First Bite is a look at a restaurant that's opened recently, based on one visit -- not a full-fledged review.
The food: Aimed at a broader audience than predecessor Las Ramblas, this pairs neighborhood-grill-type food -- guacamole, wings (grilled), burgers, sandwiches -- with a few more eclectic dishes, such as four-cheese pizza with sun-dried tomatoes and arugula, and pan-seared crabcakes with blood orange fennel slaw. We had a sizable reuben, the meat cut thickly rather than paper-thin, and served on marble rye, with not enough sauerkraut but good dressing. A bone-in pork chop was reasonably hefty and really moist, with an apple chutney with a tiny bit of bite. Shaved parmesan topped the pretty four-cheese pizza, whose crust was the thin, crackling sort, done in a wood-burning oven.
The look: Much has remained from when the site served tapas (and in its new incarnation, it's still sibling to Bonterra): cow skulls still on the wall, seating still handsome and varied. The color scheme is rich rust and browns and golds. Plans call for the small patio to be open more regularly and it's a calm, attractive one, with a bubbling fountain.
The service: Attentive and eager, ours checked in often and made sure we wanted for nothing on a very slow night before the grand opening, slated for May 19, when there will be drink specials.
Details: 2400 Park Road; 704-335-8444.
Friday, May 14, 2010
First Bite: Sunset Grille
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8 comments:
Las Ramblas, one of the best kept secrets in Charlotte, closes to make room for another burger and wings joint??? This is unfortunate and becoming all too typical. Dissapointing.
"with a tiny bit of bite"? Where did you go to journalism school, Bojangles University?
My son says "Tapas = leave hungry". We have been to Las Ramblas several times, and found it extremely expensive.
I attended the "grand opening" event tonight and was terribly disappointed. Because of their connection to Bonterra, my expectations were for something with a little more class and higher food quality than what we experienced. As the first reviewer guessed, it is indeed just another burger and wings joint, greasy, fried, and oil-soaked food, no different from what you'd find in your average sports bar. They don't even offer a fresh grilled chicken breast to top your salad (instead they offered me pre-marinated (pre-cooked?) chicken strips, sounded disgusting). The patio setting was nice, but the speakers were blaring loud rock music, which made it almost unbearable. I couldn't wait to get away from there, and see no reason to return.
What about price point? Is this place casual? Are there vegetarian options besides cheese pizza and salad?
A review of service is fairly useless when a place just opens. Either it's slow because they have to gather their marbles yet and/or the server is awesome because they aren't yet jaded.
Just ate at Sunset Grille last night and this is definitely not another "wings and burger" join. For one, I actually ordered a burger which they make in the wood-fired brick oven ....it was one of the juiciest burgers I have ever had. Maybe Mr. Anonymous attended the wrong opening night because I think this is just the kind of place that Dilworth needs...a casual neighborhood place where you can take your kid, or sit at the bar and have a beer or just go with your wife for a nice meal that is inexpensive. This place goes no my short list for sure.
This new place has exactly the same dishes that 500 other restaurants in Charlotte have: burgers, wings etc. Sad!
I like how the sign says "Way too many wines", when in fact there is "Way too many TV's." We gave it a shot and I dont see myself sitting in a place that has been set up like a man cave with crappy food. Next thing you know they are going to have chest bump and beer bong nights. So get ready frat boys, put your hats on backwards and do it to it.
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