University City

Lin’s Buffet

W WT Harris Blvd
In The Furniture Plaza By RT77
Charlotte, NC 28269
All Photos Of Lins Buffet

So I finally got invited out for a meal and treated. My food budget has been on the rocks lately, so ill take the free meal and free content for our site.

This weekend past I had a chance to check out what I was told was a “new chinese place by the mall”. Lin’s Buffet is a chinese buffet that reently opened just on the East side of 77 right by the new Northlake Mall. The builders have done a good job of developing this plaza. This plaza is mostly furniture stores but does have a few nice buildings with new restaurants.

Lin’s is a nice large and roomy building with pretty much standard fare you’d expect in a buffet. On this first visit it was the weekend rate of $10.99, which means more meats and high end foods to sample. Im not so sure the difference in presented meats and platters added up to the extra $4 we paid, but it was overall pretty good quality choices.

The buffet had a number of the standard Chinese chicken dishes, with perhaps a better number of choices than you would expect, Tso chicken, sesame, orange, sweet and sour, black pepper and more all on the buffet at the same time. For higher end choices, rare roast beef, crab legs and more will make you happy with the $11 you spent.

While there wasnt even close to the huge array at Chen’s Bistro in the Promenade, it also wasn’t the $15 or $17 that Chen’s charges to offset the “buffet campers” pounding down crab legs like it was the “cure for ugly”.

The buffet was average size and had more entrees and meat than you may be used to getting, with a seperate area for salad and some deserts, though not many.

The one very nice benefit is the fact that the sushi is made while you wait and included. The staff, for the most part, doesnt speak english. I wont be presumptious and assume they all to speak Chinese, but definately not english in 2 of 3 cases of the staff. This fact is actually a bit annoying and affects the service and conversation you may be used to in your dining stop. I felt the staff was trying but disinterested since you cant reallly say hello and thank you.

The inside decor is a bit lacking. The restaurant really looks like it just opened or perhaps the decoration truck never arrived. Alot of blank walls, empty spaces and flat airport carpetting gives it a bit of a cafeteria feel. I think this to be a good choice for “power eating” of some decent platters, but it is not all that relaxing or comfortable a setting.

Some decent food, nice choices and all around general good quality of the buffet, though it is awful plain inside and not overly exciting or special. If you are near here and can find this hidden location then perhaps a one time visit to this borderline chinese stop. If you want sushi in your affordable buffet then perhaps a good choice. If you want a bit higher quality or more intimate setting I insist you goto Golden Taipei just up the road.

Ishi Japanese Restaurant

8109 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28213
704-921-9219
Ishi Photos In The Gallery

Finally got to Ishi Japanese Restaurant And Sushi bar after hearing second hand rave reviews from a few people including our own prior review here from one of our readers. I have also since sat with a family member who is a freshman at UNCC and her father both who raved that we must try Ishi as soon as possible.

The rumors of the incredible value at Ishi along with the great food made this possible as I am pretty broke lately for restaurant money.

unlike reviews of fancy uptown “bistros” and “4 star affairs” mine are dictated by what’s in my wallet this week and not checks being picked up by “the man”. This is envy talking I know, I admit that much, I am only jealous of larger dining budgets than my own.

This location is not what I excpeted as it is very tucked away in the back of the Home Depot plaza right next to Peak Fitness. The workout addicts must love having healthy, fast and very good food right next door to their daily routine.

I was a bit surprised by the small hole in the wall feeling of this location and the completely dated and worn decor inside. I knew this wasnt a dressed up perkins or upscale dining but it is such a roadside diner feeling i was surprised on how “casual” (run down) it was inside.

The location was clean enough and family feeling enough it is just time for it to find its way out of the 80s.

I want to rebutt this last sentecne and remind myself and my readers that with good enough food, who cares if the stools are from a 1970’s waffle house.

No booths inside is sometimes a bummer, since I was ther with the kids in tow the lack of booths is a bit of a discomfort. I know everyone reading doesnt really care but if asked would always choose a booth.

