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Gotta love Salsarita's, one of my favorite lunch spots. Fresh food, great salsa, great prices! My only suggestion would be to add grilled fish taco's to the menu.
12
Wow, not a lot of one stars in my review history so here we go......Salsarita's was the first \""Mexican\"" place I tried when I moved to Charlotte....from Phoenix. Needless to say, I had high expectations, even if it was a step above Taco Bell. My first experience was absolutely horrible--I ordered a burrito which was cold, wet and dripping some kind of funky juice. Gross.\n\nI went there a number of times after my initial bad experience and all I can think is no. I went there solely because for awhile were no other Mexican food options Uptown close to me and they offer a number of coupons in the Citpass book. But I've always been disappointed there, even up to last wk when I went there for the last time ever. Maybe it's the fact that the food had no flavor (seriously how does spicy salsa have no flavor?) or the fact that any time I used my check card there and didn't give them a tip (you know since they prepared my food), they would add a $1 or $2 in the tip line.....every....single....time. No bueno, sorry Salsarita's, you are officially Salsash***ty's in my book.
01
I adore this Salsarita's. The food is consistent, it represents the brand well, and to top it all off the staff is fantastic. They have a greeter at the door almost every day and the staff will fulfill any request. I'm a salsa addict, and they will ad as much salsa as I want. Good food, fantastic staff.
12
Good food and great staff!
12
Yikes... as much as I frequent this place, I am puzzled as to why I haven't reviewed it - or maybe I reviewed another location by accident. Anyways.... This location at Overstreet is super convenient to my office so I do get breakfast AND lunch here often.\n\nDuring the lunch rush, this place can be a mad-house with the line that stretches from the start of the counter out into the Overstreet mall main drag. There is a dividing wall to keep it all together and make sure no one jumps the line and they recently added some extra pony walls for the dine-in guests to have more privacy and more crowd control (my bet).\n\nThe folks working the line are always nice and the line moves fast (if customers know what they want and how the system works).\n\nThis location also does breakfasts and lunches for offices so sometimes you can see the booths on the side of the restaurant are occupied by items for catering.
12
This is the first restaurant that I went to for dinner when I moved to Charlotte. We popped in for dinner after a day of moving - not knowing what to expect. The food and drinks were delicious. Great seafood. Drinks were a little pricey but the atmosphere was worth it. Service was very good. Seemed like a secret local place that didn't get too crowded - we walked right in on a Saturday night.
12
The Monticello is a great place to have a civilized breakfast. They have fresh-squeezed orange juice, a nice Eggs Benedict, and even hearty yellow grits. It is located in a charming uptown Charlotte neighborhood, near a library and several museums.
12
My soon-to-be-Mother-in-law loves the Dunhill, so we had an awesome dinner at Monticello the night she arrived.\n\nTo tell the truth, I was expecting the worst (Pasta Primavera with Roasted Red Pepper, I hate you). I was more than pleasantly surprised to find several veg appetizers and an inventive vegetarian main on their exclusive menu. \n\nBut, I had to do the obnoxious - ask the chef to put an entree together for me, something I often do at restaurants of this price range. He immediately agreed, asked me a few questions, and disappeared. Not a short time later, a pile of thinly sliced cauliflower quinoa pilaf, garnished with edible orchids and microgreens, and SMOTHERED in a honey-butter broth appeared in front of my bulging eyes. DE-licious, but almost too rich for such a balmy night. He made a point of checking on his creation (which had already found its way into my belly), which was awesome.\n\nService was less formal than I expected, which was fine by me. Very small, old school feel, perfectly dim lighting. This meal reminds me that I have to stop ignoring Uptown cuisine. I hear the brunch is amazing and super affordable. I'll be back.
12
My first meal as a Charlottean was had at this establishment. I had a taste for fish, and so was pleased to find more than a few appealing options on the dinner menu. I opted for the trout, preceded by the classic french onion soup. David X. had the special, a smoked salmon pasta.\n\nThe good: the trout was delightful, well complimented by potatoes and a light tomatoey sauce. The portions were perfect, aka not too big. Basically this dish saved the experience for me.\n\nThe ok: the bread was warm (not hot) and the salmon special was pretty good too. Smoked salmon plus creamy sauce, yum.\n\nThe underwhelming: the french onion soup was not hot. The cheese was not bubbling or gooey, it was a bit congealed. Meh. And, to echo the words of others, the service was more than just pokey. This was a bit absurd because we were the only people eating in the restaurant.\n\nWould I come back? Maybe, to try the breakfast everyone seems to enjoy so much. Maybe they're a bit more on top of their game for breakfast/brunch. But probably not for dinner.
01
\""Every Christmas Story Ever Told\"" was slow and not that funny. Spoiled by comedy and improv options in bigger cities, we expected something more fast paced. The first half DRAGGED.
01
Support local! I love this place and they have a special showing of all their shows I think at least once a month called 'Pay What You Can Night'. That's just icing on the cake. I went here last night with my girlfriend and our friends and I wasn't really looking for anything fantastic in terms of talent or venue. Boy was I surprised. Maybe not so much in terms of the venue but the talent was superb. The staff and opening host of the show were super friendly. The place really has a grass roots feel to it and I love it.\n\nI would suggest anyone to come check out a show here and support this local theater.
12
This is a nice cozy place to Explore New (and old) projects. \nI came in on Friday night to see Clayborne Park. Great show, good set up. \nNice drinks\nFriendly staff\n\nI will return!!\n\n\nLOCAL NOT FOR PROFIT
12
I'm glad that a YELP event brought me here. The theater is small and feels really comfortable.\n\nParking is bountiful and free! Yes, the signs may be confusing but the friendly staff is there to ease all concerns. \n\nThere are plenty of drink and snack options and a nice sitting area out front with cozy chairs and tables. When you walk into the theater, the seats are comfy and no matter where you chose you have a good view of the stage...I appreciated that very much! \n\nI absolutely love supporting local venues and events! The play was very entertaining and it's always good to spend a night out with other Yelpers. \n\n I will definitely be back!
12
I was recently privileged to receive free tickets for myself and a friend to the play, \""The Divine Sister,\"" courtesy of Yelp Elite. I have been a fan of Actor's Theatre for several years. A big plus for this location is free and easily accessible parking. It offers snacks and drinks for sale that one can take into the theatre. Sometimes, they offer beer and wine whose names compliment the theme of that evening's production. ATC also features Cult Movie Mondays in addition to plays and musicals. This evening's performance of \""The Divine Sister\"" delivered the bawdy, irreverent humor that is characteristic of this theatre. Another success in a long line of accomplishments. Thanks to Ben and J.J. for orchestrating a fun and entertaining evening!
12
Went to see \""The Great American Trailer Park Musical\"". The show was awesome - very well produced and I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. My bar drink, while pricey, was ...generous, to say the least. It lasted the entire show! :)\n\nWe will definitely be back - we had a wonderful time and felt very welcomed.
12
Worse than Cans. And that's saying something!
01
Bar Charlotte is a place where golddiggers go to listen to pop rap and find sugar daddies. There is a huge dancefloor in the center of the bar with sweaty eighteen year olds bumping and grinding on one another, and half naked girls dancing on bars and tabletops. I really would not recommend this joint to anyone who has any real taste in music and/or respect for themselves. The drinks are overpriced, and the girls are underage. Save your time.
01
In the same (horrible) vein as the next door Have A Nice Day, this place is the definition of 'meat market'.\n\nA dark, dimly lit, sweaty joint where oversexed teenagers and college-age kids go to bump and grind to obnoxious rap and house music.\n\nFor some reason this place is often crowded, and the bathrooms are an exercise in survival, as you either get accosted by drunk or drugged-out people while in line or by the guy in the monkey-suit trying to get you to buy some smell-good or tip him as you're leaving.\n\nHorrible way to spend an evening if you like good music, care to be around people who respect themselves, and if you care to have a meaningful conversation with anyone.
01
In my group of friends we affectionaly refer to this place as where all the fat chicks hang. Why they would attract that kind of crowd and keep the bull in there is BEYOND me. If your a chubby chaser you'll love this place!
01
The bar was really fun! I had never been to a place like this before and didn't know what to expect. The drinks and music were really good. My husband and I had a blast and will definitely be back.
12
Came here twice this weekend. Is it worth the $15 cover on Fridays? Not really. I thought it was a bit too much. If you're into seeing old creepy men looking up your skirt, overpriced drinks, half naked bar girls spanking you with a paddle and acting like a drunk fool on the mechanical bull, well you found a lovely place. The DJ was great though. Nice mix of pop and hip hop music.
01
Wow, I've been here a total of 2 times and both times I've confirmed one thing. This really isn't somewhere I want to be. Very young crowd normally in here and I've equated bulls in bars to be something that just doesn't sit well with seeking a more mature crowd. But I highly doubt the owners of BAR really care because the place does get packed and the youngin's there seem to really love the place.\n\nThe music they play seems to be a good mix, they go through a cycle of typical club hits and some 70's throwback.
01
If you're a black male don't go to Bar Charlotte, they are racist. I was denied entry on 12/21/12. The door man, said I was denied entry because of my boots.On the website it says that the dress code was no construction boots, which I clearly had on Aldo boots. I am a successful, preppy looking black guy. This has never happened to me before at any other club downtown.I cant believe people are still bigots and its about be 2013 :CC
01
I'll try to be objective here. So disclaimer first, I would prefer a bar with a small dance floor over a large club with seizure inducing strobe lights any day. Yes guys, there are plenty of young girls here. It isn't difficult to find several packs of half-drunk girls to grind on, and if you lack confidence to approach at least the bartenders are gorgeous. This is the perfect place to find someone to take home, and it's so loud you don't have to worry about all the dumb things you say. Truthfully though it's just not my scene. I don't won't to sound pretentious, but this place feels dirty and you will most likely step in vomit or at least spilled beer. As others have said, it's mostly hip-hop, when I was there I rarely heard any house or trance. The crowd definitely trends younger, mostly in their teens or low 20s. I'm 25 and I almost felt too old there. But maybe that says more about me than it does Bar Charlotte. For that reason, I can't give this place less than two stars. Just know what you're getting into, it's your typical teenage get drunk and go nuts kind of club. That could be just what you're looking for. But the $15 cover on a Friday night is steep, and for me it just wasn't worth it.
01
I was banned for life from this bar in the Spring of 2006.
01
The bar itself is good and the servers do a great job but man do the patrons suck! I went once and some guy decided to \""make it rain\"" and started flipping out because dudes were picking up the money. If you're dumb enough to throw a pile of money in to the air you better bet your ass that us broke college kids are going to pick it up! It's also predominantly African American (or at least it was when I went) which is totally fine but some of them looked like gang members. I'm sure I'll get called racist for that but it's the honest truth. I also saw a lot of people getting upset over the dumbest stuff...like getting their shoes stepped on, while standing in the middle of the dance floor! I will say they had a great deal on drinks when I went! $1 for anything!
01
Upscale soul food. Cornbread, fried chicken, pork chops, salmon cakes, beef ribs, shrimp and grits, red beans, mac n cheese. Man I wish there was a joint like this in SF! My Dad once had the soft shell crab hoagie and almost cried it was sooo good...
12
This is one of the places that you have to go to if you are in Charlotte. It is local and very unique and you will not find anything like it anywhere else. \n\nThe food is interesting and the atmosphere is very unique. I have been there many times and have never been disspointed.
12
Great food, great experience - as an out of town traveler who doesn't like to eat fast food every single day, finding Mert's was a pleasure. Keeping prices down and providing a great experience is hard at any restaurant but Mert's doesn't skimp when it comes to down home food. The tables are basic and the look and feel are simple, but this shouldn't stop you from enjoying yourself thoroughly - beginning with their tasty fresh cornbread and continuing into barbeque whether it's ribs or pulled pork. Although this place is in North Carolina, I was happily surprised by a sauce that didn't overpower with vinegar. On the whole, I was very happy with Mert's and will definitely go again!
12
This was my first time coming to this restaurant and I came because a lot people and media were talking about it. I took my Mom on Sunday for her birthday. \n\nThe only thing good about our meal was the water, orange juice and corn bread snack. Actually, the OJ was room temperature, so it was 'borderline good'.\n\nI ordered smoked pork chops, home fries and green beans. My Mom order salmon cakes, collard greens and mac-cheese. The pork chops had a good smoke flavor, but they were too salty and paper thin. The fries were over-cooked and soft. The green beans were greasy and tasted sweet. Sometimes, people will add a little sugar to green beans if they accidentally add too much salt; I believe that was the case.\n\nMy Mom's salmon cakes were dry, the collard greens were flavorless and under cooked (probably just stir-fried) and the mac-cheese was dry.\n\nNot only was the food bad, but it wasn't even hot and my green beans had a little solid grease on them (eeewwwww!).\n\nI won't go back because the meal was expensive (w/tip), the parking was terrible and the food was no good.\n\nIt was a total disappointment for me. I was embarrassed for recommending this restaurant.
01
If you're new to Charlotte and still adjusting to living in the New South, go to Mert's Heart & Soul in uptown. I can pretty much guarantee that the macaroni and cheese, sweet tea, biscuits, meatloaf and all the other soul food will remind you why Charlotte is a good place to live. \n\nYou can order food from Mert's online, which is a convenient perk. I've been to a couple events catered by Mert's. Mm mm.
12
It's OK. It's soul food. The fried chicken was straight forward. Not likely to go back for just that, as Price's is much better in my opinion. \n\nI was also able to sample the BBQ pork... It was a tad weird. My girlfriend accurately pointed out it tasted like curry. I would steer clear of that. \n\nThe mac and cheese was good because, let's be honest, it's cheese and cheese is good. The collards were authentic and would get them again. \n\nOur server was very nice and attentive. \n\nOverall rating - Just an OK.
01
I had high expectations considering that I was in the South. I love the food in the South! However the experience here was not very good! \n\nI grew up eating most of the food on the menu, and I tend to make strong comparisons against that home cooking. In addition, I love food, and I have a wide taste bud ranging from various regions of the world.\n\nThe food was delivered to me at my table very very very very very hot. I was unable to comfortably eat for approx. 7 to 10 minutes. I ordered Fried Chicken, Greens, Yams, Catfish, and Banana Pudding. The previous day, my business colleague order and ate the red beans and rice.\n\nService was good. The menu needs help.\n\n1) The Fried Chicken wasn't really fried. It looked like baked chicken that was dried out. Not crispy looking, not seasoned. Not very tasty.\n2) The Catfish was a complete fish with bones. The taste was pretty good! However, I would have enjoyed it more had I not had to de-bone every bite.\n3) The Greens were good!\n4) Yams were good!\n5) Corn bread was just ok\n6) Banana Pudding was very good!\n7) Red beans rice and sausage was not good.\n\nAll and all, the Merts was just ok, However, if in town again, I would not be compelled to re-visit...and I love Soul Food.
01
The fried catfish was perfect. The sides were good too. the service was good and the people friendly. Good place.
12
What a great find in Charlotte! Mert's Heart and Soul is just that- a little bit of food love in the city. \n\nWe went for brunch on a Saturday afternoon. As we pushed open the door- we were greeted by Robin who quickly seated us, took note of my lack of accent and asked where I was from, and got us going with some great cornbread and butter as we sipped our beers and looked over the menu. \n\nBreakfast? Lunch? Breakfast? Lunch? Well breakfast won out but only by a fraction of a point as the southern fried chicken and mashed potatoes and green beans were definitely calling to me. \n\nBut I went with the omelet with ham and cheese and a side of buttermilk pancakes. My dining companion went with the eggs and country ham (ooh- that is some salty ham!) Both were served with a side of home fries. The food was great. But the service was even better. \n\nRobin took great care of us, making sure we had everything we needed and told me I just \""had to try\"" the cornbread so she brought that out as well. Loved the music- Sam Cooke, and Sam and Dave played through our entire breakfast adding to the ambiance. \n\nThis is not a fancy place. But one that serves up good food, with friendly service and reasonable prices. Breakfast for two with drinks ran about $34. Definitely on my list to go back to the next time I'm in Charlotte.
12
Well--after I was done, and I didn't finish half my plate I decided not to take home the rest and wished I didn't eat the calories I ate the catfish wasn't worth it. I decided to give them one last try on a slice of pound cake to take home with me. It was wrapped up in Saran wrap and put in a box when i opened it, the texture was dry and hard, and it wasn't big enough to charge almost $4... there were flies everywhere. I won't be back anytime soon
01
Definitely a great choice for some good southern food that isn't too expensive. I use to frequent this restaurant almost weekly before relocating to Arizona. I must say it's one of the main things I miss about living in Charlotte. Have yet to find a place like it (especially in Arizona)
12
I might move to Charlotte just so I can eat here every week. Both the atmosphere and food is excellent. Superb low country cuisine!\nI wanted to eat everything on the menu and nearly did. I ate the lamb chops - unbelievable! Mac and cheese was very good. The desserts just about killed me but I could not pass on them since I knew I was leaving town the next day. If you are anywhere near Charlotte you have to visit this place.
12
I am so sorry to rate Mert's so poorly but after the treatment received today I must admit to extreme disappointment in one of my previously favorite Charlotte establishments. After being invited repeatedly via automated email marketing, I decided to go with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday with lunch at Mert's. After the most interesting discussion (!) with manager (?) I discovered that I did not have the necessary \""proof\"" to rate the birthday \""deal\"" in spite of having a valid NC driver license clearly showing my date of birth. In today's economy, I was stunned that any food establishment would take such a tack with a good paying customer! No worries on seeing my dollars at Mert's ever again. To many restaurants want my patronage.\n-cheers
01
Would never go back! I was in a party of 3 that was seated at a table for 4, and was then asked if we could move to accommodate another group. Okay, not a big deal. However, it all went down hill from there. Our waitress was nice and polite, but we waited for close to an hour and still nothing showed up at our table. The people that were sitting at our original table had been served and had already left. We asked our waitress a number of times why we weren't getting our food, and she kept apologizing and saying \""it's on it's way.\"" But it never came. It wasn't like we ordered anything unusual, it was eggs, sausage and toast. The whole thing was weird because others were getting served, and their food was arriving at their table. Finally, we just said thanks, but no thanks and left.
