Q: What are the best bars in Charlotte?
Kristen: Lots of good stuff is happening in Charlotte’s bar scene right now! Longtimers Dot Dot Dot and The Crunkleton continue to do great things, and Kel Minton is leading a strong resurgence of the bar program at The Punch Room. Newer to the scene are Lorem Ipsum and Humbug, two spots with vibes that will make you want to become a regular. The Bar at Supperland is a must-visit, as is its Speakeasy. Sneak opened recently and we’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen so far. Billy Sunday often goes under the radar but shouldn’t. We also have to shout out our favorite dive bar, Tommy’s Pub, for being everything you want in a dive while still being ahead of its time with inclusive touches like nonalcoholic options.

Q: Does any restaurant in Charlotte make authentic paella? Crispy rice, succulent seafood and the complex flavors of saffron. It is all about flavor and texture. We learned to make it in Spain but can’t seem to find a good one in town.

Kristen: It is very difficult to make paella that holds up to restaurant service. The closest we’ve found is the paella at Mariposa, which is a bit more of a Southern twist on the classic. They do a great job with the texture, though, and we’re also on team no soggy rice. Bulla Gastrobar has several paella options, though no one on our team has tried them yet. We’ll check it out and report back!

Have a question for us? Email us at editor@unpretentiouspalate.com and we’ll answer it on our next Concierge Thursday!