Moe's Original BBQ - Matthews, NC

Pulled Pork Platter with sweet potato casserole, marinated slaw and green beans with Texas toast. 

Moe's Original BBQ has locations - they call them "joints" - in 9 states, with the majority of the restaurants located in Alabama. I was invited to try the location closest to me (Matthews, NC) last fall. While I am not in the Matthews area often, we were thoroughly impressed by Moe's and enjoyed every bite. I wish they would open another Charlotte location closer to uptown - maybe this is a possibility?! Everything we tried was truly delicious. I also like the fact that Moe's has special side dishes each day, so there is always something different to try in addition to the regular tasty sides that they have. We tried both the pulled pork and the ribs and we also had a few wings. The pulled pork was great and the ribs were extraordinary. My favorite sides include the sweet potato casserole and the marinated slaw. Even my son who wasn't quite 1 year old at the time, loved it and ate the BBQ and the green beans.

In addition to the regular menu, which includes smoked turkey, smoked chicken, a salad and even a smoked tofu sandwich in addition to the pork and ribs, there are daily specials and brisket is featured on a weekly basis. You can check out Moe's Original BBQ Facebook page for more information on the daily specials. Even vegetarians would be happy here with either the tofu sandwich or a veggie platter since there are so many sides to choose from. Some recent side specials include cornbread dressing, squash casserole, roasted brussels sprouts and Mississippi mud pie - yes desserts count as sides! There are also party packs available for small or large groups and catering is offered as well. Click here to see the Events Calendar for the Matthews location - there is a kids eat free night as well as other special events listed.

 

This photo, taken the same day we ate at Moe's back in October, demonstrates how long I took to get this post up. I promise I will try to be a better blogger!!

Moe's Original BBQ features indoor and outdoor seating.

Ribs platter with banana pudding and cabbage. Yes, you can get banana pudding as a side dish! YES! The ribs were fantastic - tender and juicy.
 

Fries, crisp and tasty.
 

Wings.

Next time I am in Matthews I will definitely seek out Moe's again, but in the mean time I will be hoping to hear about a location closer to home!

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Nom Nom Burger - Charlotte

Kalbi Burger with Garlic Fries

Since I love all Asian foods, especially Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean, I was very excited to try out Nom Nom Burger which opened fairly recently across from Park Road shopping center on Woodlawn Road. We met and talked with one of the founding partners, Tung Ngo, who is very energetic, personable and dedicated to making this creative concept work. We visited on a Tuesday night and it was "kids eat free" night for kids age 10 and under with purchase of an adult meal. Once our little one is old enough to actually eat his own meal (it won't be long!) this will be a great place to go. There were lots of families as well as some couples and groups of friends. The dining room has a neat waterfall that all the kids were fascinated by. 

Finding myself missing Korean food the most since I moved back to Charlotte, I knew we had to try the Kalbi Burger. It includes kimchi, a fried egg, sesame roased nori (seaweed), spicy aioli and roasted garlic. Wow. This was a fantastic burger. Part of the excellence is because of the meat that is used, which is Sterling Silver ground beef, but the flavors in the Kalbi really make it top-notch. The signature Nom Nom burger was also good - it includes Provolone cheese, sauteed Shiitake mushrooms with mirin, caramelized onions with ginger orange marmalade and mayo. It is really a toss-up with the Kalbi but my favorite item we tried is the Ahi burger - a thick piece of Ahi tuna seared and put on a sushi rice "bun" with avocado, spinach and sprouts with both wasabi and citrus soy dipping sauces. Sushi lovers - you must try! We also tried the calamari, which was light, spicy and delicious. The shrimp chips (a Vietnamese item) were really tasty, but regular fries (can be made garlic or jalepeno) as well as sweet potato fries are also options. 

For dessert we wanted to try the Honey Bunz with ice cream but since they were unavailable we had the fried cheesecake "Xango", which was good. There is a Ben & Jerry's right across the patio so that is another option if you have any room after trying the delicious offerings at Nom Nom. Next time I'm trying the Banh Mi Burger (it's actually chicken) - if I can keep myself away from the Ahi! There are also more burger options (including a plain one for the non-adventurous), chicken sandwiches, fish sandwich/tacos, salads, noodles and even a veggie burger on the menu so vegetarians and even vegans should be able to find something. We will see you soon, Nom Nom!

 Calamari

Ahi Burger - for the sushi lover!

 Nom Nom Burger with Shrimp Chips.

