charlotte food blogger

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 4 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us back to one of our favorite neighborhoods in Charlotte, Plaza Midwood, and to Moo and Brew. This burger spot offers “Tried and True” burgers, salads, and a variety of different types of fries.

Moo and Brew Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Parking on the side, as well as a slider entry. Especially good for rainy days!

For our appetizer, we selected the Midwest Cheese Curds, beer battered and served with a tomato infused ranch dip. These curds were great, crispy on the outside, hot and gooey cheese on the inside. The only negative was the grease left in the bottom of the tray. Dora here. Grease? What grease? lol. I wish they’d have come out before our meal. Then we could’ve enjoyed them more before filling up on our burgers. 🙂

Brew and Moo Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Cheese Curds…crispy, hot and gooey, great!

I chose the Moo & Brew Burger, braised onions, chili, cheese, and mustard served on a potato bun and upgraded the side to Parmesan, Garlic & Olive Oil fries. This thick and juicy burger was outstanding, with hints of a smoky flavor in the chili. However, what stood out about this meal were those fries. A giant size portion and crisp, with just the right amount of oil so that the parmesan stuck to each fry.  I think I could have made my whole meal out of these fries. Worth the upgrade over the typical fries.

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Moo & Brew Burger, outstanding!

Moo and Brew Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Side of Parmesan, Garlic & Olive Oil fries. Super huge portion!

Dora here. You know how sometimes you’re just craving a juicy burger? Today was one of those days. We both just wanted a burger, and we’d been eyeing Moo and Brew for a few months now. I like that they offer a “Build Your Own Burger” option. They loaded mine with beef, lettuce, relish, bacon, bleu cheese crumbles and aoili. Messy but YUM! Soft bun, fresh ingredients, just YUM.

Moo and Brew Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Build Your Own Burger, just the way I like it!

How do you like your fries?

We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food.

Moo & Brew Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to a restaurant located in the heart of downtown Boone, just one block off King Street. Proper, a restaurant serving “homestyle southern cooking with a modern, seasonal slant” offers ingredients sourced locally from the community.

Dora here. The exterior looks like you’re walking up to somebody’s house. Good thing their sign is big. lol. 

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers, Proper

Outside…looks like you’re walking up to somebody’s house, lol

Inside was jammed shortly after they opened on Sunday, but we found a nice, quiet spot on the heated porch. Even on the porch, we could still hear the faint strains of the guitar from the live music. Subtle and soft, not in your face like some restaurants, and invited you to sit and linger over your meal.

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Heated porch

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Inside was jammed shortly after they opened for Sunday Brunch.

We shared a Brunch Biscuit Baby, like a cinnamon roll without the cinnamon, with strawberries and figs topped with a lemon glaze. Not being a fig type of guy, I was not sure how I was going to like this, but it was outstanding, with just the right amount of sweet and the figs were great. Dora here. OH MY! What a fabulous start, but it almost could’ve been an ending. Sweet, almost dessert-ish, but not so much that we had trouble eating our meal. Of course not, lol.

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers, Proper

Brunch Biscuit Baby…Biscuit dough rolled up, strawberries, figs and lemon glaze. Oh yeah!

Since we visited on Sunday at lunch, we were offered the Brunch menu. I chose the Chicken and Waffles. The chicken was crispy (just the way I like it), juicy and very flavorable. The waffle was light and fluffy and complemented the fried chicken well. Outstanding choice!

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers, Proper

Chicken & Waffle, outstanding choice!

Dora here. The Breakfast Tacos came heaping with delicious, tender brisket, sour cream and salsa. Not sure why they were called Breakfast Tacos other than they were on the Brunch Menu. The selection of fresh fruit (pears, apples and grapes) was right up my foodie alley. This meal, this place, definitely warrants a repeat several times over. 🙂

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers, Proper

Breakfast Tacos with a side of fresh fruit. The brisket was so tender and DELISH!

Just an FYI. Close parking is virtually non-existent. Any spots right next to the building were all taken. Parking on Water St is prohibited and the nearby lots are private, so you might have to hike from King St, just a block away. Trust us, it’s worth it. 🙂

Does music play a role in how long you hang out after a meal?

We rate this restaurant 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving outstanding food.

Proper Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 10 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating differs from our regular review of restaurants to a cafe making outstanding doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches in Harrisburg, Faith Coffee & Sweets.

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The outside gives you no clue as to the goodness waiting for you inside 🙂

This neighborhood gathering spot was packed on our Saturday morning visit with the kiddos all standing at the doughnut case picking out their favorites.

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Jammed on a Saturday morning!

Dora here. Hmmm. Looks to be plenty of adults, too, Ernie. lol. Check out this sugar heaven!

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Sugar Heaven!

I started with a Ham, Egg & Cheese sandwich on a toasted English Muffin. The sandwich was huge, tasty, and too much to eat with six doughnuts sitting on the table.

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Egg Sandwiches on a toasted English Muffin – huge and delicious!

Dora here. Six doughnuts. Ohhhh….but, before you think we’re crazy–or gluttons, lol– we only planned to taste one bite from each and save the rest for the next day. 

We selected a pumpkin spice, maple bacon, Reese’s, and chocolate mocha, all yeast doughnuts, and a coconut and cinnamon sugar cake doughnut. All were great. My favorite was the maple bacon (everything is better with bacon) and the sugar cake doughnut which is always a “go to” doughnut for me.

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Dora here. We each picked three and do I have to tell you how difficult that was? And all those exotic choices and he picks cinnamon sugar. Really, Ernie? I’d been craving a pumpkin doughnut since Halloween and I finally got one. That was my favorite. Melt-in-your-mouth, similar to a Krispy Kreme fresh from the oven. The coconut was soooo good, with a hint of…citrus? Yum! Good thing this place is a few miles away or we’d be hanging out with all the other regulars on Saturday mornings. lol.

What about you? What’s your favorite doughnut?

We rate this cafe 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving outstanding food.

Faith Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato