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    Zanzibar Cafe

    3.8 (42 reviews)
    ModerateAfrican, American
    Open • 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order Zanzibar Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Zanzibar Cafe Photos

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    ZANZIBAR CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Zanzibar Cafe

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    Caleb M.

    The food was freshly prepared and delicious! They put the perfect spice level in my meal!

    Special Menu for Liberian Independence Day
    Stef L.

    What a hidden gem on North Tryon Street in Charlotte. We already know the best food comes out of a small place in a strip mall, but this little African cuisine restaurant really impressed us. The food was outstanding. We tried things we have never had before. The Fufu (dough) was amazing, we dipped it in Palava Sauce. We also had a side of Cassava Fries. All the flavors were just amazing. Next time you pick a restaurant, try something new! I promise you won't regret it!

    Palava sauce and fried plantain.

    The food is always delicious. The serving sizes are gracious. The interior was recently renovated with mounted widescreen tvs, a fire place and they still have a fully equipped bar. The chef made ginger beer is soooo good. Customer service is minimal but I come for the food so I'll be back.

    Potato Greens, Fried Plantain, fufu

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    Photo of Kara H.
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    3 months ago

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    5 months ago

    The food was excellent. The service was very good a little pricey, but worth every dime. I would go back again over and over.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    One of the best cassava leaf rice I've tasted in my life I recommend it to anybody of any race

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Peter B.

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    9 years ago

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    Peter B.

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    Peter B.

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Great food. Fish and plantains were excellent. We had a large party of 20 people however the food came in short time and was well-prepared.

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Great food. Awesome service. I've become a regular!!

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    MaBi Tropical

    MaBi Tropical

    4.2(48 reviews)
    0.4 mi•NoDa

    After my last visit to this restaurant, I've reached the conclusion that Mabi Tropical has stopped…read moretrying and given up. When I initially visited (in their first couple of months after opening) I was super in love with this place. Unfortunately every experience after that has been super inconsistent. I've ordered their seafood sancocho three times and every single time I've gotten a different dish. The last time I ordered it - it was more so vegetables with 2 teaspoons of broth, some rice and old fried yucca. If you look at the photo - I believe you can tell the yucca looks like it'd been in the fridge for days and they just threw it in there for good measure. The waiter didn't smile and generally looked miserable to have to deal with me. I asked for hot sauce that never came. Just overall, really disappointed in my last experience here and unfortunately won't be retuning due to how inconsistent my last few visits have been. You might get something that tastes decent, you might not.

    Queen feast try! It was great. Not very busy but the location makes parking a challenge or costly…read more The service was great helpful with making recommendations. As the restaurant got busy we saw her less and there was some odd issue with the bill. I loved the decor. I'd go back and try a few other things. The food was good. None of us had a bad bite! I enjoyed the cocktails I must remember to snap pics of the food.

    Photos
    MaBi Tropical
    MaBi Tropical
    MaBi Tropical

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    Ever Andalo

    Ever Andalo

    4.5(280 reviews)
    0.6 mi•NoDa
    •$$$

    Failed Expectations: A Brunch That Looked Better Than It Tasted…read more We were genuinely so excited for this brunch! It had been sitting on my Charlotte bucket list for ages, and we finally locked in reservations during my visit. First things first -- the space itself is adorable. Every detail feels intentional, from the spotless dining room to the perfectly set tables to the lighting that ties it all together. You could tell immediately that this place takes real pride in its presentation. It was warm and inviting from the second we walked through the door. The drinks were excellent, too. I especially loved the garnish spread for the water -- citrus of every variety, mint, cucumber -- such a small, thoughtful touch that instantly elevated the experience. Unfortunately, the food just didn't live up to the rest of the experience. We started with the roasted oysters, which came so heavily breaded that the actual oyster flavor got completely lost underneath. In hindsight, I should've just ordered them raw. The Eggs Inferno was next, and it fell flat across the board -- it needed salt, it needed acid, it needed some kind of richness to bring it to life. I wouldn't order it again. My friend's seasonal focaccia toast was equally underwhelming and forgettable. But then -- the fingerling potatoes. Honestly, I wish we'd just ordered three plates of those and called it a meal. Fluffy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside, and packed with flavor in every single bite. Hands down the highlight of brunch, and genuinely one of the best sides I've had in a while. Maybe dinner would tell a different story, but for brunch, I walked in expecting so much more than what we got.

    We came here for a friend's birthday. A gorgeous upscale north Italian restaurant in the heart of…read moreNoda. Wonderful decor, great lighting, and an inviting atmosphere make you feel your dining somewhere special. We began with some beautiful red wine and a focaccia with the olive oil flight and their homemade ricotta. Everything was absolutely, without a doubt, flawless. When it came to entrées, we ordered several dishes, I can only speak to the ricotta gnocchi, which was cooked perfectly, topped with the most luxurious and flavorful, red sauce, and garnished with that beautiful homemade ricotta. It is the kind of dish you want to savor. I did have a quick try of their tiramisu, but when it comes to tiramisu, I am a traditionalist and I want that classic taste texture and flavor. What they offer is a twist on the original tiramisu, and while it is good, it's no substitute for a beautiful slice of the real thing. I was a bit off, put by the pricing. In this economy, you're wanting to make sure you get your moneys worth. I clearly see that while they charge a premium, they only have the best ingredients and their food is crafted. It was a Thursday night, it was quite busy, but it did seem to take quite some time for all of our food to arrive. For us to enjoy antipasto, our pasta, and desserts, it took two full hours. When you're celebrating a birthday, you may not mind a two hour dinner, but it seems a bit long if you're not celebrating a special occasion. A tip of the hat to the culinary team, you sure make some damn good Italian cuisine.

