May 5, 2022
Q&A: Dinner to impress, canned seltzers, a steakhouse explainer
Each week, we answer your questions about food and drink in Charlotte
Kristen: I’d suggest Bardo if your friend is adventurous. But just a note — if you’re going to start drinking early, I’d head over to Supperland, put your name in and check on how long it will take for a table, then get a drink in the meantime. They leave a lot of space open for walk-ins, especially if the weather is nice. We’ve never had a problem getting in if we arrive before 6 p.m. The Treatment at Fin & Fino is also an awesome experience. Also, Dot Dot Dot gets only thought of as a cocktail bar but it has really great food, too. For Saturday lunch, with all that eating, you’ll probably want something low key. I’d check out Sweet Lew’s or The Artisan’s Palate.Also, Idlewild is a great spot to end the night — they’ve got some of the best cocktails in town and with a lot of industry regulars, are open among the latest, too.
Q: What breweries are canning and selling alcoholic seltzers?
Kristen: Sorry if this is stating the obvious, but Summit Seltzer in West Charlotte does that very well. NoDa Brewing has its Brizo line. If you consider New Belgium local, they have a canned seltzer line as well. Fonta Flora sells a ginger-lime hard seltzer that uses North Carolina ginger. That’s all I know of that’s canned, but readers, if you know of more, share them below! Another fun canned option is Durham Distillery’s line of canned cocktails.
Q: I’m looking to find local producers for shelf stable items that are snacks. Similar to Queen City Crunch for pretzels but wanted to know what other people were out there for things like trail mix, and other shelf-stable snackable items.
Kristen: Good question! I really like Mano Bella’s rosemary taralli, which are something like mini breadsticks shaped into a circle. You can now grab those at their stall at The Market at 7th Street. Reid’s Fine Foods has great cheese straws that I often pick up as a gift, and they have a trail mix that’s pretty tasty, too. The Carolina Nut Company out of Henderson makes some delicious peanuts; I’m a fan of their dill flavor, but folks are divided on that one. Other flavors might be more crowd-pleasing.
Q: Is Steak48 really worth the price?
Kristen: It depends! The service is outstanding, the wine list has some impressive names, and the food is always reliable. However, you’ve got to really enjoy a steakhouse setting in order to make the price tag worth it. While sometimes I crave a good steak, it’s not my favorite style of eating — I’d much rather head to Bardo for a tasting menu. But everyone is different, and for those who love a steakhouse, then yes, it is.
Q: …and how do you choose a good steakhouse if you’ve never been?
Kristen: Steakhouses all have pretty similar core values: expensive but quality meats, indulgent sides, and deep wine lists. However, some are more modern — like Eddie V’s or Steak48 — while others, like Ruth’s Chris, are what you’d tend to expect. If you prioritize local, I’d check out The Porter’s House. Or, if you want to hop back into a past Charlotte, head to Beef ‘n Bottle.
