As a girl born in Texas, a really good chicken fried steak is practically part of my DNA. It's one of those comfort foods I don't eat often because it's so rich--but when I see it on a menu, it absolutely catches my attention. That's exactly what drew me to The Southern Pecan in SouthPark. Here in the South, they call it country fried steak, and I'm happy to report this one did not disappoint. I met a colleague there for lunch, and everything about the experience felt easy from the start. The restaurant is located in Phillips Place, a lovely little shopping area that feels a bit polished and upscale--with shops like Orvis, Tory Burch, and even a Restoration Hardware restaurant nearby. They do offer valet parking, which is a nice touch, though honestly parking is easy enough on your own. We had reservations through OpenTable and were seated on the patio, which was absolutely delightful for this time of year in Charlotte. The weather was perfect, the setting was relaxed, and the service started off warm and welcoming right away. Now, the food. The country fried steak was beautifully cooked--crispy on the outside, tender inside, and served with creamy mashed potatoes and gravy that hit all the nostalgic notes from my Texas upbringing. I paired it with a vegetable side (I believe it was broccoli or corn), and it was a classic Southern plate done right. We also enjoyed a couple of cocktails, and to finish, we split a praline bread pudding, which felt like the perfect Southern ending to the meal--sweet, comforting, and indulgent without being overwhelming. The staff was friendly and attentive, and one of the things I continue to appreciate about Charlotte is how easy it is to connect with people. We even chatted with diners at nearby tables, which added to that welcoming, community feel that makes dining out here so enjoyable--especially for someone coming from the Bay Area. Prices felt fair for the quality, the setting, and the portion sizes, and overall the experience left a great impression. Bottom line: If you're craving a solid Southern classic like country fried steak--or just want a relaxed patio lunch in a charming part of SouthPark--The Southern Pecan is definitely worth a visit. And as someone happily eating my way through Charlotte and the Southeast, this stop was another reminder that the journey has been a delicious one. read more

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I've heard rave reviews about this place so Michelle & I went for Sunday Brunch. They recommended a reservation so we had one @ 12n. It was already quite busy when we arrived and it's not clear where your parking options are. People are pulling up to the entrance and dropping people off so it gets jammed up and chaotic, of course people are running late so those BIG Yukons and Suburbans are making it a challenge to navigate a small entrance area. You would THINK they would at least have a Valet option of Sat/Sun during Brunch. To park, go BEHIND the restaurant on the street to the left and you'll see some free parking options that are close and walkable. We asked for a table on the patio and were immediately seated. The bar was already buzzing with solo diners enjoying their Mimosas. The patio is NOT that big, a little over crowded and table are very close with not much space in between. There was a LARGE group of 'FUN' ladies right beside us enjoying their MIMOSAS, dropping the 'F' bomb from time to time and making a LOT of noise. What can you do? Nothing but try to make the best of it and just start talking LOUDER like everyone else. The OVERHEAD heaters were way too intense so the Staff was very responsive at our request to turn down the heat. We shared the BBQ Shrimp Starter which was SO good, I highly recommend. I had the Gumbo and Michelle had the beet and goat cheese salad. We both had the Red Fish which comes with smashed potatoes and broccoli. The potatoes were so BLAND, the broccoli had NO seasoning. The Red Fish wasn't that great of a flavor and not very tender, not easy to cut, had to use my knife at times to get a bite. Kinda disappointed, I lived in N Orleans for a couple of years and it was always so good there. The biggest disappointment was the Gumbo. It had all the right ingredients but the ROUX was to strong, dark and heavy. It actually gave me indigestion afterwards. The service was OUTSTANDING. Our Server was Daylean, she was so nice and helpful with the menu and kept our refills coming. read more

