The food really good. The staff very nice. And food hot came out to you. The place very nice and…read moreclean. The restrooms nice and clean too.

Hands down the best dinner in Shelby. The mushroom tart to start, a perfectly cooked filet, and an…read moreacoustic guitarist playing in the background on a Friday night. The whole place just feels special without being stuffy about it. Worth every penny and then some.

Everything was so, so good!!! We sat in the wine cellar and Luna was our server. She was super…read moreknowledgeable and answered all the questions we had. We started with the bread service. Delicious. Next was the cheese board, we were warned that it was a large serving, and while it had a lot of variety, I don't think it was massive based on other cheese boards we had. We split the Korean chicken and skirt steak. Both were exceptional!! When we're back in the area, we'll definitely plan to visit multiple times during our trip. My only complaint was how tightly packed seats are in the cellar. The table directly behind us was sat a few minutes after we were and the guests were VERY loud, so it was hard to hear each other in the small space. Not a knock on P&P, just people not being able to read a room and realize they were disturbing guests around them.

We came here for brunch during our day trip to Black Mountain, North Carolina. Here is what we…read morethought. Atmosphere: The Pure and Proper is located inside a beautiful building. It is simply decorated on the inside and outside of the space. They have an upstairs and downstairs outdoor seating area. They also have indoor seating upstairs and downstairs. It looked like they have a little grab and go bakery / coffee spot inside. Service: The service was great. All the people we met were so friendly and helpful. The place was very clean and well maintained. Food: We were blown away by the food. I was amazed by what we ordered. My husband had their 'Monte Cristo' sandwich and LOVED it. He said it was the best sandwich he's ever had. I had their 'Catfish & Grits' which were delicious. It was packed with so much flavor. I loved the pickled onions that came on top of the dish. The catfish and grits dish hit all the tasting notes. It was sweet, savory, and a little sour with the pickled onions. I LOVED it. We will definitely be back during our trip in North Carolina. We've been to several Michelin star and recommended restaurants and Pure & Proper should be on the list!

We went in late on Mother's Day and were seated right away. We did have a reservation. We were…read moregreeted by several staff, super friendly atmosphere and unique interior. Sort of reminded me of an old diner that had be renovated to a clean upscale vibe. We ordered the steak kabobs and they were mouthwatering with flavor. My fiancee got an old fashioned and I got a rabbits foot, one of their craft gin cocktails. It was AMAZING, the gentleman's ice cube I believe was made with lavender so as it melted, your drink was even more flavorful and not watered down. He ordered the shiny duck and I the beef fillet and mashed potato. Both were also delicious, this is a farm to table spot so you know it's fresh. One thing which I didn't minus a star for was considering the price point I would think they would offer a vegetable with your meal. Few spears of broccolini or asparagus or carrots, just to make it feel a little more well-rounded of a plate. The were out of a few items being a busy day/night but we didn't mind. We will try them next go around. Our server Erin was just epic, great sense of humor and very attentive! We will be back again and make sure to sit in her section. Cheers to supporting local non chain restaurants!

Focaccia with fresh tomatoes and whipped ricotta is fantastic, one thing to note though, it isn't…read morereally focaccia, more like Italian country style bread. Still delicious nonetheless. My husband ordered cheddar biscuits with whipped honey butter. Awesome solid choice for an appetizer. Short rib ragu was very wine forward, not my favorite, could reduce the red wine just a bit more, I prefer tomato and meat forward ragu sauce with short rib still has a bit of bite to it. This one since it's braised for 36 hours, it was too mushy for my liking. My husband's chicken parm was under seasoned, chicken cutlet was juicy, but the crust lacked a bit maybe because marinara sauce was poured over it, maybe double fry the cutlet before serving?! Our son's burger was fantastic, well seasoned, smash patty was still juicy and had a wonderful crust on both sides. Fries are soooo yummy, could use a bit more garlic in the aioli. We were seated in the corner facing the kitchen, so our son could see the busy kitchen and look outside through the big windows. Our waitress Jordan, she was wonderful, understanding and helpful. Overall, 3.5/5

It was 8/27 and Donna and I went here for my BD. We sat in…read morethe mezzanine area which was a first. It was interesting because you can also see/hear the cooks in the kitchen calling out orders. You also get a feel for the openness of the theater and what it must have been like back in the early days. Donna had the Chilean Sea Bass & I had the Salmon, we had the duck appetizers and a side of collards. We brought out own bottle of wine and had great service from Dalton. It was a memorable occasion and as always a five star experience.

