The Barcelona Burger & Beer Garden

Once upon a time, in a beer hall in Mooresville

Background: 
The Barcelona Burger and Beer Garden was opened in Mooresville in May of 2017 by Michal Bay, who also owns the wildly popular Aliño Pizzeria, which is located right next door. Basically, Bay is going to have all of your food desires covered in one square block. Bay developed the menu with chef, writer, and TV personality Jenny Brule, and together they have really hit all of the flavor bases on Barcelona's menu. When we were invited the other week to check out this relatively new spot, we jumped at the chance. All of our über-cool blog buddies had already told us how rad it was, so we couldn't wait to see for ourselves. 

Love the font

The kitchen team hard at work

Eat This: 
The offerings are hearty, healthy, and everything we tried was a full-on flavor bomb. My mouth is watering just thinking about all of it again! The main choices are between the burgers and the rotisserie chicken, and for vegetarians and/or people concerned with fiber and things, they offer a killer-sounding black bean and quinoa burger, as well as three yummy sounding salads. 

Perhaps one of my favorite things about Barcelona is that all of their burger offerings are grass-fed, and their chicken is antibiotic and hormone free, which is always something I look for in the meat I buy at the grocery store, but it remains elusive when dining out. We wanted to try both a chicken dish and a burger, so we could be thorough and responsible food bloggers. Or heck, maybe a salad! Soup! However, when it came time to order, well...we both just wanted a burger. We each tried to talk the other into getting the chicken, but no dice. Neither of us would bend on our burger dreams. So, here are our two beautiful burgers, but I promise the chicken was seen and noted as looking most delicious. Get the chicken, people! Live your truth. Our truth just happened to be two burgers and fries, gosh darn it. 

Madrid burger

American cheese, caramelized onion, roasted tomato, spicy pepper sauce

Gibralter Burger

American cheese, avocado, peppadew peppers, lettuce, onion, salsa verde

Bird's eye view (check out that side of Spanish beer cheese sauce and truffle sauce

Loving you is easy 'cause you're beautiful

That cheese melt though

America, America, God shed his grace on theeeeee

The whole spread 

Now with 50% more booze!

Truffle Fries

Classic french fries topped with a creamy white truffle sauce

Everything was to die for. The burgers were upscale, but they were still easy enough to eat with your hands (super important), and they tasted recognizable as a traditional, crave-able burger--sometimes I feel like fancy burgers, while tasty, are so fussy that they cross burger territory into something else entirely. The flavors were straightforward and not muddled. 

And those fries. Wow. They were perfectly crispy and equally good with or without the truffle or beer cheese sauce, although, let's be honest, a little sauce never goes unappreciated (they also offer a brown gravy option). Barceona also offers sweet potato *waffle* fries! I know. We were almost swayed by the waffle fry siren song, but ultimately decided to stick with OG white potato. Other side options include fried pickles, onion rings, baked mac and cheese, kale salad, roasted veggies, and Spanish chicken soup. I swear I almost got the kale salad. I had the intention. But then when I ordered, the phrase truffle fries tumbled out of my mouth, unbidden! I was bewitched by the truffle pig gods. They are always watching. 

Dessert: 
Barcelona offers tons of delicious looking dessert options, some of which are pictured below. However, as we had not yet visited Aliño, we popped over there for a cannoli and gelato, both of which are made in house. You can actually get the same cannolis over at Barcelona, but not the gelato, so it was worth the five step pilgrimage. Does that count as working up an appetite? 

Torte, torte, torte, goose

Chocolat

Crostada nation

Revolving container of gelato dreams

cannoli

gelato

The cannoli and gelato, like everything else, exceeded expectations. The pistachio gelato was so nutty and fresh. As the gelato is made daily, the flavors will rotate. The sweet gal who helped us said her favorite was tiramisu, which they didn't have that night. Just one of many reasons why we will be back to Barcelona and Aliño soon! 

Drink: 
Bay told us that we had to try their El Jefe, a tempranillo wine that pairs beautifully with a wide variety of cuisine. This is also the wine they use in their sangria. I am just now getting (back) into red wine--for many years I abstained as it triggered my migraines. However, I tried a glass a few weeks ago with a delicious Italian meal (had to), and with just one glass I suffered no ill effects. Hoping this is a trend that sticks, because I truly love a good glass of red with a meal. 