The menu, which I have scanned and linked to here to save me time in explaining it, is packed with huge and wide variety of great lookig plates. This statement lends to the fact that this place would be a great fast and healthy lunch stop. A lunch stop with a seeming endless variety of choices keeps the patrons coming back over the long haul.

Everything on the menu here is basically between 4.50 and 8.00 which means 40-50 things to choose from for under $7, not many restaurants can say that. I had the Habachi Steak, which means Sirloin steak cut into small pieces and laid on top of fried rice (Japanese fried rice so its basically white rice), this is served with japanese style sweet carrots. These carrots are round carrot sliced and boiled with a sweet flavor. I could take or leave the carrrots, which I imagine all men agree about all carrots in the world, but they were good enough and original.

The habachi steak was without a beter way to put it, the best meat i have tasted in the last few years. I was lucky enough to get to atend the grand opening samplign at the “texas land Company Steakhouse in Concord, at which i had lobster and a T-bone steak. The meal was free as it was a training night for the staff, but would have cost about $40. The Habachi Steak was far better tasting and perfectly cooked soft beef for all of $5. The flavor of the steak and hw tender it is cooked will really impress anyone who sits and orders it.

The major problem with this meal was the fact that it was exceptinal steak pieces on top of essentially white rice and steamed sweet carrots. After eating me meal I could have easily finished my Wife’s, reached over and finished both the plates of the patrons behind me, and still wanted desert. The meal is so “not filling”, while at the same time so delicious that I may order 3 plates on my next visit. This lack of filling food really creates a hole in the “affordable” menu.

If you are going looking for a light lunch, healthy meal or fast high quality taste for somethin orginal to eat this place is a exceptional choice. if you just done doing “negatives or Powerlifting legs” at Peak Fitness and need a heavy filling meal? this place will likely leave you still very hungry.

My Wife had Teriyaki Chicken and Shrimp ($9) which was the same rice with sweet carrots served with chicken and shrimp that has been stir-fried. Again the meat was excellent and the rice and carrots god enough but the meal not very filling. We did determine that the steak was by far the best choice of the two plates and that is the recomendation.

We got out the door for $20 with the tip on the table $23 and was very pleased with the taste though I had to make sandwiches at home 2 hours later.

The steak was one of the best things on any of my plates since moving to Charlotte. The steak and healthy taste was very good, perhaps too good, since it just reinforced the problem that there wasnt enough to fill me.

I will go back and explore this huge menu as well as the excellent sushi choices and have a beer and sushi afternoon. I have given up on the great low prices on the menu though since I expect tohave to order twice.

Amazing tender flavor, great taste, low prices and huge menu including great sushi choices. The food just didnt fill me up and the portions were not nearly big enough for any hunger beyond light lunch.

Well that vote went well as expected. 78% of students in the largest student vote turnout to date said yes they want the Niners to have football in Charlotte. I am not surprised, when it was asking college students if they want football games.

I think much of the counter arguument would fall on deaf ears covered up by big green foam fingers that say “we’re #1″ on them.

“Through an online poll, 78 percent of the student body voted to support the fees increase. Now a new advisory committee will look at the feasibility of adding a team.
One of the main issues is if there’s enough interest citywide to warrant and pay for another sports team.

“It’s pretty fun for me to be able to stand here today and say that this may be the start of something really big,” said Ben Comstock, the student body president at UNCC.”

The plan for football brings with it the challenge of student body interest to build and maintain ticket sales. In this writers opinion that would be a no brainer even in a large stadium. Charlotte is a basketball town first, but the Panthers success has built a good football base as well. I welcome the games near my home and look forward to attending often. This need for attendence was one of the concern that the next year and $150,000 exploration into the feasability will explore. If the games sell out well there is a good promise of money from ticket sales for football helping to fund and grow the other athletic areas of UNCC. The revenue generated could well lead to a stronger backing for the Bastketball teams and an added draw for recruiting students and atheletes.

Hats off to the students who did much of the work, and heats off to the fact that it should be that way. Let this success and the evntual football team be the product of student persistence and the long time property of the students themselves.

