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This might be the worst Chinese I've ever tasted in my life...and i'm a college student so I've had a lot. I don't have a car so i ordered the sesame chicken and the beef with broccoli to go...two of my favorite standby dishes. the sesame was way too battered and was smothered with the sauce so much that i was literally scraping it off. it's really like eating fired dough with cherry jelly stuff...nasty. and the beef with broccoli was worse! it tasted like the \"" brown sauce\"" was day old gravy and the meat was like the mystery meat that you'd get at a middle school cafeteria. on second though i think my cafeteria was better. and the broccoli tasted acidic. it was just so gross id rather have just ordered pizza. seriously, don't go here.
01
Man, I really want this place to be good... but it's not. A shame - it's so convenient to get delivery (especially when it snowed, hah). Quintessential Chinese take-out isn't all that great in the first place, but Cherry House's dishes don't even measure up to that standard.\n\nProbably the most annoying thing about the beef, chicken, or shrimp entrees is the abundance of vegetables. Don't get me wrong - I love my greens, but there just isn't much in the way of protein. Having ordered a variety of entrees, each of them just go overkill with the veggies. You feel cheated - the dishes should be along the lines of \""snow peas, carrots, and a sampling of shrimp.\"" And to make matters worse, despite the diversity of dishes available, there's about three flavor profiles available: (1) salty; (2) sweet; and (3) sweet and salty. \n\nHot and Sour Soup - They're doing it wrong. The viscosity is off, and it's neither hot nor sour, really. \n\nWhen my sister visited and tried this place, she said everything from there tastes like broom handle. I've never had the pleasure of trying broom handle (and I don't know how she would know...) but I take it that it's no filet.\n\nFor me, the coup de grace was hair in my food the last two times I ordered! Supremely unpleasant and tossed it out immediately. You want to believe it was an accident the first time, but when it happens twice in a row... it's no accident. Something's busted with the people, product, or process.\n\ndmo out.
01
For Chinese food this place is inexpensive and well done. I was very happy with the amount of food and the quality for the price
12
I lived in Houston for nearly 20 years, and ate Chinese food all over that city, whose Asian population is among the most vibrant in the U.S. Since I moved up here, I've eaten at just about every hole-in-the-wall Chinese takeout and \""Asian bistro\"" around. I thought I was past the point of having my doors blown off by a dish, but the Cherry Special Chicken here did it from the first bite.\n\nI ordered it expecting something akin to sweet and sour chicken with a cherry twist. Sweet and sour isn't my favorite (My young sons, of course, love it) but I had to give this a try. \n\nWhat a revelation! Yes, there's the sweet-tartness of cherry, but there's also a spice kick that put sweat on my brow (I requested it extra-spicy) and a panoply of other spice notes throughout.\n\nOh, and the hot and sour soup is actually spicy and brilliantly sour. I order this almost everywhere I go, even though it's usually \""meh\"" at best. I could eat it every day. \n\nAnd the sweet and sour chicken my sons got? Yeah, it was good. But let's face it, if you can't get THAT right, you'd better close up shop.\n\nThe service was very friendly and attentive, and the entrees didn't come out until we'd finished our soup. \n\nI'm already looking forward to my leftovers for lunch tomorrow ...
12
On a unseasonably warm February evening, hubs and I ventured out for some eats. Since we both had fairly light lunches we were starvin' marvins. After attempting to stop by a handful of places (closed on Monday or an hour long wait) we settled on Snoop's, hopin' for a hot and fresh burger. \n\nInside, Snoop's leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not a dull knife in the drawer, and it took me a little while to figure out the, um, theme of the burger joint. Snoop's...as in detectives...snooping...i saw a Bond poster too. Ok, sure...I didn't really care about the overall ambiance as long as the food was solid. \n\nAnd how about the food? Well, it's pricier than other old school grilles - to the tune of $15+ for two 1/3 lb. burger combos and a corn dog. This wouldn't really bother me much if the food was better. The burger was fine - passable, but very well done (as in quite brown) and essentially flavorless. Onion rings were clunk-ily breaded and with little flavor and fries were \""meh\"" overall. I was looking for the salty little slivers of love with some crisp! \n\nService wasn't super inviting and the cash register attendant didn't even hint at a smile when we ordered. As soon as cash was in hand, she went back to her computer - adjacent to the counter. With a sanitation score barely above 90 and the flavorless eats, I have indeed experienced some better burger joints in the QC.
01
Great Jazz and they even let people stand in. Some high schooler was amazing on the harmonica. As a big Slim Harpo fan I was very impressed. The scene wasn't smoky at all. Very nice although the crowd was small.
12
One of the best places in Charlotte for continual live music. Open since the mid-70s the Double Door inn has hosted a ton of top acts and is always full of people who love music. Charlotte isn't known nationally for its music scene but with venues like this, it is hard to deny that you can't have a great time with Charlotte music. Decent beer selection and regular visits from the legendary Bill Hanna (at least legendary for Double Door Inn visitors) solidify the Inn as a location for musical bliss any night of the week.
12
There is only ONE spot to go on a Monday night in Charlotte for live music! It does not get better than the Double Door Inn! There is a cover but it is worth it! The bluesy music, electic mix of people, rustic bar and of course the PINBALL machine in the back make this spot a MUST DO! Love you Double Door!!
12
I fell in love with the Double Door a few years ago when I first moved to Charlotte. My boyfriend and I didn't have cash on us and when we realized you needed cash for entry, this guy who was a regular shelled out 40 bucks if we promised to keep coming back. Nuff said...the crowd is always down \nThe Double Door never disappoints, great shows, great drinks specials and very casual. They also have a pool table and old school pinball machine. They have a patio as well, but as a non smoker...I don't last too long out there. Last time I was there a few weeks ago, I even got on stage and played the tambourine with the act, best night ever!
12
I'm torn. \n\nThe entertainment (Lizzy Ross Band) was phenomenal. I mean, absolutely mind-blowing. I would have left so much earlier and never thought twice about this place if the band hadn't been fantastic. They were a perfect mix of blues, rock, country, and jazz. Doesn't sound like a great recipe, but it was delicious. \n\nThe bar itself was awesome. Cool, eclectic seating, an interesting layout, and a back section for people to hang and talk where the music isn't so loud. The sound system was rockin. Crystal clear and the music sounded like a million bucks coming out of it. \n\nIt was the staff and the crowd that got to me. The bartender and bouncer were rude. In fact, we hadn't been in the bar 10 minutes and we would have left if we hadn't wanted to hear the band. The cover was a bit pricey for bands you've never heard of, but it'd be completely worth it if they're all like the band we saw. I also LOVE drinking, but only ordered one drink to avoid any further interaction with the bartender since he had been rude from the minute we walked in. The crowd was a group of old, quiet locals and I was shocked at how empty the place was on a Friday night. \n\nAll in all, I'll probably come back for a good band, but I'll drink somewhere else.
01
I really loved the atmosphere of this place. It reminded me of one of my favorite bars in Chicago so it really felt like home. The bartender was a great guy who was friendly and kept the drinks coming. I saw a few fun bands while I was there and the sound was great. Anyone looking for a friendly environment with good service and great sound should definately check this place out.
12
On Thursday 9/21/12, James Lastra played the Double Door Inn.\nAfter several successful shows at The Evening Muse, he was booked by Afton Showcase to play this legendary venue.\n\nA great honor to perform on the same stage with some notable artists like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Buddy Guy.
12
Went here to see a band out of upstate New York Sophistafunk recently and a great time was had by all. \n\nThe place is one of the smaller music venues in the Charlotte. But that smaller size actuality work in favor of Double Door, there is a very homey, friends and family vibe about the whole place. Genny to High Life. \n\nThe band, Sophistafunk can be described as just that - sophisticated funk music. They brought alot of energy and had the audience of about 30 people all dancing and moving to the beat. \n\nMy virgin experience at Double Door was good enough so that I would def return. Don't go to Double Door expecting some sort of top-shelf, Fillmore-esq music venue. Yet, it serves its place as its a great venue to see up and coming bands.
