Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to a “Southern-inspired” comfort food restaurant, The Flying Biscuit Cafe. Located in the Park Road area of Charlotte, this popular meeting spot features breakfast all day plus salads, sandwiches, and plate meals.

the Flying Biscuit Cafe Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

After the crowd outside a couple weeks ago, we strategically timed our visit.

Dora here. Unlike last week’s choice, I knew The Flying Biscuit Cafe would be a great experience. A couple weeks ago, we stopped here, but the crowd outside and the corresponding long wait deterred us. This week we strategically timed our visit, hoping to fall sometime after the breakfast crowd and before lunch. And, also unlike last week, our server seemed to really love her job. She was knowledgeable, helpful with suggestions, and stopped by our table several times to check on us and refill our drinks, always with a smile even though they were obviously super busy. Don’t let the skinny exterior deceive you. This cafe goes a long ways back with another outdoor patio in the rear.

The Flying Biscuit Cafe Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Bustling on a Saturday around 11 AM. This cafe is bigger than it looks from the outside.

For a starter, we ordered a side of Grilled Macaroni and Cheese that Yelpers rave about. This mac and cheese is nothing like I have ever tasted. Rectangle blocks of mac and cheese grilled to perfection, somewhat crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Dora here. This alone was worth the drive. Fluffy, light, you don’t really even taste the pasta. The texture comes off more like a souffle. HEAVENLY!

The Flying Biscuit Cafe Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

This alone was worth the drive. A side of Grilled Mac & Cheese. Heavenly!

For my lunch (breakfast), I chose the Egg-Stravaganza. Two poached eggs, chicken sausage, turkey bacon, grits and whole wheat French toast topped with raspberry sauce and a honey cream. This dish was outstanding, eggs cooked to the exact time and consistency, grits were creamy and cheesy. 

The Flying Biscuit Cafe Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Egg-Stravaganza, outstanding!

The French toast wasn’t overly egg-y or thick, almost tasted like pumpernickel bread, so I was surprised to find out it was actually wheat bread. Whatever the type, the sauce and cream were a great accompaniment.

The Flying Biscuit Cafe Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

French Toast, not overly egg-y or thick. And the sauce and cream a great accompaniment.

Dora here. Y’all, check out the Very Berry Chicken Wrap. Doesn’t it look refreshing? It was!! Great texture from the candied walnuts, fresh flavors, light on the raspberry vinaigrette, loaded with chunky chicken, delish! The perfect choice for a hot summer afternoon, I would definitely order this again. Maybe not the Garlic and Basil Mashed Potatoes because I prefer my taters a bit creamier.

The Flying Biscuit Cafe Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Very Berry Chicken Wrap…light, fresh, delish! Side of Garlic Basil Mashed Potatoes.

What about you? How do you prefer your French Toast? Or not a fan at all?

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

The Flying Biscuit Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Matthews, NC, and to Taste of Europe, a small casual restaurant specializing in Polish cuisine.

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Dora here. Squeezed in a strip mall, Taste of Europe is small, but not crowded. Intimate, but not like everybody is in your space. The two room restaurant was clean, bright and welcoming, and service was quick and friendly.

I’d already picked out an appetizer, the much-anticipated Potato Pancakes, but unfortunately, the tater pancakes were not available until after 3pm. So we opted for the Bread with Pate and Cucumbers in Brine. The bread was freshly sliced; the pate had a strong flavor and reminded me of potted meat, and the cucumbers were mild with the perfect crunch.

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Bread with Pate and Cucumbers in Brine

Dora here. Hmmm…not a fan. Should’ve opted for dessert instead. Why did we pass up crepes for pate?

For my lunch, I ordered the Polish Sampler Platter, which included stuffed cabbage, grilled polish sausage, and meat pierogis. The meat filling for the stuffed cabbage was firm and packed with flavor and doused with a tomato-based sauce. The sausage had some nice grill marks and just the right amount of char. I ordered the pierogi fried, and they were cooked perfectly. I enjoyed everything on my plate.

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Polish Sampler Platter: stuffed cabbage, grilled polish sausage, and meat pierogis

Dora here. I came for the pierogies, which are dumplings filled with either a sweet or savory component. Since I couldn’t make up my mind, I opted for the Pierogi Mix, a combo of three different kinds: Potato & Cheddar, Russian and Meat. I asked for mine broiled. 

Pierogi Mix

Wow! Like plump ravioli, but every bite a surprise, a different flavor, smooth and creamy. My favorite was the Russian, a little pillow of Farmer’s Cheese, which to me, tasted like Cream Cheese. YUM!

Have you tried Polish food? What’s your favorite?

Which of these dishes would you try?

We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food.
Taste of Europe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato