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I liked the atmosphere but the food was WAY too salty. Just didn't care for it.
01
Let me first say how delicious the cornbread was!\n\nThe catfish that I ordered was a fillet with a lot of batter on it although it was seasoned nice it was just to much breading for me ( and i thought i was going to get the whole fish not the fillet). The yams were out of a can so that was a major let down. The mac and cheese was not to my liking at all it tasted like it was made with velvetta and other cheap cheeses.The fried chicken was lightly fried and not crispy either but the collard greens were well seasoned.\n\nSeems like a tourist spot to me. The staff was friendly and I liked the crowd I didn't get a chance to try the homemade cakes although they looked pretty tasty.\n\nI can at least say that I tried this place :)
01
This review is based on the BBQ sandwich and macaroni - awesome. The sandwich is a perfect blend of tender meat and sauce. It's not overkill with meat falling all over the place. If you want a sloppy concession stand type sandwich this isn't the place for you. However, if you want a bbq sandwich you can brag about when someone asks about NC bbq, this is the spot. Oh, the macaroni is ridiculous. I believe it's homemade. Yummy!
12
Had dinner last night here. The food left a lot to be desired. Reputation aside the salmon cakes had no seasoning and the ribeye was tough. Really disappointing. I've been here before when I come to Charlotte and had better food. Hopefully, this was a one-off.
01
Delicious Southern food!\n\nThe cornbread was so good. I got BBQ Beef Ribs, with Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens, and Yams. The ribs were full of yummy NC vinegary flavor, the mac was cheesy and good, the collard greens were tangy and flavorful, and the yams were savory and sweet. For my first dinner in Charlotte, I was def satisfied.\n\nPrices are decent, and the service is good.\n\nParking can be a little tough. My best suggestion would be to park in one of the nearby structures, bc there really isn't street parking.
12
This restaurant seemed perfect online but when I went there it was totally different experience. \nAs soon as stepped a foot in the restaurant I was in the face with bad smell which was combination of old frid fosh and burnt oil. This smell will stick to you for four to five hours at least.\nThe corn bread was the only good thing in the restaurant. \nI ordered chicken wings which was cold and \""rubbery\"".\nMy friend ordered po-boy chicken tenders tge bread was old and hard consequendly he couldn't eat his sandwich.
01
Great place to experience home cooked style southern food. Yams are delicious along with salmon fish cakes and sweet potato cake for dessert
12
Great fried chicken and excellent salmon patties with spicy remoulade sauce. Cornbread is very light and tasty. Service was very friendly and welcoming. Vegetable sides were on the lighter side and delicious. Has a diner feel with good Motown and soul music.
12
I am a new resident to the City of Charlotte. In search of some where to have dinner in the uptown area, to celebrate my friends Birthday, we came across this quant place. bypassing 5star gourmet restaurants we opted to have a quite dinner with some soul food. The restaurant was interestingly decorated and the menu was appetizing. The service on the other hand was not. I had never tried shrimp and grits before so I being a special occasion I decided to try something new. when the dish came to the table the presentation was nice however the taste was not satisfactory. it was overloaded with onion and It was not enjoyable to me. So I then asked the waitress if something could be done because I didn't like the dish. She told me \""I have to get the manager, because I can't change once the food is on the table.\"" I told her that was fine. The manager never came to offer any apologies nor explain what the solution could be. the waitress comes back after like 15mn and says \""She says pick something of the menu and we'll trade it out.\"" I then chose the chicken dinner. The waitress nor the food did not come back for almost another 20mn. she then comes to the table not to refill drinks or to apologize for the wait. but to offer to bag up the meal and bring the check. at this point I was embarrassed for bringing my friend to this place and irritated because I was hungry and very annoyed with the service I told her yes please bring the check. she brings a check not only with the meal I changed for but also the initial meal that I did not eat. I was confused asked to speak tho the manager by another waitress. that waitress says sure she's the lady over there in the red shirt. and walks the other way. So I then call the manager over to clarify that this was a mistake. she says \""If the owner was here he would not be playing with y'all. He would make you pay for both. I on the other hand will take it off.\"" I was floored at the way she spoke to me and the fact that the owner would make a patron pay for something they didn't like. I felt stereo typed and embarrassed that it was my people to treat us this way. So needless to say we will not be returning back to this establishment ever! I hope this is not hospitality in Charlotte.
01
Love this place! Delicious homemade food. I have been here for breakfast about 5 times. It is my go to breakfast/brunch spot when in Charlotte. I always bring friends and they love it as well. Fresh eggs, delicious mac and cheese, corn bread. They have always been fine with altering and substituting ingredients, which is always nice. Servers are super fast and friendly!
12
The cornbread was good but everything was without season and it was fruit Flys (along with the traps) everywhere! The collard greens had an excessive amount of uncooked onions and tomatoes. I would not recommend this to anyone if you are in the mood for good food.
01
I don't know what all the fuss is about. The cornbread is good, but they are stingy with the butter. (one little container for four small loaves). The servings for the kids meals were ridiculously small, and they burnt the outside of the chicken fingers! My kids would not even eat them. Another big problem.....parking! Charlotte is not getting locals into downtown on the weekends because you have to pay to park everywhere! I called the restaurant before going and asked where to park. The person told me we could park for free in the Holiday Inn parking garage. Not so! We had to pay $8 just to park for lunch! All said, we spent $60 for soul food! Rice and bean, shrimp creole, one kids plate of 2 chicken fingers, and one kids vegetable plate. Also, kids meals did not include a drink, and they charge $2.00 for a child's drink. It was hot in the restaurant, loud from the voices of other diners, and you couldn't hear the music. This place is not worth the price. I could have prepared that food several times over for what I paid in that restaurant!
01
I had the beef ribs and fried chicken combo/ mac n cheese &greens side\nMy wife had fried catfish and fried chicken combo/ potato salad $ fries side my daughter had the kid chicken tenders/mac n cheese & fries side. Were from south Jersey and have eaten at a lot of restaurants of all kinds. Hands down this is the best tasting soul food restaurant we've eaten at yet. We will be back for seconds and thirds. Excellent taste and portions absolutely nothing to complain about even the price was reasonable. You've gotta try this place if you can.
12
Mert's is very good soul food. Came here with a friend last week. It took a minute for the cornbread to come out because it was hot and fresh out the kitchen. I'm not a big cornbread fan, but slap some butter on this stuff and it's quite amazing.\n\nOur server recommended the ribs, and so I ordered them with the yardbird, mac and cheese and greens. All around great. The ribs were falling off the bone, the yardbird and very good. The mac and cheese was stellar and the greens were some of the best I've tasted in North Carolina.\n\nI finished my meal with the peach cobbler, which was fine, but not great. I kinda wished they had more chocolate options here. I would most certainly come here again.
