Having a second act is always hard to do epically if the first act was successful. This can either make or break performers ( Jimmy Page of Led Zepplin and Paul Rogers of Bad Companys ill fated band The Firm ) , movies ( George Lucas disastrous prequel Star Wars trilogy ) , or best loved novels like Margaret Mitchells Gone with the Wind ( never mind that Margret Mitchell has been dead for 64 years ) fallowed by Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley train wreck sequel the novel . Yes Second acts are hard to fallow . The audience demands instant gratification if not be prepared for an angry mob equipped with torches pitchforks youtube/watch?v=qLvGnro4Cgw . This example maybe a little melodramatic but, this does not mitigate the inherent risk of a second act. Do you risk either to reproduce the success you where once known for or do you risk reinventing yourself into something new and different ? David Bowie (Official) had reinvented more times than Elizabeth Taylor switch husbands. Yet he was successful while poor Elizabeth Taylor was not. The Crew at popular and successful Five Church 5church/v had decided to venture forth with a new hangout called Nan and Byrons nanandbyrons/. Five Church had entertained the more urban hip Uptown crowd in Charlotte with creative menus and exciting twist and turns which are both teasing and tempting. Nan-Byrons takes a more familiar tone which caters to more safer country kitchen Southern classic comfort food crowd. Not to to diminish their efforts or skill but, the target audience is a different kettle of fish. You wont have to explain the food in a multi page plot synopsis of what you are going to eat or, try to explain why a machine gun was turned into a lamp for the decor while eating at Five Church. Nan-Byrons dose not need to explain itself. Country kitchen comfort food prepared at higher level than their local counter parts which do very similar fare. We had headed forth to Nan-Byrons opening night which is both exciting for both the eating public and the restaurant a like. Can all the undo hypercritical expectations be met or will the angry torch wielding crowd turn against the helpless owners and crew on oping night ? I have mixed things to report. I like the new location and much more casual dining hall and lower noise level Nan-Byron offers which was a refreshing change to Five Church. The appraiser SMOKED POBLANO CHEESE DIP $6.5 potato chips was just like a crack addiction , I simply could not get enough ! Creamy heart clogging goodness ! Dinner was MEATLOAF $14.5 slow cooked seasoned ground beef, sriracha ketchup, red wine sauce and choice of two sides and I being the odd man out had the MUSHROOM $12 marinated and grilled Portobello, quinoa stuffing and choice of two sides . Well theres meat loaf and well theres meatloaf Nan-Byrons was well just meat loaf. As my late grandmother use to say You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear. this was sadly the case with the meat loaf. Nan-Byrons meatloaf had tasted more like a pepper laden jerky than an ideal meatloaf. Texture was more akin to bread-loaf than a meatloaf. The sriracha ketchup played well between spicy, sweet and sour and was well balanced but, the rest was not balanced at all. Trying to satisfy vegetarians tend to be a more difficult task .We are a peculiar lot indeed and hard to cook for. My mushroom was very well cooked, quinoa stuffing was savory , not overcooked nor was it undercooked and was nice and savory which I am happy to report. However the accompaining pepper sauce was not up to a satisfying temperature . While creative or a mistake I am not a fan of serving an entree hot with a cold sauce or garnish component . Real skill needs to be executed to do this properly . Ok ok I can put away my torch and pitchfork now. Now the service was very good the manager did comp us the meatloaf and gave us two free deserts.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 18:18:02 +0000
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