01
Food was VERY good. We had a picky eater with us who claimed he did NOT like \""greens.\"" Our waitress Paris suggested he try their greens. He did. He now loves greens! I had some, too, and they were very good. The cornbread is also very good. And the fried chicken. Actually, everything we ate was very good. I ordered the catfish and was reluctant at first since they give you a whole fish and I feared getting the meat off the bones. Nothing to fear; the flesh slides so effortlessly off the bone that it was a pleasure eating it - and quite tasty with that \""special sauce.\"" \n\nParis waited on us hand and foot. She had good suggestions from the menu and she kept our beverage glasses full. She was very friendly and a delight to have serve us.\n\nWe dined outside since there was a nice cool gentle breeze blowing. I wish the outside ambiance was nicer; maybe they can surround it with more potted trees/shrubs to block it from the street. \n\nI would recommend eating here if you like good home-cooked food.
12
Good soul food in a great downtown setting. \nNot the best I've tasted but darn good. \nThe cornbread is outstanding.
12
I went to Mert's for lunch based off the reviews here and recommendations from coworkers. I wasn't disappointed. Mert's has an atmosphere that is trying to look like a dive diner, but comfortable and clean as well. The atmosphere works well here. I ordered the jumbo chicken wings with greens and mac-n-cheese as my sides. The chicken wings were big and fried crispy, the greens were very tasty as was the mac-n-cheese. The cornbread has to be some of the best I have ever had. The greeens and mac-n-cheese were not the best I have ever had, but they were right up towards the top of my list. The place was fairly busy as I expected and the service was OK. I recieved my drink and food promptly, but my server never checked back. I never really needed anything so I didn't suffer, but I can't give 5 stars because of that. If you like good home cooked goodness then Mert's is the place to go.
12
Had breakfast here, super yummy southern biscuits! Looks a little dingy but that's the charm.
12
Always friendly, the staff here will usually go out of their way to make sure you have a great meal. Everything I've tried is great, but special note goes to the cornbread and the catfish. The collard greens are also great, slightly tangy and with a good feel, not overcooked. This is soul food without going overboard on salt and fat. Of course, they are there, just not as much as some soul food places. I wish they had pie.
12
Wanted to like this place. Staff very friendly. Reasonable prices. Quick service. \nBut plates were dirty. Table dirty. Food just OK.
01
Great comfort food! Really cool find downtown near the train, museums, etc. Love it!
12
Extremely tasty food. I inhaled my plate of salmon cakes, mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. The cornbread was tasty and buttery. The service was fast and friendly, the sweet tea was syrupy sweet and the interior is very entertaining.\nMy sister enjoyed a dessert - was it sweet potato cake? Something that seemed a bit odd to me.\nAs far as uptown southern goes, I'd say Mert's is your spot for casual, friendly, quick but still very tasty - a nice place to hang out with friends. King's is better for dressy and classy.
12
Mamma better slap me, because I just sinned... \n\nLet me explain, I just got spoiled, I was rewarded with delicious food, and I didn't do anything to deserve it. You heard me, landed in Charlotte and after checking into my hotel, I decided to B-Line it to Mert's; because there was a need in me to have some good food, and I got delicious food. \n\nFirst let me comment on the service... it was genuinely amazing. I was promptly seated, and the hospitality was refreshing. The server helped me patiently figure out what was good, and we settled on Southern Fried Chicken, Collard Greens and Mac & Cheese. The Cornbread came out first, and it was mildly sweet, and tasty. \n\nLet's break down the meal.\n\nFried Chicken: From the moment I took my first bite of the chicken breast, it was perfect cooked, juicy and hot, the meat was lightly battered, and the batter that was on it, was seasoned well. It was a one of the better pieces of friend chicken I have had, not dry at all. I would eat this every day, if I lived here, and I didn't have to worry about eating fried foods. Recommendation, eat it, yum. \n\nCollard Greens: I've had collard greens before, and this was good as most. Admittedly, never had it with tomato before, but it was still delicious. I liked the flavor, and the greens were tender, soft but with a nice bite. The portion of the side was right, and complemented the chicken right.\n\nMac and Cheese: Yes Sir, this stuff was creamy, delicious, sauce done with tons of cheese flavor. It was cooked right, because you don't see any sauce/oil separation. In fact, all you do is taste the various textures, from the small clumps of cheese, to the noodles which are just cooked past al dente, but not much after. It's like creamy goodness, yummy heaven, sometimes, I think you can make Mac and Cheese just the entire meal. \n\nHere we go, I love good food... but like a good infomercial... THERE'S MORE!\n\nWhat in the world is a Sweet Potato Cake? That's lovely stuff, I had some, and it's like a tasty and the cream cheese frosting was amazing. I think they spiked it, crazy amazing, not overly sweet, the texture was nice, and it melts in the mouth.\n\nHere's the kicker; I ate all the food and this doesn't really happen much, but it was perfect portion. I'm 6'1, about 225lbs, and I thought all this southern comfort food would leave me heavy; but nope, it was just the right amount, and all for 15 dollars, with a coke. \n\nLike many other Yelpers, KICK ASS food. Location isn't easy to find at first, but you want food, and you are in downtown, make this a perfect spot, for you and all your friends.
12
SUMMARY: This was about the 6th time I've dined at Mert's. First time since joining Yelp. I was disappointed by the exceptionally long time it took for dinner to be brought to our table and by the terrible version of BBQ they offer. \n\nDETAILS:\nWe were promptly seated and had our drink order taken. The drinks came right, and the appetizer (soul sampler) came out in a very reasonable time. But it took at least another 20 minutes (maybe even 30) to get our entrees: BBQ with sides, and blackened pork chops with sides. And while the sides and chops all got good comments, we did NOT like the very molasses-heavy BBQ. This is nothing like I've ever eaten in North or South Carolina (and I'm a native). That needs to be revamped or better disclaimed on the menu.\n\nAnyway, so unlike my previous visits, I left very disappointed and unfortunately, left my out-of-town friends with a bad impression of what has usually been a good place.
