5 old-school dining and drinking spots to check out uptown
When I moved to uptown Charlotte in 2003, the Panthers played in Ericsson stadium and the team was headed into its first Superbowl season. I lived in a townhouse near the Panthers practice field, and rarely left the uptown bubble where I worked and played. There were a handful of popular night spots back then, and we would run into everyone we knew at Connolly’s around midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
Now that I live in SouthPark, I marvel like a tourist at uptown today with its condo towers, dozens of bars and restaurants and perpetual crowds. Many of the places we once frequented have closed over the years – Cosmos, Buckhead Saloon, Grand Central and Zink. But a handful of them are still going strong, and always remind me of my twenties, when I met my husband and a group of friends that became family. Check out these longtime favorites on the dining and drink scene uptown:
Connolly’s Irish Pub
For several years after I moved out of uptown, the woman checking ID’s at Connolly’s waved me into the bar on occasional visits. No one recognizes me there today, but a flood of memories returns at the place where we celebrated Panthers victories, birthdays and weekends. Connolly’s has the largest patio in uptown according to their website, and is always a fun spot to sip a Guinness with friends or dance late night.
115 E. 5th St.
French Quarter Restaurant
Located across from Romare Bearden Park, French Quarter opened in 1986 and serves comfort cuisine with Cajun and Greek twists (try the Gyro sandwich or Monte Cristo). We used to order long island iced teas at their stained glass bar, and settle in to people watch on Panthers game days. The place is popular during the weekday lunch rush – daily specials such as the baked chicken (called “The Best in the Free World” by the Observer) and shrimp creole are some of the best deals in town.
321 S. Church St.
Capital Grille
Yes the high end steakhouse is a chain, but the bar has a local feel thanks to longtime bartenders (PeeDee has a loyal following) and handcrafted cocktails. The Stoli Doli, a Stoli vodka martini with fresh pineapple juice, has always been a favorite among our group (though I’m not sure how we afforded premium liquor in our twenties). The calamari with cherry peppers is a tasty appetizer to order at the bar, and carnivores can indulge in their signature cheeseburger with bacon and sweet onions.
201 N. Tryon St.
Alexander Michael’s Tavern
We spent many nights in the cozy wooden booths and dim lighting of Al Mike’s, sharing news about jobs, sports and relationships. Serving since 1983, the tavern sits across from charming homes in the historic Fourth Ward neighborhood. We would always order the nachos as an appetizer, and dinner choices varied between the “What It Is” (blackened chicken breast over rotini with Cajun cream sauce), 4th Ward Stroganoff or the crawfish burrito. Their beer selection features local brews like Triple C’s “Baby Maker” and Wooden Robot’s “What He’s Having”, and bartender Paul has been pouring drafts for many years. If you haven’t been to Al Mike’s yet — it’s a must visit for the food, atmosphere and glimpse of Charlotte history hidden in other parts of uptown.
401 W. 9th St.
Ri Ra Irish Pub
The pub and restaurant was one of our favorite weekend hangouts, and a group of us took refuge at Ri Ra when a snowstorm blanketed the city in February 2004. The pub had to be almost completely restored after a fire in 2009, but the authentic décor (such as the Victorian bar) survived and makes you feel you could be drinking in Dublin. Bartenders pour eight imported and eight craft beers from the tap, and Irish whiskey is the star of the cocktail offerings. Ri Ra’s menu features Irish pub fare such as the Guinness BBQ burger, Irish breakfast and fish and chips.
208 N. Tryon St.
Photo: Fourth Ward/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published August 26, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "5 old-school dining and drinking spots to check out uptown."