Upon entry to the hotel, I was struck by the clean but inviting style. There is a very decadent feel that carries through from the hotel to the restaurant. Andrea, the hostess, was great. I was a party of one but she did not make me feel uncomfortable in anyway. Emily, my server came up to my table fairly quickly, as I was an early reservation, and the restaurant was not busy yet. I ordered a glass of wine (Pike Road Pinot) and it was delivered to my table quickly. Great wine by the way, nice fruity red with a smooth, silky finish. Emily was quick to come get my order and explain what was included and what was add on. I ordered the strip cooked medium rare, and added the Brussels sprouts and Mac & cheese because I couldn't decide! Here's where it gets less than five stars... I waited almost 50 minutes for the food, which had it been spectacular, I wouldn't have even remarked on. With no appetizer, I was worried about getting drunk because I ended up ordering a Signature Drink to pass the time and really had to woah up and not finish it, as I had a 40 min drive home. Having said that, The Flower In The Bramble is one of the best vodka drinks I've had in a while. It's the perfect blend of sweet blackberries and tart lemon. I'd drink that ALL day. Emily kept checking on me and didn't make promises on the food that couldn't be kept, which I appreciated. She only told me it was almost done, when it was. The food came and I was disappointed to see that the presentation of the steak was a bit messier than I would expect. The steak itself was well-cooked and tender, but it was covered with so many onions it felt like I was eating a bowl of mediocre French onion soup without cheese. I was really looking forward to the flavors described on the menu but didn't get anything but onion and bordelaise. The Mac and cheese is VERY tasty and the Brussels sprouts had a tasty and interesting flavor but they were way over-cooked. Side note, the sides seem to be meant to share as they are too large to eat alone if you order more than one. I'd rather have a smaller portion at a lower price, especially in a hotel restaurant where many of the guests are traveling solo for business. I was not offered a dessert menu, so I do not know if they have any desserts. Overall it was a nice evening and I SO wanted to give this a 5 -star review. Truthfully, if I was just reviewing staff it would be at least a 6, but I wanted to give an honest critique and the food wasn't quite worth the menu price for me. Regarding wait staff, one final comment...There were two servers and I watched them manage an almost full floor efficiently. I hope Stoke recognizes the value of these ladies because they were amazing. read more

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I come here often mainly because of the old fashion drinks but every once in a while I check out a item on their menu. This pork shank is fall of the bone tender and well seasoned. Be careful or you may gnawing on the bone. Haha Exceptional service always. Keep up the good work read more

Stoke - Sticky Pork Shank - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The menu changes frequently. I absolutely love the new capellini dish. I love the cocktails and consistent service! Stoke has an upscale vibe with a moderately priced menu. read more

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I've been wanting to try Stoke so we decided to come for restaurant week. After we made reservation, it was announced that Chef Coleman was leaving so we were there for his last night. We had an early reservation and were seated right away. We were seated with a great view of the open kitchen which was cool. There were four of us and we split our appetizers of the deviled eggs, hushpuppies, sticky pork toast, and pan roasted scallop. They were the best hushpuppies I've ever had. The scallop was amazing and the pork toast was very unique. For entrees, my husband and I split the smoked pork belly and the catfish. They were both incredible. The pork belly was probably my favorite, but it was a small portion. I finished with the donut holes for dessert. They were awesome. Three big donut holes with a ton of cream to go with them. No Heath crumbles for me since I don't like chocolate. The vibe is relaxed even though it's a very nice restaurant. It's not stuffy at all. I'd definitely recommend coming here for a nice dinner and hope the next chef carries on what chef Coleman started. read more

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OMG, I am SO glad my best friend and I decided to walk the extra 500 feet and try this restaurant. You will NOT be disappointed. Our server, Amanda, was an absolute delight. She was professional, personable and efficient. The martini was on point, delicious. The capalini was heavenly. The flavor combinations of a creamy base with a little bite of spice. The shrimp and scallops were cooked to perfection. The asparagus was crisp and flavorful. I had to make myself stop eating, yes, it was that good. I have traveled quite extensively and eaten at some of the finest restaurants around the world, and I place this one right up there with them. It's a must try. read more

