By Lauren Livesay
Fahrenheit Charlotte Heats Up Uptown
While Charlotte’s downtown area is typically referred to as Uptown, residents are mostly limited to action on street level. In early 2015, locals were treated to the city’s first open-air bar and restaurant on the 21st floor of the Skye Condos.
Fahrenheit Charlotte has a New York City vibe, but with a hint of Southern charm as showcased in several dishes. You can find dishes with a regional feel, such as the Charlotte Nachos and North Carolina Shrimp Pad Thai. To date, I haven’t found any item on the dinner menu that was less than perfection.
My first brunch experience at Fahrenheit also did not disappoint. While the menu has the traditional fare of eggs, waffles, and sandwiches, they all have that special touch that Fahrenheit Charlotte adds to each plate. During our time, we sampled the Crab Benedict and Maine Lobster Rolls. The Crab Benedict was a heartier plate, loaded with poached egg, crab, spinach, kimchi hollandaise, breakfast potatoes, and asparagus. The hollandaise was just the right amount – not too heavy.
The lobster rolls are served as a pair of two on house brioche, along with a side of breakfast potatoes. The rolls are on the small side, yet very satisfying if looking for a lighter dish. The bread had a crispy exterior that paired well with the cool, creamy flavor of the lobster. The potatoes were my favorite part of the meal, garnished with green onions as well as diced red and green peppers. The flavor of the peppers and onion add something unique and tasty that sets them apart from your standard “diner potatoes”.
In my opinion, no brunch experience is complete without a mimosa. The Fahrenheit version includes a splash of honey, which seems to make the flavor of the juice more smooth. We each only had one, but at a reasonable price of $7, we could have easily enjoyed more.
The atmosphere of any meal at Fahrenheit is incredible. Even if you dine indoors, you still overlook the Charlotte skyline. The view is desirable both day and night. If you do choose to dine outdoors, there is a fire pit for when the sun sets and/or temperatures drop. The seating is casual, with small iron tables for dates, or lounge style seating for those group outings and after work cocktails.
Accessing the restaurant is easy and offers a variety of parking options. You can take advantage of the valet service offered at the building, or use the adjacent and reasonably priced parking lot. The restaurant is located at 222 S Caldwell Street, on the Southwest side of Uptown. It is a just a quick walk to the Time Warner Cable Arena, which is home to our Charlotte Hornets, as well as a very popular concert venue on non-game nights. Fahrenheit Charlotte is also only a few blocks from numerous local bars, the Bank of America Stadium (home of the Carolina Panthers), and the BB&T Ballpark (home of the city’s minor league baseball team, the Charlotte Knights).
Fahrenheit’s arrival to Charlotte has definitely taken things up a level (pun intended!). The unique food and top-notch service make for a great place to take clients, friends, and family. You can even survive those awkward pauses on first dates by gazing out at the incredible city of Charlotte.