In any case, I had the same item that I enjoyed before...the Peruvian Fried Rice. Again, it looked and tasted a bit weaker than I had remembered it. I did enjoy the 2 sauces that greatly helped the bland flavor of the rice. Also tried their Mini Churros...which were quite good. My husband enjoyed the Rotisserie chicken, and his 2 sides...but he felt the same as me, in that the layout felt tight and awkward. Overall, we thought the foods were good enough to return. We just didn't find the place very comfy.

Viva Chicken is always a go to favorite. They have options for everyone. Their salads and stuffed…read moreavocados are SO GOOD, and their wraps are also delicious. They have an easy pickup counter if you order online. Consistently a good spot for quick and easy meals!

Like the original Calle Sol in Plaza Midwood, this SouthPark location serves up authentic Latin…read morecuisine and amazing Cuban cocktails at reasonable prices in a warm, casual setting that's perfect for families, couples or a business lunch. Start things off with a refreshing Stiltsville Special Rum Punch or a tasty Junipa Colada, a bubbly pineapple soda with Spiced Rum. Then dive into a delicious plate of Mariquitos Nachos, a classic plate of Arroz con Pollo, or the amazing Lechon Asado (tender roast pork marinated with onions). If you're dining with friends, order a few dishes and pass them around -- most are big enough to share. Service was outstanding on both our visits here, and ample parking is available in the Apex decks. A fantastic addition to the SouthPark dining scene, Calle Sol is one spot I hope stays around for a long time.

Courtney provides five-star service from the moment you walk in! While there are two locations, the…read moreSouthpark spot wins on vibrant energy, killer drinks, and a truly fun vibe. We started with the ceviche--an interesting pairing that my husband absolutely loved--and an intriguing, flavorful chicken arepa. The real showstopper, however, was the "Market Catch" red snapper bathed in a warm, spicy Caribbean sauce. To wash it all down, the guava, peach, and classic mojitos were refreshing. This Southpark gem is officially on our "must-return" list!

Pio's restaurant has gotten a facelift and it's even better than it was in the past! The score has…read moreincreased to 99, the seating has been updated and the food is still delicious--maybe even better! We went on a Saturday afternoon and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and attentive service. Our meal was excellent as it has consistently been, especially since the changes have been made to the restaurant. I want to make sure that I mention the cleanliness of the women's bathroom. This is the second time in a row that I've used it and it is very well maintained. It's large, clean and odorless. It gives me an overall positive feeling about the restaurant, which adds to my comfort when we eat here. We love coming here. The prices are reasonable, the portion sizes are just right, and the servers are attentive and friendly. A great experience!!

What happened to this place It used to be really good, we…read morecame for Lunch on a Saturday all the windows were down so it was pitch back inside! I asked the waitress and said the owner likes it dark!!!? We literally couldn't see each other! The food was terrible, We ordered empanadas as an appetizer and they were soo bad i couldn't finish one filled with RICE??? the meat tested horrible, we ordered half a chicken with rice, beans and plantains How can you mess up such basic food? 30 min after eating we felt sick.. coincidence probably not.

This place is AMAZING…read more While it's a casual restaurant, the quality of the food and the drinks is next level. The cocktails, while the bar is not "deep", are perfectly made, good use of ingredients and just amazing. Food is incredible. Ceviche, tostones, lomo saltado. The waitress was really nice and helped with recommendations This place is a great find and absolutely recommended

I recently visited with a group of six, and we had a really enjoyable experience overall. The food…read moreand cocktails were good across the board --I especially loved the passion fruit pisco sour cocktail, which was refreshing and well-balanced. One thing that pleasantly surprised us was how reasonable the prices were, even for dishes like steak. It made it easy for everyone in our group to try a variety of items without feeling like we were overspending. The restaurant itself has a charming Peruvian-inspired decor that adds to the atmosphere and gives it a unique, welcoming vibe. Although we were the only customers during the two and a half hours we were there on a Thursday night, it didn't negatively impact our experience at all. If anything, it made for a relaxed and unhurried evening. That said, it does make me wonder if the shopping plaza location might be limiting their visibility, because the restaurant definitely deserves more attention. The service was great--our waitress was very kind and attentive throughout the evening. As a nice touch, one of our friends received a complimentary birthday dessert complete with a candle, which made the night feel extra special. Overall, I'd recommend Lola to anyone looking for flavorful food and cocktails, and a cozy dining experience.

