Hawkers' food menu offers a wide variety of Asian-inspired dishes. Our server said that each dish is large enough to share between two individuals. We ordered a few of the recommended items including Bulgogi Chicken Skewers, Steamed Baos, Korean Twice Fried Wings, and Golden Wontons. The best dishes we had were the Twice Fried Wings and Steamed Baos. I thought the Singapore Meh Fun and Pad Thai were also tasty. Our least favorite dishes were the Golden Wantons and Siu Yoke. They both came out overcooked and did not meet expectations. Since there are so many options on the menu, I would not let one or two dishes define an overall experience. However, I plan to avoid ordering those two options in the future. The beverage selection at Hawkers is quite large. They offer a wide variety of wine, cocktails, and beer. The full bar has something for everyone. Seating is spread throughout the restaurant with booths and bar chairs in the front. Additional table seating is in the back by the open-style kitchen. Additional patio seating wraps around the outside of the building. In my opinion, the best part of dining at Hawkers is the atmosphere and decor. I enjoyed seeing the colorful posters, signs, and mix of decor. It is also interesting that each seating area has a different vibe. The food and drinks take a back seat to the atmosphere created at Hawkers. I recommend visiting just to experience something new and different in Charlotte, NC. La Belle Helene is an upscale, French brasserie in the Uptown district of Charlotte. The restaurant opened its doors in the summer of 2018. Inside the restaurant, you will immediately notice a long bar area. This is a perfect for a beverage after work with friends or coworkers. The decor inside was beautifully done. I particularly like the large light fixtures and copper pans around the kitchen area. There is indoor, outdoor, and private room seating available. Helene is open for lunch and dinner during the week, but has different hours on the weekend. They do offer a Sunday brunch, which is popular in Charlotte. Helene's menu offers many seafood, beef, chicken, lamb, and meat options. Their lunch menu is on the lighter side and does contain options for some dietary preferences. However, I would not suggest this restaurant for dinner to someone who is vegetarian or vegan. During my recent visit for dinner, our group ordered the Scottish Salmon, LBH Burger American, and Hand Chopped Beef Tartare. I was unimpressed with the portion size of the salmon, but my friend thought the dish was very tasty. My wife and I shared the burger and tartare. Their burger was well spiced and delicious. The artisan bun was a great compliment to the two thin 4 oz. patties. The side of pomme frities were also very good. We thought the beef tartare was good, but not amazing. It was very tender, but not as flavorful as I would have liked. Our other friend also ordered the burger and thought it was wonderful. The beverage list of wines, beers, and spirits is plentiful. You should have no issue finding something you enjoy during a happy hour or with dinner. One of our friends also enjoys their wine spritzers. My only complaint is that there are very few inexpensive wines available by the glass or bottle. We shared a bottle of Pinot Noir with dinner that was on their lower end of pricing at $48. I like having the ability to order multiple wines around $8-10 a glass and $36-40 a bottle. The service at Helene was above average from everyone we encountered. We had a team of two servers take care of our table. Our water glasses were kept full and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. While our experience at Helene was enjoyable, I felt that our bill was higher than I would have expected. The prices at Helene for food and alcohol are high in my opinion. In addition, we did order the most expensive entrees such as their signature rotisserie chicken or steaks. For the amount of money spent, there are a lot of options around Charlotte. I plan to return to Helene in the future for drinks and dinner. Their location, atmosphere, and dining experience left a good impression. While I felt that we paid too much for our meal, I hope the next visit will change my perspective. I will be attending the Queen City Anime Convention from August 9th – 11th, 2019 in Charlotte, NC. This year, the convention will be held at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel. You can register in advance at a reduced price until July 9, 2019. I have submitted a request to host a panel on Saturday or Sunday. I will share more details about the convention and a link to the schedule of events when they are available.
Spandex City is a hobby store specializing in comics, collectibles, and trading card games. They are located at 2914-A Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road in Charlotte, NC. The shop doubles as an ice cream parlor; carrying a selection of ice cream flavors for a milkshake, sundae, or cone. When visiting Spandex, you will find a few pinball machines and tabletop play space as well. Spandex is a great place for local comic enthusiasts to purchase new issues and related memorabilia. They can backorder any available comics for customers who missed a new release. In addition to comics, Spandex sells booster packs, boxes, and related trading card game merchandise. You can buy sealed product from the latest set of Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering. If you are interested in planning Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering with other players, Spandex offers multiple events each month. You can check their store calendar (link) to see a list of upcoming events by day. The staff at Spandex do a wonderful job running events for participants of all ages. One of the main reasons I visit Spandex is because of their employees. Their manager, Jeremy, is a great person that goes out of his way to ensure each customer has a positive experience. He remembers customers by name and invites them back for a future visit. The other employees at Spandex follow his lead by offering the same level of customer service. I recommend visiting Spandex for all your super hero and trading card game needs in North Charlotte.
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