12
When my friend and I walked in, we were immediately greeted by several people. Everyone was smiling and nice, and we were given a table outside. The waitress said she could tell our chairs were uncomfortable, so she switched them for better seats. I had the beef ribs and chicken breast quarter, with yams and macaroni and cheese. The ribs were different than I typically like (vinegary maybe) and the chicken was a little dry, but I loved how it wasn't overly salty like southern food sometimes is. The cornbread was good, but not as sweet as I like. The peach cobbler was different, but good. I got it to go and forgot it in my car so I didn't eat much. It was a good lunch with beautiful weather, so I'd go back.
12
If your having a taste for soul food this a place to go. I've been here a few times and the food has never disappointed me. For the price point their portions are well off, enough for me to finish the rest the next day. I recommend the fried chicken, catfish, yams and mac-n-cheese. I have always gone during slower to times so I've had quick service. The servers here are down to earth and tentative, but if you come here it's just for good food and laughs in my eyes. Be sure to visit this place at least once.
12
I bought a Livingsocial deal for Mert's. The place is crowed for brunch on Sat. We were quickly seated. The cornbreads were very delicious and warm. Don't take the cornbread to go because it isn't that good when it is a take out. I got the salmon cake with two sides mac and cheese and mash potatoe with gravy. The side orders were good sizes. They weren't stingy on the gravy enough for your mash potatoe. My dad had the catfish and the beef ribs. The beef ribs were good but catfish was more on the fishy side. Overall, we enjoyed Mert's. The staffs were all very friendly.The quarter leg was also good. The nice young lady who waited on us was fast and nice. It was a busy day and she even remembered to refill my drink. If you work at downtown, give Mert's a try.
12
Very inconsistent.
01
What a disappointment! My first day in Charlotte and I had checked Yelp reviews to plan my meals. The only good thing I can say is service was friendly and the cornbread was good. \nHowever, that wasn't enough to even warrant a second star because the rest of my food was so unpleasant. I started with the soul rolls, but thought the mixture of flavors and textures did not harmonize well. It seemed to be a fried app just for the sake of being fried. But without the pleasing crunch I expected.\nBut the real let down was my shrimp and grits. What they served me was a bowl of lumpy grits (one particular lump was too big for my spoon to handle) swimming in a truly awful brown mess. The color made me think the sauce might be rich, but it was the opposite. I could probably recreate the flavor with water, thickener and food color - that is just how tasteless it was. The shrimp had a strange texture that made me think it came from a can. Then someone had chopped raw green onion and stirred it in. That was it. No seasoning. No flavor.
01
Best soul food in Charlotte! Vegetables are flavored deliciously, must go! Great fried catfish and chicken!!
12
Southern plates made in the south by a chef who was raised on this food specifically? You see it in every detail. \n\nThe jumbo chicken wings, salmon cakes, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and okra was absolutely to die for. Food came out faster than I could have ever imagined. Seriously, about 3 minutes after we ordered. Piping hot, full of flavor and delivered by an over-the-top waiter with a smile.\n\nRefills came quickly and our time in Charlotte will always be remembered thanks to Mert's. The hostess was a tad rude, which started everything off a little odd, but everything rebounded from that. Still 5 stars.\n\nIf you want a hearty dinner for an extremely small price tag, go here. You can personally message me and thank me after. I wouldn't be upset.
12
Although I have been using yelp for many years, this is my first review. My husband and I went to Mert's on Sunday morning around 1015. It was not full so we were seated immediately, right next to the server station. We watched server after server, at least 5 of them pass our table to put orders in the computer, server after server chat with each other, not one addressed our table. Not one said I will be your server I will be with you shortly. Not one said would you like some water. Not one said let me find who your server is. Not one. This went one for 15 minutes before we decided to get up and leave! The service is terrible!!!
01
Hands down best cornbread I've ever had. It's everything you want cornbread to be: warm, caky, sweet, and last but not least de-freakin-licous! Ok, now on to the food. I've been here twice and each time I couldn't force myself to order anything but the fried chicken. When I go to a Southern restaurant serving soul food I have a really hard time ordering anything else. The chicken is moist, macaroni is rich, and the collards are full of flavor. \n\nBoth times we've been, the place has been packed. They do a nice job getting you seated in a reasonable amount of time. There isn't much of a waiting area though so it gets rather cramped when you do have to wait.
12
I spoke with Veronica the general manager. She apologized profusely for the mix up and assured me that she spoke with the staff. Ultimately, there was confusion about who was responsible for our table. She indicated that a long wait to be acknowledged is not common practice.\n\nShe invited me back to the restaurant. Based in her response, I will give them another try and hopefully add more stars. I was so disappointed because I was hungry and really wanted to try the seafood omelette.
01
If this is great Southern Food then I am a craw dad . The Okra was not fresh and rather tasteless , the fish special wasn't fresh and was small and the cabbage was mushy. I was married to a Mobile girl and this is not what I expected for Soul Food.. But it was cheap and the corn bread was excellent.
01
Loved our waitresses! They were fun and personal with attitude! Food was so so. The BBQ ribs were small beef short ribs with a thin vinegar based sauce. The Mac n cheese was the best! The collard greens were hard and vinegar based. The peach cobbler was just so so. Atmosphere ans waitresses are the best part of the restaurant.
12
Our table agreed that the best part of this meal was the corn bread. Every order was lacking just that little something that would make a meal enjoyable. One person in our party of seven has said that he will return to give them another try. The rest of us will not be back
01
Over all the food was good. I ordered chicken and 2 sides. Collard greens and mashed potato. I went on a thursday night and had to wait about 35min for food I ordered to go. The place was packed so that normally says that the place is good. And I don't have any complaints besides the wait. Good news was they had a bar next door so I went and had a beer then came back to get food. But had to wait another 15min. Well I actually did not like the greens it was very plain no flavor. The mashed potato was very good though. I would deff go here again for a cheap light meal. Oh yes I also ordered banana pudding. That was ok nothing I would order again.
