Uptown Yolk — Restaurant in Charlotte

05-07-2024 I decided to try a new restaurant I had never heard of and Man, what a jewel I have stumbled upon! This place is truly a feast for all 5 of your senses! The enticing aroma wafts out and greets you ever so confidently when you open the door. The colorful decor and furniture was delightful and full of an inviting energy that makes you instantly feel like you're supposed to be there. Even the texture of the upholstered chairs was smooth and velvety to the touch. The playlist that flowed from the speakers was hip, grown & sexy, modern, and quite "mature." 😉😉 It's like my own curated playlist was playing just for me. Great music selections really primes the appetite. Now to the sense of taste...OH MY GOODNESS!!! Y'all, this is a place that is going to be a problem FOR ME! I am so excited to return to try more things from the menu. So, on this (my first) visit I had the Shrimp and Grits. I added a side of scrambled eggs to my order. Y'all these grits were so creamy, it took everything in me to NOT sing out 🎶GRIIIITS!!🎶 like Jill Scott! The jerk shrimp was spiced and seasoned To. Per. Fection. Baby, them shrimp were jerked up like a kid cutting up in Walmart. The smoked gouda guest starred and provided pockets of cheesiness that were welcomed like a surprise visit a best friend. The scallion pesto drizzled over the grits reminded me of the freshness I get when I eat avocado. I loved the scrambled eggs...I salt and peppered them to my liking. They were delicious and I can't wait to go back to try their omelets. The sweet potato waffle was light, fluffy, and delicate with flavor...not overly sweet. 05-16-24 I HAD TO RETURN!!!! Service was once again impeccable. The Wisconsin Omelets and fries were absolutely amazing. I have never had an omelet from a restaurant that did not require a little extra "jazzing" once it arrived to the table. At Uptown Yolk, I didn't need to add any additional salt or pepper to you oomelet. It was seasoned perfectly. I customized my omelet to include garlic roasted mushrooms, carmelized onions, spinach, green bell peppers, and tomatoes. The fries were like cubed potatoes pillows encased in a fried crunchy seasoned spice shell. 10 OUT OF 10! I definitely will be coming back...and by the looks of it--I will be continuing to add more to this review!😆 06-07-24: Showed my coworker how great this place is. I added smoked gouda to my veggie-loaded Wisconsin omelet which went well with my fries, wheat toast, and sweet potato waffle. As always, the service was exceptional! Shout out to Tay! Tay took care of our table while also handling a large group. 07-07-24: As always...🔟 out of 🔟!!! Brought a family friend with me this time. Shout out to our server Kim, she was AMAZING! Parked in the parking garage this time. 90 minutes ran me $16. 07-10-24: A Bird in the Hand chicken sandwich with home made potato chips was perfect! 5⭐ 07-22-24: Brought another coworker with me. Uptown Yolk never disappoints. 🔟 out of 🔟. Pleased to know that parking for the garage is now validated by the restaurant. 10-03-24: Treated a friend for her birthday. Was her first time and she really enjoyed it. She decided to try the sweet potato waffle 🍠🧇. I can't get away from the Wisconsin omelet and fries! It truly is my favorite🍳🍟. That smoked gouda really sets it off right! 5 Stars for me, always. The parking garage ticket was only validated at a discount this time for this visit. Not exactly sure of the reason, but $4 is better than $16. Grateful for the discount. 10-27-24: This time I brought 2 Sorors along. When you discover something as special as Uptown Yolk, you share that wonderful experience and food with as many people as you can...at least, that's what I do! 🔟 out of 🔟. Wisconsin omelet and fries again for me for the win! 12-11-24: Revisited the "A Bird In The Hand" Chicken Sandwich. Excuse the bite I took before taking today's pic. A Bird In The Hand is definitely worth 🔟 out of 🔟 (...in the bush)😉 03-20-25: 🤗🥰😁😋.04-17-25: 5️⃣⭐. 05-29-25:...

If I could give it A ZERO star, I would. On Sat. 10/19/24 my friend and I decided to experience Uptown Yolk for the first time. Not only was the food terrible but the customer service was absolutely disgusting!!

