Kids' deal

Big View Diner has begun "Kid's Night at Big View" 5-8 p.m. each Wednesday. All kids' entrees (for 4- to 12-year-olds) are half off in that time, and live entertainment, plus a movie, are offered in the party room (meaning Mom and Dad can eat in the bar or dining room). Movies start at 6 p.m. (Coming up are "Despicable Me" April 20 and "How to Train Your Dragon" April 27.) 16637 Lancaster Highway; 704-544-0313.

Now open at Cotswold and uptown

Table 274 is open at Cotswold, in the quite large former Charley’s, serving lunch and dinner six days a week and brunch on Sundays. Look for a menu focused on “handmade” fare, such as a beet-infused pasta with carrot and ricotta filling, flatbread pizzas fired over hickory, N.C. flounder with warm tomato and foraged mushroom salad, grilled pork tenderloin with collard green and truffle ravioli, burgers and more. Former Charley's owners are in partnership with the new guys, who aim to use regional products: "We're trying to support the little guy, because we are the little guy," says general manager Cameron Crummett.
274 S. Sharon Amity Road; 704-817-9721.

And the relocated LaVecchia's Seafood Grille is open at The Hearst Tower, with chef Michael Rayfield in charge. It's serving lunch 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. weekdays and dinner 5-11 p.m. nightly. 214 N. Tryon St.; 704-370-6776.

Toast coming to Dilworth

Now-closed Sunset Grille at 2400 Park Road will become a Toast, with a menu "pretty identical except for specials," confirms Brian Burchill of Toast in Davidson. That's breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, an eclectic mix that ranges from eggs and flapjacks to lasagna to salmon to chicken pot pie. You can get a look at the current menus at www.toastcafeonline.com. Look for an opening in three to four months after renovation.

Charlotte goes Eater, + links

Eater National takes a peek at Charlotte, with some local help, here. Pretty web site with a few problematic links -- but New York now has THREE artisanal grilled cheese TRUCKS? That's the kind of info we need, stat. Carne asada is not a crime, y'all.

Do you know where the pupu platter was first served? Find out -- along with defining the "century egg" and more -- here.

This is pretty much 3 1/2 minutes too long, but it IS exploding cake. Favorite: yellow guy at 3:11.

Updated: Pre-Easter treats

The uptown Ritz-Carlton hosts afternoon tea 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 23 for Easter (as well as 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 7 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 8 for Mother's Day): $30 for adults, $10 for children, this includes a finger sandwich menu, a course of warm scones and petits fours (there are alternatives for kids), plus looseleaf teas. 201 E. Trade St.; 704-547-2244.

The IKEA store offers Paskbord - a Swedish Easter Smorgasbord, as in all-you-can-eat - April 15 for $9.99 a person, $2.49 for children 12 and younger. 8300 IKEA Blvd.; 704-549-4532; www.ikea.com/us/en/store/charlotte.

The Easter Bunny will visit BRAVO! Cucina Italiana in Northlake and BRIO Tuscan Grille near SouthPark for breakfast 8:30-10 a.m. April 16. Activities include egg hunts, photo ops and more, plus a buffet, for $10.95 for adults, $5.95 for kids 10 and younger. Reservations are required and must be made by April 13; 6851 North Lake Mall Drive, 704-597-1455; 4720 Piedmont Row Drive, 704-571-4214.

New (sword chop) and coming up (5 tastes)

Chef Andreas Arboleda has finished his new menu at Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse, keeping some favorites and upscale proteins, while adding some new twists, such as white truffle polenta with mushrooms, local greens, roasted tomatoes and port reduction; Mills Family Farm (Mooresville) New York strip with roasted potato medley and Brussels sprouts; and a signature swordfish "chop," on the bone, with asparagus and white truffle butter. That's a look at the chop at right. 215 S. Main St., Davidson; 704-237-3246.

Passion8 Bistro puts on a five-course meal April 28 focusing on the five generally-agreed-upon tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami, that mysterious fifth that borrows Japanese meaning pleasant savory taste. (Think the Japanese broth dashi, or shiitake mushrooms and you get the general idea.)
$65; 3415 Highway 51 North, Fort Mill, S.C.; 803-802-7455.

Dine out, do good

Le Peep at the Arboretum will open 5-8 p.m. April 7 for a special dinner raising money for brain tumor research, in honor of Steven Gainsboro, who died of brain cancer. 8140 Providence Road; 704-540-0470.

"Short Stacks for Big Change" is coming up, 8-10:30 a.m. April 9 at Fatz Cafe: That's a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, mixed fruit and beverage for $7 for adults, $5 for kids 5-10, and it raises money for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. 10920 Winds Crossing Drive; 704-587-1772.

Every Thursday in April, both Melting Pot locations in Charlotte will donated $5 from every Four Course Fondue Feast for two ($72 per couple) to Autism Speaks Charlotte Chapter.

Bask on Seaboard will hold a monthly networking social, 5-8 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month, with free hors d'oeuvres and profits from additional sales going to Autism Services of Mecklenburg County. 1000 Seaboard St. at the N.C. Music Factory; 980-613-8282.