Cafes Restaurants

This week was not a good week for Jason's Deli in Uptown Charlotte. They had a good run being the only big scale deli equipped to handle the lunch rush & catering needs of the Uptown office market. Not anymore, enter Newk's Express Cafe. The location is arguably better than Jason's as well. Tryon Street level, no elevator, no need to navigate stairs. We will not even start on stability, rent structure, and landlord issues that would all be on my mind if I was a Tenant in the Epicentre. Newk's set themselves up for success. We were there for the pre-opening festivities and tasted enough to know they will have a great run in Uptown. Justin Karas and Caurie Lundy are the brains and brawn behind the Blakeney and Uptown Newk's. You will know Caurie when you visit the Uptown Newks. She is the young, dark haired woman who looks like she is constantly in fast forward. Darting from table to table to make sure her guests are well taken care of before hustling to the kitchen and back again. It literally makes me tired just watching her work the room and the restaurant.

Speaking of the restaurant, you are greeted at the entrance by the counter and menu boards.The fast/fresh concept is reinforced by the open kitchen design and upfront display of ingredients.

Newks is the latest brainchild of Don and Chris Newcomb and Debra Bryson, who created and developed McAllister's Deli. It is a fast fresh concept. Nothing frozen, everything made to order, all around good food. Similar to McAllister's, after you order, you are given a monster drink cup for some really good sweet tea and a number for your table so the hoard of food runners can find you. They also serve Splenda sweetened tea (I have never seen a pre splenda sweetened tea served in a restaurant before). The dining room is spacious and comfortable, especially because they were forced to build around a monster BofA ATM right in the front of the space.

I had to promise a friend that I would get the chicken salad because she swears it is the best in Charlotte. I must admit it was quite good.What I really wanted to try was the Newks Q. Grilled chicken, white BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon, and I added Cholula hot sauce for good measure. I look forward to going back to try the pizza, which is another featured item.

Next time you want a fast and fresh meal Uptown, go visit Caurie at Newks.

HERE is what other people are saying about them.