A big city with a hometown feel; it’s an irresistible quality that pulls people to Charlotte on a daily basis, and with 110 years of hard work and honest values, the announcement of Tillamook’s debut in the Queen City made absolute sense.

To the uninitiated, Tillamook could have appeared as just another brand in the dairy case, but to those who know, everything from Tillamook’s cheese to their ice cream is so much more; it’s a fond memory and a comfort that reminds us of simpler times.

Hello Sailor has the seafood staples like oysters, hushpuppies and shrimp calabash, but they’ve also introduced items like crispy half duck and banh mi, food I never would have expected to casually find on a lakeside menu.

Rounding the corner near Romare-Bearden Park, catching the glint of those clean brassy letters, the question has to be asked: Is Haymaker just another Instagram trap? Or is this a highly curated dining experience on the leading edge of what is yet to come in the Charlotte food scene?

“If you want tacos, and I mean good tacos,” he said, “and the best handcrafted margaritas around, then you have to check out Bakersfield.” Tacos? Tequila? Say no more. - Bakersfield East Blvd