There is no shortage of pizza parlors in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and other Lake Wylie communities.  There is, however, a shortage of Really Good Pizza.  Hand tossed crusts, spicy sauce, lots of cheese, inventive toppings.  Slices that you can’t pick up with just one hand.  Pizza that tastes good whether it’s hot, cold, or somewhere in between.  Now that’s Really Good Pizza.

I’m tickled to say that Empire Pizza hits the mark.  Pizza by the slice, or order up a whole pie.  Standard meat toppings, plus salami, anchovies, meatballs. Veggies include all of the standards plus pineapple, broccoli, banana peppers.  Nothing too exotic, so I suppose there’s room for improvement in the “inventive” category.  However, ingredients are all fresh, and the menu is personalized with some thematic selections.

Empire Pizza is owned by Constantine Doulaveris.  I’m guessing he is from New York City, based on the style of food, the restaurant name, and the decor.  The atmosphere is that of a sports bar, with lots of televisions for viewing ballgames, a large bar area, and even a place to throw some darts.

Pizza is not the only offering.  There are several salad choices (Buffalo Chicken Salad, Antipasto Salad, Greek, Caesar, Chef’s), Calzones & Strombolies, plus pasta entrees including Shrimp Diavolo, Mediterranean Penne with kalameta olives and sundried tomato pesto, Eggplant Parmigiana, and several other choices.  There are also plenty of “bar food” choices:  burgers, chicken wings, chili cheese fries, jalapeno poppers.

I was accompanied by my daughter and husband on our first trip to Empire.  We chose an order of chicken wings (half hot, half sweet & spicy), plus two small Specialty Pies:  Magpie Lane Veggie (loaded with tomatoes, onion, green peppers, banana peppers, mushrooms and black olives) and a Classic White Pie (fresh garlic, spiced ricotta cheese, mozzarella and fresh basil).  The wings were great; crisp and tasty.  The Sweet & Spicy wings were a bit on the messy side, but each table comes equipped with a roll of paper towels.  The pizzas were very good, and heated up well as leftovers the next day.

The Original Empire Pizza is in Rock Hill, 1415 Riverchase Blvd.  (I think that’s in Manchester.)  The Newport restaurant is the second location.  I look forward to our next visit; the “Build your own Pasta” section looks intriguing, with choices of noodle, sauce, and toppings.  Anybody hungry?

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What makes Jack’s Cosmic Dogs so special?  Several things, from the unique blue cheese slaw topping, the sweet potato mustard, the draft root beer in a frosty mug, and the personality of the place.  The menu sports choices such as the Astro Dog, Atomic Dog, Galactic Dog, and Rocket Corn Dog, among other astronomical choices.  I was intrigued by the vegetarian choices, including the Bunny in a Bun (grilled carrot topped with slaw) and the tofu dogs, but my choice had to be the classic Cosmic Dog, considering the restaurant was named after it.  Or it after the restaurant.  One of those.

The Cosmic Dog was topped with the blue cheese slaw (out of this world!), and sweet potato mustard, which was surprisingly delightful.  Not a fan of yellow mustard, I really enjoyed this variation.  I also had a frosty glass of root beer, a bit sweet for my taste, but I was going for the authentic experience.  A generous side of hand cut fries, and the meal was complete.

Okay, you Lake Wylie restauranteer-wannabe’s.  How about it?  A Cosmic Dog right here in La-Wy?  Please?  True grilled dogs, inventive toppings, and some quirky personality in the decor, along with some hopping music on the juke box, outdoor dining options, and extremely good ice cream for dessert.  I think it’ll fly.

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As it turns out, The Grid Iron didn’t actually reopen; it is a new restaurant entirely.  New owners, new menu, just no new name.  The owners are not new to the business; the Randazzo’s have owned and operated several successful restaurants locally, including Tony’s Pizza and Pappapino’s. 

They decided that The Grid Iron name was so well known, why fight it?  Keeping the name, the sports bar atmosphere, and the general look and feel of The Grid Iron, the Randazzo’s added some delicious Italian fare to the traditional “bar food”.  Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Parmigiana and Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Contadina, Italian Frittata and an array of panini’s are some of the choices for fans of Italian fare.  Steaks, seafood, and burgers are also available, along with quite a few salad  and vegetarian choices.

My husband and I were on our way to Charlotte the other night and decided to stop in and give it a try.  We were n a tight schedule, but the waitstaff (and kitchen!) were quite accommodating.  I ordered one of the nightly specials, Chicken Marsala (about $10), and my husband orderd a Grid Iron Burger, topped with cheese, bacon, onion and a fried egg (also about $10). 

The Chicken Marsala was accompanied by a house salad, a delicious side of sauteed vegetables and mashed potates, and was most excellent.  Tony was quite impressed with his burger as well.  Overall, we were very satisfied with the meal and thought it was a good value.  We’ll definitely go back!

The Grid Iron is located at 13105 S. Tryon, right next to the Rivergate shopping center.  They’re open 7 days a week 11am-10pm, plus a late night menu and extended bar hours.  They offer evening entertainment on occasion, patio dining, and private party room.

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We walked into Hickory Tavern, Steele Creek, the other day to have a quick bite after a shopping trip for school supplies.  On the wall behind the front desk, I noted an award plaque, “Voted Best Wings in Charlotte.”  When the waitress mentioned that it was “Wing Night”, with wings just 50 cents apiece, that sealed the deal for me.  I ordered 10, figuring that my husband and son might steal one or two and I’d be happily left with 7 or 8 along with my side order of sweet potato fries.  My husband ordered the “Tavern Burger”, and my son chose Shrimp Tacos.

When the food came out, I noted that the wings looked nice and meaty, but a bit light in color, not as golden brown and crispy as I’d prefer.  After one bite, it was confirmed that they were on the underdone side.  I didn’t think they were bad enough to send back, and figured I’d just be really careful and check for safe doneness with each nibble.  I discarded the second wing (a bit red in the middle) and started on the third.  The third was the deal breaker.  They had to go.

Now, I don’t like to complain, and I am pretty wary about sending food back in a restaurant, especially one like Hickory Tavern.  It is big and busy, and the kitchen employs lots of young folks who may not have a customer’s long term satisfaction as their top-of-mind.  When I was in high school, I remember a guy in my class talking about what HE’D do when encountered with a special order at the fast food burger place where he worked.  If a customer ordered no mustard, for instance, he’d triple the amount of ketchup, just to mess with them.  Seriously.  This is how some teenagers think:  Take it the way we make it, or suffer the consequences.  I’m sure you’ve heard stories as well.  Depending on the mood and maturity level of the cook, returned food is not always treated kindly.

So, it was with some trepidation that we called the waitress over to discuss the problem of the underdone wings.  I courteously explained and apologized for bothering her, and of course she apologized and said she’d take care of it.  Before she took the plate away, my son snatched a wing to try for himself.  That boy never could resist a hot wing.  The manager, equipped with a headset, stopped by to apologize as well.

When the plate came back, I had six freshly cooked wings.  (They gave me the exact number that were sent back to the kitchen.  Nevermind that I had discarded two that were not edible.)  The wings were very small (one was a partial wing, broken in fact) and quite done.  They were a bit OVER done, but I’d much rather have poultry overcooked than undercooked.  They were still tasty, and I thanked the waitress for all of the trouble.

On the positive side, my son thoroughly enjoyed the Shrimp Tacos, and my husband pronounced the Tavern Burger as most excellent.  And I will say that the sweet potato fries were my favorite part of the meal.  The wait staff was excellent, very attentive and courteous.  As for the wings, well, they won’t get my vote.  If I ever find myself at Hickory Tavern again, I’ll order something a little more safe.

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We arrived at Palmetto Seafood and took a seat on the outdoor dining porch, right next to the corn hole game.  We sat at a picnic table, adorned with a condiment tray and a roll of paper towels.  Special for the evening was frog legs, and you know how I do love to order the specials!  I wasn’t 100% sure about my selection, however, so the waitress graciously offered to bring out a sample for me to try.  It passed muster, so I ordered away.

My dining companions selected fried flounder and fried seafood platters (places like these, you just order your food fried.  Don’t try to be healthy; it’s not what they do best.) A couple of folks in our party were from New York, and one tried to order balsamic vinaigrette with her salad.  The waitress looked puzzled . . . so she changed it to Italian.  Good call.

Every thing was very good, hot and freshly prepared.  The service was very friendly, very quick.  As is common in Southern fish camps, the portions are quite generous.  Unless you’re a fan of leftovers, split a combo plate with a companion (there’s a $1.50 split charge to cover the extra condiments and paper plate), and perhaps order a salad so you’ll feel a bit better about the fried fest.  It’s a winner, y’all.

Open Tuesday thru Saturday, 4pm until 10 or so.  No credit cards, but did you really expect they’d be accepted?

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The patio for Hickory Tavern adjoins the patio for Luigi’s Pizza, and children on the Luigi’s side of the fence were hanging over trying to watch the TV screens on the Tavern’s patio.  Once their pizzas arrived, things calmed down considerably!

The Hickory Tavern menu offers a wonderful selection of “bar food”, including oysters on the half shell, sliders, wings, burgers, and pizza.  They have a nice seafood selection as well, including crab cakes, Oregon Cedar Salmon, Shrimp & Grits, and more.  I ordered a Tavern Fish Sandwich, which was very tasty.

One of my friends, a vegetarian, ordered a selection including steamed vegetables.  It was very uninspired, with no seasoning.  Have you every simply steamed squash and zucchini?  Not too tasty without some sort of seasoning added.  While steamed vegetables go against the very nature of “bar food”, it could have been much better nonetheless!

All in all, prices were a little on the high side (burgers around $9), but when the weather is good, and friends are part of the mix, it’s a great place to go for a casual night out.

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Actually, advertising is THE reason for the polls in the first place.  The newspaper runs the contest, then contacts each of the winners to solicit an ad in their “Best of” edition.  If a business wins, it needs to buy an ad.  It would be in poor taste not to.  So the whole contest is designed to sell ads to the businesses that win, and make them feel good about it.

Back to Luigi’s.  I have to tell you, I am always in search of really great pizza.  I’m highly suspicious of chains, like the “Big D”.  Do you realize their pizza is the same price as it was when I was in college, 25+ years ago??  How do they do that?  Minimum wage has more than doubled.  Gas prices have more than tripled.  So the only logical explanation, to remain profitable, is that costs of ingredients (or quality) have been cut way, way down.

Anyway, back to Luigi’s.  Again.  I picked up a pepperoni pizza “to go”, a 16″ pie priced $13.20.  Not 5 bucks.  Good sign.

When I walked in to pick it up, I saw a patron, who looked Italian, enjoying a heavily loaded slice of pizza.  Another good sign.

I had to drive 25 minutes home, so the pizza lost a bit of heat, but it was still very good.  It took two hands to eat a slice (pizza should not be too rigid, in my opinion), so that was yet another good sign.

My one complaint was the amount of sodium.  After going to bed that night, I woke up several times and had to drink a full glass of water.

I’d like to try Luigi’s fresh out of the oven sometime.  They have all of the standard toppings, along with some not found on a typical “chain” menu, such as eggplant, salami, anchovies, basil, meatballs.  True Italian fare.  They also have other specialties such as lasagna, ravioli, eggplant parmigiana.

Best pizza in Charlotte?  I’m not ready to claim that – - still have pizza out there to try.  But I’ll definitely return to Luigi’s.  Located in Steele Creek area, 13551 Steelecroft Pkwy, Ste. 100 (next to the Hickory Tavern).

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On Monday, it was just my husband and I, so we decided we’d give it a try. The pub was very clean, not too loud, and the sports themed decor provided lots of interesting things to look at. Outside was pretty crowded, so we opted for an inside table along the wall where we could watch all the action.

The first item that popped off the menu were chicken wings, “Voted Best in Lake Wylie.” Naturally, I had to give that a try. They were priced for people bad at math: $7.99 for 10 (79.9 cents apiece), $15.99 for 20 (79.95 cents apiece), $40.99 for 50 ( 81.98 cents apiece), and $77.99 for a hundred (that’s where the quantity discount kicked in).

