Never been to any Shake Shack. My daughter and I were hanging out in South End and it started to…read morepour down raining, we were hungry so we landed here. Glad we did. Great variety of burgers. Rarely is there anything I can eat at a burger joint but there was a veggie burger and a 'shroom' burger on the menu! I went for the mushroom burger which was a fried portabella. Yummy! Nice crunch. My daughter loved the option for Mac n cheese as a side. And it was so creamy with breadcrumbs on top. I got the cucumber basil drink, (which if this isn't your thing now is not the time to be adventurous) I liked it but I don't think most folk would who don't typically drink stuff like that. My daughter had tropical mango and it was tasty. There's parking on the street and a garage nearby. Service was great! Don't know if I'd be back because of the parking situation but other than that-great experience!

Review for Shake Shack…read more This review is for Shake Shack in the South End, and the first thing to know is that parking can be very difficult. It's a busy, walkable section of the neighborhood surrounded by apartment complexes, shops, and plenty of foot traffic. You've got places like Jeni's Ice Cream, coffee spots, and other eateries nearby, so it's definitely a lively area--but not the easiest if you're driving in. I received a special solicitation and promo to use the app for 20% off, which was a nice perk. I do like Shake Shack. It's trendy for the smash burger, and when it's done right, it really is a solid bite with a near-perfect ratio of meat to bun. For this visit, I ordered a double ShackBurger with mayonnaise, lettuce, pickle, and onion, with the sauce requested on the side. Unfortunately, the sauce didn't come on the side as requested. I also ordered a strawberry shake, which was about $5. Here's the honest take: * The burger itself was good, filling, and satisfying * However, the meat was not as crispy as I remembered * The shake was just okay--it lacked strong strawberry flavor and richness * The quality felt a bit diminished after taking the food home That last point matters. Smash burgers really depend on timing. I took the food home, which was about a 10-minute trip, and by then the texture had changed. The nuances that make a smash burger special--crisp edges, heat, balance--just weren't the same anymore. Next time, I'll definitely eat it there on-site. That's where the experience really shines. A few practical notes: * A double burger runs roughly $9-$10, so it's not cheap, but it is filling * Check the app for promos--they can make a noticeable difference * If something tastes off (like the shake), it's best to address it while you're still there Personally, I prefer a burger that isn't too wet, so pickle, lettuce, and onion work well for me. I'm particular about tomatoes--I only like Roma tomatoes, not beefsteak--so I usually skip them altogether. Bottom line: Shake Shack is still a reliable burger, but timing and location matter. Eat it fresh, eat it there, and you'll get the experience they're known for. Get out there. Explore. Eat well.

Smoked Wings (5/5): MAJOR redemption for Mac's. These were probably the best smoked wings I've ever…read morehad. Super smoky flavor, incredibly tender (the meat slides off the bone), and very juicy. The sauces were also both delicious. I liked the Carolina BBQ slightly more than the VTX. The only thing that could've made this any better is if they were also crispy on the outside. Down South Eggrolls (4/5): I love an eggroll, and these were solid. Very crispy shell but the inside tasted mostly just like mac and cheese. I couldn't even tell there was pulled pork in it... The sauce was also very good. Sweet and tangy. RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this)

Meh. When you need…read moreto be aggressive with a knife to get thru a rack of ribs, things aren't great. They didn't promise "fall off the bone" so I can't expect that, but most places I get ribs they just tear apart. This took work, and the mass of BBQ sauce slathered on makes the surgery a mess. So, that was a bummer. The tots lack creativity or any sort of seasoning which seems like an easy upgrade and a crowd pleaser. Oh well. Maybe I got there in a bad day, but if this is standard then I can't see not going to Noble Smoke next time I need ribs.

Excellent food every time. Service is usually very good. My last visit was an exception though,…read morewait staff was slow to refill the drinks and bring the checks at the end.

2nd time visiting from California and second time at Pinky's! It's a must when we come to town!…read more Delicious pimp'n fries - tried it with veggie chili but next time I'll try bacon. Serving size was good for sharing. Fried pickles with ranch were the perfect blend of crispy, crunchy, salty and tangy. Ranch was good too. Got the build your own pterodactyl burger with pimento cheese and pepper jack and substituted on Texas toast. Heaven! Also tried the velvet Elvis which is an interesting blend of peanut butter, honey, banana, cream cheese and bacon.. surprisingly good despite our initial hesitation. Service was amazing all around, attentive & quick. Parking lot is small but extra parking was plentiful in the dirt lot a short walk next door. The decor is fun and eclectic - inside was not huge but there was a lot of patio seating on a perfect night. We'll be back again next time we visit North Carolina!