12
I don't hit up too many late night spots these days. I've attended about 3 or 4 events here over the last few years. It's a small, intimate venue with a lot of character. After you order a Roanoke Railhouse (one of the few places it's on-tap in Charlotte right now), be sure to spend some quality time scoping out the wall decor. There's a lot of history and humor hung up there. There are tvs around the bar to keep you up to date on sports and news. In the back is a patio and a gameroom with a few arcade/pinball games and a pool table. The key part of this intimate setting is that as soon as a band takes the small stage, you can't help but start grooving to their tunes. Even if you're not digging the music too much, everyone else dancing and enjoying themselves becomes infectious. The downside to the small venue is that it can become hard to talk with other folks. If you're with a group and want to chat, head to the back for some space and a few less decibels.
12
Hate when people vent on here about bad experiences, so please skip if you don't want to hear my rant. It's not all bad, despite a bad experience with one person, we had a great night. \nWe went to the double door on Sept 20th to see the guitar freak genius called Reignwolf. The venue is cool in a historic dirty blues club way (hey Clapton's played here!), the beers are cheap and cold. \nUnfortunately the doorman is a real tool, I'd bought 8 tickets online for me and group of friends and coworkers. I arrived first with 3 others and 15 minutes later a second group of two people arrived (6 total)- it was then the doorman told me I had used up all my tickets. \nTried explaining we still had two more tickets and was basically told to \""go f$&@ myself\"". Tickets were just $10, but sucked to be accused of being a thief. Anyway, we had to purchase more tickets at the door. The band was great and we had good time anyway. Guess the best advice, just pay at door.
01
Excellent venue. One of the best in Charlotte. It is old. You feel history. It is intimate. \n\nThe only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars- it is inconsistent with their band bookings. Sometimes it is really good and other times it is \""meh\"". They definitely don't seem to pick up on traveling indy bands (they seem to go to other venues in Charlotte instead)
12
My aunt was visiting from Chicago and booked a room at the Inn after the Vanlandingham estate (which is a sister business to the Morehead Inn) said they were full.\n\nWhen I dropped her off, I went inside to check it out, and I'm glad I did. It's truly an amazing house. Walking around the place, you can really start to feel as if you've gone back in time. I only saw one guest room, but it was impressive. very well appointed with antique furniture, it had a separate sitting room with its own couch, and the views were of the thick stand of trees to the east and south of the house.\n\nI also really liked the enclosure of live australian finches downstairs. They're colorful, lively things to watch, and I was told that sometimes the cat they keep around the house just sits around staring at the birds.\n\nAnyway, if you've got guest coming from out of town who are into antique and ornate surroundings, they would do well to stay at the Morehead Inn.
12
If you need a place for a company get together, this is it! I was able to visit The Morehead Inn for a small company meeting of around 20 people and it was nice and cozy in the room they provided us with.\n\nWhen I first arrived, I noticed how it the plants were well kept and there wasn't that much parking. If you come here, I would highly recommend carpooling. From the parking lot, I was able to walk right to the conference room they had for us. As soon as I walked in, I felt like I went back in time. The decorations there were beautiful and made me feel like I had to drink tea with my pinky out. The only gripe I have about their decorations was that they had plates with Slytherin colors. How can they support the evil house in Harry Potter!?!?! Other than that, everything was perfect.\n\nThey do not have that many bathrooms, but it is understandable since it is an old house. I wouldn't want them to change that anyways. I wasn't able to explore more in the Inn, but all the things I was able to see I loved. The staff was also very friendly, so kudos to that!
12
My experience with Morehead Inn was by far the biggest disappointments I endured as a bride. I do not want another couple to have to go through what we went through with them. MHI was recommended by my wedding Planner, Angela, who told us that they would accommodate our every need. This was important to us b/c would be showcasing my Lao culture, which means the food above all else had to be precise. In Sept 2013, we went to go visit the space and the Coordinator there, Jackie, told us that the Chef would be able to customize our menu & if there are dishes that he wouldn't be able to replicate, they would allow for outside catering. \nIn Nov 2013, Angela followed up with MHI to see when we could schedule the tasting. She came back to us and said that Jackie had left the company. They were understaffed, hitting the holiday season, & were too busy to accommodate us at that time. We understood and agreed to have a tasting no later than the 1st first week of Jan 2014. Our wedding was going to in April 2014. \nOn Jan 15th we finally received an email from their new Coordinator, Kaylie, who said that the Chef would be ready to provide us a tasting on Feb 4th, a month late. She said that we have to rent them a fryer, would NOT allow any outside catering & would have to pay for each of our tasting; which was not stated on the contract. \nThe first tasting did not meet our standards, so we suggested that the Kaylie and Chef go to our friend's restaurant to try the food that we wanted them to make. At first, the Chef did not want to comply but finally said ok. We wanted the experience to be good for both so we paid for their lunch. I went back for 4 tastings and the dishes finally came out decent but far from the traditional flavors. \nApril 4th was the date that the final head count was due as well as the remaining balance. The invoice amount was wrong & it showed us being charged for the tasting. Angela she said that she would consult with Billy and Kaylie. She told me not to pay & said that we would clear the issue by the weekend. She also told me that she worked on a wedding with them in the past where the couple did not pay MHI until the day of their wedding so we should be fine. \nWe received the revised invoice over the weekend and upon reviewing it w/ Angela; we were not able to conclude how they came up with the calculation. April 7th I asked Kaylie to revise it so I knew exactly what I was being charged for. She said that the Accounting Dept would not be able to provide this for me but that if we got overcharged, they would refund us after the wedding. So essentially, they ask us to pay them based on good faith but the ironic thing is that there was no good faith on their part b/c what happened next is obvious who Billy, the owner, is and how he treats his clients. \nWe agreed to make the pymt on April 8th even though we didn't agree with the amount we were charged for. I emailed Kaylie that morning and said that my fianc\u00e9 would call her with the credit card number, which she told us was ok to do. By midday, we received an email from Kaylie who said that Billy told her to tell us that they would no longer take our credit card and that the only form of pymt he would accept would be cash or cashier's check or our event would be cancelled. We were shocked by this since our agreement stated that credit card is the appropriate form of pymt. We sent Billy our cc info & told him that he could run the transaction since that was a valid form of payment in our contract. The next day he sent us a threatening email demanding cash and that he would take us to court b/c we breached our contract by cancelling our event. We reminded him that he was the one that said our event would be cancelled if we didn't provide the other form of payment and because of his nasty behavior; we did not want do business with him anymore. On April 10th he ran our credit card without notifying us and told Angela that we could still have our event there. We were livid that Billy charged our card after he cancelled our event and demanded we pay him in cash. \nWe ended up having to pay them the $6k but we did not have our event with them because we could not trust them after all this. We had to scramble the week of the wedding to move our event to the Holiday Inn who did a great job accommodating us in such a short notice. \nLast I would like to say that our wedding was over six figures so we expected a certain level of service from our vendors. The way we were treated caused my fianc\u00e9 and I so much stress during our final days before our big day. For all those who fall in love with the MHI, let me forewarn you that the owner Billy is not someone who you can depend on to treat you like a bride deserves. Feel free to contact me for details.
01
This was one of the vendors that came highly recommended by my wedding Planner. She could not stress enough how great and accommodating they were. From our first meeting with their Event Coordinator, we were lead to believe that MHI would offer outside catering if they were not able to customize our menu. We wanted traditional Laotian food. They said that this was possible and so we signed. Everything that transpired from that moment went downhill. They did not keep their promise and so we had to work with the Chef to prepare our dishes. After several tastings that we were billed for (it was never stated on our contract that we had to pay for these), the food came out ok. \n\nThe final straw was 2 weeks before our wedding when we got the bill that was to be paid in full, which was completely inaccurate. They tried to explain to us and our wedding planner what the breakdown of cost was but nothing on that invoice made sense. My planner told us to hold off on paying until she spoke to Billy, the owner. She also mentioned that they had allowed a couple to pay on the day of so we should be ok. After several back and forth, we decided to proceed on the payment even though we didn't agree with the amount. MHI Planner emailed us midday and said the owner, Billy, would not accept our credit card and demanded we paid him cash or money order in full or our event would be cancelled. We told him that the contract explicitly states that a cc is an acceptable form of payment and that he could take. He said that he would take us to court and sue us if we didn't pay. We were under the notion that he was going to cancel our event b/c we refused to give in to his demands but two days later he ran our credit card w/o our knowledge and called our planner to let us know all is well & that we could have our wedding day. We never got our money back and we ended up not having our wedding there. I don't think any bride & groom who endured what we did would want to have their wedding there as well. We had to find a new venue at the last minute and rejigger our wedding day schedule because of Billy. \n\nFolks - there is something sketchy when a business owner demands you pay in cash when the contract doesn't state that. Please beware of this. I have all of our correspondences saved if anyone wants to see them.
