Kickstand

Driving through the streets of Charlotte you find yourself dodging the usual obstacles when driving-- road work and crazy drivers -- but the thing that separates Charlotte from other cities is that you also have to be extremely careful of hitting runners and CYCLISTS. This entire city seems to be obsessed with fitness and cycling, and this restaurant embraces the obsession.

Kickstand is a bar/restaurant that is decorated with different bicycles in addition to the normal beer signs. The menu includes a large selection from local breweries, heavenly sweet potato tots, and a decent selection of gourmet burgers. The walls are covered in cycling decor and televisions with a guarantee to supply you with any sports entertainment you desire.

When the food came to the table, it looked and smelled so good that I could not wait to start digging in! The half eaten picture above is a result of not waiting for after the picture. The sweet potato tots dipped in the Maple Brown Sugar syrup are an absolute must. I ordered their Cross-Country burger which is basted with a citrus bbq sauce and topped with guacamole, pepper jack, and a jalapeño cilantro spread. I would definitely recommend this burger.

Danielle enjoyed a burger called the Booty Burger. This charitable burger is the kind that gives back to society in more ways than just being delicious. $1 from every booty burger sold supports the 24 Hour of Booty charities. 24 hours of booty is a 24 hour charity cycling event where participants raise money to fight cancer by cycling the booty loop as many laps as they can. The charity collaborated with Kickstand to make this turkey burger topped with pimento cheese, fresh avocado and a mild jalapeño cilantro spread.

Final word: If you're looking for the perfect place to enjoy a gourmet burger with a local brew and your favorite team on the TV, Kickstand is the place you're looking for.

Price's Chicken Coop

It was the first place we tried out of our CLT passport together to sample some local cuisine, but honestly, walking into Price's felt like home in Philadelphia. The food, on the other hand, was Southern perfection.

This family-owned home-style cooking is located in South End/Dilworth near Uptown Charlotte. It's a mom-and-pop owned establishment, owned by the Price family, and it always has a line--a cluttered mess of people inside and a line out the door.

But there's good reason for that. This is the best fried chicken I have ever had. It's juicy and seasoned all the way through. And the food doesn't stop with the chicken. You're going to get the best sides, the best hush puppies, and the best biscuits you've tasted in Charlotte. Get you some sweet potato pie for dessert too.

The rushed feel and small, family-owned atmosphere of Price's reminds me of the wonderful small, local businesses that are so essential to the Philadelphia economy. The food, on the other hand, was Southern goodness, and I would recommend this local eatery a thousand times to anyone looking for some goooood ol' fried chicken.

A few tips:

Know what you want. Much like a Steve's cheesesteak, you need to know what you want before you get to the counter, and you need to say it quickly. There are people waiting in line behind you and all around you, and there are hundreds of chickens to fry so even that Southern hospitality has its limits. Order and move aside.

Cash only. Price's is so reasonably...priced...that you won't need to stop for cash before heading over. You probably already have the money on you.

No seating. Your meal is going to come in the Price's traditional cardboard to-go box, and unless you want to eat on top of some yard sale junk from the store next to it, you're better off getting in the car and finding a place to eat. We chose a park bench at Freedom Park right by the water, which was less than 10 minutes away from Price's.

Fries are tater tots. It's not a mistake, and they're so good you won't care.

Enjoy!