I hope UNCC will extend its football traditions in the future to letting the team and players remember the student bidy and the fans that built the team from scratch with signatures.

I hope UNCC senior days on the field include the 12 man in making this happen.

Here is my little slice of love to the Niner nation.

See the previous post on the team vote >

Tony’s Pizza

WT Harris Blvd
1530 Overland Park Lane Suite 1/104
Charlotte, NC 28262
All Tony’s Photos Here

Well it was about time to expand upon the very limited exposure to Pizza in Charlotte I have had. The goal of any pizza mission and the aspects of a good pizza “joint” are as follows. Keep in mind the goal is to find a great affordable weekly place that you can reward yourself and the kids with. A Pizza “joint” of choice will become familiar like a glove to you as you are a part of a neighborhood and a good pizza place is a important part as well.

1. Should be affordable with good coupons to be found regularly.
2. Should make great Pizza the way you like it.
3. Should have friendly Italian or New York accented staff or owners.
4. Should have the smell and feel of flour on the floor, red vinyl booths, red pepper shakes and the bell behind the door when you walk in. If you have a pizza joint you love then you understand this feeling that is exclusive to pizza places.
5. Should be good enough in variety of foods to provide alternatives equal to the pizza they make (ie: calzones, meatball subs)

Well off to Tony’s for the first time and to this newly opened Tony’s location on WT Harris. This is another anchor storefront in this new apartment neighborhood just past Harris Teeter and near RT 85.

Addressing this in a systematic way using the above bullets Tony’s hits and misses on some key points. All in all you will se we were pleased with the stop and thankful for their friendly staff.

Firstly, looking at the pricing it is a bit high though comparable to other real hand tossed pizza in the area. With mediums at about $13 for a cheese that’s a bit more than one would like to drop everyweek as it comes to 17+ with toppings. Keep in mind that a medium here (like DaVincis) is much larger than a normal medium and can be viewed as almost a large. I hate to grip about a few bucks but the place is 2-3$ higher than ideal though not out of the ordinary for a restaurant of this type.

We next think about the overall taste and how well this pizza sat with our crew at home. The Pizza is very comparable to DaVincis in Davis Lake,which is popular with alot of people. You can see a nice close up of the Pizza we had right here which was with mushroom, ham and sausage. The pizza was a slight shade thicker than DaVincis which i enjoyed. If you see an old post of ours we complain about this “pursuit of thin” that many restaurants are on. “Thin” isn’t the answer to “good” and a nice “bready” crust is sometimes a much better pie. I liked the pizza slightly thicker than DaVincis though it lacked spice for my taste and agreed on by all that had it. A little garlic in the sauce and black pepper would have gone a long way to making this a great pizza. Keep in mind that we had somewhat bland ingredients, but the sausage was a bit bland as well. After eating a second slice we had wished we got pepperoni on the pie as it was a bit plain tasting. All in all its was good, perfect thick and folding but perhaps needed a bit more flavor and we will get onions and pepperoni next time to remedy this.

Third aspect above is the ownership. The owner or manager who spoke to us while we waited was friendly and cool, we thank him for being so. He is originally from Sicily, is prepared to address you order in English, Italian and Spanish and was about my age friendly and about what you would hope for.

A pizza “joint” is chatty and social like a barbershop, and if you don’t like the people its hard to make it the “place”. So props to a cool staff and taking the time to talk with us.

Aspect #4 which is the way a pizza place is in your mind was a real hit for me. The black and red Vinyl booths, rows of red pepper and framed sayings and whatnots all over the walls was right on target. After work or a game this place excelled in the way it felt to take a load off. Better than DaVincis, which we use as a measuring stick it seems, I liked the layout and casual “80’s Pizza Hut” feel of this location. If you are on lunch this is a nice place to get a seat and a slice.

The final aspect which is the variety of the menu was another strong mark for Tony’s. Tony’s has alot of the New York favorites that you just can’t get too many places. Enjoy ground beef topping, green olive topping, subs, salads, calzones and most impressively white pizza and thick style pies. White pizza is such a great changeup that a real place you call your “own” really needs to make it well. The addition of thick crust pies like up north also makes for some great crusts you can dip and eat too. The menu has a great variety, better than DaVincis, and should provide endless lunch and dinner change-ups if you live nearby.

Well that covers a good time out with my girl grabbing our first Tony’s from WT Harris. We like the layout alot and the comfortable feel of this location. The pizza looked great, was a bit plain less than extraordinary, but pretty good. I know everyone has opinions on Pizza, but if this had a few shakes of garlic and onion pwder and perhaps black pepper in the sauce it woulda hit home perfectly.

The variety of the menu was impressive and had every old favorite you could want. This nice looking menu was also a huge plus. This morning I was enjoying the cold slices from our good sized medium pie and really wished I had gotten onions on it.

I think its safe to say I will make time to try another one from this friendly place with decent pie and a nice huge menu of choices. If the Stromboli turns out to be great it could qualify as the “joint” for me.

I have had a long standing bet with myself in my own mind in regards to McDonalds, and more namely the somewhat shabby McDonalds location by my house on WT Harris by Sugar Creek.

This is a bit run down, a bit beat up location that could use a modernization or upgrade from the 80-90’s feel about it. I am in the group that think McDoanlds is a (somewhat) high quality franchise that does it better than many othr competitors. It seems it is not popular to be a franchise or any of the “big boys’ on the net.

I had done a search marketing research awhile back and if you search companies with the word “sucks” after their name you invariably find that the largest players in every field have more results returned. Walmart has more “complaints posted on the web” than Target, Microsoft more than Apple, McDonalds more than Burger King, etc etc. This seems to be the root for the little guy root against the establishment mentality showing its ugly head.

I say its ok to be the best or more specifically the biggest. You likely built a track record that led to this place you now are. I am not going to say too much nice about the fast food industry in general, but when you take everything as a reletive comparison to others in the same market I find McDonalds to be a pretty good franchise and place to be.

Well my long standing bet with myself is looking for the staff or drive through member that says “your welcome” to my constant barage of “thank you very much”’s.

After at least a dozen stops at the “way home” McDonalds by Harris and David Cox Rd., and always hitting them with a “thank you very much” and not once geting a “your welcome”, I am happy to say the first time I decide to start video documenting my search for “your welcome”, I was finally happily surprised.

They may have stumbled on the order process, but both the payment window #1 and order window #2 hit me with thank you and your welcome. It is almost like they knew it was coming, but this was a hidden cam and the service was with a smile. The fries were also resh which is plus number two. All you hate on the biggest game in town should take a step back and see that sometimes the biggest is the best.

Best fries, good for the community, decent franchise. Lets give McDonalds a break and be thankful for those amazing fries.

Olive Garden Northlake Location

8225 Northlake Commons Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28216
704-494-4473
www.olivegarden.com
(No Pictures from the meal as my camera konked out on me, sorry about that)

Olive Garden? how can a person actually write a review about the Olive Garden?

The Olive Garden and the public view of it has always eluded and confused me. I see people and critics using it as a measuring stick of who to dis, or a restaurant with about as much street credibility as Kevin Federline in Harlem.

But why the dis, what’s the problem, and what is the source of this lack of credibility. I find the answer is generally linked back to the “hate the establishment mentality that is everywhere in society. people hat Wal-Mart, but love to save, people laugh at McDonald’s but their fries taste better than any caviar on the planet, and lastly patrons mock Olive garden as being a “Wonder bread wop” (quote Tony Soprano), but the fact is they have the best bread and salad you will get at any level.

I have long entered this restaurant looking forward to dipping those salty hot breadsticks in some Alfredo sauce as the highlight of all eating out trips. Any critic that denies the amazing breadsticks at the ‘OG’ is lying to themselves and trying to make themselves feel superior. This place excels at the pre-meal warm-up.

If you go in and get the Alfredo dipping sauce, salad and spinach artichoke dip you will every time be lying if you don’t love it. The question I have long had is why do people lie about their love for it?

IM TELLING YOU NOW: Its ok to love a chain, its ok to admit they do a pretty good job even though they are the McDonalds of Italian food.