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The appetizers were fantastic and far superior than the entrées. But, that's about where it ended. The service was so incredibly slow and unwelcoming. Order another drink when you get your first one as it will take 15 mins to get another. Had the pork shank which was pretty good. We also ordered the shrimp and grits which were mediocre and didn't have much flavor. For as long as our dinner took (2 1/2) you would think the food would have come out hot but was barely warm temp for the shrimp and grits. One person in our party ordered the NY strip medium rare and had to send it back as it was close to well done. Restaurant was basically empty and service took almost 3 hours. The lighting and "chefs" table (as they call it) was kinda cool You're not really incorporated to the experience when biking the "chefs table"...... Overall, food looks much better than the taste. Likely would not return. Looking forward to what opens next in that location as it should have been packed for a Saturday night......... read more

Stoke has always been a favorite and has emerged from the pandemic several big notches better than it ever was--and that's huge praise because it was always awesome. We've forgotten how beautiful and open and relaxing the vibe is in this restaurant is--so great to be back. The service is cool and breezy just like the entire vibe of the place. The cocktails were delicious and refreshing especially for a summer evening (we had the Fresarita and the Flower in the Bramble). Squash blossoms were good but the bed of duck sugo under which they were served elevated them to crazy good and quite unique. The little gem salad with buttermilk dressing, lardons and avocados was cool, crisp and satisfying. Both the appetizer and salad are definitely large enough to share. For dinner we had the dry pack scallops and the capellini The capellini was tossed in pistachio pesto and topped with both shrimp and scallops. Angel hair pasta is my favorite and the capellini was pure heaven. The chef has been thoughtful enough to add donut holes to the menu since the 1 lb doughnut can be too much for an intimate party. Without room to spare we indulged anyway and had them with both crushed Oreos and crushed Heath bar--the perfect ending to a great meal. read more

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While in CLT, I was taken to Stoke. Great place with great food! There were three of us, so we ordered a few plates and shared. On our table is the shrimp and grits, pork shank, lamb Tagliatelle, Mac and cheese, and broccollini. Everything was delicious and my favorite was the lamb. The lamb was spicy but nothing that would have you saying it's too spicy, in my opinion. The pork shank was flavorful and tender, fall-off-the-bone tender (we lifted the bone right out.) Mac and cheese and broccollini were both on point. The desert (fried doughnuts with crushed oreo topping) satisfied my sweet tooth but I wouldn't order it again. Bottom line: I would return to/recommend this restaurant. read more

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This was my first time trying Stoke and I had a pretty good experience. It's located off the lobby in the Marriot Hotel in Uptown and there are plenty of parking decks around for parking as well as valet parking in front of the hotel. My friend and I each ordered a glass of rose and immediately we were told that the kitchen was short staffed that night, so it would take a bit longer than normal to get our food. We were fine with that, but we made sure to put our orders in right away. I ordered the 12 oz ribeye and my friend ordered the asian inspired pork shank. We got an order of Mac & cheese as a side and started with the grilled octopus appetizer. The octopus was delicous and cooked very well. It wasn't chewy but instead tender with great flavor. My steak wasn't very hot when it came out but it was still delicious! The star of the show was the pork shank. It was tender and delicious. The sauce was sweet and a bit salty. The Mac and cheese was a disappointment though and a bit dry. I wouldn't waste your money on that side. We ended up getting our entire meal comped besides our drinks because it took over an hour for our food to come out. We expected there to be a longer wait so we were fine with it, but our server and the manager insisted. I thought it was very thoughtful and great customer service. I will definitely be back to try other items on their menu as they change things up. I know a lot of restaurants in the area are hurting due to being short staffed due to covid and that had a lot to do with our experience. Hopefully people will start wanting to work in restaurants again and things will improve! read more

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My friends and I spent a few days in Charlotte for a much needed girls trip. We were sooooo excited that we planned a full itinerary so we could enjoy what Charlotte had to offer. First up on the itinerary was Stoke for dinner. We had read the reviews and decided to go for it. Stoke is located in the front of the Marriott hotel and was awkwardly placed almost Im the lobby. It was very pretty as the photos suggested and the kitchen open in the middle of the restaurant. We were seated instantly as we had a reservation. Once seated, our waitress came to take our orders. I'm guessing dent Covid, the menu was not very impressive. Two of us ordered the steak with Brussels and one ordered the scallops. I asked for my steak Medium Well and it came out medium RARE! Epic fail, the other steak came out RARE when she asked for Medium. Needless to say, that was the beginning of the disappointment for me. We both sent the steak back to be properly prepared and mine was still too rare for me to eat it. My friend's scallops were just okay. I had really high hopes for this place, but they disappointed this time. Our drinks were very good, the food was so-so at best. I would love to come back when we are out of the woods with Covid and give them another shot. I think they can do so much better than this! read more

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I don't normally order burgers out but the burger and rosemary fries were top tier!! My friends ordered shrimp and grits and they loved their dish as well!! The service was really good!! The staff was super nice and helpful!! It's such a cute restaurant!! Perfect for girls night!!! read more

Food was good. Service was slow, even with the restaurant half empty. No bloody marys available to go with brunch.

