Shopping center superlatives: Your guide to the best of the Arboretum
The Arboretum played a large part in my childhood and teenage years. Named for the high number of trees in the area, this large south Charlotte shopping center, located at the intersection of Providence and Pineville-Matthews roads, offered a little bit of everything. When I was a kid, it was where my mom would pick up all my necessary soccer equipment at Omega Sports. When I was a teenager, I spent many a night just kind of loitering with friends in the McAlister’s parking lot before deciding the plan for the night.
While it does have a little bit of a shaky past (side note: when I was in high school, I took a date down to that lake known for black tar heroin dealing to sit and enjoy our ice cream because I’m classy like that), it is worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for something to eat or drink.
Since it was so formative to me during my high school years, I’ve gone full Yearbook and come up with some shopping center superlatives to fit the Arboretum.
Best place to grab a bagel
Manhattan Bagel
8040 Providence Rd #200
via Manhattan Bagel’s Instagram
I talked about this place on our hidden restaurant gems podcast, and I said it then and I’ll say it again – This is the best place in Charlotte to get a bagel breakfast sandwich. I’ve had Poppy’s, I’ve had Owen’s and I believe Manhattan Bagel comes out on top. The bagels are buttery and full of flavor, but not overwhelmingly bread-y. Right when you walk in, you can see them cooking fresh eggs and your favorite breakfast meats on the griddle, so you know you’re not getting anything frozen. The employees are incredibly friendly and fast with the order. It’s not uncommon to see them chatting up a ‘regular’ to find out what’s new in their life.
Recommended order: Bacon, egg and cheese on either an everything or blueberry bagel. Listen, I know blueberry sounds weird, but don’t knock it until you try it. I’ve converted a few folks to it after I was able to talk them through how odd it sounded initially. It’s like a bacon and egg breakfast with a side of a blueberry muffin all in one.
Best place for a cup of coffee
Manhattan Bagel
8040 Providence Rd #200
via Manhattan Bagel’s Instagram
Trust me, there will be other places featured in this article, but in the meantime, it’s more Manhattan Bagel and its coffee brewed with 100 percent Arabica beans. They offer a variety of options, from the basic plain coffee to the lattes, mochas and Americanos, without having to pay the price of a Starbucks or Panera. Hot or iced, they’ve got you covered. For all you intense coffee drinkers, you can even purchase a big Manhattan Bagel mug that is reusable and will keep your coffee nice and warm.
Recommended order: Stay away from the fancy stuff and just go in and order a regular coffee. Head over to the coffee dispensers and go with the Hazelnut Vanilla blend. You will not be disappointed. This isn’t even a seasonal blend, so every time you go in it will be there to put a smile on your face.
Best place for brunch
Le Peep
8140 Providence Rd
Stuffed french toast via MarvelousLila’s Instagram
This restaurant definitely gives off a French countryside-feel right when you walk in. Located next to Orangetheory Fitness, go ahead and walk right past those people working out and get ready to enjoy some delicious breakfast/brunch food. Le Peep serves up breakfast, brunch and lunch and has a good-sized menu, so even picky eaters should be able to find something to enjoy. While it is open every day of the week, come early because it closes at 2:30 p.m.
Recommended order: While they do serve lunch, I stick with the breakfast or brunch items. I either go with the Wanderer skillet (crispy bacon, potatoes, onions and tomatoes topped with combo cheese and two basted eggs, all cooked up and served in a cast iron skillet) or some delicious blueberry pancakes off the griddle.
Best place to eat and drink like it’s Mardi Gras
Cajun Yard Dog
8036 Providence Rd # 900
Seafood jambalaya via Fort Mill’s Cajun Yard Dog’s Instagram
This is south Charlotte’s go-to spot for Cajun food. I’ve got a fun story about this spot. When I was younger, the brick and mortar store where Cajun Yard Dog is now located used to change hands nearly every year. It seemed like every time I went to the Arboretum, there was a new store in that location. When Cajun Yard Dog popped up, I thought it would be more of the same. Yet, here I am talking about it many years later. That was what made me give it a try. Nothing else could last in this spot, but Cajun Yard Dog is still going strong.
Recommended order: I almost always start with an order of the Jalapeno Deviled Eggs, before moving on to one of two entrees. For my main course, it’s going to be either the Shrimp Etoufee (served over rice with a choice of a side) or the Fried Shrimp Po’Boy (served on a crispy baguette with lettuce, tomato and remoulade sauce).
Best place to get some Southern cookin’
New South Kitchen
8140 Providence Rd – 300
Heritage Pork Shank via New South Kitchen’s Instagram
This quaint restaurant offers up its own take on some Southern classics and cocktails. The menu is seasonal and all the beef, pork and poultry is raised with no antibiotics or artificial growth hormones. All the seafood is sustainably fished or farmed in the Carolinas, and the produce is often from local farms. Plus, right when you sit down you will be served some free, amazing, flaky biscuits that you will have to try to not fill up on. This place is great to stop by for a quick drink at the bar or a nice sit-down dinner.