01
All I can say is YUMMM!!! My fiance and I are new to Charlotte so this was our first try at true Southern style soul food. Mert's was not a disappointment. The service was friendly. Very cozy southern feeling atmosphere. Very casual and chill and best of all, not overpriced! \n\nBiggest recommendations: The cornbread is to die for!!! OMG! The chicken is wonderful and the mac and cheese is soooo good! \n\nDefinitely worth checking out!
12
Ard took a picture of his beef ribs with his Blackberry. \n\nFive minutes later: \""It's got 25 Likes! Damn, people are hungry! The economy *is* bad!\""\n\nIf a mere picture of Mert's ribs gets 25 likes, imagine how many their flavor would get. \n\nWe stopped by after the wildly entertaining nuttiness of Speed Street. After a couple of beers on a hot night, all you need is grease to soak up the booze. That said, Mert's delivered, not greasy food, but high-quality, delicious, heavy Southern food that will absorb anything left in your system, and leave some cholesterol as a gift with purchase. \n\nI got the Soul Rolls, essentially soulified egg rolls, with black eye peas, collard greens, rice, and a wee bit of diced chicken breast (though I didn't taste much of the chicken. Could have just been my particular rolls, tho). The others got varying dishes of fried chicken and beef ribs, with sides of fries, mac & cheese, collard greens, and the works. \n\n\""You know, if I worked here, they would find me in the back with my head in a bucket of this mac & cheese,\"" Ard said.\n\nYep, basically. Some of the best mac & cheese I've ever had in a restaurant. \n\nService is great here, too. Everyone was so patient with the troops of drunk teenagers who wandered in to use the bathroom, despite the sign on the door that read, \""Bathrooms for paying customers only.\"" Our server, Netta, made sure that I ordered first, as a fellow Netta. So nice! \n\nI think there's enough reviews here to cover ambiance, so I won't go on about that. But Mert's is cozy and the food is delish. Go enjoy!
12
I had the pleasure of taking a coworker to Mert's for her first time today. We had an amazing lunch! The place was packed but we didn't have to wait. The waitresses were super busy with big parties who were there for their Sunday afternoon meals but were no less charming and friendly.\n\nI've been once before and I highly recommend the Fried Green Tomato appetizer that I had last time. The chicken is excellent as is the cornbread. I had Salmon Cakes today and they were out of this world! The mac and cheese is delicious as are the greens and green beans. I could have drank a gallon of their sweet tea but I'm glad I stuck with two. We shared a piece of German Chocolate Cake for dessert. I was good and the whipped cream on the side just melted in my mouth.\n\nI don't know why I waited so long to make a return visit but trust me, I'm going to make it a priority to get back there soon!
12
This place serves excellent Low Country/Country Cooking dishes at reasonable prices - at least the prices are reasonable at lunch, $7 - $9 for a entree which comes with 2 sides and corn bread.\n\nThe Fried Chicken is excellent, The Ribs are as well, and I love the Salmon Cakes. The Fried Catfish is good, any of the Po' Boys are worth trying. The Fried Green Tomato app is nice, not as tart as some, but still good. The Collards are not to my liking, and I've tried them twice.\n\nThe Shrimp and Grits are nice, rich and creamy. But, I was disappointed in the Shrimp Creole, was bland and watery. Service here is excellent, even when this place is busy, which it always seems to be. The ambiance is homey, though it can get a little loud.
12
First let me say FREE PARKING!!!! The food was great the service was excellent the potato salad was just wonderful. The staff was super friendly the atmosphere was perfect.
12
This place is really good. The staff was great, food fresh, and a great menu. \n\nI will always return whenever in Downtown.
12
To sum up my recent trip to Mert's...pretty delicious food yet poor customer service. The only fast service was for the drinks and cornbread. Our waiter was very inconsistent and neglecting us. There were at least four tables with more than three customers which received their entrees before my girlfriend and I did. It will be a very long time before I go to Merts again.
01
GOOD food! I recommend the salmon cakes, greens, mac n cheese. Their cornbread is amazing, as well!\nThe ambiance is something out of an old soul's home...amazing pictures of celebrities who've been in town & the soul music overhead is so good!\nThe staff is friendly & attentive.\nKeep in mind, they stay pretty busy for lunches & dinners.\nWhat's REALLY good is their New Year's brunch, every Jan. 1st. $20 for all you can eat buffet!
12
This is one of those places you can go at lunch time and run into everyone from your local car detailer to power-brokers like the former CEO of NationsBank (now Bank of America). The food is absolutely delish, but be warned - your clothes and hair will smell of southern-fried goodness when you leave. If you are craving good ole soul food - aka southern \""comfort foods\"" this place is a must-try!
12
Cool, casual service and the home of probably the best cornbread I have ever had in my LIFE. In my view, you can't go wrong with Mert's. Happy eating!
12
The waitress was very nice and the food was delicious. I had the fried whiting, home fries and coleslaw. The whiting had a few bones but cooked perfect and my husband asked me to please bring him a piece of red velvet cake back to Texas. How's that for service? Nice place and I will go back.
12
This place was amazing! It looks like a little dive-bar in the heart of downtown Charlotte, but once you walk in you know you're home! Everyone was super friendly and happy to explain anything on the menu or make recommendations. I had the boneless fried chicken (how do they make plain-ol' chicken taste SO incredible?!) and couldn't decided between coleslaw, mashed potatoes with gravy, or macaroni and cheese and the waitress suggested the two starches... I was sceptical but couldn't have been happier once my meal came. Oh, and be sure to start with the warm cornbread and honey butter!
