Went for lunch today (11/29) and the food was overall pretty solid, but the service definitely needed support. There was only one server working the entire dining area, and it was obvious she was overwhelmed. A man behind the bar stood watching but only stepped in once to help while we were there. I found it baffling that he didn’t help more. I get wanting the primary server to keep the tips, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of basic customer service. We wanted to ask for chopsticks after our food was served, but our server didn’t return to check on us until we were nearly done eating. When we asked for to-go containers, it took another 15–20 minutes because she was so slammed. Food rundown: Crispy duck (half): 3/5 Skin was pretty crispy, but a lot of pieces had thick layers of fat that should’ve been rendered out better. Open Rice’s crispy duck is significantly better. Beef chow fun: 4/5 A bit underseasoned, but the beef was tender and the noodles were cooked well. Could have been more generous with the bean sprouts and scallions. Beef fried rice: 4/5 The beef pieces were a little too large for fried rice, but tender. Odd that pork isn’t offered as a protein option here, which is what we usually get. Offering char siu pork would be a major plus on the menu. Sesame chicken: 4/5 The steamed broccoli was cold for some reason, but the chicken itself was tasty. Overall, the food is decent and we’d consider returning if we lived closer.
Flame: Asian Bistro & Bar
Excerpts
Went for lunch today (11/29) and the food was overall pretty solid, but the service definitely needed support. There was only one server working the entire dining area, and it was obvious she was overwhelmed. A man behind the bar stood watching but only stepped in once to help while we were there. I found it baffling that he didn’t help more. I get wanting the primary server to keep the tips, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of basic customer service. We wanted to ask for chopsticks after our food was served, but our server didn’t return to check on us until we were nearly done eating. When we asked for to-go containers, it took another 15–20 minutes because she was so slammed. Food rundown: Crispy duck (half): 3/5 Skin was pretty crispy, but a lot of pieces had thick layers of fat that should’ve been rendered out better. Open Rice’s crispy duck is significantly better. Beef chow fun: 4/5 A bit underseasoned, but the beef was tender and the noodles were cooked well. Could have been more generous with the bean sprouts and scallions. Beef fried rice: 4/5 The beef pieces were a little too large for fried rice, but tender. Odd that pork isn’t offered as a protein option here, which is what we usually get. Offering char siu pork would be a major plus on the menu. Sesame chicken: 4/5 The steamed broccoli was cold for some reason, but the chicken itself was tasty. Overall, the food is decent and we’d consider returning if we lived closer.
This was our second time here and the food is as consistent in flavor as the last time, if not, even better! You can definitely taste the wok hei! We did try one item from the dim sum menu (pork spare ribs in black bean sauce) but didn’t care for it because the ribs needed to be cooked a bit longer. The service was also fantastic. I can’t remember our servers name but she was attentive and checked on us frequently! Flame is probably our favorite Chinese restaurant around CLT area. Wish the location was in a better place because I think it would be so busy! Can’t wait for our next visit!
This was our second time here and the food is as consistent in flavor as the last time, if not, even better! You can definitely taste the wok hei! We did try one item from the dim sum menu (pork spare ribs in black bean sauce) but didn’t care for it because the ribs needed to be cooked a bit longer. The service was also fantastic. I can’t remember our servers name but she was attentive and checked on us frequently! Flame is probably our favorite Chinese restaurant around CLT area. Wish the location was in a better place because I think it would be so busy! Can’t wait for our next visit!
The food here is fantastic great. I haven’t tried the dim sum yet, so I can’t compare it to other Charlotte spots, but based on what I ordered, I have high hopes that it’s excellent. The only downside was the wait. They were dealing with a staff shortage on my visit, so service was quite slow despite the servers best efforts. I’d recommend waiting a month or so to visit so the new staff can get fully trained. Once the service speed catches up to the food quality, this place will be way better than Lams or Open Rice.