The Southern Pecan - Red fish, aka Atlantic Salmon - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Was excited to try here for Saturday lunch since lots of the locals raved about this place. Overall food was okay but service could be improved. Our server Wes was friendly but overwhelmed with too many tables so he was busy running around. Cocktails took a long time to come out, even arrived after our appetizer--second round of drinks took a while too. Started off with the Roasted Poblano Pimento Cheese. Shrimp & Grits was delicious, well flavored, and Pecan Fried Catfish was tasty but lacked the cilantro-lime butter so we had to ask for more. Most disappointing dish was the Jambalaya--looked quite appetizing but was super bland, had no bold, smoky or savory flavor to it at all. Sides of Brick Oven Mac & Cheese and Brick Oven Beets were good. read more

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Waited to be seated for at least 10 min. There was nobody at the Hostess Stand at lunch time 12:48 pm. Servers walked past us but never acknowledged us. We told the Server we were in a hurry but the pace of the restaurant is slower than a sloth. We ordered drinks that came after our app. Drinks (mango mojito) were good but pimento cheese app was definitely not pimento cheese although the bread was fresh and served warm. The oyster po' boy was cooked perfectly, the salad & soup combo were good. The restaurant was not busy but a couple birthday parties made it a little lively. After bringing our check the Server never returned to check on us or ask if we needed anything knowing one individual was staying to finish their meal. Disappointed on the long wait and slow pace. read more

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I was staying at the Hilton right next door. So decide to walk over for dinner. I am very glad I did because I had an amazing meal. I was kind of early. So, I may have been the first seated tonight. The staff was friendly and I had a drink almost instantly (Negroni). I ordered a half house salad to start - which was nice, and then the masterpiece, Jambalaya. I make a great Jambalaya, but this one was even better. The flavors were intense, spicy, fresh ingredients. Crawfish, shrimp, sausage. I was in heaven. A piece of cornbread on the side. A nice glass of wine (Juggernaut Cab also amazing). Finished the meal with a cappuccino. I loved my meal and will do it again. It's plenty of food. I finished it, but could have shared with my wife had she been with me. read more

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This is a restaurant specializing in Southern-American foods...so I thought my husband would love it. It was ideally located at Phillips Place with easy parking...and we slid into our booth (VERY comfy, must say!) right away. The place was much more casual than I had thought...and it featured a huge, round bar area, which dominated the restaurant. Still, it had a very comfy, inviting vibe...with a definitive rustic vibe. I decided to try their Fried Catfish...and my husband tried their Brick Oven Rotisserie Chicken. We also shared a French Onion Soup. For drinks, I tried this Coconut flavored Mojito (forgot the exact name), and it was stellar...and SO strong! First of all, I loved the complimentary corn bread....possibly the best corn bread I've ever had. I normally don't like corn breads at all, but this was truly delish. The French Onion was also really good...but the presentation was terrible, and the cheese was somewhat hard to scoop up. I love it when they layer the cheese over the bowl or cup, in a puff pastry format. Nothing like that here....but again, the flavor was good. Now there were parts that really weren't good. We couldn't tell if it was the fault of the waiter or the chef, but our entrees took forever to be delivered...and when it did (after my husband having to flag down our fairly aloof waiter), my husband's dish wasn't even warm. Mine was barely warm. I actually thought my dish was really good... Loved the fish, and the mashed potatoes and green beans were cooked perfectly. If only a bit warmer? My husband wasn't that thrilled with his cooled dish. Also, he didn't get the sides that he requested (?!?)...but he didn't bother tagging the waiter for this. Also, I thought they dropped the ball on the theme of the restaurant. While its foods were American-Southern, the theme was all over the place. For one, I had a picture of Bob Dylan over my head (??). Also, at one point, they played Sade on their overhead system. I love Sade, but she is clearly not Southern. So yeah, as much as I liked the cozy ambiance, the theme was all off. Overall, it's a shame that the service-speed of food delivery was so bad. I would have rated this place 4 or 5 stars based on the food (and I'm not even a fan of Southern-American foods!), but several things were off. For one, the slow, cooled delivery of foods. Also, our waiter never apologized, or gave any explanation for the delay. I did feel that maybe they were understaffed for the night. I only saw maybe 2 waiters roaming around...on a Saturday night?? Also again, I feel they needed to work on a more consistent motif-theme of this restaurant. It all kinda felt random. Things were just NOT on point on this night...so 3 stars is the best I can do. I'm definitely willing to give this place another shot...and hoping the cold dishes (slow delivery) were a fluke, and not the norm? read more

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When I found this restaurant on Yelp, it felt familiar to me. We arrived for brunch and I started with a well-prepared Old Fashioned-type drink, the Southern Sipper. I enjoyed it (5/5)! I ate the cornbread served before lunch as I had not had breakfast (3/5). For my entree, I had to try the Pecan Crusted Catfish. I thought I would have received two pieces but that was not the case. However, it did not disappoint (5/5)! My sides were mashed potatoes (4/5) and sweet potatoes (5/5)! I mistakenly ordered two potatoes; I enjoyed all of the sweet potato hash (5/5). They were not overly sweetened and very satisfying. I tasted the mashed potatoes (5/5). Overall, brunch was excellent. Parking was not an issue. The restaurant was pretty well filled when we left after a great meal and full tummies. read more

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Located in SouthPark in Charlotte this is a very popular spot. They have free valet service and the staff are excellent! They offer great recommendations and are very friendly and attentive. The food options are excellent and taste of the Mississippi Delta. I highly recommend this spot and will diner here again and again. read more

Sitting in this booth, with our bellies stuffed, grateful for such wonderful places to eat as this. Super friendly staff, relaxing but upbeat atmosphere. The food is amazing. Huge catfish fan and the pecan crusted catfish did not disappoint! Very light, crispy and delicious flavor. My wife got the blackened red fish and it was such as delicious. Overall a great experience and would highly recommend it if you're not from here and looking for great food!! read more

The Southern Pecan - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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We had a large group for dinner last night while in town. Many of us ordered pecan crusted catfish, two ordered salmon, one ordered country fried steak, and another ordered the burger. We all enjoyed our food, though only one person initially received the lemon citrus sauce for the catfish. The country fried steak was missing the sides initially. It took a while to get the bread before the meals arrived. Some meals took longer to come out than others. They were busy and we were a large group but someone has to check the food before it comes out. Nonetheless, we enjoyed ourself and would come again. read more

The Southern Pecan - Pecan crusted cat fish - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I had a solid dining experience here for breakfast. The service was friendly and efficient. The decor is cozy yet spacious, and the ladies bathroom was very cute. I ordered basic breakfast items, which was average, so I would have to come back to try something more involved to really comment on the flavors. The greens were good and vinegary if that your preference---and the pancakes were solid (thin, but decent). They also have maple syrup which elevates the flavor over regular syrup. One downside is there are no turkey products on the menu for breakfast. The complimentary cornbread was a nice touch, but it wasn't the best. Overall, I would return again to try dinner. read more

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We walked into a comfortable, upscale restaurant with a welcoming team. Each person provided genuine help and offered great smiles. I ordered the short ribs, which were beyond amazing. The flavor of the gravy was rich, the potatoes soft, and the carrots super tender. And the meat was the definition of melt-in-your-mouth! Most importantly, the sweet tea was made correctly, not fake like in so many places. I would come back in a heartbeat! read more

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My friends and I stopped by last Saturday, and the experience was exceptional from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, Michelle, the host, greeted us warmly, stayed organized, and made sure we were comfortable. She even checked back in later to ensure everything went well--very professional and cordial. Our waitress, Caasi, was amazing--full of personality, knowledgeable, and great with suggestions. She was patient, courteous, and attentive throughout the entire visit. Other staff members also stood out by simply smiling and greeting us, which added to the overall atmosphere. Overall, it was a terrific experience. I'd highly recommend giving them a try--we'll definitely be back soon. read more

