food blogger

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 3 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to East Charlotte to Mily & Lalo Peruvian Restaurant. 

Mily & Lalo Peruvian Restaurant


The last time we visited a Peruvian restaurant, we really enjoyed the food, so it was an easy choice to try another one. We weren’t disappointed.

Inside

Dora here. The empty seats alarmed us, but we visited on Sunday after our early church service, and figured we beat the crowd for lunch.

For starters, all guests receive a complimentary basket of Yuca bread. This bread was great, much like a yeast doughnut without the sweetness, very light and melt in your mouth.

Yucca Bread

Dora here. Yuca bread? What a surprise! We’ve eaten Yuca on several occasions and especially enjoy it fried like french fries. Loved it served this way. But see that sauce? Mercy! That fire burns all the way down! Don’t dip your bread in that sauce. Phew.

For my meal, I chose the Arroz Con Mariscos, yellow rice with seafood and a blend of spices, sometimes called Peruvian paella. This dish was very good with just the right amount of spice and loaded with seafood. Adding a gravy for moisture would’ve nudged this dish to great.

Arroz Con Mariscos

Dora here. The Milanesa de Pollo…Yum! The fried chicken breast, tender and moist, takes up plenty of real estate on this plate, doesn’t it? I didn’t touch the fries, tucked under the chicken, and only nibbled on the rice because I ate every bite of that juicy chicken! Even if they served gravy or butter and brown sugar on their rice like I prefer, I probably would’ve skipped it in lieu of the chicken. Delish!

Milanesa de Pollo

All that food (with leftovers!) and the bill was less than $28, including tip. Definitely budget friendly, and the service, attentive and quick.

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

What’s the most unusual bread you have you tried?
What’s the last food you were surprised to find out what was in it?

Click to add a blog post for Mily & Lalo Peruvian Restaurant on Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us not far from home to On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina in Concord.

According to the restaurant, “Border-style means mesquite-grilled meat, fresh ingredients, hand-pressed tortillas, and sauces made in small batches.” 
Dora here. Definitely a kid friendly establishment. Visitors to their tortilla prep station at the back of the restaurant receive a ball of dough to take back to their table. Great strategy to entertain the kiddos.
Kiddo friendly
I was looking forward to tasting the Grilled Mahi Tacos. A few minutes after ordering, though, the manager approached the table and informed us that they were out of Mahi. She apologized and offered the fried fish or salmon as a substitution. Salmon tacos? Hmmm. No thanks. I opted for the fried fish. 
Fish Tacos
The fish was good, crispy on the outside. The cabbage and red chile sauce complemented without taking away from the flavor. I liked the crunch of cabbage over ordinary lettuce. I’m on a healthy kick, though, and would’ve preferred the grilled Mahi over the fried alternative, but appreciated their coupon for a bowl of queso for the inconvenience.

Dora here. Good thing they had my Brisket Tacos. I didn’t have a Plan B. 🙂

Brisket Tacos
Pretty, right? Just invites you to dig in. I don’t know what’s going on with hubby’s plate, but they lost points for presentation.

My brisket was tender. The onion strings added a great textural element and the jalapeno in the BBQ sauce a little kick. The vegies were firm and colorful. Overall, I enjoyed the fresh, vibrant vibe, and I didn’t leave stuffed like some Mexican restaurants. Maybe that’s because hubby sampled one of my tacos? 🙂

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


What’s your favorite Mexican dish?

Click to add a blog post for On the Border Mexican Grill on Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 6 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Block & Grinder in the South Park neighborhood of Charlotte. 

This farm to kitchen restaurant’s philosophy is “Back to Basics” with a menu “structured around appreciating every fresh ingredient.”

One option was a Wild Game Burger. This day’s choice? Kangaroo served with a tomato aioli. Now I have never tasted Kangaroo but I am always open to trying a new taste. 

They import their Kangaroo from New Zealand and serve it along with other wild game including camel and elk. The Kangaroo burger was outstanding, cooked perfectly and serve on a toasted bun imprinted with a B & G. 

Kangaroo Burger

Instantly, you know it is not a beef burger with the distinct “wild” flavor, much like a venison burger, but earthier. The homemade fries were crispy and just the way I like them. 


Dora here. It was the day for trying new things all around. Topped with feta cheese and served with curry aioli, the Lamb burger could’ve passed for beef. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad for Lamb lovers. 🙂 

Lamb Burger


I just know that I enjoyed the lean, smoky flavor and I’m a huge fan of feta. I tried the aoili, but preferred it without. And I’m with Ernie. The fries were perfect.

Service was attentive and for the most part quick, and the wait staff helpful and knowledgeable.

Just a note. When you order unique options, they tend to be a bit pricier. 

Dora here. Gulp. You’re not kidding. Two burgers, one iced tea, and no appetizers = $47. Yowzee! Better save up your pennies.

As I was saying, don’t let that discourage you. Go for it! 

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


Click to add a blog post for Block & Grinder on Zomato