May 7, 2020

Q&A: Ramp season, when we’ll be dining out again

Each week, we answer questions about food and drink in Charlotte

The mezze platter from Greco Fresh Grille. Kristen Wile/UP

Q: Are ramps still around? Where can they be found this weekend?
Unpretentious Palate: They are, but barely — and you’ll need to track them down. Clark Barlowe has been foraging for them, and he says his last harvest was delivered to the NoDa Company Store this week. The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market had them recently. We did a Q&A with chef William Dissen of Haymaker about ramps last year that you might be interested in reading!

Q: What are some local places that deliver to Steel Creek?
UP: Check out Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen for family-style dinners with their Family Table Meals. Greco Fresh Grille is a personal favorite for their gyros, and they are doing curb-side delivery at their Steel Creek location. A Piece of Havana is another underrated spot, and they offer delivery through DoorDash.

Q: What are good keto-friendly take-out options?
UP: La Belle Helene‘s duck confit is a delicious option. The Roasting Company‘s rotisserie chicken is another great choice, and can last several meals if you order right. I’d also consider N.C. Red‘s trout, with sides of the hoppin’ John (no rice), collard greens, or green beans, though their menu changes regularly.

Q: Will you guys be dining in once restaurants are able to reopen dining rooms?
UP: Yes, at the restaurants we trust. Things I’ll be looking for are table spacing, one-time use menus, and clear communication (whether on social media or in restaurant newsletters) about the safety measures restaurants are taking going forward. When we begin doing reviews again is another question, one we don’t have an answer to just yet.

Have a question for us? Send to to editor@unpretentiouspalate.com and we’ll answer it for you next week!