12
WAIST OF TIME!!! My husband and I were in town for our 3 year anniversary and came to Merts after a great recommendation. We went to yelp and read the over all great reviews and were excited about trying this place. We waited about 20 min which was a good sign. The hostess wasn't too friendly but she was super busy so I could understand. Our waitress was an older lady who took our drink orders almost right away. Here is where it went down hill....she took her sweet time coming back to take our order( I know she saw me looking at her like WTH?) once our order was taken those were the very last words she spoke to us. We waited an HOUR with not so much as an I'm sorry this is taking too long or can I get you anything else? Finally my husband overheard a cook in the back yell that our order had not even been processed yet and was 4th in line!!! We threw a 5 on the table for that nasty too sweet diabetes lemonade they gave me and left! WILL NOT RETURN. OH....I'm not sure what corn bread everybody else on this reviews was eating but ours was WACK! Barley warm and not sweet at all. This place has EXTREMELY POOR customer service. We left and went to Emeralds restaurant where the service was SECOND TO NONE!
01
Let me start off by saying that my experience was horrible and I would not recommend this place to anyone. My wife and I came to Charlotte celebrating our anniversary and decided to try Mert's per recommendation of her supervisor and because of the high praise the restaurant received online. We were seated in a reasonable time but it was all down hill from there. We were seated at 7:15pm and were given some bland cornbread. At 8:15pm we were still waiting for our order to be prepared (cooked)...not brought to us...PREPARED! Now mind you no one even a word of apology or an update on the status of our food during the wait. Finally I had enough and walked out. Our waitress and management still did not offer an apology despite seeing us leave the restaurant visibly upset. We left and walked to E2 (emeralds restaurant) and received the best meal and customer service I've ever experienced. I'd recommend all the other restaurants in downtown Charlotte before Mert's. :-/
01
Good ole southern food\n MOST of the staff is awesome its like seeing an old friend with a famaliar face.. great cakes and pies and the chicken is what I live for..! Merts has an amazing down home southerm charm feeling.. it can drown out all the excitement of center city with its cool southern down home meets the city vibe.. dones sometimes smell like grease but I still love it!!
12
We had to come try this place out since it had amazing reviews. We were disappointed TWICE!..The service was great both times. We had carryout the first time and ate in the second. The place was busy both times and the Chicken wings were the only thing that was consistently good. The Collard Greens are the toughest and tasteless greens I've ever had and the Mac & Cheese is so so. My Husband had the fried whiting and it was tasty but he also didn't like the sides and said the greens were gritty. We both agree that the cornbread is delicious. I would return for the Chicken Wings only.
01
HORRIBLE customer service! (Not the waitress). The food was warm, had little flavor, and a simple menu item that read differently from what was expected was not offered to be negotiated. From where I'm from, when something reads \""smoked turkey\"" you are expecting just that, not smoked turkey sausage (round slices of a turkey sausage). Even when given the pass of a misunderstanding, the manager (owerners daughter as she so often identify herself) was more interested in making HER point than making sure out of state customers who went out of their way to visit the establishment....and checked-in on Facebook have an enjoyable experience. She was sarcastic & unprofessional. Sorry my family had THAT experience.
01
This place is amazing! The cornbread is perfectly buttery and moist, and the barbeque is seasoned just right and is making my mouth water just thinking about it! The staff there was so friendly and personable, and did a really nice job at checking on us- but not being overbearing. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a delicious soul food meal!
12
Cool, casual atmosphere set in the heart of downtown Charlotte. The only cornbread I've ever had that's the equal of this is served at Club 83 in Memphis, and I've NEVER had green beans this good!
12
I came last Saturday on a whim. I had been passing this place on my walks around the area. Seeing all those people buzzing in there enticed me. It didn't take long to be seated, considering how many people were in there. I ordered fried chicken ( breast and wing), macaroni and cheese, and red beans with a lemonade. Mistakenly, they brought wings and I immediately alerted the waitress. Then, I received my order. Everything except for the red beans was scrumptious. For dessert, I selected German chocolate cake. It was not extravagantly delicious but nice. Next time, I'll get for my sides macaroni and cheese with potato salad, then finish with yellow cake and chocolate icing.
12
Horrible service!!! Server forgot to put our order in. Came back 30 minutes later with lame lie. Another 20 minutes later still no food, not even apps. Hostess also provided 2 new lame lies. We left and will never go back. Dishonest staff ruined it for me. Honesty would have gone over better. Went to Tupelo Honey Cafe instead. Awesome service and FOOD!!
01
Waited 45 minutes to get in at 8pm on Friday, that wasn't the bad part though..\nWaited 30 minutes for our drinks (our waitress didn't even show up, the host had to bring them) and after that, 2 hours for our food. By time it got to us we were so sick of waiting and so tired since it was 11pm that we could barely eat. \n\n\nThe food wasn't particularly good, I ordered the chicken and macaroni with green beans. Chicken was dry, green beans under seasoned and bland. The macaroni was good, they used cream cheese or something that tasted okay. They got two orders wrong in our party of 4 though.\n\nThe waitress apologized profusely and we received a discount for our wait but I will not return to this place again. \n\n\nTL;DR\n\nOver three hour wait for mediocre food and poor service.
01
Me and my family were in Charlotte for my Sorority's conference and we decided to go to Mert's for our last night in Charlotte. The wait wasn't bad and they accommodated for a party of 9 which was also nice because most small restaurants would just seat you at different tables. We did not think the food lived up to the hype...at all. Lemonade...not freshly squeezed, even though the server said everything is made in house and fresh. Cornbread and Soul Roll...best part of the meal. Anything fried....TOO GREASY. I got fried catfish and my plate was covered in grease and whenever my fork went into the fish, more grease would spill out...EW! One food runner, female, came to our table with the wrong food. After no one claimed the wrong food she says, \""Do yall even know what you ordered?!\"".....ummm CLEARLY you just have the wrong food. Let's just say everyone has something bad to say about their entree meal. Someone in the kitchen needs to change the oil, drain the food with a napkin (simple) and avoid getting grease on the entire plate. The yams tasted like they were drenched in maple syrup...and that's it....not good at all. My moms cooks better soul food.
01
It was great. Our waitress was definitely a good host. I highly recommend this place if your in Charlotte. Mac and cheese was on point. I didn't care for the collard greens but overall we all enjoyed our meal and service.
12
Service was extremely slow. We sat at our table for quite a while before we were waited on. Once we ordered the server brought cornbread right away. It's good but, not what I was expecting. We both ordered the fried chicken. It was cold and soggy. The mac and cheese was good but again, it's Mac and cheese. The server was really sweet but not attentive to the table. Food was just ok. Wouldn't go back.
01
The worst restaurant ever! It doesn't matter if the food tastes good or not.. The service is the worst! Lazy and slow as ever!
