I recently stopped by the restaurant in the Charlotte Westin: Dogwood Southern Table and Bar. The…read morespace was airy, modern and light with a 360 degree bar, high ceilings and well spaced tables. I was intrigued by the item "Chef's Bite", that's it, no further explanation. As I suspected, it was an 'amuse bouche' offered from the kitchen. Today it was a Deviled Egg with a mustard-forward center, even containing black mustard seeds for flavor and crunch. As a fan of Sicilian arancini, I ordered the Dogwood's version as an appetizer. I was surprised to see several small rice balls, the size of hush puppies. I was expecting a single larger offering; 'arancini' after all mean orange in Italian. The risotto spheres were stuffed with pimento cheese and instead of the typical marina sauce, the kitchen had substituted a tomato jam with a subtle sweet finish. It was a successful southern riff on a Sicilian standard. Although I had been directed to order the Duck and Dumplings, my eye drifted to the Shrimp and Grits. I hadn't had much Carolinian food this trip.... The dish did not disappoint. It was amply loaded with flavorful shrimp and accented with good-quality andouille sausage slices, all over a well executed plate of grits. Service was prompt, professional and knowledgeable. This one is going in the book to return to.

Well, I will say that the place is really nice. Great environment for hanging out at the bar, or…read morehaving a nice dinner. The staff was very courteous, friendly and just the kind of people you would want working at this type of place. They were very attentive, thoroughly explained menu choices and kept refilling our drinks without us asking. As for the food, I was told that the chicken was pretty good. You could taste the hot honey on the Brussels sprouts and some were crunchy, while the rest was not as much. Now for the short rib, I really like short ribs and was told this was a popular dish, but mine was a bit dry and a little too firm on the exterior. The broccolini and shallots were great, but the Ty Leno polenta wasn't my favorite. I would come here again, but I would try a different dish.

The remodel is AMAZING and the staff are a kickass group of humans! For sure head here for some…read moregood uptown vibes and drinks! Their tots are best in uptown too!!!

Stopped her for dinner and it was really good. Got a table right away, they have quite a few seats,…read morea bar and an upstairs. The waitress was friendly. We shared the tater tots which were my favorite. We got the fish and chips and a steak and cheese and that was also good. Def more pub food, but very well done pub food. Cool spot!

The type of meal you need to unbutton your pants for…read more The catfish was crispy, green beans had some bite to em' and the mashed potatoes were hands down the best I've ever had. Now I'll admit -- I'm a tough judge of cornbread. A lot of people will serve it to you as dry as the desert. Crumbly. Without any love. At the southern pecan, I could've had a whole sheet of their cornbread -- it was pleasantly delicious. Also of note: Our server was prompt and kind. The vibe inside was really cool too. Overall, I'd come back!

Stopped in while visiting Charlotte for the day and really liked this place! The atmosphere is…read moresuper cool, with portraits of musicians all over the walls and old jazz playing in the background. Definitely has a lot of character. We started with the hush puppies and raw oysters. The mignonette was really interesting, chunky with apples (I think?). It wasn't really my thing personally, but definitely unique. The hush puppies came out HOT and crispy with a honey sauce. You can also get them dusted with cinnamon and sugar, which I thought was a fun option. For lunch, I went with the pecan crusted catfish with oven baked mac and cheese and collard greens. The catfish was SO crispy but still delicate inside, and that pecan topping was delicious. The mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy with a bubbly, crunchy top. The collard greens were perfectly seasoned. Sometimes collards can be way too vinegar heavy, but these had a really nice balance. Everything came out HOT, which I always appreciate. Really enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere here!

Was in town for work and this place was recommended to me by locals. Formally 5church, church and…read moreUnion had a similar vibe to the one in Atlanta. my was ok not amazing. But everyone else at my tables food was perfect so I probably just chose wrong.out server was Amanda and the service was great too! The food we ordered was, the ravioli (my meal) steak frites, meatloaf, and the oysters.

I recommend I guess…read more Lets start with the ambience, which is stunning! Such beautiful inside decor and definitely photo ops. Clean and maintained. The service was prompt and welcoming soon as I entered, now to the food was not impressed. Complementary hummus was very tasteful. The appetizer was overcooked and the chicken was extremely crunchy barely ate it moving onto the entrée which was salmon and it was OK. I've had better. For dessert, I had the sorbet I chose lemon, which was delicious. They offered us complementary champagne for my friend's birthday, which was very sweet . Overall, I was expecting better tasting food, especially with this location being in the prime of uptown Charlotte. Yet I was not impressed. Maybe if I come back and try the full menu maybe the options would be better if you go I hope that you enjoy what you order.

