Who has the best Lake Norman Pizza? Week 3 Results:

Week 3 has come to a close. Here are the results from this week's #LKNFoodiePizzaContest including Facebook and Twitter votes:

Brixx Pizza (Huntersville) :  FB: 3 + T: 3 = 6 votes vs.
Slice House Pizza: FB: 17 + T:7 = 24 votes (WINNER!)
And
Geppettos's Pizza (Denver, NC): FB: 2 + T: 1 = 3 votes vs.
Joey's Pizza: FB:19 + T: 5 = 24 votes (WINNER!)

Next week we'll see Mama's Pizza Express vs. Proscuitto's and Brooklyn South Pizzeria vs. DiMaggiosPizzeria

Voting begins on Monday!

Here's the updated bracket.

Who Makes the Best Pizza of Lake Norman?

From Troutman to Hunterville to Denver, we have a LOT of options for pizza. But, have you ever wondered which is the best? Well to try to answer that question, and to have a bit of fun, I've put together some brackets to help us answer that question. 

And here's the best part. YOU will decide the winner, via polls I'll set-up on Facebook:@lakenormanfoodie and Twitter: @lknfoodie. Voting will begin on my Facebook and Twitter pages on Monday March 2. Vote as often as you can. On Monday and Wednesday a head-to-head matchup will be listed. Totals and winners will be announced the following Friday.

Carolina Pie Company

When I told my friend that my family and I were moving from Huntersville to Mooresville, he said "There's this pie place you've gotta check out..."  I may have blacked-out at that point, because I don't remember anything else he said after that. A PIE PLACE?!?! Seriously?

As it turned out, that "Pie Place" is actually the Carolina Pie Company. And, as luck would have it, it's just a couple of minutes from my home -- which makes it a very dangerous location for my waist-line, indeed.

The Carolina Pie Company isn't easy to find. It's around a corner of a non-descript strip-mall. And it's toward the back, next to a side-exit of a salon. Aside from the green and white awning, it doesn't look like much from the outside. I mean, how can such a plain outside contain so much yummyness? But trust me, this place has amazing stuff.

Once you get inside, you can tell it's a legit bakery. There are trays, racks, stainless steel tables, and the sight & smell of  freshly baked pies. Often the pies are still cooling, so they haven't been boxed-up yet.

Click "Read More" for the full review:

Mooresville Beer Festival

Just got word of the upcoming Mooresville Beer Festival.  It's being held November 13, behind MJ's Bar and Grill at 279 Williamson Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117.  Sounds like a good time!  Here's the link

http://www.mjsbarandgrill.com/mooresville_beer_festival

Restaurant Review: TOTS

Last weekend I ran across an article by Joe Marusak describing the offerings at TOTS (Taste of the South).  Offering southern fast food fare, in a more casual setting, this "Healthy in a Hurry" restaurant piqued my curiosity.

Off of exit 33 and located in the old Showmars Building, it's really easy to get to.  So I drove up, parked, and walked in the door.

I've gotta hand it to them, this place is pretty sweet.  In particular, the flat-screens being used as menus really caught by eye.  Is there any way they can deliver those to my home??

After being mesmerized by the spectacular menus (I think I was drooling!), I decided on the Southern Fried Chicken Platter.  This consists of fried chicken tenders, waffle-cut fries and coleslaw.  Unfortunately, they're working out a few kinks at the checkout.  (the cashier ran out of change, and it took a while for the manager to run into the back and come out with the extra change.)  But aside from that, the staff were wonderful, my drink was refilled and my plate was cleared (though I could have done it myself).

The meal was massive and I didn't get a chance to finish it.  But lets look-over the food, shall we?  The chicken was fried REALLY crispy.  The batter was really good, and crunchy -- probably has a fair share of corn meal.  The chicken was quite good, though a little on the dry side.  The waffle cut fries were nice and crispy (not a soggy one in the batch!), and the coleslaw was quite good -- still crisp with a slight tang of vinegar.

After my plate was cleared, I got up to have a slice of their Chocolate Dipped Key Lime Pie.  As I approached the register I noticed the VERY long line that went out the door.  So, not wanting to wait in line for a small order, I walked back to my table to gather my things and leave.  Well, the owner must have noticed my sad face, because he came over and asked if he could help with anything.  I mentioned what I was going to get a slice of Key Lime pie, but wasn't going to worry about it.  He said, "Wait here for a minute."

A few seconds later he appears with a slice of the pie!  This dessert is actually Chocolate Dipped Key Lime Pie on a Stick!  (I LOOOVE food on a stick -- no plates to worry about!) This dessert was awesome.  The chocolate, the filling and the crust were fantastic, and are a MUST if you ever visit this restaurant.

Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Total: 12/15

Price: $
Kid Friendly: Yes

Conclusion:  TOTS is a notch or two (or three) above the standard fast-food chain.  The army of staff were always busy, and very helpful.  In addition, it was nice to actually meet the owner of a local fast-food(ish) restaurant.  Through him, I learned that all beef at the restaurant is Angus and the chicken is hormone free. In addition, the prices are very cheap.  This place is definitely worth a visit.