Really good and fresh subs! I ordered the small Italian sub and it was very good and so filling…read more They put a lot of meat and toppings in it. The bread tasted fresh too. It was a decent size, especially for the price. I also got a cookie which was really good! They taste like sugar cookies with huge chocolate chunks throughout. The service was very efficient and the staff was friendly. They had some tables available inside but I ate at one of the tables outside, because it was nice out. This place is definitely better than Subway or Jimmy John's. I also like that they have a lot of options and even really good fries!

Disgusting, mold, insects, lizards, flooded bathrooms left to stink, old tea that stinks up the…read morelobby. Looks like they hate vegans did not know what an artichoke was, let alone that it was very bad. Upper management is nowhere to be found everyone is left looking clueless. Two other underperforming stores burned down instead of getting standards together in one week this year. Crazy coincidence, hopefully they get maintenance issues figured out. Standards start at the top, and this place falls all the way to the bottom in every way imaginable. $50 for two sandwiches and two fountain drinks is insane for any restaurant.

Sometimes you just need nostalgic food, and every now and then I make a quick run to the border…read more I've enjoyed everything from Michelin-level dining to neighborhood gems, but when hunger hits and you want something familiar, Taco Bell still delivers. My go-to has always been the Crunchy Taco Supreme, and this visit was no exception. They were hot, fresh, and exactly what I expected--simple, satisfying comfort food. I also decided to try the mini taco salad, and it was the perfect bite. The crispy shell held warm beans, seasoned meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes, and with a little Fire sauce, it checked all the boxes. It didn't overfill me--just enough to take the edge off hunger. I typically skip the beverages here since I try to avoid high-fructose syrups, but the food itself hit the mark. Everything was hot where it should be and cool where it should be, which is always a good sign of proper preparation. My only small wish: a touch of sour cream or fresh avocado would take the mini taco salad to the next level--but for fast, nostalgic comfort food, it absolutely delivered. The drive-through was clean, the order-taker was friendly and professional, and my food came out quickly and accurately. Reliable, fast, and consistent--sometimes that's exactly what you need. If you're craving something familiar, the mini taco salad is worth trying. Get out there and eat well--life's too short not to enjoy the food you love.

You never know what you're gonna get with this Taco Bell. It's the closest one to me and I grab a…read morebit once a month or so when I'm feeling like rolling the dice. Main complaint is that the drive thru can take forever. If there's any type of line I recommend going inside. A few times it definitely has not sat well in my stomach, but when it's good, it's really good.

Saw this place as we were out driving around and decided to give them a try. Was a little before 8…read morepm. Only a few people in line at the time. Staff were helpful when ordering. I ordered the Cheat's OG with added lettuce (10/10) it was cheesy, fresh, and flavorful! Was only a few bites in and I was already saying how I should've ordered two. I also tried the Honey Sriracha Cheat's wings (8.5/10) they were cooked well and tasted good, but they seemed like only honey wings ?? No spice at all, which was a little disappointing. To drink, I got a Cheerwine soda; it was pretty good. Food took about 25 mins to be made after we ordered. They have seating on the side of the building where you can watch the staff making the food which was cool. I def will be returning again, the food was too good not to! My overall rate of experience : 9/10

Not 2 cheese steaks & 2 fries costing $52!!!!…read more AND you can't even get a combo, fries and drinks are only sold separately. The fries are $5 each. only 1 size sandwich and 1 size fry. It's good but not that damn good. Will be my very last visit.

For my money this might be the best chicken sandwich in Charlotte, certainly in the discussion at…read moreleast. A sister concept to Noble Smoke, this original location on Freedom Drive is located on the same premise. They are small, and the menu is very focused. Fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, and nuggets. But they do it so well! The meat is cooked and breaded to perfection, and they use Duke's Mayo along with buns from the owners bakery called Copain I believe. Jim Noble is a well known restauranter and it is clear if you've been to any of his restaurants that he is passionate about what he does. Bossy Beulah's is a perfect example as it is a small simple concept that absolutely nails all of the small details to provide a high quality meal.

