Back in 2009 when I started law
school, my friends and I were constantly looking for a place to escape the
grind and intensity that is a legal education.
Considering we were in Charlotte, this wasn’t a difficult feat. We wanted something laid back, where we could
unwind and vent, and sit outside and enjoy the sunshine that we were so rarely
experiencing behind the stale walls of a law school library. We were broke grad students, so we needed
something cheap and unpretentious, and that’s exactly what we found. Tavern on the Tracks in South End, a place
that became so dear to us that we began referring to it as Old Faithful. After about a month of hanging out there, the
waitresses and bartenders would get us our drinks before we even ordered
them. It was nice to feel some warmth and
familiarity during such a grueling time.
Tavern is cheap. At the time, my husband and I were just
friends who studied together, and his favorite night was Thursdays because it
was Jack Daniels night. Combine that
with $3 beer specials and you have a fantastic, yet cheap, night out. Tavern provides a comfortable atmosphere with
pleasant servers and a rather large menu considering that it’s a sports
bar.
While the food isn’t the best, Tavern
does sell my favorite queso of all time.
I am a queso fiend. If it’s on
the menu, I will order it. Tavern has
ruined me. Rarely am I not disappointed
these days after trying another restaurant’s queso. Tavern’s Espinaca Queso is FANTASTIC. It’s spicy, and they serve it with
tri-colored tortilla chips that make for such a lovely plating.
Although the chips can be overly salty
and I wish they would change that, the queso is so good that it almost doesn’t
even matter. It’s spicy and the little
bites of sautéed pepper create a satisfying texture. The dip is smooth and they serve it with a
spoon so you can mix the queso occasionally to keep it from hardening. This appetizer obviously does not promote
good health, but it’s delicious and I always find myself eating the queso, even
after I’m full. It’s just that
good. I can be hard to please when it
comes to food, and I don’t take the “Best Queso Ever” title lightly, but I have
yet to be introduced to a queso that tops this one. It’s so amazing, on my 24th
birthday I asked my best friend, now husband, to take me for Tavern queso for
my birthday. Crazy, I know. Just try it and you’ll understand.
Tavern on the Tracks earned its Old
Faithful title. You can’t go there
expecting great food because the majority of the food is mediocre. The best items to order on their menu are the
queso, the chicken tenders, the fries, the steak salad, and the quesadillas. The rest of the menu isn’t bad for a sports
bar, but it’s also not the best. You go
to Tavern for the atmosphere. The
outdoor area is awesome. It’s spacious
and calm, perfect for Sunday Funday or a nice Thursday evening in the
Spring. The location is so accessible,
close enough to walk Uptown, and it’s right next to Gin Mill if you suddenly
get in the mood to play some darts or listen to a live band. The drinks are cheap, the food is cheap, the
staff is friendly, and the people who frequent the establishment create the
relaxed ambiance that is so cathartic.
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