Napa on Providence–Charlotte, NC {restaurant review}

I’ve never been to Napa Valley, but I’ve dreamed of the gorgeous hillsides, world-class vineyards, and earthy, sophisticated cuisine.  In my mind, Napa is the epitome of relaxing destinations—a place to unwind and let your mind linger on the food and the local wine (and not much more).

Here in barbecucentric Charlotte, California cuisine is practically nonexistent.  That is, until Napa on Providence opened in November 2012, taking over the space that Providence Café occupied for twenty plus years, and infusing the Charlotte food scene with a little spice of the northern California countryside.  The vibe inside the remodeled restaurant is polished, warm, and inviting with a large bar area plus an attractive patio.

As the name suggests, Napa on Providence specializes in Californian cuisine, the root of which is fresh ingredients, simply prepared.  Napa takes this tenet seriously–all dishes are made to order, from the sauce for the macaroni and cheese to the outstanding white beans with house-made sausage, which taste like they’ve simmered together for hours.

Napa on Providence - White Beans

Everything is thoughtfully executed, all the way down to the drinking water they distill in-house and the hammered copper drinking glasses they serve it in.  Even the house bread is special.  The rolls are handmade by a retired Navy baker.  They are dense and chewy and served in recycled cork baskets along with pomegranate honey butter.  Once in season, the pomegranates will be harvested from a hundred year old tree at the foot of Napa’s patio.

Napa on Providence - Lobster Mac

Dinner at Napa starts with small plates, and sharing is encouraged.  The food arrives at the table in rustic cast iron skillets perched upon stark white dishes, and each selection is beautifully composed.  The small plate offerings include charcuterie, both grilled and raw oysters, and several salads.  The meatballs are my personal favorite. Made from a mix of beef and pork, they are studded with small chunks of carrot, stuffed with house-made mozzarella, and served perched upon polenta cakes with homemade tomato pomodoro sauce.

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Restaurant Review Roundup: Nova*s, Midwood Smokehouse, Pewter Rose {Charlotte, NC}

Welcome to another installment of Fervent Foodie Flash Reviews!  These reviews are my frills-free thoughts on restaurants I’ve recently visited.  Quick and to the point–just what you need when you’re starving like Marvin, girl.

 

novas bakery coffee shopNOVA*S BAKERY COFFEE SHOP – Nova’s Bakery has been supplying Charlotte with baked goods since 1996, and a few months ago Nova’s expanded their operations to include Nova’s Bakery Coffee Shop in South End.  The 24-7 bakery and coffee shop serves hand crafted coffee and espresso beverages and baked goods straight from their mother location in Plaza Midwood.  They have a wide variety of fresh baked breads on hand, including sour dough, focaccia, and olive bread, plus bagels, muffins, and scones.  The coffee shop also offers an extensive selection of sweets, including cookies, cakes by the slice, and filled-to-order cannoli.  I can personally vouch for the walnut brownies, which taste especially good when warmed up at home and topped with hot fudge and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Just sayin.  While the coffee shop is small, there are a handful of tables and ample workstation seating with plugs and free wifi.  For a real steal, check out the half-priced day-old baked goods rack.  Nova’s is a fantastic addition to South End, but there is one negative.  Even with all the delicious fresh bread they have stocked, they don’t serve sandwiches.  Did I mention they’re open 24 hours a day?

Nova's Bakery on Urbanspoon

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Restaurant Review Roundup: Mert’s Heart and Soul, Eddie’s, Baja Soul {Charlotte, NC}

In honor of FRIDAY (hallelujah!), here are three flash reviews of restaurants I’ve dined at this month:

merts banana pudding

MERT’S HEART AND SOUL:  Serving southern soul, low county, and Gullah-inspired dishes, Mert’s has been a common stop for visitors in Charlotte for over ten years.  When I hear “Mert’s,” I instantly think of their amazing cornbread:  sweet, cakey loaves that arrive at the table hot from the oven with a side of softened butter.  Inside the restaurant, the quirky southern soul decor creates a fun environment, and it is a perfect reflection of the food.  Some of my favorite dishes at Mert’s are the mac and cheese and the Carolina chopped barbecue pork sandwich, which comes on a hearty potato roll.  The banana pudding is infamous, and believe me it lives up to the hype.  Don’t forget to save room for cake!

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Soul Gastrolounge—Charlotte, NC {Restaurant Review}

outside soul gastroloungeIt’s been over a month since I hit the town for a gal’s night out, but I broke the dry spell last week with an evening of small plates at Soul Gastrolounge in Plaza Midwood.  Located at the corner of Central and Pecan, Soul occupies the top floor of an old brick walkup.  Outside, you’ll find a mid-sized seating balcony, which offers a prime vantage point for people watching.

The “gastrolounge” concept was new to me, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Soul.  We arrived around 7pm on a Monday evening, and the place was surprisingly poppin’.  Table seating is pretty limited, so we opted to nab seats at the bar where we were brought glasses of water garnished with slices of cucumber.  It was especially refreshing given how hot it has been in Charlotte lately.

The “lounge” component of the gastrolounge concept was very apparent–much of the restaurant space was occupied with eclectic armchairs and sofas, perfect for conversation but questionable for dining (especially if you’re a messy eater like me).  Besides the décor, I absolutely loved the music selection.  I found myself blurting “I love this song!!” every few minutes.

lounge at soul gastolounge

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5Church–Charlotte, NC {restaurant review}

5Church, which opened Friday May 18, 2012, stands at the corner of North Church and 5th Street in Uptown Charlotte (formerly occupied by Molly MacPherson’s).

5church building

Inside 5Church, you’ll find an open multi-level layout with decor that is striking and visually dramatic.  Beautiful dark tufted fabrics used throughout the space are accented with punches of white and grey, light wooden tables, and clear chairs.

5church charlotte

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