My first time visiting NC, and I must say, this is by far the best restaurant I've yet to find. I…read morehad the smash burger, truffle fries, and a Joyride IPA. As a burger connoisseur I was very impressed at how fast they produced such a good meal, it was juicy, perfectly balanced flavor-wise, and is a nice high-end take on a traditional American meal (4.4/5). The truffle fries- I've never lacked the urge to order a side of ranch in my life, until now. Crispy outside, buttery inside, excellent ketchup to match (4.6/5). The Joyride- that first sip was one I'll tell to my grandchildren. For a west coast IPA (as a west coaster myself I have rather high standard), it was also phenomenal. Not too hoppy, light in color not flavor, and an almost smoky background. It was refreshing both physically, emotionally, and spiritually (4.7/5). Service was also fantastic, and the sour beer samples I had did not disappoint. These scores are all very high in my book, so anything less than 5 stars overall feels like a crime.

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!

We've had a great experience at QC. We got in just before the crush came. It was a big football…read moreweekend. But bartenders were friendly and made very good drinks. The pour house is large inside. We waited a few minutes for a table to open up, but sitting here in the thick of it, people are just everywhere. We ordered food at the bar and surprisingly, the food was great. Way above average bar food. Highly recommend!!

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).

300 East is this American restaurant in this quaint and old house. There is parking in the back and…read morethere are two levels inside along with an outdoor space for seating. It can feel tight in there, but it does give very much cozy and autumnal vibes. As for the service, our waiter was very friendly and attentive! I got the Breakfast Pizza and the Matilda Wong. So the Matilda Wong is a popular cocktail at the restaurant, in part because it comes in a pitcher, which is not huge but the drink can definitely shared by two people. It tasted really good honestly, with various fruity hints. I felt a slight buzz after sipping on it for a bit. The Breakfast Pizza was super good! I ate the entire piece on my own, but I probably could have split it with my friend. The fried egg, chorizo, and the queso fresco were amazing toppings on the pizza. I wanted to try the famous Baked French Onion Soup, but it was not available for brunch. This is a really good place for American food that has a slight mix of global flavors. The ambiance was nice and the food was tasty. I would definitely come back, maybe for dinner next time.

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

Heading across town for my grandson's baseball game so just had to swing by Pinky's for dinner. As…read moregood as always. I love the vibe and food. We ordered the grilled salmon tacos with a side of beans. Excellent. Only criticism is the chef over-sauced the tacos which distracted from the salmon and other ingredients. The corn taco was exceptional. Support local. Go here.

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 !

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!

Skirt Steak Chimi (3/5): The steak was just ok on its own, but much better when eaten with the…read morefries. Confusion Trio Dips (3/5): Some good, some bad. The salsa had a nice blended texture with good flavor and a little bit of sweetness. It needed some heat though. The queso was bad. It reminded me of the cheese in those breadstick cheese snacks for kids. The plaintain chips felt almost stale and had no crunchiness/crispiness, but at least the flavor was good. 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)

I stopped in for a late dinner and ate at the bar. I started with a pint of the $4 Thursday special…read moreUncle Slams Lager. For dinner, I ordered the pulled pork combo and had my two usual sides when at a BBQ place: Mac n Cheese and BBQ baked beans. The large combo was just about $2 more than the regular sized one and was enough for 2 meals yet I managed to eat it all in one sitting. Hmm, imagine that. The pulled pork was plentiful and delicious and served with no sauce. This was perfect so one could choose how to have it. There's 4 sauces on the counter to try including Carolina specialties. It was was nice to try a variety. The BBQ baked beans were prepared with the North Carolina vinegar based sauce which is surprisingly tasty. I enjoyed this side. For the pork, I loved both of the Carolina sauces on it as well as plain. The Mac n Cheese was also good as the texture was just like I make in a casserole style and very tasty and complemented the rest of the meal very well. While at the bar I watched the Thursday Night Football game between the Steelers and the Browns (Browns won!) during my solo visit. I found there's a few of these Mac's Speed Shops around so it's nice to have location options when in Charlotte and it is a great value. If ever in this area, I'll look them up again.

Cold bbq? Attitude? GTFO impressions? No one's got time for that…read more Restaurants are so expensive nowadays, you really should pick somewhere great. This isn't one of them anymore in my opinion. I think they used to be good, the food is still pretty good if you don't mind it arriving cold... but we think the service is absolutely abhorrent, especially after our experience. Husband and I recently visited for a late lunch/early dinner, and came here because we normally love their food. We ordered the pulled pork and hush puppies. They forgot the hush puppies, and the pulled pork arrived cold - I'm talking the sides were warmer than the pulled pork cold, must've been in the fridge or something? Then the service. Ohhhh the service. Lady was acting SO pushy for us to leave. The food took forever to arrive, and when it did and we were only about 1/4 of the way through it, she asked if we wanted boxes. We said no, we're still eating. When we asked for her to check on the hush puppies, she was real dramatic about it and did manage to get those to us hot, AFTER the pulled pork arrived. Then she gave us the receipt without any tray or any indicator that we were to give payment to her, so we though Oh, this must've turned into one of those fast casual places and we pay at the counter. She kept hovering and hovering and taking our plates the MOMENT that she could - which in etiquette really implies gtfo, finish eating and go. When we were done and went to go pay, she barked at us and said something along the lines of "No, you pay ME. That's why I've been around so much!" and flounced off. Wow. Never eating here again. Maybe takeout at best, but absolutely not sitting in for that kind of "service." So sad because we watched this place when it was built. We still remember when we rolled up in our motorcycle, and the owner was handing out wine glasses on Opening Day. Heck, we were there during our wedding anniversary we liked it so much. Now I really think it's turned into something resembling trash.

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

After a chilly, windy October 17 Ed Sheeran concert, Culinary Dropout was a welcome place to warm…read moreup and grab a bite before our 90-minute drive home. As walk-ins near kitchen closing, we were quoted a 20-30-minute wait, but luckily found seats at the bar. The space is huge, though several seating sections were closed, and the late-night atmosphere leaned more toward a lively bar than a quiet dinner. The three bartenders were busy but friendly, approachable, and accommodating. We especially enjoyed chatting with the bartender from Watertown, NY, since we also have ties to the area. The noise made dining less comfortable, but the energy was contagious. The drinks were very good, and the menu offered more variety than we're used to in Winston-Salem--a cosmopolitan feel that reminded me of NYC. With the kitchen closing soon, we ordered the French onion soup and pretzel bites with provolone fondue. The soup tasted more like a Creole-inspired chicken soup to me, although our server confirmed it was French onion. It was warming and flavorful, but overly salty. I liked the pretzel bites' texture, somewhere between a pretzel and a bun, though I would have preferred them more baked and slightly saltier. The provolone fondue was mild for my taste; I'd prefer a sharper cheese. My girlfriend, however, enjoyed the combination. I loved the spacious, upscale urban setting, with indoor and outdoor seating and space for music and entertainment. I'd return earlier in the evening for a more dining-focused experience and a chance to explore the menu. The service and atmosphere give me plenty of reasons to try it again.

A-mazing! Food, service...very welcoming and accommodating. They even have meals for your dog ( at…read more5.99 a deal for having your dog dine with you!). We both had burgers ( a rare treat for us), and they were amazing! Half price wine on Fridays? No way! Just go.

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!

DRT is easily one of my favorite wine bars in Charlotte, and for several reasons. It has exactly…read morethe atmosphere and vibe you want when going out for wine, but what really sets it apart is its culture, authenticity, and uniqueness. It's an experience you simply won't find anywhere else in the city. If you've looked through their wine list or attended one of their wine dinners, you may have noticed their selection of Croatian wines without necessarily thinking much of it. But having actually traveled to Croatia, experienced the wine culture firsthand, and come back with a much greater appreciation for the region, I can tell you that you're missing out if you overlook these wines. In particular, Plavac Mali and Dingač are something special. If you're a fan of Italian reds, especially Amarone, Dingač is absolutely worth exploring. It offers a similarly bold, concentrated, full-bodied experience, but with its own distinct Croatian character. What makes DRT even more special is that the owners are Croatian, so this isn't just another wine bar throwing a few international bottles on the menu for the sake of variety. There's genuine cultural connection and authenticity behind the selection. In fact, DRT is the only wine bar in Charlotte that I've personally come across offering these Croatian wines by both the glass and the bottle. That alone makes it stand out. Charlotte has plenty of places to grab a glass of wine, but finding somewhere that offers this kind of cultural experience, unique selection, and atmosphere is a completely different story. If you appreciate wine, enjoy discovering something beyond the usual Italian and French selections, or simply want to experience something genuinely different, DRT is a hidden gem worth discovering.

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!

We went to Triple C's Barrel Room to attend a wine tasting comedy show, Idiots guide to wine! I had…read morebought the tickets for my wife for her birthday having never attended a wine event at brewery, never mind that there was comedian making everyone laugh and learn. The staff was very welcoming and took escorted us directly to our seats. We had opted for the the front, which was actually a table but who cared. We actually enjoyed it more as we were able to meet the other people at the table. Prior to the show we started out with cocktails as neither my wife nor I are beer drinkers. They had a surprisingly robust bourbon selection and the bar tenders worked quickly to serve the inrush of people prior to the show starting. Great place. I hope they continue to host more fun events like the comedy show.

Came here as the second stop of an afternoon brewery crawl. I really enjoyed the Scout Helles…read morelager that I had. Service was friendly and the sun-filled seating area was the perfect spot to relax with friends on a chilly day. They also have an AMAZING Rush-themed pinball game. You can change the songs that it plays so it took me back to sitting in my basement in the early 80's listening to "Limelight", "Tom Sawyer" and "Spirit of Radio". This is right by the New Bern station off the light rail so you can easily get here without driving.