The boss (not Springsteen)

Jason, teetotaler that he is, enjoyed the ever-living heck out of this coke freestyle machine! Viva America! 

The dream of every eight year old (and Jason)

Atmosphere: 
Barcelona is so chill. The food hall vibe and long cafeteria-style tables make this a very relaxing environment. We saw many couples on double dates who were splitting a bottle of wine and chatting, and also lots of families with kids enjoying a quick bite. If you feel like sticking around with a beer or a glass of wine, there are lots of TVs (if there is an international soccer game on, they will be showing it) you can watch while you sip. 

Mooresville Hospitality:
The gal we ordered from at the counter was beyond helpful, and told us all of the most popular menu items and was super patient as we had our "who is getting the chicken" debate. There were lots of employees helping to keep all of the tables wiped down and the condiment area clean. The cool folks in the kitchen even gave us a wave! So nice. 

Decorative bikes feeling oh so European

Frankie's Notes: 
We don't always have fights at the ordering counter, but when we do they always end in the death of one more cow at our expense; I am writing this in a vegan café in Kansas City and feeling very guilty for the meat-eating sins of yester-week; Truffle pig gods actually rule everything around us, you just don't know because they are very secretive and good at their jobs; Frankie once applied to be a truffle pig, but they said flat-nose dogs are not helpful in that field; I wouldn't say Frankie handles rejection poorly, but he hasn't gotten off the couch in weeks; Oh wait, that's just how a twelve-year-old pug lives his life; Decorative bikes are cool and all, but I would really like to take that mint green Huffy for a spin around the block, you know? 

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. 

 

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar

Background: 
Frank Scibelli, Charlotte restauranteur extraordinaire, opened the first Bad Daddy's on East Boulevard in 2007. In 2015, Scibelli sold the prolific local chain to Colorado-based restaurant group Good Times. There are already a ton in CO, and pretty soon there will likely be locations all over the country. If you have ever visited a Bad Daddy's then you likely are not wondering what all the hype is about--it's freaking delicious! For years, the OG location in Dilworth has been Scallionpancake's favorite place to grab a burger and tots. A few weeks ago, we were invited in to try some of Bad Daddy's finest so we could share them with you all. Read on to check out what we sampled! 

Eat This: 

Fried Pickles

Served with traditional ranch dressing

Bad Daddy's is known for their fried pickles. They are unusual in that they are long slices instead of chips like you see at most restaurants. The breading is slightly spicy and holds up well on the pickles. We had never tried these, and we loved them! Definitely a new go-to order now. 

Nick's Patty Melt

On rye toast with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, mayo, and Dijon mustard

A patty melt is such a classic burger joint order, and this iteration does not disappoint. I ordered mine medium, and it was cooked perfectly--such a pleasant change from most burger places that overcook their patties. What puts this melt over the top is the inclusion of the sweet and savory caramelized onions. 

We must take a moment, however, to talk about the side: TOTS. Hands down, Bad Daddy's has the very best tater tots in town. We will come back again and again just for these. 

Bad Ass Burger

A massive 10 oz. beef patty with house-made American cheese, buttermilk fried bacon, horseradish mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. Lives up to its name in every way!

The Bad Ass Burger is the ultimate on Bad Daddy's menu. When you have the meat shakes and nothing else will do--you've gotta go Bad Ass. Jason switched out the buttermilk fried bacon for regular bacon because he really is the picture of health. This one simple swap basically makes the order a dry salad, calorie wise. The burger is juicy and savory, and satisfies that craving you get when you need a big fat burger and nothing else will do. 

And again: tots = life. If you get the fruit on the side, well, we will need to talk about that, okay? 

Oh yeah, and see that Bad Daddy's sauce? Dipping your tots into that goodness just takes everything to a whole 'nother level. Bad Daddy's sauce is made with mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, and a blend of spices. Seriously, so good. I dip my burger in it, the tots, my fork--basically everything in reach. 

