Suffolk Punch is easily one of my favorite spots right off the Rail Trail. It works for just about…read moreanything, whether you're grabbing a quick caffeine fix or meeting up with friends. I stopped by for an iced Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte made with Hex Coffee and oat milk. It has a great balance of espresso without being cloying, making it one of my favorite drink orders on the trail. Alongside it, the little gem wedge salad was fresh, crisp, and held up surprisingly well to go. Also, shoutout to their $10 chicken tender Tuesdays; their specials are easily some of the best weeknight food deals in South End. I haven't made it out for trivia yet, but between the patio vibes, solid menu, and easy trail access, it's such an effortless place to hang out. Definitely keeping this one on heavy rotation!

Starting off on a positive note, most of the food was really good. I got a chicken sandwich that…read morewas so good I forgot to take a picture of. My step dad also gave me some of his chicken and waffles which was really good. I ordered fries with my food and they came out cold though and when I asked the waitress for new ones she didn't bring them until we were ready to leave. It was somewhat busy so I understand the hold up but it was a side item and by that point I didn't want them anymore. The inside was kind of bland and the table was sticky. I don't like leaving bad reviews but if you want good food I would suggest it, but I think theres better spots out here for cheaper.

Came here for lunch during work hours on a weekday. Have also been here on the weekends during a…read morebusier time and it can get packed. The vibe is laid-back and perfect for watching sports. Great bar food - I ordered the side chick. The sauce in the wrap was described as similar to chick fil a sauce. It was solid. Fries were crispy, seasoned well, and make sure to get a side of ranch. Service was fast (but might because it wasn't that busy).

The location is super cute and convenient. I love that they offer veggie patties! Our bartender was…read moreso sweet and food was ready quickly.

Enjoyed my brunch at 300 East. It was a relaxing environment and the service was friendly and…read morethorough. I had my food and a cocktail and wrote in my journal. I ordered: Rustic Benedict Poached Eggs*, Pancetta, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Arugula, Herb Hollandaise, Grilled Sourdough 16.5 The Rum One Rum, Orange Bitters, Sour, Pineapple 14

For those who don't know, 300 East is something of a Charlotte institution; I've been there…read morecountless times over the years I've lived here but not recently. They have always had, in my estimation, the best French onion soup around and I was craving it, so off I went. The restaurant off East Boulevard is an eclectic sort of place, and in my memory the interior hasn't ever changed. The wood is dark, the tables a bit worn and packed together to give a slightly claustrophobic feel, and the decor is always vaguely counterculture. For people who like NoDa and Plaza Midwood (before its recent transformation), it's homey as can be. I enjoyed the familiarity of its unpretentious surroundings as I took a seat in a tiny corner booth. Delighted to note that the French onion soup is as delicious as ever, with a richly flavored broth and a generous amount of bread and cheese baked in. While the quality hasn't diminished, thank heavens, the size has gone from a bowl to a cup. As it was my upcharged side I didn't mind terribly but still. Alas. Kudos to the kitchen for letting me have my soup before my sandwich was delivered, but here is where things went a little south. I had ordered The Usual, one of their trademark dishes, a hot open-faced chicken salad sandwich on a baguette topped with asparagus, mushrooms and cheese. It too has been the victim of shrinkflation, about 2/3 as big as once it was. Again, didn't mind terribly much but the toppings themselves were scant: three small strips of jarred or canned asparagus, four slices of mushroom. Okay, everything is expensive these days, but the edges of the sandwich were burned and the filling was cool, meaning the salamander setting was off and no one checked it before sending it out or putting it down. I might have considered sending it back but that's when my server disappeared. My water glass sat empty for half my meal and was never refilled. Even paying the check was sluggish. So I give the current state 300 East a solid three with a disappointed sigh because they seem to be phoning it in. Really great French onion soup, though.

We are so grateful that Pinky's never lets us down ! Always a great option true and true …read more I've been going here for years and honestly have no notes or complaints . Affordable and savory no matter what you get . Best bartenders in Charlotte, you could close your eyes and pick anything off the menu and enjoy it .No matter how long the wait is it's worth every minute . I tried the Flounder special for the first time . Amazing . Pinky's always offers something you can't quite get anywhere else . For the flounder , it was the fresh dill in the batter, it gave it a certain tang that just sets it apart . Hearty portions ! Trust you won't leave still hungry . Pinky's please don't change !

