Nolen Kitchen

Culina Modern Comfort Food

March 22, 2013 By Christin M Leave a Comment

As locals who are interested in food know all too well, Rock Hill is pretty desolate when it comes to restaurants serving delicious, well thought out food. There are a couple of fantastic breakfast places (The Yolk and Lell’s) but when it comes to dinner, the pickens are slim.

But last week my husband and I ate at a (fairly) new restaurant in Rock Hill, Culina Modern Comfort Food, focusing on small plates and shareability. I would not have even known about it if I hadn’t seen a stack of their business cards at Faith Fitness Studio during one of my workouts.

Our dining experience at Culina was wonderful. The food, the drinks, the atmosphere, the service- it all works, making it a welcome addition to Rock Hill. I cannot wait to go back. Culina Modern Comfort Food is perfect for date night or a special occasion.

Culina is located in one of the newish little strip malls clustered together on Herlong Ave near the hospital. The restaurant interior is a little on the small side and has an intimate feel. There is not a whole lot of seating and you will definitely want to make a reservation if dining at Culina on a weekend. The seating consists of a mixture of booths, tables, high-tops, and a small bar area. We sat at a high-top table which I’m usually not a fan of, but the seats were plenty comfortable.

Chef J Michael Melton has created a menu with just the right amount of offerings. Start your meal off with one of their signature cocktails and you won’t be disappointed. The Dark ‘n Stormy, a mixture of rum and ginger beer, was so awesome, we couldn’t resist ordering a second round. Try one and you’ll be hooked. It’s cool and refreshing, with a tingly taste. Sweet and Spicy with a little citrus taste from lime. Almost like a citrus gingerbread cookie.

Dark ‘n Stormy

On the food menu, the dishes all fall within a comfort food theme that is focused on global flavors made with locally sourced food. You’ll find Asian, Spanish, Italian, and American influences on the menu. For a small bite, choose from Ginger Beer Mussels, Glazed Sweet Potato Fries with a honey bourbon glaze, and if you’re feeling adventurous, deep-fried Frog Legs with spicy brown honey mustard.

We had the Chicken Bun and the Creamy Crawfish Mac and Cheese. The mac and cheese was good, but the chicken bun was the standout. Tasty chicken enveloped in a house made steamed bun. The perfect combination of sweet and spicy. I would have eaten 10 of them. The waitress explained they had recently switched out pork for chicken in this dish. I’m sure the pork would have been excellent too.

Crawfish Mac and Cheese

On the Cold Plates Menu, the Bok Choy Salad is popular, consisting of charred bok choy, mung bean sprouts, kimchi pancake, slivered almonds, fresh green onion, and sweet soy vinaigrette.

Chicken Bun

For a main course, we were tempted by the Cheerwine Fried Chicken, but decided to try the Flat Iron Steak with tomato jam, feta, and country ham potato cakes and the Crab Stuffed Lobster. The presentation for both was excellent and the ingredients were superbly fresh. The tomato jam on the steak was very sweet, but I loved it.

Crab Stuffed Flounder

For dessert I highly recommend the Bread Pudding. We licked our plate clean.

What makes Culina Modern Comfort Food even more appealing? As a business, they are taking steps to ensure their business practices are as “green” as possible. Their used fryer oil is converted to bio diesel. Grease trap waste is turned into plant food and all glass, paper, and cardboard products are recycled. Rechargeable candles are used to cut down on plastic and oil use and each table has a glass bottle filled with chilled water and topped with a cork-like stopper to minimize water waste.

Flat Iron Steak

Bread Pudding

Bottles of wine are half-priced every Wednesday and Thursdays are $5 martinis. Culina also serves Brunch on Sundays, is considering opening for lunch in the near future, and is in the process of revamping their menu for Spring.

Culina Modern Comfort Food

295 Herlong Ave

Rock Hill, SC 29732

Tuesday-Saturday 5pm-10pm

Sunday 10am-2pm

803-323-5000

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Culina Modern Comfort Food, places to eat, Rock Hill Restaurants

PLaces To Eat: Cajun Queen

March 10, 2013 By Christin M Leave a Comment

The Cajun Queen is a Charlotte Institution and has been my favorite restaurant in Charlotte for well over 20 years. It’s located in a converted house on 7th Street in the historic Elizabeth Neighborhood. Other New Orleans-style restaurants have come and gone over the years, but the Cajun Queen has stood the test of time. People go to the Cajun Queen not only to feast on some delicious food, but to have a good time with family and friends. The restaurant does a great job of conveying the upbeat, happy nature of The Big Easy and you can’t help but have your spirits lifted while dining here.

