The lobster roll at Hi Tide is on special every Monday. Photo by Kristen Wile/UP.

Q: Which restaurant has the best lobster roll?
UP: I love a good lobster roll. Jon and I once made them at home thinking it would be cheaper than the $20-something dollar ones you find at restaurants, and it was a little cheaper, but way too much work to make up for that. Close to Uptown, I’d recommend Hi Tide, with Maine-style lobster rolls that sell for market price; my most recent one was $25.44 with tax. There’s a quarter-pound of meat and a good celery crunch. Go on a Monday, however, and the lobster rolls are only $16.95. Hello, Sailor has a fantastic lobster roll — served on milk bread, of course — for $29.99, and that comes with the meat from a whole lobster. Honestly, though, I’d take the shrimp roll at Kindred over a lobster roll any day. For $12, it’s a steal.

Q: I know O-Ku is rumored to have the best sushi in town, but where is a spot that’s off the beaten path that I might not know and should try?
UP: New Zealand Cafe, hands down. We’re going to be adding it to our restaurant finder soon. It’s a hole-in-the-wall place you wouldn’t just pop into, but the sushi is close to the best in town. Yume Bistro, which just opened a second location in South End, also has fantastic sushi.

Q: As country music fans, we would like to know if you could recommend any restaurants or bars that have live music and good drinks and food? (A dance floor would be a bonus!)
UP: Sure! Tipsy Burro hires great local bands, and they have solid bar food there. There’s not a true dance floor, but you can find the space to dance. Coyote Joe’s is the city’s true country venue and brings in some of country music’s bigger names, though they don’t serve food. Pinky’s is just down the street, though. Coyote Joe’s also has a big dance floor. Mac’s Speed Shop has live music on the weekends, but provides a variety of music genres, so you’ll have to check the schedule to find your favorites. A friend who books music suggests Tin Roof in the Epicentre.

Q: Everyone always talks about who they would love to have a dream dinner with. Among the Charlotte culinary scene, who would be at your dinner table? And where would you eat? 
UP: Oh, man! This is tough! Let’s say the table is a round five-seater, since round tables are better for conversation. I’d be one of the five, so that leaves four people. I appreciate people who aren’t afraid to voice their opinions, and this would be a good chance to make things happen. Greg Collier is a must-invite for that reason; he’s an open book. I’d invite Bruce Moffett, because he’s also pretty blunt and has seen the Charlotte restaurant scene transition over time. Katy Kindred would be there, because she’s brilliant (sorry, Joe, I’ve only got limited space!). My last invite would go to someone from the city who could listen to the difficulties restaurant owners face, and ensure that we don’t price them out of Charlotte as rents continue to rise.

Your thoughts from last week

… One reader recommended the cheesesteak from Portifino’s as the best in town. We’ll have to check it out. Others were curious about the cheese steak in the picture. That one was from Flatiron in Davidson, and it was good but not impressive. It was a little dry. Another reader followed our recommendation of Steak and Hoagie, and said the meat was flavorless, though the bread and onions were good. He suggests Duckworth’s as the best. The hunt for the best cheesesteak remains on!

… Another reader recommended Yafo Kitchen for a vegan and vegetarian and meat-eaters dinner, and we totally agree!