August 2022 - Eat it Charlotte

I hate the Diamond. There I said it, review over. On second thought, I still have a lot of ranting left to do after my last few experiences. It gives me no pleasure to say that I do not like the Diamond Restaurant in plaza Midwood. This was a Neighborhood staple, one that I used to love when it first opened. An offshoot of the Penguin, the Diamond once served consistently good greasy spoon food. That was then, this is now. I revisited the place twice in the last year and both times it was disappointing. The Diamond is a quintessential example of a business that just gave up after the apocalypse hit. It is not the only place to just totally phone it in, but this one stings a little more for me personally. If one believes this place is still good, then they are blinded by nostalgia. They are stuck in 2015, before places like the Diamond Restaurant just stopped giving a damn. The reviews are slipping online, but they still have their hold outs. I am sure I will anger some people with this post, but that's what I do, so let me discuss my experience with the Diamond Restaurant in Plaza Midwood. My Experience As mentioned, I went twice in the last year, but in reality, I tried to go three times. They used to have breakfast, but apparently the disease also breaks toasters, so they cancelled that. To me the Diamond screamed breakfast, and I remember it fondly. I was told they hadn't had it for years, translation: We needed something to cut after the virus. What is funny is that on any given weekend, every breakfast joint in Plaza Midwood is packed. Who am I to tell someone how to run a business? Want to cut a meal that is popular throughout the area, your choice. Walking in, it is not nice, but it never was. I get you are trying to be a greasy spoon but make it presentable. In all honesty the old Penguin had a better set up, still it is what it is, it's the food that counts. The last time I was there (prior years before) I ordered the Fried Chicken, and of course in the middle of the day they were out. I used to love their fried chicken; I say "I used to" frequently these days in Charlotte. Meal 1 at the Diamond Restaurant OK, so no fried chicken, I will live. There are still a couple of other old favorites on the menu. I get the fried pickles, a Connecticut dog, and a burger. The pickles are somewhat of a novelty. They were unique when I first got them, but now just a soggy bunch of pickle dumped in batter. The hot dog was good, but not as good as I remember. Not enough bacon and a cold bun, but hot dogs rarely disappoint fully. If I want a hot dog, I guess I will hit Good Wurst or even a hot dog cart. They used to be a steal if memory serves me, but as with everything else they went up in price. $5 for a hotdog is getting high, unless it is something special, this was not. Once again to mention Good Wurst, their hotdog is only $4.50, yet far superior. No chicken, soggy pickles and a mediocre hot dog... but how about the burger. I have eaten this thing 50 times pre end of times, but not like this. I don't understand how someone could put less give a damn into making a simple burger. The bun was ice cold, onions not cooked, and cheese was not even close to being melted. It was like going to a cafeteria. At least McDonald's melts their cheese. The whole meal was forgettable at best, and I would not have returned had it not been for a poor recommendation. Meal 2 at the Diamond Restaurant This one was more embarrassing, but it was not really my fault. A friend of mine from New York visited my side of town and wanted to try this spot, because of some special wings they had. Apparently, he heard about it on TV and a friend of his recommended it. I wanted to advise him against going, but I said, maybe I am being too harsh. I was not. The Diamond Restaurant disappointed everyone. First, this specialty wing they had was no longer on the menu. Like the popular breakfast they can't seem to keep their best items on the menu. Something about the cost yada yada. Look, if there is something unique about your restaurant, so much so that it makes a TV show, do not get rid of it! There were two Greek salads ordered and a regular wings. Once again everything was terrible. Let me ask you a question dear reader: What kind of Sadist puts beets on a Greek Salad? Not even in hell would they stoop to such tactics. Then the chicken was handed to me in a bowl next to my salad! You can't be bothered to give me a prebuilt salad, it didn't say "some assembly required" on the menu! The entire thing was a sloppy mess. It tasted as bad as it sounds. There were no redeeming qualities to that Greek Salad. The wings were generic, except my friend refused to eat them. He had like two and handed them over. I immediatly saw why. The blue cheese was watery, like white water, not a good sauce. How in god's name do you fuck up blue cheese. A first for me, just go to Harris Teeter which is right next door and buy a quality blue cheese. The entire meal was a cluster ... Nothing to bring me back. I treated; it was the last dime I will ever spend in that place. Conclusion: Review of the Diamond in Plaza Midwood Here ends my review of the Diamond in Plaza Midwood. This is the perfect example of a place that has given up. Gone are the days that this restaurant will shine on the Food Network. It now gives a "Covid Bruh" as an excuse for bad food. Charlotte has so few iconic restaurants, this is one that needs to disappear. The Diamond Restaurant in Charlotte is the definition of a place living on its past greatness.