I'm a little upset with myself that I didn't get any pictures of the inside. This is a nice spot on…read morewhere you could eat your lunch or dinner but this gives me more lunchtime vibes. Music was playing in the background not too loud but just right (at least for me). Customer service was very welcoming and helped me out because this was my first time there at their establishment. *on to the food* I ordered a chicken sandwich and some chicken tenders. That chicken sandwich was so flavorful. It wasn't too crunchy as well. I despise crunchy chicken like I'm eating on chips and this was far from that. The chicken tenders were very good as well, no complaints. They have a homemade lemonade, nothing to scream about but it was good. The reason for a 4 out of 5, is because of their ranch. I felt like it was freshly handmade but it just had a different taste to it. It wasn't hidden valley lol or wing stop type of ranch. Regardless, though, I can buy my own ranch and whenever I do go back to Charlotte, I will definitely be coming back here to get some chicken.

Best burger for the price in Southend! Super fast service at a great price!…read more Get the ranch for your fries!

My niece and I was looking to grab something slight after an outing and she googled this spot and…read moresince neither of us had ever tried it, we came. We entered and the menu had some great options to choose from. It was a chill vibe, low key and really nice establishment. I ordered the Mushroom and Swiss burger and she order the Seoul No. 2. It didn't take long for us to receive our order and everything was amazing! I normally don't care for mustard on my sandwich, so I used it on my fries and it was really good! My niece finished her burger and mentioned that it was really good and she became full. It was perfect seasoned and cooked medium well as requested. The mushrooms on my burger were thick, which made it even better! I definitely would recommend this place. One of the best burgers I've had in a long time!

This location was empty when I got there, but it's still took a little too long to make my food…read more There was a nice chatty employee who took my order. The food was good. The only complaint I have is the parking garage charges you five dollars per 30 minutes. You are in it. That is ridiculous and the restaurant did not validate the parking so on top of your meal get ready to pay an additional five dollars or more depending on how long it takes them to make your food. I was there for 15 minutes and paid five dollars for parking. That alone would make me not return to this location.

My sons placed individual orders via their app. Order response in app indicated orders would be…read moreready 7-12 minutes. They finally received their orders after a 56 minute wait (based on order and credit card processing time stamp). When they returned home, I called to complain and try to get a refund, but I got only an AI bot that wanted me to place an order - and when I requested to be connected through to a team member (separate call), it went to a voicemail that had not been set up. I will go into the store tomorrow, but this level of service and support is absolutely unacceptable. Update: I was finally able to speak with a manager by phone a few days later. She refunded the order amounts and offered additional consideration as well (which was declined). Irrespective I still will not be visiting in the future.

Located inside the lively Optimist Hall, Harriet's Hamburgers is a great stop if you're craving a…read moresimple, well-executed smash burger. Optimist Hall itself is a very food-centric, upscale food hall with a ton of vendors, so the atmosphere is energetic and fun. Seating can be a little challenging during peak dinner hours since so many people are grabbing food from different spots, but when the weather is nice there's plenty of outdoor seating. Harriet's keeps their burger formula refreshingly simple. It's a classic smash burger done right--made to order with a straightforward menu that doesn't overcomplicate things. There's usually a line, but it moves pretty quickly, and the burgers come out hot and fresh. One of the best parts of eating here is the flexibility of the food hall experience. While you're waiting, you can grab a craft beer, a glass of wine, or even browse for dessert from one of the other vendors. Insider tip: Come with a group if you can. It's a great place to share fries and let everyone explore different vendors around the hall. Parking is fairly easy with the nearby garage, which makes the whole experience even more convenient. Overall, Harriet's is a fun, delicious stop for a smash burger, especially if you're already enjoying the energy of Optimist Hall.

After seeing Harriet's Hamburgers all over TikTok being crowned "the best burger in Charlotte," I…read morehad to see what the hype was about. I live super close to Optimist Hall, so it's been on my radar for a while. This particular night I wasn't feeling great, so I DoorDashed instead of dining in. I ordered the Royale with crispy fries and let me just say... I get it. The burger was genuinely impressive. The quality of the beef stood out immediately. Juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The meat to bun ratio was spot on, which is crucial. Nothing worse than a bread heavy burger. The lettuce and tomatoes were fresh, the build was balanced, and even after delivery, everything held up beautifully. So far I've tried two burger spots in Charlotte, and this one takes the top spot. I'm not ready to declare it the best in the entire city just yet because my burger tour is ongoing, but right now it's leading the race. I'll definitely be going to Optimist Hall soon to try it fresh off the grill and experience the service and atmosphere firsthand. Expect an update. But based on this first round alone, Harriet's is absolutely worth the order. Burger lovers, this one deserves a try.