Deluxe Fun Dining — Restaurant in Charlotte

Ah, dear reader, prepare your taste buds for a rollercoaster ride through the culinary wonderland that is Deluxe Fun Dining! Picture this: your humble scribe and his better half embarking on a gastronomic adventure that would make Willy Wonka green with envy.

We kicked off our epicurean escapade with libations that could make a teetotaler weak at the knees. Yours truly opted for a smoked old-fashioned – because nothing says "sophistication" quite like sipping on what appears to be a glass of campfire. Meanwhile, my darling wife threw caution to the wind with the enigmatically named "I don't know" cocktail. It's like playing Russian roulette with your taste buds, but instead of bullets, you get a delightful concoction tailored to your whims.

As if our culinary journey wasn't extraordinary enough, the evening took an unexpected twist with the arrival of Evan, the restaurant's resident magician. While we enjoyed our libations, this enchanting performer materialized at our table and proceeded to dazzle us with a mesmerizing card trick that left us as spellbound as the drinks we were enjoying.

As we ventured deeper into this labyrinth of flavors, our appetizers arrived with the fanfare of a royal procession. I found myself face-to-face with oysters Rockefeller, those briny jewels of the sea dressed up like they're attending the Met Gala. My wife, not to be outdone, indulged in what can only be described as cheese's attempt at world domination: heavenly cheese puffs. These little clouds of pastry, stuffed to the brim with fromage, were so divine they could make angels weep.

But wait, there's more! The main event strutted onto our table like it owned the place. Her deluxe mac & cheese with lobster tail was a cheese lover's fever dream – a dish so decadent it should come with a warning label. As for me, I tackled the salmon Wellington, a dish that had more layers than an onion wearing a trench coat. Imagine, if you will, salmon and spinach playing hide-and-seek in a puff pastry fortress, all lounging on a bed of mashed potatoes so creamy they could moonlight as a face mask.

Just when we thought we couldn't possibly consume another morsel, dessert sashayed its way to our table. The "shared indulgence" lived up to its name, proving that sharing is indeed caring. This sweet symphony featured a duet of creams – Bailey's and vanilla – performing a pas de deux atop a stage of brownie bits and cookie crumbles. The grand finale? A confetti of fresh fruits and berries, because apparently, someone decided this dessert needed to be part of a balanced breakfast.

As our culinary adventure unfolded, we were expertly guided by Yana, our attentive waitress who transformed an already exceptional dining experience into something truly memorable. With the precision of a seasoned conductor, she orchestrated our meal with remarkable care – ensuring our water glasses never dipped below half-full and checking in after each course with a genuine warmth that made us feel like honored guests rather than mere patrons.

Yana's impeccable service epitomized the restaurant's commitment to top-notch customer experience. Her intuitive approach anticipated our needs before we even realized them, seamlessly weaving between our table and the kitchen, making certain that every moment of our dining journey was nothing short of perfection. From the magical card trick interlude with Evan to the final decadent dessert, Yana was the invisible hand that ensured our evening at Deluxe Fun Dining was as smooth as the velvety vanilla cream that graced our shared indulgence.

In conclusion, dear gourmands, if you're looking for a dining experience that's part circus, part flavor explosion, and all fun, Deluxe Fun Dining is your ticket to culinary nirvana. Just remember to bring your sense of adventure – and maybe some...

