Queen’s Feast Charlotte Restaurant Week is back and I am so excited. This is a great time to experience restaurants that you may have been wanting to try or partake in one of your favs on the list. Queen’s Feast runs Friday, January 20, 2023 through Sunday, January 29, 2023. 87 restaurants around the metro area including Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Iredell, Gaston, Union, Catawba, Stanly, York and Lancaster counties, will offer three-course, prix fixe dining deals from $30-$45 per person. There are some new restaurants on the list but below are my top 5 that I either know personally or want to try this week!! Get out and enjoy!
Pearlz Oyster Bar Stonecrest @ 7804 Rea Road Suite A, Ballantyne: Pearlz Oyster Bar is a fun, eclectic restaurant serving the very best in fresh seafood, including an assorted mix of raw shellfish, local seafood, Lowcountry recipes, and regional favorites. The raw bar offers a variety of Lowcountry and Gulf oysters as well as specialty oysters, in addition to fresh seasonal shellfish. A full-service bar providing cold beers and unique, refreshing cocktails serves as the epicenter of the restaurant’s lively environment.
- $40 per person (does not include tax or gratuity)
- First course (choice of one)
- Cup of NE Clam Chowder
- Cup of Seafood Gumbo
- Classic Caesar Salad
- Pearlz House Salad
- Second course (choice of one)
- Seafood Fra Diavolo – linguini, spicy tomato sauce, clams, mussels, shrimp
- Forbidden Scallops – seared scallops, carrot & ginger purée, forbidden rice, chargrilled asparagus
- Tropical Bourbon Salmon – honey Bourbon-glazed salmon, pineapple chutney, cilantro coconut rice, twist of lime
- Cajun Shrimp & Grits – smoky grilled shrimp, Pepper Jack Adluh grits, bell pepper, onion, sweet corn, Cajun cream sauce
- Third course (choice of one)
- Key Lime Pie
- Mini Chocolate Lava Cake – with vanilla ice cream
- White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
The Waterman Lake Norman @ 9615 Bailey Road, Cornelius: Nearly four years into its voyage, the original South End location of The Waterman Fish Bar remains one of the city’s most trusted seafood brands, exclusively serving domestic product (Canadian Salmon aside) with a focus on the Carolinas, responsible sourcing, and a commitment to quality. Now a second location launched in Cornelius just minutes from Lake Norman beckons guests to a casual atmosphere sprinkled with nautical artifacts and featuring indoor dining, a 360° bar, and gorgeous wrap-around patio. They also offer a $1.50 Oyster Happy Hour weekdays from 2-7 PM! Sail this way, grab a boat drink, and soak up the good vibes.
- $35 per person (does not include tax or gratuity)
- Appetizer (choice of one)
- Sea Level Salt Oysters (half dozen) – house-made cocktail sauce, white fennel mignonette
- Mug O’ Chowder – New England-style
- Waterman Salad – Romaine, red cabbage, corn salsa, cucumber, cotija, cilantro lime vinaigrette, ancho chili
- Entrée (choice of one)
- Teriyaki Salmon – roasted potato and vegetable medley, broccoli, house teriyaki sauce
- Creole Shrimp & Grits – Adluh Mills stone-ground grits, Creole crawfish cream sauce
- Cajun Pasta – Cavatappi pasta, Cajun cream sauce, shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, three-cheese Parmesan blend, garlic bread
- Sirloin – 9 oz. center-cut sirloin, red mashed potatoes, charred broccoli, onion butter (add grilled or fried shrimp for $7.50)
- Waterman Platter ($2.50 supplement) – fried Carolina Classics catfish, fried shrimp, crispy oysters, hushpuppies, house-cut fries, cole slaw, tartar, aji verde
- Dessert (choice of one)
- Chocolate Jar – chocolate cake, layered chocolate mousse, salted caramel
- Southern Pecan Bar – vanilla ice cream
Cajun Queen @ 1800 East 7th Street, Charlotte: The Cajun Queen has been proudly serving Charlotte since 1985. Nestled in historic Elizabeth, this 100-year-old house is a warm, friendly place for business and fun. Featuring live music in our upstairs dining room and quieter dining downstairs, there is something for everyone. The fresh fish specials that run nightly have made our restaurant a Charlotte landmark. Serving up distinctive and delectable dinners and hot jazz seven nights a week, the Queen is the place where every day is Mardi Gras!
- $40 per person (does not include tax or gratuity)
- Glass Of Wine or Draught Beer (choice of one)
- Oxford Landing Chardonnay
- Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon
- Olde Mecklenburg Copper
- First course (choice of one)
- Cup of Creole Seafood Gumbo
- House Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Entree (choice of one)
- Fresh Fish – blackened or seared, served with or without seafood topping; your choice of Tilapia, Salmon, Mahi Mahi, or Catfish
- Diane – mushrooms, garlic, butter, green onions, parsley, and Our Queen’s Magic Spices all sautéed together; moderately spiced and served over rice with your choice of Chicken, Shrimp, Crawfish, or all three
- Etouffee – a dark, highly seasoned roux-based sauce served over rice (hot and spicy!) with your choice of Chicken, Shrimp, Crawfish, or all three
- Blackened Chicken and Andouille Pasta – with mushrooms, artichokes, roasted red peppers, and tri-colored cheese tortellini in a tomato Parmesan cream sauce
- Shrimp and Grits – blackened shrimp, grilled andouille sausage, and Creole sauce
- Dessert (choice of one)
- Key Lime Pie
- Bourbon Bread Pudding
The Pump House @ 575 Herrons Ferry Road, Rock Hill, SC: Southern-Influenced Modern American Cuisine. Built in 1946, the pump house supplied the Celanese Corporation’s Celriver plant with water for its daily operations. The structure, with its five pumps capable of moving 4.7 million gallons a day, would be used for cooling operations and to generate 70% of the electricity needed to power manufacturing of cellulose acetate. After the plant closed in 2005, the abandoned pump house fell into disrepair. The building was purchased in 2014, and a two-year restoration and renovation project increased the size of the building by 50%. Alongside the modern upgrades, interiors wear original heart pine salvaged from the Monaghan Mill cotton warehouse in Greenville, and custom wall boxes display Catawba Native American pottery, highlighting the historic craftsmanship of the region. A custom, 987-bottle wine cooler by a European woodworker takes pride of place in the main dining area, and a private, 4th floor dining area for groups and special events has a bird’s eye view of this area, along with stunning river views. The rooftop deck and dining area is the ultimate in riverside ambiance, featuring both enclosed dining and fireside open space perfect for enjoying a breeze off the water and a beautiful night view of the Catawba River Bridge.
- $45 per person (does not include tax or gratuity)
- Small Bites to Start (choice of one)
- Fried Green Tomatoes (V) – cracker meal, house-made pimento cheese, persimmon jam, roasted poblano ranch
- Shrimp Cocktail (G) – twin Old Bay & citrus boiled jumbo shrimp, spicy cocktail sauce, Carolina white sauce
- Chopped Wedge (G) – smoked bacon, Gorgonzola, egg, carrot, grape tomatoes, fines herbs, roasted poblano ranch
- Carolina Greens (G) – greens, winter citrus, goat cheese, pickled red onion, Champagne vinaigrette
- Soup of the Day – Chef’s choice, made from scratch with the finest seasonal ingredients
- Lump Crab Cake ($5 supplement) – preserved lemon & caper aioli, chili oil, charred lemon
- Steaks & Chops (choice of one)
- Pork Chop – two-day brined, Port wine-braised pears, roasted bacon Brussels sprouts, crispy tobacco onions
- Shrimp & Anson Mills Grits – four jumbo white shrimp, heirloom white corn grits, roasted sweet peppers, tasso ham, Creole-style white wine cream sauce
- Pan-Fried NC Mountain Trout (G) – cornmeal-crusted, grilled asparagus, blue crab Cajun butter
- Springer Mountain Chicken – sweet tea-brined, pimento mac & cheese, pimento cheese sauce
- Roasted Cauliflower Steak (G/V) – charred asparagus, white balsamic reduction, black truffle, coconut curry cream sauce
- Petite Filet ($15 supplement) (G) – hand-cut 8 oz. tenderloin, roasted garlic mash, garlic butter
- Dessert (choice of one)
- Cheerwine Chocolate Cake (G/V) – tart cherry chutney, milk chocolate Chantilly cream, chocolate sauce
- Vanilla Bean Cheesecake (V) – spiced Chantilly cream, caramel sauce, Graham cracker crumble
- G = Gluten-free
- V = Vegetarian
El Puro Cuban Restaurant @ 5033 South Boulevard, Suite H, Charlotte: El Puro is a fine dining Cuban restaurant inspired by the elegance and history of pre-revolutionary Cuba in the 1950s, offering live music six days a week. Join us for a unique and lively night out. Named one of 2023 “50 Best Restaurants” by Charlotte Magazine. Look for Tito’s Handmade Vodka “Queen’s Feast specialty cocktail” at this restaurant: Entre tus Labios – Tito’s Handmade Vodka, passionfruit liquor, Licor 43, Prosecco. For each Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktail sold during the event, Tito’s will donate $1 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.
- $40 per person (does not include tax and gratuity)
- Appetizer (choice of one)
- Croquetas – fried masa stuffed with smoked ham, cilantro aioli
- Tamal en Hoja – Cuban corn masa, sweet onions, pork chicharron
- Queso Frito (Vegetarian) – pan-seared queso fresco, rum-soaked raisins, chopped tomatoes
- Entrée (choice of one)
- Masitas de la Loma – fried pork shoulder, caramelized onions, garlic & onion mojo
- Pollo Campesino – grilled half chicken, herbed sazon, smoked guava jus
- El Churrasco – skirt steak angus, fried egg, chimichurri, served with congri & maduros
- Ensalada Botero (Vegetarian) – arugula, mixed berries, dried cranberries, cucumber, candied walnuts, Manchego cheese, red wine vinaigrette
- Dessert (choice of one)
- Flan KAFE – coffee custard, Cafecito
- Cuatro Leches – four milks-soaked sponge cake, dulce de leche
- Crème Brulée
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