In addition to their speciality burger options, Bad Daddy's also offers create-your-own burgers, chili, and salads. When I don't feel like going full-on, I like to do a create-your-own salad with a grass-fed burger patty. Another thing I love about Bad Daddy's is that they are one of the few restaurants that offers grass-fed options and unusual protein options like buffalo burgers 

Dessert: 
We didn't get dessert because we were stuffed. However, Bad Daddy's offers soft serve with toppings that we have had before, and it's fabulous. 

Way too full to even think about dessert

Drink: 
I love love love the milkshakes at Bad Daddy's! I went with the Oreo shake, because that's a flipping American classic, you know? 

If you aren't a five year old like me, Bad Daddy's also offers tons of local draft beers and a full bar. 

Oreo Milkshake

Heaven

America's favorite cookie, amiright?

Atmosphere: 
We have been to this location in Dilworth, as well as one in Ballantyne. At both locations, the atmosphere is family-friendly and clean. When the weather is nice, we like to sit outside on the patio--there are lots of fans, so it's usually lovely in the Charlotte heat we get 9 months out of the year 

Also, one of the best parts of the Dilworth location is the door to nowhere. Seriously, it's half connected to a wall, so instead of going through it, you can just walk right around it. It's a mystery to us, but we like to walk through it instead of around, just in case it turns into a magical door to Narnia someday. 

Shady & green patio

Hello. Is it me you're looking for?

Medium Rare Hospitality: 
The servers at Bad Daddy's are always polite and efficient. We have never had any issues with service on any of our visits. 

View of the bar

Frankie's Notes: 
Maybe we would eat more salads if we used Bad Daddy's sauce as a dressing; What if exiting through the door to nowhere made all of the calories from tater tots disappear?; What is it about putting potatoes in a cylinder shape that makes them taste like unicorns prancing through fields of pugs?; How many different ways can you cut a pickle?; Jason and I prefer drinks made from Oreos to drinks made from grain alcohol; Bad Daddy's cured all my meat shakes, and it was glorious. 

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. 

 

Selwyn Pub

Iconic Charlotte 

This article also appeared in the May/June 2017 edition of Epicurean Charlotte magazine. 

A cold beer, Bee Sting wings, and lounging in the sunshine on a sunny Carolina afternoon? That’s just what the doctor ordered--Doc Foster, that is. Regulars of Selwyn Avenue Pub will know Jim Foster as Doc, the co-owner of Myers Park’s number-one neighborhood destination for gathering with friends to eat, drink, and cheer on a Duke vs Carolina game. It’s no happy accident that Selwyn Avenue Pub is the premier destination for those searching for a grown up bar in Charlotte. Doc and and his father, Jim Foster Sr., also known as “Coach,” credit their long-lasting success with listening to their customers since they opened the pub in 1990. As Doc puts it, “We have stayed in business for 27 years because we listen to our customers--we want people to feel welcome and comfortable. What you see here is the result of 27 years of improv with audience participation.”

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Bee Sting Wings

The results of customer input can be seen everywhere from the menu (customers asked for the Ahi Tuna Wrap that’s now one of their best selling items), to the enclosed TVs on the patio (a customer suggested the alcove for housing the TVs back in the early 90s when no other bars had outdoor televisions). The customers are the heart and soul of Selwyn Pub and play a central part in its identity. “We want people to feel welcome here, and to feel comfortable,” Doc says, and he believes it’s impossible to become stale in the restaurant business unless “you become tone deaf” to your customers’ demands. Doc has watched many fads in the Charlotte dining scene come and go, but he and Coach maintain a steady focus on a business model that cultivates longevity and customer loyalty. The equation is simple, says Doc: “If you want to hang out in Myers Park with a lot of nice people, we’re it.”

