Queen City Bites & Crafts — Restaurant in Charlotte

Where do I even begin with Elise, the Michelangelo of mixology, the Beyoncé of the bar, the therapist with tequila? Walking into this bar was like stepping into a Nicholas Sparks movie if it were set in a dive bar that served top-shelf drinks — and Elise was the leading lady with a shaker in one hand and my soul in the other.

First off, she remembered my drink order after one visit. ONE. I’ve been dating people for months who still forget my birthday. Elise, though? She took one look at me, heard me mumble “uhh maybe a whiskey something?” and crafted a masterpiece that tasted like liquid courage dipped in confidence and served over chilled nostalgia. I’ve never felt so emotionally understood by a cocktail.

She doesn’t just pour drinks — no, no. She performs them. She flipped a bottle like it owed her money. Garnished my gin with the flair of a Broadway dancer. Lit a citrus peel on fire just to make eye contact and whisper, “This one’s got a little kick.” Elise turned pouring a beer into a form of interpretive dance. I watched her make a mojito while breaking up a bar fight without stopping to stir. I swear I saw a bald eagle fly by the window as she salted the rim of a margarita.

Now let’s talk about service. You know how some bartenders vanish like Batman when you need another drink? Not Elise. Elise is omnipresent. She has mastered the Matrix. I blinked and she was already at the other end of the bar cracking a joke, handing out napkins, and diagnosing someone’s astrological chart. I asked for a water and she handed it to me before I finished the sentence. I don’t know if she’s got ESP or if she’s just a hospitality wizard, but either way — I’m terrified and impressed.

Elise also has the kind of humor that makes you think she moonlights as a stand-up comedian or secretly writes punchlines for late night shows. Someone spilled a beer and she yelled “Party foul! 5-yard penalty!” and gave them a coaster like it was a yellow flag. I laughed so hard I snorted an olive.

To summarize: • Drinks: 12/10 • Vibe: Immaculate • Sass: Michelin-starred • Psychic bartender skills: Confirmed • Would I follow her to a new bar? YES. Even if it’s in a haunted lighthouse.

Give this woman a raise, a throne, and possibly her own sitcom. If you’re lucky enough to be served by Elise, just know you’re in the presence of greatness. Also tip her well. She deserves it and she probably already knows how much you’re going...

I recently had an amazing dining experience here, mostly thanks to the exceptional service provided by Tasha, our server and her amazing wingwoman Rai. From the moment we arrived, Tasha greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel welcome. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and offered fun suggestions both for food and drinks. Rai’s and her contagious smiles made all her attentiveness and genuine enthusiasm leave a great impression on our group; she is also an avid mixologist so watch out when she ask to make a drink based on your favorite liquoar, you will just order 10 more of them. Both our bartenders ensured that our orders were prompt, and each dish came out just the way we ordered. Tasha's ability to anticipate our needs without being intrusive was impressive.and Rai’s friendly and personable nature made us feel like valued guests. Overall, Tasha’s and Rai’s exceptional service truly made our experience and night out a memorable one. If you visit, ask for Tasha as your server and make sure you get Rai’s bubbly smile on your table, you won't be disappointed. Thanks ladies,...

I ordered food online last night from here & picked it up around 8:35pm. Once I got home, my boyfriend took a bite of his jalapeños burger just to find a long hair in it. I immediately called the restaurant to let them know what happened. I spoke with Natasha @ 8:53pm & offered to bring the burger back in to show her but she said due to the time, the kitchen was closed. She said that all we had to do was take a picture of it & come back in today to get another burger made. My boyfriend & I both called around 2pm today to see if we could get a replacement, but whatever man answered the phone was very rude. He said that he’s not sure who would’ve said that but that’s not true. That there’s no telling if we put the hair there ourselves because we didn’t bring it back in. We didn’t bring it back in because Natasha told us not to since they were closing in 7 minutes. We were more than happy to eat here again but due to the rudeness we encountered & almost being hinted that we were lying, as well as no type of help to make the situation right, we will not...