Located right in Uptown Charlotte, Deluxe Fun Dining promises a party on a plate, and it truly lives up to that expectation. I was joined by a friend for this culinary carnival, courtesy of a special invitation from Deluxe Fun Dining, which generously covered our meal in exchange for my candid impressions. Our experience began with a greeting from our waiter, Ismat, a recent transplant from Kazakhstan. Yes, you heard right—Kazakhstan! While he didn't arrive by horseback or in a fluorescent mankini, Borat fans, he brought his A-game with a vibrant rundown of the menu that would make even Borat raise his glass for more than just “great success.” The show started with the Deluxe Bloody Mary—a non-alcoholic extravaganza topped with an entire seafood market. Seriously, this drink was like a marine biology expedition, minus the wet suit. While I struggled a bit with the crab legs—my fingers aren't quite as nimble as a crab's—the effort was mostly worth it. The lobster might have been the diva of the glass, demanding too much attention for my taste, but nothing that a little clarified butter couldn't smooth over. Next, we dove into the appetizers with the Lobster Puffs of Heaven, which literally arrived in a mini toaster oven. Yes, an actual toaster oven at our table. When oven timer dinged, it wasn't just our cue to eat, but a delightful mini-event that had us giggling more than expected. The Poppin' Popcorn Shrimp was not to be outdone, served in a genuine popcorn machine that billowed smoke upon opening, enveloping our table in a fog reminiscent of fresh popcorn being made. The shrimp itself, crispy and satisfying, evoked memories of the best of Captain D’s but elevated with Deluxe’s own unique dipping sauce. And the Baked Deluxe Oysters? They came highly recommended by Ismat and did not disappoint, adorned with blue crab, parmesan cheese and a drizzle of Béarnaise that had us practically licking the shells. For our main course, we tackled the BBQ of Bones—a platter featured marinated grilled lamb chops (requested medium-rare but arriving a shade over to medium), chicken wings, and a steamed lobster tail, all on a tabletop BBQ grill. The lamb chops, although slightly overdone, were redeemed by a fresh mint sauce that added a refreshing kick. The juicy BBQ chicken was a hit with my dining partner, and the lobster tail, slightly overcooked, was quickly forgiven once dipped in clarified butter. Dessert was a spectacle in itself with the Chocolate Heaven—a rich chocolate torte onto which a velvety chocolate ganache was poured right at our table, a dream come true for any chocolate aficionado. While Deluxe Fun Dining might blur the lines between dining and entertainment, each dish is a showstopper worthy of your social media feed—even if my own photos didn't quite capture the spectacle (apologies for the less-than-professional quality!). From the extravagant drinks to the indulgent desserts, every plate was a celebration of flavor, perfect for sharing with followers, friends, and family. So, grab your camera and your appetite—you won’t want to miss this unforgettable dining experience at...

This place is definitely for the experience and show, the food and atmosphere were lackluster. I think this place is targeted as a special treat for people who care more about the experience than the food.

The branding of the restaurant as far as I can tell is supposed to be high end. They even list a smart casual dress code on the website. And the price point also brands them this way. This is the main reason for my review not being more positive. I felt like the experience was maybe worth $25 a person, but did not justify the almost $100 a person we spent.

The building itself is not very appealing, from the outside it felt almost run down. The inside was fine but nothing special. Our waiter was nice and friendly, other than being a little slow I didn’t have any issues with the waitstaff.

We were offered a water choice, although I felt it was slightly misleading; the waiter said “purified still” but it was actually bottled spring water. Both of us were charged for the water so it was $14 just for the water. As advertised the food presentation was very cool, although some dishes had better presentation than others and it was hard to tell which items to order without looking at yelp/google/tik tok in advance. We started with the popcorn shrimp which was fine but the portion was very small. The popcorn was also extremely stale. For entrees we got the burger and the bbq of the bones. The burger was not very good, it was lacking flavor. The lobster portion included was not a full lobster tail which again, I felt was misleading from what was said by the menu/waiter. In the BBQ of the bones, I did think the lamb, wings, and sauces were good. The lobster tail was not fresh and was poorly cooked. In both dishes the fries were extremely stale and unflavored, and both dishes were so drenched in butter that I felt almost sick afterwards.

When we paid we completely missed that the gratuity was already included, even for a small party of 2. While I will admit this was my fault (it was clear on both the menu and receipt), I do wish the waiter had mentioned this or circled it on the receipt. Given this, we basically tipped near 50%…

Overall I felt like maybe this restaurant wasn’t really meant for me. The food quality was akin to a low end chain such as Applebee’s or Red Lobster on an off day. But again, the branding and price point made it feel like it would be better quality. I could have gone to a high-end steakhouse for the same cost. I do think there’s probably some people who the experience would be worth the cost for, and if the food quality had been better I might have...