01
Amazing restaurant! Great food, Good Service & friendly atmosphere. I will definitely be coming here again. If you are in North Carolina you need to visit this place :)
12
Walking Uptown on a Sunday morning before church, my wife, daughter, and I stopped into Mert's. Our waitress gave us the specials but said them so fast and with such apparent disinterest that neither my wife nor I understood any of what she said. We ended up ordering one of the specials after seeing them on a chalkboard, only to find out after some more confusing, disinterested interaction with our waitress that they had stopped the special just minutes before (9:30am). Don't know what that meant; did they run out of spinach? Strange. We ended up with two other omelettes, the garden and the shrimp creole. We had to ask three different waitresses for our accompanying toast and biscuit, and once we had our food, our waitress interrupted our prayer to ask if we needed ketchup (understandable, but most servers notice bowed heads, even if it's kinda awkward). We did need the ketchup, but it didn't come until the end of our meal, and my wife's home fries were already cold. My regular cup of coffee was mediocre, my shrimp creole omelette had 2 small shrimp inside (super disappointing, as they were tasty), making my $8 omelette mostly egg and tomato sauce, and my wife's toast was hard as a rock.\n\nObviously a rough experience for us this morning, but Mert's gets the second star because my wife loved her omelette (the garden), my biscuit and grits were pretty good, and they let us choose our seating (with a young child, this can be pretty important). We won't be back.
01
We chose to visit Mert's over going to a high-end chain because we wanted southern style cuisine, it was featured in travel guide from our hotel, and it got great reviews on Yelp. I was in town earlier this month with my Mom and toddler while we visited my youngest brother who was working in nearby Kannapolis. We were able to sit down right away and outdoors which was great. However, we were highly disappointed by the food. And, the experience is still memorable enough for me to write about now.\n\nFirst, they were out of the fried green tomatoes which we wanted to try and we were actually there relatively early to when they opened. The eggroll-style appetizer that was recommended instead was good but definitely within the same criteria of what we were looking for. 99% of the menu has fried food which my brother was most disappointed about since we chose the restaurant without too much input on his part. My Mom and I decided to share the Mert's Famous Salmon Cakes. While the size was decent, the taste was lacking and I felt it might be slightly under-cooked. For our sides, we chose greens and the red beans both of which were just ok. And, I will actually say the greens were my favorite food out of what I had if forced to choose. My brother ordered the Shrimp Creole which just tasted like tomatoes and the shrimp was not popcorn style as described on the menu. If it had tasted better I think my brother could have been happy that he found something not fried on the menu even though he had decided if he was going to make a diet exception that he was looking forward to it being popcorn shrimp. After our waitress checked on us she said as a person from New Orleans had we asked her she would have told us that the Shrimp Creole is not on her recommendation list. However, because other customers have enjoyed it she does not deter people form ordering it...tough position to be in I guess. My brother also ordered the potato salad which was very heavy on the mustard and vinegar. I'm accustomed to this style of potato salad but like I said it just had too much mustard for my liking. My daughter had the chicken tenders from the kids menu which I found to be on the salty side but she seemed to enjoy them. She also liked the okra and tomato and yams sides that we ordered for her. The server was nice and she took decent care of us. She forgot more coffee like my Mom requested but we also noticed that she seemed to have several tables. \n\nOverall I would say I'm not likely to give it another chance just because it seemed like we were in an area with a lot of choices which might have been a lot better. I don't know if the chef was having off day or what but I just left very disappointed and felt bad that I was the primary person pushing to try Mert's during our brief trip to Charlotte.
01
Not the best soul good I've ever eaten. My collard greens mixed with mustards? Were tough. The fried chicken was standard not anything to rave about. Salmon cakes were good. Mac n cheese can pass for soul food. Yams were great! Corn bread mediocre, overall it was okay. Don't believe the hype, especially if you were brought up on Mamas soul food cooking.
01
After participating in the Charlotte heart walk, my friends and I went to Mert's for brunch. We knew the service probably wouldn't be that great but expected the food to make up for that. Big fail on that expectation. The collard greens were dry with no flavor and when someone on my party asked if she could exchange them for something else the waitress caught an attitude. Whenever we would ask for something it was almost like a mother may I situation. We didn't know if her reaction would be positive or negative. The manager seemed to not care about our situation and just left everything up to the waitress. After paying my bill I waited for my change that never came. I ended up asking for the manager to find out where the waitress went with my money. After the manager asked the waitress the waitress states she already gave me my change after reminding her that she didn't give me anything she states oh then I have your money right here! It was in her pocket. Not sure how she could have forgotten that she owed me more than $10!! Especially since the tip was already included in the bill! Never going back and I will never recommend this place to anyone. Even if I do have a living social coupon!!
01
This was my second and most likely last time attending this restaurant. Reason for this statement is our waitress topped off my glass of water with water from a glass not a pitcher. Who fills a patrons glass like that?
01
Soul food is ok...needs more seaoning and to be drained of grease. My entire rating is based off the customer service which was very rude and disrespectful for me as a customer. The wait was long and don't try to make reservations because they dont take on weekends. The waitresses have bad attitudes and rush you when ordering. ...\""imma take yall drink order and food order at the same time so who first?\"" (Her exact words). I live in charlotte and have been here prior to this visit but will never return again. This was by far the worst soul food experience.
01
Second time may be a charm but the first time was a complete failure. Thank you to management, Veronica in particular, for making a bad experience and almost the last experience one worth trying again. Salmon patties were very dry and not seasoned as described, potato salad or should we say mayonnaise salad was horrible. The yams were hard as if they were freshly cut and simply plated. The greens were soaked in garlic and had entirely too many stalks. The macaroni and cheese was tasty but in conjunction with everything else on our plates was room temperature. Tiger wood drinks were very tasty. Our server was not at all attentive to our needs. If she would have given us her name I would have very well called her out in this review. She did refill our drinks once and left the remaining glasses of lemonade and sweet tea on the table which implied.....self serve. My fiance absolutely loved the cornbread loaves and fried whiting. I detested the cornbread loaves. The initial one that I received had obviously been sitting out too long. It was cold. When I mentioned it to the waitress she informed me that she knew the loaves were left out and that a new batch would be up any minute. She did bring a fresh loaf but I was just flabbergasted that she would serve something she new shouldn't have been served. Overall, the experience was not very pleasing. However, our entire meal was comped by Veronica. She apologized for the service and invited us to come back. I must admit I am a little reluctant but because she heard our concerns we will give Mert's another try. I see their are multiple good reviews on here and hated to have to be the one to add a negative review. However, this was our experience.
01
I love this place. Great price, great service, and awesome food. The cornbread alone is worth the trip. I also loved their fried chicken. It's a bit noisy but that's because it is is full of happy diners. Perfect spot for some casual Southern cooking.