12
This is the only restaurant I had the chance to visit when I was in Charlotte last weekend and I was not disappointed. I was warned that it is a hole in the wall, but it's not. Just a casual restaurant.\n\nWe arrived around 2pm on a Saturday and were quickly seated. After ordering, our food arrived about 10 minutes later. I had the fried chicken with mac n cheese and greens. And because I'm greedy and have no shame I also got a side of mashed taters (just so I could try them).\n\nI really enjoyed my food. It was hot and delicious. The mac n cheese was very cheesy and satisfying. The mashed taters were lumpy like I like it. And the cornbread was good too. A nice little loaf with some creamy, sweet butter.\n\nI think my meal was about 10 bucks with a drink. My only complaint is that the portions were kinda small. Maybe I'm just used to bigger portions in Atlanta, but I could have enjoyed 1/4 more food.\n\nThe service was fast and friendly.
12
You get a lot of food - for a very good price. Meal starts of with giant steaming mini cornbreads. Order an entree and get choice of two sides (mac and cheese, potatoes, fries etc). \n\nFried chicken was great. Sides were somewhat disappointing. Cornbread was amazing!
12
In my opinion EPIC FAIL ...... I'm from Charlotte and my first time going there was last week and boy was i not impressed. I guess when soul food come to my mind i think of greatness because I'm from the south, it could be a lot better.
01
The food was alright and I thought that the portions were a good size. But i think that the service was absolutely terrible. My friend and I walked in and two women at the counter ignored us for a couple minutes, said they would be with us in a second, continued to ignore us until we finally asked if we could just seat ourselves and they just said yes. We then sat ourselves - and waited for about 15 minutes before someone came up and asked if we were going to be eating there. From then on out - the service still was not very good and everything took a long time. The waitress wouldn't even look at us when we were ordering - as if she just did not care. The food definitely does not make up for the terrible service. I will not eat there again.
01
I rarely give bad reviews, but this was a pretty horrible food experience. My cousin was in town today from Seattle and requested \""good soul food.\"" I've heard good things about Mert's, but have not had an opportunity to try. I figured it would be a good opportunity to show my cousin some good souther food. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. The fried chicken was pretty bland. It seemed like it was pre-made and left out for too long. The collard greens were insanely salty. Instant high blood pressure for sale! :( I ordered the salmon cakes which were really hard. I have to say that the corn bread was absolutely amazing, which makes no sense that the rest of the food was so unappetizing.
01
When we first moved to Charlotte, NC from Savannah, I was really looking forward to trying Southern food here. A lot of people suggested Mert's. One word-YUCK! We ordered simple items. Fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and collards. The chicken was tasteless and the mac was bland. The service wasn't great either. She leaned over our table,with her butt in the other patrons face the entire time. Not impressed. I went a second time just in case they were having a bad day. I ordered catfish with okra and tomatoes. Again-YUCK! The catfish was fried too hard and did not have any meat on it. The okra and tomatoes were alright. Still searching for a great southern restaurant.
01
Yummy true soul food! I always get the vegetable plate when I go because I can't choose between the many (all amazing) sides. The collared greens are the best I've ever had! Everything is salty, but that's expected at soul food restaurants. Mert's is always crowded, but you're usually seated quickly. Quickness of service always depends on the server. Seating is pretty close to other tables, but not a biggie. My biggest turn-off is downtown parking...you have to park in a parking garage and walk to the restaurant. Still a favorite of mine!
12
Definitely hidden. They serve good brunch on the weekends and you won't wait in a ridiculous line full of degenerates. Make sure to get their biscuits.
12
I've eaten at Merts a few times and even received a free birthday meal which included a drink. Very impressed. My favorite dishes are the salmon cakes and the rice and beans with turkey sausage but that dish tends to be too salty at times. Overall, nice place to eat.
12
The service here sucks. We went there and they got us the main meal before the appetizer and bread. When I requested to have my appetizer first, the waitress replied that they are expecting lots of people from the convention and they are trying to get us out as fast as possible. I immediately left. \n\nNever going to go back again.
01
I'm somewhat embarrassed about this review as I work in Uptown, love this kind of cooking, have known Mert's existed but have never gone! Remedied that on Wednesday morning and seriously had perhaps the best breakfast I've ever had.\n\nI got just the basics - scrambled eggs, sausage, home fries, biscuit and a buttermilk pancake on the side. OMFG! Perfectly cooked eggs, two huge sausage patties that were seared on the outside and moist/tender on the inside (yes they were cooked through!) :) Everything was just as I would order a breakfast if it were my last breakfast on earth. My wife had similar but substituted bacon, grits and a sweet potato pancake. she was in breakfast nirvana as well. Even the coffee was a notch above your typical breakfast joint fare.\n\nAND... As I sat there eating this deliciousness, I had to stare at the lunch special menu board and there was not one thing on it I wouldn't have ordered. There is no doubt I'm coming back soon for lunch.\n\nOn the service side it was fast, friendly and really nice teamwork among the servers with everyone paying attention to coffee cups getting low, etc. What a jewel for the Queen City!
12
Horrible!!
01
The food was great! Waitress was funny. But I still like Paschal's fried chicken better.
12
This place was just OK for me. I was pretty disappointed with the fried chicken because I felt it could have been more flavorful and more fried. I was surprised because I would have expected more. The catfish my dad and sister ordered was way more fried than the chicken my mom and me had ordered. Also, don't expect the fish to be a fillet. It's a whole fish.\n\nEven though our server was very friendly, I was also very disappointed with him. It was rare that he came by to check on us and he had also forgotten to give us the corn bread. When he wasn't there to check on us, we resorted to asking a different waitress that walked by for boxes and the check. However, she didn't bother, probably because we weren't her table. Rudeness...\n\nOverall experience could have been better, but at least we tried it.
01
I wish I could give half stars because I'd truly rate Mert's as a 3.5 (or even 3.75) out of 5. But to be fair, I will round up to 4. \n\nI have been to Mert's four times in the past year and have been pleased with each visit. The service and ambiance is great. The art and music promotes an inviting warm home-style environment.\n\nI'm only giving this place 3.5 stars because of the food. It is tasty, but not the best southern cuisine I've had. I was raised on southern cooking and am aware of variations in seasoning and techniques for one location to another. However, although good, the food does not satisfy my appetite when I'm in the mood for \""soul food\"" or southern cooking. I'm sure this varies from one person to the next. So, try it out yourself! :)\n\nAlso, I've had the catfish and chicken here, but my favorite meat at Mert's is the ribs.
