This is not real authentic cajun food. The gator bites are not gator, I'm actually not sure what…read morethey were because they were chewy kind of like gizzards. The spinach dip did not have much crawfish in it and the crawfish I did taste was not fresh--the chips were also stale. The étouffée was not étouffée, it was more of a seafood spaghetti sauce over rice with extra cayenne pepper. This place was a huge disappointment. It actually made me sick. The waiter was great, very personable. The restaurant also had a nice ambiance, including a small outdoor seating area. Also the beignets were not beignets, more like fried biscuits shaped like beignets with powdered sugar.

I don't know if we just got unlucky or what but this was really bad. My friend and I came here for…read moredinner and drinks but it was very disappointing. The service was strange because our server was super nice and friendly but otherwise not good. He repeated my friends order wrong multiple times and she kept correcting him and he eventually said the correct item but then when she got it, it was incorrect. Both of our orders were not good. The quality and taste were awful. My friend was given a free item or discount coupon since her order was wrong but the whole experience was so bad that she left it on the table because we both decided we would not be back.

Best food in charlotte hands down!!! Go on fridays that's when there's live jazz. Get the crawfish…read moreétouffée.

I attended Cajun Queen on 6/7/26. The atmosphere was pleasant while being seated by the hostess,…read morewho had a friendly smile. We had a big party of fifteen people, so we were seated in the back, which was great. We needed more seats for the arriving party, and the hostess assisted in adding more seats around the table, which went well. The server, Scott, took our orders and seemed frustrated at first because some of our party was absent, but everyone arrived shortly after. Soon after the orders were placed, we were served drinks and sourdough bread. The food came soon after, and what I ordered was shrimp scampi and a cup of gumbo. The scampi was okay; it seemed to be assembled rather than cooked thoroughly. The gumbo was very spicy, and I started coughing and had to go to the restroom. That gumbo was missing other varieties of seafood and meats; I saw only two shrimp. Overall, my experience makes me skeptical about returning, especially with limited parking, but who knows how I'll feel in the future. K. Cunningham.

Cajun-style food is so delicious, it's a shame I don't eat it as much as I do. I've heard plenty of…read morethis place as a "hidden gem" so I figured I would give it a whirl. I stopped in here on a Friday afternoon to grab a quick bite. Upon entrance, I really liked the paintings and other decorations spread throughout the dining room. The kitchen is visible as well which makes for a more immersive dining experience. The menu seemed to have plenty of seafood but I figured I'd opt for their special, a Blackened Red Snapper with Bacon Jalapeño Cream Sauce. It came with two sides so I decided to try out their okra and collard greens, after a recommendation from my waiter. I typically don't order collard greens but he said they have pork and are delicious. The place wasn't too busy so food came out quickly, about 10 minutes after I ordered. The food looked decent upon first glance, but I wasn't sold just yet. After my first bite of fish, I was taken aback by the delicious flavor of their cream sauce paired with the blackened fish. It was a solid portion of fish and tasted of good quality, so it didn't stand much a chance. The sides were also just as delicious. It's hard to mess up fried okra so my expectations were met to a tee. The collard greens were actually so incredible as well. I don't really know what they're made of but I definitely will be trying it more in the future, if other places prepare it as good. They also had a house hot sauce with was more flavor than heat, but paired wonderfully with everything. The whole meal was so good so I understand why they seem to a have solid amount of regulars at this place. The staff were very kind and attentive throughout the entire meal. If you want a taste of Louisiana, this place is a solid option in Charlotte.

WOW, Wow, wow! This restaurant SCREAMS for a five-star rating, but as this was our first time…read morehere, I am reluctant to immediately give one of my precious five-stars based on only a one time shot. That said, Yard Dog is not a dog at all, but a superb little restaurant with a great menu and mouth-watering foods. Oh boy! Wife and I entered and were surprised at just how small their dining area was. Couple that with a not-so-pleasant noise level, you will have difficulty seating more than four and conversation will be tough, but not impossible. You came to eat. It is a very cozy, busy and fun place. In addition to the super menu there is a chalk board with specials. Check those out first. I spotted catch of the day, which was Red Snapper, a favorite of mine, which came with two sides ($26). When served, it was three fillets, so the whole eatable parts of the fish, topped with a Cajun spice mixture and a horseradish sauce. This is a to-die-for or last meal item. The fish was perfectly cooked and my side of collards were as mammy has done for eons: flavorful with pork and a perfect complement to my catch of the day. And the fried okra was great and I paid the $.50 for ranch dressing, as fried okra SHOULD be so complemented. Wife does not eat sea food, so she was, initially, confronted with the challenge of finding a dish without seafood in it. She did. There were a number of options, like pasta with Andouille sausage ($21) which is listed as with shrimp, but they omitted the shrimp for her. She also spied blackened meatloaf and some other items for the next visit. The place is busy and the wait staff is hustling as fast as the kitchen can get orders out. The kitchen looks so small, but they are a blur of motion cooking and plating. Kudos to the kitchen and servers. Our server was Sophie and she was excellent. There are beverages on a separate menu, mostly wine, beer and hard cider, with some non-alcohol items also available. We both had hard cider at $6 a can. Draft beer was available at $7 a glass. We will definitely return, even give lunch a try. I will most likely answer the siren call for five stars, which is certainly in the cards. See for yourselves.

