Location: 110 Perrin Pl, Charlotte, NC 28207
If one didn’t know better, they would think I have created this site just to cut down Charlotte restaurants. After re-reading my last few posts, it may seem as though I dislike everything; which is why I chose Napa on Providence for my next review. The restaurant, judging by the reviews on other sites, as well as word of mouth, was supposed to be a shoe-in for a quality meal. Unfortunately, my inner (negative) Nancy was allowed to flourish once again, to say the least, I was pretty disappointed with a what was supposedly a high-rated eatery in Charlotte. The restaurant had no stand-outs, or anything memorable for that matter, just slightly overpriced Charlotte fare, fit for an indulgent prom crowd.
The Good: Napa on Providence has very nice décor and atmosphere. Admittedly, I thought I had found a hidden treasure (to me anyway) when walking in; the outside was nice, lined with rose bushes and the outside porch looked like a great place to grab a cocktail. The inside bar looked pretty inviting as well, with ample room around it; what I liked most about the décor were the details, the beautiful art on the walls and the clever table additions, such as the Moscow Mule-style water glasses.
An additional plus to this restaurant, is that they offer a happy hour in the evening between 5-7pm; although I missed them by about two minutes (partially due to slow service), the specialty cocktails were actually pretty good. I tried the Cucumber Crush, which was refreshing and delicious; I found the Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade to be good as well (I didn’t order this, but rather tried).
The Bad: I had such a great start to the meal, between the drinks and the atmosphere; I was really expecting to really enjoy the rest of it- however, that was not in my fortune. The two most important aspects of a restaurant, the food and service were less than stellar. Let me begin with the service: friendly and helpful, but extremely slow; at one point, I created a milk carton with our waitresses face on it due to her extended absence. The worst part was when I was served my last drink while paying the bill; I would rather the wait staff just admit they forgot my order than deliver a drink while I begin my entrée, or not bring it until after the check arrives.
The food was another unexpected disappointment, I really can’t say I completely liked anything. First, the appetizer I really did want: the Braised W.T.F Pork Belly, was no longer available that evening. I find it odd when a restaurant runs out of one its most popular items at 6:45 on a Friday night; after this I settled on the fried artichoke hearts, which I didn’t enjoy. In their defense, I don’t normally like fried anything, but these were exceptionally heavy and all I tasted was the outer coating. My entrée was the Maple Leaf Farm Duck Duo…mmm, which I must admit, was only good one way. While the pan roasted breast was good, I found the leg confit to be over cooked and dry. The risotto was also underwhelming; it was slightly crunchy (and not from the addition of the nuts). Lastly, my guest had the Salmon Caesar salad, and it was not met with rave reviews. The plate contained a dried piece of Salmon atop wilted romaine lettuce, and while nothing was terrible, nothing was that great, especially given prices….
The Ugly: Tables are almost on top of each other, and the noise carries; the length of the table is such that I had a hard time having a normal conversation. I very rarely have a problem hearing people in a restaurant, but never as bad as in Napa on Providence. I went on a Friday night, I would hope that during the week this isn’t as bad of a problem.
The Verdict 5 out of 10: A beautiful building and fancy table settings can’t make up for the boring, bland food and iffy service. Napa on Providence was a place I really wanted to like due to the exceptional reviews on other sites, but sadly Napa isn’t it…