Recommended order: Start with an order of the Southern Wontons (chicken sausage, pimento cheese, red pepper aioli) and then go with either the New South Burger (pimento cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato) or the Fried Chicken, served with gravy and spiked honey. Also, if you’re lucky enough to be there at the right time of year and see the Fried Turkey on the menu, order it quickly and then order it again. It is the best dish on the menu and the one thing I’ve seen at New South sell out on any given night.
Best place to try Asian food with a twist
Malaya Kitchen Asian Fusion
8200-400 Providence Rd
Beef Rendang via DiaryOfMyFoodprint’s Instagram
Known for its authentic Malaysian food, Malaya Kitchen also serves classic Asian dishes, like General Tso’s Chicken and Pad Thai. If you’re feeling like some Asian food, this place will more than likely have you covered. The staff is always so welcoming, but if you’d rather grab and go, you can order online and pick it up. I highly suggest going during lunchtime because Malaya Kitchen has a great lunch special, offering 33 entrée dishes for under $10.
Recommended order: Go for what they do best, authentic Malaysian cuisine. Two of my favorites are the Beef Rendang (beef simmered with exotic spices on coconut milk) and the Char Kway Teow (Malaysian pan fried flat noodles with egg, bean sprouts and carrots). Warning, the Beef Rendang is spicy and the spice level can’t be adjusted.
Best place to take a Bumble date
Vintner Wine Market
8128 Providence Rd
via Vintner is a great spot for a first date because it offers up a little bit of everything, including a fresh and local food menu to go with a large variety of wines and beers. You can either get wine-by-the-glass or choose a bottle from the more than 1,500 wines they offer. Vintner also features 16 beers on tap and more than 400 in bottles and cans. Take a date there on a Thursday for a “Thirsty Thursday,” where you can hear live music and enjoy free tastings, tap takeovers and $3 beers.
Recommended order: Grab your favorite type of beer or wine, but make sure to come hungry, too. I suggest both the P.B.L.T. and Chips (Queen Charlotte’s bacon pimento cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, arugula, tomato, balsamic reduction on toasted Local Loaf sourdough) and the Cutting Board in the charcuterie section (chef selection of four cured meats with olives, whole grain mustard, cornichons and grilled rosemary focaccia).
Best place for a special dinner date
Mickey & Mooch
8128 Providence Rd. Suite 1200
The Wedge via Taste of Queen City’s Instagram
This steakhouse is the fanciest restaurant option that the Arboretum offers. With that being said, it still does a great job of maintaining a nice casual feel. It’s not uncommon to see people coming in just for drinks at the bar, instead of a full three-course meal. Mickey and Mooch also offers up live music every Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8:30. I will say that it doesn’t open until 4 p.m. each day, so if you want to eat, dinner is your only option here.
Recommended order: When I eat at a steakhouse, I typically like to order traditional steakhouse dishes. I recommended starting with The Wedge (salad with imported Danish blue cheese, fresh bacon and tomatoes) before ordering the New York Strip (available in both premium angus and prime cuts). For dessert, you need to order the carrot cake. It’s a homemade recipe and available in both small and large portions.
Best place for an all-in-one date
Cinebarre
8008 Providence Rd
Fans dressed up to go watch an Avengers movie via Cinebarre’s Instagram
It’s dinner, drinks and a movie all in one. This movie theater not only has a bar right when you walk in the door, but after you grab your seat in the theater, you can order some food to go with your drink. The waiters and waitresses come to you and can even refill your drink if you get thirsty mid-movie. No more having to get up and miss parts of the movie. They offer more than just your usual concession stand snacks too. You can get full meals, like burgers and sandwiches.
Recommended viewing: Cinebarre is currently showing Best Picture winner “The Shape of Water”, as well as Best Picture nominees, “Darkest Hour” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”.
Best place to get dessert
Bella Fresco Café & Gelateria
8200 Providence Rd
via The Sweet Seoul’s Instagram
I’m sure the café portion of Bella Fresco is great, but I’ll be honest, I’ve never had anything besides what is being served up in the gelateria. Bella Fresco’s gelato is some of the best I’ve had in the city. The gelateria is separate from the café, so you don’t have to have a full meal there to get the gelato. Walk right up and order some deliciousness from the counter! While the Arboretum lacks some good spots to get dessert, this place alone more than makes up for it.
Recommended order: Pistachio. To me, it’s hard to beat a good traditional pistachio gelato, and Bella Fresco does it really well. It’s creamy, full of flavor and I want some now.
Do you have a superlative you’d like to add? Please put it down in the comments section.
Featured photo: Katie Toussaint
This story was originally published March 8, 2018 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Shopping center superlatives: Your guide to the best of the Arboretum."