I chose the signature sauce, since I’m a big believer in ordering whatever is named after the restaurant.  “Gator” sauce promised a spicy burst of flavor with a hint of garlic.  Tony chose the Parmesan Garlic, since he wanted more than a hint.  The Gator sauce was very saucy – - and messy!  The waitress brought us lots of extra napkins, without our having to ask.  Extra points for that!

I preferred Tony’s Parmesan Garlic sauce (crispier chicken, great flavor), and he preferred the Gator sauce, so it all worked out.

There were lots of “regulars” at Gators . . . very friendly crowd, lots of interaction and laughter all around.  Wylie Gators strikes me as the type of place that might get a little rowdy now and then . . . at least, as rowdy as life in Lake Wylie can get.  Dinner and a show, what a deal!

So were the wings truly “Best in Lake Wylie”?  Probably so.  More flavor choices than either Christopher’s or Tbones on the Lake, very meaty, a good solid choice.  Service was terrific, and we enjoyed our dinner.  Not a place I’d take my mother . . . and I’d probably recommend take-out for family meals.

They do have bands and special events on a regular basis, and if you’re a Steeler’s fan, you’re family.

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My son commented that the portions were a bit small, so we ordered an appetizer of calamari, which was fantastic.  I chose Veal Picatta as my entree, a rare splurge that has always been one of my favorites.  My tomato hating husband chose Tortellini Gorgonzala (no tomatoes there), and my son went for the Chicken Alfredo.

When the entrees arrived, it was evident that the “small portion” comment came not from a normal person, but from a male teenager who can easily consume 6000 calories at a single meal.  As it turned out, we ALL took home “doggy bags” and had enough for a complete lunch the next day.

The food was good, service friendly, and prices reasonable.  The atmosphere caters more towards family dining (booths!) than romance, which makes it a fine choice for a casual night out.  I’d like to try the pizza; it looked tasty!

It’s a place I’d recommend if you’re in the Ayrsley area already.  Worth a 40 minute drive?  Not particularly.  I’d rate it low on the “WOW!” scale, but a solid choice if you’re in the neighborhood.

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 When we go out to eat this time of year, we tend to migrate to those places that have great outdoor seating areas. I’ve compiled a list of some of MY favorite places to eat outside, and would love to hear from you about your favorites as well!

Probably the best place in the area with outside dining is T-Bones on the Lake. With a huge deck stretching over the lake, ducks swimming below, cold drinks and hot wings, every hour is happy hour! We visited last night for all-you-can-eat ribs (every Monday), and the place was hopping. Getting a table outside is tricky during prime time, but it is worth the wait.

Christopher’s in Lake Wylie, though not on the water, has a nice sized outdoor dining patio. Famous for their custom burgers, such as the Panther Burger, the Barbecue Burger, or the “Big and Messy”, you’ll also find lighter fare such as salads and wraps. It’s Lake Wylie’s version of “Cheers” – - guaranteed to find a friendly crowd of “regulars”. 

If you hear burritos calling your name, there’s no better place than the deck at Rey Azteca in Lake Wylie! They serve delightful margaritas, fajitas, sopapillas and traditional Mexican fare. The sauces are hot and the staff is saucy. Lots of fun!

Over the state line, at Rivergate in Steele Creek, BJ’s Burgerjoint and City Tavern have adjoining outdoor patios. Watch the shoppers go by, and enjoy the action in the parking lot. Okay, so the scenery isn’t much, but the food is good and it IS outside! Fuel Pizza, also in the Rivergate Shopping Center, has some outdoor dining as well.

In Tega Cay, the place to be for happy hour is definitely Steve’s Grill on Gold Hill Road. With a huge outdoor dining area, live bands, and fantastic food, you won’t be disappointed. The crowd is lively, the wait staff fantastic, and the food is exceptional.

As you move around the lake to the Rock Hill side, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention TC’s! At TC’s on Hwy 161 in Newport, the ONLY dining option is outdoor dining. Hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, and shaved ice are favorite options for this culinary experience. If you order a milkshake, go with the “no lid” option and you’ll get a scoop of ice cream on top! No summer is complete without a trip to TC’s. Don’t be in a hurry, just sit on the porch swing and wait for them to call out your order. 

I’d love to hear about your favorite places for outdoor dining!  Leave a comment!

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