Blog - Eat it Charlotte

Location: 4201-D Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209 Last night, after a few previous attempts, I was able to try to CO, a new restaurant in the Park Road Shopping Center. I would never have guessed, by the first look, but it is actually a chain, with locations in Savannah, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. You all know how I feel about chain restaurants; however, even after learning this, I was still eager to try this new Vietnamese restaurant, (they have Banh Mi and Pho) or is it a Japanese (with sushi and noodle bowls) or Chinese, (Shanghai chicken wontons). Sigh, given that Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia are also heavily represented on the menu, let's just say that it specializes in dishes from 25% of the planet. Unfortunately, due to either the wide range of menu or the chain mentality, the authenticity and bold flavors of a true Asian cuisine were completely lost. The Good: The drinks at CO are really good, great actually, and without a doubt the best part of the experience. We had two and both were outstanding, my favorite the blackberry bourbon fizz, wasn't overly sweet and very tasty. The purple color may have made it look girly, but the bourbon let me drink it guilt free. The dark n peach was also delicious, lighter than I expected, but still had plenty of alcohol. The prices were actually a little lower than those in most of Charlotte, with most drinks at less than $10. The bar itself much like the restaurant: big and inviting; the overall space was nice and the ceiling aesthetically pleasing, in a Architectural Digest kind of way. If CO were a bar in Plaza Midwood, that served flavorful food, it would be more of a hit. Unfortunately, it is a restaurant located in a Park Road Shopping Center parking lot. The Bad: We took a trip around the world, trying numerous items and all were a disappointment; a common theme surfaced early on with the lack of flavor and freshness you typically find in pre-packaged PF Chang meal (aisle 7) . First, we had the Pork and Ginger Dumplings, which could be described as basic and bland, if I had to reach for words. The Malaysian chicken wings looked great, like they would be a virtual bastion of heat, but yet again, they too were bland. It's like I was waiting patiently for taste to make an appearance, but alas, it did not. We moved on, trying two different types of sushi, the Wagyu and the Pork Belly, neither wowed by any means. The pork belly was especially disappointing, due mainly to the fact I couldn't find it in the roll. The Green Papaya salad was OK, but the shrimp were cut down the center, to give the appearance of more shrimp... I knew that this Asian -fusion eatery was a slick-ass façade when I discovered the Singapore hot sauce was bland; the whole experience screamed hipster chain, beards and all. The atmosphere of the dining area was also pretty poor, the music was loud and had 'wanna-be-techno' feel. The seating was a 5th grade mess and made for more of an uncomfortable meal than need be; as we were seated at a long, cafeteria style table. We actually ordered so much we had three different groups sit next to us in the same spot, the speed at which they left actually left a poignant taste in our mouths. The Ugly: I love Bahn Mi sandwiches, I can eat 3 of Le's without missing a beat; so it was with great anticipation that I ordered the Korean short rib Bahn Mi, and it was with great disdain I was disappointed. I won't beat around the bush, my sandwich was terrible. First, there was way too much meat, if I am ordering a Pastrami from Katz in NY, I expect my sandwich to be stacked; this should not be the case when ordering my Bahn Mi. I never thought I would complain about too much meat, but it completely overpowered the flavor of the other ingredients. Secondly, the bun was extremely soggy, which not only made the sandwich a mess to eat, but also hurt the taste. I also, didn't care for the actual flavor of the meat, but as mentioned, that can be due to the type of sandwich I ordered. Finally, the price is more than double other Bahn Mi sandwiches, which is an insult given the experience (you know how I feel I about cost basis/food). The Verdict 5 out of 10: I really can't recommend CO for anything other than drinks and maybe a small bite to chase your bourbon. While the food wasn't good enough for me to return on a regular basis; I will be going back for one more Bahn Mi (ahem, cough, I have a gift card....), but until that day, and my hope for a better bloody sandwich, I can't give it a higher rating.