A trip to a nice restaurant with a laidback and relaxed atmosphere was just what I needed to pick up my spirits on a rainy and gloomy Saturday evening. I got what I wished for at Firebirds.
After working all day on a story, a good friend called and invited me to dinner. I headed over to his house to meet the other guys, hopped into his car and we headed down to South Park.
I always have a great time going out to dinner with friends. The event starts the moment we pile into the car and start our journey. The restaurants we choose almost always reflect our moods on any given day. This night, we all agreed: Firebirds was the place to be.
Despite making reservations an hour in advance, we were told there’d be an hour wait before a table was ready. The management was kind and worked with us, giving us updates as we waited. It was a small snafu for sure, but nothing we couldn’t handle. We bided our time sipping some wine. My choice was, of course, the great Genesis by Hogue Riesling. A friend chose a pinot noir. We were both pleased.
When our table was finally ready, we walked through the restaurant, filled with happy faces and couples — gay and straight.
We ordered another round of wine and sampled three great appetizers: the Lobster Spinach Queso, the Seared Ahi Tuna and Chicken Quesadilla.
Our favorite dish, Firebirds’ Pepper Crusted Sirloin was again a must-have for most folks around the table. Two others chose the Filet and Shrimp. As for me, I opted for less of a kick and ordered Firebirds’ Aspen Sirloin — the same great meal minus the pepper.
If you’ve never had a steak at Firebirds, you should. Other steakhouses are good, but this one is great and their cooks do it right. The sirloin melts in your mouth, isn’t chewy or tough and has a phenomenal taste.
Throughout our meal, the manager stopped by our table a few times. I was happy to see such great customer service.
Firebirds is a treat for any evening, whether you’re on a date, celebrating a holiday or special occasion, treating a visitor from out of town or having a simple night out with friends. The entrees are a tad bit pricey if you’re living on a budget but it is worth it. You’ll leave feeling refreshed, full and bright. A good end to a good meal.
— Firebirds is based in Charlotte and opened its first location there in 2000. The city now has three restaurants. Other Carolina locations include Raleigh, Durham and Winston-Salem. The chain has a total of 16 locations in seven states. For more information, visit www.firebirdsrockymountaingrill.com.