Anyone who knows me knows I’m a foodie at heart. I love exploring the greater Charlotte restaurant scene, eating at popular spots when I travel and even trying complex recipes at home for my family to try.
Lately I’ve enjoyed a lot of great meals and cocktails in Charlotte at some established and some new locations, and I wanted to share a few with you for the next time you can’t decide where you want to eat.
State of Confusion:
This is a brand new restaurant in South End that originally started in Chattanooga. The business is known for its cocktails and food which draws inspiration from New Orleans and Peruvian influences. It’s the sister restaurant to STIR, also in Charlotte.
I had the honor of being invited to check them out a little early a few weeks ago and loved the outdoor area and the decor of the space. The general manager told us their goal was to make the space seem industrial and unfinished. It’s why you’ll see some exposed walls and beams, but somehow it all ties together to look great.
On a scale of 1-10, I would rate the food at a 7. My favorite part of the meal was the Peruvian ceviche we started with - it’s so delicious that I’m currently thinking about and craving it again. Their chef trained in Peru to ensure the ceviche is top notch. For my entree I had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which was messy but yummy. My lunch date had the Peruvian Pesto Shrimp Linguine which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Dessert was their Peruvian Lucuma Ice Cream, which they make in house. It came in a small pint container and was frozen solid at the end of lunch, so I ended up taking it home to enjoy later with my husband.
My cocktail of choice that day was Ranch Water. It’s not a complicated drink, but the proportions were solid and it was very fresh, so I give it an 8/10.
Hestia Rooftop:
Located in Ballantyne, this is a great option for someone who wants a nice rooftop bar feel without fighting the uptown traffic and crowds. They just recently opened and boast cocktails, sushi and an omakase custom menu.
The ambience is both high end and a bit of a party-vibe all at once. The layout of the restaurant makes it seem as though they’re looking for folks to come out and have fun dancing and mingling, all while enjoying high end food and drinks.
I absolutely love sushi and can tell you Hestia’s is very fresh and well done. Myself and my best friend tried several sushi options and desserts and loved all of them. And while I can’t remember exactly which cocktails I tried while there several weeks ago, I can tell you they were all scrumptious. I’d rate all of the drink options 8/10.
If you are used to going out to rooftop bars in uptown Charlotte, it is important to note the view is going to be very different in Ballantyne. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t breathtaking either. I’d rate it a 5/10.
Chef Greg’s Family Supper Club
I signed up for Leah and Louise’s monthly dinner service in December and it’s been such a fun way to support one of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte and have some at-home date nights with my husband.
Their dinner service comes with a full meal. There’s typically a salad or soup to start, and entree with a side and dessert. You can also pay to add on bread, though I typically don’t. I do, however, pay extra to have a bottle of wine added each month.
This is a perfect option for folks who are not picky eaters and who don’t have many dietary restrictions. You’re able to try new, world-class food each month from the comfort of your home. It’s great for my family since we’ll re-heat the dinner while putting our toddler to bed and then can enjoy a nice meal at the end of a long day without a ton of work.
We’ve gotten several incredible meals through this service, like the pasta dish we received last month, but my favorite so far has been a catfish and grits meal that knocked our socks off. I highly recommend it!
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