12
Are you hungry? Need to get some real savory food on your belly? Want to spend your money at a family owned restaurant?\nGo to Mert's Heart and Soul. Save room for dessert too!\nWe are visiting Charlotte and on the hunt for lunch downtown, yelpers you are the Best. You said this place was good and that's the truth. \nWe ordered the red beans and rice, the lunch special, smoked pork chop, and the ribs appetizer. All were delicious. We had iced tea for our beverages and peach cobbler for dessert. Samantha took care of us and is an ambassador for the establishment. She suggested we return and I said Thanksgiving time. Well, she said the owner closes the place on Thanksgiving day to serve the homeless.\nWell I can only say this. I'm happy I had lunch there and if you try it I believe you will to.
12
My favorite place to eat in Charlotte! I swear they must sneak my grandmother down from heaven to work in the kitchen. Great Southern food and lovely service. They first time In was there they refused to serve my friend a salad, insisting on fresh southern veggies instead. They were just kidding I think.
12
Gritty greens,everytime!...Need I say more?? Not what they use to be.
01
Had a pretty good Groupon for this place- wife enjoyed the collards, fried chicken was finger licking good. Avoid the soup which was reaally a cup of broth. And steer clear of the Carolina Blond beer yuck. Loved our sassy southern waitress & the corn bread she brought us. We will be back.
12
Lunch comes with corn bread. I really enjoyed the bbq pork ribs, I highly recommend them! The ribs seemed to have been marinated in sauce over night then they add a vinaigrette type sauce over them which really packs on the flavor. If you have room for desert def get the banana cake, I am a banana pudding fanatic so the cake was right up my alley! The cake was very moist and smooth only 1 word could describe it- delicious! \nMy only issue with this place is the fruit flies, sorry the little flies are a big problem. They need to fix that! If it wasn't for that I would've given 5/5 stars
12
THANK YOU, Yelpers!! Maybe the best home cookin' I've eaten, and that covers a lot! Beef spare ribs, fried chicken, shrimp & grits, salmon, collards, black eyed peas, Mac n cheese, slaw, and oh the cornbread that was served first!! Seriously wanted a slice of one of the half doz cakes but, alas, no room. Guess we'll just have to come back.... And we sat next to a friendly lady sipping a beer in a Pilsner glass thru a straw; that's a first. Wish we could clone this place!
12
Took my boyfriend for first time. Waitress kept going outside smoking and smelled like ashtray upon returning to table. Cornbread good. Chicken good. BBQ was disgusting and swimming in grease. Potato salad was also old tasting and could not eat. I was embarrassed that I had bragged to my bf about how good things were and then had such a terrible experience. And it was over $30 for lunch. Not worth the drive, parking, or time.
01
Slow service con this cold and wet Monday. The servers just didn't have it together and neither did the cooks as my chicken was seasonless and my Mac and cheese was cold. The only thing you can expect from Mert's is inconsistency.
01
I have been told this place was great for years. I finally went and in and was mad at myself for waiting so long before finally going in there. The food was fantastic. An easy atmosphere, a menu with a good variety. Definitely understand why it's always busy during lunch time. I highly recommend it.
12
Great food great staff never again kings kithen! Jim nobles close shop! Thank you guys a great place great food!
12
Excellent down home cooking. As a business traveler several clients recommended this as a must visit. Perfect combination of down home feel, reasonable price and excellent quality mixed with neighborhood friendly service. Even though the shrimp and grits had an unfamiliar flavor combination, I still returned the next night to eat there again. Top five to visit.
12
Great place. I had a birthday dinner last week. The food and service was great. Friendly staff .. Very pleased.
12
Fantastic! Service was great. Atmosphere was historic. Food was awesome. Hard to find any flaws.
12
Halfpenny's has been in this spot for FOREVER, and even with changes of ownership through the decades, the food and service remain consistent.\nGood food, good prices, friendly service. The owner remembers my preferences, ALWAYS! And remembers my name, as well as the names of other regulars. Love this place!\nOne time a colleague was kind enough to get my lunch, but did not remember my preferences. When my colleague mentioned my name, the owner told her how I like my sandwiches!\nThis is a very popular spot for fast breakfasts, good-value lunch specials, and ICE CREAM! Love those mid-afternoon pick-me-up milk shakes.\nNot a coffee drinker, but this is a very popular coffee place, offering many different flavors.\nThe Mrs. recommends Halfpenny's.\n.
12
Good, honest food, at a fair price, made by cheerful folk. I've been going there for years, and am rarely disappointed.
12
Yuck! I was on my way to Johnny Burritos when I saw their sign of \""specials\"". I stopped in and ordered the cream of potato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Both were awful. The soup had the consistency of milk, and not much flavor. It's no where close to \""cream of\"" anything. The cheese on the sandwich was so thin that I pried it open just to ensure myself that they hadn't only given me 2 pieces of plain bread. I like to support small mom and pop businesses, so I really wanted to like this place. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing, but it was so off-putting that I don't plan to ever return. Next time, I'll keep walking to Johnny Burritos.
01
This is your typical Jersey Mike's sub shop and it's located smack dab in the middle of uptown. Like most Jersey Mike's the ingredients are fresh and the subs are really good.\n\nOn Tuesday's you can get a regular sub, chips, and a drink for $5.99. I must say that's a pretty good deal. If you keep your receipt from Tues you can come back any day of the week and get the same deal again for $5.99. If you're not lucky enough to get there on Tues then the subs for lunch can get a tad bit pricey. A regular club sub, bag of chips, and drink will run about $10. When you get into the $10 range for lunch uptown you start to have a lot of options at your dissposal. So my advice is go on Tuesday if you can!
12
I'm a stickler for places where they remember your face. (see my ED's Tavern review).\nAs soon as I enter... One of the 3 worker's in the back yells out :\n\"" #9- Club Supeme, \n# 13- the Original Italian\nor you gonna get the Chicken Philly?\n\nI LOVVVEEEEE IT!! (I like the faces of the patrons already there hearing them call out my fav's.. a la a bartender pouring a shot b4 u take your seat)\n\nWhen I'm a lil iffy.. I'll just tell em.... hey... SURPRISE ME!!\n\nI go here at least 1 a week. (coupon always).. The manager ALWAYS ask... what coupon do you have today...lmao\n\nThey are kinda pricey.. so... thats the reason for coupon!!\nI work uptown/downtown (what does that really mean.. Uptown vs Downtown) so I frequent alot of these places. \n\nGo and enjoy
12
I go here with coworkers very frequently, and not once have I walked out disappointed! If you are tired of subway or just want a great sub (hot or cold) come here! I love their club sub \""Mike's way\"", and their cheese steak hot sandwich. They are equally fast as subway, but in my opinion much more tastier! I will probably be back here very soon! Enjoy!
