Bonnie & Clyde’s Lounge — Restaurant in Weddington

What started out as a great birthday dinner for me ended horribly. My wife booked a reservation for 6 to celebrate my birthday with some of our friends. None of us had ever been here but it looked nice on social media so we went. Drinks and appetizers were GREAT and our waiter was also. Our entrees were HORRIBLE. All 5 entrees that were ordered were NOT edible. We informed our waiter that 3 of the entrees that contained scallops and risotto smelled HORRIBLE as if the seafood was bad and the other 2 short rib entrees couldn’t even be cut with a steak knife! As we all know, short ribs, braised or not should be VERY tender and not need a knife at all. The waiter brings out the Manager and upon reaching our table, she says, “Hello, I was told you’re having some issues and I want you to know that unfortunately, we don’t offer refunds.” Huh?? WHO asked for a refund? We were immediately insulted and taken aback as there was no apology or mention of exchange. My wife begins to speak with her and tells her that we never intended to ask for a refund, we’d like to exchange these entrees for items that we feel are safe to consume. The manager states that their policy also food not honor exchanges and we will have to pay for all 5 entrees that we did NOT eat on top of anything additional we’d like to order. The Manager had an absolutely DISGUSTING attitude and tone of condescension. I’m assuming she thought bc we’re Black we were going to ask for a refund?? After about 10 mins of my wife attempting to understand why we couldn’t exchange our items and the Manager taking all of the food to the back to have the Chef taste it himself, the Manager states that the short run was indeed way too tough and agreed to comp out 1 short rib meal but not the other AND states that the smell on the seafood is a cheese they use. Let’s be clear, everyone at the table was a business owner and 4 of us are food truck/restaurant owners-we KNOW when food is bad! At this point, we decide to ask for our checks and leave bc the manager has everyone livid! There were 3 separate checks. We saw ALL checks get paid and we even left a nice tip for the waiter! About 30 mins later, my wife received a phone call from a Sgt with Charlotte police stating the restaurant wants to press charges as one of the checks did not cover the full bill. (I found out that one from our party decided they weren’t paying for the entree they didn’t eat but they paid for everything else on their bill). My wife informed the officer of exactly what occurred and he stated, “How can they try to force you to pay for a meal that you didn’t consume?” He then wished us a good night and apologized for bothering us. Even with the HORRIBLE response from Management, we STILL paid for food that we did NOT eat bc we COULDN’T…The food was SPOILED. The way that this was handled was COMPLETELY unprofessional and I will NEVER visit this establishment again OR...

I recently visited Bonnie & Clyde Lounge on Providence Road to celebrate two very special occasions—my birthday and my graduation. I made reservations online in advance and, in the notes section, shared the nature of our celebration. To their credit, our table was ready upon arrival, and we were seated promptly, which set a hopeful tone for the evening.

Given that it was a weeknight, I understood that the restaurant might not be fully staffed, and while our server was courteous and sufficient, he didn’t check in as frequently as one might hope. Nonetheless, he was not the issue.

The food, unfortunately, presented a mixed experience. Our first appetizer, the crispy salmon bites, was decent and well-prepared. However, the calamari was deeply concerning—it emitted a pungent, fishy odor that suggested it was not fresh, and my husband noted a sour taste, which prompted us to return it. The duck empanadas were also just acceptable—not exceptional but passable. The rigatoni bolognese, however, was disappointing; the noodles were undercooked, and the short rib dish, while imaginative, combined four strong flavor profiles that seemed to compete rather than complement one another. It left me confused rather than impressed. The clear highlight of the meal was the fig and prosciutto flatbread, which was beautifully balanced and delicious.

Where the evening truly took a turn was at the end of our meal. When the check arrived, the calamari—which had been returned almost untouched—had not been removed. That oversight, while forgivable, was compounded by a more troubling policy: a 20% gratuity was automatically added to the bill. Not for a large party, but for a table of two.

When I inquired about this, our server explained that it is standard practice at the lounge due to concerns that patrons may linger and leave insufficient tips. While I empathize with the challenges of service industry dynamics, especially in lounge environments, this rationale felt misplaced. Many restaurants facing similar challenges implement time limits on tables rather than penalize all patrons preemptively. Instituting a blanket gratuity policy—regardless of party size or service level—strikes me as both presumptive and alienating.

Furthermore, if the restaurant inquires about special occasions during the reservation process, one might expect some form of acknowledgment, however simple. To ask but not respond seems performative at best.

Bonnie & Clyde Lounge offers a beautifully designed space with potential, but the culinary inconsistencies and management decisions—particularly the universal gratuity charge—leave much to be desired. I hope they will reconsider these practices for the benefit of future...

This place is bizarre. I live right around the corner and was surprised to see a “luxury dining” experience pop up nearby. I made a reservation easily and was excited to try it, especially given the seemingly good reviews. Now, I’m convinced those reviews are fake—this restaurant is not a good experience on any level.

From the moment we arrived, things felt off. The windows are completely blacked out, which is strange and uninviting. Inside, the decor is straight out of a dated ’90s dance club—tacky and out of place for a supposed fine dining establishment. The restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived for our 6:15 reservation, yet we were seated in a tight banquette next to two other couples. It felt unnecessary and awkward, given the amount of open space.

Both couples next to us had issues with their food and drinks, and shockingly, the restaurant refused to take anything back—even when the mistakes were clearly the kitchen’s fault. One table received undercooked chicken—bloody and raw—and when they pointed it out, the waitress insisted it had been properly cooked and “temped,” refusing to take it back. I saw it with my own eyes—it was raw.

The menu also includes a bizarre policy about not accepting returns or offering refunds, which became increasingly suspicious as we noticed nearly every table around us had issues with their food. And from the looks of their plates, the complaints seemed entirely valid. I’ve never been to a restaurant that refuses to take responsibility for its mistakes.

As for our food, we were lucky we only ordered appetizers before deciding to leave. The drinks were overly sweet and weak. The croquettes were hollow, with barely any filling—just a tiny bit of salty sludge. The calamari was stuck together in a gluey mess and barely edible. The mandarin chicken sliders were loaded with so much raw garlic in the aioli that they were impossible to choke down.

Between the terrible service, the weird ambiance, and the outdated, tacky decor, I honestly have no idea what this place is trying to be. It was one of the most baffling dining experiences I’ve had. Safe to say, I...