01
Gorgeous- immaculate historic estate- very spacious stay in the Mt Vernon room. Wonderful breakfast- great friendly staff!
12
The only reason I'll even give SECU two stars is that I did end up with a pretty decent mortgage for my house here, and I also bought a nice birdhouse from them (inexplicably sold in the front lobby). But my praise begins and ends there. \n\nThe biggest problem with the SECU is their terrible hours. Why, oh why, is the bank only open when we are at work??? Closing at 5:30? Not even open on Saturday mornings???!!! It's just crazy. I've also found their customer service to be lacking (at least, on the phone), and they have NO ATMs uptown. While I wanted to get away from Wachovia/Wells and BorA, I'm starting to realize that all these banks are the same (i.e. terrible). Unfortunately, no bank I've found down here matches up with the service and convenience of my former bank, Citibank.
01
Best Chinese in town. Quick delivery, great service, great price.
12
By far my favorite Chinese food! Usually get take out from here--I love their fried dumplings and chicken and broccoli. Convenient location across from CPCC's IT building. Sometimes parking is kind of an issue during busy periods, but it's worth it.
12
Definitely NOT a sexy establishment but if what you want is good hot Chinese food you got it! There are tables and booths - the place kind of looks like a Burger King knock-off. The have a TV too to watch while you are waiting for your order. Located right by the Double Door Uptown - this location is super convenient for those of us living or working Uptown. \n\nI got the Mongolian Beef which was the proper amount of spice. Tender meat and lots of mushrooms and onions. (You can request white rice also!) Not too saucy and everything was great the next day. It was so much food I couldnt finish it!!\n\nThe boyfriend got the Sesame Chicken and I tried a bite or two of his. I don't like breaded stuff but it was very tasty. Both orders together were around $15 bucks and came up super quick! \n\nThey deliver too!
12
Hot, fast and very tasty American-style Chinese food. Big portions and low prices. I was staying at the Wingate Hotel nearby on a layover and these guys really made my night by delivering a tasty dinner with a smile. Definitely recommend them.
12
My family and I ordered take out from here regularly and loved them. However, one time I noticed they had double-charged my credit card. I called them several times about it and was always told to call back another time when their manager was available. Eventually I told them no, that their manager should call me and left them my number. Never got that call, so now I have to find another Chinese take out place. Beware these crooks!
01
Great food. Not too pricey and they're always very quick preparing the order. I've never had them deliver, always carried out.
12
Some of the worst Chinese take out I've had in a long time. I got the sesame chicken dinner combo. The chicken was overly breaded and very soggy. The sesame sauce was bright red - as if they put the wrong sauce on my chicken and just threw some sesame seeds on top to make it look correct. I also had asked for brown rice, but they don't carry steamed brown rice.\n\nIt was very cheap - but I guess you get what you pay for.
01
Well what is to be said about this place, for starter in just moving into Charlotte many of my coworkers and friends have recommend this place saying its some of the best Chinese food in town. As a food Connoisseur I enjoy Chinese food a lot but upon having high hope for finding a new place to enjoy some delicious cuisine the lack luster effort has seized to impress my expectations. The quality of the food has ranged from okay to mediocre, while the portions range can differ upon a full meal for an adult to \""emergency rations\"" that in turn causes the meal to become inconsistent and make not worth it's full price. It also seems that the cook doesn't put care into his work often times making the experience to be a let down and it seems to be the same at the all of the locations. My final verdict is poor, this place has a lot of work for improvement.
01
I can't comment on the food (you'll read why) but the process of ordering online is horrible. We placed an order online, knowing there could be up to 60min delivery time, and once I called 90 minutes later they said they didn't receive the order. I got the confirmation email clearly stating our order, time it was placed, house address, etc.\n\nThe lady on the phone at first was very helpful and say we wouldn't need to pay. I reread the order to her and after reciting the order she asked, \""How would you like to pay for this?\"" and followed up with \""Why wouldn't you pay for this?\""\n\nNice knowin' ya \""Fortune Cookie Chinese Restaurant\""......see ya never.
01
The lo mein is so bad. It was spongey and tasted like plastic. The sweet and sour chicken is just fine. It is what I expect from a chinese take out place. (You can sit in) I probably won't be going to this place unless I have limited options approaching 10:00pm. This place could make a killing if it stayed open till 12am-2am on weekends.
01
Their prices are reasonable & they deliver. Also the delivery service was quite fast. The food was where things started declining. The spring roll was fine, probably came from a box, but whatever. Crab Rangoon was terrible. For $3.75 I know they'll be using imitation crab..thats not really my beef..they were pretty flavorless except for the onion. Also ordered beef & mixed vegetable, meh. They're certainly generous with their portions. But quality & flavor could seriously improve. Will I order again? Yes, but thats just do to laziness.
01
Alot of food, resonably priced great service. Parking can be a challenge at times.
12
Huge fan of this place! Everything has great flavor, is hot and fresh. I always get a different rice--shrimp, beef, house, and veggies with extra egg. So great to be such a small place and the prices rock as well. I had the spareribs as well and let me tell y'all something--Fortune Cookie puts an extra spin on them that make them addictive! Go in for the service, leave out with your food, love your tummy when you get home. Yes, four stars and I am all over this place whenever I get the hankering for Asian food. And they are so nice! When I call to order for carryout they listen well and read back everything. After two orders, he said 'Blake?' Yes ma'am!
12
Extremely poor customer service and do not offer the latest innovations in wigs. Maybe they were once the only game in town and are resting on their laurels...if you have breast cancer, the last thing you need is poor service and pushy sales clerks. I would give no stars if that were an option. Stay away.
01
Very pushy! I went with my mother who is fighting cancer , I was shocked at how pushy they were with her. They are taking advantage of cancer patients.
01
I had dinner at Carpe Diem with a good friend on a recent Tuesday evening. The company was excellent, but the dining experience wasn't something I am eager to repeat... \n\nFirst, the atmosphere. Others have commented on this already, but I really didn't care for the decor or the atmosphere. The lighting doesn't really work - the restaurant is too bright - and the furniture and flooring just really aren't up to snuff for a restaurant that's going to charge these kinds of prices. Truth be told, the place reminds me a lot of a funeral parlor... Yeah, I know.\n\nFor an appetizer we ordered a salad - priced over $9 - and we told them that we were going to share it. They split the salad, served it on two plates, and charged us a $2.50 \""split plate fee\"". You're kidding, right? The salad was good, but not even close to being worth the nearly $12 that they ended up charging us for it. My friend ordered the Mediterranean sampler from the appetizer menu, and she enjoyed her food - and I am at least glad for that. My entree, the scallops served with risotto, was fine but overpriced. For $24 I received three scallops on a bed of risotto. The risotto was undercooked. The flavor was fine, but for $24 the risotto should be better than average - especially when there are only three scallops. \n\nTo me, this is quintessential \""high end\"" Charlotte dining - decent food that is absurdly priced. If they had charged $8 for our salads and $18 for my entree... it would have been a reasonable value. For what Carpe Diem charged, though, I just found myself wishing that I had gone somewhere else.
01
I think there is a lot better food to be had in Charlotte. \n\nThis place definitely has a romantic vibe going; its just that the food is not that good. Wasn't memorable, exciting or impressive. \n\nWould pass up in favor of something better.
