Smalls

Smalls is now closed.

I was looking forward to trying Smalls thanks to all the positive reviews here on Unilocal.
Unfortunately, I came away a bit disappointed.
First off this dinner was with the dinner group. Two days prior, I had called during their normal business hours to make a reservation. It was an hour before they closed and I had to leave a message in their voice mail and beep… my message was too long to get all the information in.
I called back the next day again during their business hours and received the voice mail so I was getting concerned that maybe they had actually closed or something. Called back a couple hours later and finally got a real live person. Gave them all the info about the group and they didn’t think there would be a problem even though they said they had another group coming in.
But upon arrival, they didn’t seem to know anything about our reservation but were determined to accommodate us. They put us in the middle of the restaurant across from the bar.
The draft beer selections here were all from NC breweries which is one of the things that drew me in here. And the Greenman IPA that I had 3 of was a real winner so 5 stars for the beer selections!
The menu is simple and the options are inexpensive. You have your choice of small plates and several varieties of sliders, a few salads, a soup of the day and then there’s the large plates.
I opted for the Crispy Chicken which consisted of fried chicken with a chili honey sauce and an herbed batter waffle. The waffle didn’t do anything for me. I found it rather tasteless. The chicken and honey sauce was wonderful. The chicken was tender and juicy. Unfortunately it also stuck with me for a day.
Service wise, our server was excellent despite the challenges we heard about throughout the night. The bartender apparently called in and all the servers had to cover. This included a crash of glasses during the night. And then later on, the computer died so it took a while for the checks to arrive. But she still served with a smile even though we think she was about to break down.
What we saw is that the smaller groups seemed to get better service than our table. There were little things like orders not being correct. The person who ordered last. like 5 minutes after everyone else, received their food first and I heard things like the crab cake sliders were dry and needed some sort of sauce. That sauce arrived later in the meal.
It’s really a nice place and the staff and patrons were all friendly. But perhaps we just hit Smalls on a bad night. I am willing to give them another shot.

Finally wandered into Smalls after much debate on when we should visit. Having only been alive in Elizabeth since January, these guys sure do have a lot to show for their quaint establishment. In the old NoFo on Liz space, for you locals.
Kind of hidden on Elizabeth Ave. One sunken door and a long hallway into the small dining room. About a dozen tables and decent amount of bar seating. I’d recommend sitting at the bar. A little easier from a service perspective and fun to chat with the bartenders.
We were intrigued by many things on the menu. Here starts the laundry list:
Apps:
Mulled Pear Salad. As I’ve written numerous times before, I’m not a salad eater nor am I a fan of cruditè in general. This salad made me think twice about how to dress up arugula. Light, sweet, tangy, hint of spiciness and packed full of flavor. Served with a cold, braised pear on the side. Each bite was divine. Definitely worth it. Even for us carnivores.
Zack’s Confit Wings. Confit wings? Are you kidding me? This is a huge culinary plus for anyone who understands the process. Makes for such tender and savory poultry. Man. The chili-​laden sauce they were tossed in was great. Sweet and spicy, tender. Served with fries, which I was surprised by, but pleasantly. Definitely worth another meal venture.
Entrees:
Eggplant Stack. Talk about a gratuitous, panko-​crusted stack of awesome eggplant. Seasoned well and topped with amazing buffalo mozz and roma tomatoes. Balsamic per usual. The mozz sang a different tune from most dishes. Peppered and rather heavily, but tastefully. for you veggies out there, hit it up. You won’t be sorry.
Crispy Chicken. Little did you know this was going to be a baller-​status plate of fried chicken and waffles. Dude. Never had a more perfectly executed savory waffle. Whatever brine, seasoning and flour mix they’re using for their chicken, I want to steal the recipe. I was blown away. Each bite made me want to explore every individual flavor. Wish I had seconds for breakfast the next morning.
Service was incredible. Struck up a great conversation with the bartender. Great to get to know them and hear a little bit of their story.
I’m impressed by Smalls. Apparently they have a huge garden on the roof. I really wanted to see it! They’re using local products and using them well.
I’d recommend for lunch. Still big plates with a smaller price. Huge bar as well. Full wine, beer (local brews) and liquor.
Smalls is worth your visit. Glad for them to be in the Elizabeth area.
Cheers!

