By Amber Donoghue

January 11, 2016

It’s time again for the Queen’s Feast, a tradition that comes to our city twice a year. From January 22-31 some of Charlotte’s notable restaurants will be filled with people ready to experience a lovely three-course meal for $30-$35. The idea of Restaurant Week is to expose the palate to a kitchen’s menu. During these 10 days, restaurant staffs can certainly become overwhelmed, but there are so many positives to Restaurant Week that the madness can be overlooked. Here are a few things diners can do to make their Queen’s Feast experience easy and fun:

Make a reservation. The Queen’s Feast website, for example, states that reservations are recommended. This is an understatement. If you aren’t eating in dives or from food trucks between these dates you aren’t eating out. When making a reservation note the time– choose your reservation time carefully. You may want to avoid the hustle and bustle of a hectic Saturday evening and opt for a weeknight instead.

The Queen’s Feast website, for example, states that reservations are recommended. This is an understatement. If you aren’t eating in dives or from food trucks between these dates you aren’t eating out. When making a reservation note the time– choose your reservation time carefully. You may want to avoid the hustle and bustle of a hectic Saturday evening and opt for a weeknight instead. Drive smart! Diners are likely to be coming from other neighborhoods, unfamiliar with their surrounding. Parking, one way streets and dodgy motorists are a recipe for disaster. Leave early, and sit at the bar to enjoy a cocktail and perhaps a long and healthy life without high insurance rates. Take the light rail, Yellow Cab or Uber to your destination.

Diners are likely to be coming from other neighborhoods, unfamiliar with their surrounding. Parking, one way streets and dodgy motorists are a recipe for disaster. Leave early, and sit at the bar to enjoy a cocktail and perhaps a long and healthy life without high insurance rates. Take the light rail, Yellow Cab or Uber to your destination. Call ahead if you are going to be late or have to cancel your reservation be sure to extend the courtesy of calling the restaurant and letting them know. If you’re unable to attend, you can give someone waiting on a list a chance to experience your meal.

if you are going to be late or have to cancel your reservation be sure to extend the courtesy of calling the restaurant and letting them know. If you’re unable to attend, you can give someone waiting on a list a chance to experience your meal. Go outside the box to get more bang for your buck! It’s important to understand that food cost factor in this business, especially during Restaurant Week. It’s easy to order the filet, but what about that beautiful piece of regional trout from the mountains? The latter will likely be more “bang for your buck” if you are looking to get the most out of your meal. Anyone can cook an expensive piece of meat. Branch out and try something out of the ordinary.

Aside from the menu, although not included in the price, try something “off book” like wine with your meal or locally roasted coffee with your dessert. If you are already spending money on dinner why not extend the experience to a more well-rounded memory?

Restaurant Week is a hectic but pleasant way to try our city’s finest fare. With only ten days, the hardest part is considering where to eat. You can find participating restaurants and menus on the website but here are some of our top picks for your evening meals.

Heirloom: All North Carolina– everything that comes through the door from spirits to grains. Chef Clark Barlowe, having trained at some of the finest restaurants in the world, brings a fine dining experience that is completely approachable. Definitely have a french press with dessert.

All North Carolina– everything that comes through the door from spirits to grains. Chef Clark Barlowe, having trained at some of the finest restaurants in the world, brings a fine dining experience that is completely approachable. Definitely have a french press with dessert. Passion8 : Chef Luca has been cooking in Charlotte (and Ft. Mill) for years. Opening his beautiful new restaurant in Elizabeth, Passion 8 has intimate lighting, stunningly gorgeous food, and a lovely cocktail menu. Looking for a date night spot? This is it.

: Chef Luca has been cooking in Charlotte (and Ft. Mill) for years. Opening his beautiful new restaurant in Elizabeth, Passion 8 has intimate lighting, stunningly gorgeous food, and a lovely cocktail menu. Looking for a date night spot? This is it. Fran’s Filling Station: Some people open restaurants because they want to be around people who enjoy food. That’s Fran. Real food made with love and elegance. One can only imagine how someone can make food for strangers as if they were beloved family. This is a gem in the city. Order the Bacon wrapped tots. You’re welcome.

Some people open restaurants because they want to be around people who enjoy food. That’s Fran. Real food made with love and elegance. One can only imagine how someone can make food for strangers as if they were beloved family. This is a gem in the city. Order the Bacon wrapped tots. You’re welcome. Bonterra Dining & Wine Room: A Charlotte staple. An old converted church on Cleveland Ave, Bonterra is a restaurant you come to for an occasion. Anniversaries, announcements and engagements happen over the tables of the breathtaking dining room. Chef Blake’s food is a mixture of tradition and creativity, balance and technique. If you have lived in Charlotte with cause to celebrate and haven’t done it here, you missed out.

A Charlotte staple. An old converted church on Cleveland Ave, Bonterra is a restaurant you come to for an occasion. Anniversaries, announcements and engagements happen over the tables of the breathtaking dining room. Chef Blake’s food is a mixture of tradition and creativity, balance and technique. If you have lived in Charlotte with cause to celebrate and haven’t done it here, you missed out. Del Frisco’s: If you have to go to a steakhouse this is the one. Valet parking, old school service and a classic steakhouse menu. Del Frisco’s dry ages its meat and there is always an extra touch of care from the plate to the hostess who opens the door at the end of the evening.

If you have to go to a steakhouse this is the one. Valet parking, old school service and a classic steakhouse menu. Del Frisco’s dry ages its meat and there is always an extra touch of care from the plate to the hostess who opens the door at the end of the evening. Fahrenheit: Our beautiful city is framed by this 21st floor restaurant atop the Skye Condos in uptown. Ideally you want to be here at sunset. An inviting bar awaits, where you can sip a craft cocktail while waiting on your table. If you can brave the January weather there is also a modern fire pit to mingle and take in the brisk night air. This is a place to be seen. Dress for a night on the town.

Our beautiful city is framed by this 21st floor restaurant atop the Skye Condos in uptown. Ideally you want to be here at sunset. An inviting bar awaits, where you can sip a craft cocktail while waiting on your table. If you can brave the January weather there is also a modern fire pit to mingle and take in the brisk night air. This is a place to be seen. Dress for a night on the town. 300 East: Nestled in an old home in Dilworth, this Charlotte staple is a culinary treasure. Chef Kristine Schmidt sources locally to bring the highest quality ingredients to each dish. After Restaurant Week is over, be sure to return for 300’s brunch. It’s among the best in town!

Nestled in an old home in Dilworth, this Charlotte staple is a culinary treasure. Chef Kristine Schmidt sources locally to bring the highest quality ingredients to each dish. After Restaurant Week is over, be sure to return for 300’s brunch. It’s among the best in town! Flipside Restaurant: Husband and wife team Jon and Amy Fortes met in the kitchen in 2008. Combining their love of food and hospitality they opened Flipside Restaurant in Historic Rock Hill, SC. Bringing fine dining and comfort food in a laid back atmosphere to this sleeper town, Flipside has won over local diners. Southern charm and upscale comfort food is the recipe for happiness in this kitchen.

Husband and wife team Jon and Amy Fortes met in the kitchen in 2008. Combining their love of food and hospitality they opened Flipside Restaurant in Historic Rock Hill, SC. Bringing fine dining and comfort food in a laid back atmosphere to this sleeper town, Flipside has won over local diners. Southern charm and upscale comfort food is the recipe for happiness in this kitchen. Bistro La Bon: Another romantically lit room in our city, Bistro la Bon is the perfect place to order a bottle of wine and charcuterie board while sitting in the lounge. Mediterranean and French influence makes this menu hard to pass up when making your choices this week.

The restaurants that participate in this Queen City tradition are brilliant at what they do. The idea is to try new places and things at a fraction of the cost so that one might make more educated decisions as to where to eat the rest of the year. Be sure to return with the intention of enjoying your dining experience to the fullest with a full menu at hand. Bon appetite!

More on Charlotte Restaurant Week January 22-31, 2016

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