Now with this all said, I have to laugh as this latest trip to the ‘OG’ newly built in Northlake was a bit disappointing.

If you haven’t been to Olive Garden recently, there are a few changes that are for better and worse. The decor has changed in the last 5 years with high ceiling better lit and featuring a bar on the agenda. The new look for Olive garden is brighter and more to the lunch crowd in my belief. Long gone are the ’80s with the fake Italian paintings and low light for after prom dates.

The new look is nice, and if you want to grab a drink or two the bar is much more useful than in the past.

The next change that I notice is the price increase across the board. Everything on the menu seemed 2-3$ higher than just 9 months ago. The best tasting treats on the menu (Chicken Alfredo Pizza - YUM) went from $6.95 (a steal) to $9.95. This is still cheap, but they did finally figure out what a great bargain I had been getting away with.

All menu items used to range from $8.99 to $14.99 and seem to have shifted to about $9.99 to $18.99. I know this is still pretty cheap eating, but the change is significant and you will notice it too.

We went on a weekday around dinner, and got seated way in the back again. The manager apologized for the slight disarray of the back area, but I honestly didn’t see any issues. Keep in mind this was coincidence, since nobody recognizes what I am up to until after the meal when I’m taking photos and leaving.

Our waiter was there on his day off, was friendly and as attentive as we could have hoped. The service here is always standard fare to good, I have never had an issue.

Out comes the best part of any ‘OG’ visit, the breadsticks and salads, and what a let down this was. Not fresh like normal and the waiter pulled an oops I forgot to offer grated cheese. The salad looked as un-fresh as the bread was, I was surprised as it is usually so good here.

My Wife had the new dish Portabella and steak Alfredo, I went for the Seafood Alfredo with Shrimp, Mussels and scallops. If you don’t know I am addicted to scallops after eating at Golden Taipei so I always order them up now.

Our meals we’re very slow to reach the table. The waiter apologized for the long wait twice and once averted his eyes in embarrassment as to our wait.

After the long delay without the normal fresh bread to get us by the meals cam out and looked great on the table. This great look was half deceiving unfortunately.

My wife was happy with the steak and portabella and recommends it. The steak was soft and the plate was huge and filling. The leftover made it to the next day from her meal.

The seafood Alfredo was very lacking. The dish was almost exact in taste to the Vampire Killer Pasta I invented and wrote about 1 week ago. The difference is that my pasta had about 25 shrimp and only cost me $5 to make. The taste of this dish was so simple and lacking any reason to want it again. I essentially had a plate of pasta with butter and garlic mixed with a few bits of seafood, very disappointing. This marks the first time my wife has out ordered me in a restaurant.

If you go to the ‘OG’ just get the standard dishes is the lesson today. Get the chicken Alfredo pizza and let those who roll their eyes at your lack of sophistication go take a flying leap. The fact is the ‘OG’ makes great breadsticks(usually), has great salad with pepperocinis (usually fresh) and makes great standard food items like lasagna and Portabella Ravioli. I just will be a bit more cautious with ordering off the norm as they may be trying to hard to charge more and name dishes uniquely and have forgotten to do the little things I still think they have in them.

I will give this location one more try as I assume this weak outing was a fluke from what is normally a good franchise with great pre-meal food. If they fall short again, I am more than happy with eating Mexican food instead.

UNC Charlotte does not have a football program because it is a costly endeavor. The costs will need to be paid for by students and university donors.

The vote is going on NOW until the 25th of February, head to the student government site for details.

About 75% of the Athletic Department’s budget is paid for via student fees. A significant contribution in the form of increased student fees would be needed if UNC Charlotte started a football program.

Take a look at what other college students pay per student fot the athletic fees here

You will see from the above linked chart that UNCC already has a pretty high end athletic fee for a school with no football.

Q: Will voting for a fee increase cause my fees to go up immediately?
No. The Athletic Department would likely phase in a “football fee” over several years.

Q: What kind of football team would Charlotte get?
Division 1AA or 1A. Because we currently compete in the Division I level, we can not move down to Divisions II or III.

