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.

One of the best meals I have had in a long time. We were a large party of 10+. It is a relatively…read moresmall and quaint place but making reservations ahead of time was well worth it. The appetizer spread we ordered was lights out. We loved the burrata with focaccia bread. The fried artichokes were like nothing I ever had before. My entree itself was out of this world. I had the braised short rib and for side the fingerling potatoes. The potatoes were cooked to perfection with crisp and just an amazing punch of rosemary. The beef was out of this world. My only constructive feedback was my dessert was very petit. I ordered a scoop of the cookies and cream ice cream. It was delish and full of cookie taste but the size made me chuckle.

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 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.

I was very excited to come dine here but was left feeling very conflicted…read more On one hand, I had the best chicken and waffles ever. The chicken tenders were soft and tender, with a crispy and well seasoned fried skin. Not too strong, but just enough to really appreciate the chicken. The waffles had this really nice bouncy chew to it, similar to a mochi donut. Really enhanced further by the syrup and amazing texture difference when you get any of the crispy chicken over the waffle. But on the other hand, everything else we ordered and the service while we were there were lacking. We had a reservation for lunch on a Sunday, and were seated very quickly. But then it took a very long time for a waiter to come to us. Once the waiter did arrive, we weren't greeted or introduced, simply just a "know what you want?". On top of that, when asking what was in the quiche of the day and the market rate we got a "idk maybe 14 or 15" and then what we were told was in the quiche was just not true haha. We were told there would be some vegetables and cheese, but ended up with no cheese and a lot of potatoes inside our quiche. The food did come very fast after we ordered so that was a plus. I think the main reason this experience left a bad feeling was because the table next to us had the same waiter and got a completely different experience. The waiter walked them through the menu, told them about the history of the restaurant, and told them a completely different (but this time accurate?) price and contents of the quiche of the day! I'm glad the chicken and waffles were fantastic, but it is sort of hard to enjoy your meal when you see completely different service from your waiter just one table next to you :(

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!

This is their Noda location. Vibes were great, tables and floors clean, and our waiter was very…read moreattentive. They were busy for Friday night. I can definitely see how they would be in the summer. The wings were definitely a hit with a nice kick of spice to round out the sweetness. The steak fries were good as well but the fry seasoning was a bit too salty FOR ME but my partner enjoyed it. The outdoor back bar had really good heaters but don't stand directly under them for too long because they're strong! Really good place for a weekend night out or just a simple date night. This place fits either occasion!

Jack Beagle's in Charlotte is always such a great experience, and honestly one of the best values…read morein the area. You get so much food for such an affordable price, which is one of the reasons I keep coming back. I tried their breakfast for the first time and was seriously impressed.. the sausage, egg, and cheese was so good. Our server was incredibly friendly and made the whole visit even better. Overall, just another awesome experience at Jack Beagle's. Highly recommend!

Growler's is amazing pub style casual spot. It's loud with both chatter and music. It would be a…read moregood place to meet friends for beers and a bite. Our food was just okay. We ordered the kale Caesar, the nachos, and fries. The nacho cheese tasted very processed and they didn't come with salsa. When I asked the waitress for some, she said that they don't actually have salsa. The fries were the best thing we had. I'd go again, but probably just to have a drink.

My favorite bar in Charlotte. Good music, great beer selection, they can make a great cocktail,…read morefood is incredible, and service is always friendly and quick.

McHale's Pub is a welcome addition to NoDa! The spacious patio is great, and the wooden interior…read moregives off a truly authentic pub vibe. Our service was solid, and the food came out pretty fast. The Reuben and the Fish & Chips were both excellent choices. My only critique is on the drinks--the cocktail menu is a bit limited (both for listed drinks and off-menu requests), though they have a decent beer list. I'd love to see a more expansive bar selection in the future! I also visited on St. Patty's Day and it was packed as you would imagine, but had a great vibe and quick service.

Date night landed us in NoDa. McHales Pub is in the heart of…read moreNoDa. The staff was friendly, we sat in the bar area on a salvaged church pew and stool. The signs, the hints of Irish detail are adorable. The highlight of this visit were the Leprechaun Balls. Crispy balls of Irish cheddar, cream cheese, and jalapeño, I really didn't even need the ranch that came with them. Not too spicy, just the right amount of jalapeno flavor. Yes the pub burger was good. The fries were delicious!!! My husband enjoyed the fish sandwich (which he did not let me get a bite of, lol) But again the show stopper for me were the Leprechaun Balls and I literally ordered them because the name was cute but they were mouth watering.

I had lunch here today & it was fantastic!! It's a staple…read morein Noda of Charlotte!! Go check them out

Jack Brown's is a fun, dive-bar-style spot right in the heart of NoDa…read more I love the eclectic decor, from the vintage lockers to the board game section, and they have a fantastic patio to hang out on. The menu is simple but consistently good. All of the burgers I have tried so far have been incredibly tasty, and they also feature a rotating burger of the day to keep things interesting. The Sticky Nugs are by far the absolute standout menu item. That being said, I am still going to say we need a petition to bring the Ricky Bobby flavor back! It was left off after the recent menu change, but if they bring it back, it will easily be a fan favorite all over again. In the meantime, they do have a rotating specialty flavor, so be sure to ask the staff about the current option! To top it all off, they have great drinks and a solid beer selection, all at a solid price point!

Amazing everything the food the chef, the server, the ambience everything was perfectread more

Sunday night and all reservations booked but we walked in and got a table outside…read more Met our great server who shared the 1/2 off bottle of wine promotion, so why not? My wife was craving the lobster/shrimp roll, overstuffed with fresh seafood. And I went with the chicken parmesan. It was the lightest, freshest, most delicious! (compared to a really great, but heavier version at Little Mama's). Just finished the leftovers for lunch - and it just hit! We'll be back for sure...

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!