Restaurant Info:
TOTS
129 Gateway Blvd.
Mooresville, NC 28117
p) 980-613-0537

Restaurant Review: Mint (Mooresville)

It's been a while since I had the chance to review a new restaurant in the Lake Norman area.  Backed up by projects and travel, my taste buds have been screaming for something new.  So, I did what any other Foodie would do -- I traveled up the road to try a place that I've been wanting to visit.  This day I wanted to visit Mint Indian Cuisine.

Found in the large strip-mall that houses Best Buy in Mooresville, Mint is relatively easy to get to.  However, if you take 150, be ready for a long drive.  With all the lights and traffic, the short distance can feel like an eternity.

I walked into Mint and was immediately seated.  Since I was there for the lunch buffet, I gave my drink order to the host (who also was the bus-buy and waiter) and headed to the prominent buffet tables found in the back corner of this small restaurant.  To my surprise, the selection was larger than I was expecting.

I'm having a hard time remembering the extensive array of foods, but it included a chicken curry (Chicken Tikka?), rice, coconut rice, a spinach curry, tomato soup (I was a little surprised about that selection), onion salad, pickled vegetables, Naan (lots of it!) and many other selections.

I helped myself to many of the items listed above and took my seat where my soda was waiting.  But before I took a bite I decided to take a look at the place.  The restaurant is clean but it gives a clinical vibe.  Unlike many of the Indian restaurants I've before, there is very little clutter and the restaurant feels just, well, clinical.  I probably got this feeling from the bare walls.  But, aside from a few things near the cash register, there is nothing that distinguishes the interior of the restaurant. 

But enough with the atmosphere -- let's munch!

Since I'm not a big fan of vegetarian curries, I went straight for the chicken curry that I believe was Chicken Tikka.  The chicken was plentiful, moist and tender, while the curry sauce was nice and thick. But the flavor was a little lacking.

** WARNING -- RANT AHEAD ** Unfortunately, this lack of flavor is something that I've noticed in many of the ethnic restaurants of the area.  It's like the restaurants are trying hard to appeal to such a broad spectrum of people, they choose to make the food on the blander (is that a word?) side.  This is just a bad idea all the way around.  If you're new to the cuisine, you're not actually getting a chance to experience all the flavors.  And if you're experienced at eating this type of food, all you're left with is an empty feeling where the taste is supposed to be.  Come on restaurants of Lake Norman, don't tone down the food!  I'm an adult, I can handle the flavor -- I promise. Rant over.

Aside from the previous rant, the food was good.  Nothing was over-cooked.  Nothing was under-cooked.  There was plenty of food, a large selection of food, and the different sauces and desserts were the Indian standards and perfectly good.  In addition, I'm a huge fan of Naan, and I just couldn't stop eating the stuff.

Score:
Atmosphere: 2.5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Total: 8.5/15

Kid Friendly? Yes.  High Chairs are available, and the linoleum floor will take whatever your kids can throw at it.
Price: $

Conclusion: It's one of the few Indian restaurants we have in the area, and the lunch buffet has something for everybody.  If it's your first time trying Indian food, give it a shot.  But if you're experienced with Indian cuisine and not there for the buffet, make sure they know it. I'm sure they'll be able to kick the flavor up a notch.
Restaurant Info:
Mint Indian Cuisine
591-N River Highway
Mooresville, NC 28117
p) (704) 660-8899
e) mintindiancuisine@gmail.com
http://www.mintindiancuisine.com/mooresville

Another Wine Bar Opens!

Observer Columnist Joe Marusak had a nice blurb about Mooresville's newest wine bar, The Wine Dive. 

The owner, Thor Chitow, describes The Wine Dive as a "wine saloon," as it offers 40 wines by the glass -- but also has an extensive selection of beer on tap.

The Wine Dive already has some stiff competition in the Lake Norman Area.  At my last count (let me know if any of these have closed -- or if I'm missing any) other wine bars in the area include: Corkscrew, XO Tapas and Wine Bar, The Wine Cellar, The Wine Loft and 202 North Main Street.  It's sorta a crowded field, but I wish them luck -- as far as I'm concerned you can't have too much wine in ANY area! 

Here's the info:
The Wine Dive
807 Williamson Road, Suite 101
Mooresville, NC
http://www.ncwinedive.com/

Yet Another New Restaurant

In what seems like a recent flood of openings and announcements, Red Eye Grill and Lounge has recently opened in Mooresville.

From what I can tell, it looks like the owner of Indigo Joe's wanted more flexibility with his menu and seating, so he closed down Indigo Joe's, and has opened Red Eye Grill and Lounge in the same place.

He has added customer suggestions to the menu including tuna steak, chicken fried steak, a Red Eye Spicy Club sandwich, and some specialty pizzas.

Next door you'll still find Red Eye Martini Bar. Which has an airplane theme (the owner is an air traffic controller), and of course martinis.

