I ate where the ‘movers and shakers’ of Charlotte hang out. What I got for $25
In a recent effort to pay closer attention to life’s smaller pleasures, I found myself tucked into a booth at Eddie’s Place on an overcast Tuesday morning, eating chicken and waffles while Smash Mouth’s “All Star” drifted through the dining room.
The Cajun-inspired Cotswold eatery has been open for nearly three decades, according to its website. I had been there before, though not recently.
My last visit was a couple of years ago for lunch with Ames Alexander and Taylor Batten, two names longtime Charlotte Observer readers will recognize. At the time, I was sitting across from an award-winning investigative reporter and a managing editor with decades of experience between them. Nervous, I asked what may have been the least necessary question imaginable: “Do you like journalism?” As if someone accidentally spends 30 years in a profession.
But on Tuesday, it was just me.
When I first arrived, OneRepublic’s “Secrets,” a pop anthem about authenticity and embracing personal flaws, driven by frontman Ryan Tedder’s powerful vocals, played over the speakers. I tuned it out.
The dining room offered plenty of other things to look at. Local artwork covered the walls. SportsCenter flickered on several televisions. On one screen, Stephen A. Smith appeared to be delivering an impassioned monologue about the Knicks’ loss the night before, though with the volume muted, his argument existed only in gesture.
It was just after 11 a.m. and I thought I saw a bartender mixing drinks. Then again, as someone who once woke up before sunrise to tailgate outside Jerry Richardson Stadium at UNC Charlotte, I wasn’t in much of a position to judge anyone’s relationship with a Tuesday morning beverage.
Earlier that day, during our 9 a.m. newsroom meeting — one of the few recurring appointments that conveniently excuses my lack of progress on actual work — several colleagues told me that Eddie’s Place is where Charlotte’s “movers and shakers” tend to gather.
I wasn’t entirely sure what qualified someone as a mover or a shaker. But there I was, sitting in a booth, prepared to investigate.
Here’s what you need to know about Eddie’s Place Restaurant.
What’s on the menu at Eddie’s Place?
Eddie’s Place serves a broad menu of Cajun- and New Orleans-inspired comfort food alongside classic American diner fare. The restaurant is known for its all-day breakfast offerings, which include chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict, omelets, breakfast burritos and ciabatta French toast, while the lunch and dinner menu features staples such as po’ boys, muffuletta sandwiches, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, Cajun pasta, seafood platters and its popular she-crab soup.
For pricing, most breakfast dishes fall in the $7-$15 range, appetizers generally run $9-$16, sandwiches and burgers are typically $12-$16, and most lunch and dinner entrées land between $13-$20.
Here’s what I got for $25 (including tax):
- Chicken and waffle ($13.50): Fresh-baked waffle topped with a pecan fried chicken breast and honey cinnamon butter, served with a side.
- Chicken and sausage gumbo ($7.75)
I hadn’t had breakfast Tuesday, so I went with the chicken and waffles first. I wasn’t prepared for the size of the portion.
A noticeable thud echoed through the booth when my server, Gloria, set the plate down.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” she asked, as if she’d unknowingly presented me with a plate of food that a family of four would struggle to finish.
“Nope. Thanks,” I responded.
I knew I wasn’t going to finish it. Experience has taught me that. But that wasn’t going to stop me from trying. My eyes have always been bigger than my stomach.
I grabbed my fork to cut the chicken and waffle, and it sliced through like butter. And that first bite was heavenly. The sweetness of the waffle topped with cinnamon butter and savoriness of the chicken were perfectly in sync, like a couple in-rhythms on the dance floor.
It was around that time that “All Star” began.
“Hey now, you’re an all-star. Get your game on, go play,” the hook goes. I was having a blast.
The hash browns were perfectly fine, but they never stood a chance. After a few bites, I pushed them aside to focus on the main attraction.
But since my prediction about my inability to conquer the entire dish was spot-on, I moved that plate to the side. I was full, but the mission wasn’t complete.
The gumbo was next up. I vaguely remembered one of my friends from high school who was originally from the New Orleans-area talking about it, so I figured it was worth a shot.
The menu describes the dish as “hearty,” a word that often promises more than it delivers. In this case, it felt accurate. Another server emerged from the kitchen a few minutes after I ordered the dish.
I sat there and stared at it for a few seconds. The steaming bowl of soup sat beside two massive pieces of focaccia bread I knew I didn’t have room for. The chicken and sausage gave the dish plenty of substance, while the rice at the bottom helped soak up the savory broth, creating a meal that was hearty without being overly heavy – for someone with an empty stomach.
Maybe the movers and shakers took the day off, but Eddie’s Place still delivered a pleasant morning – and that’s reason enough to check it out for yourself.
Eddie’s Place Restaurant
Location: 617 S. Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211
Cuisine: Cajun, American
Instagram: @eddiesplaceclt
