115 replies to this topic

[Forrest]

I never thought Zink was all that great.  Just average bistro food to me.  It's a shame that the space could not be used for storefront retail instead of a bank. Gee that's novel. Another bank on Tryon. Catch me before I faint from the shock  

[ScottCLT]

Forrest, on 28 July 2010 - 09:39 AM, said:

I never thought Zink was all that great.  Just average bistro food to me.  It's a shame that the space could not be used for storefront retail instead of a bank. Gee that's novel. Another bank on Tryon. Catch me before I faint from the shock  

I actually really liked the spot. I loved the food there - I doubted that meatloaf could actually be worth the $20 entree price, but not after I had it at Zink. Totally worth it. I also liked the more laid back bar crowd on the weekends. If I wanted to go somewhere to have some drinks, but nothihng crazy, Zink was always a good choice.

[nonillogical]

The one time I tried to go there with two friends, we were seated without menus, and left after 10 minutes of waiters looking at us but not acknowledging us. We did draw on the table a bit first with the provided crayons (I thought it was weird for this fairly fancy-feeling place to have crayons and paper on the table).

Anyway its really the only restaurant I've ever been to that I felt completely unwelcome in, but I've heard nothing but good things from other people. I'm sure our impression would have been different if we'd gone to the bar side. I'd rather see it stay than get another bank branch.

[Urbanity]

I've only been to Zink about three times and generally liked it at the bar side much more so than the restaurant side.  The food was ok, but the atmosphere, location, and general vibe was something I really liked - particularly for a drink or bite after a show at the Belk.  Guess I'll be going to Wooden Vine now instead.

If Zink wants to reopen they could look at the Ratcliffe on the Green space which I think could be a gold mine with with Zink's focus and being near the cultural campus.

[palmetto75]

swampfox43, on 21 July 2010 - 06:15 PM, said:

Hmmm....I work really close to there and we had heard this was coming a while back due to the fact the owner had not paid his taxes. Honestly, I am not the least bothered by this. The owner (or co-owner, not really sure, but the yankee guy) was a jerk with an attitude. We saw him going about 80mph behind the shopping center once. He could often be heard in the kitchen loudly swearing and cussing his employees. And there was a particular waitress who, besides having a zero personality, was typically rude. Just my 2¢.

Agreed.  

As a bar with a lil different angle I liked Sir Ed's.  As a restaurant I thought the food was avg at best and wayyyyy overpriced.

[hokiehigh]

Supposedly Tutto Mundo is closing.  I haven't seen it in a paper/online yet though.  Anyone else know?

[tozmervo]

Their twitter feed confirms. It is closing Aug 13
http://twitter.com/tuttomondo

[Forrest]

Dang...that's a shocker for me. Of all places I thought they were doing fine, know lots of folks who love it.

[hokiehigh]

I think 316 killed it on Friday night.  I always thought they should change it to a Latin bar and it would work.  Oh well.  It had been around for a long time!

[Forrest]

That could be....Tutto Mundo had definitely capitalized on Liasons loss of popularity over the years. Especially on Fridays, 316 as Liasons replacement may have drawn them back.

[dbull75]

Apparently the Tutto Mondo space won't stay closed for long. I saw via Twitter that a new place called "Dejavu" will open in its place within a few weeks after TM closing. No other details on that at the moment.

[hokiehigh]

Therapy has closed.  No real surprise to me.

[nonillogical]

hokiehigh, on 10 August 2010 - 03:32 PM, said:

Therapy has closed.  No real surprise to me.

well damn. not TOO surprised either but i liked going there for breakfast to-go. since i live right across the street at tryon house it is a pretty big blow to my block.

uptown got over-saturated with trendy modern bar/lounges, and the best recent additions have been of the more down-to-earth variety (dandelion market, eggheads). its a great space so i think something will go there soon, i just hope it doesn't repeat therapy's mistakes.

