locally owned, popular restaurant ideas... (Charlotte, Gastonia: house, camps, live)

[azdr0710]

greetings.....three of us will be visiting from AZ, CA, and NM in the west NC area and neighboring states later in April....though we'll be busy hiking most days (we know about possible weather problems), we'd like to try out locally popular, locally-owned restaurants that serve local "southern" food...BBQ, grits, whatever is popular in the area, but not into catfish or crawdads....we'll be drifting into VA, TN, SC, KY, and GA also....

we do not want chains with headquarters in New York!...unremodeled buildings, bad areas, screaming babies, waitresses that call you "hun" and wear white starched outfits are all positives!!

breakfast, lunch, dinner ideas are welcome....cheap is better than fancy....the community coffee shop-sort of place is the idea

have been in the area before, but it's been many years....

thanks for your ideas....not just Charlotte - all of west NC and bordering areas in other states

[GirlTravels]

Woodland's Barbeque in Blowing Rock... do NOT miss it!

[Sylbeth]

A really good restaurant for Bar-B-Que would be Mac's on South Blvd in Charlotte......I "guarantee" you there is no "Hun" spoken there....or any stiff white uniforms. The baked beans are wonderful!!

[NCgirl]

White starched outfits? LOL!!

Charlotte isn't in western NC so you'll probably get more suggestions about that area in the Western NC sub forum.. We are a few hours away from the mountains. While there are area trails , the closest elevated hiking is at Crowders Mountain State Park in Kings Mountain, NC.

BBQ is very popular here! Here are some threads about local and regional favorites.

Good BBQ??
Best BBQ joint
Barbecue?

Here are some websites:
Yorkmont Cafe They have a great breakfast special - $3.65: 2 eggs with bacon or sausage or livermush, toast or biscuits, grits or hash browns.
Price's Chicken Coop
The Chicken Box Cafe
Mert's Heart and Soul
Bar-B-Q-King
Mac's Speed Shop - Three locations - Two in Charlotte 1)South Blvd 2) Sandy Porter Rd. and one in Cornelius, NC.

Another great place is Tony's Ice Cream in Gastonia. They have fantastic home made ice cream and a hot grill menu.

Fish Camps are popular in Gaston County. Here are a few
Riverside Fish House - 1341 Dallas Stanley Hwy Dallas, NC 28034
Graham's Fish Fry - 4539 South New Hope Road Gastonia, NC 28054
Twin Tops Fish Camp - 4574 S New Hope Rd Gastonia, NC 28056

If you're up for fast food check out the NC based Cook Out chain. There are several in Charlotte and surrounding towns. They have hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, wraps, chicken nuggets chicken sandwiches and BBQ. They also have a "Creamery" with 36 different types of milkshakes.

[Sylbeth]

Mac's is just a really different place that you might like....very busy...use to be an ole drive in restaurant.....you can even sit outside if the weather is good. I stated that there wasn't any "Hun" spoken there....but you requested it as a positive...and I misunderstood that....like I said it is different where bikers to businessmen...to traveling visitors....go there to really enjoy some very good Bar-B-Que......

[marvinnative]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

...unremodeled buildings, bad areas, screaming babies, waitresses that call you "hun" and wear white starched outfits are all positives!!

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought waitresses that call you "hun" the OP thought was a POSITIVE!

[pacesetter]

I would give another opinion of Mac's --- Terrible.

You only have to pull into the parking lot to get agitated. Absolutely no parking unless of course you are riding a Harley. Service was slow/terrible and food was cold but then again so was the beer.

My alternative reccommendations:

Bill Spoons BBQ
The Diamond
The Penguin
Mert's
Ol' Smokehouse
Fenwick's

[bandibadji]

Originally Posted by marvinnative

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought waitresses that call you "hun" the OP thought was a POSITIVE!

That is what I read. It is better to be called "hun" than the often "you guys", when your wife isn't a guy. The "hun" thing is an endearing hospitality custom that I personally like.

[bandibadji]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

greetings.....three of us will be visiting from AZ, CA, and NM in the west NC area and neighboring states later in April....though we'll be busy hiking most days (we know about possible weather problems), we'd like to try out locally popular, locally-owned restaurants that serve local "southern" food...BBQ, grits, whatever is popular in the area, but not into catfish or crawdads....we'll be drifting into VA, TN, SC, KY, and GA also....

we do not want chains with headquarters in New York!...unremodeled buildings, bad areas, screaming babies, waitresses that call you "hun" and wear white starched outfits are all positives!!

breakfast, lunch, dinner ideas are welcome....cheap is better than fancy....the community coffee shop-sort of place is the idea

have been in the area before, but it's been many years....

thanks for your ideas....not just Charlotte - all of west NC and bordering areas in other states

Locally owned restaurants are everywhere. You can look at them and get a general impression whether they are what you are looking for. You will not have a problem in that area. Don't quite understand your second paragraph. You said that unremodeled buildings, bad areas, screaming babies, waitresses that call you "hun" and wear white starched outfits are all positives. I am envisioning Mel's Diner in a ghetto. Is that what you are looking for?Please take not that if you don't leave a descent tip, you will likely have the waitress scream, "Kiss my grits!"

P.S. It would be very helpful if we knew your tentative route.

[bs13690]

http://www.mamaricottasrestaurant.com/ is my favorite place in Charlotte.