Don's Restaurant

This place was a great brunch spot. Me and my friends gathered for our end of year celebration, the staff was super nice including the host who went above and beyond. The Food was ok and so were the drinks it was the ambience.

If there is one thing Charlotte knows how to do it's make you realize that nothing is ever worth the hype. Disappointed in my experience to say the least. I'll just get to the point. I ordered the chicken and red velvet waffles. I felt like I was eating crunchy air because there was zero flavor. The chicken tasted like the flour and oil it was fried in. No salt, not spices, nothing. The wings are big and fried hard. So that's a positive if you're into that. Nothing about that red velvet waffle was red velvet but the color. Again, no flavor. If you get a piece that has the cream cheese drizzle on it you'll taste that but disappointed to say the least. Especially for $25. Mimosa carafe was cool but I'd rather a restaurant give me the juice on the side and not pour it in themselves. Overall I heard one person out of the 8 in my party say they enjoyed their food and it was lemon pepper wings. Which she said she was happy they had honey on it because it made the seasoning stick to the wings. Unfortunately, I probably wouldn't return.

I've been here twice now and after a 2nd try I will not be returning. I don't live in Charlotte, but come often to visit friends. My first visit I came with 3 other friends to get brunch on a Saturday before the Rich & Bennett St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl since it's a short walk to where the kick-off block party was. This past Saturday I returned with a 2 other friends for brunch before the same event. The restaurant was rebranded recently and is now called "Don's." Not much change to the Brunch menu options, but the prices for a few items have increased so check your menu. Before I discuss why I won't be returning, I will say that I did not have an issue with my servers or the actual restaurant staff at all. They were great both times. I feel the issues I experienced were due to management and organization. March 2023 visit: We made a reservation online about a week prior to our visit. On our way to the restaurant we were unfortunately caught in the road closures due to the St. Patrick's Day parade. We called the restaurant to let them know about our delay and ended up having to get out and walk to the restaurant. We were only about 10 minutes late, but I'm aware that even being 10 minutes late can cause a huge disruption due to other reservations and walk-ins. With that being said, we ended up waiting well over an hour as well as many other people, even people who were on time for their reservation. It was clear the systems were not functional or effective. March 2024 visit:Since we had a long wait last year, we decided to give it another try but make an earlier reservation. We got caught in the road closures again this year, but when we arrived the restaurant wasn't packed or crowded at all. The host greeted us and checked us in then let us know our table was almost ready, but that we could take a seat at the bar. We went to the bar and ordered a drink and didn't have to wait that long for our table to be ready (no complaints there). Our server quickly greeted us and and asked if we wanted anything else to drink and took my friend's drink order. We looked at the menu prior and knew what we wanted so we went ahead and ordered our food. I ordered the Breakfast Sampler with scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, and pork bacon. One of my friends ordered the Salmon & Grits. My other friend wanted whiting and grits, but since that wasn't an option she asked if she could get a side of grits and an order of the whiting. Apparently this was a menu option prior to the rebranding so our server figured out getting that for my friend. My friend who ordered the whiting and grits received her meal first after about 10 minutes. The rest of us hadn't received our meals and after a few minutes we told our friend to go ahead and eat so her food didn't get cold. Then after about 10 or so minutes my other friend received her Salmon & Grits...The server who brought over the Salmon & Grits let us know there was some issue in the kitchen and that my meal (Breakfast sampler) was coming up soon. I waited another 15 minutes for my food to come out. Now in that time I saw tables get their chicken & waffles, wings, fries, etc. who came in and ordered after us. I ordered 3 scrambled eggs, potatoes, and bacon...there's no way that should've taken longer than all of those other dishes even with a kitchen error or issue. I finally received my food and it was below mediocre. The eggs were nothing special, the bacon was paper thin and greasy, and the potatoes were slimy. I don't know if it was too much oil or what, but they were not appetizing. I waited almost 40 minutes for that?! I ate because at that point I was starving and needed something to eat before doing a bar crawl so I really didn't have any other option. We were told that we would receive a 15% discount by the server who brought our food then asked if we could speak to the manager and were told that he was the one who was in the kitchen cooking. Our actual server worked something out and we received a 50% off discount (and made sure to tip her what she was owed without a discount because she was great and very apologetic for something that was not her fault). Lastly, I don't mind paying for quality food and service, but this food is overpriced. The Breakfast Sampler which includes: 3 eggs, potatoes or grits, and turkey or pork bacon is $18. $18?! That's way too much for less food than you get at Waffle House. The Salmon & Grits with a cajun cream sauce cost $30. Literally just salmon, grits, and sauce. Below mediocre food...slow kitchen service...and unreasonable prices. Don't recommend and will not be back.

The atmosphere was nice and the staff were lovely. We arrived a hour before they were closing for the brunch portion of the day. I ordered the seafood platter which was fried shrimp and whiting, then a side of fries. I ordered just a plain waffle on the side. I enjoyed everything but the whiting, it was a little too fishy for me, other than that I had a good experience. The seafood platter was $36 which in my opinion was/is a little pricey!

Location and Service Yes! Food No.This is my second visit and I am not at fan. Chicken and Waffle: Chicken cooked in old oil. Waffles soft (not Belgium) cream cheese frosted thick not sweet just cream cheese. Drink: The Uptown: Long Island, this was good.Mac & Cheese... I would not recommend. It is over seasoned and not edible. I love to support black owned establishments but tonight I am disappointed to say this was not a good experience I will not return. Try for yourself hope your experiences are better than mine.

Lemon pepper honey wings are thee best. All the other appetizers/starters are good as well. The staff was good. Only 4 stars because the chicken and waffles was blah. The waffle didn't have any flavor and the chicken had like a freezer burn after taste.i would definitely go back when I visit again

After reading the reviews I wasn't sure about this restaurant. However I went there to celebrate my friend's bday! Food came out a little slow. It was busy for brunch on a Saturday. It was 7 of us & we all enjoyed our meals!!! Our waitress was the sweetest! Definitely recommend this restaurant! Park close to restaurant & use their free parking! Instead of paying for it!

Greeter was the worst! "Can't complain if you come during Brunch" is what she said as she led us to our table. This is AFTER she had an attitude because we wanted to dine in. If reservations are required, please add it to Yelp (wherever you advertise/put it on signage at the restaurant). The text system doesn't work, 45 minutes into our 30 minute wait, we check on the table. Ten more minutes. I've never been treated so poorly by someone who GREETS!Our waitress Mo made it BETTER! She was the absolute ray of sunshine that made the experience awesome! Recommendations on point, serving on point! Thank you for saving my out of town guests first Brunch (B.O.B) in Charlotte! YOU ARE APPRECIATED

The service was impeccable! The food was timely. The chicken and waffles were delish. The lamb chops were seasoned well and the mimosas were wonderful! Thank you for a a wonderful atmosphere and brunch experience!

when you first walk in, they are NOT welcoming! she asked for our name and then proceeded to say *I do not know how to pronounce that name but y'all can sit right here* how are you serving breakfast items but do not have any hot beverages . We received our food but had to wait ten minutes for them to bring the silverware. My chicken was the only thing I recommend (just the chicken) because the waffle was burnt on the bottom side. I really try to support black establishments but ... here we are! will not be going back!