Location: 1500 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Head over to Soul Gastrolounge, but don’t come hungry, because you will surely build up an appetite waiting for your table at this delicious tapas style restaurant. I’m not sure if the customers are bearded hipsters or if they were freshly shaven that morning, but grew facial hair while waiting for a table. Either way, those with patients are in for some very good food. Soul is a classic hipster bar, everything from the waitstaff to the atmosphere reminds you you’re in Bohemian country. The scene is dark, and on a Friday or Saturday night the music is fairly loud, but not in a bad way. The dishes are mainly served Tapas style, I usually get three or four rounds then throw in the towel.
The Good: The food at Soul is some of the most unique in Charlotte, everything is good but there are some standout dishes that, I feel are a must try. During my last experience we started with the pork belly tacos, which I believe to be the best thing on the menu (pictured above). Those were joined with Chimichurri Beef, Lamb and Chicken Skewers which are always a favorite. The next round we had lamb lollipops and the meatballs. The lollipops are excellent and meatballs are pretty good as well. We ended with some Korean BBQ wings, which have a nice spice to them. I can vouch for at least a dozen other items on the menu, but I couldn’t include everything. The only thing that I don’t love is the Sushi, some live by it, I am just not crazy about theirs.
The Bad: While the food is good it’s getting expensive. For $12 you get two pork belly tacos, which are not big by any means. The Lamb-lollipops are excellent, but no better than some other places in Charlotte, but at a much higher price. The drinks are where the bill starts really climbing. At an average of $13 a drink it may not seem overly high, but once you factor in they are much smaller than many other places, you realize just how much you are paying. There are also no beers on tap and the bottle selection feels limited. Lastly, the hosting staff can come off as less than friendly at times. Given the hectic atmosphere I can give them a pass.
The Ugly: If, on a Saturday night, you suffer from diabetic low blood sugar and put your name on the waiting list your table would be ready after your funeral. The wait is long, unreasonable long. Luckily the bar downstairs, Gallery Twenty Two has great setup and is perfect for killing time. What heightens the problem is that they don’t take reservations, although they do allow you to call ahead of up to 45 minutes. Really, I love this place, it has great food and a cool atmosphere…..just not 2.5 hours cool. Your best bet is to go on a weeknight, this way you can enjoy the food without the wait.
The Verdict 8 out of 10 EAT IT: There are a lot of over hyped places in Charlotte, I think Soul is one place that lives up to it’s reputation. Where a hipster bar like this is more common in NY or DC (we went to a very similar place in Washington) , it is a rare find in Charlotte. Whether visiting from out of town or if you are new to Charlotte, Soul Gastrolounge is a must try.
Items to order: Pork Belly Tacos, Korean Wings.