01
Possibly the best kept vegetarian secret in Charlotte.\n\nWent for a \""romantic\"" birthday dinner. He had reserved the table thru their website, leaving \""birthday\"" in the comments- and they'd sprinkled the table (really sweet, sits in an alcove, isolated and quiet) with balloon confetti. Great little touch.\n\nFrom door to check, the service was impeccable, (thanks Page!) without being stuffy. The wine we'd wanted to try wasn't in stock any longer, so we were given a perfectly chilled taste of the new pinot grigio they're carrying before making our decision. Great wine, decent price.\n\nThe decor was so Art Nouveau it was leaning towards camp - but I love anything from that era, so that was fine by me. Delicate lighting, warm and comfy. This is their third? relocation - and it looks as though they're planning to stay awhile, as there is obviously a lot of time, thought and money invested in the decor. Nice space between tables, a variety of seating options, lovely. I wonder if they'd be better placed Uptown, since the surrounding restaurants are a little lower-key, but I'm totally cool with not having to deal with all that entails to come here.\n\nThe food ranged from good to impressive. Our mushroom tart with beets and microgreens was the low point of the meal, but was still delish. Grilled grape salad was simple but impressive, surrounded by a white balsamic reduction so subtle that it was almost honey. This is the only high cuisine restaurant I know of in Charlotte that does a unique vegetarian main each night as a special - and at 16.50 for my cauliflower cream pot pie (topped by perfect puff pastry, made in-house) it's accessible to anyone. I overheard other specials being ordered at double that price. But if you can stand to keep it veg, Carpe is an incredible bargain. \n\nBeing the annoyingly inquisitive Yelper that I am, I had some questions involving hypotheticals - what if a troop of vegan friends were staying with me sometime in the future and I wanted to treat them to an amazing meal? Not a problem, said the chef - give me a week's notice, and I'll have a fully vegan experience prepared. Amazing.\n\nNot that I have any allergies or dietary restrictions (well, other than the veg thing), but this is the place to take relatives and friends that do. They are ready and willing to cater to any need. But you should come here anyway, although for us, it will be for special occasions. Our bill landed right at 100 for three courses, beverages, and tip. Easily worth it.
12
On a recent visit I had the duck which was tender enough to cut with a fork and extremely well flavored. The spinach and parmasean soup was out of this world! A fanastic find and very enjoyable atmoshpere. Resonably priced wine and good service make this a \""I'll be back\"" restaurant.
12
Very much enjoyed my dinner at Carpe Diem. \n\nI had a tasty scallop dish albeit a bit small portion wise and two delicious starters - the tuna and calamari. I was happy in the end that I did get appetizers or my meal might have been a bit small. The real stand out was the fresh bread- wow delicious..I literally couldn't stop reaching for another roll - even after I was full! \n\nOur server was friendly and attentive- he recommended a nice chardonnay for my dinner and was pleasantly surprised it was in the $8 range.The atmosphere was a little stark- nicer for a quiet date than a girls night. \n\nOverall id say bring your wallet- my meal with two drinks and an appetizer was about $60. I would absolutely visit again since everything was really yummy!
12
It'd only been~15 years since I last ate there - how dare they move?\nTwice?\n\nGraduation night dinner for #1 child - great intimate late supper with her and my the mother unit.\nFood was great, our server was gluten sensitive which really made ordering easy; look, I had wine and I don't remember much except for the fact that the food was tasty, the two ladies raved, and we didn't get sick.\n\nMinus a quarter star (thus retaining the 5 stars) for the dessert (a cocoanut cupcake with cream cheese frosting). Our server couldn't vouch for it (since it was glutinous) and I should've trusted her. It was okay, but didn't stand up to the rest of the meal.\n\nOh wait - I remember that I had scallops and they were the cat's meow!\n\nGreat ambiance; beautiful digs in a part of town that's apparently been fixed up since we lived there and well trained staff.\n\nOh this pic:\nhttp://media3.ct.yelpcdn.com/photo/tqLbF9fRSYY-MJqG_EVMfA/l\nhappened to be in the Men's Room; it's a picture of the restaurant from when I last went to it (right next to the First Union building where I worked).
12
Nice place but the food isn't consistant. :( too bad because its a really nice place to have our date nights.
12
Very good and not overly stuffy. I enjoy this place.
12
Want to take your special date to a posh dinner? Dress fancy and get ready for a dining experience at Carpe Diem. \n\nI had to take Todd W's advice...goat cheese salad! The food was delicious! We ordered the cheese plate to start. It was proportioned well and the cream, the hard cheese, paired with the fruit and honey were just right. For the main entree, I ordered the vegetarian couscous and hubs got the veggie special of the day. Both were made fresh to order and I savored each bite. It was so good that even as full as I had become, I couldn't stop eating until it was almost gone. The wine list had plenty to choose from to make a nice pairing with your entrees as well. \n\nThey try to source what they can from local farms and they make a menu to reflect what is fresh for the season.\n\nI love having a 2-hour dinner without feeling rushed; it makes me feel high class. The server was very nice and attentive, giving us time to enjoy the experience.\n\nSave your Benjamin's and when you're ready to splurge treat yourself to a night at Carpe Diem!
12
We received a BoGo coupon in the mail and tested this place out. We walked in and were surprised by how quiet and welcoming the atmosphere was. I ordered the Buttermilk Chicken Breast dinner and the meal was fantastic. One of the best chicken recipes I've had. Everything tasted like it was made from scratch. I have no complaints and would certainly visit this restaurant again.
12
I had my birthday dinner here a few years ago. There were about 8 of us. The staff was extremely accommodating. The atmosphere is classy, without being pretentious. Based on the crowd and the decor, I imagine this place would be great for happy hour too. \n\nThe food was good. I had the scallops, which were pretty standard. But a few people let me sample their entrees. The pork chop and the fried chicken were very good. This is a great place to celebrate a special occasion.
12
I'm not one to dish out five stars for just any restaurant, but Carpe Diem is definitely deserving. The fella and I made reservations for a Saturday at 6:45 and stopped by an hour early to have a pre-dinner drink at the bar.\n\nWe walked in and were promptly greeted by the hostess and manager. We grabbed a seat at the semi-circular bar; the fella ordered his usual dirty martini with Tito's Vodka, and I had a specialty cocktail that I can't remember the name of, but it was like a gin and tonic with cucumber, which made it even more refreshing. Our bartender was engaging without being omnipresent, and after about 20 minutes, more people started to filter into the bar area, which was cozy - there were not only stools at the bar, but also comfy looking loveseats and chairs around the perimeter - and almost had a Tuscan feel.\n\nAfter our drink, we moved into the dining room and got the best seat in the house! There's one table in almost a cubby hole with curtains that I guess you could close if you wanted, and it's an awesome seat. Even more awesome was the food. We got the beef carpaccio to start ($10), and I loved the mustard and capers gave it just enough tang without being too spicy, and the ciabatta bread was a perfect accompaniment. For dinner, I got the pork tenderloin ($25) with fried plantains - the entire reason I got the dish - and BBQ baked Sea Island peas. Now, I hate regular peas, but these had some sweet onions mixed in, and I ate every bite of food on my plate. The fella got the Scottish salmon ($25), and he said it plus the scallion-ginger relish on top was pretty darn delicious. We checked out the dessert menu, but we were too stuffed to try anything. Also, our waitress was very nice and down to earth and came over the perfect amount of times to check on us without being annoying.\n\nSo, not only was the food amazing, but the atmosphere is also right up my alley - it's good food without being too snooty. We, like a lot of other customers, were in nice jeans, but it certainly didn't feel like it was fancy. If you wanted to dress up, that'd be fine, and if you wanted to be a little more casual, that'd be fine, too. We can't wait to go back.
12
I had high hopes for this place. Maybe it was because it was restaurant week, but I was not impressed. The only good thing I have to say is the wine I had was excellent. Our waiter was lacking and did not explain the menu or specials. I had the goat cheese salad and it was good, but did not blow me away. We we're suppose to get the sorbet between courses to cleanse our palate but it seems he forgot to bring it. When the main course finally came I had to ask for a knife and he seemed to have forgotten who ordered what, so there was a lot of shuffling of plates. I got the trout and again I was not impressed. Dessert was the same, nothing special. Maybe this place is good when it's not restaurant week but I am not sure if it's worth the price.
01
Excellent spot in great area! The Food was very good and the prices were moderate. Service was good as well. Try to Fried Chicken Breast entree, delicious. Hanger Steak left a little to be desired though, but overall good choice. I would recommend.
