Rooster's Uptown is the first restaurant I tried in Uptown Charlotte after moving to the area. It is in the heart of Uptown within walking distance from all the major hotels, theaters and nightlife. My boyfriend and I went on a Wednesday night around 5:30 and it was PACKED. Definitely a good sign...when we told the hostess we were there without a reservation she gave an apparent sign of distress, but with a little walkie-talkie magic (the place is huge) we were able to get in without a wait. The ambience was very lovely, warm and romantic, or would have been if it weren't for that night's crowd of mostly teenage girls and their mothers boasting about who camped out outside of the Four Seasons the longest waiting for a glimpse of Selena Gomez.
My boyfriend and I ordered the charcuterie plate to start (obviously, we are Millennials after all) and were able to chose two cheeses and three meats. The waiter knew an incredible amount about the menu and was able to make recommendations for our selections. The plate also came with crusty bread, yummy house-made pickles, and a huge amount of ridiculously pungent mustard, the smell of which was nauseating (I hate mustard). I know it is a matter of preference, but in my opinion no charcuterie plate can be complete without a sweeter element...chutney, jam, honey, fruit...whatever tickles your fancy. By failing to have a sweet component I believe the charcuterie plate was lacking. Our waiter was very quick to bring me honey though when I mentioned this comment.
Rooster's Uptown's menu provided fresh, local ingredients, some prepared in creative ways I hadn't seen before and some offered in the same trendy way as all the menus of the "upscale Southern" restaurants now ubiquitous in Charlotte. My boyfriend ordered the filet which was cooked perfectly, but the beans underneath were extremely oversalted (I'm guessing over-reduced). My polenta cakes with grated Parmesan were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside...just heavenly. The mac-and-cheese recommended by our server, with chevre (goat cheese) as the secret ingredient was sinfully good and even better reheated the next day!
Rooster's Uptown was only given four stars because of the steep price and my boyfriend's overly cooked meat and improperly seasoned . The meal for the two of us, including gratuity, was $135 and we did not drink ANY alcohol. Even though the meal was AWESOME, I have had better meals for a fraction of that price.
I would recommend Rooster's Uptown for a girls' night or before catching a play. The wine list is extremely extensive and the a la carte menu is perfect for sharing. Rooster's will have something to please everyone.