Restaurant Info:
Red Eye Grill and Lounge
279 Williamson Road
p) 704-799-4690

NOTE: I can't find a website, but I found this $5 coupon with a $20 purchase from Valpak. Enjoy! http://www.valpak.com/coupons/syndicate?act=print&vpref=rmn&cpn=893981&addr=1329178

Thanks to the Charlotte Observer for information that led to this post.

Original NY Bagels Deli & Restaurant

A few weeks ago I posted an article that the Original NY Bagels Deli had opened a new location in Mooresville at the Town Square center at Brawley School Road and Williamson Road. That short posting got two hearty thumbs up. So, I decided to give it a try last week. Glad I did.

I walked in and took a look at their menu. It was sizable, and it took me a while to make a decision. Eventually I decided on the Appalachian. It's a turkey and bacon sandwich on a bagel. I chose a sesame bagel with mustard, lettuce, and tomato. I was told to choose a small side salad, so I went with a macaroni salad.

The sandwich took a while to prepare, over 5 minutes. However, my impatience was tempered once the I looked over the sandwich that was brought to my table.

The sesame bagel was stacked high with turkey, bacon, lettuce, and two thick slices of the best winter-time tomato I've ever seen. (Where did they get it???) The turkey was standard deli turkey, the bacon was cooked to a crisp, and the bagel was good. But for me it was the produce that put this sandwich above average -- just top-notch. By my rule of thumb: when the produce is good, it shows that the restaurant pays attention to details.

The macaroni salad was good, and the chips that came with the sandwich were just average chips. The atmosphere in the deli isn't anything special, just lots of tables packed into a tight place -- I wasn't looking for a quiet and romantic table when I was only meeting a buddy of mine. But the food and service were good. If you like a good NY style bagel, this is your place.

Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11/15

Price: $$ (Sandwich and soda just over $10 -- more than I was expecting.)
Kid Friendly: Yes

Conclusion: Good deli style food and friendly service are what you remember walking out of here. On a side note, I grabbed a salt bagel to take home. Delicious!

Restaurant Info:
Original NY Bagel Deli & Restaurant
Can't find address, but it's on the North East Corner of Williamson and Brawley School Roads
Mooresville, NC

NY Bagels Opens New Branch

According to an article by Joe Marusak of the Charlotte Observer, Original NY Bagels Deli & Restaurant has opened a third location. This one is in Mooresville, at the Town Square center at Brawley School Road and Williamson Road.

According to the article, the bagels are made fresh daily, and they also offer foods like omelets, sandwiches, and burgers.

I'll be heading there soon to give it a try. Lemme know if you've had a chance to visit any of their locations....

Cozumel Mexican Restaurant (Mooresville)

Yesterday as I drove to Cozumel with my friend he asked, "Where is this place?"

I jokingly answered "Eh, it's in the same place as TJ's Deli." As you may recall, TJ's Deli was the horrible restaurant that scored a 1/5 on food. And I knew Cozumel was in the same complex -- so I tried to scare my friend by saying it was in the same place. Here's the irony -- it IS in the same place.

TJ's Deli is no more, and Cozumel has taken its place.

The interior has changed slightly. It still has the same tables and chairs. While the booths now have small archways, and there is now a small bar. But the register is in almost the same place and the chair-rail and green paint are still there. Fortunately for Cozumel, green is on the Mexican Flag.

We walked in and were seated quickly. After we looked over the menu for a while, we made our decisions. However, it took several more minutes for our chips and salsa to arrive, and for our waitress to appear. Our waitress came over, and took our drink orders, and then disappeared before we could give her our food orders.

While we waited for her to return, we snacked on the chips and salsa. The salsa was very watery / runny, but at least the chips were OK. As we were half way through our chips, our waitress returned with our drinks, and took our food orders. I ordered the lunch special with a burrito and a chili relleno. While my friend ordered the taco and chalupa lunch special.

Now, if you'll recall, one of my measures of a good Mexican restaurant, is the chalupa. Often times the suckier restaurants will try to put one past its customers by passing off a tostada (round, crispy, flat, corn shell) as a chapula (round, fried flour dough). So, the test begins.....

Surprisingly, our food was brought out by the bar tender -- who spent most of his time hanging with the hostess, while the waitress busily ran from table to table without any assistance.

My food arrived, and I took a bite of the burrito. Which was pretty much an enchilada but with a salsa based sauce. Aside from the sauce, there was nothing to distinguish this from an enchilada. No lettuce, cheese, onions, or rice. Just ground beef. Fortunately the ground beef was seasoned well - it had some good cumin and oregano flavors. And though I wasn't happy about the enchilada-ness of the burrito, it was good.

Next came the chili relleno. It was remarkably small. However, it was covered in cheese and filled with ground beef. This was new to me. Every time I've had a chili relleno its been filled with cheese only, so the beef was a nice surprise. Unfortunately the cheese sauce wasn't really cheese. From the way it sorta congealed on my tongue, it seemed much more like a cheese-like food (i.e. Velveeta) than cheddar. Needless to say, I'm not a fan of their cheese sauce.

