Rose E.
Yelp
I finally decided to check out this place with a group of girls on a weeknight...
As expected, the place was really small and surprisingly, very brightly lit. Also, the place was packed, even on a weeknight. Since reserved in advance, we slid right in and sat in the very back of the restaurant. Very tight quarters!
Initially, I was quite bummed because I came wanting to try the Black Sesame Panna Cotta, but that wasn't on the menu on this night. Seemed they have a rotating menu (SIGH). The menu itself was very small, but luckily, I was able to find something appealing...I ordered the Marinated Scallops, which came over a bed of grits, mushrooms, and tomato dashi. Well, as anticipated, this combo dish was such a delicious mixture of succulent and creamy...one of the best scallop entrees I've had in Charlotte! I've always liked the combination of Scallops and Grits...much more so than Shrimp and Grits. Not sure why this combo isn't as common. This is probably only the third time I've ever had this Scallop and Grits combo. Quite pricey, but no regrets!
BTW, this place does not service alcoholic cocktails...just beer and wine. I settled for "Up in the Air", this Strawberry flavored sparkling water. Mildly sweet and light, it went well with the entree I ordered...but not sure if it was worth it.
Since I came with a sizable number of peeps (9), I got to see a huge variety of dishes that they had to offer. I was too tired to take pictures of all, but managed to take crappy shots of just a few. Next to what I ordered, the Short Rib and the Hummus dish appealed to me the most.
The thing that wasn't appealing was the super-slow rate of service. However, I get it. There were so many of us just yapping away...and the waitress didn't have the time and/or the nerve to keep checking on us. In a way, if I was a waitress and saw a table of older gals yapping non-stop, I'd stay away too lol. BUT...the thing is, by the time someone DID check on us for desserts (around 90 minutes?), we were basically ready to pay the bill. Normally, I'd dock a star for such slow service...but by now, I've come to realize that the chances of getting good to great service with a group of 6 or more is a rarity.
Still, I REALLY wanted to try one of their desserts (despite the fact that my 1st choice, Black Sesame Panna Cotta, wasn't on the current menu). However, I wasn't going to be the only one in the table, holding everyone up...so there we have it. I vowed personally to return (and NOT with a big group!) to enjoy their desserts. In fact, I made reservations with my husband to return. BTW, they require credit card info to make reservations (UGGG!).
Overall, it wasn't a perfect experience. Again, it was disappointing for me that I didn't find the item that I came for (Black Sesame Panna Cotta!)...and that they didn't serve alcoholic cocktails. Also, as mentioned, the service was too slow. I also didn't love the super-tight dining space. Still, I was a fan of their freshly made, chef-inspired food. I struggled with 4 and 5 stars, but given how much I enjoyed the food, I'll drop 5. On my next visit, guess I'll see if the slow service is a norm here...or if it was an off night (due to our big party).