About Us
Welcome to Unpretentious Palate, a digital publication covering food and drink based in Charlotte, North Carolina. We’re so thankful you’re reading this, because that means like us, you’ve been seeking consistent food and drink coverage you can trust. Sure, there are options out there. But good food coverage takes experience, and is expensive. Some publications can’t afford it; others let paychecks or page views determine what places get good coverage. Neither benefits the reader — so we’re doing things differently.
We’re trying something new. We believe that restaurant reviews should be written after multiple anonymous restaurant visits, not a free meal. We believe that Charlotte needs more food criticism as the restaurant scene becomes more crowded. We believe that those who work in our restaurants should have a resource to follow their industry. We believe that our readers should spend their hard-earned money at establishments that deserve it.
Who, exactly, is we? Well, it’s mostly Kristen Wile, former food editor and editor of Charlotte magazine. Her tenure there turned the magazine into one of the most respected food voices in town. Our team of contributors include Justin Burke, Travis Mullis, Peter Taylor, and Anita Skogland.
We’re going to do things the old-school way on a new platform, with no advertising. Subscribers get:
- The latest food news, including restaurant openings and closings
- Restaurant reviews written by a respected and unbiased food critic
- A packed calendar of food, cocktail, and wine events
- Invites and discounted tickets to UP dinners and events
- Suggestions for where to eat for any occasion
- Your questions answered each week
We believe that what we’re offering is valuable and shouldn’t be given away for free, so we’re charging $8.99 a month for access to our exclusive content. We know your palate will thank you. We’ll be your best foodie friend, one you can trust to recommend what’s good and steer you away from what’s not. We’ll celebrate the good, and be honest about everything else.
We hope you’ll join us!
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you!
If you have questions on how we write our reviews, you can find that info here. Looking to subscribe? Head here.
Got a tip for us? We’d love to hear it. Email editor@unpretentiouspalate.com.
Spot an error? Well, that’s embarrassing. Let us know here: editor@unpretentiouspalate.com.
Have a question about an event? You can ask kristen@unpretentiouspalate.com.
Want to ask our concierge? Those questions should go to editor@unpretentiouspalate.com.
Looking to advertise? We don’t have any advertising on our site, but you can reach out about possible partnerships to partners@unpretentiouspalate.com.
Anything else? Wanna say hey? Reach out to kristen@unpretentiouspalate.com!