12
I found out about this fine dining spot from a gift certificate I was given. Come dressed in your Sunday best and be prepared for some really good eats. Service was on point from the moment you walk in. My husband and I had dinner reservations so we were immediately seated. It was not crowded and the noise level was overall on the quiet side. I highly recommend getting their Prince Edward Island Steamed Mussels. It comes with ciabatta bread slices that you can dip into the mussel sauce for an extra treat. So much flavor and just the right amount to share where it won't get you full to enjoy your main entree. For dinner I had the Seared Sea Scallops and my husband ordered their Grouper special. Both dressed and plated French cuisine-style (small portions) so at first you're thinking, OMG this is it for so much $$$?! But we were both SO FULL, it was actually plenty to eat. To end the meal we chose the coconut cake with pineapple mango gelato which had a little kick of spice. The cake alone was incredible but paired with the gelato, DYNAMITE. Will definitely be ordering a full size of this cake with gelato for upcoming big parties we will host. This spot is perfect for a date or an intimate celebration.
12
Had the kale caesar to start and the buttermilk fried chicken (like apparently the majority of customers). The salad was very good and the dressing not too overwhelming. I especially how the made the substitute with kale, as it adds a good satsifying crisp to the taste. They gave a strawberry shorbet between the appetizer and entree as to clean the palette.\nThe buttermilk fried chicken was amazing. I've never had fried chicken at a fine dining establishment and it was a very refreshing experience. I'm from the East Coast so I might not have the most reliable comprehension of what the best fried chicken is but it was ridiculously good. The batter was very smooth and thin. The meat itself was very tender and had a distinct juicy flavor which went perfectly with the light gravy that came with it. I wish I could remember it honestly. Writing this review made me so hungry that I had to stop in the middle to eat something. Anyway, the waitress mentioned how the restaurant is owned by two sisters for a very long time and one of them does all of the baking. Next time I'll have to try the dessert.
12
I cannot believe this place exists! How is it competitive in Charlotte?\nThe flavors are absurdly overdone: super salty, super sweet, and conflicting in that they pair savory with super sweet and drown it all out.\nI may have an answer: the place is filled with the elderly. Maybe it's \""The Walking Dead\"" tongues. Seriously, the youngest person there was in their early 50's. It's like a \""speak-easy\"" for the rich elderly...it just keeps afloat by a secret handshake that acknowledges you are in a terrible place but you can be old there without the riff-raff.\nAlso, it is terribly expensive for the low quality they are putting on the plate. Even the drinks are super sweet.\nAVOID AT ALL COSTS!
01
Authentic New Orleans flavor and great family atmosphere. Not pricey, and the portions are huge. The fish is fresh, and the service is friendly. Live music some nights.
12
We've been to the Pineville location before, and I have to say that the experience there is many times better than this one (at least on this night). While everything was decent, nothing really came together. \n\nThe jazz band was decent, just don't make the mistake of sitting in the same room if you actually want to enjoy your meal, talk with your companions, that sort of thing. If you're going for the music, that's fine, but for a quiet evening, it is not the room to sit in!
01
Skip this one.
01
3 people sat down...\nInteresting old house feel to the place. \n#1 - Etouffee shrimp - good shrimp, pretty good spice to it, nothing special that would bring me back\n#2 - Etouffee crawfish - good crawfish but just like any other (customer 2 preferred this over the shrimp)\n#3 - Wash Day Blues - red beans and rice were blander than usual and the sausage was not cut up, hot sauce only can do so much\n\nFried Green Tomatoes appetizer was a hit with the whole table. \nDixie Blackened voodoo was delicious.
01
Took my hubby (whose parents and grandparents all grew up in Mississippi, super close to Louisiana) to the Cajun Queen for some cajun food! \n\nWe entered into the foyer (lobby) and were greeted by two cheerful hostesses. They told us it would be about 15 minutes for a table and steered us upstairs to the bar while we waited for our table. We ordered two drinks and were quickly called for our table. We were seated in the small dining room to the right of the foyer. The rooms are all full of dark furniture, paintings, and dark wood. There were many people seated on the downstairs patio, and it looked to have been cooler than the small (packed) dining room. However, the cocktails we ordered when we were seated at our table quickly cooled us off. \n\nWe started our dinner with the fried green tomato appetizer. The tomatoes were artfully displayed with a creamy sauce. The sauce, in combination with the tomatoes, was fabulous! Both dinners came with our choice of gumbo or salad. The waiter highly suggested the gumbo, and it was really good. For entrees we ordered cajun shrimp and grits and crawfish etouffee. Both dinners were full of flavor and were large in size. \n\nThe upstairs dining room, adjacent to the bar, features live jazz music 7 nights a week. Definitely worth a listen while seated at the bar, or eating in that dining room. \n\nBe sure and pick up some mardi gras beads in the front foyer, and have a sit on the front porch while you let your delicious dinner settle. Grab a photo with the giant queen gator in the front yard as a souvenir!
12
Easy to get reservations, prompt service, and DELICIOUS food! I had the crayfish etoufee - rich and yummy. Others had the chicken creole, shrimp & grits, & fried shrimp. All reported yummy! Nice atmosphere, too. Took a kiddo (18mo.) and it was fine for her. I will definitely be back.
12
Was recommended to this restaurant by the front desk clerk at the Hilton nearby. My two co-workers and I were very happy with the food and the service. Portion sizes were more than enough. \n\nI ordered the Blackened Filet Diane and added shrimp. One of my co-workers had the shrimp, crawfish, and chicken etouffee, and the other got the princess cut Cajun barbecued pork chop. And while each dish was wonderful, the presentation of the barbecued pork chop was simply beautiful! It was certainly the best looking plate of the evening.
12
I was looking forward to dining at the Cajun Queen from hearing about their authentic New Orleans cuisine to seeing their Best Cajun Restaurant in Charlotte status. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't memorable. I wish I could write about the service or the exact taste of the food but it was simply meh. I got the Blackened Catfish Filet with mashed taters (which I do remember and were fabulous) but I think they forgot the blackening on it or don't know what blackening means. I had to put some hot sauce on there just to get a kick.\n\nIt's a charming place however they had some live music which I personally found loud (and this moment right here is when I turned old).If you're looking for authentic New Orleans style food like I was, I would pass.
01
havent been there since i was a kid with my parents and after last night i will not go back. who's ever heard of bland cajun food, well somehow they pulled it off. i can make far better cajun food that at least has taste. the gumbo was terrible and the grits from the shrimp and grits were even worse, thank goodness they had habanero sauce to add some taste to this miserably bland dish. they did have dixie lager and dixIes blackened voodoo lager which is the only reason theyre not getting one star. the bartender was not pleasant either she obviously did not want to be there and it showed, when there are only 3 people in front of you, you should keep their water glasses full and beers a-comin' . the band was nice and the place itself is nice but im never going back, hotel charlotte, danny's too and especially boudreaux's are all much better with regards to cajun creole cuisine
01
Overall I love Cajun Queen it's usually the first place I think of to bring guests from out of town and for special events like birthdays. The atmosphere keeps bringing me back I love sitting in this cozy house listening to the band and sipping on my dirty martini and the Mardi Gras beads just put me in a good mood.\n\nI have had great experiences with the food and a couple just ok experiences - but I think now I know exactly what to order you can not go wrong with the appetizers the oysters are some of the best I've had and I love the crawfish scampi. The BBQ shrimp are beyond tasty but I normally order that as my meal now it comes as an entree too. A couple of things on the menu I don't care for are the shrimp and grits if your thinking you'll be getting some southern shrimp and grits I will steer you away from this entree you will be disappointed. The gumbo was also a big disappointment to me where is the heat.\n\nThe fish specials are usually pretty good but can be bland. Stick to the dishes they are known for, etouffee, diane, creole, you'll be happy,
12
I went last Friday to celebrate my 5 year wedding anniversary. Our 2 year old daughter was with us as well. The place was alot busier than I was expecting. It was such an exciting atmosphere. We loved it! My daughter said to us \""wow, were at a party\"". The music band plays upstairs and that is where we were seated. We had a short wait around 10 minutes and the manager seated us right in front of the band as if he read my mind. That is exactly where we wanted to sit. I'm not a fan of spicy food and the waiter recommended instead of blackened, I can order the fish or chicken to be grilled and it was amazing. The popcorn crawfish was excellent. Beers were $3, $4 The whole experience was great, fun and we spent only $80 including the tip. I had spent more than double that at Villa Antonio a few months back for my wife's 30th bday and did not have as nice of a time. I would definitely go back and recommend to anyone wanting to have more than just your average dinner at applebees :)
12
If you like your appetizers before your drinks....this is your place. Table had empty salt and pepper shakers. The hot sauce bottles were empty and dirty. This is NOT authentic Cajun food! The Champagne was flat.....horrible experience. Waiter was aloof.