Checked out the Southern Pecan last night with some friends. The menu is filled with so many delicious options. Our server, Kat, was so knowledgeable and helped us navigate through the various options. Some of the best service I have experienced at a restaurant recently. For our appetizer we shared the deviled eggs along with the complimentary corn bread. We all chose different entrees so we could sample each other's choices. Everything was perfectly prepared and beyond our expectations. I chose the Southern Fried Steak. It was served with mashed potatoes and fresh green beans. The steak was thin and not over breaded, making the dish light tasting. Not pictured-Pecan Catfish and Shrimp and Grits. I don't usually care for fish, but the catfish was delicious! We also liked the sauce on the shrimp and grits! Definitely give them a try! read more

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Drinks were strong as hell , but gumbo was great and so is their salads! Excellent service. I would go here on any occasion if I lived near to it . read more

Casual with a touch of class! Sat at the bar and the bar staff was excellent. I got a gimlet that was amazing. For dinner I had the southern fried steak and a glass of red. I would have liked there to have been more crisp and crunch with the batter but I cleared my plate. For dessert I had the peach cobbler. I will be back to try the shrimp and grits! read more

The Southern Pecan - southern fried steak - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This was our first time at Southern Pecan. We were sat in a booth near the bar within view of 3 tvs showing college fb games. The restaurant has high ceilings with upscale decor. Ricky was our server and he did a great job. He made good app and entree suggestions most of which we ordered. We ordered his favorite appetizer, BBQ Shrimp that came in a tasty sauce that we soaked up with the bread and cornbread. Krissy ordered a Caesar salad and I got their carpaccio soup special for our next course. We both ordered seafood for our entree; Krissy ordered the fried catfish with pecan cream sauce. With the mashed potatoes and green beans the fried catfish and sauce was like comfort food. That was a tasty choice. I ordered the red fish with sauce mash potatoes and broccoli. After this three course meal we were stuffed and content. Southern Pecan was add to our CLT Favs collection after this meal. I highly recommend SP for anyone in the South Park Area! Cheers! read more

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Whenever my family visits from out of town, this is where we go for breakfast. We can never get enough of the short rib hash. (Minor thing to note hours online and reservation system allows you to make a 10am reservation but the vinyl on the windows say 11am. They do open at 10am on Sundays) read more

First time visiting The Southern Pecan for brunch. I was very happy I decided to go. Great selection of menu options, from traditional breakfast items to more Louisiana style entrées. I tried the shrimp and grits and saying it was amazing doesn't do it justice. The hush puppies were also really good and brunch was not complete without a cocktail, so I had their coconut mango Mojito, which was delicious. I will absolutely be back. read more

Nothing on the menu will ever disappoint. It's right on the money. They're doing what they need to do in the kitchen. It's so good. This visit I got the chicken with potatoes and a side of veggies and along with a pineapple Mojito. I love the staff here and the environment is great. I generally come here on Sunday after church so seating has never been an issue. It's a great spot to watch a game whether with a crowd or solo - there's such a great crowd here that you are bound to make friends. I've actually been here for quite a few celebrations as well, which they have amazing space for it so I highly recommend for celebrations or if you're looking a delicious comfort meal or drinks. read more

The Southern Pecan - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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We went for mother's Day brunch, they had just opened when we sat down. The service wasn't awful but definitely not great. The food however was terrible. I got the short rib hash, all fat, no meat, the pepper were undercooked, the potatoes had massive black spots of them. Husband got the benadict, it was on a cold English muffin, potatos were burnt. My son got chicken tenders and they were gross, tasted like fry oil and zero salt or anything else on them for seasoning. We will not return. read more

Another great night with friends, making it a table of four. Do like the menu and the bar with their special concoctions. Food is excellent. Service tonight was not up to par. Some tables were served immediately. It was not crowded and there were empty tables. We sat for a very long time, over 20 minutes, were on the verge of asking the front desk what the problem was, when we got menus and ordered drinks. The women liked the Coconut Mange Mojito ($16) and we guys had their wonderful, limey Big Easy Gimlets ($16). The bar is really good. Mains were Southern Fried Steaks ($26) and the Bourbon Short Ribs ($16). I was allowed to substitute the side of carrots for greens and it was no problem. Wife wanted red beans for her meal modification and was satisfied. The valet parking is a life saver for Southern Pecan. In the past, the hunt was on, in an ever increasing radius from the restaurant to find any parking. Now, just pull up to the valet. Thank you. read more