Q: If UNC Charlotte’s administration decided to start football tomorrow, what would need to happen?
Scholarships, coaches, staff, facilities, women’s athletic programs (Title IX), operational expenses, etc.

Q: What have increased student fees paid for in UNC Charlotte’s history?
The SAC, the Student Union, Cone Center, Health Center, playing fields

Q: Why would student fees need to increase for UNC Charlotte to get a football program?
The UNC system does not provide funding for athletics. Tuition pays only for the operating costs to run UNC Charlotte’s academic programs. Student fees pay for activities.

Answers From: http://sga.uncc.edu/vote

Moe’s Southwest Grill

Grande Promenade Center, WT Harris Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28262
704 971-3380
Pictures From Moes Southwest Grill

Another of the old reviews getting carried over to Charlottecritic 2.0
Been to Moe’s a half dozen times this past year and it
is still just as cool as I thought back then.

About 2 days back got a chance to stop in and
try the brand new location of
Moe’s Southwest Grill, which actually has a mostly
Mexican food menu. The new
location is in the Grande Promenade II (2) which is on Harris pretty close to
UNCC. This location is in conjunction and affiliated with the Shane’s Rib Shack
franchise.

The fact that they built so close to Qdoba
in the Promenade shows either confidence in their product or a
different target audience. I think they have a different target audience and
a better parking situation which should lead to them beating out Qdoba for most
of the college crowd once they get found.

The food is amazingly similar to what Qdoba serves with a bit more authenticity
and a little less retro-yuppie design in mind. Needless to say the hot sauce
actually making me sweat was nice to find in a semi-fast food situation like
this.

To walk in you will see student serving students and music playing in what
can only be described as a ‘cool place’. The two people working were both very
cool in offering suggestions and assure me that the ranch suace on your burrito
is a very smart choice. I had a pretty massive steak burrito that is equal in
size and weight to what Qdoba serves, which is a compliment. The burrito doesnt
though have 75% rice and beans like Qdoba served. The burrito at Moe’s was more
meat, cheese and vegetables, or to say traditional. Im not bashing Qdoba
on this fact, the rice and beans has a excellent distinct tang to it that cool
also, but not my personal preference.

Important thought #2? men like sauce, dipping and spice….Moe’s staff offered
up ranch sauce, but I opted for the hot sauce which will have you teetering
on a sweat, which is a perfect level of heat.Also Moe’s has a specific sauce
‘bar’ which has your standards green, brown, and 3 levels of red. The Green
salsa is not hot at all and very sweet and tasty.

My Ms. had the Quesadillas which she wasnt thrill about having to assemble
with no extra plate, and the somewhat light amount of grilled chicken that came
with it. But as you see in the image of the Moe’s
Food she had, if you have a side of hot sauce and been drinking all day,
you will be pleased with this sloppy spread.

While comparing this qith Qdoba and the similarities, we need to say you get
a much larger menu here and it should definately withstand return visits much
better over the college school year. Pretty much all the standard basket edible
mexican dishes like tacos, nachos, burritos and more all served for about $6
to $8.

If you are out with your new boss, your uppity co workers or your girlfriends
parents then maybe stopping at Qdoba’s somewhat "clean cut good food on
the go" appeal is best. But if you are a student looking for a new place
in the area for late night or preparty food with your boys that is pretty cool
and should become a popular spot then try Moes first.

Moe’s Southwest Grill is straight forward tasty basket mexican with lots of
sauces, clean environment and very friendly staff that is sure to win over the
college crowd with a very cool atmosphere and setting.

My recommendation to them would be extending hours to 2am + and capitalize
on the fact that after party hot spots with this kind of menu and cool setting
is sure to become a local UNCC student dietary staple.

I will be back for another go at the tacos.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Grand Promenade Suite 230
Charlotte, NC 28262
(704) 510-1545

Walked past it 5 times and never got around to going in, now I have. Buffalo
Wild Wings at the Grande Promenade II Upper level.