    Photos
    Ever Andalo - Interior

    Interior

    Ever Andalo - Pickled vegetables

    Pickled vegetables

    Ever Andalo - Tiramisu trifle

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    Tiramisu trifle

    Haberdish - @rondaexplores

    Haberdish

    4.3(1.8k reviews)
    0.6 mi•NoDa
    •$$

    We got on the walk-in list 30 minutes before arriving, but when we got there, the host told us it…read morewould still be about an hour wait. There were several "reserved" tables that remained empty until after we had finished eating, so I think the restaurant could benefit from a better reservation system with more accurate buffer times to accommodate walk-in guests. To avoid the wait, we decided to sit at the bar, and I'm glad we did because the food was amazing. The fried chicken and waffles were perfectly seasoned, and the waffle had a unique texture and flavor that reminded me of a combination of a traditional waffle and a soft pretzel. The cheesy potato cake was absolutely delicious. The fruit bowl was also good, but I wish they had been a little more generous with the blueberry pudding. The shrimp and grits came with large tomatoes, which may not be for everyone, and my friend felt the dish was lacking grits overall. She didn't feel like she got her money's worth. Would I go back? Absolutely. My meal was delicious, and I can't wait to return and try more of their homemade, fresh dishes. I also think it's great that they partner with local farmers to help curate their menu.

    Great food!! Loved the fried chicken and biscuits the most. The fried green tomatoes were so good…read moreand it was my first time having them. I also tried the charred okra which was good. Mac & cheese was alright. Cocktails were great. We also tried their champagne tender and it was super crispy and had the taste of champagne. Service was decent. Only downside is if you make a reservation online, you will not be refunded the $3 per person fee and it is also not taken off your bill.

    Photos
    Haberdish - Inside

    Inside

    Haberdish - Fried Chicken (Whole)

    Fried Chicken (Whole)

    Haberdish - Leafy Greens Salad and Prosecco

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    Leafy Greens Salad and Prosecco

    The Degenerate - Chicken Sandwich

    The Degenerate

    4.3(243 reviews)
    1.3 mi•Villa Heights, NoDa
    •$$

    I had an enjoyable experience. I ordered the NYC falafel which, although it could be a bit larger,…read morewas very good. The default side was fries and I asked if there were any substitutions. One was a small side Caesar salad which I got. I was disappointed in the continuing practice for restaurants to charge for small changes like this within informing the customer. Waitress was very nice, however and attentive. What is also quite unique about the restaurant was that you could order small 4 oz beers, just for tasting at $2-3 each. The place is quite large and must get incredibly noisy at times with the hard surfaces and multiple TVs. There is an option to sit directly at the bar or at tables.

    The Degenerate is a cool, industrially designed space featuring great bites and drinks. What I love…read moremost is that the menu puts a unique spin on a lot of traditional, classic items. If you are looking for recommendations, I highly suggest trying: The Meatballs: A fantastic twist on a classic, served in a delicious lemon dill sauce instead of a typical marinara. The Sliders: Perfect pulled pork paired with fried green tomatoes and a tangy horseradish sauce. They also feature a highly creative and unique cocktail menu. Two of my personal standouts are the Beetle Juice, which incorporates fresh beet juice, and The Fishbone, which brilliantly highlights their house-made aquavit. Overall, it's a wonderful spot for a great atmosphere and an inventive menu!

    Photos
    The Degenerate - Inside The Degenerate. Good vibes

    Inside The Degenerate. Good vibes

    The Degenerate - Turkish Eggs

    Turkish Eggs

    The Degenerate - Bar area

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    Bar area

    NoDa 101 - Black cherry white claw

    NoDa 101

    3.8(91 reviews)
    0.5 mi•NoDa
    •$$

    We visited NODA 101 on a Thursday night for some karaoke while in town for a conference. I fell in…read morelove with the vibes at this place. Everyone is so supportive and we had so much fun. The drinks were good and the karaoke was fun. My only comment is that it was a little crammed in there and hard to get around, but they definitely made the most of their space. The people in this place were so much fun and everyone was really friendly. I'd definitely go back again.

    We came here on a Wednesday night and it was pretty busy by 11pm. Not sure if it was intentional…read morebut it seemed like it was R&B night which was amazing for me because I love R&B! The crowd was high energy, some people had amazing voices and the vibe was fun. Drinks were pretty affordable, and my only negative is that I wish I knew their house was El Toro I haven't had that in years and it gives me the worst hangover, once I asked the bartender I switched to another tequila lol. Idk what the other nights are like but I personally enjoyed the vibe of how Wednesdays nights. It is nice because you scan a QR code to search a song and get added to the queue. You can see where you are in line and what songs have been picked so you don't repeat someone else's. They have a small stage you sing on and everyone sings along to root you on!

    Photos
    NoDa 101 - Singer on stage at karaoke bar

    Singer on stage at karaoke bar

    NoDa 101 - Friends having fun singing along at karaoke bar

    Friends having fun singing along at karaoke bar

    NoDa 101 - White claw black cherry

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    White claw black cherry

    Zanzibar Cafe - african - Updated September 2026

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