Background:
The OG Legion Brewing opened in Plaza Midwood in late December 2015 and quickly became a power-player in Charlotte’s competitive brewery scene. While we aren’t huge beer drinkers, we’ve always picked Legion as our favorite brewery because they have a good selection of sweet, fruity beers and a relaxed vibe. Three years after location number one, they opened up a grand South Park location with tall ceilings and an abundance of square footage. We recently checked out brunch at the South Park Legion, and we were very impressed with their offerings. As folks who just don’t drink beer, we both agreed we would come here for the food alone. Chef Gene Briggs runs a very professional kitchen, and we loved everything we tried. Check it out!
Not again, portrait mode!
Hi! We are friends!
Eat This:
The CUre
Roasted pork hash skillet with baked egg, green onions, and Legion hot sauce aoili
This is one of the most popular brunch items, probably because hungover people love potatoes. And really, who doesn’t? This is a classic brunch dish, and we really liked the aioli.
The ABLT Breakfast Pizza
Avocado, bacon, arugula, tomato, eggs, and parmesan aioli
Can you go wrong when breakfast meets pizza? That’s a rhetorical question. I hope you didn’t answer aloud to yourself while you were reading – that’s embarrassing!
I found this dish a bit hard to eat, but structure aside, Legion makes their pizza crust in-house, and wow, it’s a winner. Make this a fork and knife situation and you’re in business.
Baby Spinach & Avocado Salad With Steak
Fresh baby spinach, ripe avocado, Campari tomatoes, pickled red onion, toasted pumpkin seeds with an orange lime dressing
Love the amount of avocados and eggs on the menu. I felt so strong after this brunch, like I could lift a car off a baby (or a baby pug). And now steak! My protein cup runneth over. I would order this again, but I would like to sub out the spinach for another lettuce, because I firmly believe that spinach only belongs in a smoothie and/or out of my life forever.
Pork Belly Grilled CHeese
Collard greens, cheese, and a fried egg
This was a special on the day we went, and they actually kept it on for a while because it was so popular. And yes, it was as good as it looks. They had been making it with pork cheek, but they ran out and were using pork belly. We had zero complaints on this substitution.
Also, it was super nice of that alien to drop in and pose with this sandwich, but his creepy pink hand is making me uncomfortable!
Dessert:
Caramel APple French toast
Caramel apples, toasted pecans, whipped cream, honey butter, & maple syrup
That’s right: I put French toast under dessert. Because I eat dessert after breakfast, brunch, lunch, elevensies – you name it. I would also just order this on its own, too. In fact, this was my favorite dish of the tasting. FIGHT ME, JASON. Just kidding, he liked it also and we are getting along just fine, thanks for asking.
Drink:
Okay, okay – we don’t drink beer. Seriously, they brought it out and we didn’t drink it. So embarrassing. However, we do indulge in a cocktail, and hot damn, they had one of the best we’ve had in a while. They use (Scallionpancake podcast featured guest!) Farmers First coffee to make a perfect martini. Of course, we didn’t take a picture of it, because we were too busy fighting over it. Jason drank 3/4 of it, for the record. They also had a good “Southern Mary” made with jalapeño bacon and house-made Bloody Mary mix, but seriously, get the Farmers First Martini if you aren’t a beer drinker!
Artsy af bloody
Look at all these beers that starving children could have gotten buzzed on!
No picture of the martini, but plz enjoy this picture of my son and me! Also my weird hairline and the close-up on my leggings digging into my flesh.
Atmosphere:
Again, this location is downright impressive – it wows you as soon as you walk in the door. Three huge taps are the focal point of the bar and restaurant, and they span all the way up to the second floor. Yes, a brewery with two stories. The decor has a very similar vibe to Asheville’s Sierra Nevada (granted it’s a heck of a lot smaller) in that it’s brewery with a touch of upscale class.
Crush them like ants hahahhah
That’s a scary mask, bro
South Park Brewery Hospitality:
Since this was a media tasting, we can’t rate the service, but we really loved our server, Brooks, and we have had good service whenever we’ve visited the Midwood location on our own. You tell us, have you had good service here? We’re really trying to get our comments section bumping. If you’ve never been to Legion, then comment anyway and tell us your favorite type of muffin!
Pretty bar!
Frankie’s Notes:
What’s it like being the jerks who go to a brewery tasting and don’t drink beer? We’ll never tell, sorry; Frankie doesn’t want to go into great detail, but in all honesty beer makes him bloat up like a little pug balloon; Has anyone ever tried to fly by jumping off the second floor of Legion onto the ant people? You should try it!; Just kidding, don’t sue the Pancake; You know who’s my favorite muffin? YOU.
Don’t say it, don’t say it…ugh fine: YOLK PORN
Disclaimer: This meal was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are our own, and we were not compensated for this review.