The filet at Elizabeth restaurant Carpe Diem. Kristen Wile/UP

Q: What are the best steakhouses (or places with bomb steaks) in Charlotte, please?
UP: There are lots of good steaks in this town! I’m going to go with the locally-owned spots, since you know what you’ll get at the big-name places. If you haven’t been yet, you really need to try Beef N’ Bottle. It’s an experience every Charlottean should have at least once, even though the sourcing isn’t the best. The food is as classic as it gets, tender steaks and buttery sides, and the service is warm and welcoming. As steakhouses go, The Porter’s House in Waverly brings the old-school steakhouse into a more modern vibe. There are several restaurants that have fantastic steaks on their menu, too. I’ve always loved the 60-second New York Strip at 5Church. It’s seared on one side only, giving it a crunchy half and a rare half that is really fun on the palate. It might be one of my top dishes in the city. The Fig Tree always serves filet with big flavors; right now, it comes with a gorgonzola cream sauce. The Asbury’s beef comes from former chef Matthew Krenz’s family cattle ranch, and you can taste the difference in sourcing. I also enjoyed a tender, flavorful filet at Carpe Diem recently, a restaurant that is too often overlooked. It was served with cider-braised collards and a smoked carrot purée. Tag us on Instagram with a pic of your steak so we can see where you ended up!

Q: Where can I find raw kibbeh in Charlotte?
UP: Unfortunately, I’m not sure you can. Readers? You can find it fried many places: Kebab-Je, Cedar Land, and Levant, to name a few. But no restaurant seems to serve it raw. I’m guessing part of the problem is finding lamb that’s good enough quality to be served raw; in order for it to have the right texture, the sourcing has to be fantastic and a lot of care has to be taken with the trimming. I’ve seen lamb tartare on menus, but only once or twice. Your best bet? Head to Savory Spice Shop, stock up on your preferred spices, then buy some good quality lamb to make some at home.

Q: We’ve got a reservation for a regular table at Stagioni. Is it worth it to try and sit at the regular bar or kitchen bar?
UP: Stagioni! Good choice! Russ, the bartender at Stagioni, is talented, and great company. I’m sensitive to cold, though, and people love to hold that front door open for far too long, bringing in a blast of winter air. The pizza kitchen, however, is a great seat year-round. It’s fascinating to watch the cooks at work, and the wood-fired oven’s flame is nice and warm. I wouldn’t sit here if you’re going to propose or something, but it’s definitely a great date-night spot. If things aren’t crazy in the kitchen, you can banter back and forth with the chefs.

Q: Any recs on where to buy good jars of grape leaves? 
UP: What timing for this question! I’ve driven by the Greek market on Independence so many times and finally popped in with my sister-in-law last week. I left with tinned seafood (the octopus wasn’t bad!), gryo meat, pita, and feta. I turned over some jars of grape leaves that looked great, but put them down because I don’t have time to stuff them right now. Those would be the ones I go back for when I do! The market sign says Greek Market in big letters, but its actual name is Agora Greek Market.

Reader feedback re: the best soups in Charlotte
Have you tried Chris’ Deli on E Independence? A neighbor recommended it to us so we went for lunch the other day. Classic deli sandwiches, hot or cold, with typically 3 good soup options. I had the chicken noodle soup, the noodles were so lovely they were like dumplings!

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