We were lured to Evoke by their rating in Charlotte Magazine and Restaurant Week was an added carrot.
Since our reservation was at the tail end of the great snow of 2016 they called to confirm our reservation- very thoughtful!
The lobby is gorgeous - very relaxing to hang out before or after dinner. Evoke is tucked in the back left corner at a kinda awkward host stand.
Service was divine- we were seated quickly, greeted warmly and educated on the menu. I loved that they offered wine, beer and whiskey flights. Our table tried a cocktail, wine flight and OMB beer flights.
Food was executed well in maybe the most well timed dinner I've ever had out. Why only three stars? Nothing felt innovative, special or surprising. Do all three of those words mean the same thing?
Yes the salmon crudo was lovely, if tiny. Sauces were also quite nice.
Proteins were cooked well, apps were delicious and I was the lone person to love my dessert (brown butter cake with Nutella gelato - amazing!) The gelato and sorbet assortment wasn't served on a chilled plate and melted quickly. And at a several hundred dollar dinner it's those things that make a difference.
In a sea of fine dining options consistent is good, yes but there are so many choices in Charlotte now and I want see something on a menu in a new preparation.
This wasn't a bad meal - just not worthy of a top five restaurant in Charlotte. Come here for a solid meal and great service- plus it's a terrific deal during Restaurant Week. Save your special night out dinner budget for Passion 8, Fig Tree, Customshop, Wooden Vine or Carpe Diem.