We had the fried fish. No seasoning. Zero. Waitstaff was great food was just not seasoned to taste for has

Some colleagues and I had a gathering in their private dining room. We had chicken tenders, flat bread, and beverages with a private server. I added the soup of the day and a Shirley temple. Everything was good and the waiter was nice. The parking situation is just okay. It's a busy area but they do have valet service if needed. read more

The Southern Pecan - Minestrone soup - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The place was very nice. The food was awesome, and service was excellent! Had a good brunch selection but the other menus were awesome looking. Eager to try their other stuff next time. read more

This restaurant was a 10 out 10! I got the Southern Fried steak with gravy, green beans and Mac and cheese. I also got a side of Collard Greens. The Steak was very tender covered in warm gravy. The Mac and cheese were very cheesy and good. Although, the green beans wasn't my favorite they were still good. The collards were tender, juicy with a hint of sweetness. I loved everything that I ate. We had a fantastic server. He was so cool, accommodating. The ambiance was very nice but causal. It was super busy so I would recommend reservations. They also have valet parking. I can't wait to visit again! read more

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Roasted chicken with broccoli and brussel sprouts is what I got. Half chicken with just a little bit of spice and cooked so well- nice, tender and juicy. The broccoli was a little cold and hard, but I still give this 5 stars because of how good the chicken and brussel sprouts were. Brussels are my favorite veggie, and hands down the way they season these with an Asian-style sauce is to die for. My husband ordered the burger and was very impressed with the sauce. He didn't leave me any to try! Our server was Kat, and shoutout to her for being super friendly and attentive! read more

The Southern Pecan - Roasted chicken with broccoli and brussel sprouts - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The southern pecan had great parking, cool bathrooms and really good service. The breakfast itself was just okay in my opinion but the French press coffee was really good. There was nothing wrong with the food. It definitely got the job done. Everyone was super nice but nothing about the food stood out if that makes sense. I would go again as again the service was impeccable. read more

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Girls night enjoying a Queen's Feast special before Charlotte food week is over. Ambiance is great, good music, services was great. The Texas style Paloma was delicious and so was the cornbread. The short rib with mash potatoes, gravy and roasted carrots was great. Nice and tender, very flavorful. I am not a catfish lover but I tried my friends and it was REALLY good, I was pleasantly surprised. I think I'll add The Southern Pecan to my date night list. read more

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Lucky for us we did not have to wait to be seated. Nice atmosphere with a bar and music playing. It took a little time before our server came over to greet us to get our drink order. The brunch menu wasn't extensive but there was a good variety of food. We started with mimosas, they were delicious. The cornbread came after that. Cold cornbread and cold butter don't go good together. Our appetizers and entrees came at the same time. That was disappointing. The cup of gumbo which was plentiful in size, was not hot and lacked taste. The hot pimento cheese dip was good as well as the baguette. We had the cucumber salad which was very tasty. All the portion size was plenty and worth the money. However, everything did need more flavor including the bbq shrimp and catfish strips. read more

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Absolutely loved the dishes I got within the last few weeks lol. The catfish and short rib were 10/10!! Even the cornbread (when hot) is so so good! I will give service a 7/10. My dinner server was a little forgetful but the manager made up for it. No complaints about the ambiance! read more

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They have great ambience, incredible food, and fabulous service. We went back twice in one week!

