Good eats: 3 reasons to check out Evoke in uptown
Remember The Blake Hotel? After its $20 million makeover, the Blake was bought and that piece of uptown is now home to The Sheraton and the Le Méridien Charlotte. Inside the Le Méridien is the brand new steakhouse, Evoke.
I got to check it out. 3 things I loved:
#1: The vibe is so unique
Not sure who designed the lobby/restaurant, but it is amazing. The perfect mix of modern and retro makes me want to stalk their designer and have them redo my house.
Not only does the decor stand out, so does the staff. The Le Méridien brand was originally created by Air France and has kept its European flair as it has become a Starwood Property.
I digress. The point is that the hotel, and Evoke, have such a diverse international staff you feel like you’re somewhere other than Charlotte. My waiter’s name was Ivan, he was from the Ukraine and in Charlotte for a 1-year international hospitality internship.
#2: The food
The food is so thoughtful, with a mix of funky and traditional. The chef is all about marrying sweet and savory, with dishes ranging from small plates to entrees (think the menu structures at Roosters and Ruth’s Chris). All pasta is made in house. And staff does a great job pairing your meal with a bottle of wine from their killer collection.
Wallet alert: It does swing more toward fine dining so don’t get sticker shock.
Here are a few dishes to make you hungry:
Frisee Salad ($11)
Creamed spinach side ($9) – my favorite!
Sweet Potato Ravioli with bourbon butter ($16)
16 oz NY Strip, cooked to perfection! ($48)
Lastly, with their entrees, they bring out an array of salts to help enhance the flavor experience (I loved the pink salt combined with the steak). THIS was unlike anything I had ever seen:
#3 One of the best views of the Charlotte skyline.
With a spot at Stonewall and South McDowell, this is an uptown view unlike any other. Soon, the hotel will have a rooftop bar for private events where you can sip and nosh away while taking in our beautiful city.
This story was originally published April 22, 2015 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Good eats: 3 reasons to check out Evoke in uptown."