Fin & Fino has easily become one of my favorite spots in Uptown, and sitting right at the quartz…read morebar under the oyster shell chandelier is hands-down the best seat in the house. The cocktail program here is so fun and creative. They have hardcover books displayed right by the window that you can browse through, which sets such a warm, welcoming vibe immediately. Their drink menu even features themed photo spreads of the staff, which is such a charming touch. Beyond the creative presentation, the drinks are top-tier, and the bartenders will happily craft a custom pour if you just name your favorite flavor profile. For food, we went with both the baked and raw oysters. The baked ones over rock salt had great savory depth, but the ice-cold raw oysters with the house dropper bottle sauce took the win for pure, clean brininess. The pan-seared salmon was also cooked to perfection--crispy skin, tender and flaky on the inside, and served with a bright cucumber ribbon salad that cut the richness nicely. Between the energy, attentive staff, and fresh seafood, it's easily a five-star spot for date night or solo bar dining.

Such an amazing space. I didn't get any pictures of the space but it's a very beautiful space and…read moreperfect for any occasion. The service was wonderful. Our food was spectacular. The one dish that was a little questionable was the trout. It was accompanied by broccolini and black lentils. It didn't seem to pair well. Flavors were there, however the last time we dined it was paired with a succotash. Every other plate we had just burst with flavors and spices. The poke bowl was our favorite. We also had a crab dip that was good. The calamari gave us hints of a bang bang flavor. The ribeye was tender and paired well with the blue cheese. Lastly the diver steak with the chimichurri was good. The drinks were very good.

Lincoln Street is one of my favorite restaurants in South End. The food and cocktails are…read morefantastic! Last night we tried the new burrata setup with charred muscadine grapes - unique, creative and so yummy! Another new item, the mushroom risotto, was decadent and delicious. And this potato pave side with Gruyère and a basil emulsion was one of the best potato dishes I have had in ages. A fig-infused take on an old fashioned and perfect espresso martinis by Buster topped off the night. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend!

Let me start by saying the kitchen was great- Gregg was lovely…read more The service was off, the bar was super slow, and the server had an attitude when I said "when you have a moment, can you grab these glasses"... our table was filling up with water carafes, empty glasses, apps, and menus. The food is good. There was an issue with the fryer so 2 people didn't get their steak frites. We've been twice and there's always been an issue. Also, the menus were incorrect. We had 2 different menus at our table. Then one was off centered, it cut off the full descriptions and prices.

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.

Merchant & Trade is worth visiting for the views alone, but the food definitely holds its own. The…read morerooftop overlooking Uptown Charlotte is stunning, especially around sunset. I tried caviar for the first time... the jury's still out on that one. But the Caesar Brussels, pork belly, and jerk tacos? Chef's kiss! The only thing that kept this from being a true 10/10 experience was the arrival process. We were told they don't take reservations and to simply find a seat. After walking the entire rooftop, every available table had a "Reserved" sign on it. I finally stopped a staff member to ask how reservations worked, and he kindly walked us back to the hostess, who then added our name to the seating list. We were seated within about 10 minutes, so I wish that had been explained from the start. The other minor issue was the flooring in certain areas of the rooftop, which felt a bit unstable. With a smoother seating process and a little attention to the flooring, this place would be nearly perfect. I'd absolutely visit again for the views, the atmosphere, and those incredible bites.

This such a vibey place! It's located on the 19th or 20th floor of a hotel- I walked right in and…read morewas able to sit at the bar. However, if you want a table you should make a reservation as there were many empty tables but the hostess said everything was booked. There is open seating around the bar area and on the side (you have to walk behind the area) to know it's there or you won't see it! The food was just okay, I mainly went here to get the lobster pasta and I would give it a 7/10 flavor was bland but everything was cooked well. The edamame hummus was definitely the best thing I ordered per the bartender's recommendation. I closed my tab and was waiting for my food. Once I got my food the bartender only checked on me one time which I thought was a little odd given I was there for quite a few hours. I would go here for the vibes and drinks. Count the food out.