There used to be a beautiful old tree out front, but it had to come down years ago, and in its place is an enormous alligator carved out of what I presume is the remains of the tree. Parking in the small, oddly shaped parking area behind the restaurant can be a bear. Other options are to park on the street out back or at one of the neighboring businesses if they are closed for the day.

Inside, there’s a dining area to the right and the left and stairs leading up to the second level where you’ll find a bar and another dining area. They now have a second story rooftop outdoor dining area as well. The 7th ST Gator Band plays 7 nights a week in the upstairs dining room. The music is loud and it is tough to converse while they are playing, but they do take frequent breaks.

Fried Oysters

If you want a less noisy dinner, reserve a table downstairs or outside during the warmer months. The Cajun Queen can get quite busy and you’ll definitely want a reservation if dining here during the weekend. There was even a crowd during our recent visit on a Sunday evening.

BBQ Shrimp

The food at the Cajun Queen is consistently good and the portions are generous. For appetizers, we always get the BBQ Shrimp and the Fried Oysters. Dip the complimentary French Bread Rolls in the BBQ Shrimp sauce. It’s phenomenal. The fried oysters are the lightest I’ve ever eaten. Crispy and not at all greasy.

Gumbo

The gumbo is quite good as are the red beans and rice. No complaints about the etouffee or the Shrimp Creole either.

Etouffee with Chicken, Shrimp, and Crawfish

Fried Seafood with Red Beans and Rice

But the real winners are the daily specials, usually a selection of 2 fresh fish (such as salmon and mahi mahi) and either a pork or beef selection. You pick your fish/ meat and then choose one of 2 or 3 seafood toppings to go with it. On our recent visit I had a crawfish, shitake, and roasted red pepper cream sauce on top of salmon and a bed of mashed potatoes. It was divine. Totally worth an extra hour (maybe 6 hours) in the gym.

Salmon with Crawfish Sauce

Next time you want a little taste of New Orleans right here in the Queen City, head to Cajun Queen and have your fill of crawfish, gumbo, and spice- plus a little jazz too.

Cajun Queen

1800 East 7th St

Charlotte, NC 28204

704-377-9017

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Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: cajun food, Cajun Queen, Charlotte Restaurants, Elizabeth Neighborhood

Heist Brewery

February 17, 2013 By Christin M 2 Comments

Charlotte has had a multitude of Breweries open in the last few years- OMB, NoDa, Birdsong, Triple C, and Heist. What really sets Heist apart from the others, is their full menu of delicious foods which they dub a menu of “twisted American food”. The other breweries mostly focus on food trucks providing food for their patrons.

Located in the ever hip NoDa Neighborhood, along with NoDa Brewing and Birdsong Brewery, Heist opened last year after much anticipation in a former cotton mill constructed in 1903. The building is large with over 6,500 square feet and the renovations have turned it into a beautiful rustic, yet chic place with a large seating area inside as well as a small patio area off the side of the building. Unlike many NoDa establishments, the parking area is ample and very easy to maneuver in and out of.

Whenever we go to a brewery, my husband and I always split a beer flight and then each order a pint of our favorite. There have been complaints that the beer at Heist is not of the highest quality, and I do think you can find better beer at NoDa or OMB, but overall it’s not half bad. When you factor in the delicious food and the wonderful atmosphere, Heist is a great place to spend a few hours. Beer selections include an Oatmeal Stout, Hefeweizen, American-style Pale Ale, American-style Pale Ale Seasonal, and an IPA.

6-Cheese Pimento and Sherried Crab Dip served with Parmesan Flatbread ($13)

The menu at Heist is full of delicious and creative sounding foods and I recommend ordering one at a time to share with the table. Because when you go to a brewery, the food should just be a little something to accompany the beer, not something you stuff your face with all at once.Then your appetite for beer is ruined.

Jerked Chicken Flat Bread

On the menu you’ll find a selection of flatbreads, each one sounding better than the last. Among them are the Duck FlatBread- root beer bbq, seared duck, fried shallot, and mozzarella ($13) and Pimento Cheese Flatbread- 6-cheese pimento, jalapeno bacon, fire roasted maters, and grilled leeks ($12).