It pains me to rate this place three stars but hopefully my review will shed some light on the reasons why. Firstly our server neglected us so much we were put off from ordering more although it's not like there's much to choose from in the first place. My party witnessed other servers being more diligent about waiting their tables & that knocked them down their first star. The second demerit comes from the seating. Stoke is located in the lobby of the Marriot so as soon as you walk in it's a few paces back meaning every time someone came in, the doors would open & we would catch that draft something serious. The continuous breeze over the course of dinner was irritating as all get out for obvious reasons (it was 29° last night). As I looked around there were empty tables that could've better served or party of five for dinner. We did not need to be seated near the kitchen that was neither charming nor exciting. Had it not been for Queen's Feast I honestly don't see this as an establishment to come & eat if you're not staying at the hotel. If you have a picky eater in your party this is not the place to bring them. Their regular menu is incredibly underwhelming, if you're looking for a full meal you'll have to substitute in the extras but there's so few to choose from you might have a hard time which is why the Queen's Feast menu was the better menu to choose from (to me). Nobody was genuinely disappointed in their choices but we weren't overly excited either. The spiced carrot bisque deserves a spot on the regular menu (not sure if it already is because soups are served on a "of the day" basis & not listed out completely so it's a hit or miss). The crème brûlée cheesecake & donut holes were also good although the whipped butter was an unnecessary complement to the dish a strawberry drizzle or ganache dip would've been the better addition. Think adding butter to the donuts from your Chinese takeout . For my entree I got the coastal catch, the rice tasted great but the texture was off (I can't cook rice either so I know poorly made rice when I see it) & the grouper was excellently made but terribly bland, the rice tasted more like fish than the fish did. We opted in for the Brussels sprouts but we were dangerously underwhelmed by the taste & the way it was cooked it's almost like they were charred first & steamed later the way they melted in your mouth took me back to the days when Brussels had a bad name. Much to my chagrin the dish garnished raisins that we didn't know about & peanuts we had to ask from the get go not to be added they were poorly seasoned if at all you get so lost in the mush & the forced chew that it really isn't clear what you're tasting. My friend ordered the shrimp & grits & gave it a 6/10, and declined to comment further but I personally enjoyed the shrimp off his plate. The wild mushroom pappardelle was flavorful & the short ribs (not pictured) were tender enough to cut with a fork however the random piece bok choy took away from the presentation. I was told The Stubborn Burro was also good & reminiscent of a Moscow mule. All in all, the experience wasn't that great. The food was okay enough to eat, but I don't see myself being in a rush to come back or even recommend. I'm willing to give brunch a try but dinner is a no go for me until next restaurant week. read more

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Unmatched atmosphere! Especially if you are seated right at the kitchen entrance! A fancy little spot in the heart of Uptown Charlotte! The food was fantastic and the scenery was amazing! I can't wait to go back! read more

Stoke - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Stoke was amazing! We made Easter brunch reservations and were not disappointed. The staff was incredibly welcoming and delightful. The food was top notch (pimento cheese on the chicken and waffles - YUM!) The mimosas were huge and delicious. The open kitchen atmosphere was nice as well. It is located inside a hotel and there is free parking! Definitely worth the trip! read more

Stoke - Pancakes - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Amazing, super fresh, like from right of the garden salad. Serves is so friendly, laid back, and not pushy. Spacious floor, love on open view on the kitchen. read more

Stoke - 100 Garden salad - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We were extremely pleased with our dinner here. Exceeded expectations. Char Octopus what excellent, deviled eggs amazing, scallops awesome, NY Strip was ok (I'd probably try something else) and the brava fingerling potatoes were such a good accompaniment. Apple crumble for dessert. Excellent service. Overall a really great experience! read more