01
Wanted to give this place 3 stars, but the waitress was weird. The bill hadn't even arrived and my date offered to pay by handing the waitress her credit card. Being old-fashioned, I wanted to pay for dinner. The waitress was adamant on charging dinner to whoever was the first person to give a card. I tried in vain, but she refused which was perplexing. It might get difficult with diners trying to make the waitress take their payment, but they have to deal with it. Feel it out, be a little patient if need be. Part of being a good server is being able to adjust and stuff.\n\nFood was average - nothing special. Three stars because the ambiance is just astounding - live jazz music and restaurant is a house, literally.\n\ndmo out
01
Coming from the northeast, me and Cajun anything were not acquainted until I came to the Cajun Queen. Most Cajun food is not vegan friendly, but the chef at Cajun Queen went the extra mile and created me a veg-friendly dish! I had a Creole sauce mixed with a TON of veggies and served with rice on the side.\n\nThe atmosphere is what sells me on the Cajun Queen, an intimate setting that is laid out in a big house. Upstairs has jazz music, while downstairs has a bunch of little tables for small parties.\n\nI'll definitely be back! Cajun/Creole is definitely a different type of food than what I usually grab.
12
BBQ shrimp...\nFried oysters...\nRBR...\n\nAll brilliant.
12
I don't usually go for Cajun, but there's so much here that there's always something I'm \""in the mood\"" for. Plenty of food, so good value for the prices. Service was fair, and probably the only thing that could be improved upon. \nBest shrimp and grits ever!!
12
Definitely one of my favs. Loved the gumbo, grits, and creole shrimp. Live jazz was the cherry on the sundae. Speaking of desserts, I remember being pleasantly surprised with the bourbon pecan pie.
12
Elizabeth is one of my favorite parts of town; I love how old houses have been remade into restaurants and offices. Too often charming old buildings are paved over and replaces with concrete boxes. The Cajun Queen is in one of these old homes, and this lends it a very intimate and warm atmosphere.\n\nOf course, atmosphere isn't everything when it comes to restaurants, but the food at the Cajun Queen was fortunately spot-on as well. Our tables started with the fried oyster appetizer, and it was a hit: emarkably light for a fried dish, it was like eating little oyster clouds. For my main course, I ordered etouffee with all three (chicken, shrimp, and crawfish). It was creamy and deeply, darkly spicy. I was a little worried about the protein aspect, since those three items have different cooking times, but all were perfectly done.\n\nThe Cajun Queen provided us with a delicious dinner. I knock a single star off only because the service, while not bad, wasn't great either. The place isn't exactly cheap, so our waiter earned a nice tip. He could've paid just slightly more attention to our table. Oh well, everyone has an off day.
12
Awesome etouffee. It actually isn't as spicy as I thought it'd be. I got the shrimp, chicken, and crawfish combo. Actually wish i didn't get the chicken (even though it was super tender), I just didn't get as much rice...which probably would have been really good with the sauces. Other than that....pretty cool music by local musicians....great ambiance and good times. =)\n\nIf work sends me back out here again, I wouldn't mind coming back...
12
Terribly busy during the weekend evenings and the service seems to suffers. But not their fault because they seem to overbook themselves to the point of having customers wait for a while at the upstairs bar. We waited about 20 minutes for a reservation to be ready. The bar was packed and had only one bartender, so it was also very slow.\n\nThat said, the food was really AMAZING. Best Cajun place outside of New Orleans, by far. Definitely worth a visit. The Diane and Etoufee dishes are really great. Went there again on a Sunday afternoon and the service was much better.\n\nThe drinks are outstanding too!
12
This has got to be the most overrated restaurant in Charlotte. I've been 3 times and I have never been impressed. But this last time was horrible. This is the McDonald's of Cajun cuisine. Every dish we had was completely flavorless. Fortunately it was only half price because of the Groupon that I used. And even at half off it was overpriced relative the to the exceptionally low quality of the food. I'll never go back.
01
We came to eat to celebrate our anniversary (this as one of our first dates 14 years ago). I called over a month ago to make the reservation and explained the purpose of our visit and asked if they could do anything for us when we came. We arrived that night and were seated quickly. Very crowded, very loud. I didn't remember that from the last visit several years ago until we sat down and it came back to me very quickly.\n\nThe Waiter seemed distracted, but we managed to get our order. The fried crawfish were great as a starter. We then decided to get a few more appetizers and one entree to split. When the gumbo came, we both decided it tasted like spicy water. There was no flavor at all. Even the shrimp had no taste. It almost tasted like it was diluted to make it last the night or had just been sitting in the pot way too long. I mentioned it to the waiter and he commented that he has never had it and that the main items are made in such large quantities, he didn't expect it would be very good. What?! Why would the waiter say that instead of \""I'm sorry sir, can we get you something else?\""\n\nThe rest of the meal was okay. The Diane had more chicken than anything else (about 2 shrimp and 2 crawfish to go with three chicken breasts). It lacked any flavor either and was kind of mushy. The oysters were good and the crawfish scampi was good, but a bit on the greasy side.\n\nThe waiter never asked if we enjoyed our meal and never even said thank you for visiting. He dropped off the ticket, picked it up and brought it back without saying word. Customer service is just as important as the food, so that rates 0 stars. He looked like we were in his way since we were only a 2 topper and he was losing money with us when he had other larger tables in his section. The manager even walked by us several times and didn't even ask about our meal or acknowledge us.\n\nOverall, we were very disappointed at the experience. It seems like they are running on their reputation and haven't done much to maintain or improve over the years. We have eaten here since I arrived in Charlotte in 1996 and have had events there, etc. This visit will change my mind of a repeat visit.\n\nOh, by the way, no one even mentioned our anniversary when I specifically asked when I made that reservation a month ago. That is a big no-no.
01
I went here Friday night as my cheat night for the diet I'm on. This was a great cheat destination! We arrived for reservations at 8:30. The place was packed! They send you upstairs to the bar to wait until your table ready and I did not even try to get a drink it was so packed. However, our table was ready soon after we arrived. Cajun Queen is in an old house in the Elizabeth community (my community) and has great ambiance. We started off with a crawfish appetizer (not the fried one) and it was delicious! I will definitely get tit again! The cucumber gin drink that was featured was also great. I got the BBQ shrimp as my main course and it was also very good. My date got the salmon special and it was great (Maybe a little better than mine, I had to try a bite!) I ended the dinner with a slice of Oreo cheesecake - yum. Overall this was a great experience and will be my destination when I want some great, spicy Cajun cuisine. (sorry Bordeaux - I won't be visiting you anymore)
12
Maybe it's because I've been to New Orleans or have friends from Louisiana but I don't know what the big to do about Cajun Queen is. Maybe it's because people have never had real Cajun cuisine before.\n\nThe fried green tomatoes were blah. The batter wasn't tasty at all. My entree was the combo etouffee with shrimp, chicken and crawfish. The seasoning was weak. I must say that the shrimp and chicken were cooked really well. I just didn't expect a whole chicken breast to be laid over my plate. The portions were good.\n\nNeither one of my two friends finished their plates. One said her shrimp and grits were just okay. My other friend said her fried oysters were fresh.\n\nI will not be going back. Parking was hard to find and it was loud inside.
01
Had a great dinner here last night in part because of the great deal we got from groupon and the fact that they have a good selection of Abita beers. \n\nThe shrimp \u00e9touff\u00e9e and shrimp diane that we got were both quite good, and the service was pretty decent as well. They forgot a few things, but were nice people at least. The location is pretty nice and we were able to take a walk around the block afterwards to help digest (why the hell is 7th street totally paved over into some 5 lane highway... slow down people).\n\nHaving just gone to New Orleans a few months ago, I'm glad that Charlotte has a place to get this type of food, although it's still not perfectly on point.\n\nLive Jazz never hurts (but if you sit downstairs you won't be able to see it and probably can't hear it too well either).
