Charlotte needs more places like Soma--especially the Matthews area. Family restaurants of this quality have a way of recharging you. And I'm not just talking about the curry.
Soma is owned and run, presumably, by a family. Every time I've been there, the single waiter is jogging back and forth from our table to the kitchen, peeking out from behind the curtain from time to time to check on our drinks. If every other restaurant had employees who were so able to multi-task, service would never be anything short of flawless.
The food is some of the best I've had from that region of the planet. The meat is quality, the rice is fresh and well-prepared, and the sauces are derived from recipes that can't possibly be anything less than a culmination of home-cooked meals spread over generations.
If you work in the area, skip Chik-fil-a and Hops once in a while and check this place out. You won't be disappointed.
I love fried chicken, brick oven pizza and burgers just as much as the next guy. But if more people were willing to give these small businesses a try, Charlotte's food culture would be a more colorful picture than it is today.