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[ScottCLT]

We had an early dinner at Small's tonight. It was dead, but it was also 5:00 and the staff said that it usually gets crowded around 7. We started with the fried pickles, which were delicious! They make their own pickles, and that unique flavor made the difference. My wife had the ground hangar steak burger with bleu cheese and bacon. She said it was on of the best burgers she had ever had and a possible "best burger in Charlotte" contender. I had a bite and have to agree...the texture reminded me of the burgers from JG Mellon in NYC (which is a must if you visit). I had French onion soup and the Korean Confit wings. The portions of my plates were a little overwhelming. The soup was hearty, full of onions. The wings were monstrous in size, and the unique VERY spicy Asian glaze left a burn in my mouth for a while (and they are very messy, too...ask for extra napkins). The service was great, but then again we were two of only four in the restaurant at the time. The owner greeted us personally a couple times to make sure we were happy. Small's has a nice neighborhood vibe, but is a bit more modern inside than I imagined. Definitely a place we will return!

I inquired with the owner about Elizabeth Fish and Oyster House next door, which will share the kitchen with Small's and is owned by him also. He said it will be open by the end of April, and will focus on fresh seafood flown in daily. They will have a menu that changes daily because of that. The raw bar will be serving 8 kinds of oysters at all times depending on what's available, and they will range from $.75 to $3.00 a piece. I think that's awesome, because I do love to down a few dozen at a time occasionally, but hate the typical price tag of $60 or so to do that. The atmosphere is supposed to be minimalist and casual. A good place to grab a beer and some seafood and watch a game. I am very much looking forward to this place!