Since we are famous bloggers now - at least to our parents - we often get asked difficult questions: What is your favorite restaurant in Charlotte? Where should I take my grandma who wants to go to a hip place that isn't too loud? When should I tell my boyfriend I'm pregnant and what restaurant should we go to after to cry? Well, without further ado, here are our top picks for summer 2016...
Best place for date night: Soul in Plaza Midwood
Salmon nigiri with fresh wasabi
y, tho?: #Javon had their first date at Soul, so clearly this is our top pick for a romantic night out. The mood lighting is spot on, their food is good, and it’s the perfect opportunity to show how adventurous you are (Rocky Mountain Oysters, google it). No one likes a picky eater--do you want a life partner or do you want to eat chicken fingers alone for the rest of your life? Man up and get the bone marrow.
You might have to wait for a table, but this is your chance to have one of their baller cocktails and find out whether or not you picked a Tinder nightmare. If you’re lucky, you will share a first kiss in the CVS parking lot.
Top menu item? You can’t go wrong with their signature item, the Pork Belly Tacos. Shoutout to the sushi.
Best place for a lady date: Dean & Deluca
The spoils of a girl celebration or commiseration
y, tho? My girls know I have to shout out our #squad’s favorite watering hole. Why is it the perfect spot to celebrate a good day or commiserate over a shitty day? You can linger for hours, munch your way around the store, laugh/cry a little, and you are likely going to want to drink away some feelings. Here’s one suggested itinerary: make two (minimum) rounds of all the free samples, purchase a bottle of wine and procure some plastic cups, eat a lot of bulk bin candy, buy a panini, buy another bottle of wine, buy more candy, call your significant other and tell them you are going to miss dinner and they shouldn’t wait up.
Do you feel disappointed that we picked a chain? Well, cheer up, buttercup, because we are lucky to have (count ‘em) three locations of this New York-based chain--the only others in the US are in California and...Kansas (we are as confused as you are).
Top menu item? A dry white wine paired with naturally colored gummy bears, obviously.
Runner up? Foxcroft Wine Bar in Dilworth (get the donuts).
Best place for a man date: Seoul Food Meat Company
Chicarrones
y, tho? Not to perpetuate a stereotype, but most dudes like meat. Most ladies do, too, but lest I digress from my category...Seoul is a nice place for the men in your life to bond over a platter of meat, soju, and K-pop. The atmosphere is chill and the food comes out quickly. Perfect opportunity to bond, eat, and get out to go home and watch sports in bed in your boxers. Livin’ the dream. Read our review of their soft open here.
Top menu item? Green Tea Biscuits!!11!! We each shed a single tear over these beauties.
Best place to take your parents: The Summit Room
Deviled eggs, with flare
y, tho? Your parents want something safe. It’s true 98% of the time. Yvonne’s mom Bea likes Futo Buta, but it’s a long shot for a lot of parental types. Go for the sure thing. The Summit Room has a lovely atmosphere and patio, amazing cocktails, and sure-fire menu items that are guaranteed to please your parents’ sometimes picky palates. Read our full review here.
Runner up? Roosters in Southpark or Uptown
Best place to go on a Sunday: TIE--Super G Mart & Ru Sans
Literally not going tomorrow YOU CAN'T MAKE ME
y, tho? It is so nice to begin a week on a note of good sushi or bubble tea. Also, Ru Sans tends to not be as crazy crowded on Sunday, and who feels like cooking when you have the Sunday Scaries? Not me. I never cook on Sundays because I am too busy freaking out about my unfinished lesson plans and grading, so I have to lie in bed for a long time contemplating my life choices. Duh.
Super G Mart is where we go for #HoneyBunSundays. Inside of Super G Mart (an oasis located off of the wasteland of Independence) there is a cafe called Honey Bun’s. Here they have delights including taro buns, bahn mi, fried rice, pho, and other wonders. Wandering around a large Asian market and looking at foreign candy and durian is a great way to distract you from the fact that you have to go to FREAKING WORK the next day. Ew.
Top menu item? Ru Sans: Curry Rice Ball & Honey Bun’s: Almond Milk Tea with Boba
Best place to go when you wanna feel healthy AF: Chopt
Oh dis beautiful
y, tho? Another chain, but seriously: Chopt is the best thing to come from New York since Jason moved back home from NYU. The salads are huge, actually healthy (unlike some takeout salads), and customizable. You can specify how much dressing you would like, just how chopped you want your salad, and all of the toppings. What is it about chopping that makes a salad so much more appealing? This place gets crazy busy with lululemon cult members around lunch time, so plan your visits accordingly.
Top menu item? The freaking tea! So good. Top off the organic green tea with the raspberry lemonade for a hint of sweetness.
Best place to go for brunch: littleSpoon
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
y, tho? littleSpoon straight up innovates on their menu. There is not another brunch place in town that offers such creative and delicious menu offerings. They serve a solid mix of standard brunch fare, southern favorites, and healthier items. And who doesn’t like a side of hardcore rap with their morning meal?
Top menu item? Cinnamon brûlée toast & pork belly bacon.
Best place for pizza: Blaze
y, tho? Yvonne is constantly on the search for the best pizza, because she loves pizza almost as much as she loves saltines (#deathrowmeal). She used to be a devotee of Fuel (much to the chagrin of her friends), but Blaze blows Fuel out of the water, plus the chain is partly owned by LeBron James (Ohio pride + sportiness = win/win).
Runner up? Intermezzo in Midwood
Best place to take out of town guests when you want to prove that Charlotte is the shit: Fahrenheit
YAY FOOD AND PRETTY VIEWS
y, tho? If you visit Fahrenheit and don’t take a picture on their rooftop deck with the Charlotte skyline in the back, did you even go? No, definitely not. You were at home being friendless and hopelessly uncool, so for the love of god TAKE THAT COUPLE SHOT. Take two for good measure.
Oh yeah, the food is good, too. Our favorites include the Charlotte “Nachos,” the Kobe Beef Short Rib Steamed Buns, and the Lobster Mac.
Runner up? Passion8 in Elizabeth
Best place to take Grandma: Nowhere. Literally no where.
Like, I'll go to The Punch Room, but I'm not gonna like it
y, tho? Actual Grandma quote: “You know, I was thinking, and there is really no place I like to eat anymore. There’s just nothing that's any good.” Solution? Grandma will just cook, and that’s the best cuisine in Charlotte/Ft. Mill, hands down.
Top Grandma dish? Chocolate pie. Only available on birthdays.
Frankie’s Notes: Identity crisis: are we still allowed to have a food blog if we like so many chains?; Eating fried beef testicles will either cement your love and lifetime devotion to adventurous eats, or have you driving to an Olive Garden together ASAP; Sundays are for lovers & freaking out; #sundayscaries; LeBron can ball AND sell pizza--what do you do?; Yvonne does the saltine challenge just for fun; If you go to Grandma’s and try to "order" a chocolate pie, she will cut you and press her life alert. Unless it’s your birthday, of course.