And as for the chalupa test -- they failed. It was indeed a tostada. Why do restaurants insist on making claims on their menu, that they just can't back up in their kitchen?? Ugh, I can't figure out if they're assuming that their customers are ignorant, or are they just hoping the customers don't care. But either way, the restaurant is undermining their customer base.

Also it should be noted that the staff seemed to be having some issues. It took a long time for our chips and salsa to appear and they were never refilled. In addition, our waitress was rather curt and abrupt, and the few smiles seen were tight and quick. That said, she was working the tables mostly by herself with limited assistance from the bartender and hostess who were busy entertaining themselves in a corner by the bar. That would make me cranky too.

All in all, the food was cheap and below average. As were the service and atmosphere. But the restaurant is still new, hopefully they're just working the bugs out.

Score:
Atmosphere: 2.5/5 (clean, but most other restaurants in the area have done a better job)
Food: 2/5
Service: 2/5
Total: 6.5/15

Price: $ (lunch was about $7 including tip)
Kid Friendly: Yes

Conclusion: The score is lower than I thought it would be. The restaurant wasn't bad, I just found it to be below average in all categories. The fake chalupa and cheese brought down the food score.

Restaurant Info:
Cozumel Mexican Restaurant
120 Market Pl Dr
Mooresville, NC
(704) 696-2581‎

Poppas Hot Dogs (Mooresville)

Some of you may remember a recent post that included an article about Poppa's Hot Dogs. What I found strange about that post were the two extremely negative comments, left by readers, who really didn't like Poppas.

So, this made me want to go even more! I mean, would this place make it into my hall of shame??

Short answer: No.

Long answer: I actually enjoyed my meal there......

I walked in, and was greeted by a no-frills hot dog joint. Straight ahead, across a few tables there is the counter and behind it, a small kitchen. The walls are adorned with NASCAR memorabilia -- fenders, autographs, sheet metal from cars, and photos are in plan view. This makes sense, after all, this place is home to the local cable show "The Race Review" -- be sure to visit early to get onto the audience list.

I walked down the line to the left, to place my order. On my way to the register, I walked past a wall mounted menu. In addition to many other types of hot dogs, they also have Chicago, New Jersey, and Carolina style dogs. But I already knew what I wanted -- a chili dog. So I placed my order for two chili dogs (I interpreted the menu to read that the 2 chili dogs were part of one order. It read "Best of two great dogs..." I was wrong and would up paying for two separate chili dogs, this increased the price, but really, they were still cheap).

The dogs were prepared quickly, and in about 3 minutes my order was called. I picked them up and this is what I saw. Two dogs, in steamed buns, covered with chili and nacho cheese. This isn't a specific type of chili, just kinda s general chili. Bot dogs were covered in the perfect amount of chili and cheese. Enough to fill you up, but not enough to make a mess. In fact it was so perfect, I never used the fork and knife!

I gotta admit, these were the best chili dogs that I've had in the greater Charlotte area. I've tried chili dogs in Charlotte, Huntersville, and Davidson, and none of them compare to the chili dogs at Poppas. The buns were soft, but not too mushy. The chili was spicy and meaty. It was great, but didn't overwhelm the flavor of the dog. In addition, the nacho cheese was actually good (and I usually hate nacho cheese)!

All in all, a mouthwatering meal, that left my tummy full, and me letting out a notch on my belt!

Score:
Atmosphere: 2/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5 (service was quick, but I'm taking one point for the misleading menu)
Total: 9/15

Price: $
Kid Friendly: Yes

Conclusion: A REALLY good chili dog, for a really good price. This place is no frills, and the napkins are paper towels. But the food delivery speed, flavor, and value are very good.

Restaurant Info:
Poppa's Hot Dogs
510 River Hwy # 13
Mooresville, NC
p) 704-664-7677
http://www.gtkdata.com/

Jeffrey's Restaurant (Mooresville)

A few weeks ago an acquaintance of mine asked about this blog. After some blog-ish conversation he asked, "Have you been to Jeffrey's? You've gotta go!" He was adamant that I visit Jeffrey's as soon as possible.

I was taken slightly aback by his enthusiasm. I'd never heard of this restaurant, but my friend was talking about it with the fervor that one usually reserves for 131 Main, Dressler's, or Eez. I had forgotten that conversation until I got an e-mail from Erica yesterday. It asked "What about Jeffreys Restaurant off of exit 33 in Mooresville. near McDonalds, across from Dairy Queen and Shell gas station?"

Did you catch that? To make sure I got the right restaurant Erica mentioned FOUR landmarks! Not just the exit, not just one store, but a total of four places! Heck, my GPS usually isn't THAT accurate!

So, I realized that I had to quickly find-out what this hubbub was about.

I'm glad I did.

Jeffrey's is a very nice stand-alone building, off of exit 33. Near the McDonalds, and across hwy 21 from the Dairy Queen and Shell Gas Station. :) It's exterior is adorned with brown-ish bricks, and the interior is filled with warm colors and dark brown woods. The second I walked in the door, I found myself relaxing.

