KID CASHEW — Restaurant in Charlotte

Kid Cashew in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood is where Mediterranean cuisine gets a modern twist, catering to a myriad of diets from carnivores to vegans, and gluten-free. They swear off freezers, fryers, and heat lamps, ensuring every dish is a fresh masterpiece. Plus, they boast a full bar for those who like a side of hops with their hummus, located on the lively East Blvd.

My culinary adventure began years ago with a quest for Charlotte’s ultimate mac & cheese, leading me to Kid Cashew’s takeout. Spoiler: It didn’t disappoint. Fast forward to now, I decided it was high time to grace Kid Cashew with my presence for the full dine-in saga. The menu is a treasure trove of shareable plates. I zeroed in on the “Meatball Au Poivre” ($9.95) - a beefy, herby delight swimming in cognac peppercorn gravy, and the “Cast Iron Mac & 5-Cheeses” ($8.95) - a dairy lover’s dream with a quintet of cheeses melding into creamy bliss. Without skipping a beat, I also nabbed the “Baked Spinach & Feta Dip” ($8.95), because why not dive into a cheesy spinach pool with pita paddles?

Seated at the bar, I was in the good hands of Brittanie, the bartender extraordinaire. She’s not just a mixologist; she’s a menu wizard, a conversational maestro, and possibly my new best friend. Brittanie guided me through the menu with the expertise of a seasoned foodie, ensuring my taste buds were in for a treat.

The meatballs were a revelation. Imagine five cute juicy meatballs taking a dive in a pool of creamy, buttery cognac peppercorn gravy, and you’re invited to the party. And bring the pita bread for a dip; it’s the etiquette. The Mac & Cheese? Let’s just say it performed a cheese pull so majestic, I half expected a standing ovation from the couple seated next to me. It’s the kind of dish that whispers, “You’ll never want to leave me.”

Speaking of cheese pulls, the spinach and feta dip followed suit. It’s not just a dip; it’s a cheesy escapade with spinach. The warm, fluffy pita served alongside was the perfect companion for a dive into this cheesy wonderland.

Kid Cashew’s seating options are as versatile as their menu, offering everything from bar seats under Brittanie’s watchful eye to an outdoor heated patio (though the chairs could use a lesson in comfort).

The ambiance? Imagine dining to the tune of Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston’s “It Takes Two,” where the sound level is just right for plotting your next cheese pull.

Parking is complimentary, a rare find in Charlotte, though it might test your parallel parking skills on a busy night.

As I sat there, overindulging in what could easily feed a small family, I couldn’t help but plan my next visit. The Rotisserie chicken has my name on it, and yes, I noticed the paper straws. Eco-friendly and delicious? Kid Cashew, you’ve got yourself a...

Kid Cashew is one of the best places to go in Charlotte in all facets of the business. That includes food, ambience, service, drinks, etc. This is one of the few places that I have been to multiple times and it's always top-notch when I visit. Food: First off, they have some of THEE BEST specials. Lunch: Pick 2 for $10.95 from 11:00am-3:00pm weekdays. ** Happy Hour: $6 small plates from 3:00pm-6:00pm weekdays. ** I went to HH and devoured the deliciously prepared wood fired grill octopus and the shrimp & polenta. I always get the octopus because they have the best in the city and for $6, can't beat it! Some other known favorites is the cast iron mac & 5 cheeses, quinoa stuffed avocado, cilantro-lime chicken skewers, and the Brussel sprouts, but everything I have tried on the menu is piquant. Ambience: They have an extremely nice patio/full service bar/plenty of inside seating as well. The kitchen is fully visible so you're immersed in the wood fire grill both visually and through the wonderful aromas. Drinks: Daily specials Mon - Thurs ALL DAY! My favorite days to go are $6 Martini Mondays and (1/2) off Whiskey, Scotch, & Bourbon. Can't beat it! &&& they will make a cocktail with your spirit of choice that still honors the deal! Yes...it's true! Service: I've NEVER had a problem with service at all. All of the bartenders/wait staff are extremely 'WOKE' and take care of us, the customers. This is probably one of the MAIN reasons I go back here. Service is #1 to me believe it or not because if the service is good, everything else has to be!

All in all, Kid Cashew deserves 5 stars in every way possible. The only negative is that I can't go...

When trying to find a good brunch place in Charlotte, I brushed up on this place. Kids under 6 eat free and we had two kids under six so we had to go. (By the way, they only have 3 kid options - half a waffle, cheeseburger with kettle chips, chicken tenders) Not to mention the reviews were very great. But once we got there, we quickly learned that the food was stellar and very tasty. We ordered two orders of the shrimp and grits because one just wasn't enough and we had the lamb burger which was amazing. It could have used a little more tzatziki but it was great and the kids ordered waffle and cheeseburger. Now the waffle is a half waffle and the cheeseburger is just a cheeseburger. They do not offer french fries because they don't have any fryers or any warmers and so as the food is completed in the kitchen it comes straight out to the table so they don't wait until the whole order is done to bring. They bring it as is done but the food started to come out less than 10 minutes after we ordered. Everything was very delicious! The temperature was great. Very tasty! I love that the shrimp and grits had a little more tomato than usual, but that's because they wanted to put their Mediterranean spin on it. But, I thought it was great. It came with about five shrimp in it. The lamb burger was amazing. It has about two patties on it and it really does taste like lamb which pleased me. It also has taziki and arugula on it. It was just great! The prices were very reasonable; everything was between $10-$15 per plate. The atmosphere can be a little nosey depending on the time of day you are there. We went about 11:15 on a Sunday.

I would definitely return to try more...