On our second trip to Smalls, we were hoping for a different experience, it didn’t happen. Both times we’ve been, the restaurant has been out of several of the more appealing items. The first time it was super crowded, so seemed possible, the second time not at all, and was just annoying. The food sounds interesting, and does make efforts to be unique, but falls short of the very high prices they charge for such small portions. If I had to describe it, I would call it overcharged glorified pub food. The beer list is interesting, I’ll give it that. But just because you dim the lights and turn on dance music doesn’t mean you’re the hotest stuff around. If I was in the mood for a drink and some ambiance, it would be a good place to start for a drink. If I wanted more expensive food with great flavors I would try out Custom Shop and Carpe Diem nearby.
«You’re killin me Smalls!» — The Sandlot

We came here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Parking was great and I love the ambiance of the restaurant. Casual but with great accents and artwork.
The fried pickles were offensively good, was that cinnamon? They definitely put a new spin on the term «anything is good if you fry it». Then the sliders came out, top quality ingredients with excellent preparation. I will absolutely be going back.
Also, in my Maker’s and ginger ale? Fresh ginger garnish. Sold.

Perhaps it was the fact that our friends had recommended it so highly, or maybe the fact that is was beyond dead at 9pm on a Saturday night, but I wasn’t such a BIG fan of SMALLS.
The fried pickles were too salty and overly breaded, and the pimento cheese slider was really underwhelming. The fries were nothing special. We were also told that the kitchen was out of a ton of items — most of seafood.
We’ll give it another try, but first impressions being important, I can’t say I was falling out of my seat. Decent beer selection. I hope it was just an off night.

I came here for lunch one day and was surprised it was not very busy. The space itself is really nice and intimate.
I had the mussels and was so happy with my choice. The servers were nice, but I think they were failing at their job to greet people that would come in. I walked in and went straight to the bar, but two sets of people came in after I did and kind of waited around at the «hostess station» but no one at the bar said anything and no one came up to greet them. One set of people actually walked out. That would be a problem for me if I was the owner.
They have live music on some nights, so I’m looking forward to going back one evening with sweetie.

I had pretty high expectations going into Smalls. I normally am not a chicken and waffles kind of gal (separate yes, together no) but I heard such good things that I couldn’t resist. Overall I found the flavor sort of one note– sweet. I liked the thyme in the waffles but I wasn’t blown away by the waffle nor the chicken. Next time I’d definitely try something else. Just an FYI the chicken takes 20 minutes to prepare but we were in and out of lunch in about an hour.
We also split the eggplant stack which was perfectly crispy but way over-​salted. I also would have liked a bit more of the balsamic glaze. My dining partner thought her shrimp tacos (special) were nothing special but not bad.
Prices were really decent for the huge portions we received… I am shocked that someone thought portions were small or that it was expensive… maybe at dinner? Service was fine overall, she had us in and out quickly and with a smile.