Because it was such a nice day outside, we asked for an outdoor table. The patio was empty, and we were quickly seated. The patio is large, and I imagine it is packed during the evenings. Along with a small water feature, there is a large outdoor fireplace that is a focal-point for the patio. Though there was a little noise from the roadway, it wasn't too bad.

Once we took our seats, we looked over the menu. Honestly, everything sounded good. From sandwiches, to salads, to the specials, nothing was over $10! EXCELLENT!

I decided upon the "Country Style Steak," and for my two sides I chose the macaroni and cheese and fries. Once we placed our orders, my friend and I chatted over our drinks (I chose sweet tea), and some potato rolls that our waitress brought for us.

The potato rolls were surprisingly sweet, and tasted somewhat like Portuguese sweetbread. (No, not sweet breads!) After a while our meals were brought out. As you can see, the steak is indeed country fried, but there's more to it. It's placed in a thick gravy-like sauce that tasted like no gravy my Mom ever made. It was delicious and accented with onions. The macaroni and cheese was actual macaroni and cheese -- not that stuff from a box. But they actually used real cheese for the sauce.

And to top it off, I enjoyed the thick cut fries. Seasoned with large salt crystals, these fries still had their skins, and were crisp on the outside, and tender inside. Here's the thing -- I NEVER enjoy thick-cut potatoes. If I do enjoy them, they are exceptional -- and these were. Also, I can't forget to mention the biscuit -- fantastic!!

According to their website, Jeffrey's Restaurant offers "New American Cuisine concentrating on fresh regional ingredients from around our country with particular attention to the 'soul warming' south." I think this sentiment really describes Jeffrey's very well.

Score:
Atmosphere: 4.5
Food: 4.5
Service: 4.5
Total: 13.5

Price: $$ (Special, drink, and tip put it at $14)
Kid Friendly: Yes, but this restaurant has a upscale casual feel. Probably not the best place if your kid is a screamer.

Conclusion: The best restaurant that I'd never heard of. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Their lunch is definitely a great deal! Highly Recommended.

Restaurant Info:
Jeffrey's Restaurant
117 Trade Court
Mooresville, NC 28117
p) 704-799-1110
http://www.jeffreyslkn.com/

Mexican Restaurant Coming to Mooresville

According to Joe Marusak, of the Charlotte Observer, the Cozumel Mexican Restaurant in Statesville, is getting ready to open another Cozumel Mexican Restaurant -- this time in Mooresville. Apparently, it will be in the Morrison Plantation area, and is replacing Rusty's Deli.

Once you see that it's open, please let me know! I don't make it up to Mooresville as much as I should.

Big League Hot Dog Company (Mooresville)

I have several addictions in life. Most All of them legal -- depending upon the State. (Nevada, I'm looking at you!) Two of these addictions are baseball and hot dogs. So, when I learned of the Big League Hot Dog Company in Mooresville (just off of exit 33), I was destined to review it.

Just like the force that drove all those people to the baseball field in Field of Dreams (The only movie that makes me cry -- every time!!), I was drawn to the Big League Hot Dog Company. The movie features a line that says "If you build it, they will come." Much like that line... they built the restaurant -- so I'll come for a hot dot!

As you might have guessed this restaurant is done up in a baseball motif. But it's done REALLY well. They have lots of photos of the Mooresville Moors, which played ball from 1937 - 1953. There are TV's showing live baseball games. There are photos of the Red Sox (At least it's not the Yankees!), baseball cards, and other assorted memorabilia. This place is a baseball fan's dream come true!

After I looked around, I stood on home plate, and placed my order. I went for their Big League Dog, fried (not steamed), with yellow mustard, neon relish, onions, and an order of their Buffalo Fries. My friend and I got our drinks and sat down in the dugout.

This place was packed. There were only a couple of empty tables, even the stools at the counter were full -- the seats at the counter were almost filled too!! :) (my apologies to those sitting at the counter!)

The food arrived after a brief wait. How the server knew the order was for us, is beyond me. But she brought it to our table, and we ate. The toppings for the dog were top notch, and the chopped white onion was fresh. The bun was steamed, but not too soft, so it didn't fall apart. The toppings were applied so that there was no need for a fork. The Buffalo fries consisted of crispy fries with Buffalo sauce poured over them. It was really good -- why didn't I ever think of that??

I took my first bite of my fried hotdog. The bun and toppings all worked together, but for some reason, I found the dog to be lacking flavor -- I really didn't taste much. It wasn't bad -- but I just really didn't taste too much. I'm guessing the dog was a traditional pork and beef mixture (which I find has less flavor than the all beef), and that the frying, while giving it a crispy skin, took some of the flavor away. Next time I'll get the hotdog steamed to see if there's any difference in flavor.

The Buffalo Fries were awesome. Spicy sauce, fried potatoes, blue cheese dressing.... seriously, why didn't I ever think of this?? I enjoyed the basket. Please note that two people would have a hard time with one basket. I didn't come close to finishing it. It was HUGE!

