Just an OK place in Charlotte

The Dock Restaurant on East Blvd. in Dilworth is the third try for this location in the past 2 yrs. We sat on the top open air "patio". Everyone ordered drinks and appetizers. The drinks were great. The margaritas were made from fresh lemon/lime juice and were thoroughly enjoyed, the wine was good and my house vodka (SKY) was fine. The strawberry/basil(?) mojito was way too sweet and was never removed from the bill even after two trys to make it less sweet wtih some club soda. The FOOD: Fish tacos were very good and the sauce served with it GREAT. She crab soup good but a little more orangy than normal. Hummus good with fresh red pepper and warmed pitas -- nice touch. Guacamole was very tasty with nice plump pieces of shrimp and chips were slightly salted and crisp. My ceviche was mediocre. The fish tasted either a bit freezer burned or of absorbed odors from the frig. Nothing when compared to the ceviche served at the Mexican restuarant across the street!!! Thank God the company made up with what was lacking in my ceviche! Bathroom was fairly clean and parking easy. Repeat Visit: Probably not.

Charleston

I was totally psyched about visiting Charleston and the many good restaurants I was going to experience there. Not so much.....

Here is what I came up with:

Hyman's Seafood: People lines up the zing yang. Very organized in their seating style. We were seated, orders were taken for drinks and curiosity got the best of us about the two carefully placed straws on the saucer of our hot tea. Reason: According to the waiter they don't own spoons! And we thought it was a Southern custom we had not heard about. Nope, no spoons.
Food order was incorrect. Food was cold. Fish was not fresh.
Best part of the visit was the owner stopping by the table. Very personable. Repeat visit: NO.

Hanks: House Wine -- mediocre. Cosmos -- very good. Appetizers -- Great. Main course -- just o.k. Good service, nice atomosphere, priced fairly. Repeat Visit: YES

Magnolias: Great ambience. Appetizers were larger than expected and very good! My salmon salad GREAT! The waiter graciously opened my friends sealed tea bags, fluffed it up with his fingers and gently placed it in her hot water!! YUCK -- wondering if he washed his hands after I saw him at the urinal. (don't ask).
Return visit: YES

Blossom: Sunday brunch: Nicely decorated. Seated pretty promptly. Good Bloody Marys and believe or not they had fresh horseradish. Good so far. Second round of drinks were served in different glasses not only from the first round but also from each other. Explanation for serving different glassware at the same table: We were very busy today and no more clean glasses!! I guess the chef wasn't in too good a mood either because he wouldn't make an egg white omelet -- nope no special orders at Cypress!! Return visit: Probably not

Southent Brewery: Burgers and Pork Sandwich were good, prompt service, worse thing here was the bathroom two flights up!! Return visit: Yes

Fleets Landing: Drinks Great, Food very fresh and prepared correctly, service o.k. Worse part of the visit: took 20 minutes to get our check and their bathrooom could be cleaner. Return visit: Yes

Drinks on the top floor of the 225 building. Great drinks, great atmosphere. Very expensive. Repeat: YES!

So that's it peoples. My advice: Drinks and appetizers in Charleston is the way to go.