i have a date tonight, and i only recently moved back to Charlotte and i am unfamiliar with the downtown restaurant landscape.

anyone know of a good restaurant that won't break the bank? not trying to pay $35 a plate, but i'm also not trying to get her hot dogs from a street vendor.

the girl lives downtown so i would like to go to eat around that area. thanks!

6/15/2011 12:04:27 PM

Give us a general location and preferred cuisine so we can narrow it down. I don't want to recommend a steakhouse in 4th Ward if you're looking for a Chinese place in 1st.

6/15/2011 12:07:20 PM

Merts
Fuel Pizza
Cosmos Cafe
Head into RiRa early for some hearty fare
Rock Bottom

6/15/2011 12:09:23 PM

4th ward

italian, steakhouse, asian are all in consideration

^Rock Bottom is my fail safe, but i just may end up going there because we both like beer

6/15/2011 12:09:25 PM

4th Ward's a bit limited since its mainly residential, but Alexander Michael's and The Capital Grille are solid choices.

Since you mentioned Italian, allow me to suggest Vivace. Its not quite in that area; right outside 277 in a complex called The Metropolitan. About a 5-7 minute drive from 4th Ward. Its got incredible food and wine, but the real winner for me is the view from the 2nd floor. They open up the entire wall and you can get an unparalleled view of the city skyline. Girls love that shit. Prices mainly in the teens and low 20s. Great flatbreads which I'd recommend splitting as an app. Mention my name.

6/15/2011 12:15:43 PM

please guys i have a date tonight

6/15/2011 12:22:56 PM

Yeah Alexander Michael's is good and it's in 4th Ward. I'd probably go there.

Capital Grille's gonna run more expensive than you mentioned but it's def a solid choice.

[Edited on June 15, 2011 at 12:26 PM. Reason : *]

6/15/2011 12:25:44 PM

I like philospher's stone, they have a great beer selection and home made chippers that are effing amazing. Their food is pretty awesome and its just a different atmosphere than most places.

If you don't like it then the cajun queen is nearby too.

Alexander micheals is a great place... i agree

[Edited on June 15, 2011 at 12:26 PM. Reason : .]

6/15/2011 12:26:04 PM

300 East is really good

6/15/2011 12:26:22 PM

^ It's also way the fuck out from Uptown. Based on his criteria, you might as well name a place in Rock Hill.

6/15/2011 12:30:48 PM

i went to Basil thai....it was awesome!

6/15/2011 12:33:30 PM

well I'm from around rock hill so all the uptown stuff is just uptown to me, are you trying to walk there or something?

[Edited on June 15, 2011 at 12:58 PM. Reason : it's only 5 min drive from Trade and Tryon]

6/15/2011 12:55:10 PM

Quote :

"I like philospher's stone, they have a great beer selection and home made chippers that are effing amazing. Their food is pretty awesome and its just a different atmosphere than most places. "

i like P-Stone, but this is terrible advice. if it was a random night out for a quick bite yes. but an official date, no way in hell she would dig that. And their beer selection has fallen off lately.

Vivace is a great idea. It's outside of the center city just a bit so it just depends if you were wanting to execute the post dinner "city walk" for extra ass points.

6/15/2011 1:24:14 PM

lol this is true... i actually used p-stone as a torture test.... i forgot that part

(how much will she put up with.... )

6/15/2011 1:26:35 PM

^^haha yes, there will likely be some post dinner follies

Quote :

"Since you mentioned Italian, allow me to suggest Vivace. Its not quite in that area; right outside 277 in a complex called The Metropolitan. About a 5-7 minute drive from 4th Ward. Its got incredible food and wine, but the real winner for me is the view from the 2nd floor. They open up the entire wall and you can get an unparalleled view of the city skyline. Girls love that shit. Prices mainly in the teens and low 20s. Great flatbreads which I'd recommend splitting as an app. Mention my name."

i may do this. should i mention a guy named Slave Famous sent me?

6/15/2011 1:28:30 PM

I was just being an asshole. I actually know a bartender there but he won't hook you up. He doesn't even hook me up.

But definitely try to sit upstairs and consider trying a meat and cheese tray to start off. You wouldn't think jelly and honey would work with prosciutto, but you'd be wrong.

6/15/2011 1:46:41 PM

haha i figured as much, i wasn't really going to say that.

i appreciate the heads up on Vivace, made a reservation for tonight. it's not right downtown but not too far from where she lives, so it's perfect. i'll let you know how the upstairs view works out for me...


thanks TWW!

6/15/2011 2:28:56 PM

http://www.rira.com/rira/charlotte.html

6/15/2011 2:30:30 PM

You made an ok choice, but if you had bought her calamari at Capital Grille, she'd let you put it in her butt tonight

6/15/2011 3:19:52 PM

Aphrodisiac

Women gyrating, simulating sensual acts

6/15/2011 3:23:13 PM

^^ seriously... i differ.

6/15/2011 3:42:11 PM

Nix Burger or nuthin'

6/15/2011 3:42:40 PM

update as requested by Slave Famous

the view at Vivace was marred by a horrendous storm

but she appreciated the gesture, and it went very very well.

date #2 this week.

6/20/2011 6:09:19 PM

Nice

Remember, the second date is traditionally the blowjob date

6/20/2011 6:21:23 PM

we've know each other for a long time, so we're on an accelerated path

6/20/2011 6:25:47 PM

no need for a new thread

what area in charlotte is best to stay in if you want to be able to walk to a range of places (shops, restaurants, etc)?