12
I have been to this place plenty of times. I have always had good meals and service. But tonight was bad. I went ther with my wife's work friends. We sat at the bar tables and had a bartender named Bo(very red hair) We had About 8 people and he insisted that if we sit at the tables we have to order food, which we had planned to do. He seemed annoyed with us because we just ordered fried oysters and lots of drinks(it was Friday and happy hour, so we were sitting around chatting and drinking) we were actually going to order an entre and stay for dinner but Bo seemed very disinterested in us, until it came time to pay the bill, then he was really nice(tip time! Overall the food is good there, but Bo did not make it a pleasant experience. Smile Bo, it will get you far in life!
01
What a pleasant surprise!! The fried oysters are the best ever and so is the Diane! I had it with the crawfish and shrimp. Even the garden salad was good to be pretty simple! Definitely a great value! My family and I will be returning:)
12
When you're running out of date night locations and your significant other is getting tired of Domino's cheap weekday carryout deals, it's time to treat her to a fancy restaurant. Preferably one that constantly offers $20 for $40 online coupon deals like Cajun Queen does.\n\nThe location is very nice - it looks like a converted home with outdoor patio seating and an enclosed back porch for when the weather is nice. There's live music most nights and a bar upstairs if you just want to sit and enjoy a cocktail or two while you wait for a table.\n\nThe food was excellent - we got the Cajun BBQ shrimp as an appetizer and couldn't stop raving about it. Save your dinner rolls to mop up the delicious juice! Ask for another basket when they drop the shrimp off! We ordered gumbo too just to splurge but it seemed bland in comparison to that excellent BBQ shrimp juice.\n\nI always feel bad waiting sitting through a waiter's shpeel about the daily specials and not ordering one so I ordered a steak special and my lady got chicken Diane. The steak was cooked medium rare as requested with craw fish etoufee and hearty mash potatoes riding shotgun. The chicken Diane's gravy was rich, flavorful and tasted fantastic. The portion sizes were enough to feel full and take enough home for meals the next day.\n\nThe service was excellent as well - our server was very personable and friendly. He make jokes, answered our questions about the menu, and never kept us waiting long when we needed something. \n\nThe entrees at Cajun Queen are around the $20 range which makes it really easy to blow your Groupon for a date night. In addition, there's a $5 charge for splitting an entree. I'll definitely be buying another coupon for Cajun Queen. The prices are a little beyond making it a regular spot (even with a coupon) but it's perfect for a memorable date night.
12
We took our daughter there for her birthday a while ago, per her request. We had a good group with us, but unfortunately they sat us upstairs right next to the band, which made it very difficult for conversation among all of us. We've eaten our way through New Orleans a couple of times, but this, to me, was not quite up to par. Especially at $15-$20 a plate. I've been here twice, and unfortunately, I don't think I'll be back. Fun atmosphere, great service, and yes, it would be a good date night. But not a good group night.
01
He said: Got there around 6 with no wait. Seated immediately. No Coke Zero. Fried tomatoes great, hot - roumelade tasty. Water glass never empty. BBQ shrimp good but not crazy good nice heat to them only 6 shrimp tho. Crawfish scampi quite spicy lots of crawfish. Superior service - waitress knowledgeable about food - able to make recommendations. Drinks flowed. Added a star at end of meal because of service.\n\nShe said: The restaurant is located in a neighborhood where many houses have been converted into businesses. The statue of an alligator in front of the restaurant was sculpted from a tree. I really wasn't sure what to expect, but boy, was I happy with what we walked into. This restaurant was warm, inviting, and cozy. The service was absolutely amazing. Our glasses were always filled, as was our breadbasket. In order to sample as much as possible, we decided to split four appetizers between us. My favorite was the fried green tomatoes. The remoulade sauce \""made\"" this dish. It was perfectly balanced and absolutely yummy!!! If you haven't been a fan of Fried Green Tomatoes, you really should give these a try. We also had the Cajun Fried Oysters, New Orleans B.B.Q. Shrimp, and Crawfish Scampi. I've listed those in order of my favorites, though they were all good and I'd gladly have them all again. This has been one of my favorite Yelp-finds, by far!!!
12
In no way do I feel like I'm a New Orleans style food expert, but I have been to a few restaurants in the past with similar style food, and I have to say, Cajun Queen is pretty much amazing!\n\nI bought a Groupon for this place on a whim- and it was about to expire so I rounded up a friend and headed over there to treat him for a night out. \n\nI have a favorite meal from a restaurant at home that they call Louisiana Shrimp and Scallops- and it is JUST like the \""Diane.\"" The sauce that it is in is DELICIOUS! A little bit of kick, I asked for it extra spicy. I had it with all three proteins- chicken, shrimp and crawfish. It was excellent!!! I can't wait to go back and get it again.\n\nMy friend got blackened Cat fish. It was good.....pretty similar to most blackened food....not exactly signature like I would compare my dish to! His meal came with a salad or soup, mine did not.\n\nThey started our meal with rolls and butter.....I wish I got to try the bread and oil dip that I saw a few other people wrote about!\n\nTHe price point was close to $20 per person. I do believe it's priced parallel to the meal, but I would save it for a slighty more special occasion. I did not get to see a lot of the building- we were seated downstairs to the right in a section that was a bit less intimate and was kind of patio-like. The other dining area downstairs did look a bit fancier and we never went upstairs, which sounded like it was the bar area.\n\nAll in all, it was a great meal and great spot!
12
Had dinner here on the night of Feb 28th. The restaurant is in a converted old house. We tied a few of the appetizers. All very good. I had the Etouffee with all 3 options, Chicken, Shrimp and Crawfish. Very good. I am looking forward to the chance to go here again.