Came here for the 1st time. Mother's day brunch! We arrived around 1045am. Of course it was packed…read more They didnt take formal reservations to guarantee seating at a certain time, but you could call ahead and place your name on a list to get seated ahead of the crowd once you arrived. My daughter called and when we arrived, we were lucky and was seated right away as a table was coming open. Small inside footprint but cozy with a full bar. Also outdoor patio seating. The hostess, our waitress and the walk around staff refilling water was top tier. Excellent customer service. Our waitress wasbbomb, I hate i forgot her name. Even though the place was packed she tooknour order in a timely manner, and kept checking on us be9fre we got our food,.kept us informed that the kitchen was busy but she on it. Allnifnkur food was delicious. My daughter had chicken and Belgium waffles, and I had the shrimp amd grits, my mom had a breast platter. All great choices. Give them a try!

This must be a go to spot for locals but I am not impressed…read more The setup is cute and the staff is friendly but let me get into the real... the food. If you don't eat pork skip this place! Seriously. Everything has pork. I got a handheld egg sandwich with tomato and cheese on a croissant with their potatoes. Basic sandwich, dry and the cheese & tomato were an extra charge. The potatoes were hard like they're old. The mimosa was good, regular sparkling with pineapple juice. And their tip machine doubles the recommended amount so for my $9 mimosa it generates a +$3 tip at 18 % but it should have been under $2. Just wanted to point that out too. I won't be back.

As a girl born in Texas, a really good chicken fried steak is practically part of my DNA. It's one…read moreof 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.

I've heard rave reviews about this place so Michelle & I went for Sunday Brunch…read more 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.

My food was amazing & the service was good! Everything came out quick & hot. The shrimps were so…read morebig & juicy & everything was seasoned to perfection. The salmon! Delish! The rice with crab meat, went crazy! I love that they are open so late, it's so rare that you can find good food at 2AM in Charlotte. Definitely will be back!

The food was EVERYTHING and the customer service was awesome. I will def be going back. The…read moreLobster's tail was fried to perfection and my fries were well seasoned and crispy.

Highly recommend! Great food and very reasonable pricing for what you get! Now this is a low…read morecountry boil so it's not a saucy shrimp bowl (I forgot that). The food is made to order and very fresh. We got there about 30 minutes before closing but still received great service. We got the low country boil with shrimp potatoes and corn and subbed out sausage for more corn. The potatoes were cooked perfect which says a lot and the shrimp was delicious and corn on was not mushy. I have also gotten a fish sandwiche here and it was delicious. Definitely worth checking out !

First off this appears to be great little local owned business which I really appreciate. They also…read moreseem to be relatively new. Now let's look at what is important. Lots of parking but I did have to do a U turn to get back to the restaurant. This was an old chain restaurant building so the drive through area isn't used. The building is dated and in need of repair but that isn't their fault as I am sure they are renting it. The food. Decent menu with steamed, grilled and fried options. I went with the small low country boil which was plenty. It was good. Could have soaked a bit if it was in fact boiled to pick up more of the flavor. I got a side bowl of gumbo. Interesting as it didn't come over rice. It was ok but let remember I worked in Louisiana for a decade plus so I can be a Cajun food snob. Service was awesome. Very friendly and the checked on me a couple of times. A huge majority of the customers get it to go. They have picnic tables inside to eat at and that is what I chose. Friendly service and decent food so a good option if in the area.

Let's Jim into this Flavorful, savory, satisfying food! I had the Crawfish & Alligator Cheesecake!…read moreIt was so delicious! I was tinch nervous when I saw it juicy, (because of don't eat wet bread) but it was soooo good and buttery-ish, with a creamy Cajun sauce. I also had charbroiled oysters for the first time, not my favorite, but edible and full of flavor! (texture thing) I also had a piece of Fried Flounder and the Shrimp & Grits. Everything was so full of flavor. Had the Tropical Moon, the Pina Colada Mimosa and the Cherry Lemon Sun drop with Jim Beam (no vodka), Margarita Mimosa... sooo good! Izzie was my waitress extraordinaire for the time, along with some of her friendly colleagues! Top notch! I will definitely be back! The atmosphere was light and lively at the same time!

Went here for dinner and I was not pleased at all with the service, the food, or the atmosphere…read more Paid $56 for a tiny plate of shrimp and grits and a poor excuse for a shrimp boil. $19 for a tiny piece of corn and a quart of a potato isn't exactly a great deal We were ignored by our male waiter and our $4 teas were not even offered refills. Both meals were supposed to come with potatos and Cole slaw and when my wife asked about it we were offered to go boxes for them and they only brought us one serving instead of both for both meals. Went into the men's bathroom it was absolutely disgusting and full of black mold in the vents. The tempature inside was hot and humid and very uncomfortable. We will not be recommending this place to anyone else.