New North Carolina Law May Be Good For Customers But Not So Much For Businesses
So, you want to go to a bar and also have a bite to eat with your cocktails. Well, a new North Carolina law may be good for customers but not so much for businesses affected by it. The new North Carolina law would subject bars serving food to standards imposed on restaurants.
And, while this doesn’t affect those serving pre-packaged food such as chips or nuts and pretzels in the bag, it does apply to prepared food. According to AXIOS Charlotte, this means those who plan to serve temperature controlled foods requiring preparation. Governor Cooper signed a bill in the fall that redefined ‘bar.’
Before, bars wishing to offer limited food menus could do so without the rigorous food inspections restaurants go through. However, that left the customer vulnerable when it came to food safety. But, on the flip side of course these requirements come with costs to the businesses. And, we all know that when businesses encounter costs, those are often passed on to the customer. So, going out, which is already expensive, just became potentially more expensive.
And, according to Mecklenburg County public health officials, around 268 businesses could be affected by the law. Also, since bars aren’t always constructed with the same permit requirements in mind, retro fitting them to be up to restaurant standards can be costly.
So, the law goes into effect January 1. And, compliance is required by March 27. Read more about the law and what some business owners have to say about it in the full story on AXIOS Charlotte. But, at least there will be safety standards in place for food service moving forward, for what it’s worth. So, the new North Carolina law may be good for customers, but not so much for businesses.
And, it’s probably costly for all of us.
If You Only Have One Meal In Charlotte North Carolina Here's Where You Must Go
If you want to find the best spot in a city how do you go about that? I’d start by asking a person where they’d go if they would only eat one meal in that location. Which begs the question, if you only have one meal in Charlotte where should you eat it? Perhaps you’re on a long layover, or stopping through on a drive. In a city with endless options for meals, how do you know where to pick? I like to avoid chain restaurants or at least ones I can eat at home, when I travel. So that rule applies here as well, with one exception. But in order to correctly answer this question I first have to ask one of you. Which meal are you eating? That of course factors into where I’d tell you to go.
So I have your answer, but it’s all based on that meal. But don’t worry I’ve answered the question for every possible meal- breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, cocktails, small plates/apps, and more. You’ll find 11 different restaurants or in some cases bars below that I, as well as some trusted confidants, feel are the best choices of where to go in Charlotte. Of course, these may not be every single person’s favorites but I can bet they are places you’ll enjoy. So if you’re traveling through Charlotte or just attempting to find the best of the best of the city’s culinary scene this is for you.
So now it’s time to answer the question, if you only have one meal in Charlotte where should you go?
Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.