I tried the food at Charlotte’s newest ‘law firm.’ Here’s what I got for $25

If you’ve driven by the restaurant Bedder Bedder & Moore in LoSo, you’ve probably mistaken it for a law firm (or perhaps a mattress store).

It turns out, that was what the original owners of the restaurant intended.

“They wanted to make it sound like a law firm,” owner Lisa Drayton told CharlotteFive, though she didn’t reveal the reason behind the decision. “It’s like a play on words.”

“Bedder” sounds like “better,” she continued, and “Moore,” was presumably the surname of the previous owner or a play on the word “more.” Not quite the clever wit exuded by William Shakespeare or Oscar Wilde, but it gets the point across: The food is good.

“Moore” is also my last name, so I was basically destined to try this restaurant.

My first impression? This place definitely gave me old-school diner vibes. I went Monday, Aug. 4, during the lunch rush, and Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” was blasting from the speakers as I made my way to the counter at the front to place my order.

While I waited for my food, I noticed Drayton got the attention of patrons sitting nearby. She asked one of them about his company’s upcoming golf tournament, signaling the eatery already has a healthy crop of regulars.

I saw a middle-aged man sitting alone in a booth shortly before another man of the same age approached him and uttered a groan-worthy joke with the precise timing of a man who measures humor not by laughs, but by eye-rolls, before the pair erupted in laughter: “They just let anybody in here, don’t they?”

Here’s what you need to know about Bedder Bedder & Moore.

What’s on the Bedder Bedder & Moore menu?

The Bedder Bedder & Moore lunch menu includes burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pitas, salads and sides.

Menu prices range from $11.99 to $14.49 for entrees, and $1.99 to $5.79 for sides.

Here’s everything I got for roughly $26 (before tax and tip):

• Philly cheesesteak ($13.99) Toasted hoagie filled with grilled beef, melted provolone, sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms
• Fries ($2.99)
• Onion rings (3.99)
• Banana pudding ($6.25)

I should preface this by saying I’ve never had a bad Philly cheesesteak in Charlotte, though an estimated 95% of the ones I’ve consumed have come from Jersey Mike’s. But the streak continues.

Some restaurants attempt their own takes at cheesesteaks that involve toppings like lettuce, tomatoes and onions – three things that shouldn’t be anywhere near a cheesesteak – but this one didn’t stray far from the formula.

Served on a toasted hoagie with just the right amount of chew, the sandwich arrived filled with thinly sliced grilled beef that’s tender. And the provolone was generously melted, lending a creamy richness that plays nicely with the sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms. It was the perfect balance of savory and satisfying, and exactly what you’d expect from a classic cheesesteak.

As for the banana pudding, it checked all the expected boxes. A rich pudding, perfectly ripe banana slices and Nilla wafers to add that extra touch of sweetness. That said, I’m partial to warm banana pudding, when the Nilla wafers soften and gently melt into the pudding. But if chilled is your thing, this one won’t disappoint.

And the fries and onion rings were the perfect example of two sides coming together to settle their differences in a golden, crispy ceasefire.

When is Bedder Bedder & Moore open?

• Location: 3501 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28217
• Menu: bb-m.com/charlotte-loso-bedder-bedder-and-moore-food-menu
• Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday 
• Cuisine: American
• Instagram: @bbmclt

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.