While waiting on our meal, the waitress dropped a bowl of what look to be a orange/dark red dip or something of the sort (perhaps salsa) on the floor. It splattered on me, my brand new cream sneakers and my purse. I asked the waitress to get a wet towel so that I could clean it up. She returned with a dishtowel that smelled awful. I asked her, "Did you bring me out a dirty dishtowel?" And she replied, "No, why would I do that?" I said, "I don't know you that you wouldn't". She walked away and a guy came over and started mopping the spill up. I said, "I know there should be some sort of compensation for this." I then asked him for the manager. He said, "I am the manager", with a nonchalant attitude. I said, "Okay, so how do you want to handle this situation?" He said, "Give me minute." I continued to clean myself, my sneakers and my purse from the spill and I placed the dishtowel on the table. Shortly after our food came and no one had come back by to retrieve the soiled dishtowel, so I put on the floor. The manager then came over and picked it up. But, he did not address the situation. He sat a total of 5 tables (yes I was sitting facing the door and I was counting) and NEVER came back over to handle the issue. Once our food came out and I tasted it, I realized this would be the end of our experience here. The food was cold and didn't taste very good. The waitress came over and asked how was everything, I said, "The food is awful and we are leaving". She walked away with no cares. I walked to the entrance/exit and asked the manager for his name and the owners information. He began to say it was an accident. And I said, "It's not the fact that it was an accident, I understand it was. It's the fact of the callously way that you as the manager handled the situation and you never came back to our table." He began to get argumentative and I said to him 3xs, "Just give me the information". He gave me his name (Kierre Brown) and the Director of Operations name and number (Seth Shepard).

When I got home, I tried to clean my cream sneakers and the stain would not come out. I will NEVER go back to this restaurant again NOR will I recommend it to family, friends, and/or coworkers.

Sidenote: My friend met the "Owner" at the airport, thus our reason to come and try the restaurant out. And his IG name is: chefgregcolliertn. It says he is the Owner/Chef of Uptown Yolk, I will be reaching out to him as well.

UPDATE 2/8/25: I reached out to Seth - Director of Operations and have several conversations in which he stated he would compensate me for my sneakers. He lied!! He even went as far as to asking me for my Cashapp information. Well, he never paid for my sneakers and I reached out several times after and he never replied or answered another call. So, I just decided to accept the loss because I know how my God and the Universe have my back. Just be careful about...

I recently visited Uptown Yolk with high hopes, but unfortunately, my experience was marred by their unjust policy regarding gratuity and tipping. Regardless of the number of people in our party, the restaurant charged an exorbitant 23% gratuity, in addition to expecting an additional tip. This policy left me deeply dissatisfied and frustrated.

Uptown Yolk's decision to impose a mandatory 23% gratuity on all patrons, irrespective of party size, is simply unreasonable. It is unfair to burden customers with such a high percentage, especially considering that larger groups tend to result in higher bills and increased revenue for the restaurant. This blanket charge, without any consideration for the quality of service provided, is both unjust and unjustifiable.

To make matters worse, this mandatory gratuity is followed by an expectation of an additional tip. While I understand that tipping is customary in many dining establishments as a way to acknowledge exceptional service, it should always remain a voluntary act. By enforcing such a policy, Uptown Yolk is essentially double-dipping into the pockets of their customers, disregarding the fundamental principles of fair and voluntary tipping.

This exploitative approach not only detracts from the overall dining experience but also leaves a sense of resentment towards the establishment. As a customer, I believe in recognizing and rewarding excellent service, but I also value the freedom to decide how much to tip based on my personal experience. Uptown Yolk's mandatory gratuity and subsequent tipping expectation undermine the true value of exceptional service and remove the genuine appreciation that should accompany a voluntary gratuity.

Furthermore, this policy fails to acknowledge that the quality of service can vary significantly from visit to visit. While some staff members may provide outstanding service deserving of a generous tip, others may fall short of expectations. By treating every dining experience as uniform and charging the same excessive gratuity regardless of service quality, Uptown Yolk effectively penalizes customers who have endured subpar service.

In conclusion, I regretfully advise against dining at Uptown Yolk for anyone seeking a fair and enjoyable experience. Their mandatory 23% gratuity policy, combined with the expectation of additional tipping, demonstrates a clear disregard for customer satisfaction, focusing solely on maximizing profits. It is disheartening to encounter such exploitative practices, and I strongly urge the management of Uptown Yolk to reconsider their policies and prioritize fair and voluntary gratuities, thus restoring trust and providing a more pleasant dining experience for...