My fiancé and I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time. He surprised me with a birthday dinner and very excited to try their fried chicken, named Charlotte's best friend. We ordered the fried chicken and the pork chop. Both amazingly delicious! Definitely very happy! Overall rate. The waiters even went above and beyond with birthday confetti waiting at our table!
Rick Mann
Our meal at Carpe Diem was very good. Soup and two salads were excellent and the cheese plate was very tasty. My son and I had tenderloins that were cooked perfectly, my wife had a tuna poke' appetizer for dinner which was fabulous. The only negative for the evening was the brocolini served with our steaks. It was extremely salty and when we brought it to the waiters attention he apologized and offered us dessert on the house. Soon after the manager and the chef came out to talk about it. They handled the situation perfectly and we were extremely pleased with how the evening ended. I will go back and dine with them anytime.
Christopher Helman
Everything about the restaurant from the decor to the menu felt dated...lucky for them their fried chicken is a legitimate classic that totally lives up to the hype. Actually all the food was pretty good and at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.
Brian Lobo
Classy and elegant ambience. Food was phenomenal - the goat cheese from the salad is exquisite and must be tried as it tasted very unique.
Voyage811866
Great meal - the buttermilk fried chicken is a favorite, and the amazing carrots are a new favorite!
Cynthia Stockwell
I have been a regular customer for years and this place is a definite staple for foodies in Charlotte! I would highly recommend this place, you can almost order anything on the menu and expect to love it. The fried chicken is amazing! (which you would think who recommends fried chicken?!?!) It isn't greasy at all or like any other fried chicken you have had! The warm goat cheese salad is another must! Their food is well executed, made with local ingredients and very fresh! I regularly get the fish special....amazing. The shrimp and grits are always on point
Alexander Campbell
Came for Valentine's Day dinner, and had a wonderful meal. The appetizer (crab Cavatelli) was rich and tasty, the entree (buttermilk fried chicken) was phenomenal, and the dessert (chocolate mousse) was sensational! My wife's duck was equally great. Excellent service. Not super pricey for the value. 5 stars!
RosemaryAnn T.
We came for an early dinner and the huge flower picture canvases on the wall were impressive. I was doubling down on the good impression when the waitress offered me a moscato that wasn't on the menu. And then a different server filled my "no ice" water with mostly ice twice in a row (I swapped cups so it was no ice and he immediately iced me a second time). And someone else brought another table's dish to us. And we didn't hear fro. Our original server again until she presented the check and at the same time asked about dessert. So service was kind of a wash for us. And the food was so-so, too. Like, nothing was bad but considering how good everything sounded, it wasn't great either. We did one restaurant week 3-course and one a la carte 4-course, so we got a good spread of the menu. Everything sounded tempting. It came out looking... generally sparse or laid back, and tasting like regular home cooking not like special family recipes or elevated cuisine. Everything was hot which was important as it was pouring outside. But right temperature is table stakes, not extra stars. So I don't think I'll be back because nothing was outstanding but it also wasn't bad because I didn't regret having checked the box and moving on.
kcbren
Thank you so much for the review. Customers love those carrots!
fabiolaz2018
We appreciated your noticing that we strive for consistency. Thank you for taking the time to post your review.
Visited during the Winter Restaurant Week and the menu was very good. I had the NY Strip and it was awesome, wife had buttermilk fried chicken - also awesome. Service was very attentive and friendly. Not a place I would go every week as it is fine dining and a little pricey, but not overly so. Looking forward to coming here again.
Steve Sherron
I went here as part of Charlotte Restaurant week. Our menu was set so we didn’t have the normal full menu. Our meal was excellent. I had a steak that was cooked perfectly. Service was great and the atmosphere and decor was outstanding. Very cozy. Easy parking as well. We will return.
Melody Serre
We were there for restaurant week and it was great. The service was amazing. The food didn't disappoint and the presentation was great. We will definitely be going back.
Kristen M.
Went to Carpe Diem for the first time for January restaurant week 2020. Great experience. Was able to accommodate a larger group (7 people). Brought entrees out in a timely manner. Fresh bread was provided while we waited. I got the chilled grape salad, the famous buttermilk chicken and cheesecake for desert. All was 10/10. Got to try the bread pudding as well, very good. Also have reasonable drink prices. Will be dining again!
Patrice H.
Me and a friend had a reservation during Queen's Feast--maybe that's where we went wrong. I'll say my food was amazing. My steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. My issue was with the service, as it was pretty terrible. Maybe our server had a bad day with customers, so we pretty much ignored her lack of personality at first. My friend ordered her NY strip rare as possible, and I asked our server for "the same except medium rare, please". We get our salads (mine was amazing--the kale salad), and then a different but really great server (male, short sandy blond hair) brought our main course....except mine had salmon. My friend let him know that I ordered steak and I confirmed my order. He was so nice, and simply told us he'd be back with our correct order. The original server came back and pretty aggressively said that I'd ordered salmon and that's what she wrote down. I politely repeated what I'd ordered, and she was so insistent on telling me that I did not order the strip but ordered salmon instead, that I wasn't feeling too happy or welcome. I finally just picked up my wine glass to drink to signal that the conversation was over, and she left. They guy server returned with smile and correct order and that was that. I understand if she heard me wrong, and mistakes happen. I wasn't upset that my food would be delayed, we were there to talk, drink,and eat. She was so agitated to consider that she'd made a mistake that she literally lost us as guest. Also, is it customary to have to carry your own bottle of wine and bucket to your table from the bar? We also had to refill our own glasses throughout the night. We weren't asked if we wanted another bottle, after our glasses had clearly been empty since after our salads (we drink...a lot). In a nutshell: overall experience not worth the lengthy drive to get there, despite the food being great.