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Came here for Father's Day lunch. Made a reservation for a group of 5 for 1pm on OpenTable. We arrived about 10 minutes early, were greeted immediately, but was asked to wait for our table to be ready. The restaurant was busy, but not packed. The restaurant is located inside the Marriott. It's not that big, but there's plenty of seating. Parking is valet only, but the restaurant validates the parking. We were seated withing 5 minutes. Our server was Colby (I think?) and she was fantastic. She was friendly and attentive throughout the entire meal. We ordered: Garbage fries $9 Trout $18 Chicken BLT $10 Steak sandwich $10 The burger $12 Shrimp & Grits $18 1 lb donut We asked for the gravy on the side for the garbage fries, and we actually enjoyed it better without the gravy. We loved the size and crispiness of the fries. Our orders were cooked to our liking. We really enjoyed the flavors. The portions were great and prices were reasonable. My son loved his shrimp and grits. He devoured the shrimp in minutes. I only finished half of my steak sandwich and took the rest to go. It was delicious and very filling. My husband and mother had difficulty finishing their orders as well. My mother took half of her chicken BLT to go, too. The donut was amazing! Even with 5 people, we could not finish it. We definitely took the rest to go and ate it later that day for snack. Great experience and great meal. We will definitely return! read more

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Stoke is a swanky restaurant in the lovely Marriott City Center, serving up expertly crafted and large portion dishes. As with almost every dining experience in NC, be prepared to be amazed by their large selection of craft beers, specialty cocktails and wine. I got to sample their delicious Flower in the Bramble cocktail. Recommendations include the Sticky Pork Shank, Wagyu burger, and the Char Octopus. Finally, if you come here, you must meet "The Doughnut", a 1/2 lb doughnut stuffed with diplomat cream and covered in sugar and health bar crumble. This doughnut isn't a joke and either bring some friends or ask for a doggie bag. read more

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Great food, great service, nice wait staff. And that colossal donut is in the same zip code as heaven. read more

They were out of 3 of 5 GF options on the menu and had croutons on a GF salad. We had to ask the waitress questions about menu options and she didn't know the answer and didn't offer to find out. Deviled eggs and wagyu burger were good. Brussels sprouts weren't cooked, pretzel bread was burnt and Mac n cheese had very little cheese. read more

On Friday my husband and I got to dine at this cool spot in the Marriott. We got seated on the far side of the restaurant near the kitchen and the back where they took the dirty dishes. To start I didn't love the seating, but we ended up getting the tea on the restaurant since we were so close to the kitchen and staff. We had a good waiter named Rachel. To drink I got a flying fizz which was an excellent choice and I highly recommend. For dinner my husband and I both wanted the 12 oz NY strip. I have to say I am not a steak eater but the reviews of this steak looked so good I had to try it. The steak did not disappoint. Even my husband who is a "steak connoisseur" gave it an 8 out of 10. It was crisp on the outside like they cooked it in a cast iron and COVERED in caramelized onions which was so good! For our sides we got fire roasted carrots and Brussel sprouts. The carrots, were my favorite part of the meal! They were so sweet and good! The brussel sprouts however were very plain. read more

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I was really excited to try Stoke after seeing the reviews and pictures on Yelp. However, overall it was disappointing. Food-wise, I was most excited about the pork shank which looks amazing, but that's the peak of this dish. It's not tender at all and I honestly don't know how it lacks any flavor at all, it was so bland. Esquites was a great side, mac and cheese good and the chicken dish has more flavor, but on the dry side. Nothing special about the ambience, it's an open kitchen which is cool but overall felt like it doesn't really benefit the ambience here. Service was okay as well. Overall, I'd probably give Stoke 2.5 stars read more

Great welcome when we walked in and it was better from there The scallops were fresh perfectly cooked and presented beautifully- vibrant color and taste! NY strip didn't need a knife to cut. Grilled to perfection Dessert...hello S'mores done right!! Happy and full!!!! read more

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This restaurant is beautiful. Great decor and the staff was very friendly. When we arrived the restaurant was fairly empty so we were seated right away and it wasn't long after we sat down when our waitress Rachel came to take our drink order and go over the menu with us . The highlight of our night was meeting another Yelp Elite Jordan. We talked about traveling and food until her guest arrived. Rachel explained the menu in detail so we could make the best choice for our entrees. For how expensive the entrees were they should have come with at least one side. I really enjoyed sitting close to the open kitchen and watching them cook and plate the food. The drink I had was really good with unique taste. I love spicy drinks and I would give it a 6 on the spice level. I can say that I really enjoyed the food it was seasoned well and was fresh. I would definitely come back. read more

