I am sure this post will get me some hate. It’s been a second since I have written anything, and here I am posting something negative. Those who know me know I am not the biggest fan of the Charlotte food scene. This city has come a long way since I moved here from New York about 20 years ago, in most ways the food has improved in that time, some for the worse. When someone asks does Charlotte have a good food scene, my answer is usually “not really.” It is even more negative when I come back from a real food city.
Charlotte is constantly chasing the next and newest restaurant type. Anything buzzworthy has the people salivating, but to me it’s all the same. I do not think Charlotte has a good food scene, because it is always adding something new that seems to be the same version of a million different restaurants.
Charlotte is like the Marvel movies of food cities. The same thing comes out just with a different name. Let me give you more detail as to why the answer to the question “Does Charlotte have a good food scene”, is not really.
Charlotte Restaurants are all Hat and No Saddle
That is an old timey saying that I like, basically it means it is all hype, but no substance. The number of subpar places, which get shockingly good reviews is strange to me. Whether it is the overpriced and underwhelming Rosemount or the pretentious Supperland, these places get rave reviews while being expensive and serving generic food. The list goes on and on; it boggles my mind that places like Jenny’s ice cream where it costs $20 for two pints will have a line around the door.
Sometimes I feel the people of Charlotte are so desperate for something good that everything is viewed as “amazing.” Just because Axios Charlotte hypes something (which they are paid to do), does not make it great. It feels like there are a million options for food in Charlotte, yet every time the question is asked “where do you want to eat?” we can’t think of a thing.
Nothing sounds good… yet everything is the best. It is easy to rattle off 50 different places that I was told were good restartaunts that disappoints, but I do not want too many people angry with me.
Charlotte Has Very Little (Good) Ethnic Food
Does Charlotte have a good food scene when it comes to ethnic food? Nope. I get it Charlotte isn’t New York or even Washington DC, but come on, not one dumpling cart place that won’t break the bank? There used to be at least two, Dragon Court was one of my favorites. Now they are both closed and Open Rice open in the Metropolitan (for some reason their other location doesn’t have a dumpling cart). It wasn’t bad, but nearly double the price.
The Italian is lacking, with the exception of one or two places (No Little Mamas isn’t one of them). Charlotte has almost no edible pizza, people claim Sal’s is as good as New York, but all it is good for is a colon cleanse. Seriously it is the Taco Bell of pizza places. There are a few decent Vietnamese spots, but even they are getting crowded out. I grew up with cheap but high quality Asian and Italian food. Charlotte’s ethnic food is costly and generic.
Charlottes Food is Expensive
I know this is a trend happening everywhere, but Charlotte takes this to the next level. Charlottes food is expensive, almost comically so. New York has some of the most expensive restaurants, it also has $3 dumplings and Egg Sandwiches from any bodega that are about $5. Why is Poppy’s bagels charging $15 for a bagel with Lox. I said Lox, not platinum.
We went to breakfast not too long ago and it was $60 for two, without drinks. It was breakfast, a meal that should be $25. God forbid I order a cocktail; I might as well bring my W2 for the inevitable loan I will have to take out. It is such a waste and unnecessary. The sheer cost of a meal is another reason why I don’t think Charlotte has a quality food scene.
The Charlotte Tipping Culture
This is as good of time as any for me to bitch about the Charlotte tipping culture. I am a 20% guy, unless you burn me (or my food). Charlotte, like every place in the United States unfortunately, is taking this way too far. Do not give me the option of 30% when I need to go to the counter to pick up my food.
Every place outside of McDonalds wants a tip, regardless of if they waited on me or not. Add this to the fact I am sometimes paying tips on items I purchase to take home, and it adds up. I am paying nearly double for the food. Now I need to add 25% on top of that… no Thank You.
What am I getting for this? Is it great service? Not really. If they do wait on me, I feel rushed. I get that servers live on tips, and it is in their best to recycle tables, but I am trying to enjoy my meal. Also, it isn’t my job to pay your entire staff. Use the money from the $30 Bolognese to pay your workers a fair wage. Instead, most places in Charlotte shuffle us in and out like cattle.
There is no History or Food Culture
Charlotte is a new city, so it would be unfair to compare it to older cities like New York, but I will anyway. Everything in this city is “modern”, that doesn’t really mean better. None of the restaurants have any personality and most have no staying power. People tend to think of me as a disgruntled New Yorker who likes to spit on the Charlotte food scene.
I consider myself just the opposite. Charlotte used to have good restaurants until northers demanded everything new. There are no foods I associate with Charlotte; everything is just a clone of something done better in another city. So many of the old school places have closed. Replaced with a concept that has been done a million times. How many breweries can I get excited for at this point? Yes, there are a few exceptions, but overall, it feels like every spot last 5-10 years and then is replaced. There are almost no Charlotte institutions, rather just mediocre clones.
Restaurant Groups
One big issue I have is the lack of small independently owned restaurants in Charlotte. On the surface many places might look like small businesses, but they are just part of a larger restaurant group. Places like Midwood Smoke House or Whiskey warehouse seem like they are owned by ma (and or pa), but they really are part of a soulless restaurant group. The result is the same (or similar) generic menu that is all over Charlotte. If I see one more Caesar Chicken wrap or Spicy buffalo sandwich, I am going to force feed myself Spam until death. Or eat at Moo and Brew, it will have the same effect.
The food in every one of these restaurants all blend. It is unmemorable at best and a total waste of money at worst. Nine times out of ten I think, why didn’t we just cook at home. Charlotte Restaurant groups are one step away from being Pizza Hut. Half the time they buy an existing business, only to ruin it by having Debbie from accounting find the best deal on hamburger meat. They have no love, no personality… they just feel cold.
Some Stand Outs
I did a lot to answer the question, does Charlotte have a good Food Scene? Overall it is no, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any great places. Mostly, old school spots. I think Beef and Bottle is a classic place and still one of the best restaurants in Charlotte. Fig Tree is also great, although it has been years since I have visited. Then there is GoodWurst, one of the (somewhat) newer spots that is starting to expand. I really enjoy the vibe of this place; I just hope that too many locations don’t ruin it like Macs Speed Shop.
Conclusion: Does Charlotte have a good Food Scene?
So, as you can tell the answer to the question, does Charlotte have a good food scene? is no. There is no love in the food. No value either. It is just a place to get overpriced wings or bad pizza for about triple the price of other cities (even big ones). Yes New York is expensive, but it has deals also. It has a Chinatown that lets you eat for next to nothing.
Charlotte has Open Rice, where people line up to pay $150 for two people for something that is basically a street food. I don’t think Charlotte will ever get really good food. I am also worried that other cities are becoming more like Charlotte, less love, more corporately owned, but that is a story for another post.