Mico Restaurant — Restaurant in Charlotte

Not happy. With Covid and our efforts to practice the 'stay-at-home to help stop the spread', our fine dining has been limited to basically less than what I can count on one hand for the last year. After having a great experience at the bar restaurant for my birthday just last November, I told my husband we could do all future special occasions here - I completely take it back. We made the reservation at Miko for Feb 12th weeks in advance. I regret we did not do our due-diligence to research their offerings for Valentines weekend. Knowing how places like to gauge patrons on special occasions, I should've realized this would be no different. With the high percentage of restaurants suffering and going out of business due to COVID restrictions, I would think the ones still lucky enough to be open would reconsider some of their business practices in order to encourage people to offer them more support. When my husband made our reservation weeks in advance, he was given NO information regarding the restricted menu for February 12th. No one said it would be a 'special' menu until we arrived at which point the hostess VERY condescendingly informed us we were previously told the entire reason we had to provide a credit card for our reservation was because of the 'special menu'. She thoroughly soured the tone for the evening. NO we weren't told that. We were told there was a $25 cancellation fee because of Valentines day, which ok we totally get. That's ALL we were told. But once we arrived we were told it was $125 per person and we didn't even get to choose what we wanted to eat. To say the menu was limited was beyond an understatement. I went hungry all day in preparation for this rare Covid dinner out for this special occasion, only to be told to bend over and eat what we tell you with a $400 bill after drinks. As we watched table after table get up and walk out after viewing the menu, clearly not the only ones who had not been informed, we sucked it up and stuck it out. I mean, at this point where would we go on a Friday night uptown for Valentines weekend? We were essentially hungry hostages mildly consoled we weren't the only ones to feel like victims of this bait-and-switch. After getting a bite size roll to start with and not even tap water to wash it down, the free drink I eventually got from all the complaining I was doing did help to swallow this bitter pill. Don't get me wrong, the food was delicious, but I was BEYOND disappointed. Short ribs for $125 was not what I had envisioned for this special occasion. When you finally get to go out to enjoy some fine dining in spite of a worldwide pandemic, the choice of that special meal should be the patrons. I was hoping we could salvage the evening by enjoying the terrace at the bar upstairs. Again, a big fat no. I asked the bartender (who served me the same drink I ordered downstairs but for $8 more) if the balcony was open only to be told she didn't know if the doors less than a napkins throw away were open, but I could go check. Really? So we approached the security guards at the door to balcony and were told we could go outside but we were not allowed to walk anywhere with our drinks because of COVID. So I couldn't walk less than 10 ft and take my drink with me to an empty balcony to take a Valentines pic, but was told I had to leave my drink unattended at the bar. I explained that's a definite no. NO ONE should ever leave their drink unattended at a bar during normal times, let alone now. I've been roofied before. I don't ever leave my drinks unattended. He offered to watch it for me. Another NO. So I shotgunned the remainder of my drink just so we could take a pic on the balcony, and we left. Why would we stay? Why would we go back? We won't. Service industry businesses in Charlotte should really re-think their practices and how to better implement COVID restrictions if they want to have any hope of staying profitable, let alone open. Personally after last nights experience I'd rather stay home during...

I visited this restaurant on 1/23/21 to celebrate a birthday. We had a reservation for 6:30pm for 12. We had our own room, and it was nice. This restaurant is located inside of the Grand Bohemian Hotel. They do have free valet. You just have to get the ticket stamped.

The ambiance and decor throughout was lovely and elegant. There is a QR code on the table for guest to pull up the menu. While waiting for everyone to arrive and looking through the menu, we were given a food sample. I cannot tell you what it was. I just know that it was fish. It was cold and somewhat tasteless. There was a small hint of spice, according to other people in the group. For beverages, 4 of us got the “TRADE STREET SANGRIA” (Smirnoff Vodka, White Muscadine, Mango, Pineapple Juice). It was served in a wine glass. I enjoyed it and so did everyone else who also ordered it. For food, I got the “Carolina White Shrimp” (House Milled Corn Polenta, Sunchokes, Young Greens, Spotted Trotter Nduja, Shellfish Brodo). It was essentially shrimp and grits. The sauce was spicy and I’m not a fan of spicy. It was good, however. The grits and shrimp was good. A couple other guest got potatoes with their food as a side and I had some. It helped to take away the spice from my mouth.

One guest for the Lamb Special, which isn’t on the menu. It was $32. They felt that you really didn’t get any food for the price. They got a side of mushrooms, which they said was good. The birthday person got the Whole Fried Snapper, which was $32. Food portion and price aligned well. It was delicious! I tried it. Two other guest got the Merguez Spiced Lamb and the Sixty South Salmon. They both enjoyed their food with no complaints. Jasmine was our waitress. She was attentive. Due to party size (I assume), 18% gratuity was automatically added to everyone’s bill.

COVID: Masks are required and worn by employees. There were hand sanitizer dispensers available. Tables were socially distanced.

Overall: The experience was good overall and we didn’t encounter any problems. Service was well. COVID precautions were put into place. The drinks and food was good.

Note: They do have a bar upstairs called Búho Bar. I had planned to go upstairs when I finished but it got late. Due to COVID, it’s presently a 10pm curfew and cutoff for alcohol sales. Maybe next time...

The best part about the meal I had was the sauce.. the salmon was bland and I received a children sized portion of French fries for the side. My server Chandler was not attentive and quite frankly seemed flustered, lost, and confused as it relates to our 9 top party. The service was extremely slow, I had to ask for straws, Dijon mustard, and my check multiple times. It took an hour after finishing the meal to receive the check and we dined in on a Tuesday. It was not busy, at all. We actually were the last party to leave the restaurant, waiting on our checks to get distributed. But that’s not my issue, my main issue it that after informing Chandler three times that all I had was salmon and a beverage, I was still overcharged ... and not by a little. Upon discovering this error on behalf of the restaurants staff, I contacted the establishment not once, not twice, but THREE times as the first two times I was given the run around and told the issue would be “looked into” and that a manager would get back to me. I’ve worked and managed in the restaurant industry and I’ve never heard of a request to investigate an over charge not being looked into the moment it was bought to a “managers” attention so that was certainly odd to me. Maybe not have staff on duty that cannot fulfill managerial duties? Like seriously, why was the first two “mangers” I spoke with unable to process this request? I was told the information would be passed along to the general manager Steven and that I would be contacted and that also never happened. Finally I spoke with Sara who was the only one who actually looked into the issue and called me back only after expressing to her that I have no sense of goodwill with the establishment, following the lack of contact from her colleagues, on our previous conversations. Although she had an extreme lack of sentiment and empathy, she at least kept her word and called me back... moral of the story is that it should not have taken a week to get that issue resolved. All around unprofessional from the server to the management and back again. Will not recommend, and if you do go be sure to check your accounts for over charges afterward.

other members in our party had...