Good Eats 

Page 4 of 9

GUS'S SIR BEEF 4101 Monroe Road, 704-377-3210. One of the city's most popular spots for homestyle meals, Gus's is known for "Fresh My Farm" vegetables cooked without grease. $

HOUSE OF CHINESE GOURMET 5608 E. Independence Boulevard, 704-563-8989. This friendly little place serves some dishes lacking in other Charlotte Chinese restaurants with helpful, friendly service. $-$$

HUONG VIET 4808 Central Avenue, 704-537-8475. This little hole-in-the-wall serves up delicate, balanced Vietnamese dishes. A little less hot than Thai, but no less interesting in the use of spices. $$

INDIA PALACE 4515 E. Independence Boulevard, 704-568-7176. Indian cuisine, featuring a wide selection of subcontinental dishes including tandoori meats, lamb or yogurt-based dishes, a good selection of vegetarian dishes, as well as appetizers and flatbreads. $$

KABOB HOUSE, PERSIAN CUISINE 6432 E. Independence Boulevard, 704-531-2500. An array of Persian delights: tender char-broiled kabobs, polo, and khoresht dishes, all reasonably priced. Building is not much to look at from the outside, but the interior is welcoming. $$-$$$

KING AND I RESTAURANT 4800 Central Avenue, 704-532-7511. Pristine Thai restaurant with flavorful dishes that are well-executed. Solicitous and knowledgeable service, too. L$$, D$$-$$$

KYOTO JAPANESE/KOREAN RESTAURANT 6404 Albemarle Road, 704-569-1954. The Korean dishes are so authentic that even the Korean menu is written in Korean script without benefit of translation. Helpful servers will guide you though. $$

LA CANASTA DOMINICANA RESTAURANT 4808 Central Avenue, 704-536-0009. Small, friendly, bilingual family-owned place offering well-prepared root and fruit island dishes. Seafood, stewed goat, and homemade desserts, too. L $, D$$

LA GRAN HAVANA 5546 Albemarle Road, Redman Square Shopping Center, 704-535-0223. Cuban chefs create island delights here. Wonderful black bean soup, golden maduros, mariquitas, and char-grilled pork with a tangy-sweet tamarind sauce. Steak, fish, and shellfish ingeniously prepared. Lunch features the famed Cuban sandwich. Bilingual menu. L, D $$

LANDMARK DINER 4429 Central Avenue, 704-532-1153. Big diner serves up the big picture of American food: millions of items, all cooked fresh. Save room for their big desserts. $L, $-$$D.

LANG VAN 3019 Shamrock Drive, at the corner of Eastway, 704-531-9525. Delicious Vietnamese cuisine with lots of fresh herbs in creative combinations. Try the yellow pancake, or let the helpful staff steer your order. $$.

MAMMA LENA'S PASTA & PIZZA 5135 Albemarle Road, 704-568-0000. Pizza (cooked in a wood-burning oven) and pasta are both terrific, as is fresh crusty bread. Unlimited salad or soup with entrees. $-$$.

MARISCOS LA MEXICANA, MEXICAN SEAFOOD 4400 Central Avenue, 704-531-4500. Mexican coastal cuisine, primarily seafood, served in huge portions at reasonable prices. $$

PHO AN HOA 4832 A-B Central Avenue, 704-537-0060. Very tasty Vietmanese soup shop. $

PIKE'S OLD FASHIONED SODA SHOP 2133 Shamrock Drive, 704-568-1636. The name says it all. Nostalgia reigns while being served homemade quality from ice cream floats to sandwiches and fries to sticky buns. Shamrock location closed on Sunday. $

PORTOFINO ITALIAN RESTAURANT AND PIZZERIA 3124 Eastway Drive, 704-568-7933. Wonderful rustic Neapolitan dishes at incredibly low prices served in a casual atmosphere. New York Style Pizza (large is 16 inch). Take out, too. $$

RESTAURANTE EL PULGARCITO 4816 Central Avenue, 704-563-6500. A bare bones shop specializing in pupusas, an El Salvador treat, and other Central American favorites. $

SOUTH 21 DRIVE IN 3101 E. Independence Boulevard, 704-377-4509. Charlotte landmark since '55, serves great burgers, fries, onion rings, etc. and still wins awards every year from our readers. Drive in or take out. $

WOODLANDS PURE VEGETARIAN SOUTH INDIAN CUISINE 7128-A Albemarle Road, 704-569-9193. Featuring excellent vegetarian idlis, vadas, sambars, and rasams of Udipi, south India served up with a flair. $$-$$$

ELIZABETH/PLAZA-MIDWOOD

CAJUN QUEEN 1800 E. 7th Street, 704-377-9017. Friendly atmosphere, jazz, and terrific service highlight the complete New Orleans-style menu. $$$

CIBI 1601 E. 7th Street, 704-344-0844. Unpretentious American bistro with French-Italian bistro-styled cuisine in an historic Elizabeth house. $$$

CUISINE MALAYA, MALAYSIAN CUISINE & JAPANESE SUSHI BAR 1411 Elizabeth Avenue, 704-372-0766 or 704-372-0768. Charlotte's only Malaysian restaurant serving first rate Roti Canai, Satay, Char Kway Teow and Beef Rendang. Sultry, yet sophisticated ambiance and fine service. $$$

ETHAN'S OF ELIZABETH AMERICAN BISTRO 366 N. Caswell Road, 704-375-3007. Located in a charming old house in one of Charlotte's quaint neighborhoods, this comfortable bistro features well-executed New American cuisine. $$$

JOHN'S COUNTRY KITCHEN 1518 Central Avenue, 333-9551. A reminder of a culinary tradition we're quickly leaving behind. Brains and eggs, country ham, grits, and gravy. Open for lunch, too. Cash only. $

LUPIE'S CAFE 2718 Monroe Road, 704-374-1232. This funky, semi-legendary place is home to an eclectic, down-home hip clientele and a kitchen full of some of the best burgers and chili in town. Also, good homestyle meals. $