The Big View Diner is located on the corner of US521 and Ardrey Kell Road in Charlotte and cannot be missed - the building stands out a mile. Open for breakfast, lunch and diner this place is always busy and I was determined to find out why. We went out for breakfast during the week and this is my review.
Inside, The Big View Diner is very comfortably furnished with plenty booths, a party room and a bar area. We enjoyed our breakfast in one of the booths. The menu consisted of a large selection of omelet, items from the grill, sandwiches and an option to pick various breakfast items individually.
I opted for the egg sandwich which came with a whole range of options. I chose the scrambled egg over fried, on a biscuit over a bagel or toast with bacon instead of sausages. I also opted for a side of grits for an extra 99c.
The sandwich was delicious. The biscuit was really moist and crumbly, tasted home made. The bacon was cooked nicely and there was good portion of egg. The grits came on the side in a bowl and although they were creamy, they lacked a flavor for my liking.
My husband had biscuits with sausage gravy which was delicious and my friend had an omelet which was huge!
The service here was excellent, very attentive and the servers were polite.
I give The Big View Diner 4 out of 5. I will certainly be back for lunch and diner!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Andrew Blair's - Charlotte, NC
Andrew Blair’s is a medium sized restaurant located at the intersection of Park Road and Woodlawn in Charlotte, NC. With a large patio and a bar area, Andrew Blair’s has a variety of places to sit and eat.
I visited Andrew Blair’s as part of Charlotte Restaurant Week during which a whole host of eating establishments around the Queen City present a limited choice menu for only $30 per person. Bearing this mind, the selections I made were chosen from this menu and may not be available at other times of the year.
When we arrived at Andrew Blair’s, the parking lot was very full and it was apparent that a lot of patrons were also taking advantage of the offer. We were seated in one of the many spacious booths and were served a plate of pita chips with hummus and white bean dip to share. Both dips were delicious and the pita chips were a nice accompaniment.
As a choice of starters, of which there were four, I chose the Pulled Pork BBQ Stack. This consisted on a small square of corn pudding (almost the consistency of bread) with a heap of pulled pork in a sweet BBQ sauce topped with 2 rashers of bacon. The BBQ and corn pudding were delicious, the BBQ sauce had a hint of mustard that was divine, and although the portion size was small, along with the hummus dip earlier it was not insufficient.
For my choice of entrée I chose the North Carolina flounder served with a tasso grit cake, local corn and lima bean succotash with a white lemon sauce. The portion size for the entrée was bigger but not huge which was welcome. The fish had been pan-seared but lacked any real flavor. It was not overly cooked however and had a nice texture. The vegetables were disappointing as they didn’t taste very fresh and lacked any exciting flavor. As for the grit cake, it was quite oily, and although fairly tasty by itself, was unable to carry the rest of the quite boring entrée.
For dessert I ordered cookies and milk which were very good. Obviously homemade and still warm enough that the chocolate chips melted when the cookie was pulled apart. My fellow diners however were not as lucky with their desserts. The warm chocolate brownie was so hard it took all us with 3 spoons to break a piece off to eat it! The strawberry shortcake had beautiful strawberries but the cake was stale and lacked any flavor at all.
I think it is a shame that a restaurant, which is choosing to show itself to a new collection of diners during Charlotte Restaurant Week really failed to take the opportunity to shine by producing some adequate food. The service was also pretty poor as our waitress had a rude attitude and was in such a rush she wouldn’t even slow down for a drinks order.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars, which is a shame because it could have earned more.
I visited Andrew Blair’s as part of Charlotte Restaurant Week during which a whole host of eating establishments around the Queen City present a limited choice menu for only $30 per person. Bearing this mind, the selections I made were chosen from this menu and may not be available at other times of the year.
When we arrived at Andrew Blair’s, the parking lot was very full and it was apparent that a lot of patrons were also taking advantage of the offer. We were seated in one of the many spacious booths and were served a plate of pita chips with hummus and white bean dip to share. Both dips were delicious and the pita chips were a nice accompaniment.
As a choice of starters, of which there were four, I chose the Pulled Pork BBQ Stack. This consisted on a small square of corn pudding (almost the consistency of bread) with a heap of pulled pork in a sweet BBQ sauce topped with 2 rashers of bacon. The BBQ and corn pudding were delicious, the BBQ sauce had a hint of mustard that was divine, and although the portion size was small, along with the hummus dip earlier it was not insufficient.
For my choice of entrée I chose the North Carolina flounder served with a tasso grit cake, local corn and lima bean succotash with a white lemon sauce. The portion size for the entrée was bigger but not huge which was welcome. The fish had been pan-seared but lacked any real flavor. It was not overly cooked however and had a nice texture. The vegetables were disappointing as they didn’t taste very fresh and lacked any exciting flavor. As for the grit cake, it was quite oily, and although fairly tasty by itself, was unable to carry the rest of the quite boring entrée.
For dessert I ordered cookies and milk which were very good. Obviously homemade and still warm enough that the chocolate chips melted when the cookie was pulled apart. My fellow diners however were not as lucky with their desserts. The warm chocolate brownie was so hard it took all us with 3 spoons to break a piece off to eat it! The strawberry shortcake had beautiful strawberries but the cake was stale and lacked any flavor at all.
I think it is a shame that a restaurant, which is choosing to show itself to a new collection of diners during Charlotte Restaurant Week really failed to take the opportunity to shine by producing some adequate food. The service was also pretty poor as our waitress had a rude attitude and was in such a rush she wouldn’t even slow down for a drinks order.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars, which is a shame because it could have earned more.
Cafe Nirvana - Charlotte, NC
Café Nirvana is located in a small shopping area on Old 521 just inside the North Carolina border. It is a medium sized restaurant serving Indian cuisine, including a lunch buffet served on Saturdays and Sundays.
We arrived for the buffet on a Sunday, the place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes for a table. I don’t mind waiting for tables in restaurants as long as I am given a reasonable time frame of the wait and am reassured they haven’t forgotten about me.
When we sat down in one of the booths located around the edge of restaurant, we were brought glasses of ice water and a basket of freshly baked naan bread. This bread is like a pita in texture but a little thicker and is delicious. We helped ourselves to the buffet, starting with a selection of fried delights such as samosas (fried pastries with filling), crispy pastry discs and a variety of dips and sauces to go with the naan.
Once we had worked our way through those, we returned to take our pick of entries which included a couple of different types of rice (one plain, one mixed with vegetables and spices) as well as a range of different curries, both vegetarian and including meats. My personal favorites were the chicken tikka masala, a slow cooked chicken a mild sauce along with the vegetable mix and the lamb curry. None of the sauces were particularly spicy; a common misconception with Indian cuisine and all had a lot of flavor.
We couldn’t leave without sampling the small range of desserts on offer. We tried a small selection including a fruit salad in a very light cream sauce, a small fried doughnut type dessert in light syrup and some kind of cake with was delicious.
This restaurant provides a great mix of authentic Indian dishes and for those who have not eaten a great deal of this genre I would highly recommend the buffet so you can try a little of everything. The desserts are worth saving room for.
I would also praise the staff who despite being very busy, were attentive and pleasant.
I give Café Nirvana 5 out of 5 stars.
We arrived for the buffet on a Sunday, the place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes for a table. I don’t mind waiting for tables in restaurants as long as I am given a reasonable time frame of the wait and am reassured they haven’t forgotten about me.
When we sat down in one of the booths located around the edge of restaurant, we were brought glasses of ice water and a basket of freshly baked naan bread. This bread is like a pita in texture but a little thicker and is delicious. We helped ourselves to the buffet, starting with a selection of fried delights such as samosas (fried pastries with filling), crispy pastry discs and a variety of dips and sauces to go with the naan.
Once we had worked our way through those, we returned to take our pick of entries which included a couple of different types of rice (one plain, one mixed with vegetables and spices) as well as a range of different curries, both vegetarian and including meats. My personal favorites were the chicken tikka masala, a slow cooked chicken a mild sauce along with the vegetable mix and the lamb curry. None of the sauces were particularly spicy; a common misconception with Indian cuisine and all had a lot of flavor.
We couldn’t leave without sampling the small range of desserts on offer. We tried a small selection including a fruit salad in a very light cream sauce, a small fried doughnut type dessert in light syrup and some kind of cake with was delicious.
This restaurant provides a great mix of authentic Indian dishes and for those who have not eaten a great deal of this genre I would highly recommend the buffet so you can try a little of everything. The desserts are worth saving room for.
I would also praise the staff who despite being very busy, were attentive and pleasant.
I give Café Nirvana 5 out of 5 stars.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Toyo Sushi - Rock Hill, SC
Toyo Sushi is located in Love's Plaza on Cherry Road in Rock Hill, SC and we visited on a Saturday night. It is a medium sized restaurant with a bar area as well as a patio in front of the main entrance. It also has a space near the back with a big screen and what looked like a karaoke set up...not quite sure what this space is used for but when we visited it was showing a recording of an AC/DC concert.
As the name suggests, sushi is the specialty of this restaurant. Their menu choice is quite extensive with standard options such as Philadelphia rolls, spider rolls and seaweed salads. We ordered a whole variety of items from the menu.
The food was quick to arrive and was very fresh. The rice was tender and sticky without being overcooked. I particularly enjoyed the spicy tuna rolls as well as the eel rolls which had a delightful sweet sauce with them.
We sat at the bar and for the majority of the night, we were the only people there. There was a very apparent lack of atmosphere in the restaurant, even when others arrived they just sat at the bar and drank. Although we did arrive later on a Saturday night (around 9pm) I was surprised that there were so few people there.
The bill was a surprise too. While I am aware that sushi isn't the cheapest food to buy, and it was good, it was a little pricey for my liking. Having eaten at other sushi restaurants in the area (see previous posts) the cost here was significantly higher.
I give Toyo Sushi 3 out of 5 not due to the food, but for the lack of atmosphere and for the overall cost of the meal.
As the name suggests, sushi is the specialty of this restaurant. Their menu choice is quite extensive with standard options such as Philadelphia rolls, spider rolls and seaweed salads. We ordered a whole variety of items from the menu.
The food was quick to arrive and was very fresh. The rice was tender and sticky without being overcooked. I particularly enjoyed the spicy tuna rolls as well as the eel rolls which had a delightful sweet sauce with them.
We sat at the bar and for the majority of the night, we were the only people there. There was a very apparent lack of atmosphere in the restaurant, even when others arrived they just sat at the bar and drank. Although we did arrive later on a Saturday night (around 9pm) I was surprised that there were so few people there.
The bill was a surprise too. While I am aware that sushi isn't the cheapest food to buy, and it was good, it was a little pricey for my liking. Having eaten at other sushi restaurants in the area (see previous posts) the cost here was significantly higher.
I give Toyo Sushi 3 out of 5 not due to the food, but for the lack of atmosphere and for the overall cost of the meal.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Bonefish Grill, Charlotte, NC
Bonefish Grill is a chain restaurant owned by the same group as Outback Steakhouses. Located in South Charlotte, this restaurant specializes in fresh fish starters and entrees. They also have an extensive bar menu with a wide variety of martinis and cocktails.
We visited on a Wednesday night and were surprised to find it so busy. It appears that in June and July on Wednesdays, their famous Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer is just $5 as opposed to the standard $8. We took advantage of that and ordered one to share. The portion size was plenty big enough for two plus we were given a complimentary basket of warm bread which was delicious.
The shrimp were perfectly cooked with the right of heat (both in temperature and spice) and were served on a bed of fresh lettuce. The shrimp's batter was light, and not overpowering. A great start to our meal.
I ordered the special, one of 4 on offer that night. My order of Rockfeller Wahoo came topped with what was described as sharp creamy spinach and lump crab with jasmine rice. It also came with seasonal vegetables on the side, a mixture of zuccini, onion and carrot. The fish was perfectly cooked, though still had the skin on it which I found a little tough. The spinach was delicious, though not as sharp as I had expected, more a creamy cheese sauce with it. The lump meat however was scarce which was a shame as the little I had perfectly complimented the fish.
The vegetables were delicious in a light tomato sauce. The rice was also perfectly cooked, not too dry at all and was a delicious side to have with the fish.
I give Bonefish Grill 4 out of 5 stars. The starter was amazing and is highly recommended but I think that the lack of crab meat on the entree was not as good an accompaniment as it could have been.
We visited on a Wednesday night and were surprised to find it so busy. It appears that in June and July on Wednesdays, their famous Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer is just $5 as opposed to the standard $8. We took advantage of that and ordered one to share. The portion size was plenty big enough for two plus we were given a complimentary basket of warm bread which was delicious.
The shrimp were perfectly cooked with the right of heat (both in temperature and spice) and were served on a bed of fresh lettuce. The shrimp's batter was light, and not overpowering. A great start to our meal.
I ordered the special, one of 4 on offer that night. My order of Rockfeller Wahoo came topped with what was described as sharp creamy spinach and lump crab with jasmine rice. It also came with seasonal vegetables on the side, a mixture of zuccini, onion and carrot. The fish was perfectly cooked, though still had the skin on it which I found a little tough. The spinach was delicious, though not as sharp as I had expected, more a creamy cheese sauce with it. The lump meat however was scarce which was a shame as the little I had perfectly complimented the fish.
The vegetables were delicious in a light tomato sauce. The rice was also perfectly cooked, not too dry at all and was a delicious side to have with the fish.
I give Bonefish Grill 4 out of 5 stars. The starter was amazing and is highly recommended but I think that the lack of crab meat on the entree was not as good an accompaniment as it could have been.
Monday, June 28, 2010
La Unica - Indian Trail, NC
On my first trip to Indian Trail, NC I was taken by a friend to a Latin restaurant that she had been raving about for ages! We visited on a Saturday afternoon and already the place was getting busy. Owned by a family, this restaurant is a local legend for authentic Mexican and Latin cuisine.
As soon as we sat down we were given the customary chips and salsa, but not just one kind of salsa but four! There was a mild one that had a wonderful flavor of cilantro as well as an avocado with jalapenos and two other hotter types.