8/10/2011 2:20:01 PM

either southend or the epicenter area possibly noda or Elizabeth

8/10/2011 2:42:32 PM

Quote :

"300 East is really good"

Quote :

"^ It's also way the fuck out from Uptown. "

A lot of people would consider south and east "uptown". You can even take the light rail there.

Blue is really good. Good date restaurant. Little pricy though.

If you want a great date restaurant go to Bistro La Bon. Not that expensive and it's got good food and has a date feel to it. Plus it's in my favorite neighborhood.

Quote :

"what area in charlotte is best to stay in if you want to be able to walk to a range of places (shops, restaurants, etc)?"

Depends downtown if you want the downtown feel. For living and a little more diversity Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, Chantilly, Noda, etc.

[Edited on August 10, 2011 at 3:09 PM. Reason : s]

8/10/2011 3:08:33 PM

none of those areas really have "places to stay". just stay uptown and venture the local neighborhoods he listed.

but if you're in town strictly to shop and eat just stay in Southpark.

8/10/2011 3:15:58 PM

There are some good restaurants in South Park.

8/10/2011 3:25:30 PM

How's Basil doing in Charlotte??

That place absolutely crushes it in Charleston. I'm talking hour long waits 7 days a week.

8/10/2011 3:27:20 PM

Quote :

"dowtown"

8/10/2011 3:28:34 PM

Has anyone been to the Fig Tree on 7th? Been wanting to check it out. They were too good for restaurant week.

8/10/2011 3:31:31 PM

Basil is always full when I walk by. Don't think it's garnering 7 hour waits though.

8/10/2011 3:34:16 PM

http://www.threeamigoscharlotte.com/

place is dope.

8/10/2011 3:36:14 PM

^^^went to Fig Tree a few years ago...very good

also

best restaurant in Dilworth http://www.bonterradining.com/

8/10/2011 3:37:50 PM

^that place is good.

Doing this Sunday:

Quote :

"Aug 14, 2011 at 7pm start Bell's Beer Dinner at Revolution Pizza 5 unique courses. $35. August 14 @ 7 p.m. Call 704.333.4405 to reserve your tickets Breakfast Bells oberon summer seasonal Homemade banana bread french toast with local maple syrup Brunch Bells oarsman ale Arugula salad with candied walnuts, boursin cheese crumbles, and a cherry champagne vinaigrette Lunch Bells two hearted Pan seared local trout over warm field peas with a lemon brown butter Dinner Bells amber ale Roasted duck with scratchmade buttermilk biscuit, carmalized apples, and wilted swiss chard Dessert Bells porter Almond crusted cherry tart with dark chocolate gelato and bacon brittle "

[Edited on August 10, 2011 at 3:40 PM. Reason : s]

8/10/2011 3:40:00 PM

Merts was my favorite place for breakfast everyone loves the pancake house but i'm not a fan of any pancake place who has maple syrup that doesn't come from a maple tree.


[Edited on August 10, 2011 at 3:43 PM. Reason : .]

8/10/2011 3:42:43 PM

Zada Janes for breakfast.

Or John's Country Kitchen if you want some livermush or brains.

http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Overview/5133/johns-country-kitchen

Bistro La Bon HAS THE BEST BRUNCH BUFFET.

It's like $16 but it's totally worth it.

8/10/2011 3:45:05 PM

i'll start going back to beer dinners when the host restaurants in charlotte actually push the brewery to bring something other than their standard year-round releases. And don't tell me Oberon is seasonal, i know that, but it's spread as wide as any other beer these days when it's out.

take a page out of Sitti's playbook and really set yourself apart with your brewery.

8/10/2011 3:47:39 PM

Yeah the beers aren't that special but I like Bell's and the food looks decent.

8/10/2011 3:50:19 PM

Quote :

"A lot of people would consider south and east "uptown"."

A lot of people are fucking morons.

8/10/2011 3:51:31 PM

If you live outside 485 it's downtown. For everyone else yes it's South End i guess.

8/10/2011 3:54:52 PM

anyone been to dolce?

8/27/2011 9:16:04 AM

It's decent. For Italian I like Mama Ricotta or Fiamma:

http://www.fiamma-restaurant.com/

Aria downtown isn't bad either.

This place is delicious:

http://threeamigoscharlotte.com/

Went the last 2 nights. Enchiladas Mixtas is +++++

8/27/2011 9:21:41 AM

Man! Totally Bistro La Bon on Central! WONDERFUL!!!!!1

Shit, the thread changed at quagmire02. Hmmm...never been to dolce, I don't think. That is a club, right?

8/27/2011 9:33:59 AM

Italian restaurant on East. There's also Dolce Vita in Noda.

8/27/2011 9:39:32 AM

Quote :

"anyone been to dolce?"

i wouldn't say it's decent, i would say it's god damn delectable. i've been there multiple times, and every time i try something different i am always very satisfied. very nice ambiance as well.

8/27/2011 9:40:34 AM

I just can't eat a lot of Italian and I don't really like it because it always taste too rich and I feel like puking afterwards. My sister-n-law would be appalled that I just said that.

8/27/2011 9:56:21 AM

Set em up

8/27/2011 10:17:46 AM