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Came here for dinner on a Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed. It is located inside of the Charlotte Marriott City Center and they valet your car for free, just have to show receipt at the end (we weren't asked to show it but had it just in case). But free parking is a win for any Uptown restaurant! The atmosphere is really nice, it says casual but at night it's kind of dimly lit so definitely can dress up if you wanted and can be a romantic date night vibe or a fun girls night vibe. Either way you can't go wrong! The drinks were delicious! From the menu we had the Flower in the Bramble and Fresarita (forgot to take pics) after that I ordered my go to NY Sour, the waitress called it a Manhattan Sour but tasted the same to me and it was so good! Now for the food we started off with the Skillet Corn Cake which was really good, the right amount of sweet and salty. As well as the Pork Belly which was cooked perfectly and flavorful, I would come but for just that and my drink! For entrees I went with the Coastal Catch, the fish was halibut so good! And it comes on a huge bed of rice so I was glad I didn't order an additional side because I wouldn't have needed it. He ordered the Wagyu Burger and said it was cooked perfect and he enjoyed it. We definitely be back and can't wait to check out their brunch! read more

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Totally surprised how mediocre the food was! Sticky shank wasn't good so not go here!

The food was fantastic and the scenery was amazing! We shared everything and enjoyed everything but we collectively agreed the smoked pork belly was the best dish of the night. The vibe is relaxed even though it's a very nice restaurant. It's not stuffy at all. I can't wait to go back! read more

What a nice little eatery in the hotel lobby of the Marriott in City Center of Charlotte, NC. Coming from San Diego, CA, I honestly wasn't sure what types of adjustments I'd have to make in order to understand businesses in these parts. Granted, it's inside a hotel, so the standards need to be at least at par with the hotel itself. It had the whole open-view concept. You could see the place from the lobby, and you could see inside the kitchen from the dining area. It looked very elegant, yet casual enough to feel absolutely comfortable. Food was well-made. The omelette was delicious, but the two things that ended up unexpectedly stealing the show were the oatmeal and the butter. The oatmeal had to have been slow-cooked over a certain period of time because it was so soft and not what I expected at all. I'm glad I was able to have the appetite for it. And the butter was so good. It was soft from probably being freshly-whipped, and it had a very sweet flavor to it that made me want to use more of it. Server was not only helpful, but also a riot. She had very good recommendations from the menu as well as affirming reactions to our official choices. It made me believe that there was not going to be a bad choice no matter what we decided to order. On top of all that, she was funny, witty, and engaging. The rest of the staff was great too. Parking: Since we did not drive during our whole time here, I honestly cannot speak on this aspect. The streets tend to be narrow in this area, and I did not notice much street parking at all. FYI: - Open to all who can venture here. You do not need to be a guest at the hotel to dine here. - They can accommodate for large parties. read more

Pretty great for a restaurant in a hotel! The menu was small but everything in the group liked their meals. The small menu was, in fairness, the brunch menu still but it was around 2 and some more options (especially gluten free) would have been great. Overall, the ambiance was cozy and friendly the food was pretty good. I'll try to make it back for dinner and see what's going on and update if I do! read more

Stoke - Dining bar area - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

One of the best bar restaurants inside a hotel that we've visited in a while! Great atmosphere, classy and casual. Good service and friendly staff. Nice array of food options. Scallops were on point! They had a smoky flavor that balanced it out nicely. We were staying at the Charlotte Marriott Center and Stokes was definitely a bonus for us to get some great food/drinks in our own hotel. I enjoyed the BLOOD ORANGERITA; pretty drink and definitely great for an evening wind down. read more