My friend insisted that I try the freshly squeezed lime juice that is mixed with lemonade and served over ice. This is one of the most refreshing drinks I have ever tasted and need to do some research online in order to make my own. My friend had a milkshake looking drink that she insisted was made from a type of oatmeal, though tasted more of vanilla to me and was delicious.
To eat, my friend ordered her favorite, a skirt steak with rice and beans. The waitress recommended to me a burrito with chopped pork, cilantro, tomato, sour cream, cheese and other flavors. The burrito was huge, enough for us to share and had the best pork I have tasted in a Latin style restaurant. It was obvious this meat had been cooked really slowly as it was so tender and just fell apart.
My friend's steak was amazing!! She was nice enough to let me taste it and I am telling you the marinade on this was divine. The meat was so tender and flavorful. The beans were freshly made, certainly not from a can!
If you ever find yourself in Indian Trail, NC stop by La Unica. I hear that if you go at night, particularly on the weekend, you are going to have to wait so be prepared, but it is worth it!!
This restaurant receives 5 out of 5 stars.
As soon as we sat down we were given the customary chips and salsa, but not just one kind of salsa but four! There was a mild one that had a wonderful flavor of cilantro as well as an avocado with jalapenos and two other hotter types.
My friend insisted that I try the freshly squeezed lime juice that is mixed with lemonade and served over ice. This is one of the most refreshing drinks I have ever tasted and need to do some research online in order to make my own. My friend had a milkshake looking drink that she insisted was made from a type of oatmeal, though tasted more of vanilla to me and was delicious.
To eat, my friend ordered her favorite, a skirt steak with rice and beans. The waitress recommended to me a burrito with chopped pork, cilantro, tomato, sour cream, cheese and other flavors. The burrito was huge, enough for us to share and had the best pork I have tasted in a Latin style restaurant. It was obvious this meat had been cooked really slowly as it was so tender and just fell apart.
My friend's steak was amazing!! She was nice enough to let me taste it and I am telling you the marinade on this was divine. The meat was so tender and flavorful. The beans were freshly made, certainly not from a can!
If you ever find yourself in Indian Trail, NC stop by La Unica. I hear that if you go at night, particularly on the weekend, you are going to have to wait so be prepared, but it is worth it!!
This restaurant receives 5 out of 5 stars.
Longitude 81 - Fort Mill, SC
Longitude 81 is a Caribbean style restaurant just off I-77. Walking inside, it is like being in a resort with an open air design and bright colors on the wall. The restaurant has a large patio and live entertainment on a Thursday but due to the heat we chose to sit inside.
Upon arrival we were told that because of some large parties, we would not be able to order any food for 30 minutes. I found that a bit strange that we were not even be able to place an order, I don't mind waiting that long for an order (as long as I have advanced warning) but to stop taking orders I found a bit strange. We actually ended up waiting longer than that, and inquired with our waitress if we could at least order some appetizers. She had to go and ask Greg, the chef if that was OK. Very bizarre I thought but Greg did allow an appetizer order!
The food itself was absolutely divine. We were a party of 6 so ordered 2 appetizers to share of Calypso Seafood Dip and Tomato Basil Flat bread Pizza. The dip had a very distinctive fish taste, which I found to be fine but my husband found it a little off putting. The pizza was a fair size - ideal for sharing. It was great and crispy with excellent flavor.
For my entree I ordered the Shrimp and Grits. The grits were perfectly seasoned, with a cheesy texture without the overwhelming flavor. The shrimp were cooked just right, not overdone and the sauce really made a great accompaniment.
As stated earlier, the food here is amazing, and I would highly recommend it. However, the service issues were not impressive and brought down my score.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars.
Upon arrival we were told that because of some large parties, we would not be able to order any food for 30 minutes. I found that a bit strange that we were not even be able to place an order, I don't mind waiting that long for an order (as long as I have advanced warning) but to stop taking orders I found a bit strange. We actually ended up waiting longer than that, and inquired with our waitress if we could at least order some appetizers. She had to go and ask Greg, the chef if that was OK. Very bizarre I thought but Greg did allow an appetizer order!
The food itself was absolutely divine. We were a party of 6 so ordered 2 appetizers to share of Calypso Seafood Dip and Tomato Basil Flat bread Pizza. The dip had a very distinctive fish taste, which I found to be fine but my husband found it a little off putting. The pizza was a fair size - ideal for sharing. It was great and crispy with excellent flavor.
For my entree I ordered the Shrimp and Grits. The grits were perfectly seasoned, with a cheesy texture without the overwhelming flavor. The shrimp were cooked just right, not overdone and the sauce really made a great accompaniment.
As stated earlier, the food here is amazing, and I would highly recommend it. However, the service issues were not impressive and brought down my score.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars.
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