Xango - fried cheesecake.

e2 Emeril's Eatery

Outside patio and entrance.

Corn muffins served with lunch - moist and a good way to whet your appetite but save room!

I was lucky enough to be invited to try e2 Emeril's Eatery in uptown Charlotte just a few weeks ago. Most folks know Emeril from television but now he owns more than a dozen restaurants across the country in places such as Orlando, Las Vegas and New Orleans. Charlotte's  e2 is located on the Levine Avenue of the Arts between the Mint Museum uptown and the Bechtler Museum. Inside is a full bar and plenty of table seating. There is also a nice patio for al fresco dining. We sat at the bar (there is also a "Food Bar" where you can sit and watch the food being prepared) and enjoyed tasting portions of several of the most popular dishes. My favorite dishes that we tried include the oyster shooter, the signature barbecued shrimp, the pasta with housemade sausage and the apple crepes (photos below). The burger was also good and I enjoyed the corn muffins (above). Other lunch options include chicken and waffle, fresh fish sandwich (this sounded really good!), shrimp and grits and NC Rainbow trout. Several salads and soups are also available including a "gumbo of the day" and there are gluten free items available. 

I did not indulge in any of the stellar looking drinks, although we did sample the house made limoncello - delicious! e2 has a nice drink list, which includes not only classic cocktails, beers and an impressive wine list but also special signature and New Orleans style drinks executed by mixologist Miki Nikolic. His soon to be famous Grass Hopper cocktail includes wheatgrass, hendrick's gin, jalepeno simple syrup, lime juice and cucumber water - yum! Other signature options include a Bacon + Maple, a Pumpkin Spice, and a Prickly Moon with prickly pear juice. New Orleans cocktails include a Sazerac, Bijou, Ramos Gin Fizz and more. I look forward to returning for dinner so that I can sample some of these! 

e2 takes reservations for lunch and dinner and is a great place for a business lunch, a special occasion or a "just because" let's go out! A special 3 course "lunch crunch" menu is offered for $24 with a guarantee of a 40 minute lunch. Adjoining the main restaurant is e2Go, a place where you can grab a sandwich, salad or soup for an even quicker lunch. 

During lunch I had the pleasure of chatting with General Manager Jeff Wakem who also made sure we had everything we needed and were able to taste lots of different dishes. Jeff has worked directly with Emeril in different locations and Emeril himself visits each of his restaurants from time to time. Check out e2 and you never know, you just might see him there yourself!

Oyster Shooter - with spicy New Orleans style Bloody Mary mix and a pickled haricot vert. This was unique and so good - for all you raw oyster fans!

Wood Oven Oyster on the Half Shell - with bacon, onions, spinach and parmesan reggiano. A great choice - love this simple preparation.

The bar, including several homemade liquors. 

Emeril's New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp served with rosemary biscuits. Delicious taste - one of my favorite options - after devouring the large shrimp, the sauce paired so well with the tasty biscuits.

Yellowfin tuna tartare with cucumber, jalepeno, avocado, cilantro and ponzu. Fresh and simple.

Pasta course: with housemade fennel sausage, broccoli rabe and parmesan reggiano. Loved the sausage in this delicious warm-you-up dish.

Chef de Cuisine, Brian Mottola.

Half of "The Burger" with fries.

Special side of the day - warm potato salad.

Honey crisp apple crepes with bacon-maple syrup and house made vanilla ice cream. Utterly scrumptious! I also snagged a piece of the famous banana cream pie to go. It has chocolate shavings and delicious caramel sauce - definitely a good one to share. My family ate it before I could take a photo! Other dessert options include blue corn brioche bread pudding, espresso pudding and (what I want to try next time) - sweet potato cheesecake!

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary. 

East Boulevard Bar & Grill

Cobb Salad - love this version.

I had the pleasure of dining at East Boulevard Bar & Grill recently for lunch. This place is quite nostalgic for me even though it is now located a few blocks west of the old location on East in Latta Pavillion. As a kid my dad and I used to dine here with some frequency and I remember the salads, the round fries and the tuna melt - all still available. Lucky for me the Grill is even closer to my house! I also love that the new location allows the front windows to be raised, opening the restaurant up to the street, which is perfect for people watching and an urban touch not seen enough in Charlotte. Definitely a great place to have a beer and watch a game, too.