I would actually give this place 4.5 stars. We stopped in while on a recent weekend visit to Charlotte. After reading other reviews, we decided to try, and it did not disappoint We made a reservation, which I would highly recommend. The only time available when we booked was 4:30. When we arrived, we thought we didn't really need the reservation, but when we left an hour later, it was packed. Not an empty seat in the house. There were excellent southern dishes to choose from. I had the pork chop with mashed potatoes and greens. It was everything I hoped for. My wife, who is not typically a fried fish person, got the pecan crusted fried catfish and said it was the best catfish she ever had. I snuck a bite and had to agree it was one of the best I've ever had, too. We added a side of Mac and cheese, because why not, and it was excellent. They serve warm corn bread to start. Beware, it's so good you'll fill up on that if you're not careful. If you can make a reservation, I say get here and give it a shot. read more

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I had dinner here tonight with a friend. The service was great, the food was fresh and tasted great, and the restaurant is nicely decorated. The music and atmosphere were perfect. We ordered the ceviche and BBQ shrimp. Both were amazing. For entrees we ordered the Pecan Fried Catfish and the Cajun Redfish. For desert, we split the Chocolate Pecan Pie. Everything was great. I will return again soon. Our server, Tony provided great service too. read more

The Southern Pecan - Due to great conversation and catching up, I forgot to take a picture of the food. But here is what was left from the catfish dinner. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Good food! Relaxing fun atmosphere. Cute decor. Service was nice. I got the pecan crusted catfish and it was delicious. The beans were a little under cooked. The mashed potatoes were a little sticky. Overall the fish was great though. The key lime pie was good but a bit too overly sweet. Also it had a layer of green on top, which I didn't like. Why the food dye? I'd return to try their brunch! read more

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Great service, fresh food. The only thing missing is seasoning. I was so hopeful after the barbecued shrimp- well-seasoned and very flavorful. The pecan catfish was perfectly crispy, hot, fried to order and ... disappointingly bland. Even the sauce on top added nothing. "Gulf coast" catfish is seasoned. The batter and the filets. I brought salt and salted everything heavily, but it wasn't enough to save it. The ambience was very nice and Jay was a great server, though. Bring your Tony Chacheres read more

I was visiting the area for business and knew I was going to be dining with colleagues the whole visit, but just for fun during my first night in town I went on Yelp to look up restaurants I should visit. Southern Pecan came up and I checked it out, wishing I was here for pleasure so I could check it out, but much to my surprise a few colleagues invited us out the next night and suggested SOUTHERN PECAN! The restaurant is situated in a beautiful restaurant and retail area and we were warmly greeted and brought to a booth. The ONLY thing I didn't love was having four of us squishing into the booth, but other than that it was fantastic. I started with a sweet tea, because while some other members of our party had cocktails. Our server brought over warm cornbread that was somehow equal parts sweet and savory, with kernels of corn throughout. For appetizers we ordered the Parmesan oysters and the BBQ shrimp. I would have chosen the pimento cheese, but my coworkers are seafood lovers so I went with the flow. Both the oysters and shrimp were served with crusty bread to sop up the sauce. Since I was dining with a bunch of guys, I didn't try any of the bread, but they seemed to enjoy it. For my entree I tried the chicken fried steak with creamy gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Everything was seasoned to perfection and decadent. This is what I imagined good southern food to be despite having it elsewhere and it not living up to the hype. I was so full but still would have loved to try dessert, especially the seasonal cobbler, if my husband was there to share with me but since he wasn't I declined. My colleagues shared the creme brûlée cheesecake and seemed to love it. I usually am great at taking food photos but since this was a business dinner I kept my phone in my purse regrettably. Looking forward to coming back the next time I'm in town. read more

Snuck in on a whim with a dear, dear friend and had a great experience. The weather was beautiful, the service was great and the food was outstanding. We did seafood and every dish was prepared with effort...almost sopped the plates good. Looking forward to the next visit. read more

I met friends here for lunch and we were disappointed. The food was bland. That was the general feeling about the food from the people in my party. The service was good and the ambiance was good read more

Amazing. The ambiance is perfect, the service is some of the best I've ever had. The food is incredible. 5/5 experience. I had the pecan crusted catfish and all the sides were amazing. My boyfriend had some sort of pulled pork bbq (can't remember now) also great. We don't live in Charlotte but are eager to come again when we're back! read more