Charlotte is a hotbed for...
by acemj
Charlotte is a hotbed for antique stores. You'll find many by just opening the yellow pages (phone book). Since, antiquing isn't really my thing, I'll recommend a used book store instead. Buyers Books on Central Ave (at The Plaza) looks like my old elementary school library inside. Very simple. Just some bookshelves and a great selection of used books at great prices. I recently bought two books that would have retailed for $37 for only $9! (See more under Must See Activities)
Lowe's Motor Speedway in...
by acemj
Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord. It's only about 20 minutes north of Charlotte (take I-85N). Charlotte is the undisputed home of Nascar. Personally, I don't get it. I've been to two races and all those constant left turns just didn't do it for me. However, seeing 200,000 crazy fans in one place is quite a spectacle!
Don't Miss this Seafood restaurant! :)
by FreeCloud about La Vecchia's Seafood Grille
An upscale fine dining place with contemporary deco (huge metal fish and other sea creature sculptures hanging in the large dinning hall under the high ceiling). Private dining areas are available for private parties.
The food is NOT cheap, but of fine quality and pleasant presentation.
Salad (it has also a salad bar), soup, are ordered al la Carte. However, the entree was large enough without any salad or dessert. ENTREES:
Pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass $26.95
'"Served over a roasted corn and artichoke risotto cake with spring vegetables and blue crab lobster beurre blanc"
Sea bass was properly seared with a slightly caramelized crispy outside and moistened inside (could be cooked a bit shorter). Tasty and artistically displayed. A pleasant dish.
Sesame Seared Yellow Fin Tuna $21.95
"Asian Buckwheat noodles, spicy eggplant salad and wasabi vinaigrette"
Though appealing, the first time I was at this restaurant, I could not help having the sea bass. Second time, I tried the tuna. I told the chef that I would not like to have any 'sinew(? the white stuff) in the tuna flesh.
The dish came with an artistic presentation: three pieces of tuna were seared properly with sesame seeds and cracked black pepper outside, cut diagonally, and laid on top of the spicy eggplant and buck noodle salad, wasabi and soy sauce formed a floral pattern around this center piece. (I had dish with similar ingredients in other restaurants, which could ruin one's appetite just seeing how the dish comes). The fish tastes great (hope someday they will use fatty tuna instead of regular tuna for even better a taste).
DESSERT:
Tiramisu $6.95
The dessert menu has nothing very special. But each one is artistically presented with care. The Tiramisu is with very rich (but not greasy) fluffy cream, could be stronger in coffee flavor.
The Best Cuban Food in Town
by acemj about Siboney
I recommended La Gran Havana earlier because I like the food, but Siboney is even better and from what my Cuban friend tells me, it's more authentic. I went there for dinner and the owner was walking around the whole night talking with customers like they were good friends. He's quite a character and his joy and pride in his restaurant is contagious. He can tell you some good stories about his native Cuba. Yucas Fritas (Fried Cassava) and Filetes de Pargo Amontillado (Red snapper with a Sherry sauce).
Good Vietnamese grub
by acemj about Huong Viet
There are at least five Vietnamese restaurants in Charlotte and Huong Viet is the best that I've tried. The joint is appropriately located on the ethnically diversed Central Avenue and the interior is typical for the area. Most of the establishments here are housed in spaces that had some other original intent, but for some reason, I find the lack of spatial congruity charming. The staff speaks perfectly good English and the "Mama" is in the kitchen doing all the work! The menu here is huge with somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 items. They have all the usual Pho (Vietnamese soups) dishes as well as noodle dishes, that famous rich Vietnamese coffee and more. I had a rice pancake dish. Inside the pancake was plenty of meat, sprouts and other goodies. The cool thing was the way one eats the dish. You take some lettuce, fill it up with sliced vegetables, throw on some fresh mint, then load on some of the pancake. Then, you wrap it up in your hands and dip it in the sauce, and Voila! You've got a mighty fine dish.
Sun- Thurs, 11 am - 9 pm
Fri- Sat, 11 am -10 pm
House in the fourth ward
UNCC art
Southpark Mall