12
I went here twice. Not because I loved it but because someone else paid. So again, not sure about how pricey this place is. I wouldn't suggest all the plates on the menu but I would definitely suggest that you don't miss the lamb shank. It is huge!!! Reminds me of something Barney Rubble might eat. Very caveman like. So delicious and falls right off the bone. Minimal fat. The steaks are also very good. Do not recommend the chicken and dumplins. Salty and not at all like what you would expect. \n\nAgain a pretty good wine list and their bar area had lots of TVs so you could watch the game and have a beer or wine. Large restaurant. Good for groups. Had a pretty good cheese plate. Definitely recommend.
12
Oh, yum. YUM YUM YUM YUM. I am so happy to have found another great restaurant in Charlotte - we had relatives staying with us last week and didn't want to take them anywhere we hadn't been yet, in case it wasn't good, and we went to Mimosa after they left - were were so upset we didn't take them here! \n\nThe service was excellent - our waiter was totally on point and had a great personality, and we made excellent recommendations - I'll get to that in a minute. The atmosphere is beautiful - we ate outside, it was a gorgeous night. They have fountains right out front and large plants out on the terrace to create a nice relaxing feel. The restaurant has soft lighting and stone walls, and you could eat inside or out and it will be just as beautiful. \n\nFor an appetizer we got the mussels, which were in a garlic butter white wine broth - we were scouring the broth for escaped mussels by the end of it because it was so good we devoured it. Of course, even though I say I won't, I dunked the bread in the broth - delish. For the main course I had the horseradish-crusted salmon, which was very good. If you order this be aware that while the salmon is hot, it is served over cold vegetables - cucumbers and green beans. The dish wasn't as great as I thought it would be and I had immediate food-envy when my finacee's dish was placed in front of him - piping hot scallops, shrimp and lobster over grits and brown gravy - WOW! This was so yummy that I totally dipped into his dish after I finished mine. The manager even came over to see how we were because he noticed the switch - he was so nice, and stopped over a second time just to talk once our meal was finished. I can't wait to go back here!
12
Pros:\nGreat ambiance\nService was friendly and attentive\n\nCons:\nKettle one with soda - everyone knows that's soda water right??? not 7-up, gross.\nSalt, salt, salt....we ordered the halibut and the veal, but we couldn't tell the difference, all we could taste was salt.\n\nTwo salty entrees, two cocktails, two salads = $130...ouch no thanks.\n\nI have four more days in this beautiful city, let's see what else I can find...
01
I was last the the Mimosa Grill a few weeks ago while visiting Charlotte on business. It was pouring outside, so to was very nice to be out of the rain and be immediately greeted by the welcoming decor. We were quickly seated by our very pleasant host and our waitress briefed us on the specials for the evening. I asked for a recommendation on a cheese selection her choice of a local goat cheese was fabulous. For the entree I chose the New York Strip Pepper Steak and it was prepared perfectly. A glass of Beringer Reserve Cabernet went very well with the meal. I have been to the Mimosa Grill a few other times in the past and have always been pleased with the entire evening, and this was no exception.
12
Let's just say I swore I would never go back here again. After 5+ years a friend that \""loves\"" it talked me into it. I got the Chicken pot pie special and I would say it looked like baby food. It was a pur\u00e9e with half a bottle of pepper on it. The side salad tasted very bitter and it would be safe to say I only ate 50% of my meal because it was hard to stomach any more of this food. \n\nFor a better review talk to my friend because he loved his chicken sandwich. Unfortunately it will have to be another 5 years before I try it. NO VALUE.
01
This was a great place for the solo business traveler to dine with a little dignity, a cold martini and some great food last Wednesday night. I sat in the bar, ordered a trio of appetizers and watched the Celtics/Magic playoff game on TV.\n\nPros\n-Attentive Service - the bartender was Johnny on the Spot and got my martini to me coldly and quickly, kept my water full and got my food out fast and hot. Nothing wrong with that.\n-Food - I ordered the beet salad, carolina lump crab cake and hushpuppy crusted oyster grits off the Grits Bay menu. While the beet salad wasn't great, the other two knocked it out of the park along side the awesome assortment of fresh-baked bread things (no idea what they were actually, smallish muffin). A dash of hot sauce and I was having the Southern Food experience I hadn't yet had in Charlotte.\n-Lowkey Atmosphere - I'll reiterate that as a solo business traveler, environment is key so you don't feel like a total creeper eating out alone. The bar at Mimosa was the perfect environment to blend-in, eat some great food and not feel like a pariah. I'll be back.\n\nCons\n-One bone to pick with the beet salad, not enough beets and too much goat cheese - more of a goat cheese dip with beets.
12
Best thing about eating lunch here is the patio seating. Special soft shell crab over mixed green salad was disapponting at best. Soft shell crab was over-battered and lacked crab flavor. Salad was dull and lime vingrette seemed to be missing the lime. Chopped red onion totally overpowered. On prior visits, sweet potatoe fries are decent.
01
I've been to this restaurant for several other business dinners but this visit was the most unsatisfactory visit.\n\nFresh off a 5 hour flight, we checked into our hotels and went straight to dinner at 8pm. We were famished after our flight.\n\nThe meal started out great. We ordered the LOCAL ANTIPASTO PLATTER with assorted dry cured 100% berkshire meats, olives sweet and salty pickles, and toasted bread. It was delicious!\n\nWe took our time to enjoy the appetizer while chatting. When we finished our appetizers 20 minutes later, we looked around for our waiter expecting our dinners. He immediately came over and apologized that our 2 dinner entree order went in after a large table's order and he was working on getting our orders rushed through. \n\nUnfortunately, our table didn't receive any bread so we had to ask for it to tie us over. He looked perplexed why we didn't get bread but made sure a basket was brought over immediately. Don't know if it was because we were starved but the house bread was yummy with peach butter spread.\n\nIt was almost another 20-30 minutes before he brought out our dinners. He exclaimed that it was an ordeal trying to get our entrees. REALLY?!? Sounds like poor kitchen line management that should be corrected. Hell's kitchen wouldn't stand for it. \n\n- PECAN CRUSTED SNAKE RIVER TROUT: hearty portions/ over blackened\n- PAN ROASTED DIVER SCALLOPS: right portion size but toooo salty\n- LOCAL SQUASH & ZUCCHINI WITH SWEET VIDALIA ONIONS: over cooked and mushy.\n\nOur waiter, Adam, was very nice and checked in on our table several times throughout dinner. He apologized several times and we understood it was out of his hands. The restaurant GM should have made an appearance to our table. Lucky we didn't have clients with us this evening. Poor kitchen line management explains another reason why business dinners take 3 hours at these types of restaurants.
