These Charlotte bars and restaurants have got the COVID groceries you’re looking for
Groceries can be hard to come by these days, with empty store shelves, restrictions on hours and how many people can shop at a time plus online grocery services struggling to keep up. Add on the statewide stay-at-home order in North Carolina meant to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and officials urging us not to leave the house for anything but essentials, and we’re all finding it’s best to combine trips whenever you can.
Never fear — bars, restaurants and neighborhood hangout spots in Charlotte are quickly transforming themselves to come to the rescue. Curbside pickup and contactless delivery of grocery staples plus a hot meal are available in many cases to ease your day.
Here are 14 places to grab a few groceries that you may not have been thinking about:
(1) Cuplux
3115 Freedom Drive
This drive-through coffee joint has added a Cuplux Essentials menu including eggs, milk, bread and toilet paper to its lineup.
(2) Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
6801 Northlake Mall Drive, 3920 Sharon Road and 7716 Rea Road
Firebirds is offering uncooked ribeyes, sirloin steaks and filet mignon in its Butcher Shoppe, complete with its Firebirds special blend steak seasoning. Burger patties also come along with brioche buns. Order online by location for pickup or delivery via DoorDash.
(3) The Hobbyist
2100 N. Davidson St.
This beverage-focused spot has added on to its menu of coffee drinks, wine and beer to add market offerings including bread, eggs, milk, cheese and deli meats. Drafts are available in Crowlers, along with a variety of wine and canned beer, coffee and tea. Call 704-526-0073 to order for counter or curbside pickup or delivery. Drinks are available on the Cloosiv app, and you can also shop online for beer or wine selections.
(4) Local Loaf
800 E. 35th St.
This NoDa bakery that’s normally a staple for breads, baked goods and sandwiches has added on locally pickled products, deli meats and cheeses, milk, eggs and butter. Plus, there’s snacks. Shop online for curbside pickup.
(5) McCormick and Schmick’s
4335 Barclay Downs Drive and 200 S. Tryon St.
In addition to a new to-go menu featuring 10% off orders, McCormick and Schmick’s has made grocery items available for curbside pickup. Customers can stock up on high-end seafood and steaks, along with everyday items such as eggs, butter, sugar and produce. Toilet paper is available, and so is hand sanitizer. Call the store for Chef’s Market menu items and pricing: 704-442-5522 for Barclay Downs Drive or (704) 377-0201 for South Tryon Street.
(6) NoDa Company Store
3221 Yadkin Ave.
The NoDa Company Store + Grocery has evolved from neighborhood hangout to selling fresh vegetables, fruits, pastas, rice, spices, butters — and growlers. Think: Like a small, neighborhood New York City grocer with a selection of provisions. Avid cooks themselves, owners Scott Lindsley and Joey Hewell will help you if you are clueless in the kitchen. They offer up recipes and cooking tips, tell you what to buy and all ingredients will be available at the market. They’re also teaching cooking lessons via Facebook live. Shop online for curbside pickup or delivery.
(7) The Palm
6705-B Phillips Place Court
The Palm Market now offers a variety of meats, dairy, dry goods and prepared desserts. You’ll also find steak kits to grill at home that include asparagus and au gratin potatoes, along with Old Fashioned Kits and 50% off wine.
(8) Panera Bread
Multiple locations
Stock up here on produce, dairy and bread while you put in your lunch order for a Strawberry Poppyseed Salad or Roasted Turkey and Avocado BLT. Order online for pickup or contactless delivery — but check to make sure your location is included.
(9) Paper Plane Deli & Market
933 Louise Ave., Unit 301
Paper Plane Deli & Market has a full lineup of deli sandwiches, bar snacks and coffee along with grocery items. It’s also going a step further and giving out free toilet paper to anyone who needs it — as long as its supply lasts.
(10) Roosters Wood Fired Kitchen
6601 Morrison Blvd.
Online ordering is available for hot family meals, pizza and pasta, along with Joyce Farms ground beef and chicken, Goat Head steak and 50% off wine. You can even get a Market Staples Box for $50, filled with local vegetables, eggs, strawberries, cheese, Copain Bread and toilet paper.
(11) Sante
165 N. Trade St., Matthews
Along with regular menu items, Sante offers online ordering for fresh market items such as Tega Hills lettuce, Springer Mountain chicken and various cheeses, along with sanitizer, bleach and toilet paper. Beer, wine and coffee is available to pick up, as well.
(12) Showmars
Multiple locations
Showmars has added grocery staples to its lineup of Greek pitas, burgers and fried fish platters. You’ll find online shopping for meat, dairy, dry goods and both fresh and frozen produce to its lineup — and it offers toilet paper and disinfectant, too. There’s a $65 minimum for delivery, and free items are offered every Monday.
(13) Smelly Cat
514 E. 36th St.
While you’re dashing out for a latte, you can add coffee beans, a flat of 30 eggs from Two Moons Family Farms or a gallon of Homeland Creamery milk to your order, or you can request them via the Cloosiv app for curbside pickup.
(14) The Stanley
1961 E. 7th St.
The Stanley’s takeout menu and hours are changing weekly, with offerings such as NC shrimp risotto and the Stanley Burger. But you can also order uncooked meats for next day pickup Tuesday through Thursday. Selections include filet mignon, NY strip and ribeye, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, farm raised salmon filet and NC shrimp. Call 980-299-2741 or email info@thestanleyclt.com.
(15) Tip Top
2902 The Plaza
You’ll find a variety of offerings from local vendors, including fresh pasta from Pasta & Provisions, Pepperbox Doughnuts, vegan grab-and-go meals from Nourish, farm-fresh produce, beer, kombucha and snacks. Staff will also help you find any grocery items you may be missing through their contacts at Freshlist, an aggregator working with regional farms. Email info@tiptop.market for ordering information.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published April 10, 2020.
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 12:26 PM.