12
It was one of those unanticipated nights, where a coming together of long unseen friends and everyday acquaintances coalesces into something magical. It was supposed to be a mens night for the men and a ladies night for the ladies, but before we could go our separate ways the men realized they loved the ladies and the ladies too loved their men and so all together we decided not to deny ourselves the company of the other sex. Unanimously, we wanted Cajun Queen.\nWe were all already lit up from our daylight binging, so by the time we stumbled in we were ready for a good time. A milk-skinned hostess in a golf-green blazer and a white and peach paisley blouse batted at us with hazel eyes beneath a mop of perfectly tussled and pasted curls. \""We have eight,\"" I said. She glowered. Before she could reply, I little-white-lied her: \""We called ahead... they told us to come right now.\"" \nGreen blazer took off to see what she could manage; we loitered in the foyer, teetering drunk, glazed eyes reeling under the light of the antique chandelier. Green blazer came back and told us it'd be a bit of wait and recommended we hit the upstairs bar. We were already halfway up the steps. \nCajun Queen is one of those big old Elizabeth houses, southern gothic, eclectically arranged and echoing blindly with voices from some other era. It's a chatterbox of ancient heritage and white-hot with flickering, inconsistent lights that make you want to trim your mustache pencil thin and drink only from a snifter. Aroma suffused our consciousness and we all just became mindless, visceral things.\nAt the upstairs bar, this long swan of a bartendress was commanding the room, elegantly and fluidly fetching glasses from the overhead rack, snatching mixers from the under-counter cooler, upturning bottles and dispensing drafts, all motions in succession, all so swift and natural, like something perfectly choreographed and rehearsed. She doled out a trayful of Olde Meck Coppers and we set ourselves to achieving the night.\nWe were led to a corner table near the glassed wall of the little balcony at the back. I took a chair at the end, sat, leaned back, and rapped my knuckles against the abrasive texture of the mud-red stucco. Our very knowledgeable, upright waiter prattled off a series of specials and toppings of the day with juicy detail, but I all heard was 'something unbelievably amazing' followed by 'something else equally amazing'. I requested a couple batches of fried oysters for the table, and then we went in rounds, ordering our blackened catfishes and our crawfish etouffees and our obscene platters of shrimp and fish and sausage and delight.\nWithout needing to ask, our upright waiter returned with another round of beers and a handful of waters. \""Good man,\"" I said with an acknowledging nod. Huxley was sitting at the opposite end of the table. We had subconsciously retained the man-woman divide throughout the evening. I looked her way until she felt my gaze and when she glanced back I shot her a clever wink. She smiled. I swooned. \nOur food arrived and we all collectively lost our minds. Remoulade-dipped oysters, creamy clumps of spicy rice, mouth-searing fish and peppery shrimp, beer and wine, more wine, and life and love and faces flush and hearts racing. We ate ourselves full, but couldn't stop. Flavors were assaulting us in such unmitigable ways, we were powerless to refuse their beckoning call of mouth-flaming, heart-swelling, eye-watering release. Ryan, at one point, shoved his seat back, sat up straight with hands on thighs, neck rigid like a scout-dog, let out a billowing exhale, momentarily composed himself, then jumped back in for another oyster and few more forkfuls of rice. \nAt the table behind us, a prim blond let out a squelch of a cry, half-stood, leaned forward, grabbed her man behind his fuzzy dark ears, and kissed him hard on the mouth. She held that embrace for some time, and all the lights and sounds in the room imploded in upon them. When her lips broke free from his, all the noise and clarity rushed back upon us in a crash. She sat down and knuckled a tear from her eye.\n I clapped my hands and beamed across the room. \""This is the greatest night ever!\"" I shouted out to the dining area. \nKathryn, a steadying force in our group, narrowed one eye and nodded at me placatively. \""You really enjoy the hyperbole, don't you?\""\n\""Get up for it, Kathryn!\"" I threw my hands wildly about in the air above me. \""If it isn't the greatest night... then tell yourself it is, believe it, and make everyone else believe it too! Then it really will be!\""\nThe prim blond and her man giggled, and a few tables around us applauded. I ceremoniously forked the last fried oyster from our appetizer tray, held it high like a chalice, like a triumph, angled my neck, opened my jaw wide, and brought it down mightily into my mouth.\nKathryn looked around, a touch embarrassed, and then began furiously laughing. \""Oh, I believe it,\"" she said. \""I believe it.\""
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Food was very good! Certainly not a creole expert, but felt very authentic. Certainly beats any others Cajun places in Charlotte. \n\nService was friendly, was in a cute little Elizabeth house. \n\nOnly complaint was the seating was tight. Put four tables where three should have gone. \n\nOverall, I would go back and recommend it to a friend!
12
I do not understand the hype about this place. Everything is incredibly overpriced and the food is less than mediocre. I did enjoy the bbq shrimp app but the entrees were miserable. I got the shrimp Diane which I'm pretty sure was just shrimp, mushrooms, white rice and chicken broth. Thank God I only went bc I had a groupon.
01
Went there for the 1st time- heard its like new orleans food. Nice and spicy which im not a huge fan of spicy but i tried their chicken diane and ate the whole thing! Good portion for price!!!\n\nSat in the sunroom with only a few tables filled was a great atmosphere with a few friends. they have their own parking lot so its easy access. Theyre always on groupon too!
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I have been dying to try Cajun Queen for a while. I originally heard about it from my sister who was going to meet a friend out there. I was SERIOUSLY planning to third wheel it and she didn't mind (b/c in her mind it wasn't a date) .. but when she asked him about me tagging along he responded with a \""you mean she comes on our date\"" Welp... at that point she realized it was a date (duh) and his ego was a bit bruised ... medium story short I never made it out there. \n\nCajun Queen is in an interesting location I haven't explored this part of Charlotte much.... only in passing. It's a tight space inside , we went at an off time so we had ample room but I wonder about dinner time how crowded it can be. Our waiter was super nice and explained the menu to us as well as made some recommendations on the spicy and not so spicy. I am a huge shrimp fan so I had the Diane with Shrimp. It was pretty tasty and spicy to me, and had me stuffed! It appears that they give you huge portions for your entr\u00e9e which is nice. I also had a side of gumbo , which honestly tasted a bit like chili. This was my first gumbo experience so I'm not really sure what to think in terms of taste but I have heard from a friend who lives in NO that it's not supposed to taste like chili. \n\nI came on a Sunday afternoon so there was no live band , and it was super cold so we couldn't sit on the patio. Overall I thought it was a nice meal and nice place with reasonable prices for the amount of food you receive. The parking is a bit annoying but I guess you can always park on the street! \n\nOh it seems that they run on reservations so I would recommend one!
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So thankful we made reservations here, folks were waiting at least 35 plus on a Saturday. :) Hostesses were nice. We really appreciated the staff being trained properly. Our server was personable, knowledgeable of the menu&gave good recommendations. He also did not hover. Cool and he got an A from us. We really enjoyed our drinks (get Planters Punch), salads, Shrimp etoufee' and Chicken Diane. We were unimpressed with BBQ shrimp's flavor. The broth was wonderful for dipping the ( cold) bread, yet the shrimp had no flavor. Maybe they can marinate the shrimp with the broth instead of just dropping them in?Also, the bread pudding was just okay. We figured the bourbon&peaches would pack a punch. The seating is tight like others point out, but manageable. Prices match well with portion sizes aka we did not feel cheated. We will definitely come back for food&drinks only. We will then pickup some Mama R's bread pudding for dessert.
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This was our first visit to this restaurant. It boasts a Louisiana style menu. However this dish ( cajun platter) lacked any type of cajun spices. You can't serve red beans and rice with no gravy and consider that to be a Louisiana style dish. My husband ordered the New York strip and had to put salt on it because there was no flavor. I certainly have had better and I would not visit again. Overrated!
01
The wife has wanted to try this place for some time now, so when a living social came out, I figured that I would buy one. Cajun Queen, like many restaurants, has fallen into the category of \""why did it take me so long to try\"".\n\nOur meal was a solid 4 star experience, and it started with great service. Both my bowl of seafood gumbo and crawfish etoufee were full of cajun flavor and spicy, just like I was looking for. The wife got some shrimp as an app and they came with another great spicy sauce. For her main, it was her standard blackened catfish, which she thoroughly enjoyed, but took half of it home due to the hugeness of the portion. Not being a fan of catfish, I didn't taste it, but rather focused on finishing every last bit of my etoufee.\n\nCajun Queen is definitely a little taste of New Orleans in Charlotte, and we shall return again soon.
12
Service is good. Gumbo was a bit watery and a pinch of salt wouldn't have hurt. Gumbo was fresh. The same tomatoe soupy water they use in the gumbo they also add to my shrimp and grits. Shrimp and andoui sausage was good but grits its self were under seasoned i.e pinch of salt.
01
My first time eating here will more than likely be my last. Im big on customer service and i did not like the fact that when i got up to go use the rest room i returned just to have the rest of my food thrown away and after i asked the manager if i could get 5 shrimp like i had he said sorry my food got thrown away but it would be $2 per shrimp if i wanted more. I had just spent $30 there and that was totally wrong, that really put a sour taste in my mouth and i will not be a returning customer!
01
Once again the food is great, and atmosphere is awesome! However, the server and food runner or the guy refill drinks are so so....\n\nWe tried the crawfish popcorn, dinner special sirloin steak with crawfish \u00e9touff\u00e9e, and crawfish and shrimp creole. They are very good, especially the dinner special.
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I had dinner here last night for the first time. I ordered the Bayou Platter it was amazing. I will definitely go back for the good and the jazz.
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My fiance and I went to Cajun Queen one night as a date night. I was not impressed by the food nor the ambiance. We booked a late night dinner due to his schedule and when we arrived, the jazz band was already on break. We were seated but our waitress appeared to not to want to be there. I ordered the New Orleans ice tea and my fiance ordered sweet tea, it took a while before the drinks were delivered and let me tell you - It wasn't nothing to brag about. The food was spicy not flavorful, just spicy. Even the couple beside us was a little perplexed about it just being spicy (a little eavesdropping). Needless, to say not a great experience. So fortunate that I was able to get a group-on discount and not pay for a $70 experience that I didn't enjoy. I wouldn't return or recommend this place.
01
I mainly visit the bar at CQ and I can only come up with positive comments. Bo, the bartender, is great. He remembers my name and drink choices. That is very wonderful. I highly recommend either dining upstairs or taking out. Very fine.
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