Beautiful historic exterior, lovely ambiance, space for parties, nicely priced lunch menu higher…read morepricing for dinner, exceptional food prepared super well, delicious cocktails, amazing staff Wonderful gem for Gastonia

We've been to Culinary Dropout three times now, and this visit was a completely different…read moreexperience from our first two. The first two visits were outstanding. The first time was in November 2025 and 2nd time March 2026 where the bartenders were professional, welcoming, knowledgeable, and made some of the best Bloody Marys we've had in Charlotte. The food was excellent, and we left both times excited to come back. Unfortunately, this Sunday's visit (around 2 p.m.) felt like a different restaurant. It was much busier, and service was noticeably lacking. We waited quite a while just to be acknowledged, our drinks weren't nearly the quality they had been before, and the Bloody Mary tasted like it came straight from a mix instead of being handcrafted like our previous visits. The food was also disappointing. It was much saltier than we remembered, and we never received the Caesar salad with steak we ordered. To the staff's credit, it wasn't on our bill, so we didn't mention it. Overall, no one was rude, but the attention to detail, professionalism, and overall experience that earned our previous five-star reviews just wasn't there this time. We're hoping this was simply an off day because we genuinely loved this place and would like to see it return to the high standard that made us regular customers.

We were close to uptown and looking for an early evening dinner spot. Knowing that CD is going to…read morebe opening a location at the Bowl in Ballantyne (which is closer to us) we thought we'd give it a shot. Walked in and immediately loved the vibe. Big, open and airy. Lots of seating and a few party rooms too. Loved the outdoor seating too. If it had been a little cooler that would have been perfect. They have cornhole and ping pong and just a fun atmosphere out there. Our server was warm and attentive. We did not have to wait for refills and she was quick to answer any questions we had. We started with a few apps - the chips and onion dip and the pigs in a blanket. The chips were well salted and the onion dip was DELISH!!! The pigs were wrapped in homemade party dough and came with a honey mustard crème fraiche. They were so good!! For entrees we tried the fried chicken, prime rib dip, and the meatloaf. The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and perfectly seasoned. The mashed potatoes were so good too. The only misstep on this dish was the biscuit. Way too dense and not very flavorful. The prime rib dip was tender and came on the most crispy bread. What a great combo! The only thing that wasn't great were the fries, just nothing too special. The meatloaf dish was flavorful and came with those yummy mashed potatoes so great pairing. We didn't have room for dresser on site but we did take the monkey bread to go and enjoyed it later. Good portion size and full of apple and caramel flavor. Did not regret taking that home!! Really looking forward to this spot opening closer to home. Highly recommended

A true Charlotte staple and one that has been around for 18+ years for good reason! This little gem…read moreis quaint, cozy, dimly lit, and perfect for a date night, which is exactly how we spent our anniversary. We started with cocktails, which were delicious, followed by the pork belly bao buns. These disappeared so quickly I'm honestly impressed I managed to get a picture. The homemade focaccia was a little underwhelming on its own and could've used more flavor, but the onion jam served with it was fantastic and definitely helped bring it to life. The shrimp & grits were everything you'd expect from a Southern-inspired dish, with barbecue sauce and homemade pickled red onions adding a great twist. Then came the spätzle, and as a German girlie, I take my spätzle seriously. This one absolutely delivered! The chicken was incredibly tender, and the cilantro, scallions, chili crisp, and other spices gave it such a fun, unexpected spin. We also tried the cacio e pepe, which was simple, delicious, and clearly done right. It's one of those dishes with so few ingredients that you know immediately when someone nails it. Our only real miss was the chef's counter. I expected more of an actual chef-counter experience (you know, like interaction with the chef and a peek at the action), but the main chef seemed to be off to the side and never really interacted with us. There was someone doing some prep work in front of us, but it didn't feel like the experience I had envisioned. Honestly, I'd rather have sat within the main dining room. Still, that's a small blip in an otherwise fantastic anniversary dinner. We were too full for dessert (a tragedy), left with leftovers, and most importantly, left with a great memory as they are closing their doors soon so the owner can open a new style restaurant. Reservations are definitely recommended since it's small and fills up quickly. If you haven't been, add this Charlotte staple to your list before it's gone... you won't regret it!

This restaurant is beautifully appointed. It's intimate and small but not too loud…read more Our server was fantastic. He was there when we needed him and not when we didn't. Great recommendations! The drinks were great- we enjoyed the Smoke 'Em While You Got Em, cucumber kiss, and espresso martini. They were so yummy! Not too strong. Food was awesome- we loved the bread, catch of the day, Korean beef, Spätzle, cacio de Pepe. For dessert- pot de creme and Affrogato. Can't wait to come back!

How can you possibly find better value in America? You can't. A burger the size of my wife's head,…read morewith hand cut fries that is a meal in itself for $13?! The place makes me feel at home, service is attentive but not over the top. I love the decorations and that the owners are local and focus on quality, big portions and a hometown feel.

We visit Johnny Ray's at least once a week. The food is always great and so is the staff. Natalie…read moreis a always a great server !

We visited for brunch the day before Mother's Day. It was so crowded, even though we had the last…read moreseating. I can see why! I can't wait to go back! The stellar dishes we tried: Bloody Mary Nutella Strawberry Crepes Philly Cheesecake Rolls Pancakes Biscuits and Gravy Grits The service was great, even though they were so busy. The ambiance is fantastic, with a sweet little bee theme in a somewhat rustic space. Perfect! 10/10

Decided to check this place out on a rainy weekend morning. It was quite busy, but I made a…read morereservation beforehand so we were seated quite quickly. The restaurant is broken up into two sections, a smaller section in the front and a larger area in the back that more comfortably seats larger groups. They also have a back patio but that was closed due to the weather. They had spring menu specials for drink and food, but we stuck with the regular menu. We started off with lattes, caramel latte for him and a teddy bear latte for me. I went with the breakfast plate with turkey sausage, and he got the French toast sandwich with turkey sausage. I must advise that the breakfast potatoes are rosemary heavy. If you don't like rosemary, you won't like these. Portions are big and shareable so I recommend doing that if dining with one or more people. It was a good time, good food and we will back!

First time trying this place, and I would certainly return when back in the area. I can see why…read moreit's a local favorite, as there wasn't a single bad bite of food, first of all. Even the kids cheeseburger was nicely done, and I really enjoyed my chicken sandwich, fried green tomatoes, my wife's coconut shrimp, and all the cakes too! Prices were pretty fair, and service was friendly and fast. The restaurant is cozy and with a diner/dive aesthetic that is inviting for sitting in a tin garage, anyway!

The staff is awesome and the is the same for the food. We get to coconut shrimp, and I do not like…read morecoconut! That should tell you how good it is.

Went for Breakfast a long time ago and not sure why I have not been back but so far, I've been…read moretwice this week. I was in Lincolnton earlier this week because Bean Brothers across the street had road salt and I needed to get the ice off of my driveway. Picked up a 50 lb bag and another later on in the week. Each time I ate across the street at Lincoln Cafe and each time I had the Country Breakfast. Each time was closer to noon but the serve Breakfast all day. Place was very busy, but service was great and efficient, and they kept the restaurant moving. A County Breakfast or at least for me was 2 eggs, Pork Chop, they have other options as well), Hashbrown and Biscuit. Ordered Black Coffee and it was nice and fresh and no hint of being burned. A bit out of the way but still only like a mile from the Court House Square. Next time I'm going to explore the menu more and try some other items. I would have no problem recommending this place to anyone looking for a great way to start the day.

We had to be in the area early for an early morning appointment. Searched Yelp for breakfast…read moreoptions and Lincoln Cafe popped up. What a friendly little country café with excellent breakfast. Add rice and gravy as a breakfast side and folks we definitely have a winner. I will return just to have rice and gravy with my breakfast! I recommend.