I really enjoyed my experience at Big League Hot Dog Company. They built it, and I'll come back again, and again.

Score:
Atmosphere: 5/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 12/15

Price: $ (less than $10 for the dog, fries, and fountain drink)
Kid Friendly: Yes. Kids menu items, and a concrete floor in case your child likes to throw food.

Conclusion: The atmosphere is waaay better than any other fast-food restaurant hence the 5/5 score. If you have a baseball lover in your family, they need to eat here. Though I found my hotdog to be lacking in flavor, I got the impression that may just be my faulty taste-buds. They place was packed for a reason -- people loved the food here. I'll be back to try it again. Next time I'll try the foot-long hotdog!

Restaurant Info:
The Big League Hot Dog Company
235 Medical Park Rd.
Suite 102
Mooresville, NC 28117
p) 704-799-6660
http://www.bigleaguehotdog.com/

Hospice Benefit at Pomodoro's

This weekend the Charlotte Observer reported that Pomodoro's in Mooresville is hosting a four-course dinner, with wine pairings, for $40. The event will be taking place July 30, from 7 pm - 9 pm.

According to the Observer: "The event will feature a four-course dinner including chilled grouper, pecan-crusted fried local goat cheese, petite beef filet and a cheese, fruit and nut plate. Each selection will be paired with a wine presented by Daveste' Vineyards of Troutman."

For reservations, call 704-873-4719, extension 4323.

Click here to get the Observer's original article by Joe Marusak.

What-A-Burger (Mooresville)

If you've driven into, or out of, Mooresville along 115, you've seen the What-A-Burger drive-in. After I returned, I started Googling What-A-Burger to see what I could learn.

From about 30 minutes of Googling, I have learned that this What-A-Burger is one of the few remaining restaurants from the original What-A-Burger drive-in chain that began in Virginia during the 1940's.

There is another Whataburger chain of restaurants that began in Texas in 1950. It had become very successful, and stretches from Arizona to Georgia. But don't confuse the two... apparently some people are VERY adamant about which one is better.

This Mooresville What-A-Burger is designated as #11 by it's sign. So, at one point there were at least 11 of them. It's a drive-in that is stuck in time, they still have speakers to order your food, and the food is still delivered to your car.

But the years haven't been kind. I'm sure at one point it was a sparkling beacon in Mooresville, with it's huge and bright sign. Now it's more of a dive, desperately in need of a coat of paint.

My buddy and I pulled in for some lunch last week, and I think it's best to say that it was a mixed experience.

We enjoyed the novelty of visiting a real and original drive-in. And apparently others enjoyed it too -- the standard parking lot was as packed as the drive-in slots. After I looked over the menu, I made my decision -- a what-a-cheeseburger, with fries and a large coke.

After a few minutes, the speaker next to the menu crackled to life, and asked me what I wanted to order. I pushed the black button as I spoke, hoping that this would allow the speaker to hear me better. It did. The speaker spoke back to me and confirmed my order. For a beat-up speaker from the 1940s, it's pretty smart! :)

We waited about seven minutes for our orders to be brought to us. Surprisingly, the food was handed to us. There was no tray to be left on our window. This lead us to place the food on the dash, drinks in the cup holders, and the four small paper ketchup cups next to the gear shift. This will be important for later in this post.

I opened the paper wrapper that was toothpicked to the burger. As it turns out, the toothpick also keeps a pickle to the top of the burger. The What-A-Burger is advertised as being bigger than the standard burger at this restaurant. It has a 5 inch (diameter) bun, and has a 1/4lb patty. My burger had lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, and mayo.

As you can see from the photo, it was really squished and the bun was pressed so that it was really thin. As I was in to my second or third bite, I hear my friend yell "OW!" As it turns out, he kinda forgot about the toothpick.... and while taking a bite, got the toothpick STUCK UP HIS NOSE!!!

Yea, I found it hilarious too! I was trying not to laugh. But really, a toothpick up the nose? Isn't that supposed to be a nose-pick?? (I'm hilarious!)

As I was laughing, I took a bite and proceeded to chomp down on -- the toothpick in my burger. Though it was nowhere near my nose, it wasn't in straight, and apparently was pointing forward. Yup, that's what I get for laughing at the misfortune of others! Karma = 1; Foodie = 0.

I yanked the toothpick, and got back to eating. Unfortunately, the burger was only OK. I was really hoping for a delicious, juicy, and mouthwatering burger. Something equivalent to Five Guys or In-N-Out. This hope left me disappointed. The patty was just a standard fried burger patty. The produce was actually good. But the OK burger combined with a soggy and thin bun, just didn't do anything for me.

As I was thinking this, the paper wrapper gave way, unleashing a flood of mayonnaise, grease, and tomato-juice onto my lap. The paper wrapper is just that -- paper. So the entire time I was eating, it was getting soggy. Eventually it couldn't hold the liquid back, and my shorts (which I had just pulled from the dryer), were now soggy. UGH. Karma = 2; Foodie = 0. (ok, ok, I'm SORRY for laughing about the toothpick!)