New awning vibes

Slider nation

There is a comfortable familiarity about Selwyn Pub that resonates with its customers, but Doc never stops innovating. Case in point? A brand new retractable awning (AKA the “Selwyn Pubadrome”) was recently installed to replicate the beloved oak tree that had to come down in November of 2015. Doc knows how important the tree was to so many of his customers, and he did everything he could to salvage it. The tree, he notes, had more “check-ups” than his own children. Ultimately, however, all of the experts Doc consulted agreed that the tree could not be saved, and the soil was not amenable to planting a fresh tree in that spot. Doc spent many hours searching for a viable replacement that could replicate the feel of the tree, if not the exact look. The new awning provides many qualities the tree provided-- the sun shines through when the awning is out and allows in some warmth, but it will block heavy rain and much of the blistering heat of the sun’s rays in the height of summer. The awning stands tall at 11 feet high, so it never feels suffocating, and it maintains the patio’s open and breezy feel . Doc feels that the awning “keeps the spirit of the tree” in that the patio remains a comfortable gathering spot for the Myers Park community, and he knows his customers will be relieved to not have to cover their beers and race inside when a summer rainstorm blows in. Along with the awning, the outdoor heaters and comfy new seat cushions will ensure that Selwyn Pub remains a year-round destination (yes, all year--even on Christmas and “snow days”).

Class 'n Sass

Once you are comfortable and climate-controlled no matter the weather, it’s time to focus on food, and diners know Selwyn as a reliable spot for quality pub food. The focus, Doc says, is on “shareable items, because they support our main purpose--people come here to meet their friends.” The food, like the pub itself is “communal” and Doc and his father know that customers crave simple and high quality menu items, so their focus is straightforward: “Buy absolutely the best ingredients and don’t screw it up.” What does this mean in practice? Angus chuck beef for hamburgers, fresh not frozen hand-breaded chicken tenders, sashimi grade Ahi tuna, and Boar’s Head meat products. Their most popular item, according to everyone from the rich and famous of Charlotte to the Myers Park teenage set, cast a unanimous vote: that pizza. With unlimited free toppings and a thin and crispy crust, you really can’t go wrong with a Selwyn Avenue Pub pizza.

Veggie Pizza 

Dougbert's Dirty Martini

Doc is the first to admit that the menu is a bit schizophrenic, but it’s merely the result of listening to customers’ demands over 27 years. Initially, Doc and Coach, who are of Irish heritage, had the idea of opening up “a little Irish pub in the neighborhood.” They quickly found, however, that as much as people enjoy Irish food here and there, or as a novelty on March 17th, most customers don’t crave that type of food on a day to day basis while they watch the game with a beer. So, true to their mission, they switched up their menu to what the customers craved. And while it’s mostly wings and pizza, sometimes it’s that fancy tuna wrap that’s now a bestseller, or anything else a customer might suggest in the near future. Selwyn is unpretentious quality at affordable prices. What to wash it down with, beyond the beer, of course? “Many people” Doc says, “are surprised at our wine menu--it is a wide selection of high quality wines at pub prices.” The drink options range from ciders to cocktails to a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc.

Jim "Doc" Foster 

If you’re looking to peruse a menu online, though, you won’t have any luck; “the customers” Doc says, “are our social network.” One of Doc’s daughters did hook up the pub with a Snapchat Geofilter, but that’s as far their media presence goes. This philosophy meshes with one of the challenges Doc often finds himself pondering in his other gig, where he is a tenured professor of Law and Ethics at Queens University’s McColl School of Business. He notes that for all of the social media savvy today’s students demonstrate, they sometimes struggle with talking to one another face to face, and he believes that Selwyn Avenue Pub provides that place of social connection. Selwyn Avenue Pub harkens back to an earlier time of the village green, where people would gather together to discuss local issues and politics face to face, and not over Facebook or text; “People come here primarily because they want to socialize with their friends and meet new people, and we provide that comforting and inviting place for them to do that.” Doc believes that people crave that gathering place in their community, and Selwyn Avenue Pub is more than pleased to provide that space for the Myers Park and Charlotte community.

Did you see Selwyn Pub on Southern Charm?!

The only snafu? The notorious parking situation: “We proudly acknowledge that we’ve got the worst parking in the state,” Doc says with a laugh, but he notes that the upside is that everyone who manages to get here is “paying us the greatest compliment--they had to go through a lot to get here” he jokes. But seriously--take an Uber or hitch a ride with a friend and get down to Selwyn Avenue Pub ASAP to enjoy a few of those quintessential sunny southern afternoons this summer. And don’t waste any time, as Doc notes, “your friends are already here.”