01
Well, I have to start by saying we were excited to try this place but were very disappointed with our entire experience. We went for Sunday brunch and were seated in the bar with the bartender as our server even though the place had many seats open. We started by ordering drinks off of their specialty cocktail menu. They had advertised a Jalapeno Margherita. After about 10 minutes and well after my dining companion had received their drink, the bartender came over and said that I needed to choose another drink because she could not find the vodka. We ordered shrimp and grits which were served with a film layer on top of the gravy as if it had been sitting an excessive amount of time in the kitchen and a minuscule portion of grits. The dish had fine flavor but was nothing special. My dish was the Mimosa Eggs Benedict special but unfortunately the eggs in the benedict were cooked hard so no delicious yolk to ooze onto the dish as intended. The bartender forgot we were there for awhile and our drinks were empty and then appeared to be caught up in eating some pizza and talking to other employees and we had to walk over just to pay and get out of there. I might give this place another try during a busy night but was very disappointed. This may be one of those places that is living off of a good start and good reviews but has suffered a major decline in both quality and service. Oh and by the way, if you are going to advertise a drink and don't have the ingredients then please offer the person a cocktail of their choice complimentary as an apology. That is what sets the 4 & 5 star places apart from the rest is a combination of good food, service, and management.
01
I was in town for two days and our hotel recommended this place, calling it \""updated Southern.\"" We were a little disappointed when we walked in, because it looked corporate and impersonal - everything that we didn't want. \n\nBut then I saw the menu. There were so many really interesting looking things on it that I wish I was with a bigger group so there could have been more ordering and sharing. I ended up starting with a goat cheese, beet and orange salad. With those ingredients, you can't really go wrong, and they didn't. \n\nFor dinner, I had scallops that were encrusted with bacon crumbs on top of a pumpkin bread crustini. Really amazing flavors between the bacon, scallops and the pumpkin. My colleague also really enjoyed his pecan encrusted trout. \n\nBottom line: boring corporate setting, the opposite of boring food.
12
I can always appreciate a restaurant that has local and organic ingredients. Hilarious especially when you see such a place in the Southeast. You go Char-Char.\n\nMy family of 4 + friend of my sister = 5 came into Mimosa on a Saturday night. Um, why were we the only ones in the restaurant? I'm confused.... Charlotte you aren't that subruban are you? This is UPTOWN??\n\nRegardless, the service was perfect and the food was brought out promptly. I thought that my meal was tasty and that it was cooked to my liking.\n\nI have also been here for lunch and had the opportunity to sit outside which was nice because it is a great location for people watching.
12
Took clients to dinner on a week night on what appeared to be a slow time. We were placed into a very crowded part of the restaurant. (empty tables elsewhere) Waiter was fair at best and he seemed in a hurry through out the meal. Food was nothing more than average which was a surprise after the high rating I read about. Unfortunately, this was not just my opinion but the opinion of all 6 people in our party. I was ready to write it off to a just a bad night when a colleague mentioned that his lunch the previous day was similar. The entire experience was certainly below my expectations.
01
Read reviews and beg to differ. Had to argue with staff that a martini does not only have two ounces! The glass was literally less than half full. For 11 dollars a glass! Rob was the bartender.When we complained twice, the glass got filed. Corn bread was like cardboard. Mussels very good. Trout very good. No doubt they have a good chef. However, the management is very lacking. Manager came over right when ewe we got our entrees and we asked her to come back and she never did. The bussing was a joke. We had to put our appetizer plates on the next table because they were never cleared. Not a pleasant meal.Not worth the money.
01
Rating Mimosa Grill is an interesting balance for me. The balance is between lunch and dinner. This review will be for all my lunch experiences which have generally been pretty good so, 4 Stars. Honestly though, if I were reviewing the dinner experiences, it would be a solid 3 and I expect more from a place like this than A-OK.\n\nOn to lunch... There is a good mix of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrees from which to choose. There are also daily specials. The only one I can ever remember is the Friday Fish and Chips because it's always the special I want and it's never Friday when I'm there! \n\nI mostly land on the Caesar salad with grilled shrimp. The greens are always fresh and the shrimp are plump, firm and seasoned/grilled well. Monday's Caesar dressing was just a wee bit flat but that was the first time ever so, forgiven. Also opted for the Tomato Bisque yesterday. It was quite good. Nice balanced flavors, hot, creamy, delicious! When I have strayed to a burger or something else more substantial, I always walk away satisfied as well although, it's not a cheap lunch by any stretch.\n\nNot sure I will ever give them a chance to up the 3 Star dinner lens with which I view them. Too many other, more consistent, options in the price range and vicinity.
12
I brought some out of town guests here hoping to impress them with an uptown dinner. We left hungry and disappointed. The food tasted ok, but nothing remarkable. Portions were small and priced at least triple what you would pay for the same quality of food outside of uptown. Service was friendly, but slow. I don't think I'll give this place another chance.
01
Amazing! While we were sitting at the bar waiting for our table the gave us two complimentary appetizers. Food was great, the drinks even better, but the STAFF was the best part. A+ all the way from this foodie!! Ask for Alexandra L! Best waitress/bartender on the block :)
12
i'm from california and did extensive research on food in the downtown area, even though i was only going to be here for a day. this place got good reviews, so i snuck in for happy hour before heading to the king's kitchen for dinner. basically, the only drinks on happy hour menu were a madras for $5 and miller lite for $3. um, not so cool. then i ordered the popcorn shrimp for an app. it looked delish when it came out. i even ate a couple and the sauces were yummy. even the people aitting next to me commented on how yummy it looked. then i saw a line of poop in one of the shrimp. a super gross out peeve of mine. i started to go through all the shrimp and they all had the poop. serving un-de-veined shrimp at such a fancy place?? uck!! i stopped eating. and left. will not return. BUT service was good.
01
It's a local treasure that may be overlooked in the city of Charlotte. However, make no mistake about it, the Mimosa Grille is a rise above the typical local city purveyor of fusion cuisine. While my experience was derived from Restraunt week have to say that had the bill been full price I would have been glad to have paid the normally expected total for this culinary delight. Beyond the meal, my server was attentive, knowledgeable and courteous to my requests and expectations. My only qualm would be that the hostess was aloof and unconcerned. A common issue overlooked by even the most establishments. If I could offer any advice to the manager is that a hostess is the am ambassador to your production. It's the first person I see and the last person to say goodbye. Please take consideration to the significance to this persons affect on every customers experience and is exreamly important in creating a premier dinning experience.