Having been a lifetime Buffalo Sports fan and local to western NY, I take particular
notice of anyplace trying to sprinkle the word New York or Buffalo Style on
their menu. All in all, I left with no offense taken.

When you walk in your get the strong wood-grain and projection TV atmosphere
of a sports bar, with alot of games and color around. Its like a sports bar
and a ChuckECheese had a baby and its name was Buffalo Wild Wings. This is to
say a very fun looking place and nice relaxing atmosphere, with an incredible
amount of sports on a ton of TV’s.

If you want to watch the game, this layout and atmosphere seems absoluetly
perfect to do so.

The menu at Buffalo Wild Wings, is pretty much what you might expect, if anything
a bit less to choose from than I would have though when opening the huge multi-color
menu. You will find the expected affair of wings, burgers with fancy combinations
and chicken sandwich type platters.

What did catch my attention quickly was the fact that it was actually pretty
pricey for this type of place.

Both me and the Ms. had a burger from the selection, her a Shroom and Swiss,
and me a Black and Blue Burger which is spicy blue cheese. Both burger were
about $4 or $4.50 and that isnt with anything but a pickle next to it. Not that
this is a pile of cash, but its just for the burger, this burger better sing
and dance for most of $5.

We went with the standard side served at Buffalo Wild Wings which is potato
wedges, or short little steak fries.

Firstly, the waitress was very nice, very friendly and attentive, so for that
we say thanks upfront.

The burgers came out and looked awfully dissapointing, about 8 tiny from a
can mushrooms on the wife’s and mine basically looked like I made it at home
with a thin-thin patty, or to say, not impressive to see.

The fact that I just paid $4.50 for just this pretty sad burger was a bummer
for such a cool place. But there is some slight salvation, the burger tasted
good. While it looked like a homemade burger for over $4, it also tasted like
one, but from the grill. There is a distinct grill taste and the burgr despite
looking like not much for alot of money did really taste good. Also nice bonus
points for a place that finally uses a real "roll" and not a puny
bun. The taste difference of the good hearty "real roll" is measurable
and appreciated (since I just overpaid anyhow).

Should you goto Buffalo Wild Wings?

If you dont think $4.25 for a burger, then $2.50 more for fries, then paying
for a drink is too much to pay for a decent burger? then yes. This is a fun
place to watch the game, and Im going to guess they have some great monday night
football scenes in this huge place with 20+ TV’s.

Not overly impressive food presentation, pretty sad actually, but the ingedients
and real grill taste saved some face. This coupled with a great huge and casual
sporty place makes for a fun but not all too great dining experience.

If you want better food, or you are with a date, goto Red Robin. If you are
with the boys and wings sound like a possability, then give this place one try.

Ishi Japanese Restaurant

8109 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28213
(704) 921-9219

This is a review contributed by a reader almost a year ago. I sat with a local UNCC student and got the same raves about this great place.

Seems that if you are on a budget and want the best quality food for a low price and served up fast, this may be the best choice around UNCC.

From the story I was told most students already know and swear by this place for a fast cheap alternative to Ramen Pride noodles or mac and cheese for fast and cheap. So if you want a pace change read on and then get your last 47 cents in the gas tank and drive to grab a great lunch by UNCC.

Ishi for the college crowd and budget!

If you have ever been on a budget then you know about ISHI, the best alternative
to Chinese food, Japanese food.

We have been long long customers to ISHI and go 3-4 times a month.

You can’t beat the prices on everything, from the hibachi chicken to the sushi.
The college student headquarters because you can get lunch for $5, seriously!
Sushi is very inexpensive and the staff is very quick. You never have to ask
for more beverage, the food is just enough, and you can’t complain about the
price.

I highly recommend anything on the menu. It is the exact same food that you
can get at Kabuto or Nakato, but for a fraction of the price. (Don’t forget
to pick up one of my business cards for a mortgage when you walk in the door
to your left!)

Why only 4 1/2 stars - The food is good, not great, it is always warm, but
never piping. You can’t argue with the price or the service. The atmosphere
is a little dated, but the service is so quick that you don’t have time to notice
it.