The newest restaurant in the Blakeney shopping area in South Charlotte is Blue Basil Thai restaurant. Open every day, it serves a lunch menu Monday thru Saturday and only the dinner menu on a Sunday. I find this very annoying as I typically eat out on Sundays for lunch and end up paying more than if I went on a Saturday. This was the case at this restaurant.
We went inside the small restaurant which is tastefully decorated with both booths and tables and sat at the far end. We ordered the summer rolls, along with a bowl of the chicken and noodle soup (which the menu rightly pointed out was enough for two) and the veggie delight dish with chicken.
Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, knowing the menu well. The summer rolls came in no time accompanied by a sauce which seemed to be made of light vinaigrette base with chill sauce and hoisin mixed it. It was a great combination although the summer rolls themselves were somewhat chewy and not as flavorful as some others I have sampled.
The main courses were delicious, with the sauce on my veggie delight being light and fragrant. The soup was unusual as the beansprouts and other vegetables were already in it, where as in other Thai restaurants I have seen it served on the side so that you can add it yourself.
The food was great however it was a little unusual that none of the tables had any condiments or spare napkins on them. Luckily our waiter was around so we could ask him when we needed something.
Overall the Blue Basil Thai Restaurant gets 4 out of 5 stars.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
China East - Fort Mill, SC
China East is located in a strip mall off of Highway 160. It is a smaller restaurant that the local patrons typically use for take out orders although seating is provided with booths along the walls.
We did in fact get our order to go. My husband ordered their Sa Cha Chicken and I asked for the Shrimp with Mixed Vegetables but requested a black bean sauce. The chef was more than happy to accommodate my request. Both dishes came with white rice and spring rolls.
My shrimp were very well cooked, not overdone, even considering they had been driven home before eating. The black beans were mostly cooked well, a few with a chalky texture but not enough to ruin the sauce.
My husband commented that the chicken in his was a little bland but that the sauce was fine. The spring rolls were not as crisp as they could have been but the drive may have affected that somewhat.
Overall this restaurant is great for takeout, and a quick bite. The staff are friendly but the menu is that of a standard strip mall Chinese.
This restaurant gets 3 1/2 stars out of five.
We did in fact get our order to go. My husband ordered their Sa Cha Chicken and I asked for the Shrimp with Mixed Vegetables but requested a black bean sauce. The chef was more than happy to accommodate my request. Both dishes came with white rice and spring rolls.
My shrimp were very well cooked, not overdone, even considering they had been driven home before eating. The black beans were mostly cooked well, a few with a chalky texture but not enough to ruin the sauce.
My husband commented that the chicken in his was a little bland but that the sauce was fine. The spring rolls were not as crisp as they could have been but the drive may have affected that somewhat.
Overall this restaurant is great for takeout, and a quick bite. The staff are friendly but the menu is that of a standard strip mall Chinese.
This restaurant gets 3 1/2 stars out of five.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Grinders Restaurant, Lancaster, SC
Grinders is an established restaurant on the outskirts of Lancaster, SC behind the new Aldi grocery store. We visited for lunch and were surprised by how busy the small restaurant was. We seated ourselves in a booth by the wall that was decorated with every kind of beer neon sign there is.
We order fried pickles to start which were on special. They came with a choice of dressing, we selected homemade ranch. The pickles were a little disappointing as some of them were soggy and the breading had come off. The ones that were well made were crunchy and delicious.
I ordered the chicken philly sandwich that was served with chips and a pickle spear. The sandwich was comprised of grilled chicken, sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms and provolone cheese with lettuce and tomato.
The chips served with this sandwich were a little stale and I didn't eat them. The sandwich itself was filling but not great, the chicken having very little flavor.
My husband ordered a twisted chicken sandwich which was grilled chicken served on a pretzel roll with honey mustard, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato. While the sandwich was a unique idea, the lack of flavor for the chicken was very noticeable. This sandwich was served with potato wedges and coleslaw. My husband tried to switch out the wedges for onion rings but we were told they don't do substitutions which was disappointing.
This restaurant receives 2 out of 5 because the food really wasn't that great but the service was ok.
We order fried pickles to start which were on special. They came with a choice of dressing, we selected homemade ranch. The pickles were a little disappointing as some of them were soggy and the breading had come off. The ones that were well made were crunchy and delicious.
I ordered the chicken philly sandwich that was served with chips and a pickle spear. The sandwich was comprised of grilled chicken, sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms and provolone cheese with lettuce and tomato.
The chips served with this sandwich were a little stale and I didn't eat them. The sandwich itself was filling but not great, the chicken having very little flavor.
My husband ordered a twisted chicken sandwich which was grilled chicken served on a pretzel roll with honey mustard, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato. While the sandwich was a unique idea, the lack of flavor for the chicken was very noticeable. This sandwich was served with potato wedges and coleslaw. My husband tried to switch out the wedges for onion rings but we were told they don't do substitutions which was disappointing.
This restaurant receives 2 out of 5 because the food really wasn't that great but the service was ok.
Los Aztecas, Fort Mill, SC
This local restaurant is located close to downtown Fort Mill, SC at the end of a strip mall. The restaurant is a fair size with a patio outside for further seating options. We went on a Friday night when they have a margarita pitchers on special. I ordered the combination plate with a burrito, enchilada with rice and beans.
While we waited for our food we were served the customary chips and salsa. I requested some mild salsa (although the kind served was not especially hot) and was brought a bowl of warm burrito sauce, which was a nice alternative.
The food was all hot and freshly made which was appealing. The enchilada sauce was delicious with just the right amount of heat to it and the chicken was nicely flavored.
This restaurant receives 4 out of 5 stars as the service could have been a little quicker.
A word of warning, the patio hosts karaoke on a Friday night...if you're not into that, ask for a table inside.
While we waited for our food we were served the customary chips and salsa. I requested some mild salsa (although the kind served was not especially hot) and was brought a bowl of warm burrito sauce, which was a nice alternative.
The food was all hot and freshly made which was appealing. The enchilada sauce was delicious with just the right amount of heat to it and the chicken was nicely flavored.
This restaurant receives 4 out of 5 stars as the service could have been a little quicker.
A word of warning, the patio hosts karaoke on a Friday night...if you're not into that, ask for a table inside.
Pik n' Pig - Carthage, NC
Although this restaurant is not in the area I usually review, I felt it was worth reviewing in case anyone is looking for somewhere else to go. This restaurant is located on the airfield in Carthage, NC and we were lucky enough to be able to fly in and eat. Most people there had driven in from the local area and a long line was forming before the restaurant actually opened for Sunday lunch.
This restaurant serves Southern BBQ dishes, all meats smoked on site. I ordered the chicken and dumplings plate that came with a choice of two sides - I chose hush puppies and cabbage which was the vegetable of the day. The chicken and dumplings were delicious in a light broth and perfectly tender. The cabbage was just right and the hush puppies were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle.
My husband ordered the pork chop plate, with the pork chop having also been smoked that morning. The chop was at least an inch thick (no exaggeration!) and was flavored very well with no overpowering smoke taste which can sometimes occur.
I shared a strawberry shortcake afterward for dessert. This is just one of a number of fresh desserts available on the menu. The fresh strawberries were delicious and the cake was certainly decadent.
This restaurant receives 5 stars out of 5 because of it's amazing food and personal service. Be warned though, they only accept cash or checks - no cards.
This restaurant serves Southern BBQ dishes, all meats smoked on site. I ordered the chicken and dumplings plate that came with a choice of two sides - I chose hush puppies and cabbage which was the vegetable of the day. The chicken and dumplings were delicious in a light broth and perfectly tender. The cabbage was just right and the hush puppies were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle.
My husband ordered the pork chop plate, with the pork chop having also been smoked that morning. The chop was at least an inch thick (no exaggeration!) and was flavored very well with no overpowering smoke taste which can sometimes occur.
I shared a strawberry shortcake afterward for dessert. This is just one of a number of fresh desserts available on the menu. The fresh strawberries were delicious and the cake was certainly decadent.
This restaurant receives 5 stars out of 5 because of it's amazing food and personal service. Be warned though, they only accept cash or checks - no cards.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Viet-Thai, Pineville, NC
Viet-Thai is a large Thai restaurant located off of Pineville-Matthews road in Pineville, NC. When you first walk in, the smells of delicious food overwhelm you and your mouth can't help but water. We visited on a Sunday lunch time which was a fairly busy time and took a booth on the far wall.
We started by sharing the summer roll appetizer which comprised of two fresh rice paper rolls stuffed with small shrimp, lettuce, cilantro and rice noodles. The peanut sauce that accompanied the rolls was so delicious, a mix of sweet and salty that I could literally just eat it straight off the spoon!
We decided to get two entrees and split them which our waiter was happy to do. We order a medium size chicken Pho soup with came in a huge bowl (you wouldn't need a size bigger than medium). Pho soup is a clear broth with, in this case, chicken, rice noodles and onion in it. It comes with a side plate with cilatro, a jalipino pepper, lime wedges and bean sprouts that you can add to your taste.
We also added a Thai salad with chicken and shrimp. The salad came with rice noodles, lettice, crunchy vegetables and a vinegar sauce to pour over the top. The chicken flavoring was beautiful and strong. The shrimp had a nice grilled texture. I think it would have benefited from more of both as there was a lot of vegetables which became a little monotimous after a while.
The service at Viet-Thai was impectable and they were very friendly. I would give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
We started by sharing the summer roll appetizer which comprised of two fresh rice paper rolls stuffed with small shrimp, lettuce, cilantro and rice noodles. The peanut sauce that accompanied the rolls was so delicious, a mix of sweet and salty that I could literally just eat it straight off the spoon!
We decided to get two entrees and split them which our waiter was happy to do. We order a medium size chicken Pho soup with came in a huge bowl (you wouldn't need a size bigger than medium). Pho soup is a clear broth with, in this case, chicken, rice noodles and onion in it. It comes with a side plate with cilatro, a jalipino pepper, lime wedges and bean sprouts that you can add to your taste.
We also added a Thai salad with chicken and shrimp. The salad came with rice noodles, lettice, crunchy vegetables and a vinegar sauce to pour over the top. The chicken flavoring was beautiful and strong. The shrimp had a nice grilled texture. I think it would have benefited from more of both as there was a lot of vegetables which became a little monotimous after a while.
The service at Viet-Thai was impectable and they were very friendly. I would give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
Ming Fu, Waxhaw, NC
If you have read my previous posts, you will know that I am a beginner sushi fan. As long as my trusty friends are with me who are much more familiar with this cuisine, I am happy to try anything. Recently they took me to Ming Fu, located in the new shopping center in Waxhaw, NC, a modern Asian restaurant serving both Chinese and Japanese food.
We sat in the back of the large sized restaurant and ordered a variety of sushi rolls including a Dragon roll, Tiger roll, Volcano roll, Spider roll and many others. Because we sat in the back of the restaurant, alone for the most part, our servers seemed to forget about us. Our drinks order took a while to come and the food the same.
The food itself was beautiful presented with attention to detail and creatively. The fish was very fresh and the flavors of some of the sauces were out of this world. The rice was a little underdone for my liking but not so much as to ruin the food.
While I cannot fault the food, the service was not as prompt as it could have been and therefore Ming Fu receives 4 out of 5 stars.
We sat in the back of the large sized restaurant and ordered a variety of sushi rolls including a Dragon roll, Tiger roll, Volcano roll, Spider roll and many others. Because we sat in the back of the restaurant, alone for the most part, our servers seemed to forget about us. Our drinks order took a while to come and the food the same.
The food itself was beautiful presented with attention to detail and creatively. The fish was very fresh and the flavors of some of the sauces were out of this world. The rice was a little underdone for my liking but not so much as to ruin the food.
While I cannot fault the food, the service was not as prompt as it could have been and therefore Ming Fu receives 4 out of 5 stars.
Bo-Thai, Lancaster, SC
If you are ever in Lancaster, SC, you can't help but notice that it's culinary landscape is dominated by fast food chains and franchise restaurants but hidden in a small strip mall on Highway 9 is Bo-Thai. This restaurant is family owned and has been established for about 2 years serving authentic Thai food.
The lunch menu is great value with each plate coming with a drink, spring roll and a bowl of soup included in the price. Each dish gives you the option of which meat or fish you want to add to it, making it flexible.
I had the red curry which was served following a bowl of delicious egg drop soup. The curry was served in a bowl with the rice on the side, an interesting presentation that allowed for the rice to remain sticky and fluffy. The curry itself was creamy with the flavors of coconut milk and heat from the chillis coming through but not overpowering. This curry came with a variety of vegetables which was refreshing and allowed for some extra textures.
My husband ordered a dish of vegetables, chicken in a black pepper flavored sauce. All of the vegetable were fresh and remained slightly crunchy which enhanced the flavor.
The decoration of Bo-Thai is beautiful with elegant colors on the wall and flowers scattered around. I particularly appreciated that they give real napkins, not paper, which always goes down well with me.
I cannot find anything significant to fault Bo-Thai on so it gets 5 stars out of 5.
The lunch menu is great value with each plate coming with a drink, spring roll and a bowl of soup included in the price. Each dish gives you the option of which meat or fish you want to add to it, making it flexible.
I had the red curry which was served following a bowl of delicious egg drop soup. The curry was served in a bowl with the rice on the side, an interesting presentation that allowed for the rice to remain sticky and fluffy. The curry itself was creamy with the flavors of coconut milk and heat from the chillis coming through but not overpowering. This curry came with a variety of vegetables which was refreshing and allowed for some extra textures.
My husband ordered a dish of vegetables, chicken in a black pepper flavored sauce. All of the vegetable were fresh and remained slightly crunchy which enhanced the flavor.
The decoration of Bo-Thai is beautiful with elegant colors on the wall and flowers scattered around. I particularly appreciated that they give real napkins, not paper, which always goes down well with me.
I cannot find anything significant to fault Bo-Thai on so it gets 5 stars out of 5.
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