Stoke - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Charlotte should feel super lucky and excited that Stoke is here. Located literally, directly in the heart of the city in the Marriott, this restaurant and chef really highlights farm-to-table, seasonal cooking. I was happy to be in a large group and we ate at the chef's table. It was a smattering of tastings all built around the restaurant's wood-burning oven. Chef Chris was more than happy to have us and share his food and the stories behind the dishes he served us. The plates just kept coming and it was definitely a real treat We started with a salad, with embered eggs, avocado, frisee. Then onto the deviled eggs w/crispy chicken skin, pretzel brioche with 3 different butter spreads. Then the proteins started coming out and honestly I know this was a couple months ago, but I had this "black-out, food coma feeling". The plates just kept coming and I just kept eating. The pork shank was amazing, chicken (bone in) with cheerwine sauce (how much more local could you ask for?). Probably my favorite was a side: the BBQ carrots with carrot top pesto. There was a beet salad as well as a bunnernut squash side that was pretty amazing. Just when we could not have fit any more food into ourselves.... came the DONUT. Luckily we were a large table and we were able to finish it off, but we did eye a couple in a table nearby that ordered it for themselves! I didn't keep track, but I didn't see a take-out box with them later in the meal (no judgement zone though!). Overall a great dining experience here at Stoke... I do want to keep this to myself, but everyone should really take advantage of this great restaurant in Charlotte. A great addition to the many great eats this city has to offer. read more

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On July 26 my friend and I ordered from the Queen's Feast menu. For $45 you selected an appetizer, entree, and dessert. My heirloom tomato salad lacked flavor and was missing the goat cheese snow from the description. The shrimp with pasta and corn sauce also lacked any flavor. The chef needs a heavier hand with salt. There were only 6 small shrimp with no seasoning. For dessert I was supposed to get half a donut with diplomat cream and toffee. The server said they were out, but to please accept a replacement which was a ridiculous oversized donut of the same description. It was about 10 inches in diameter and 4 inches tall! I was only able to eat 4 bites and they were scrumptious. The servers were all very friendly and met all of our needs. The atmosphere was fresh and clean. read more

Stoke - Donut - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Interesting layout where the kitchen is completely visible to all. It adds to the overall experience and ambience on one's visit. First visit I was pleasantly surprised and now I go just because of its uniqueness. Menu has been kept simple which I'm sure is purposeful and for which I'm grateful. The food is well priced and taste. I recommend the BBQ dipped chicken sandwich however have the sauce on the side so you can dip to your likeness. Chef can get carried away at times lol read more

Stoke - Open kitchen - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Prob worth 3.5 stars. It was good but not the hype I had heard. I also found out after the group and I ate there that they just recently had a C (70s) sanitation score...but it was corrected/higher when we ate there. Still...what on earth did they do to get a low score like that? Gross. Shared some apps - pretzel bread was delicious with the diff types of butter. Wish I had more of it! Salad was unique, flavorful and colorful. I enjoyed it. The menu wasnt that impressive. The problem was we waited entirely too long for our food. The waitress knew we had a show to go to and we were there for over two hours, causing us to be late to show. If they served us in decent time, we would have all gotten dessert too but we missed out on that. If you go, just know you will be there for a long dining experience. read more

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Came here twice during my recent trip to Charlotte since I was staying at the Mariott and had a great experience both times! The restaurant is pretty spacious and located in the lobby of the hotel, with a bar area as well as a main dining area. The food/drinks and service were great, and the ambiance is upscale but still relaxed, which I was super into. I tried a few of their cocktails, all of which were tasty and unique. The pretzel brioche with whipped butters was delicious and the scallops were also amazing (and huge!!). The Brussel sprouts were pretty good as well. Overall, I would recommend Stoke to anyone in the Charlotte area. While the menu is definitely on the pricier side, I thought it was worth the money! read more

Stoke - Scallops - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The pimento cheese fries were so good! We grabbed brunch here and the food was good! The menu is smaller and not much for the brunch menu but the food was amazing! Service was amazing! read more

Stoke - garbage fries - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I've been here a few times for dinner and had a great experience, however I went for brunch recently and honestly was extremely disappointing. First, there either isn't a drink menu or we weren't offered one. Made it difficult to know how expensive anything was. I ordered the avocado toast with over medium eggs and was severely disappointed. First my over medium eggs were overcooked to over hard eggs, which I'm just not a huge fan of and then the avocado toast was simply sliced avocado on toast. Nothing else, no lime juice, salt anything that could be considered seasoning. Also I have allergies and I had to ask the kitchen to change their gloves because either my waitress didn't say anything, or the chef disregarded my allergies. It's an open kitchen so I was watching them handle things I was allergic to and then get to my food Lastly service wasn't great this time around. Overall just had to wait for our waitress from everything from water, to ordering, to our check. The setting here is really nice and I've definitely enjoyed the two dinners I've had here. Would come back just not for brunch read more

