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.

Score! Found both a parking spot and an open table on the first attempt. And so glad we did, too…read more We have not dined here since Tommi Harris reopened Fenwick's in 2025. We love the vibe, the friendliness, and simply how cozy is the place. A short time later salads, fried shrimp, andouie sausage with creamy pasta, salmon, and house made sangria were filing our five hungry bellies. Our service was impeccable. Such a wonderful time. Has all the bells and whistles sounding on my "Give 'em a Whirl" meter. A great reminder of how good things used to be before corporate takeovers, gentrification, and urban development. Support local. Go here.

This remains a favorite restaurant in Uptown Charlotte. And has been for years…read more We stopped here for an early meal on Thursday. Bethany started the meal with a Rosemary Martini. I had a glass of white wine. I ordered the red beans and rice....the andouille sausage that they use in this dish is so good. A taste of New Orleans without the road trip. Bethany had their tomato bisque soup. Fenwick's version is exceptional. Don't believe me? Try it! The muffin they have on the side is NOT store bought. It has great flavor and texture. Worth taking home if you don't finish it. I wasn't planning on dessert but they had a piece of homemade blueberry pie. I could hear it calling, "don't leave me." Thank gosh I didn't. Their blueberry pie took me back to the 1960's in Michigan. A delicious blend of fruit, crust, and flavor. Fenwick's is located on Providence. Not far from the Knight's ballpark. If you are going to a ballgame, we suggest you eat here, first. The food and the menu are so much better. The same holds true for performances at the Belk. Fenwick's is not far from the theater, their food/drink prices are reasonable, and the menu will satisfy anyone. We go here before an event downtown.

This place was kind of hard to find. I went for a friends birthday brunch…read more We had a big party & I think the waiter did a great job accommodating everyone with the service provided. I got crab rangoons for my appetizers. They were good but a lot more breading than I would like. My meal was the chicken and waffles. Boneless chicken for chicken and waffles is always a negative for me because it's not my thing. They were also thighs too which I wasn't expecting. The waffle itself was good and came with a hot honey type of syrup. I had to get more syrup because it wasn't enough for the portion size in my opinion. The food was not bad by any means, but my expectations were higher.

Chapter 6 is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with lots of small plate and drink options in…read moreSouthend. It can be hard to find if you are coming in from the main street as it is located inside a building that has other restaurants and stores inside. But it is rather spacious inside with lovely minimalistic and neutral vibes. The service was pretty great as we were given recommendations and our water was continuously refilled. My friends and I got the Crab Brik, Wagyu Burger, Shakshuka, and Avocado Toast. The Crab Brik came in little triangular wontons that were fried to perfection. I think real crab meat was used which is always nice. There was some aioli on the plate, but certainly not enough to dip with meal in. The Avocado Toast was recommended by our server and it was a top tier choice! It had chili dukka on it so everything from the eggs, sourdough bread, and avocados tasted very seasoned, despite the dish sounding a bit plain. They do not skimp out on the avocado here. My friend said the Wagyu Burger tasted good and I tried the Shakshuka (for the first time in my life) which tasted very tomato-y but still yummy with the bread! I think this is a cute place, especially for brunch. I would rate this place 4.5/5 stars if I could. I want to come back and try their dinner menu which has more food options.

Barringtons was delicious. As always. Service was on top of it and made you feel special…read more My table opted for the pri fix menu. $95 for four courses. A special time

Rigatoni was outstanding, loved the intimate/local feel, service was very kind. Cocktail menu was…read moreodd and didn't match the restaurant aesthetic. Fish special and cobbler dessert were forgettable. 3.5 stars out of 5

300 East is one of my absolute favorite Charlotte staples! I love bringing out-of-town family and…read morefriends here, as well as introducing locals who haven't discovered it yet. Set in a charming old home, the aesthetic is incredibly welcoming with a quaint downstairs bar, a gorgeous outdoor patio, and cozy seating upstairs--there truly isn't a bad seat in the house. The staff and service are always exceptional, which only adds to the amazing experience. They offer daily specials alongside a rotating and standing menu, making every visit unique. There are so many standout dishes that it can be hard to choose, but my ultimate go-to is the seared ahi tuna salad. I don't know how they make that sesame and shoyu dressing, but it is one of a kind! I also highly recommend the hummus, the baked marinated Vermont goat cheese, "The Usual," and any of their steak options. Definitely don't skip dessert! On my last trip, I tried the strawberry shortcake, and it was divine. The goat cheese and cherry cheesecake and the rotating sorbets are also phenomenal. If you're grabbing a drink at the bar, be sure to check out their signature Matilda Wong, though they also make a stellar dirty martini!

For those who don't know, 300 East is something of a Charlotte institution; I've been there…read morecountless times over the years I've lived here but not recently. They have always had, in my estimation, the best French onion soup around and I was craving it, so off I went. The restaurant off East Boulevard is an eclectic sort of place, and in my memory the interior hasn't ever changed. The wood is dark, the tables a bit worn and packed together to give a slightly claustrophobic feel, and the decor is always vaguely counterculture. For people who like NoDa and Plaza Midwood (before its recent transformation), it's homey as can be. I enjoyed the familiarity of its unpretentious surroundings as I took a seat in a tiny corner booth. Delighted to note that the French onion soup is as delicious as ever, with a richly flavored broth and a generous amount of bread and cheese baked in. While the quality hasn't diminished, thank heavens, the size has gone from a bowl to a cup. As it was my upcharged side I didn't mind terribly but still. Alas. Kudos to the kitchen for letting me have my soup before my sandwich was delivered, but here is where things went a little south. I had ordered The Usual, one of their trademark dishes, a hot open-faced chicken salad sandwich on a baguette topped with asparagus, mushrooms and cheese. It too has been the victim of shrinkflation, about 2/3 as big as once it was. Again, didn't mind terribly much but the toppings themselves were scant: three small strips of jarred or canned asparagus, four slices of mushroom. Okay, everything is expensive these days, but the edges of the sandwich were burned and the filling was cool, meaning the salamander setting was off and no one checked it before sending it out or putting it down. I might have considered sending it back but that's when my server disappeared. My water glass sat empty for half my meal and was never refilled. Even paying the check was sluggish. So I give the current state 300 East a solid three with a disappointed sigh because they seem to be phoning it in. Really great French onion soup, though.

Had a special occasion to celebrate so we made reservations here for a Sunday evening dinner at…read more6:30. Arriving earlier than expected, we walked upstairs and were warmly greeted and immediately sat at our table. Our server Krystal too great care of us the whole evening. We decided to split a bottle of wine and the hardest part about the menu was deciding. Krystal made some interjections and recommendations while we had decisions paralysis, but ended up going with the Shrimp St Thomas, arugula salad, veal melanese, house chop salad and Scottish Salmon. Everything was delicious! There was warm bread with beans while settling in and we decided on a lemocello martini as our dessert. Krystal did come out with a piece of lemon cake with a candle for the birthday celebration and perfect way to end the evening. Overall the restaurant seemed like we had the place to ourselves and the bar area was busy but all we could hear was indistinguishable chatter and laughs. I can see this place being crazy when it's peak, but I loved the fact that our quiet birthday celebration was nice and intimate.

This is a great spot for a special occasion; excellent service and high-quality food in a cozy…read moresetting.

Such an amazing space. I didn't get any pictures of the space but it's a very beautiful space and…read moreperfect for any occasion. The service was wonderful. Our food was spectacular. The one dish that was a little questionable was the trout. It was accompanied by broccolini and black lentils. It didn't seem to pair well. Flavors were there, however the last time we dined it was paired with a succotash. Every other plate we had just burst with flavors and spices. The poke bowl was our favorite. We also had a crab dip that was good. The calamari gave us hints of a bang bang flavor. The ribeye was tender and paired well with the blue cheese. Lastly the diver steak with the chimichurri was good. The drinks were very good.

I was in town for a conference and dined here chiefly because it participates in the Dining Rewards…read moreProgram, allowing me to earn additional airline miles on top of the points I earn paying with credit card. This restaurant is very nicely designed. It's visually appealing with tables indoors, a bar area, and an outside dining area. The hostess and my server were professional and extremely nice and made my dining experience very pleasant. The reason I am giving three stars instead of four or more comes down to value. Seafood is expensive, I get that. But I don't know that there's much value to be had here. Portion sizes are small relative to what you're paying for. And in my opinion, while the freshness and the quality of the seafood may be there, the flavor is not. I have no doubt that the quality of the seafood here is good. But I did not enjoy anything I ordered. I wasn't put off by the food, but I wish I had wanted to savor each bit. I ordered the cajun grilled oysters and the miso sablefish. I thought both were too salty and despite paying over $40 for the meal, I left still a bit hungry.

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

Catalina is one of those places that just gets it. They call themselves coastal comfort food, and…read moreI'd say that's pretty spot-on with classic American favorites, coastal flavors, and a few dishes that feel like they were transported straight down from up New England. I've always made reservations, but you can definitely pop in and grab a bar seat or try your luck at a table. It's a pretty spacious spot, so even on a busy night or during brunch, there's a decent amount of seating. Now for the important stuff: Sunday = half-price wine. And yes, that includes Prosecco for mimosas. We're talking about $24 a bottle, which is basically Catalina telling you to order another one. So naturally, we got two for the table. They also have other specials throughout the week, but Sunday wine is the one I'm personally keeping tabs on. My biggest Catalina pro tip: ASK ABOUT THE PASTA AT BRUNCH. Homemade pastas aren't always listed on the brunch menu, but apparently many of the dinner pastas and proteins are still available. One little question to our waiter and BOOM... pasta was happening. And their vodka pasta? Spicy, homemade, ridiculously delicious, and absolutely one I'd recommend if you like a little kick with your carbs! The whipped burrata is another crowd favorite and almost always makes an appearance at our table, and the Little Gem salad is a great starter and easy to share if you want those greens but not to fill up. Everything I've had here has been fantastic, and with the number of people I've brought or gone with, I've yet to hear a single complaint about a meal. The cocktails have also been spot-on every time I've ordered one, so whether you're looking for a cozy date night, girls' night, brunch with the crew, or just want to sit at the bar and treat yourself, Catalina fits the bill. Do yourself a favor and put this one on your list. Coastal comfort, homemade pasta, good cocktails, half-price Prosecco... honestly, what more convincing do you need?