Other popular menu items include Lobster Bisque Test Tubes and Pork Belly Corn Dogs. The BLTC sandwich is one of my favs, consisting of Jalapeno Smoked Bacon, baby greens, fire-roasted maters, and gorgonzola on smoked bacon ciabatta, served with Parmesan Rosemary Tater Tots. Heist bakes their own breads which can now be purchased at Atherton Mill.

Heist Brewery

2909 N Davidson St

Charlotte, NC 28205

Hours

Mon-Wed 11:30am-12am

Thursday-Sat 11:30am-2am

Sunday 11:30 am-12am

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Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Charlotte breweries, Heist Brewery, NoDa Neighborhood

Places To Eat: Maestro’s Bar and Bistro

February 8, 2013 By Christin M 1 Comment

We neglected to make reservations for Queen’s Feast far enough in advance and most of the places we wanted to try were booked. And honestly, I wasn’t in the mood to go very far from home. That’s when I noticed a restaurant in Pineville on the list of Queen’s Feast Restaurants called Maestro’s. How had I never heard of it before?

Owned by Chef Kyle Burke, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and his wife, Pam Menzel, Maestro’s is a family owned and run business located in a 110 year old historical house just a block off Main St. Unfortunately, the building is lacking the charm and grandeur that you expect to find in a home this age. Instead it just feels like your grandmother’s old house. And I detected a faint musty smell. Getting rid of the carpet would go a long ways to livening up the place. But it does at least create a cozy feeling and I’m sure it helps deaden the noise. We did have a nice, quiet meal.

The menu at Maestro’s is upscale and features sophisticated, timeless entrees such as Beef Wellington, Rosemary Encrusted Rack of Lamb, and Black and Blue Filet Mignon plus some seafood and pasta selections. For a restaurant that serves upscale food, it has quite a few offerings on the menu. The entrees are on the pricey side with very few things under $24.

We started out with the Fried Oysters with Tabasco Aioli Sauce and the Mushroom Soup. A few of the oysters were cold on the inside, but I’m an oyster lover, and I’ll happily eat them any ole way they come. The Mushroom Soup, which is apparently one of the foods they are known for, was very good with a deep earthy, mushroom flavor and a not too thick or too thin consistency.

I loved the presentation of the entrees with homemade waffle fries holding the asparagus spears in an upright position. Ted had the Strip Steak and I had the salmon in an apple glaze. The portions were a nice side and overall the food was pretty good, but nothing to knock your socks off.

The real treat was the dessert, which I neglected to take a picture of. Probably because I was on my third glass of wine by that point. Chef Burke is known for his desserts and the one we had was phenomenal, although I can’t remember exactly what it was (Note to self: start taking notes.) It was some kind of Chocolate Nut Tart with fresh whipped cream and it was fabulous. The Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake sounded tempting as well.

Overall, we had an enjoyable meal and once the weather warms up we will be returning for lunch and drinks on the patio.

If you’re still looking for a place to have Valentine’s Dinner with your sweetheart, Maestro’s will be serving 4 courses for $125 per couple (excluding tax and gratuity) Thursday February 14 – Saturday February 16. See menu here.

Maestro’s Bar and Bistro

207 Johnston St

Pineville, NC 28134

704-889-2110

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Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Pineville, Pineville Restaurants, places to eat

Places to Eat: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

January 31, 2013 By Christin M Leave a Comment

There’s maybe no better place in the Charlotte area to satisfy your burger fix than Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. Started in 2007 by Frank Scibelli, owner of Mama Ricotta’s, Midwood Smokehouse, and Pacos Tacos and Tequila, Bad Daddy’s has grown to 4 locations and is now franchising. The original location is on East Blvd in Dilworth, just down from Freedom Park. The inside seating area is a little small, but there is also a covered patio area. Parking is a little sparse.

A little closer to the Fort Mill area is Bad Daddy’s Ballantyne location. It has a larger indoor seating area as well as a covered patio. If it’s a quiet, relaxing meal you’re after, avoid this location during peak hours as it can be a little noisy when it is crowded. Service is usually friendly, but sometimes slow.

Big juicy burger.

On the menu, you’ll find a burger to suit every taste, including nontraditional ones. Some of the more popular burgers are the Classic Southern Burger ($10)- a basic burger topped with chili, American cheese, relish, mustard, and slaw; the Sam I Am ($10.55)- a basic burger topped with American cheese, over easy fried egg, rosemary ham, and pesto; the Frenchi ($11)- a turkey burger, brie, applewood smoked bacon, grilled apples, and garlic mayo; and the Bacon Cheeseburger on Steroids ($12)- a basic burger seasoned with bacon salt, 3 pieces jalapeno bacon, 3 pieces applewood smoked bacon, topped with Monterey Jack cheese, homemade bacon mayo, lettuce, pickles, and onion.