My first visit to the newly opened restaurant and overall I’d say I was impressed. Met a fellow Unilocaler there and started our meal with the Eggplant Stack, which was VERY good! Perfectly cooked, slightly batter and layered with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes… YUM! Would definitely order again! For my meal, I ordered the Crispy Chicken that came with Thyme Waffles with salted caramel butter and chili infused honey drizzled over it. It was very good fried chicken (on the bone, so I picked at it with a fork and it pulled right off. The waffles were very good and the toppings were delish. For $ 14 it was an ample portion I suppose, perhaps should’ve included another side dish for that pricepoint in my opinion. He ordered the 18 hour beef short rib and chose fries as his side. The beef was tender and tasted well seasoned, not being a huge beef fan, it’s hard to get me too excited here, but it was definitely good. Fries were okay, nothing to write home about and calling them «herbed pommes frites» doesn’t really change the flavor.
While the online menu mentions two desserts, our waiter told us that there was only one and my fellow Unilocaler had sampled it the last trip he made and wasn’t impressed. I totally trust his judgement, so we didn’t try it again. I must say i was suprised at the lack of dessert options, it seems like this would be the kind of place that would be up for the challenge of a variety of options.
The décor is hip and modern, the space is intimate and attractively decorated and the owner greeted us while were dining and seemed very friendly. Our waiter was super helpful and patient and not too chatty and was only a glance away at all times. For $ 49, I’m not sure I’d be back on a regular basis as that seems a little pricey for the offerings, but Small’s has potential and hopefully with some tweaks will fair just fine in this location.

Oh Smalls, you are a gem. With your all NC beer list and your delicious food all served in a chic little dinning room that frequently hosts live music (sans cover). I can’t help but love you.
Smalls boasts a wide variety of sliders, which come three to an order. They range from blue cheese and double smoked bacon (which were great) to crab cakes (which were also great). If i could only give you one piece of Smalls advice though it would be to try the garlic chili mashed potatoes. I literally scraped every existent morsel of flavor out of the classy tureen they were served in. If they had served it in a vessel i could have gotten my mug in, I probably would have licked it clean. Well played, Smalls.
The one thing that is keeping me from 5-​starsing them all over this here Unilocal is that at least two items we attempted to order they were out of. If you are going to have something as tasty sounding as drunken short rib sliders on your menu (seriously, how great does that sound?!) it’s a bummer if you are out well before closing.
Either way, I will certainly be returning to Smalls for many a brew and tiny burger. It’s just to good to miss.

If the mystery streetcar traveling Elizabeth Avenue were to become reality, I’d be a frequent commuter to Smalls. In the meantime, I’ll happily drive there. [By the way, street parking along Elizabeth has been easy and free (after 6 p.m. weekdays) for me the past couple times I’ve visited.]
My first visit was a small plate-​sharing happy hour; my second visit was for dinner. The fried pickles are quite tasty, especially with the peppered buttermilk dressing for dipping. The pimento sliders could’ve had a touch more of its namesake cheesy goodness in my opinion, but the tender, flavorful beef made it worth the ride. And the eggplant caprese was an interesting, savory twist on the classic.
Make note of the singular form of 18-​hour short rib, whether considering your appetite, the pricing ($ 18) or both. On the side are a bourbon creamed corn I absolutely enjoyed and chli-​garlic potatoes, which also were very good and can be ordered as a side if you spring for a different entrée.
The wine list is OK, though it has some stiff competition from the N.C. craft beer and creative specialty drink lists.
Service, from host stand to table, was friendly and attentive.
For a cozy, laid-​back experience and creative culinary touches, Smalls is worth the trek.

So I came back and adored the 18– Hour Beef Short Rib, Parmesan & Bourbon Creamed Corn, Whipped Garlic & Chili Infused Yukon Gold Potatoes. I could have ate an entire plate of that creamed corn. They also grind all their meat in house which means rare burgers are allowed!

