Frank Scibelli and his team plan a barbecue restaurant in what was The Central restaurant and bar (and before that Cafe Central) at 1401 Central Ave. in Plaza-Midwood. He's talked with a number of folks about the 'cue itself, including Bridges Barbecue (Red's, on 74 at Shelby, not Alston's, which is in Shelby), Chip Stamey (who was a fraternity brother of Scibelli's) and Robb Walsh from Texas, with whom Scibelli has worked on his new Tex-Mex place, Paco's Tacos & Tequila. He says he's shooting to open in the first quarter of 2011.
And speaking of Scibelli restaurants, he says that Cantina 1511 in Dilworth, onto which a massive tree fell, may be back open as soon as this weekend. The tree, luckily, hurt no one and "squished a couple of air conditioning units like a Coke can" but didn't hurt the roof. He figures the repair work will be done by the weekend, but they'll have to wait for inspectors to OK it before reopening.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
BBQ comes to Plaza-Midwood
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29 comments:
Charlotte has the makings of a good BBQ city, but it has just never panned out. I hope this place does well.
Good news for folks like me in UCity. Good food is so scarce up here. At least now we can come into NoDa and Plaza-Midwood and not have to drive all the way to Southend.
Paco's Tacos was absolutely terrible. It's hard for an owner to be good at Italian, Mexican, burgers, Tex-Mex, and now BBQ.
If the lame crowd and foul food and service at 1511 are any indication, this joint will add another nail in Plaza-Midwood's coffin. It's been a long, slow process that began with the fratting up of Thomas Street, and continued more recently with the addition of Whiskey Warehouse and the death of the Penguin. PM is dangerously close to being as bland as Dilworth.
Replying to Anonymous 10/19 at 1:41pm: Yes, the only good food in UCity is Amalfi's Italian and Thai House.
I seriously hope that it's good authentic BBQ and not the garbage that seems to be prevalent in Charlotte.
At least we still have Dish.
If by "lame", you mean safer, well developed and that people who own real estate actually see increased values over time, then yes, it is getting more "lame"
I hope this place is authentic. No frills, just bbq, maybe hot dogs but a small menu. No fancy onion kaiser rolls, fresh garlic green beans, none of that junk. hush puppies, slaw (red and white)tea, plain white buns,potato chips,baked beans,bananna pudding. There are enough hipstered up places in town that fuse old with culinary school grad touch on everything. How about something close to Lexington BBQ or Stamey's. We dont need another MAc's in PM.
I think Paco's Taco is pretty good. I've been twice and would definitely go again.
It's tacos... not fillets.
The only real way for a BBQ restaurant to survive is to have a cooker on site; either enclosed or under a shed roof, have plenty of hickory wood piled up outside, and cook the BBQ through the night. If they don't do that, DO NOT EAT THERE.
I agree about Pacos. Frank usually has great food but Pacos isn't one of them. I hope he does some traveling to the best restaurants in that category to copy some of their recipes. The chips were good but the salsa wasn't. The chicken Quasadilla was not good at all. It was cold and had no flavor.
In my opinion Bridges isn't a very good BBQ Restaurant. I know that people in Shelby think so but I dont. We cook Boston Butts on the Green Egg over Hickory Chips, basting in a hot vinagar sauce and when it's done we toss the chopped BBQ in the remaining vinagar sauce and serve. Everyone says it's the best BBQ they have ever tasted. I have to agree. Frank is a great resteranteur and I hope he does well.
Must be somethng about BBQ and Mecklenburg County. Very few restaurants really qualify as BBQ restaurants here if you are used to the Lexington restaurants as your benchmark. But the good thing about BBQ is that there are so many opinions about what people like. The true test if these restaurants survive is not if their food is any good, but how many people spend their dollars there. Real BBQ lovers can spot a phoney immediately. As we have seen in Charlotte, people here don't mind paying for junk if it is the trendy place to be!
I had the signature Paco's Tacos at PT - the tacos as well as side dishes were delicious! Meat was tender & full of flavor. Salsa has a nice kick too. Definitely give it a try. It's casual inside - a jeans crowd & more comfortable than a lot of Southpark eateries.
I do hope this is good. I will be looking for that big stack of hickory out back. Otherwise, "nevermind".
Anon 3:34 PM - Honestly, yes, one could not ask for a better definition of lame. Homogeneity is as homogeneity does. Luckily, those who have invested in real estate in Charlotte (esp. CRE) are in for some extremely troubled times. The other shoe has not yet fallen. - Marc H.
I love the new Paco's. I went last night with 5 girlfriends and everyone enjoyed everything from the brisket nachos to the fried ice cream.
I am so excited to have BBQ in Plaza Midwood. I am certain Frank Scibelli will do it right in the hood!
Can't wait. We love all his restaurants.
Is the Calabash Cove still operating on Central Avenue? They had a good thing going at one time?
Yes...lame as in only worried about real estate values and generic food. Plaza Midwood was renewed through the efforts of those who cared about the neighborhood...people who are now being forced out by the generic.
I agree with what anonymous said
I can only hope that it will be nearly as good as Bridge's. I used to travel around the state every day for my job, and I tried many local BBQ joints along the way, but Bridges is the best BBQ I've ever had in NC.
Kyle Fletchers is the best BBQ around, by far. Totally agree with Anonymous 4:08 about the cooker. And that Charlotte doesn't need any more "trendy" BBQ places.
Charlotte native here, and well traveled BBQ fiend.
If you want real q in Charlotte, there is only one place. A hole in the wall in Matthews, and a sit down joint on 74 near Stallings: OUTLAW BBQ.
By far the best pulled pork in NC/SC bar none. Basic stuff - beans, chips, cue, ribs, slaw, 'nana puddin'...done right. Try it. They blew away the competition at two years of uptown Blues, Brews and BBQ.
As for Frank, I wish him the best, and enjoy eating at some of his places.
Love good bbq and the Plaza Midwood area. Can't wait to visit and see what Frank cooks up!
I agree that Bridges is the best BBQ you can find in the state. I've lived in Raleigh and Charlotte for most of my life so I have tried almost all the great BBQ places in the state. It is the best I've had.
Go east if you want real barbecue. The good stuff comes from a whole hog smoked over wood coals, best I've had is from Skylight Inn in Ayden.
If you want wood cooked, old school 'q in Charlotte, go to Old Hickory House on N. Tryon Street.
love red bridges!!
Pacos was terrible. Service was good but my food was too salty and over priced. Big daddys seems to be pretty popular. There are some good salads there too but big daddys is single handedly making dilworth fatter. That restaurant will have to expand if the customers stay loyal.
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