My fiancé and I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time. He surprised me with a birthday dinner and very excited to try their fried chicken, named Charlotte's best friend. We ordered the fried chicken and the pork chop. Both amazingly delicious! Definitely very happy! Overall rate. The waiters even went above and beyond with birthday confetti waiting at our table!
Our meal at Carpe Diem was very good. Soup and two salads were excellent and the cheese plate was very tasty. My son and I had tenderloins that were cooked perfectly, my wife had a tuna poke' appetizer for dinner which was fabulous. The only negative for the evening was the brocolini served with our steaks. It was extremely salty and when we brought it to the waiters attention he apologized and offered us dessert on the house. Soon after the manager and the chef came out to talk about it. They handled the situation perfectly and we were extremely pleased with how the evening ended. I will go back and dine with them anytime.
Everything about the restaurant from the decor to the menu felt dated...lucky for them their fried chicken is a legitimate classic that totally lives up to the hype. Actually all the food was pretty good and at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.
Classy and elegant ambience. Food was phenomenal - the goat cheese from the salad is exquisite and must be tried as it tasted very unique.
Great meal - the buttermilk fried chicken is a favorite, and the amazing carrots are a new favorite!
I have been a regular customer for years and this place is a definite staple for foodies in Charlotte! I would highly recommend this place, you can almost order anything on the menu and expect to love it. The fried chicken is amazing! (which you would think who recommends fried chicken?!?!) It isn't greasy at all or like any other fried chicken you have had! The warm goat cheese salad is another must! Their food is well executed, made with local ingredients and very fresh! I regularly get the fish special....amazing. The shrimp and grits are always on point
Came for Valentine's Day dinner, and had a wonderful meal. The appetizer (crab Cavatelli) was rich and tasty, the entree (buttermilk fried chicken) was phenomenal, and the dessert (chocolate mousse) was sensational! My wife's duck was equally great. Excellent service. Not super pricey for the value. 5 stars!
We came for an early dinner and the huge flower picture canvases on the wall were impressive. I was doubling down on the good impression when the waitress offered me a moscato that wasn't on the menu. And then a different server filled my "no ice" water with mostly ice twice in a row (I swapped cups so it was no ice and he immediately iced me a second time). And someone else brought another table's dish to us. And we didn't hear fro. Our original server again until she presented the check and at the same time asked about dessert. So service was kind of a wash for us. And the food was so-so, too. Like, nothing was bad but considering how good everything sounded, it wasn't great either. We did one restaurant week 3-course and one a la carte 4-course, so we got a good spread of the menu. Everything sounded tempting. It came out looking... generally sparse or laid back, and tasting like regular home cooking not like special family recipes or elevated cuisine. Everything was hot which was important as it was pouring outside. But right temperature is table stakes, not extra stars. So I don't think I'll be back because nothing was outstanding but it also wasn't bad because I didn't regret having checked the box and moving on.
Thank you so much for the review. Customers love those carrots!
We appreciated your noticing that we strive for consistency. Thank you for taking the time to post your review.
Restaurantji Recommends
Visited during the Winter Restaurant Week and the menu was very good. I had the NY Strip and it was awesome, wife had buttermilk fried chicken - also awesome. Service was very attentive and friendly. Not a place I would go every week as it is fine dining and a little pricey, but not overly so. Looking forward to coming here again.
I went here as part of Charlotte Restaurant week. Our menu was set so we didn’t have the normal full menu. Our meal was excellent. I had a steak that was cooked perfectly. Service was great and the atmosphere and decor was outstanding. Very cozy. Easy parking as well. We will return.
We were there for restaurant week and it was great. The service was amazing. The food didn't disappoint and the presentation was great. We will definitely be going back.
Went to Carpe Diem for the first time for January restaurant week 2020. Great experience. Was able to accommodate a larger group (7 people). Brought entrees out in a timely manner. Fresh bread was provided while we waited. I got the chilled grape salad, the famous buttermilk chicken and cheesecake for desert. All was 10/10. Got to try the bread pudding as well, very good. Also have reasonable drink prices. Will be dining again!
Me and a friend had a reservation during Queen's Feast--maybe that's where we went wrong. I'll say my food was amazing. My steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. My issue was with the service, as it was pretty terrible. Maybe our server had a bad day with customers, so we pretty much ignored her lack of personality at first. My friend ordered her NY strip rare as possible, and I asked our server for "the same except medium rare, please". We get our salads (mine was amazing--the kale salad), and then a different but really great server (male, short sandy blond hair) brought our main course....except mine had salmon. My friend let him know that I ordered steak and I confirmed my order. He was so nice, and simply told us he'd be back with our correct order. The original server came back and pretty aggressively said that I'd ordered salmon and that's what she wrote down. I politely repeated what I'd ordered, and she was so insistent on telling me that I did not order the strip but ordered salmon instead, that I wasn't feeling too happy or welcome. I finally just picked up my wine glass to drink to signal that the conversation was over, and she left. They guy server returned with smile and correct order and that was that. I understand if she heard me wrong, and mistakes happen. I wasn't upset that my food would be delayed, we were there to talk, drink,and eat. She was so agitated to consider that she'd made a mistake that she literally lost us as guest. Also, is it customary to have to carry your own bottle of wine and bucket to your table from the bar? We also had to refill our own glasses throughout the night. We weren't asked if we wanted another bottle, after our glasses had clearly been empty since after our salads (we drink...a lot). In a nutshell: overall experience not worth the lengthy drive to get there, despite the food being great.