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There's a right way and a wrong way for businesses to do Restaurant Week in Charlotte. I think most Charlotteans that keep their finger on the pulse of the local restaurant scene know exactly what I'm talking about. Far too often I've given a place a chance only to find that their food isn't up to par, portions are scaled back way too much, or the business simply can't handle the influx of customers. The folks at Stoke should be the model that every other restaurant strives to be for Queen's Feast! Reservations for 6:45, we arrive at 6:35 and are seated immediately. To my surprise, we are seated just steps away from the open kitchen. All night long we are able to watch Chef Chris Coleman plate some stellar looking food with such precision all the while making sure every dish was perfectly presented. Our waiter (also named Chris) was friendly and took the time to explain both menus being served that night and suggested some beers for us. The food wasn't the only thing that was amazing looking. The entire restaurant is what I would call "rustic-modern" with a warm, spacious floor plan. I'm not sure which one steals the show more, the massive bar or the open kitchen! My first visit left me wanting to come back equally for the food and the atmosphere. On to Dinner and my girlfriend and I chose three courses exclusively from the Restaurant Week menu. Another note on their menu for this event: They have a lot more options than most restaurants usually offer. 8 Appetizers, 6 Entrees, and 4 Desserts. Since me and Kristen split most of the plates, I'll list 'em all from first to last bite. Mom's Deviled Eggs: These are perfect little bites of flavor explosion. Seasoning was spot on, not everything has to be overbearingly salty, spicy, or tangy, which is what you normally encounter with deviled eggs. Topped with butter pickles and aleppo chile, it was the perfect amount of sour and heat. While regular red chile is a one-hit wonder, aleppo dials the heat down a bit with subtle southwest hints of fruit and spice. F&S Hushpuppies: These have utterly destroyed hushpuppies for me. Never again will I be able to go to your average greasy spoon and order 'em, they won't stand a chance. Fried to perfection, which I would call a couple of seconds beyond golden brown, and served with simple honey and butter. The seasoning, the butter, the honey, it was just amazing. What really made it sing? Order a Birdsong Jalapeno Pale Ale and enjoy plate of these with it. You'll thank me later. BBQ Half Spring Chicken: This was my girlfriend's entree as the fettuccine & shrimp she was eyeing had pine nuts in it, and unfortunately she's allergic. Regardless, I saw no sign of regret as she rolled her sleeves up and devoured the chicken with her hands! I mean, really, there's no better way to mow down a bone-in bird. Again, a real simple dish but the execution on these simple ingredients are so carefully crafted they simply shine. Red grits were wholesome, thick, and delicious. Sticky Pork Belly: When this plate first came out I was a little disappointed in the portion size. That soon changed when I realized how much flavor this piece of pork was packing. After the first bite I stared to cut my pork into tiny pieces just to savor it for a bit longer. The seared glaze on top gave the dish an amazing crunch with a hearty texture underneath in every bite. The squash and 'quick' pickles paired so well with this dish. BONUS Dish - Charred Octopus: So hats off to Chef Chris, he sent our table a small plate of the charred octopus. I got to admit, octopus is something I probably wouldn't have voluntarily ordered but I'm so glad I was able to try it here. The char gave the edges of the octopus this perfect crunchy texture and it almost reminded me of a more toothsome version of lobster. Paired with fingerling potatoes, spicy chorizo and aioli, it all came together to make one of the best small plates I've had in uptown. "The Doughnut" (Holes): I think this is the perfect way to enjoy a single serving of what is probably Stoke's most famous "Instagram-worthy" dish. I can't tell you what's better, the doughnut itself or the Diplomat Cream it's served with. Warm perfect texture with a crisp exterior, sweet and complex diplomat cream that has just the right amount of richness, and the Heath crumbles on top just nail all the criteria for a slam dunk dessert. Chef Chris and his team are doing amazing things here. Now two visits in, I can honestly say I haven't had a single disappointing or even average dish. This dinner just had me blown away with the thoughtful combinations, every flavor worked so well with each other. Next time I'd probably request the kitchen to just surprise me, bring me what they like, it'd be a first! Thanks to everyone at Stoke for such an amazing evening. This was just one night ago and I'm already wanting to come back. 'Nuff Said read more

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Excellent food and drinks. Expensive but we did expect that. That's why it lost a star. Still recommend.