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    Papi Queso

    4.5 (327 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Papi Queso Takeout or Delivery

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    PAPI QUESO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Papi Queso

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    Spaghetti Melt
    Tiffany T.

    Carbs on carbs? You've got my attention. I tried the Spaghetti melt grilled cheese with a side of tomato soup. I was really glad I go the tomato soup to dip the sandwich. The sandwich itself is good, but it's really rich as you can imagine, so after a few bites I was craving a hit of acid or something different. Halfway through the sandwich I was pretty full, but I ended up finishing it. The service was very friendly too, and the food was well packaged, as we were taking it to the brewery downstairs. Papi Queso was a great stop for some relaxed, unhealthy comfort food.

    Outside
    Ally F.

    Aesthetic: Relaxed grilled cheese outpost in Optimist Hall. My favorite: Little cheesy and tomato soup. Experience: I always end up at my favorite sushi in Optimist, but when I'm craving comfort food, I love Papi Queso's lil cheesy and tomato soup. The lil cheesy is a simple, classic grilled cheese with basil, and the tomato soup is creamy and delicious. I recommend it if you're looking for a comfort meal at Optimist.

    Jalapeño Bacon
    Gregory B.

    Went back for a second visit and had the buffalo chicken grilled cheese. This one was much better, and had way more filling between the bread. Dipping in the ranch is a must, highly recommend!

    Texas Cheese Steak
    Denawa A.

    Not a typical grilled cheese. I wanted to try something familiar yet not. Had the Texas Grilled Cheese, which really reminded my of a steak and cheese but on the crispiest butter bread. I also tried their s'mores grilled Nutella grilled cheese and it was AMAZING. There were bits of hazelnut and the marshmallow ratio was perfect. There was a little bit of a wait but the staff was very kind and speedy once orders were ready. I will definitely be back

    Tori H.

    It was Friday so you know had to stop and get a Frosé! It was strawberry peach flavored with some kind of wine in the mix, and it was absolutely delicious. We got the smallest size but that was more than enough. It was refreshing and packed a little punch. All the staff interacted with us, it was good vibes all around. Definitely recommend.

    Texas Cheesesteak
    MK W.

    Ordering was easy. Lots of choices. The sauces options are great and I highly recommend trying a few. We ordered the cheesesteak and the bacon with pepper jelly and while both were good, the bacon with pepper jelly was the clear winner.

    Spaghetti Melt
    Erica Y.

    Spaghetti plus grilled cheese? Sign me up! I wanted something Italian for dinner tonight, so the spaghetti in the grilled cheese really did the trick. I ordered ahead online and it was a super quick and easy process. The staff was really nice and packaged extra utensils and napkins. Perfect meal to eat outside where the weather was warm and sunny! Did not want to share this meal

    Grilled mac and cheese
    Jennifer L.

    I'd say 3.5 stars here. Staff were really great. Not just average order takers. They engaged in conversation. My friend got their monthly special which had shrimp in it and he said it was really good. I got the grilled mac and cheese sandwich with fries. Fries were great. Sandwich was a little lacking. And weirdly enough, what it was lacking was actual cheese flavor. Its a cute location in Optimist Food Hall. I would definitely not try the mac and cheese sandwich again but the staff said their monthly specials are always very popular.

    Mo S.

    Stopped inside Optimist Hall for lunch. I love grilled cheese so decided to give them a try. We had the pig mac, which was pulled pork and the Texas cheesestesk, brisket grilled cheese with tomato soup. Perfect meal on a cold day. The lady that took our order was helpful when we had questions. She kept track of the many orders that were flowing through and when mine came up she remembered what was mine and alerted me that it was ready. There seemed to be a great flow of dine in verses to go orders. It was orderly and clean. Great customer service. The grilled cheeses did not disappoint. The Texas cheesteak brisket was my favorite but the pig mac was good too. The bread was toasted with a perfect crisp and the sandwiches were very cheesy. The soup was good and light, not overly tomatoey, but it was a tad bit too thin and soupy. I like my soup slightly thicker. The taste was good tho. I also tried the frose, which was a frozen Rose' drink. It was really good. good. I can't wait to go back and try the other unique grilled cheeses.

    Little Cheesy from Papi Queso at Optimist Hall, Charlotte
    Bruce K.

    No more chasing after the food truck, Papi Queso and their amazing grilled cheese have landed at Optimist Hall. After walking the circuit and checking out to see if there was anything else we would regret missing, we circled back to the neon moustache and ordered the classic "Little Cheesy." A few minutes later, the pager buzzed and I picked up half of our dinner. A perfectly toasted grilled sandwich. Inside, American cheese, provolone and cheddar all combined for a rich tangy cheese deliciousness. This is grilled cheese for grown ups! Of course, they have tomato soup and fries and sandwiches that also include brisket or pulled pork or buffalo chicken. But for our first go with Papi Queso, we stuck with the classic and it was the right choice. Delish! [Round number 23100 overall - review 2081 of 2024 - 3763 in North Carolina]

    Ashley C.

    Love that it is in a food hall! This little restaurant had a few seats in front at the bar. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. Thankfully we put our orders in before the rush came. But the food was superb. I got the spaghetti grilled cheese and it was so nostalgic. It was hearty, the flavors were on point, and it wasn't rushed to be cooked

    Spaghetti grilled cheese
    Elizabeth H.

    We loved the spaghetti grilled cheese- yummy. It was like cheesy spaghetti inside garlic bread. I had to share it- it was SO heavy. The area itself is cool too with it being inside the renovated mill with shops and restaurants. Service was friendly and quick. My friend got champagne on draft, and the portion was quite large. Overall- would definitely recommend attain.

    D A.

    After always hearing about it, I finally got to Optimist Park to try Papi Queso. I've been loving grilled cheese since I was a little girl. However, I let fear keep me from being too adventurous and just went with the little cheese. I didn't want to get something that I wouldn't enjoy, especially as this is the most I'd be paying for a grilled cheese. There was a short wait as they were busy while I was there. The staff was pleasant. I think I'll try the pulled pork or the mac and cheese next time.

    Mac Melt Grilled Cheese

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Papi Queso

    Does anyone know where they will be located Wednesday?

    Their twitter account says they'll be at 2940 commonwealth ave from 6-8pm. Check out their twitter. It's the most up to date. Hope this helps!

    View All 2 Questions

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    Culinary Dropout

    Culinary Dropout

    4.1
    (391 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Happy hour specials

    I want to give a HUGE shoutout to Eric who was working the bar 7/9. I lost my card and was pretty…read moresure I left it there but when I returned I couldn't find it and Eric couldn't either after spending a good amount of time thoroughly looking - which I very much appreciated. I left my name and number in case they found it but I wasn't hopeful and was leaving town the next day. Eric found it and gave me a call a couple hours later. He even offered to run it out to me if I called and let them know I was near so we wouldn't have to deal with parking. I've never had a server go above and beyond like this. I would highly recommend this place on service alone but the food was great too! Thank you again Eric! You are the best!

    DO NOT GO! AVOID - Worst Dining Experience I've Ever Had…read more Do you want a bad time? Come here! If you are looking to ruin your night, this is the place to do it. I cannot recommend strongly enough that you take your business elsewhere. We ended up leaving after 90 minutes of pure frustration. We had no food, were being dripped on by a leak in the ceiling, received terrible service, and were served the wrong drinks. Here is the breakdown of why this place is a disaster: Poor Beginning: It took 10 minutes to be seated, which was understandable given the concert nearby. However, once seated, we sat for another 20 minutes before even getting water. I watched our waiter visit every surrounding table while what felt like he was pointedly ignoring ours. Seating: as our waiter brought our water and took our drink order, something started dripping on me. The waiter caught it and we also shortly after called it out as it continued requesting a new seat. They said we'll look to move you. Fast forward 30 minutes, the waiter said he's waiting for a table in his section to open up to MOVE ME FROM THE DRIPPING WATER. He prioritized his payout over our comfort, and we were never moved. Drinks: It took 30 minutes to get our drinks, even though I could see them sitting at the bar for at least 15 minutes while our waiter chatted with other tables. To top it off, my boyfriend was served the wrong beer, but the service was so slow we didn't even bother asking for a correction. Food: We ordered a starter early on as we were starving, but it never arrived. To make matters worse, a table of ten seated next to us ordered their mains, ate, and paid their tab before our starter ever showed up. We eventually decided to just leave rather than wait for the appetizer we never received. The only "positive" was that the manager eventually comped our two drinks, but even that took 10 minutes to process while we were trying to pay our tab and escape. Save your time and go literally anywhere else.

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    Culinary Dropout
    Culinary Dropout
    Culinary Dropout

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    The Crunkleton

    The Crunkleton

    4.5
    (529 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    I normally don't leave reviews, but after what I witnessed tonight, I felt like I had to say…read moresomething. My husband and I were seated near a table that spent almost the entire evening talking down to one of the servers -- the taller guy with the tattoos down his left arm. From where we were sitting, he stayed calm, polite, and professional the whole time, even while being interrupted, snapped at, and spoken to disrespectfully over things that honestly weren't even his fault. At one point I genuinely felt embarrassed for the people at that table because of how rude and entitled they were acting in public. Meanwhile, this server kept handling everything with patience and a good attitude when most people probably would've walked away. I just wanted management to know that the server handled himself incredibly well last night, and as another customer in the room, I thought he deserved recognition instead of the treatment he got.

    Walked into The Crunkleton after a musical event -- second visit -- and it once again delivered…read morethat elevated, grown‑luxury comfort vibe. Their burger isn't just a burger; it's a whole moment. Thoughtfully crafted, beautifully presented, and seasoned like someone in the kitchen has standards.It's unforgettable in that "I could absolutely make this a signature stop" kind of way. Warm atmosphere, polished service, and a plate that proves they know how to turn simple into exceptional.

    Photos
    Largest bar selection in Charlotte
    Largest bar selection in Charlotte
    Caesar Salad
    Caesar Salad
    Here's an example of their vintage offerings.  This old dusty was distilled in 1960.  Great pour!

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    Here's an example of their vintage offerings. This old dusty was distilled in 1960. Great pour!
    Sixty Vines

    Sixty Vines

    4.5
    (456 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$$

    I came here on a Friday night with a friend and had the greatest time! The atmosphere of this space…read moreis super cute, space and classy! We had an AMAZING waitress! Shout out to Sophia! She was extremely sweet, attentive, and super knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some really great recommendations. For drinks I ordered a NA rose. It had a bit of a dryer taste than I would have preferred as I'm more of a sweet drinker, but not bad. My friend ordered the Blackberry Sage and Soda and really enjoyed it. For an appetizer, we ordered the burrata. If you enjoy tomatoes, pesto, cheese, and bread, just get it, you won't regret it! It was very flavorful! We almost considered ordering a second helping! For the entree, I ordered the Atlantic Salmon with a side of broccolini. It was the best broccolini I think I've ever had! It was seasoned very well and had a smokey taste from the charring. My friend ordered the Creste Di Gato and really enjoyed it and the broccolini as well! For dessert, I ordered the sticky toffee cake and it was MAGNIFICENT! It was brought out warm and the flavor combinations were just so good! Right now, I'm planning to make room for it every time I come back and I most definitely will come back lol. 10/10 experience! Would recommend!

    A few coworkers and I went to sixty vines for lunch. It was my first time there and it is sooooo…read morecute! The ambiance is so relaxing and the tables are spaced out nicely. Our waitress came up right away and took our drink orders and we ordered an appetizer. Everything came out quickly. The zucchini appetizer was absolutely amazing. It was the best I've had. We all ordered the lunch special pizza with a salad for $16. We got the prosciutto pizza and Ceasar salad. Once we finished our appetizer our food came out. The pizza was way bigger than I thought! The waitress even brought out a dessert for my coworkers birthday! I can't wait to come back and try the wine!!

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    Sixty Vines
    Sixty Vines
    Sixty Vines

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    300 East

    300 East

    4.1
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    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!

    I have hear alot about this place. I came here with a few coworkers. I was told about the Matilda…read moredrink. The host was very accommodating with recommending we eat inside instead of outside. We had a few dishes: salmon, crabcakes6, chicken, flounder. Each of the dishes were very good and well seasoned. The ambience is one of an American dining. The establishment offered seating on the first floor, second floor and outside. The waitress, Laura B was amazing. She did an amazing job waiting on my party of 7. She had an upbeat personality that stayed the same the entire experience. This establishment is definitely a location to check out if in the Charlotte area.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Crab Cake
    Crab Cake
    Inside

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    Inside

    Papi Queso - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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