The menu includes lots of great appetizers (think nachos, wings and quesadillas among other items) sandwich options including the popular oven roasted grinders, a French dip and a Reuben, burgers and salads. The below fish tacos are another option. Entrees, including fried shrimp, grilled or blackened fish, pot pie and fish and chips are also available. If you haven't tried East Boulevard Bar & Grill you definitely should! I look forward to returning soon to try more menu items.

Signature round fries - brings back memories!



Fish Tacos with Slaw.

 

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Sauceman's

One of my recent discoveries in Charlotte is Sauceman's BBQ. When I was growing up in Charlotte the small building at the corner of S. Tryon and West Boulevard was a scary looking Chinese takeout spot - not anyplace I ever thought to stop, although I did frequent the Bojangles across the street! Now with the light rail just a long block away and the burgeoning businesses on Camden Ave. nearby, the owners of Sauceman's have turned this once bleak spot into a highlight of the neighborhood and they serve some tasty BBQ to boot.

I've dined at Sauceman's twice and tried the chopped BBQ, the coarse chopped BBQ, the brisket and the ribs. My favorite is the brisket and the chopped BBQ as well as the mac & cheese, the fried green tomatoes and the hush puppies. The BBQ has a nice smoky flavor and several sauces are available to finish it off. The hush puppies are BIG and tasty. For dessert I indulged in the sugar biscuits - basically fried dough with sugar on top - yum! Next time I want to try the shrimp and grits, which I observed someone else eating last visit. I also saw someone attempting Sauceman's own food challenge: the Clark Griswold - let's just say one person should not be able to eat this giant portion of 2.5 lbs. of chopped pork, hush puppies, bread, slaw and another side dish! If you can eat it in under 30 minutes, it's free - otherwise it's $25. Maybe next time I'll try this with a couple of friends!

Coarse chopped pork with slaw and fried green tomatoes.

Ribs with fried corn.

Sugar biscuits.

Mussels at Fran's Filling Station

I recently had some awesome mussels and fries at Fran's Filling Station. I reviewed Fran's once before but it has been quite a while! Now that I am living close by I will be back more often. Love that you can have the mussels prepared in 3 different ways - I had the white wine and garlic preparation - yum! The portion was also generous and more bread was supplied when needed.

The Liberty - Burger Post

Pub burger.

The Liberty is a great place for a gourmet burger. We walked up from our house a few weeks ago after hearing about this burger's fame. The funny thing is that The Liberty did not set out to have the greatest burger but after being recognized for their burgers by The Charlotte Observer, the self-described gastropub has embraced the public's love of their burger. We tried both the traditional pub burger and the Kobe beef burger on our visit. Both were fantastic. So were the fried pickles - definitely the best fried pickles I have had. I also adored the salted caramel budino - like pudding but even better. I look forward to returning to The Liberty soon, both for more burgers and to try some of the other enticing offerings. I've heard great things about the house made soft pretzels and there is a new summer menu.

Fried Pickle Chips.



Kobe beef burger.



Salted Caramel Budino - extremely delicious layered pudding - you must try it!

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar

Sam I Am burger with sweet potato fries.

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar has become a Dilworth mainstay and operates two other locations in Ballantyne and in Birkdale. Prior to becoming Bad Daddy's (formerly Big Daddy's) this location was one of the cursed spots on East Boulevard that just could not seem to make it. Now the restaurant fills up early, with lines forming and families, couples and singles alike flock for the signature burgers and salads.

Our first time actually dining in (we've ordered takeout several times) we enjoyed a fine meal and decent service. The noise level is higher than I'd like, however, so maybe takeout - or the patio in cooler weather - is more my speed. The Daddy's nachos were enjoyed by all - a hefty portion with chili, black beans, guacamole, queso, sour cream and more. I enjoyed the Asian salad and a bite of the Sam I Am burger - beef burger topped with American cheese, a fried egg, rosemary ham and pesto sauce. There are several alternatives for non-burger fans, which is nice: several chopped salads including a Greek and the Asian Salad (below) ; you can also build your own salad or your own burger and chicken, tuna, black bean and turkey burger versions are available, so everyone should be happy! There are a multitude of toppings and cheeses that can be added to both burgers and salads - a fun option.

The milkshake was a bit thin for my taste but I really wanted to try the Nutella version, which wasn't available the night we dined in. Although not my favorite burger joint around, Bad Daddy's is a fun option to eat with the "in" crowd - and it's family friendly to boot.

Daddy's nachos - yum!



Sliders with fries - a nice portion for big kids.



Asian salad.



Always busy busy!



Strawberry milkshake.