I had the best time here while meeting with someone for work. It was a little hard to find because…read morethe sign is pretty small out front. But I looked a little deeper on my gps to find them and was able to figure it out. I'm glad I did because this is truly a hidden gem. There are a few other businesses located in the same space too. There's a bakery, restaurant and a dance area. A few other businesses as well. It was a lively environment with folks in and out. I genuinely loved everything I tried here! I had the ceviche clasico and the arroz chaufa de pollo and a few other things. Each dish was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. I immediately wanted to come back with friends so they could experience it too. If you're looking for something that will surprise you in the best ways, give this spot a try. I really enjoyed it!!!

10/10 to go spot for me!! I'm Peruvian and this is the best spot i have tried in Charlotte in the…read morelast 4 years. I got it to go. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the green spaghetti was seasoned just like my abuela. The papa came with about six pieces and the sauce was so yummy. It is a cute little spot off south blvd. The tables were all full with customers. The service was quick and easy (they do mostly speak Spanish as an FYI ) I of course, had to get it in Inca Cola as well. Highly recommend this spot.

Finally made it here. As a lover of Peruvian food I wanted to try this not so chain Peruvian…read morerestaurant out. Located where the former Moes was in the Pineville Matthews shopping center with Bonefish and Panera. The place looked pretty clean although after ordering my food I noticed the sanitation grade was a 91...yikes. Anyways I went ahead and ate there. So let me start by saying the menu is large, so many different items to chose from and not only Peruvian food. I saw some Colombian and Venezuelan items. With that being said I was very shocked at the lack of standard side items. Literally rice and white rice at that, pinto beans and like one other things. All other sides are considered premium sides and those premium sides would be basic sides at like hello chicken or viva chicken. I got the 1/4 chicken, white meat with reg side of white rice and premium side of plantains. For the dipping sauce I was limited to the yellow mild sauce or the spicy hot sauce. They were all out of the green mild sauce. Just for context I arrived at 11:40, they open at 11. Not sure how they ran out so fast but I would have loved to try it because the yellow sauce was just ok and the red was cold and just spicy no real flavor. Thankfully the chicken was flavorful and juicy, the white rice was white rice and the plantains were cooked beautifully. Also the cashier was great and provided excellent service. All in all, I would visit again but no rush to go back again. Viva Chicken still takes the lead for now for me. I would love them to mature their side menu, increase their sanitation grade and have the green sauce available.

If you come for the chicken, this place may be great. I did not come for the chicken. I am Peruvian…read moreand really like the Concord location. So, decided to try this location when in the area. We ordered Tallerin Saltado and Tallerin Verde con lomo (which usually is con bistec) and it came with angel hair pasta and super soupy sauces. Mediocre at best. I truly hate writing bad reviews, but I want it to be known that this is not an authentic Peruvian restaurant. That's not to say it's not a good food restaurant, just not authentically Peruvian. With that said, the restaurant was clean & service was great.

The food was so delicious. Some of the best Peruvian food I have had. The service was excellent!…read moreAll of the servers were so nice, attentive and asked often if I need anything or if there was anything else I needed. If you love ceviche you have to order this plate. The portions are a good size and will fill you up. Also ordered anticucho stater. It was a huge portion for a stater plate and came with potatoes and Peruvian corn. The Pisco sours were also amazing and such a fun surprise. They were some of the best that I have had. The drinks come with a fun Peruvian design on top. The restaurant was well decorated and provided for a great ambiance. They were playing Peruvian music and had Peruvian videos from local towns in Peru on the screen. If you are looking. For amazing Peruvian food to enjoy with your friend or family you need to try out this place.

Dangerous--in the best way possible. Mostly because it's down the street from me, which means I can…read moreenjoy a few Pisco sours and safely walk home. Win-win. The vibe here leans more nightclub than traditional restaurant, but that's part of the fun. It's lively, energetic, and perfect for a night out when you want a little buzz (literally and figuratively). Let's get to the important part: Pisco sours. If you love them like I do, you're in the right place. They're smooth, balanced, and absolutely worth the hype. Food holds its own, too: * Ceviche: fresh, bright, always solid * Empanadas: crispy, flavorful, easy win Service is friendly and attentive, prices feel fair, and the happy hour makes it even more tempting. Dessert? You could... but honestly, just get another Pisco sour and call it a night. Bottom line: great drinks, fun atmosphere, and reliably good food. Get out there, Charlotte--eat (and sip) while the gettin's good.