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My wife and I live off of Gilead in Huntersville, and had always felt that Exit 23 was prime overlooked commercial real estate. Now, finally, our exit is getting some great bars and restaurants:
1. Verde Urban Mexican Kitchen - Owned by the folks who own the Prickly Pear in Mooresville, this is one heck of a Mexican restaurant. Try the quesadilla, and a margarita from the full bar (one of the few bars currently on our exit)
2. Roppongi Sushi - This opened over a year ago in the old Friendly's location, and I fear it may not survive given the number of Groupons we've seen. But man, their sushi is top notch and worth the price (which is above anything else on the exit). We go once a month and just gorge.
3. Crafty Beer Guys - In downtown Huntersville just down from the Discovery Kids, in a renovated home, you'll find a really great bottle shop with 8-10 beers on tap and frequent food trucks. An awesome addition to the neighborhood.
4. Duckworth's - Even thought this is a bit north of us on Statesville, it's about time we got the 100+ beer mecca of Duckworth's close by. Gret food (much better than Taco Mac near Birkdale, which has a similar beer selection). Great for NFL Sunday.
5. Cork & Cask - Also a bit north and more of an Exit 25 joint, this new wine and beer bar with light eats is super, near the 131 Main. Great people who run the place, too.
BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!
6. Pinky's Westside - When my wife and I saw that Pinky's Westside Grill was opening a location in the Torrence Village shopping center across from the (now old) Bi-Lo, we about died. For one thing, we've been pining for something to move into the former JR Crickets Wings location (a joint that closed inside of a year and wasnt so great). But Pinky's? Man, their food is amazing, and its going to be amazing to have it at our exit. That location is huge, and should make for a good experience.
7. Hawthornes Pizza - I'm pretty sure I saw the former CiCi's Pizza location being renovated, and the sign inside said Hawthornes Pizza - they of the great Pizza off 7th Street in Charlotte. Good bar vibe and decent pizza, by the pie or slice. Great pizza is something really missing from our exit.
8. Publix - Why on this list? Because their subs beat ANY subs on the exit. We grew up in Forida, and know how great the Publix bakery is. To have it, along with Kroger-controlled Harris Teeter and Earth Fare on the same exit? Incredible. Not to mention Whole Foods on Exit 25!
Honorary Mention goes to the stand-bys that have made Gilead Rd in Huntersville bearable the last few years - Killington's (the only real bar on our exit until recently), NY Bagel and Cafe 100 in downtown Huntersville. But it's about time we added some real restaurants to Firehouse Subs, Yoshi's and Five Guys - the only other restaurants on our exit. In fact, it's made us decide we want to stay in Huntersville for the foreseeable future.
Thanks for the update, sounds like some places I need to check out.
I'd put Duckworth's and Taco Mac on the same level in terms of food. Both are places to go if you want to try different beers though while neither are foodie destinations by itself. haha
I just moved about 2 miles from exit 23, and it's great to know that a few new places are coming. What kind of food is Pinky's?
It sounds like a catch 22 though. On the one hand, it's great to have more options available. On the other hand, we don't need any more traffic around there.
The food situation sure has improved. Completely agree especially with Verde and Crafty Beer Guys. (And Publix!, which according to their website will be open early 2015). I hope that the trend can continue and expand to the downtown section. Couple of additional notes:
There is also a new place for breakfast and lunch in Rosedale - "Fore", located where Jackson's Java used to be. I hope this place makes it - I've been there for lunch once and breakfast and found their food to be very good and local farm sourced. Nothing fancy, but just well-done. The restaurant concept is a bit odd (supposed to be a golf theme, but not really near a course and not really emphasizing the golf theme) and it's not been busy when I've gone in. But, if you are looking for a good breakfast place that is not packed (hard to find in our area) recommend giving it a shot. Only a couple of taps, but with local beers.
Regarding Exit 23 bars, don't forget Harvey's in Vermillion. Great bar, just OK with the food (though many seem to like it better than I do). Decent beer selection.
I love Killingtons, my only gripe with them is that they are lacking big time in the beer selection.
Hey, Great Post. You're right, it's nice to have some quality new options up here..let's just hope they can stay open with the fickle clientele around here.
Huntersville, convince your friends and family to skip the mega chains and go for the more localized fare!
The food situation sure has improved. Completely agree especially with Verde and Crafty Beer Guys. (And Publix!, which according to their website will be open early 2015). I hope that the trend can continue and expand to the downtown section. Couple of additional notes:
There is also a new place for breakfast and lunch in Rosedale - "Fore", located where Jackson's Java used to be. I hope this place makes it - I've been there for lunch once and breakfast and found their food to be very good and local farm sourced. Nothing fancy, but just well-done. The restaurant concept is a bit odd (supposed to be a golf theme, but not really near a course and not really emphasizing the golf theme) and it's not been busy when I've gone in. But, if you are looking for a good breakfast place that is not packed (hard to find in our area) recommend giving it a shot. Only a couple of taps, but with local beers.
Regarding Exit 23 bars, don't forget Harvey's in Vermillion. Great bar, just OK with the food (though many seem to like it better than I do). Decent beer selection.
I love Killingtons, my only gripe with them is that they are lacking big time in the beer selection.
Man you nailed it. Killingtons is great for food, but sucks for beer. If they would add say 20 to 30 taps it would be unreal
Man you nailed it. Killingtons is great for food, but sucks for beer. If they would add say 20 to 30 taps it would be unreal
I really like the folks who run Killington's. They also own Tavern on the Tracks in Charlotte, which has a better draft beer selection, so they know from good beer.
My primary issue with Killington's is two-fold: without much competition, the place is really mobbed Thurs-Sun, to the point I have largely stopped even trying to go there. Also, the food was much better when they opened. It hasn't slid that far, but far enough.
I actually think some competition will be ideal for them, forcing some creativity and thinning out the hordes. They've really been coasting for a long while, absolutely killing it without having to try too hard.
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