Wednesday, August 29, 2012

UPDATE: Lobbyist calls us 'grim', NYT: 'sleepy' (but a better place to eat now)

UPDATE: A story by international news agency Reuters quotes a Democratic lobbyist who scouted 30 Charlotte restaurants earlier this year as saying the situation is "grim." The story says Democrats may have a hard time getting this convention to live up to parties of the past - between spending restrictions and lesser attendance - and quotes lobbyist Heather Podesta as adding: "Going to the NASCAR Hall of Fame isn't reason enough to be in Charlotte." (Incidentally, Heather and Tony Podesta are slated to host a Farmhouse Chic Brunch fundraiser at Halcyon during the DNC. Tony Podesta, reported the Observer's Tim Funk, swapped time at his place in Venice, Italy, for time during the DNC at an apartment near Time Warner Cable Arena. So it's conceivable her taste is ... elevated.)

The New York Times weighs in here, explaining that the city is not a barbecue town, taking special note of Price's, Luna's Living Kitchen, Good Food on Montford, Harvest Moon Grille, Pure Pizza and Fran's Filling Station, and concluding, in writer Kim Severson's words, that "the sleepy banker’s town has become a much better place to eat."

From London's Daily Mirror comes the lead: "Barack Obama has a hot date with Charlotte... and you can hardly blame him for falling for her charms. Hip, chic Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city, is easy on the eye and hard to leave." Dining was "a revelation." Places loved: Harvest Moon Grille, Rooster's Uptown and Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, where "even if you really go to town you shouldn’t pay more than £25 a head."

The Boston Globe's Sunday paper correspondent claims our "dining and drinking options abound," with shoutouts to Queen City Q, Amelie's, NoDa Brewing Co., NoDa Brewing Co., Cabo Fish Taco and Price's. (Sadly, she miscounted uptown barbecue, but hey...)

Esquire magazine features a convention shoutout to Common Market here. (Historic South End's site shows the page, to which you apparently can't get online.

The Washington Post's Tom Sietsema declares Charlotte's restaurant scene meh -- but is equally unimpressed with Tampa's, in case you're keeping (national-party-convention) score. (Worthy, to Mr. Sietsema: 5Church, Good Food on Montford, The King's Kitchen and the adjacent King's Bakery.

The New York Times, meanwhile, interviewed local folk in each location and came up with parallel recommendations for each city. Among its choices: Whisky River, Amelie's ("Best Place for Late-Night Speechwriting Takeout"), dish, Landmark Diner, Common Market, Morton's ("Most Convincing Simulacrum of Life Inside the Beltway") and Soul ("Most Likely Location of Your Intern After Hours").

For a different perspective: Inked Magazine weighs in with recommendations of The Diamond and JackBeagle's, from area tattoo artist Joey Vernon.

(If one is willing to backtrack to May, one finds CNN's smackdown between the two cities, featuring locals promoting Common Market, Phat Burrito, Soul, Harvest Moon Grille, Cabo Fish Taco, and all of these from one guy: Mac's Speed Shop, Sauceman's, Price's Chicken Coop, The Liberty, Pike's Old Fashioned Soda Shop, the King's Bakery, Rooster's, 5Church, Paco's Tacos & Tequila and Terrace Cafe.)

Have you seen what others are saying about our dining landscape? Feel free to share, or pop me an e-mail at hschwab@charlotteobserver.com. Should be interesting.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

i disagree with the assessment that Charlotte's restaurant scene is meh. I moved here a little over a year ago and am very happy with it. We have some high priced and gourmet fare and a lot of moderately priced great restaurants. the all fit the generally laid back southern side of Charlotte without being to overly pretentious like you might find in some "big" cities.

Rita said...

They named some of my favorite restaurants! (dish, Common Market, Soul, King's Kitchen) Which means I should avoid them during the DNC week :(

Anonymous said...

Please, most of everything in Charlotte is overly pretentious and mediocre at best.

Anonymous said...

Ever since Johnson & Wales opened here, Charlotte's restaurant scene has exploded (in a good way). Before that we had Athens and Waffle House and every chain imaginable. Now the chains don't seem to come here. Which is a good thing.

Anonymous said...

Even though I'm not a strict vegetarian, I am also very happy that a good number of true vegan (and some are downright creative) establishments have appeared ... that is a true sign. OH and we have at least one creperie!!!

Anonymous said...

5Church...home of the $20 lunch...below average...waiting on the next failure.

Anonymous said...

20 dollars??? lol, checked the 5Church lunch menu online and everything looks to be around 8-12 dollars...

Pretty standard for lunch uptown.

Sounds like sour grapes.

Keep waiting....

Anonymous said...

Lamb burger $10

Fries - not included $4

Drink $2

Tax and tip $5

Anonymous said...

$10 for a lamb burger is very reasonable. I had dinner at 5Church and loved it. It's not like anything else in Charlotte. I think it's worth a few extra bucks. If you don't want to spend $10 for a burger, then don't go! That leaves more room for the rest of us!

Anonymous said...

....the meal you just described matches almost every sit down restaurant pricing for lunch in uptown.

Anonymous said...

I've lived here for about 3.5 years now, and think the food scene is very good for a medium-sized city. But from growing up in South Florida, the one thing I think Charlotte is sorely lacking are good fresh seafood restaurants (not sushi - seafood). And with Wilmington just down the road I'm a bit surprised this is the case.

Anonymous said...

I've lived here for about 3.5 years now, and think the food scene is very good for a medium-sized city. But from growing up in South Florida, the one thing I think Charlotte is sorely lacking are good fresh seafood restaurants (not sushi - seafood). And with Wilmington just down the road I'm a bit surprised this is the case.

Anonymous said...

Bunch of unwashed rabble. Who needs their trash anyway? Can you just imagine this herd of scum descending on YOUR restaurant?

Anonymous said...

After looking at their reviews, I can honestly say that the reviewers didn't do their homework. Charlotte has plenty of chains, but also plenty of home grown goodies....

Sullivans, Mickey and Mooch, Cantina, Bad Daddy's, Mama Ricottas, Toast...not to mention the food trucks. But I digress, the out of towners will stick their noses up at them. Oh well, let them think we are a Roadhouse BBQ type of city.

Anonymous said...

Forgot Carpe Diem and the Customshop too. I find it funny, because a lot of the chefs at our local restarants come from larger cities like NY, ATL, etc. They came to Charlotte so they can actually do what they love to do which is to create great food.