I now made my way to the crinkle-cut fries. Really, these fries sucked. They were lacking flavor, weren't crispy, and overall a disappointment. To give you an idea of how much I disliked these fries -- I stopped eating them after only having three. They simply weren't worth the calories. That said, my friend's onion rings were really good and had a decent coating of batter. They seemed mass-produced and not home-made. But they were good nonetheless.

After we finished our meal, we threw away the trash, headed home. The drive was fine until I turned into my friend's neighborhood. As I made the turn I saw something out of the lower right corner of my eye fly though the air from the gear shift. Remember those ketchup cups I mentioned earlier?? Well, they were back! On the carpet of my car... UGH. Karma = 3; Foodie = 0.

I learned three things on this trip:
1) Not to expect great things from What-A-Burger's food.
2) Despite the grease stains on the dash, it's still fun to eat at a drive-in.
3) Never laugh when a friend gets a toothpick up the nose -- it could make your life messy!

Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5 (It's a dive, but it's still a drive-in)
Food: 2/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 8/15

Price: $ (Well under $10)
Kid Friendly: Yes, because they'll be in your car. No, because your children will be making a HUGE mess in your car!

Conclusion: The food is lackluster. But I recommend eating here if you haven't. Why?? Because, it's a freakin' original drive-in!! It's a piece of history, and these places don't really exist any more (with a few exceptions). So pack your car with friends, good music, and go check this place out. It'll be worth it -- at least the first time

Restaurant Info:
What-A-Burger
210 S Main St
Mooresville, NC, 28115
(704) 664-5455

La Patisserie (Mooresville)

When I first heard about La Patisserie, a friend of mine described it as a "Mexican Bakery." Once I got there and had a look around, I think that "Mexican Bakery" defines it a little too narrowly.

La Patisserie definitely has a Latino influence -- their empanadas look and smell amazing. However, they are more of a traditional bakery than I was expecting. They offer hand made pastries (croissants, turnovers, scones, etc.), desserts (cookies, tiramisu, cakes, etc.), and they make sandwiches too!

La Patisserie is located in a non-descript strip mall in Mooresville, located between the downtown area and Prickly Pear. If I wasn't looking for it -- I don't think that I would have seen it. The mall has a worn-down feel to it. Fortunately, once you enter La Patisserie, you leave that all behind.

When you enter this bakery / cafe, you're greeted by several display cases that show-off the pastries, deserts, cakes and crepes. This place just looks yummy. From photos on the walls, to the food in the display case, I think I gained 5 pounds by just walking-in!

I took a look over the menu, and though I REALLY wanted an empanada, I've missed having a decent Cuban sandwich too. So, I ordered the sandwich hoping I wouldn't be disappointed.

The sandwich arrived, and I took a bite. It was decent. It had "seasoned roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles with mustard served on fresh Cuban bread." The sandwich wasn't too dry or too wet. The pickles and mustard added a decent tangy-ness to the sandwich, the bread was good, and the meat was savory too. That said, I've had a much better Cuban sandwich before. This was good, but it didn't knock my socks off. In addition, I found the accompanying pasta salad to be lacking flavor. All-in-all, I found my lunchtime meal to be about average -- a score of 3/5.

But before I left, I grabbed some chocolate croissants and some cinnamon sticks to take home. The sticks would be dessert, and the croissants would be breakfast.

Now this was a good move!

The cinnamon sticks were HUGE. Over a foot long! They were crispy, flaky, buttery, and cinnamon-y. In addition, the glaze over the top was delicious, and after the dessert, I was licking my fingers trying to get every last crumb. Then this morning, I had the chocolate croissant with my morning coffee. It was light and buttery, with a very good chocolate filling. Not too dark, not too sweet. Overall, these are some very good pastries! This gets a 4/5.

Cuban sandwiches are a hard sandwich to master, so I'll be back again to try the empanadas. I'm going to average the food scores together for a 3.5/5.

Score:
Atmosphere:3/5
Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 9.5/15

Price: $ (lunch was just under $10, and the separate pastry purchase was just under $10, too)
Kid Friendly: Yes, they offer a kids menu. And the tile floors are made for abuse.

Conclusion: Though I found my lunchtime sandwich to be average, I found the pastries to be quite good. If I lived closer to Mooresville, I'd be here every morning for a cup of coffee and a pastry. I'll definitely be back to try the empanadas!

Restaruant Info:
La Patisserie
627 N. Main Street
Mooresville, NC 28115
p) 704-799-1631
f) 704-799-3355
http://www.mooresvillebakery.com/

Pueblo Grande (Mooresville)

Yesterday I decided to drive up to Mooresville to try something new. As we were driving up Hwy 115, I spotted a mexican restaurant, and made the first left turn possible. Unfortunately, because I was in downtown Mooresville and the restaurant was on the other side of the railroad tracks, I had to navigate through three stoplights within 50 feet of each other. But after some white-knuckle driving, I was in the parking lot, and ready for some mexican food!