12
Man, I've had this place bookmarked almost since I first found Yelp in Charlotte. I've just never had an opportunity to eat here until I had some friends staying in Uptown and they wanted a \""Charlotte meal\"". So here's to Mert's and one less bookmark!\n\nClassic Southern soul food. Collard greens and fried okra and fried chicken and sausage gravy and all those yummy things that just put weight on when you mention their names! I was tempted by so much but when the waiter mentioned their specials, I knew that the grilled pork chop in white gravy was for me. And it was. Excellent and tasty with lots of flavor and spice, I cleaned the plate and then picked up the bone for chewing. Great stuff. For sides, I had the mac & cheese (excellent!) and the yams (only meh).\n\nFor dessert, the peach cobbler was only okay - an overwheming spiciness. I think that I might have just gotten a bad scoop, because my friend who had it really liked his. The vanilla ice cream gave it the right consistency, but the flavor wasn't right.\n\nStreet parking only, but it's barely a stone's throw from the LYNX Station so consider taking the train!
12
My husband and I love food, saw all the great reviews and decided to check Mert's out. We started with the BBQ beef ribs and when my husband put a piece in his mouth, he made a sound that startled me! Lol. I was like what's wrong and he was like, \""Geez, this is awesome!\"" I had the whiting, which was perfectly seasoned. He had the salmon cakes meal. Plates were cleaned! Great find. Oh, make sure you park in the lot where they are located as this is the only lot they can offer validation for. We did save room for desert. Peach cobbler was perfect, but the strawberry cake was way too sweet. I love sweets but even this was like an overdose.
12
Had the Shrimp Po Boo. I wish I know that it would be spicy I would have asked them to hold the spice. Even the Home Fries where spicy. I understand that it's southern home cooking, however other items on the menu warn that it's spicy. I understand it's not a four star restaurant, however the batter on the popcorn shrimp could have more crispy. Perhaps the fryer was not to temperature when they sunk them. Despite the spiciness of the potatoes they where fresh and not cooked that long, although personally I do like crispy home fries. Having said that portion was good size, price average with other restaurants in the area. Service was my biggest issue. While the waitress did keep checking back to see if we where ready to order, however she never asked if I would like another Ice Tea. I needed usually needed to wait and attempt to attract her attention.
01
While visiting Charlotte for the DNC, I must say that Merts made me feel as if I never left home. I dined there for breakfast and two dinners.\n\nFor breakfast I had two eggs, bacon, biscuits and home fries. Everything was very enjoyable but where Merts really shines is at night.\n\nFor dinner, I had the salmon cakes on one occasion and the fried catfish on the other. On the side, I had yams and greens and a sweet tea to wash it all down. I managed to save enough room for dessert and enjoyed a slice of sweet potato cake. The cake was moist and delicious and the frosting was nothing short of decadent.\n\nMerts portions are huge. If only my hotel had a mini fridge, I could have taken my leftovers back to my room.\n\nThe wait staff is super friendly. As for its location, Merts is very convenient to lots of hotels in downtown Charlotte.
12
UMM, UMM GOOD! I had to say that in capital letters just to get my point across how good Mert's is! I've been to a few soul food restaurants, where they claim \""everything is homemade\"" but when it comes to Mert's that's exactly what you get! Homemade biscuits and even ..are you ready for this? Homemade butter!! The beef ribs fall off the bone and the mac n cheese is the real deal, no boxed stuff here! \n\nThe desserts, what do you choose when you have a choice of German Chocolate, Red Velvet, Sweet Potato, Coconut Cake, Pound cake, Banana Pudding, along with Peach, Apple, & Blueberry Cobblers! The prices are reasonable, they also serve breakfast on Sat. & Sum morns which is awesome is well! Robin the waitress is a joy to have while visiting!
12
My husband & I went here based on the reviews from here. We were in Charlotte for our anniversary and I was eager to try the local cuisine. I like trying small businesses and supporting them. With that said...Mert's was disappointing and overpriced. The fried chicken was bland, you should not have to put salt on fried chicken. The Mac n cheese and pound cake was ok at best. The fish had bones in it and one got caught in the back of hubby's throat. The greens and yams were ok. The WORST was the red beans; tasted like they were cooked in a caldron of hell. I got peach cobbler and could not eat it because it was disgusting!!! Horrible!!! If I go to a place especially a mom and pop and spend almost $40 for 2 dinners and 2 desserts it should be excellent. I have gone to mom pop shacks spend under $20 and got excellent food like grandma makes. I would not recommend this place and would never go back. I can't believe people like this food. It's too bad I have to leave this review because I love supporting small businesses and especially black operated small businesses. Yuck!
01
Sunday morning the cornbread hits the spot. The rest of the meal, food and service, was mediocre at best. To tell the truth, the service ran along the lines of pretty poor. We sat outside and the tables around us were annoyed with the bad service too. Actually the woman at the table of three directly across from us kept telling customers to \""go away\"" when they came dine. She also was served the wrong meal but no one ever came back to check on her.\n\nWe started the meal with the fried green tomatoes - Fresh green tomatoes battered in a herb and flour blend, lightly fried to perfection and served with our own remoulade sauce - it was served with our cornbread and the server said she would return with side plates but never did. She never refilled our drinks either. The fried green tomatoes had a very heavy batter on them. It was hard to find \""tomatoes\"" in the dish. I would resist trying this appetizer.\n\nWe waited a long time for our main course which is why it was probably cold when it arrived at our table. Scott had the special beef tip omelet with potatoes. He had asked for wheat toast but we were told they had none and they would bring white. They never bought the toast or asked if his meal was good. I tried the Mert's famous salmon cakes. These were dry and cold and my sides the macaroni & cheese - tasty - and okra & tomatoes - greasy? - were also suffering from being left sitting waiting for someone to bring them to our table. \n\nAfter finally chasing someone down inside we got our check. With all the options in the neighborhood to try we probably won't add this to our list of great places to dine.