[ScottCLT]

nonillogical, on 10 August 2010 - 04:38 PM, said:

well damn. not TOO surprised either but i liked going there for breakfast to-go. since i live right across the street at tryon house it is a pretty big blow to my block.

uptown got over-saturated with trendy modern bar/lounges, and the best recent additions have been of the more down-to-earth variety (dandelion market, eggheads). its a great space so i think something will go there soon, i just hope it doesn't repeat therapy's mistakes.

I don't think they should have expanded. Maybe the extra rent was too much for it to survive. Also, it'
s a bit off the beaten path as far as nightlife goes.

[ScottCLT]

Fiji sushi on 5th street also has closed. Not a big surprise to me. I have never heard of anyone eating there, and uptown is a bit overpopulated with sushi joints now. This seems like one of those doomed spots like where Molly MacPherson's is now. But I think Molly's will live on for many years. This spot just has to find the right scene like they did at Molly's...hopefully the next iteration will last more than a year.

[Urbanity]

I don't think it is a coincidence that the places that are closing, Fiji, Therapy, Ratcliffe have all be upscale or try to present an upscale image while the places that seem to be doing well and have most people excited, Mollys, Dandelion, Eggheads and Hooligans are laid back pub/restaurants.  

A large part is the economy but I also think that city center had long past it's saturation of "trendy" and touristy/day visitor spots while lacking a good number of regular joe/residents places.

Edited by Urbanity, 12 August 2010 - 04:02 AM.

[nonillogical]

Urbanity, on 12 August 2010 - 04:02 AM, said:

I don't think it is a coincidence that the places that are closing, Fiji, Therapy, Ratcliffe have all be upscale or try to present an upscale image while the places that seem to be doing well and have most people excited, Mollys, Dandelion, Eggheads and Hooligans are laid back pub/restaurants.  

A large part is the economy but I also think that city center had long past it's saturation of "trendy" and touristy/day visitor spots while lacking a good number of regular joe/residents places.

i totally agree, and think that what eventually fills all those spaces will be reflections of that. Therapy and Fiji in particular had too many direct competitors that offered a better experience at the same price. For Fiji, it was the (imo) vastly superior Room 112 and Enso, and for Therapy it was just a lot of similar newer places like Crave, Kazbah, Luna Lounge (also not likely to last), etc.

[dbull75]

Urbanity, on 12 August 2010 - 04:02 AM, said:

I don't think it is a coincidence that the places that are closing, Fiji, Therapy, Ratcliffe have all be upscale or try to present an upscale image while the places that seem to be doing well and have most people excited, Mollys, Dandelion, Eggheads and Hooligans are laid back pub/restaurants.  

A large part is the economy but I also think that city center had long past it's saturation of "trendy" and touristy/day visitor spots while lacking a good number of regular joe/residents places.

Yea, there are only so many upscale places that can be supported. It's nice to finally see some diversification in the bars and restaurants. Has anyone been to Molly MacPherson's yet? I've been wanting to check it out.

[kermit]

dbull75, on 12 August 2010 - 08:28 AM, said:

Yea, there are only so many upscale places that can be supported. It's nice to finally see some diversification in the bars and restaurants. Has anyone been to Molly MacPherson's yet? I've been wanting to check it out.

I was there at an off time and I was cranky going in so take this for what its worth. I thought MacPherson's had a stripmall bar vibe and had an interesting (but not particularly good) beer selection (I had the 'kelpie' a Scottish beer featuring actual seaweed).  

Despite all that I will likely give it another chance.

[ScottCLT]

dbull75, on 12 August 2010 - 08:28 AM, said:

Yea, there are only so many upscale places that can be supported. It's nice to finally see some diversification in the bars and restaurants. Has anyone been to Molly MacPherson's yet? I've been wanting to check it out.

I went a couple weeks ago. They have some pretty good food. I got an appetizer sampler and the Scotch eggs were my favorite - Hard-boiled eggs encased in sausage and deep fried. They have quite a selection of scotch, and the the owner of the Charlotte location (who is Scottish) was there and was extremely knowledgeable about everything on the scotch menu. It was pretty packed when we were in there on a Saturday night. I enjoyed it, and I'll definitely return.