12
I went here for a business lunch the other day, and as a petite woman, even I was shocked at how small the portions were. I typically need a to go box whenever I go out to eat, but here I finished my entire meal (trout and potatoes) and was still hungry. We all ended up ordering dessert and laughed when we saw it. The $7 cheesecake could fit on a tablespoon! The service was pretty good in the beginning, but as the place filled up our server seemed to disappear. He never returned to refill our glasses or bring the missing ice cream that was supposed to go with my dessert! While the restaurant interior is lovely and the location is great for all those that work in uptown, the price you pay for the small amount of food makes it not worth it.
01
I came here on a Saturday night and had a really good time. Our service was fast, friendly, and it was overall a great experience. The short ribs were unbelievably tender, and I also enjoyed 'the tower' appetizer. Some of the best non-traditional hushpuppies I've ever had!
12
Sounded better than it was. the Waygu burger is all hype and not that flavorful. Waitress was friendly and wanted to make sure I left full, but it was not the foodie experience I was looking for. Maybe I should have got the trout special!
01
My wife and I loved our food and the service. It was a great date night!
12
Just tried Mimosa Grill for Sunday brunch. The buffet selection included eggs, sausage, and French toast; plus lunch items like macaroni and cheese and salmon.\n\nThe service was excellent even though we were at the end of brunch- water glasses were kept full and clean silverware was brought.\n\nI enjoyed our view of Uptown.\n\nOnly quirk- when we were brought clean silverware for dessert, our napkins were placed on the back of our chair. I didn't realize this.\n\nOverall, food, service, and mimosas were excellent; I look forward to returning for dinner.
12
Went for dinner with my wife on a Saturday night June 23rd. This was our first time eating here. We started out with some drinks and those lovely hot buttermilk biscuts with strawberry butter. We had the Carolina crabcakes which were excellent. My wife had the shrimp and grits and I had the pressed chicken. Both were very very good hats off to the chef. The atmosphere was so relaxing and the service was great. We will definitely go back to try some more of the dishes!!!
12
Getting seated wasn't difficult but after that the experience fell apart. We ordered cocktails and water. The cocktails came in a timely manner but we only received one water. My husband ordered the shrimp and grits and I ordered the grilled scallops with butternut squash. The temperature of both dishes was cool. Almost room temperature. My husbands shrimp and grits were colder than my squash. The service was not professional. Being rushed to get the credit card out after receiving the bill.
01
If I could give Mimosa Grill \""0\"" stars, I would. I made a reservation with Mimosa for my family's Thanksgiving meal in 2012. I called a month in advance and inquired about the menu. I was explained all the menu choices that would be available and with Mimosa Grill's reputation, decided to go forward with it. When we arrived on Thanksgiving Day, the restaurant did not have a menu - it was a buffet. Never was this mentioned during our 15 minute phone call when I made the reservation. A lot of people do not like buffets - so this should be made clear! Secondly, the chef had sizzling salmon on the buffet. This caused the restaurant to REEK of salmon and therefore every bite of food I took tasted like salmon (which I don't particularly like). The rest of the food was overly heavy and greasy. But, hey, at least I didn't gain weight over the holiday. \n\nI believe when a restaurant serves a holiday meal, there is a special trust they must have with their customers. We choose to trust the restaurant with our most treasured memories. Also, holidays are so booked, we can't leave and go to another restaurant! Mimosa Grill blew it (although I am pretty sure we will look back at this and laugh). We did call Zink's (where we ate last year and owned by the same company) to see if they could fit us in. Unfortunately, Zink's had also chosen to go with a buffet this year (unlike last year) and didn't have any tables available. What a shame - I will definitely be more discriminating next holiday, and my sister is even entertaining the idea of cooking.
01
I looked at the reviews and thought this would be a great place for bunch. Wrong! I don't know how their regular menu food is but their brunch was horrible with a capital H. $21 a person was way too much for disgusting food.
01
Very overrated, in my opinion. I'm assuming it's getting high marks because of the focus on some low-country food. Atmosphere is not that unique, elevator music. Food is fine, if not spectacular. Service was innattentive, not-very-knowledgeable. Alot of better options uptown.
01
I have attended a few events for my college at the Mimosa Grill. It's a great and elegant place to have a group event. The food is amazing and service has always been great. \n\nRecently I went to their BBQ event. It was all you can eat for $24. I went to see a musician play who is amazing. The crowd was very engaged and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Although I didn't try the BBQ I also had a great time. $2 beer specials and live music on a beautiful Sat evening. Cant get much better than that.
12
Took my parents here for brunch on a Sunday. First of all, decor is classy, but the carpet near the windows is torn up and stained. A place that gets this much traffic *absolutely* should have the extra dough to spend on replacing the carpet. So, that gets a low mark in my book.\n\nAs for the brunch itself, it was very Charlotte. That is to say, what you'd expect Charlotte to do well, it did great. It failed in other categories. \n\nWhat was good: the grilled salmon was phenomenal. I think they used hickory. Just awesome. Eggs, green beans, mac and cheese were all above par. Another VERY UNUSUAL offering was smoked salmon with caviar garnishes (chopped eggs, red onion, capers). Is this a dish that is unique to Charlotte or the south? (I liked it, although I would have MUCH preferred to eat my caviar garnishes with caviar (including blini and sour cream).) For dessert, there were giant chocolate-dipped strawberries. \n\nAlso unique to this place is the all you can eat made-to-order tapas menu that comes with brunch. The walnut-crusted French toast with mixed berries was sublime. The classic eggs benedict was good, not great.\n\nWhat was bad: they had an appetizer selection of cheese and fruit that was unimaginative, unappealing and un-quality (yes I made that word up to get the point across). Generic cubed hard cheeses and melon and strawberries that were under-ripe and looked like they hadn't been vetted for quality. The shrimp and grits was absolutely awful: a soup of gravy, some overcooked tomatoes and you had to fish around for the damn shrimp. The prime rib was overcooked and dry. The cobbler dessert had mushy apples, as if somebody had just tossed them into a pot and left them out in the sun for three days. The brownies and lemon tarts looked generic and store-bought.\n\nThe service was very good - our server took care of business and was perfectly charming.\n\nSo, this looks like a three star review. Why two? Well, the price was $21. For a dollar more, I could go to the Omni and have a proper brunch with an omelet bar, *real cheese,* fresh fruit, free fresh-squeezed orange juice, farm-raised bacon and sausage, and fresh bread pudding with vanilla creme anglaise. In fact, I think that's exactly what I'll do next time, thank you very much!
01