Q: My girlfriend and I are meeting a friend of ours for dinner tomorrow, and we’re looking for a couple places in Charlotte to recommend. We are following a vegan diet and cutting alcohol for lent, but our friend has no such restrictions, so ideally we’re looking for a restaurant with a casual atmosphere, decent vegan options alongside more traditional fare, and as a bonus, some fun mocktails to try would be great. Are there any spots that you might recommend along those lines?
Kristen: I’d suggest looking at the menu at Alchemy. You can get most dishes there made with either meat protein or a plant-based protein, and the mixologists can mix a strong mocktail. If you’re up for something more casual, you could check out the food stalls at Camp North End, where you could enjoy Plant Joy and your friend could grab food elsewhere. There won’t be mocktails, but there are some fun beverage options. Mariposa has a lot of fantastic vegetable options, as well as a great bar program. If you’re okay with eating a salad or sides, The Crunkleton has a great booze-free painkiller.

Q: Best patio for a date night?
Kristen: My personal favorites are The Goodyear House, The Artisan’s Palate, and The Fig Tree for varying levels of fancy. There is also a stunning one at Mizu in SouthPark. We’ve got a few lists that might be able to help you with more ideas, too: our top picks for casual patios, and for fine dining patios.

Q: Where can I find breakfast tacos?
Kristen: Not many places! The Degenerate in NoDa serves them on their brunch menu: scrambled eggs, pulled pork, cheddar cheese, hot sauce, crema, and home fries or grits. Otherwise, QC Grounds has a good breakfast burrito, with eggs, corn cob-smoked bacon, pico, avocado, and hot sauce with corn chips for added crunch. Another good substitute might be Carnitas Guanajuato, with multiple locations around Charlotte, for their chilaquiles — something like a breakfast taco melt. Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters has a few a few breakfast burrito options. El Toro Bruto, inside Resident Culture in South End, hinted on Instagram it’s now serving them during the brewery’s early weekend hours.

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