Jul 15, 2016 - Things to Do

The Agenda Guide to the Four Wards: Third Ward

Kylie Moore

Everybody talks about the Wards, but nobody’s really sure what each one encompasses.

We know they exist, but it feels a lot like nobody’s really sure that, beyond Uptown, they could tell you where they are. In fact, we’ve had readers write in to tell us that they have no idea what we mean when we say, “Try this, this or this in First Ward, Second Ward, Third Ward or Fourth Ward.”

The Agenda wants to ease this pain and this is the third installment of that effort.

It’s easiest to imagine the intersection of Trade and Tryon as the (0,0) coordinate on a graph and imagine the Wards as the quadrants: First Ward is the upper right hand quadrant, Second Ward the lower right hand quadrant, Third Ward the lower left hand quadrant and Fourth Ward the upper left hand quadrant.

Third Ward

Anything that’s west of Trade and Tryon but within the boundaries of the southeast end of South Tryon and the northeast end of West Trade is considered Third Ward.

On a map, it looks like this:

Eat

American Burger Co. – 440 South Church Street – A no-frills menu composed of burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and fries. Try the Pimiento BLT Burger.

Chicks – 320 South Tryon Street – Takeout chicken joint in Latta Arcade.

Crisp – 320 South Tryon Street – The popular, build-your-own salad chain’s Latta Arcade location. Try the Grilled Salmon salad ($8.95).

EMZY – 550 South Tryon Street – Sushi and Asian cuisine located in the Duke Energy Center.

Energy Café – 550 South Tryon Street – A healthy grab-n-go option with only unprocessed ingredients and, when available, organic products in the Duke Energy Center.

French Quarter – 321 South Church Street – A Cajun comfort food spot known for its lunch specials run by a family that came to America from Greece. Note: it’s good enough that the Brevard Court/Latta Arcade strip is referred to more often than not as French Quarter.

Fujiyama – 320 South Tryon Street – Fast-casual Japanese in Latta Arcade known for its lunches under $10. Try the Tempura Chicken.

Fuzzy Peach Yogurt Shop – 324 South Mint Street – Make your own frozen yogurt concoctions without being limited to amount of toppings or flavors. Prices are determined by weight.

Green’s Lunch – 309 West 4th Street – A Charlotte staple since 1926 known for its breakfast, hot dogs and sandwiches.

The definitive list of the 4 Best Sandwiches in Uptown (8/3/2015)

Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth – 500 South Tryon Street – Chef James Stouffer gives Charlotte a true seasonal artisan dining experience with farm fresh ingredients from the region in a modern setting inside the Mint Museum.

12 farm-to-table restaurants to try this summer (5/25/2016)

Hasaki Grill – 440 South Church Street – Look for the sushi and hibachi spot in the first floor of the Ally Center, a perfect spot to start or end a date with its closeness to the Levine Avenue of the Arts.

Hazelnuts Crêperie – 200 South Tryon Street – Gourmet crêpes ranging from Not Just French Toast to Banana Split to the Smoked BLT. Try the Maple Dream ($7.50).

Courtyard Hooligans – 140 Brevard Court – Brevard Court’s sports-crazed bar that focuses mainly on soccer and rugby. Watch for Jack’s Militia to watch the Charlotte Independence take on their competitors during away games here.

Hooters – 123 West Trade Street – You go there for the hot wings, right?

Jersey Mike’s – 128 South Tryon Street – Get any regular sub, chips and a drink for $6.49 during the work week.

Jimmy John’s – 230 South Tryon Street – Home of the “freaky fast” sub.

K.O. Sushi – 230 South Tryon Street – Your go-to for express, take-out sushi on those days when you need it but don’t have the time to get it. Order online for faster pickup or delivery.

Levant Mediterranean Cuisine – 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts – An upscale spot for hookah, drinks and meals like Rosemary Rack of Lamb ($36), Mediterranean Shrimp Kabob ($27) and Trout ($22). Open late on weekends.

McCormick & Schmick’s – 200 South Tryon Street – A popular seafood and steakhouse chain.

Mellow Mushroom – 225 West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard – The home of Classic Southern Pizza since 1974.

Melt In Your Mouth Cupcakes – 127 Brevard Court – A dessert spot with a rotating menu of unique gourmet cupcake flavors including Cherry Limeade, Chocolate Cream Cheese and Lemon Blossom.

Metropolitan Café & Catering – 138 Brevard Court – Classic Turkish fare including baklava, Doner Kebab and Lamb Shish Kebab. Try the Iskender Kebab ($8.99).

Morton’s Steakhouse – 227 West Trade Street – Upscale steak and seafood chain.

Murphy’s Kitchen & Tap – 445 West Trade Street – An Irish restaurant with an upstairs bar and patio and a great menu.

Murphy’s Kitchen & Tap is now open in Third Ward (4/21/2016)

Nefelie’s – 145 Brevard Court – The location and cost makes it ideal for Uptown workers. Gyros will you run you about $9, chicken tips around $10 and a harder-to-find fried cheese dish called saganaki will cost you $8.

Persis Biryani Indian Grill – 320 South Tryon Street – An express version of the Ballantyne favorite, serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. five days a week.

Pho Plus – 128 Brevard Court – A Vietnamese noodle house that also offers Banh Mi sandwiches along with Vermicelli and Rice Dishes all for under $10.

Pie in the Sky – 320 South Tryon Street – Classic pizza joint menu featuring appetizers like Strombolis, Garlic Knots and sub sandwiches. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Potts Chocolate – 619 South Cedar Street – Handmade gourmet chocolate made with cacao beans from faraway places like Madagascar, Venezuela and Peru. Chocolates are sold in boxes of 16 for $35 or you can join a monthly truffle club. Visitation is by appointment only.

Room 112 – 112 South Tryon Street – A new take on sushi and Asian classics that are “the stuff of dynasties” in a trendy, modern setting.

Eating wrong in Uptown, volume II (5/19/2015)

Rush – 120 Brevard Court – A premier coffee bar in Latta Arcade featuring Australia’s Di Bella coffee.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse – 222 South Tryon Street – An upscale steakhouse where the average cost for two is around $150.

Sandwich Club – 121 West Trade Street – A perfect combination of a New York delicatessen and upscale bistro. Try the Reuben ($6.50).

Showmars – 130 West 3rd Street – A favorite for breakfast and a mix of Greek and American fare.

The Boardroom – 128 South Tryon Street – The casual homestyle dining spot doesn’t look like much, but they’ve been revered for their legendary, over-the-top breakfasts.

The King’s Kitchen – 129 West Trade Street – The farm-to-table restaurant, founded in 2010, focuses on home cooking with items like mac ‘n cheese, sweet potato fritters and shrimp and grits but doesn’t forget about giving back to the community. The staff is composed of people considered “unemployable,” giving them skills and knowledge to make them employable and 100% of profits go toward feeding the poor.

Behind the Kitchen: A conversation with Steven Young from The King’s Kitchen (7/27/2015)

The Mandrake – 333 West Trade Street – An upscale spot in Uptown specializing in tapas and wine. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner. Try the Scallops small plate at lunch ($18).

The Mandrake’s new chef brings ‘Dirty South’ to tapas (12/7/2015)

Zablong – 137 Brevard Court – Home of the 12-inch personal, make-your-own pizza with unlimited toppings. Pizzas are made in front of you and put through an oven on a conveyer belt until 3 a.m. on weekends.

Zablong Pizza is now open in Latta Arcade. Here’s the deal (2/2/2016)

Drink

Belfast Mill – 144 Brevard Court – Irish pub with a great courtyard for outdoor drinking.

Opening today: The Cottom Room adds a cocktail lounge to Brevard Court (4/14/2016)

Clover Joe’s – 124 Brevard Court – What used to be a popular food truck has pivoted into a successful storefront in Brevard Court. It’s all classic burger and cheesesteak fare, but the cheesesteak and Cuban Joe ($7) are worth the trip.

The definitive list of the 4 Best Sandwiches in Uptown (8/3/2015)

Draught – 601 South Cedar Street – Bar food and bites. Try the Pimento Cheese Fritters – they’re an Agenda favorite ($8).

Starbucks – 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts – You know the drill. Open 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tilt on Trade – 127 West Trade Street – Open until 2 a.m. every day of the week with rotating drink specials. Hang out on the front porch, back porch or stay inside with electronic darts, TVs, a DJ and dance floor.

Valhalla Pub & Eatery – 317 South Church Street – Craft beers, cocktails and bar bites in a pub setting in Brevard Court.

Shop

Abbeydale – 116 West 4th Street – Upscale, custom menswear including shirts, suits and tuxedos.

Bechtler Museum Shop – 420 South Tryon Street – Get your museum souvenirs here.

Canvas, a Boutqiue – 320 South Tryon Street – Women’s boutique featuring local designers.

Carolina Panthers Team Store – 800 South Mint Street – The Panthers are back soon. Stock up on all your Cam, Luke and Greg needs here.

Charlotte Knights Store – 324 South Mint Street – Pick up everything you need to look like a true Knights fan here.

Mint Museum Shop – 500 South Tryon Street – Get all of your Mint museum souvenirs here after you’re done taking in the massive collection.

Activities

Bank of America Stadium – 800 South Mint Street – Home of the Panthers. Special events and tours are hosted throughout the year.

BB&T BallPark – 324 South Mint Street – Home of the Charlotte Knights.

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art – 420 South Tryon Street – View over 1,400 pieces of artwork from the mid-20th century. Closed on Tuesdays. Admission ranges from $4 to $8, but members get in free.

Knight Theatre – 430 South Tryon Street – Take in a large variety of music and dance shows. The 1,191-seat Theatre is home to the Charlotte Symphony and Charlotte Ballet.

Mint Museum – 500 South Tryon Street – The Randolph location’s cousin. The museum is home to American and international art and designs. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission ranges from $9 to $24.

Outdoor Space

Romare Bearden Park – 300 South Church Street – A 5.4-acre public park with two gardens, a Childhood Muse Plaza, a Paris remembrance area and more. It hosts plenty of activities throughout the year and the skyline view is one of the best.

charlotte_night_skyline_romare_bearden_teal

Events

Bearden Music Series – Romare Bearden Park – Once a month, listen to a different genre of music during May, June, July, August and September.

Music Box Lunch – Romare Bearden Park – Enjoy solo and group music in the park from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays during May, June, July and August.

Party in the Park – Romare Bearden Park – Free, weekly concerts every Wednesday at 6 p.m. during May, June, July, August and September.