The Birkdale Renaissance

A while ago, I was starting to lose faith in the Birkdale restaurant scene.  Several restaurants had closed, and the others had been there for a while.  It seemed as if, Birkdale was starting to get stale.

Sure, there were the nicer restaurants with American fare, Red Rocks and Dressler's, and eeZ has always had great Asian food. Then for quick meals, you had Qdoba (burritos) and JD Rockers (sandwiches). For family friendly pizza, there's Brixx. And if you want to drink like a frat guy while watching a game, there's always Fox & Hound.

However, this limited choice was leaving me uninspired. After visiting these places time and time again, my taste-buds were starting to get bored.

Fortunately, things have changed, and in case you haven't noticed, over the past year or so Birkdale undergone a restaurant Renaissance.

The new kids on the block: Zoe's,Which Which, Baja Soul, Bad Daddy's Burger Bar and Bonefish Grille have all added some much needed flare to the Birkdale menu.

Zoe's Mediterranean inspired menu offers a healthier menu than most casual fast restaurants. Which Which offers a great sandwich selection that Quizno's (located in the same location) could never match.  Baja Soul offers a much nicer atmosphere than Qdoba -- and the food goes FAR beyond burritos.  Bad Daddy's offers a wide variety of burger selections, and Bonefish brings a formal(ish) flare while specializing in seafood dishes.

Between all these restaurants, what am I to do??  Why eat at all of them of course!

So, what do you think of the Birkdale restaurants? If so, VOTE below! Got a favorite dish?  Leave a comment, and let me know!

Also, I'm trying to get back into writing reviews.  So, check back here, or on my Facebook Page, to see my upcoming reviews.

Bon Appetit!

What's your favorite Birkdale Restaurant?

Last Week = Good Week to be a Foodie!

Last week I had the opportunity to indulge my inner Foodie -- I was invited to participate in a practice lunch at the new Dressler's restaurant in Charlotte. Located at the Metropolitan (sorta between Uptown and Dilworth), the new Dressler's is a very different beast than the original Dressler's.

The service is just as good as it is in Birkdale, and the food is just as delicious -- and in some cases the same recipes are used (Calamari and Cheesecake, I'm lookin' at you!). But when you walk in, the atmosphere is less laid-back cozy and more hitting the town for a night out. The new restaurant is gorgeous, with very high ceilings (15 - 20ft?), huge windows, and a feel that's, well, metropolitan.

Also last week I had the opportunity to sit down with Chef Dominic at Red Rocks to talk about an upcoming project. As you may remember, about a year ago I bashed the Red Rocks Kobe Burger. Though I've returned to Red Rocks and given glowing reviews, Chef Dom was still focused on the Kobe Burger. So, when I walked in Chef Dom walked out with a perfectly cooked, delicious and tantalizing Kobe Burger. It's awesome. I stand by my previous review, but it's becoming apparent to me that experience was the outlier.

UPDATE: Heading to the new Dressler's tonight for opening night! Will try to post the review tomorrow.

Red Rocks Cafe (Again!)

This is the first for this blog -- I'm reviewing a restaurant that I've already reviewed. Though I've tried to keep this from happening, there are two things that I couldn't overlook.

1) I knew that my last visit to Red Rocks wasn't representative of the typical visit
2) I didn't have a chance to visit a new restaurant last weekend. (Hey, it's not like I get paid for this!) :)

So, here's my most recent review.....

My wife and I met some friends at Red Rocks for dinner last weekend. Just an informal gathering to catch up, and eat some good food in the process.

Though we didn't have any reservations, we were quickly seated and given a quiet booth. Our waitress came by and took our drink orders, and we went back to chatting and glancing over the menu.

After we got our drinks we settled down to looking at the menu, and the waitress was attentive, but not pushing us to place our orders. What was I in the mood for? Steak? Naa. Sandwich or Burger? Not again. Seafood? NOPE! So, I decided to get a pasta dish. After we made our decisions, and placed our orders, we went back to talking.

A while after we placed our orders our food came, and I was handed a massive plate filled with Southwestern Chicken Ravioli. This ravioli didn't taste like any other I've ever had. It's filled with smoked chicken, black beans, jack cheese, and jalapeno. And it's topped with a creamy tomato sauce with a hint of cilantro.

Really, it's hard to describe the flavors that washed over my palate. I tasted the sweetness of the smoked chicken balanced with the spice of the jalapenos, and the texture of the black beans was in contrast to the creaminess of the melted jack cheese. All topped with the tomato sauce that was simply delicious.

I've never had a ravioli like this, and I really hope I don't -- I like to think that it's made fresh every day from scratch at Red Rocks. And if it isn't, I don't want to know. As far as I'm concerned, this should be their signature dish.

After I devoured my ravioli like a ravenous animal, I took a chance to sit back and relax with a decaf coffee and a slice of carrot cake.

Though the carrot cake was good, and I'll probably order it again, it doesn't compare to the carrot cake at Mickey and Mooch. Nonetheless, this is a great cake, moist and sweet, and with enough frosting to make me forget I'm eating a cake -- with shredded carrots! (REALLY -- Who thought of that??)

So, all in all, Red Rocks has redeemed itself in my eyes. They still have quality entrees -- though the price is a little more than I'd expect.

Score:
Atmosphere: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 12/15
Price: $$$ (Entree, coffee, dessert and tip put it at just over $20 per person)

Conclusion: I've been here several times, and this place has good food and a great atmosphere. I'll be going here again soon.

Restaurant Info:
Red Rocks Cafe
8712 Lindholm Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-892-9999
http://www.redrockscafe.com/

Red Rocks Cafe (Huntersville)

One of my favorite restaurants in the Birkdale area is Red Rocks Cafe. (Yes, I know I'm addicted to Birkdale -- I'm looking for a 12 Step program to address this issue.) Every time I've been there everything has been great; the food, the service, the atmosphere are always top notch. I've never been disappointed by Red Rocks -- until now.

I met some friends for lunch this week, and it was a perfect day to eat on the patio. The sun was out and a perfect gentle breeze made me think that this was going to be a great meal. The server came by and took our drink orders. He returned promptly with our beverages, and my sweet tea was quickly refilled every time I emptied it... which was often.

He came back to take our orders, and I was craving a big juicy burger. So, I ordered the usually succulent Kobe Beef burger. My mouth was salivating with anticipation.

The food arrived quickly considering there were five of us, and after applying ketchup and arranging the fresh lettuce and tomatoes, I took a huge bite. And I was completely disappointed. The burger was completely overcooked. It was dry, tough, and lacking any flavor. This was a well, well, well done burger. I asked for medium well -- which usually gets me a slightly pink middle. This was not the case. At least the fries were good.

Unfortunately, this Kobe Burger was a mere shadow of the burger I've had here previously. In all honesty, I would have been MUCH happier with a Five Guys burger, and the price would've been half as much. After this experience, I won't be paying over $10 for a burger for a while.

Score:
Atmosphere: 4/5
Food: 2/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 10/15
Price: $$ (most lunch-style entrees are over $10)

Conclusion: I still like Red Rocks, and this experience is not typical. Though they are a little more expensive than I believe they should be, but I've always had a great dining experience. In short, I'm not scared away and will be returning, especially for a late night dessert on the patio during the summer.

Restaurant Info:
Red Rocks Cafe
8712 Lindholm Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-892-9999
http://www.redrockscafe.com/