Location: 435 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Bernardin’s is one of my favorite and most recommended Charlotte fine dining restaurants. Located Uptown, I have been to this establishment many times and I cannot think of one entree that has disappointed. The service is great and I love the atmosphere; best of all, for a fine dining restaurant, the prices are very reasonable.
The Good: Having tried the majority of the items on the menu, everything has been of the highest quality. They have all the items that are standard in fine dining restaurants in Charlotte such as steak, lamb, scallops etc. Also on menu, some unique choices, such as venison, bison and even kangaroo. The steaks are excellent and the selection of sauces that come with them are superb. You cannot go wrong with both the duck fat béarnaise and the bone marrow truffle butter. The most unusual item on the menu, the kangaroo is surprising good, with the tandoori spices adding nicely to the dish. Since I have never eaten kangaroo before I expected a gamey taste, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s taste was unique, but most similar to koala bear (kidding); it’s just a delicious flavor and texture, which has to be tried. The lobster ravioli was also excellent as were most of the fish dishes I have tried. As for the sides they further enhanced my meal, although I usually stick to the sautéed spinach.
The atmosphere is very nice, especially if you request the table on the top of the stairs. It makes the dining experience much more intimate. Service has always been exceptional, as you would expect in any uptown fine dining restaurant.
The Bad: Considering I have always had a good meal at Bernardins, most of my complaints are superficial. First, although the entries are good, I find myself disappointed with the appetizers. The best choice is the calamari which comes with a tasty Thai dipping sauce. Everything else is” just OK”, and for the price, a smaller portion than I would like. An additional complaint is that the menu is getting a bit “old”. I have been going here for years and it doesn’t seem to change much. Some may like the consistency, but others may feel it’s getting stale.
The Ugly: The ugliest thing you might see is the face of a picky eater when they realize Kangaroo is on the menu. It will be even uglier when you realize that you are getting a fine dining experience for 60% of what you pay in similar establishments.
The Verdict 8 out of 10 Eat it!: The food and value make Bernardin’s a must try. Whether it is a just a date night or you are celebrating an event Bernardin’s will not disappoint.
Recommended Dishes: Tandoori Kangaroo and any steak dish