Came in on Saturday night and we walked in at about 8:30 and got a table– the manager/​owner? was very enthusiatic and very nice.
We sat down and i ordered a Margarita-​with Patron –It was gross and barely any Tequila– when the bill came it said it was $ 16-​umm are you kidding me for something that i had to choke back and barely tasted any tequila in– not worth it and honestly its still making me mad– I love Tequila and if you look throughout my reviews I have at least 1 before i go into wine so I know what I’m talking about and $ 16 for it is absolutely absurd. ok I will move on
We ordered French Onion soup to start along with the Short rib sliders– the French Onion was pretty bland and it needs to have MORE cheese!!! The Sliders were ok –the pretzel bread seemed like it was frozen and they microwaved them to heat them up so it was a little disappointing.
For my Entrée I had the Papperdelle with Oyster Mushrooms– the pasta was ok but they put way too much sauce on it and I kept trying to figure out what it was reminding me of and it kinda was like Italian dressing– like the kind you make yourself– it was weird. He had the Crab cake sliders and Oysters– oysters were ok nothing great and the Crab sliders were again weird– they were fried so the crab was way overcooked if only they pan seared them then they would be way better!
No desert– 2 glasses of wine and our server was very nice. I feel like they rushed to get up and going– linen table clothes but paper napkins– Menus are way too big and fall all over the place. I also have to say that once again the prices for some of these items are high and don’t make sense when you get the dish– i have no problem spending money on food-​seeing as i eat out about 10 times a week, but make it worth the price, because if the quality isn’t showing and I cant see why I’m paying so much for it then I most likely will not be back.

They might be called Smalls but they’re big on flavor. Okay there goes my Obama milk joke for the review, I couldn’t help myself. Entering through the longish dark corridor following the bright pink on Tonya’s hair I wasn’t sure what to really expect. But the décor brightened up with some splashes of red and cool pictures and stuff once it opened up! Kind of like walking into a cave, just call me explorer Jimmy!
We got some Korean bbq wings kicked up a notch, they came with some awesome hand cut fries, and the lunch special which was some fresh made linguini with chicken and a creamy sauce. Yum yum! The food is delicious and reasonably priced, I’ll definitely be back to try some more items on the menu here. The chef came out to talk to us a bit once everyone was happy and munching on their lunch to see how we liked it, cool.
I left here happy and full of yummies in my tummy. This review has me wanting to go back already for some chicken and waffles.

I was so excited when I heard that a sliders bar was opening on Elizabeth. These joints are everywhere in NYC and something I always look forward to. Smalls did not disappoint and it is so much more than a sliders joint. I love what they have done with the old NOFO space red, black, and white it’s hip and classy. There were so many delicious options on the menu I wasn’t sure what to choose. My sis and I decided to split a lobster bisque and the short rib sliders. It’s hard to impress me when it comes to lobster bisque because my mother makes the best I’ve ever had however smalls was extremely tasty — crab, sherry, cream, and I really enjoyed the flaky crust on top. It’s filling so I would share if you can so you can enjoy some of the other menu items.
The short rib sliders melted in my mouth and fresh cut french fries I just can’t say enough I will be dreaming about this food for a long time. I can’t wait to get back for more. Our server was also very friendly which always deserves a big red star!

