Secret menu items at your favorite Optimist Hall stall, including a cheese-stuffed burger
Charlotte foodies thrive on sniffing out the local secrets: A great speakeasy you’d never spot from the street, a dive that’s actually dishing up stellar bites, a restaurant that requires you stray off from the beaten path.
Nothing feels better than knowing a host who can always get you a table or figuring out the absolute best time to post up at a bar. Then there are secret menus, items that only insiders can recommend, never written out in any official capacity but known by the people who know.
“Secret menu” items have long been a phenomenon in fast food: There’s the iconic protein-style burger at In-N-Out or the beloved apple pie McFlurry. But the trend is hiding in plain sight at some of your favorite local spots, too. If you’re a regular to that taco shop or your corner cafe, signal your in-the-know standing by ordering in shorthand that only the kitchen understands.
We’ll let you in on a few here at one of the most reliable places in Charlotte for a great meal: Optimist Hall. With over 20 different food and beverage tenants — and just about every type of cuisine you could hope for — there couldn’t be a better place to exercise your ordering skills.
These are a few of the menu items that will earn you a knowing wink from behind the counter. Go forth confidently and branch out, eat something you haven’t had before — and feel free to let someone else in on the secret, too.
Bao and Broth
The OG Tofu Bun: Crispy Tofu is a great substitute for the menu’s 5-spice Pork Belly Bun. This is great for vegetarians or those who simply want less meat.
Spicy Chicken Ramen: While the Spicy Pork Ramen is a best-seller, insiders love to sometimes sub the chashu pork belly out for ginger chicken.
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Botiwalla
Spiked Spiced Chai: This is a delicious cocktail featuring some of the most standout Indian spices. Masala chai tea is mixed with hot milk, rum, fernet, and a dash of honey.
Harriet’s Hamburgers
Jucy Lucy: Harriet’s will serve up to 25 total per day of these cheese-stuffed hamburgers. Crafted with a blend of three cheeses, the smashed patty is served on a Parker House Bun and topped with two crinkle pickles but no sauce.
“The cheese acts as a molten center — careful, don’t bite too large or too fast off the grill,” says Joe Haubenhofer, Harriet’s founding partner. “Brian Stockholm [Papi Queso’s owner and Harriet’s co-owner] and I did a 36-hour, six-stop tour in Minneapolis to test the original, longest-standing makers of the Jucy Lucy.”
Papi Queso
“Secret menus can create a sense of exclusivity for customers, and many of the best secret menu items are inspired by long-time guests, team members, or a creative culinary team that has some extra time to experiment,” Brian Stockholm told CharlotteFive. “One such item is the Loaded Mac and Cheese Bowl with Buffalo Chicken, which is a result of contributions from all three sources.”
Truffle Fries: House fries tossed in Papi’s truffle aioli.
Spaghetti Bowl: Inspired by the Spaghetti Melt on the menu, you can turn the order into a cozy bowl of pasta with mozzarella, marinara and garlic butter.
Loaded Mac and Cheese Bowl with Buffalo Chicken: Skip the bread and combine the best flavors from the Pig Mac and Buffalo Chicken Sandwich into a bowl of mac and cheese with bits of Buffalo chicken.
Suarez Bakery and Barra
Tres Leches French Toast: This delicious spin on a classic French toast, using three types of milk, is only available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Be sure to make it part of your weekend brunch routine.
Undercurrent Coffee
Affogato: An affogato is an iconic Italian dessert. This one uses Undercurrent’s signature espresso combined with fresh, creamy gelato from nearby vendor Honeysuckle Gelato. The vanilla gelato is drenched in Undercurrent’s espresso for a rich, delicious sweet treat.
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Optimist Hall
Location: 1115 N. Brevard St., Charlotte, NC 28206
Instagram: @OptimistHallCLT
