The Dunavant - Charlotte

After seeing so much buzz about the chicken and funnel cake, I couldn’t resist coming here for brunch to try it myself. My husband and I shared a Mimosa Flight (which included Cranberry, Pineapple, Watermelon, and Grapefruit), the Chicken and Funnel Cake with Strawberry Sauce, and the Lobster Mac and Cheese. I was quite impressed with everything we ordered. The Chicken and Funnel Cake surpassed my expectations and is far superior to the typical chicken and waffles. The Lobster Mac and Cheese was packed with lobster, which was a pleasant surprise. However, I did find the prices a bit steep; the entrees were $25 each, which feels a little high for brunch.

The ambiance inside was pleasant, and I appreciated the option to order a bottle and share it with my partner instead of opting for individual servings or a flight. The menu was somewhat limited, but the descriptions made the dishes sound appealing. Our waitress informed us about some off-menu items, and I was intrigued by the potato hash, which included potatoes, peppers, onions, and cheese. However, I was a bit let down when it arrived (see attached picture) — the cheese was minimal, and there were only a few pieces of peppers and onions. The smoky flavor was nice, though. I decided to try the French toast, but had I looked up reviews beforehand, I would have known it was just regular Nature’s Own sliced bread, very thin at that. The accompanying sauce was okay, but I expected brioche bread like many other French toast dishes offer. On a positive note, the shrimp and grits were quite tasty; the shrimp was well-seasoned, and the grits were smooth and flavorful. Overall, I’m glad I tried this place, but it’s not a spot I would visit again. Decent experience, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

1. The waitstaff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making for a pleasant experience throughout our meal. 2. The atmosphere was great, with cool music playing and a nice mix of patrons, including couples, families, and singles. 3. The funnel cake and chicken were absolutely delicious! We also ordered the steak with potatoes and eggs, which were decent, although the eggs lacked flavor. We also got a side of eggs (which appeared to be just one) for $6. Our French toast was quite dry and didn't meet our expectations. 4. There's a small parking lot at the back, but be prepared to search for street parking if it's full. 5. Overall, I think it's definitely worth checking out. My family and I are planning to return. 6. Just a heads up: be sure to review your bill, as they automatically added an 18% gratuity.

The funnel cake was good, but they need to offer more sauce on the side, as it was overwhelmed by the chicken. The chicken itself tasted bland, so I felt it could have been prepared better as well. As I continued eating the chicken, it became repetitive and ultimately disappointing. The mimosas were decent, but if they want to serve juices on the side instead of mixed, they should ensure that each juice is well-balanced. I wouldn’t want a heavy pour of cranberry juice, a light splash of pineapple juice, and barely any watermelon juice (which I didn’t get to taste because there wasn’t much of it). The service wasn’t great, but they did mention they were busy. The atmosphere was decent, and the scenery was beautiful, which I enjoyed. It definitely had a brunch vibe, making it a nice setting. Overall, I’m not sure if I would recommend it to a friend. The concept is lovely, but improvements need to be made in the presentation and execution before I could confidently suggest it to others.

The restaurant was moderately busy, with about half of the tables occupied. The bartender then approached us, offering to assist. She took our drink and food orders. The mimosa flight was delightful, and my friend had numerous questions about the chicken and funnel cake, all of which the bartender answered. I ordered the funnel cake with Bananas Foster bacon, while my friend chose the funnel cake with Strawberries and bacon. We also ordered some hash browns to share. When the food arrived, my friend received her funnel cake with bacon, but I was mistakenly served the chicken funnel cake. I quickly informed the server that I hadn’t ordered that, and it was taken back. The bartender came to check on us, and I explained the mix-up. She assured me she would get the correct funnel cake with bacon. As we waited, we shared some hash browns, but I still hadn’t received my meal while my friend was halfway through hers. We waved at another waitress and asked for the bartender again. When she returned, she said my order would be out shortly. Despite the confusion and wait, the food we tried was enjoyable. When the bill arrived, we both expected it to be pricey, but we noticed we were charged for the chicken funnel cake with bacon, along with a $10 service charge for our two-person table. The bartender adjusted the bills, and we were correctly charged for the funnel cake with bacon. We decided the $10 service fee would act as our tip and noted it on our receipt. However, I’m still perplexed about why a $10 service charge was applied to a table of two. Given the overall experience, I probably won’t return.