My friend and I entered, and seated ourselves. We were quickly brought some salsa, chips, and a menu. I started munching on the salsa and chips. But I decided against munching on the menu, and opened it to the Lunch Specials section instead. :)

There were several options, and I picked lucky number 13. Which according to the menu consisted of an "Enchilada, taco and chalupa." Keep in mind the chalupa part, it'll come up again later. Remember... chalupa.

As we waited for our order, I enjoyed my Diet Coke and the salsa and chips. The salsa and chips were very good. The chips were light and crunchy. I think they had more flour than typical corn chips -- which is a good thing. And the salsa was a nice and thick sauce. Not too chunky, and not too liquidy. The more I think about it, I REALLY liked their salsa and chips. But this man cannot live on salsa and chips alone. I need enchiladas too!

The plate arrived, and it was loaded. I started on the enchilada first and all I can say is YUM! Ok, I can say more... it was ground beef rolled inside a corn tortilla covered with red enchilada sauce and melted cheese. I plowed through the enchilada, it was delicious. The meat was flavorful and moist, and the enchilada sauce added a nice spicy zest.

Next came the crispy taco. It was a standard crispy taco shell packed with the same ground beef that was in the enchilada. It was topped with lettuce and cheese. It was ok, but was lacking some flavor, so I put some extra salsa on it. This bought it up a notch, and I was happy with it.

Then came the tostada. It was good. A flat and round crispy corn shell (just a flat and round version of the taco shell), topped with refried beans, lettuce and cheese. It was nothing special, so I loaded lots of salsa on it, and then it was good.

We waited a long time for the check, and then waited some more for the change. Between when we were done with eating, to when we finally got our change was probably about 20 minutes. Waay too long in my opinion. That's a LOONG time for two guys to sit around and talk. Really, after some talk about sports, weather, and the economy, we were out of topics! I mean what else are we supposed to talk about -- our feelings?? *shudders*

It was when I got to the car I realized (with the help of my friend), that I ate a tostada. But I ordered a chalupa! This is one of my pet peeves, and it has happened to me in this area before.

The restaurant probably had the tostadas already made, and was hoping that I wouldn't notice the difference. Tostadas and chalupas are made of almost the same things. The major difference being that chapulas are made with a fried dough, not a taco shell. Those flat taco shells are for tosadas.

Small thing, I know. But really, why put both things on the menu when you're only going to serve one of them??

Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5 (Enchilada, salsa, and chips good. Wrong menu item, not so good)
Service: 3/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $ (everything including tip was $10. For dinner expect to pay $3 to $5 more)
Kid Friendly: Yes. There is even a very cheap kids menu.

Conclusion:
This place has potential, but the wrong menu item and slow service hurt it. The enchilada, chips, and salsa were good. So, I'll go back to try dinner and see what happens.

Restaurant Info:
Pueblo Grande
241 South Broad St.
Mooresville, NC 28115
p) 704-799-8499
http://pueblomexicangrill.com/

Zaxby's (Mooresville)

I was first introduced to Zaxby's when I was dating my wife. During a trip to SC, my wife pulled us into the parking lot, and said, "You've gotta try this." We went in, and she ordered an Italian Chicken Sandwich. It consisted of Zaxby's chicken fingers, with tomato sauce and melted cheese, thrown between two buttery slices of Texas toast. It was amazing, and I was hooked.

Unfortunately, Zaxby's no longer has the Italian Chicken Sandwich (BOOOOOOO!). But they do have a great buffalo chicken salad (YAAAAY!). It's called The Blue.

When I walked into the Zaxby's in Mooresville, I entered a fast food restaurant that looks much more like a TGI Friday's than a KFC. The walls were covered with NASCAR memorabilia and old-ish looking signs and objects. The restaurant appears clean, and the floor is (purposely) stained concrete. I approached the counter and placed my order.

The Blue is a salad consisting of "mixed greens, red cabbage, carrots, roma tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, fried onions, and Buffalo Fingerz or blackened chicken with Texas toast." I chose the Buffalo Fingerz, and was quite happy with my selection. The salad was fresh with crisp lettuce and ripe tomatoes. And the fried buffalo chicken was warm and delicious with a tangy yet spicy kick.

I have to admit, I have a real weakness for buffalo chicken salads. If I see one on a menu, there's a high chance that's what I'll be ordering. And this salad really didn't disappoint. I wish that there had been a little more chicken. But there was plenty available, and in all honesty, the last thing I need right now is more fried chicken.

I've got a soft spot for Zaxby's, created by the Italian Chicken Sandwich. But their buffalo chicken fingers will keep me coming back, whether they're in a sandwich or a salad.

Restaurant Info:
Atmosphere: 4/5 (much better than a standard fast-food restaurant)
Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 11/15
Price: $ (soda and salad were less than $10)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They offer a few days where kids eat at a discounted rate. Call them at the number below to learn the details.

Conclusion: If you're looking for chicken fingers, this is the place to go. Good atmosphere, and very good food.

Restaurant Info:
Zaxby's
138 Williamson Rd.
Mooresville, NC 28117
p) 704-799-8704
http://www.zaxbys.com/