restaurant review

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 9 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Cowbell Burger & Whiskey Bar in Uptown Charlotte. 

Cowbell Burger & Whiskey Bar


This modern designed gourmet burger restaurant/bar offers a full array of starters, sandwiches, salads and tacos and a full brunch menu on the weekends. 


Dora here. The interior was well-lit, not gloomy like some restaurants where the bar takes center stage. Also, it was clean and lacked any musty odors from the night before, definitely a plus. And was it my imagination or did a hush come over the room when we walked in? So we might’ve had a good thirty years on most of the diners here, but service was friendly and efficient and they put us right at ease. 🙂

We started with Pretzels. These were no ordinary pretzels; they were small barrels packed with flavor, hard on the outside and soft on the inside. They complemented perfectly with the Guinness cheese sauce, which carried just the right amount of kick. These pretzels were great and something that we will be sure to try again on a return visit.

Pretzels

Dora here. I would’ve sworn the cheese dip was actually some type of Dijon mustard base. Light and mild to taste, but set my throat on fire. Yum!

For my meal, I chose the Dumpling, an Asian pork burger topped with hoisin glaze, slaw, and sriracha aioli on a Kaiser Roll and a side of Sweet Potato Tots. 

The Dumpling with Sweet Potato Tots


This burger definitely had a unique taste with all the various flavors melding together. Makes me want to return soon to try another. If the burger was not great enough, the sweet potato tots took this dish over the top. Outstanding! Now I have never tried sweet potato tots but I can tell you they will be added to my plate whenever they are offered on a menu again. 

Dora here. I really enjoyed the Boogan’s Bacon Burger. The patty was huge and meaty, and looked handcrafted, and the bacon marmalade and garlic aioli gave it an added pop. And fresh fruit? How could I resist? Check out that heaping bowl of berries and pineapple. Delish!

Boogan’s Bacon Burger
Meaty ~ Boogan’s Bacon Burger

Looks yummy, right? It was! Even so, my fork kept wandering over to Ernie’s plate, and I snatched more than half of those Sweet Potato Tots. Yowza! Those tots sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon rocked! Heaven in my mouth!

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

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

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 19 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Afton Pub & Pizza in Concord, NC. This family owned restaurant offers a complete list of Italian dishes, specialty pizzas, sandwiches and a variety of appetizers. 

Dora here. Afton Pub & Pizza (Pub) is the sister to Afton Tavern (Tavern), my go-to restaurant (read favorite). From the picture, you might be able to tell it’s tucked in a mixed residential/retail environment, a fabulous, relaxing place to hangout on the weekend or stop by for dinner on your way home from work. While we visit the Tavern for our favorite salads, the Pub is all about the pizza for us. 🙂

We start with Garlic Knots. Warm fresh baked dough, drizzled with garlic butter, flaked with parmesan cheese and served with marinara sauce. These garlic knots were large, soft, and full of garlicky flavor and the marinara sauce complemented well. They were outstanding and I could have made an entire meal just eating them. 

Garlic Knots

Dora here. Me too! Buttery. Soft. Doughy. Lick-your-fingers for the last speck of parmesan delicious!

We followed that with a Ryan’s 4 X 4 pizza. Pepperoni, bacon, prosciutto, and a ton of cheese including mozzarella, parmesan, Monterey jack, and cheddar with a hint of red sauce. This pizza was great, cooked perfectly, and loaded with ingredients. This thick crust pie is the best that we have tasted since living in North Carolina.

Ryan’s 4×4 Pizza, extra parm on hubby’s side

Dora here. Everybody has their favorite pizza, right? I’m a Chicago style pizza fanatic, but good luck finding a deep dish like that here! The Pub’s 4×4 comes in a close second. Thick and cheesy, with just the right amount of dough to cheese ratio, and I really appreciate that it’s not heavy on the marinara. Totally satisfying for those pizza cravings, and of course, we brought much of this big boy home.

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

What’s your perfect pizza?


Afton Pub & Pizza Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 6 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating take us on our annual trip to Washington DC and to Old Ebbitt Grill located near the White House. 

Decorated for the holidays


Legend has it that Old Ebbitt Grill, founded in 1856, is the oldest saloon in DC. Presidents such as Grant, Andrew Johnson, Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt and Harding visited this saloon. Dora here. We didn’t recognize anybody during this visit. Bummer. 

Having eaten a later breakfast, I chose the Oyster stew, full of huge fried oysters, Andouille sausage, and Swiss chard. This stew was outstanding! The creamy broth had a little bite from the Andouille sausage and blended great with the smoky paprika. The best part of this stew was the perfectly fried oysters. They fry the oysters separately then add the broth at the end so that the oysters don’t get soggy. 

Oyster stew

Dora here. I went with the French Dip. Roast beef, caramelized onions, and Swiss cheese on a baguette with a side of beef broth for dipping. I’m not a big fan of arugula, so that was just garnish for me, but the sandwich? Yum! Tender beef, cheesy, and the bread ratio was perfect. The service was impeccable. Get there early, though. When we left, the reception area was packed.

French Dip

What’s the most famous restaurant you’ve visited? Any celebrity sightings while dining?


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


Old Ebbitt Grill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato