New nonprofit restaurant in Plaza Midwood sells all cocktails for $11 — even if you order top-shelf liquor

The nonprofit restaurant in Plaza Midwood already had the ingredients and its team in place so they decided to cook anyway and donate the meals to One7 Ministries, a local nonprofit serving Charlotte’s refugee community.

A few months later, in June, Grinning Mule opened for dine-in service.

Tapas: Led by chef James Jeffries, who grew up in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood, the food menu is an array of small plates almost all $13 or less. The restaurant recently launched its fall menu with dishes like patatas bravas ($8) and a charred fall salad ($11). Here are more highlights:

• Lettuce wraps ($12) – chicken or tofu, mushroom, onion, water chestnuts, asian sauce, crispy rice noodles, chili garlic sauce, and lettuce shells.
• Burger sliders ($8) – homemade angus patty, bacon jam, sharp cheddar cheese, house pickles, and spicy aoili on Hawaiian rolls.
• Bacon and blue flatbread ($13) – goat cheese, mozzarella, candied bacon, red onion, arugula, house-made bleu cheese dressing.
• Tuna poke won ton tacos ($8) – saku tuna, red pepper, red onion, cucumber, citrus soy sauce, avocado, sesame seeds, Asian aioli, and cilantro.

Cocktails: Grinning Mule also has a robust cocktail program by mixologist Bob Peters. All cocktails are $11 — no matter how nice the liquor. You’ll see Peters behind the bar a few times a week. Two cocktails — the Butternut Brandy and I’m The Gingerbread Man! — can be personalized with ripples, which leaves an imprint in the foam of your drink.

Why nonprofit: Owned by Beth and Bart Kofoed, Grinning Mule joins a small group of Charlotte restaurants in the nonprofit space, including Community Matters Café. Bart, who’s also the founder of 2xSalt Ministry and a former NBA player, says the restaurant can be a “great vehicle for people who need a second chance.”

[Related Agenda story: An addict’s journey to recovery through the Community Matters Café]

Hours: Grinning Mule is open 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 5-10 p.m. on Friday-Saturday.

Location: Its exact address is 1109 Morningside Drive in Plaza Midwood.

Here’s a closer look around:

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