When you start walking to a table you can feel the vibe in there! It's an awesome environment!…read more I enjoyed two yummy cocktails. We started with buffalo wings which were good. We both got the white trash burger, can't complain about a burger with fried pickles on it! Service was great! The ladies in there were amazing! They work as a team and help one another.

THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD! Me and my husband will return when we come back to town. Great price too!read more

Really attractive patio setting with interesting and varied menu…read more We came on a Fri night around 6:30 and they had plenty of available seating inside and outside. (Parking can be a challenge). We elected to sit outside since it was such a beautiful evening. They have a decent selection of local brews on tap, I went with the Legion Juicy Jay. My bride had trouble deciding what she wanted and she said there were numerous options she would have ordered. She elected to get the Aji Chicken Bowl and really enjoyed it! I went with the Plancha Chicken and it hit the spot. Service from Tony was hospitable and prompt!

10 stars all around James welcomed us out of towners with such an awesome smile and customer…read moreservice I'm so glad that we got to have this experience it was inexpensive and the food was great and fast! I recommend to ANYONE!

After striking out at two other BBQ spots on a Saturday night, I landed at Mac's Speed Shop around…read more8:30 p.m. and ended up having a surprisingly enjoyable experience. Mac's sits in the heart of South End and shares the neighborhood with several busy bars and nightlife spots. Parking can be a bit of an adventure, but they do have dedicated lots nearby. Once you're there, the setup is great: a large dining room, plenty of picnic-table patio seating, and my favorite option--a seat at the outdoor bar where the inside bar opens through a service window to the patio. The bartender, Alyssa, was fantastic. Friendly, knowledgeable, and patient while I stared at the giant menu trying to figure out what I wanted. When I asked for recommendations, she immediately suggested the burnt ends, BBQ baked beans, and Mexican street corn. Excellent call. The blackberry seasonal hard cider she recommended was delicious and paired beautifully with the meal. My only surprise was the price. At nearly $9, it was more than I expected for a cider, and I wish I had asked beforehand. The burnt ends arrived with bright pickled red onions that added the perfect acidic balance. The flavor was excellent--smoky, rich, and satisfying. That said, they leaned heavily toward the fatty side. The deeper I got into the serving, the more rendered fat I encountered compared to meat. Delicious? Yes. Light? Absolutely not. The BBQ baked beans were exactly what you want from a barbecue joint. The Mexican street corn was a standout and a refreshing contrast to all the richness. My only critique was that the burnt ends weren't served quite as hot as I would have liked, and by the end of the meal, the richness became overwhelming. That's probably more on me for ordering burnt ends at 9 p.m. than on Mac's. The final bill came to about $37 before tip, which felt a little steep for a solo barbecue dinner and cider. Looking back, I'd probably visit during lunch. Their weekday lunch specials around $10 look like one of the best values in South End. Would I come back? Absolutely. The service was warm, the recommendations were spot on, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food delivered exactly what a barbecue craving calls for. Next time, I'll arrive earlier, bring a bigger appetite, and maybe save the burnt ends for lunchtime. Life is too short not to eat well, Charlotte. If you're exploring South End and craving barbecue, Mac's Speed Shop is worth a stop.

We were close to uptown and looking for an early evening dinner spot. Knowing that CD is going to…read morebe opening a location at the Bowl in Ballantyne (which is closer to us) we thought we'd give it a shot. Walked in and immediately loved the vibe. Big, open and airy. Lots of seating and a few party rooms too. Loved the outdoor seating too. If it had been a little cooler that would have been perfect. They have cornhole and ping pong and just a fun atmosphere out there. Our server was warm and attentive. We did not have to wait for refills and she was quick to answer any questions we had. We started with a few apps - the chips and onion dip and the pigs in a blanket. The chips were well salted and the onion dip was DELISH!!! The pigs were wrapped in homemade party dough and came with a honey mustard crème fraiche. They were so good!! For entrees we tried the fried chicken, prime rib dip, and the meatloaf. The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and perfectly seasoned. The mashed potatoes were so good too. The only misstep on this dish was the biscuit. Way too dense and not very flavorful. The prime rib dip was tender and came on the most crispy bread. What a great combo! The only thing that wasn't great were the fries, just nothing too special. The meatloaf dish was flavorful and came with those yummy mashed potatoes so great pairing. We didn't have room for dresser on site but we did take the monkey bread to go and enjoyed it later. Good portion size and full of apple and caramel flavor. Did not regret taking that home!! Really looking forward to this spot opening closer to home. Highly recommended

Quite a disappointment. We arrived and were told we would have a 30 minute wait for a table but we…read morecould sit at the bar while on the list. There was lots of confusion at the hostess desk and I even had to ask if they needed our contact information. We checked our name on the list thirty minutes in and we were next in line. At forty minutes I checked again and the group that had been listed after us was now ahead of us and we were second in line. They needed a table for three and we were a table for two. I went and asked what was happening and the staff was dismissive and had no ability to discuss the situation. We saw multiple issues with food orders around us as well as incorrect billing which was concerning. This doesn't seem like an establishment ready to handle the volume of patrons it's built for. Some staff were great while others were far from professional or customer focused. Not a place I will return to.

We came in for brunch and we had the pleasure of Taylor waiting on us. She was very attentive and…read morehad a great personality! I got the Grilled sourdough breakfast melt with sausage. Honey it was so flavorful. It slapped!!! We also got the Drew's Biscuit Sliders. Which were flavorful as well. But I definitely recommend the Sourdough Breakfast Melt. The vibe was very causal yet they had so many high end choices for cocktails. If I lived in the area I would definitely come but because it was Grade A!

Nothing screamed come back again. The only reason 2 stars are here is for the server. She was…read moreamazing, thoughtful and she was very knowledgeable. We came in on a Sunday afternoon looking for a great brunch spot. It was pretty packed. Ambiance is cute very spacious. Nice outdoor seating. I ordered the avocado toast which was very loaded. I ended up taking all the toppings off and ate them separately. It was the only thing that was good. The bacon was old and burnt. The eggs which I had only ordered one were over cooked. The hasbrowns were soaked in grease. My wife had the biscuits and gravy. The gravy was cold, the sausage tasted like it was a frozen patty. The biscuit which had some herbs seemed to had a piece of hair in it. The person(I'm assuming the manager) who came over to take care of us stated it was from the herbs in the biscuit batter, I really wanted to enjoy Mothers.

Ian was our server. He was lovely. We sat by the window so that was fun for people watching. They…read moreplay fun music here, 80-90's I think. Our dinner was SO GOOD. We both got salmon and the Whipped ricotta appetizer. The ricotta was delicious and I loved that it came with mint leaves. It was delicious and we scarfed that down with our beers. I had Marigold Hefe isen, which was DELICIOUS. So I had 2. They had a fantastic wine list and I was going to get a white wine from Chile but at $14, I didn't want to blow my dates wallet out. So instead I had the 2 beers. Let's talk about our delicious salmon. It was cooked perfect and served w cut asparagus on a bed of buttery orzo. I ate every little asparagus piece, it was so good and lemon butter flavored. The salmon was a lightly grilled piece of heaven. A big piece. I was a little miffed it had no lemon slice but the entire salmon was basted or braised with a lemon sauce. Every bite was divinely lemon. It was probably the best salmon I've ever had. Such a lovely visit. Nice interior and spacious and people seemed to be having fun at the bar. This location is a very lovely place!

This DTR location is an attractive spot, especially the garden/fountain area outside. It is a great…read moredate night or friends night out spot for sure. The wine selection is impressive and they have great cocktails, typically seasonal rotating options as well. I enjoyed the caviar and chips option, flatbread pizza, and brussels. It was martini night which was a great deal on traditional martinis and the cosmo was delicious. The drawback to this location is parking can be difficult, so plan accordingly for your arrival time in case you have to search for street parking.

Stopped by The Horseshoe with a friend of mine to enjoy their $.75 wing special and it was a nice…read morechill time. I ordered a few different flavors and enjoyed them. The staff was friendly and service was quick. We went on a random weekday so it was pretty empty inside. There's plenty of seating but limited parking. But that's always expected in South End. I luckily got a parking spot right in their lot but it is a tiny lot. I would come back here for wings again for sure. It seems like a fun place to go and watch football games or just go drinking. It's kind of tucked away so it's easy to miss. But I enjoyed my time here!

The Horseshoe is a sports bar that supports the Buffalo Bills NFL team. I happened to stop in…read moreduring a Sunday game and had a great time! The workers and patrons were so nice and welcoming. They had great drink specials with plenty of food options. If I'm ever in the area again I would definitely return!