Onion Strings

You can also build your own burger, choosing from bison, beef, tuna, chicken, black bean , and chicken and a plethora of toppings. Burgers are served with a choice of side- french fries, fruit cup, sweet potato fries, house slaw, tater tots, or house made potato chips.

In addition to burgers, Bad Daddy’s also has huge, delicious salads. Choose a salad off the menu, or build your own.

Asian Chopped Salad

Enjoying a milkshake

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Bad Daddy’s also has milkshakes, a gluten-free menu, and a kids’ menu.

Hours

Monday-Friday 11am-10pm

Thursday-Friday 11am-11pm

Saturday 8am-11pm

Sunday 8am-10pm

Breakfast 8am to 11am Saturday and Sunday mornings

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

15105 Josh Delaney Drive Ste A

Charlotte, NC 28277

704-919-2700

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Bad Daddy's Burger Bar, Ballantyne Restaurants, Frank Scibelli, places to eat

New Restaurant Coming to Baxter

January 17, 2013 By Christin M Leave a Comment

Liu Liu’s in Baxter has closed its doors for business, but it won’t be long before another restaurant takes its place. Akahana Asian Bistro, Bar, and Sushi is expected to open sometime in March. They have another location in the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood of Charlotte. Their menu includes Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Sushi, and Hibachi. Judging from the online reviews, the sushi is the biggest draw. The reviews on Yelp aren’t all that promising, but fingers crossed that this prime Market St location will soon be putting forth some fresh, appetizing food.

I know many people weren’t happy with the food at Liu Liu’s, but I for one enjoyed eating there, especially on a nice day on their patio. I didn’t dare eat their sushi, but I thought their Pad Thai was definitely above average and they made some pretty good martinis too.

In other Baxter News, TCBY will soon open in the former Sayago’s.

Filed Under: All Things Baxter, Restaurants Tagged With: Baxter Restaurants, places to eat Fort Mill

Nolen Kitchen

January 7, 2013 By Christin M Leave a Comment

Myers Park is one of the oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods in Charlotte, characterized by beautiful tree-lined streets and stately homes. A meal at Nolen Kitchen on Selwyn Ave is a wonderful way to experience this ever-popular Charlotte Neighborhood.

Nolen Kitchen is own by the same owners of Illios Noche, Big View Diner, and the recently opened Maverick on Montford Dr. The small, oddly shaped parking lot outside of Nolen Kitchen that is shared with Reid’s is a little difficult to manuever. If you can find a place to park your car, you’ll be greeted by a restaurant interior that is modern, bright, and inviting. If the weather is nice, don’t miss a chance to eat on the awesome patio, complete with comfy couches and tables shaded with umbrellas.

Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll be greeted by a small seating area and a fireplace, next to which is a spacious, curved bar. The dining area just beyond is long and narrow, the walls lined with sconces. The light from the windows and sconces bounce off of a fabulous curved wood-paneled ceiling. The space is bright and warm.

On the lunch menu, you’ll find an eclectic mix of foods. The extremely thin Zucchini Chips served with cucumber yogurt are a popular appetizer choice. The Pork Belly Tacos are so-so and the Nolen ”Buffalo Wings” are quite tasty with a thick, spicy glaze and melted blue cheese crumbles.

Nolen Wings

Salads and a variety of burgers and sandwiches form the bulk of the menu. Choose from the Steak Burger, Kobe Sliders, and the Grilled Cheese with oven-roasted tomatoes, apple smoked bacon, and tomato fondue. The Chicken Souvlaki Wrap is full of perfectly flavored, moist chicken covered in a fresh yogurt, lemon sauce.

On the Dinner menu, you’ll find most of the lunch selections, plus a variety of Surf and Turf selections. Nolen Kitchen also serves a Sunday Brunch.

Nolen Kitchen

2839 Selwyn Ave

Charlotte, NC 28209

Mon-Thursday 11 am-10pm

Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm

Sunday 9am-9pm

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Charlotte Restaurants, Myers Park

Culina Modern Comfort Food

PLaces To Eat: Cajun Queen

Heist Brewery

Places To Eat: Maestro’s Bar and Bistro

Places to Eat: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

New Restaurant Coming to Baxter

Nolen Kitchen

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