Church and Union Charlotte — Restaurant in Charlotte

My friend made reservations at Church and Union to celebrate her birthday, and a group of 10 of us drove about an hour to join her. First impressions: the location is great, and the aesthetics are beautiful. The place definitely has a great vibe. We were seated in a cozy little nook, and our waitress, Chloe, was very attentive, friendly, and took the time to discuss the menu with us.

We ordered both food and drinks at the same time, but the drinks didn’t arrive until after our food, which was a little odd. However, we were all enjoying ourselves and didn’t mind too much. The menu itself felt a bit out of place for the setting—very basic compared to the upscale atmosphere.

I ordered a mushroom omelet, which came with home fries and toast. Unfortunately, the food was lukewarm, and the toast wasn’t toasted. On the upside, my drink, The Ghost (tequila, orange liqueur, lime, cucumber water, and cayenne pepper), was delicious—the highlight of the meal for me.

The group ordered a variety of dishes. Two people had the chicken sandwich, which they said was like a “hyped-up Chick-fil-A sandwich.” One person got avocado toast but received scrambled eggs instead of the sunny-side-up egg she asked for. The birthday girl ordered shrimp and grits, but she was told it would take an extra 20 minutes to prepare as they had run out. She agreed to wait, but even after the rest of us had received and finished our meals, her shrimp and grits still hadn’t arrived. When they finally did, they included mushrooms, which she had requested be left off. The staff quickly corrected it, but by then, everyone else was done eating.

The manager came over to apologize and offered some service recovery for the delay, which was appreciated. To be clear, the service wasn’t bad at all—our waitress was kind and attentive. But overall, the food didn’t quite live up to the setting or our expectations.

In short, Church and Union is a beautiful spot with a great vibe and excellent service, but the food didn’t quite hit the...

Well, for starters, I have been trying to come here for the longest and the lines were very long so I assume the food was good. The service was great. I came there today and sat at the bar with my best friend. We are celebrating my 30th birthday and a new girl approached us and was very polite and served as mimosas and gave us enough time to go with the menu asked a few questions, but she said that she was new and she would ask some men that have been around the bar, a man was serving someone beside us. I don’t know his name, but he had cornrows in a black shirt. I started to ask questions about the Alabama White sauce and in the middle of explaining that we were new he told us to hold on one second and went to do something else he came back. He did not apologize for leaving quick and his energy was very dull. It was not welcoming at all. He did not give any suggestions, or anything. I tried, but after changing my order, I decided that the energy was just not welcoming and I didn’t want any food just to pay for my mimosas, when I told the woman that she went back and explained that and the man with the cornrows , returned and said OK well, your food is gonna be out in a minute. and my friend explained that you did not want the food. I did not have an issue paying for my Mimosa, however he said ok shook his head and walked off. It was very rude and very unwelcoming, and I did not want to pay for any food with that type of energy in an establishment , he mustve heard me says he was very unwelcoming and I did not appreciate his energy.. he turned around and told us that we could just go ahead and go and didn’t have to worry about paying for the mimosa so I guess he wanted to hurry up and leave, however I will not be returning ...

C&U, situated conveniently within walking distance of the Belk Theater, offers an aesthetically pleasing dining environment. The ambiance is carefully curated, providing a backdrop of understated elegance that enhances the overall dining experience.

The Seared Ahi Tuna, a standout dish, exemplifies the restaurant's commitment to culinary excellence. Served with sticky rice, peas, miso brown butter, and an umami crunch, the dish presents a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. The tuna, expertly seared, retains its delicate texture, while the accompanying elements provide a nuanced depth that elevates the dish to a memorable gastronomic experience. The service, primarily, was commendable, with both the host and my waiter, Karma, displaying exceptional attentiveness and charm.

However, the interaction with the manager (or owner) detracted somewhat from the otherwise flawless experience. I'm finding it hard to recall whether he was an owner or the manager, and his name escapes me now that three months have passed. A minor billing discrepancy, though promptly resolved, was handled with a level of curtness that seemed disproportionate. This was my first visit, timed to coincide with my birthday weekend and intended as a light meal following the opera. While this interaction was a notable blemish, the otherwise exceptional quality of the cuisine and service ensures that C&U remains a recommended dining...