Around the world in 80 minutes: Eating globally on Central Avenue
There exists a strip of road on Central Avenue where any local foodie can sample cuisines originating from just about anywhere on the planet.
A Plaza Midwood resident for two years, I decided it was time to set aside my fear of the unknown and pass on another order from Postmates.
So one day recently, I did a Central Avenue international restaurant tour. Eighty minutes, five stops and three belt notches later, I now have a quick run-down of everything these locations offer.
First Stop: Euro Grill and Café
Experience: This place, like other establishments on this part of Central Avenue, looks like an old house turned into a restaurant. It has a quaint atmosphere on the inside, which seats around 10 people.
Food: I got myself a cevapi, which is essentially smoked and seasoned sausages served with bread and sliced onion. This may sound bland, but the seasoning sets it apart.
Cost: Most dishes range from $8-11 and refreshment prices are pretty standard.
2719 Central Ave.
Second Stop: Three Amigos
Experience: I’ve admittedly already tried it before, but only only through delivery. I felt that eating food an hour after it’s been cooked wouldn’t do this place justice, so I decided it was time to get the real thing. Three Amigos is in a small strip mall and doesn’t exactly stand out from the the area surrounding it.
Food: Happy. Hour. Tacos. Every weekday from 2-5 p.m. is taco time at Three Amigos and for $1 each, the deal can’t be beat. The meat here is always tender and the vegetables taste like they come straight from the farm to my plate.
Cost: Three Amigos has more specials than it has margarita flavors, and it’s not hard to walk out without spending more than $12-15 for a meal and a beverage.
![HREE AMIGOS MEXICAN GRILL AND CANTINA, 2917 Central Ave. PHONE: 704-536-1851. [cq] HOURS: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10:30 a.m.- midnight Friday; 11 a.m.- midnight Saturday. PRICES: Tacos ($1.99) a¢,Ç(R),Äú seafood soup ($13.99). CREDIT: All with the exception of American Express. WEB: www.threeamigoscharlotte.com__When eating at Three Amigos Mexican Grill and Cantina, having two buddies at the table can come in handy as the portions are huge. Although, the shredded beef taco was just enough for one a¢,Ç(R),Äú which was fine with me because I didna¢,Ç(R),-¢t want to share it. And even though the enchiladas poblanas [cq] were sizeable, I didna¢,Ç(R),-¢t care to share those either. The mole sauce on the enchiladas is addictive. So in the end, maybe you just need those couple extra people to enhance what should be a pleasant dining experience.](http://www.charlottefive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/threeamigos-1024x763.jpg)
Three Amigos
2917 Central Avenue
[Related: Dinner for $20: Three Amigos Mexican Grill and Cantina]
Third Stop: Dim Sum
Experience: Dim Sum is appropriately named if for no other reason than the place is dimly lit. The atmosphere feels like something out of a “Twin Peaks” episode. With that being said, the staff was extremely polite.
Food: Obviously, if you go here, you’re going to want to try the Dim Sum. The idea of going straight from tacos to dumplings and ducks’ feet seemed like a bad idea, so I settled for some spring rolls and a stuffed green pepper dish. The flavors were great, and the service was quick.
Cost: Most of the Dim Sum dishes are $2.50-$3 and three or four will fill you up pretty well. But some of the main entrees seemed a bit stiff, as they regularly went over $12.
2920 Central Avenue
Fourth Stop: Pho Hoa
Experience: This strip mall looks straight out of the ’80s, complete with some neon lighting above the entrance. Inside, brightness remains a constant, as the menu and seating are vibrantly colored.
Food: Somehow, I found myself hungry again as soon as I walked into Pho Hoa. Most likely, that was due to the pho. At this establishment in particular, the combination of sweet and spicy, soft and crunchy was just right.
Cost: Standard pho prices apply; any visitor can plan on dishing out around $10 for a sizable amount of pho or a large entree dish.
What is pho? It’s a Vietnamese noodle soup with broth and meat. Get it at Pho Hoa Restaurant in Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/O8BIrkePwK
— Cottonwood Reserve (@CWReserve) January 27, 2016
3000 Central Ave. #1
Final Stop: House of Pizza
Experience: House of Pizza may not be authentic Italian/Mediterranean food, but any location with a giant ’70s style sign on the street proclaiming its own name is good Italian eating in my book.
Food: Alas, I am a man of the world, and the gyro is about as Greek as any dish I can think of on this menu. The gyro was good, and while I didn’t feel like I was vacationing in Athens, I at least enjoyed the nuance of the different flavors included.
Cost: House of Pizza is pretty standard. A gyro will run about $8-9 and subs are slightly cheaper. The pizzas are all as cheap as, if not cheaper than, comparable locations nearby such as Pure and Fuel.
3640 Central Ave.
At last my journey had ended. As I walked out of House of Pizza and strolled (waddled) back to my car, I felt a little more appreciation for all this little pocket of Charlotte had to offer.
Three Amigos photo: Robin Domeier/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 1:18 AM with the headline "Around the world in 80 minutes: Eating globally on Central Avenue."