Folks in the restaurant industry know good food, so we want to know where they eat when they’re not cooking. In this series, we ask a local chef, bartender, restaurateur, or waiter to share their favorite restaurants in town and what they order there. This week, we interview Christa Csoka, chef and owner of The Artisan’s Palate in NoDa. With years of culinary experience, Csoka can never turn down a classic wine and cheese combination. 

Lang Van, East Charlotte
A simple eatery offering noodles, soup, and authentic Vietnamese dishes
Christa’s order: Pho dac biet loaded with cilantro, mint, and basil 

Pho from Lang Van, a Vietnamese restaurant in east Charlotte. Kristen Wile/UP

Ormann’s Cheese Shop, Uptown
An artisan cheese shop in The Market at 7th Street with a robust selection of local and regional cheeses
Christa’s order: Ooey gooey cheese on top of roasted potatoes and a baguette, available on Raclette Night each Thursday
Pro tip: Get a bottle of wine from fellow market vendor Assorted Table Wine Shoppe to go with the cheese 

Yume, South End
An upscale Japanese restaurant specializing in ramen, nigiri, and select sushi rolls
Christa’s order: Start with pork gyoza or agedashi tofu and edamame, and then ask the sushi chefs for the best of the day

Stagioni, South Park
A high-end eatery and bar featuring classic Italian dishes that change with the seasons
Christa’s order: Linguine with shrimp and bottarga

Growlers Pourhouse, NoDa
A laid-back pub with bar bites and a wide selection of cocktails and drafts
Christa’s order: Wings, popcorn, and a few dozen oysters  

More from this series:

Duke Bread’s Adam Duke
Counter-‘s Sam Hart
Community Matters Cafe’s Ashley Anna Tuttle
Your Farms, Your Table’s Sam Diminich
Para’s Alex Verica