01
After eating a disappointing, overpriced dinner the night before, my group was thrilled to find this sweet spot in downtown Charlotte!\nWe loved the quirky decor and immediately felt the warm fuzzies for our energetic waitress.\nWe were there for breakfast, but I personally was excited to hear that there were meat and veggies choices available too.\nGood flavored coffee was a welcome beginning , as was the yummy cornbread and crunchy biscuits.\n5 stars would have been given , but some in our party said their omelette choices were just ok.\nMy non traditional meal of salmon patties, collard greens and home fries was yummy! Everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I look forward to a return to this place. Egg rolls filled with collards and black eyed peas and roasted veggies are on my list of things to try next time. Gourmet soul food at its best!
12
I really wanted to like this place. It had cool old wood signs and their original menu on a chalkboard, and friendly welcoming staff. The menu has a lot of good sounding items, but the problem for me was I was expecting some good Southern cookin with chicken fried chicken or chicken fried steak. So, I went for the fried chicken breast and it was just blah, dry and no flavor. The saving grace which earned the extra star was that the side veggies were good and the cornbread was delicious.
01
This is the best soul restaurant!!! The soul rolls are a must have. The waitresses are so nice and helpful and are quick to fix a mix up. I loved the place. Any time I'm in Charlotte, this is a must have!
12
The cornbread was the best part of the meal, all the other menu items I tried was sub-par.
01
My buddy Bob and I were in town for a convention this week. Wanted to go local and have a meal that I wouldn't get up in NJ. Merts did not disappoint.\nIt's not upscale, fancy, yuppified, or pretentious.\nEverything was a little unique to Merts.\nWaitress sold us on her favorites which, for us, was dead on. The beef ribs and pulled pork melt in your mouth delicious with an outstanding tomato and vinegar based sauce.\nSides of okra, collards, Mac & cheese paired well. The sampler platter was very unique for a BBQ joint and is a must to try if your are willing to try something new.\nThe Corn bread and sweet butter was a great compliment to the meet. \nIt's half the price of Roosters up the street and you will not leave hungry. The very next day we were craving for more.
12
Can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I used to live uptown and would come here for lunch often. I'm not a cornbread fan but I do love their cornbread. \nI also finally had their chicken tenders over the weekend and they were excellent. I debated between the salmon cakes or the chicken tenders and decided to try something different and I'm glad I did.\nI had the mac and cheese and collard greens as my accompaniments and I was pretty full, but couldn't take a doggie bag since I was headed to SMG for a movie :(\n\nThis is the place I try to take out-of-towners and point tourists towards since to me this is Charlotte cooking and it has a great location uptown on College.
12
Not only was the food wonderful but the staff are friendly. The ribs are sooooo tender and the red beans & rice are fabulous. The cornbread is YummmmmY.
12
I love this place. There was a time when I ate here twice a week. The food is amazing and very true to its Gullah/Carolina roots of down-home, Southern cuisine. Everything is fresh, delicious, and remarkably low-priced.
12
Ok, just to dispel any misunderstandings, this isn't true \""soul food\"" - it's great southern cooking.\n\nWe have been here three times since living in Charlotte and continue to come back for more. The mac-and-cheese is to die for, and every entree we've had has been terrific. I usually get the fried chicken tenders but opted for the barbecue ribs last time I was here, and was not disappointed. The cornbread is a huge plus but is usually too much for me to finish. Shrimp and Grits is an all-time favorite for me as well. If you can, save room for dessert. If they have it, the german chocolate cake is a total win.\n\nGo for al fresco dining if you can (weather permitting) - nothing like sitting outside and watching the sites of Uptown Charlotte.
12
Excellent! Home cooking, friendly service and the pies are amazing!!
12
I had such high hopes for this place but it fell short in many ways. I had their fried green tomatoes and for $6, I got 4 slices of skinny green tomatoes, deep fried and over battered. Tried their fried chicken, it wsa crispy but why is the portion so small. The table cloth is grimy and sticky..\n\nTry a Waffle house and I think you'll have a better dining experience.
01
Food was on point and very delicious, however our waitress was NOT the deal. He wasn't very friendly and added extra food to the order, repetitive of things that I did order causing me to have lots of the same things. He didn't explain how orders came and often heard us call him only to pause and glance in our direction. We were NOT rude or anything of that nature. Greens could have been a lil better instead of like leaves but other than that, I loved it. I won't let that one black monkey stop my show! !! I will be back!!!!
12
This is my second visit to Mert's (the first time Yelp wouldn't let me be great and check in). They decor is artisy and eclectic and includes a diner style dessert counter. (My inner fatty girl rejoices) if you are on one of those \""starve myself of carbs because they are the devil\"" diets do yourself a favor and skip this place because the cornbread is a MUST! \n\nI got the fried jumbo chicken wings which were delicious, the greens, which were flavorful but not very juicy like I prefer mine. The only disappointment from my meal were my yams. Basically because I had more juice than potato :-( \n\nStaff was friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be returning for some banana pudding.
12
Service was great! Servers had awesome personalities and were very hospitable. However, the food..... Sucked. The collards were not cook well and my salmon patties were burnt. The corn bread (which is what they are known for) was extremely dry and tasted like it came out of a box. We waited over an hour and a half to be seated (granted we did have a party of 7) only to be disappointed. This was not good Soul Food at all.
01
Deeeeeeelicious! Split the pork BBQ plate w/collards & yams with a friend who got the salmon cakes. Both were wonderful.\n\nWe're moving in as soon as possible. Or at least going for breakfast tomorrow morning!
12
I thought I'd avoid the crowd by dining a little late but the place was PACKED! I love the look and feel of the restaurant although it was a bit warm inside. I asked for a table outside and had my pick...probably a little chilly for some but just right for me. \n\nSweet tea and a corn bread CAKE were brought out right away. It was the size of a small pound cake and I knew I was in for trouble! I ordered the salmon cakes, greens and mac & cheese. Salmon cakes had lost their crispness on the outside, but the flavor was delicious. The greens were leafy and large and JUST RIGHT! And god bless the mac & cheese. Oozing with buttery cheesy goodness and a touch of the topping that had baked up brown and I may as well have died and gone to heaven.\n\nOf course I could not finish all the food. But my server offered a box without my asking. Great food and great service.
12