Walk in and I LOVE the way this place looks! Holes still in the wall from a knife fight (only don’t bring a knife to a knife fight when the other person has a Pick Ax) in a club or concert hall, long before Liz had her stand here, covered only in black paint. Please NEVER take these «scars of History away! Long Hallways (Entrance and to the restrooms) Great looking Bar and Dinning Room… This place is Coooool!
Drunken Short Ribs on a Bavarian (better be if it’s a pretzel) Pretzel Buns for tiny sliders. The taste was Fantastic! Mayo Warning! ! ! I HATE MAYO! (at the time of this writing the menu contains NO Mayo warning)! I’ll be glad to delete this part of the review if someone can prove the restaurant added it to the list of what comes on the sandwiches (I gave my idea to my server and I’m not making a statement here accept to inform those who despise it more than I. It was my only recommend change for the Restaurant)! These sliders even had heaps of Mayonnaise on them and I was still Totally impressed with the taste (I hardly ever send anything back, nor make many complaints anywhere and did not today even though they quickly offered to remake my order).
The flavor of the Onion Ring Batter (it was cooked when I tasted it, so batter may not be the right terminology) was very good. The only reason it does not make my Onion Ring list is because it is not one of my favorites, though still one of the better batters in Charlotte and cooked just right!
Drunken Short Ribs 5 Unilocal stars
Pretzel Bun 5 Unilocal stars
Onion Rings 3.75 Unilocal stars
House made Garlic Mayo (I can not rate it since I prefer none). I bet if you like Mayo You’ll really like this one!
How about Dessert: How about MINT Ice! That looked like a question the Mint Ice is Fantastic though I think it was meant to be the garnish on this Flourless Chocolate cake! The Shaved Mint Ice gets 5 Unilocal stars for flavor, 5 Unilocal stars for texture (bigger than snow and twice as Romantic, smaller than Hail and ten times softer). I almost fell in love! The Flourless Chocolate Cake gets a 2.75 star rating!
The Service gets an EASY five Unilocal stars and I’m one who invites the minimum amount of service as long as EVERYTHING is PERFECT! Today I met four of the servers and all four were friendly!
Second meal: March 7^th 2012 Chad style UPDATE: : Service still great! Storefront Signs are in place and looking great! The place looks FANTASTIC! The food is ahhh, uh, ok here goes:
Eggplant Stack 3.9 Unilocal stars
Drunken Short Rib 3.85 Unilocal stars
Waffles: Fantastic 5 Unilocal stars
Fried Chicken 3.75 stars
Fries: Better than many, though will not make my «Lonely Fry» List 3.25 stars!

Small place, big taste. I was fortunate enough to check out Smalls last week for their friends and family opening and enjoyed a small sampling of delicious items while taking in their modern digs! I’m incredibly impressed and delighted that Smalls only serves NC beer and makes everything in house — including all the bread and pastas. How awesome!
Service is incredibly friendly and attentive… just as you want it! Be sure to pay attention to their super creative cocktail menu — this is one of the only places I know of in Charlotte where you can get a gin fizz!
Hubs and I sauntered back in last night for a quiet, Monday night dinner. Here’s what I had…
Margherita Flatbread: ⁴⁄₅: Yum. Toasty, crispity goodness. The tomatoes and shards of cheese were incredibly fresh and a perfect start to the meal. Plus, it’s served on a nice piece of slate… love the presentation.
Chicken & Waffles: ⁴⁄₅: I’ve never had this Southern staple before (shame on me), so I was more than excited to try Smalls’ version with, quiet please, salted. caramel. butter. Yes. That salted caramel butter completely makes this dish. The waffle triangles were perfectly fluffy and crispy and when they were accompanied by the hot, fried chicken, this dish will really made you smile. My only issue with the dish is that both pieces of my chicken were fatty and I had to dig around the bird to get great chunks of meat to accompany my insane waffles.
Get yourself to Smalls and snag a gin fizz and a plate of the fantastic chicken & waffles.

This is an update to a previous review with a bump up in stars.
The original review was less complementary because I was dismissed over a discrepancy. Growing pains I suppose.
I received a personal and generous response from management. And so, after a second visit…5 stars! The food on both visits 5 stars all the way.
Still not without problems though. This second visit I ordered black and blue burger with fries, with NO bacon. As you may guess it had bacon on it.
It’s a big problem for me. However, I know I am in the one percent so I did not deduct a star. Disappointed though because I ordered it with no bacon and that seems like an easy request. More growing pains?
As mentioned before somewhat expensive but good food is worth it. The price is reasonable for the quality.
Also it’s great to have another restaurant on Elizabeth St. Being fine dining I don’t know if they could do it, but with the location they might want to consider some quicker and less expensive options and possible delivery service.
.

Overall reaching for that fourth star, but once they get through their opening week or so they’ll definitely be there.
Food was awesome, seriously no question whatsoever — this is tasty goodness, the hand-​cut fries are amazing (and I love how so much is made in-​house). I reaaally liked the short rib slider on the pretzel roll, and the black&blue was also a big hit. I was a little disappointed at first when only two came out on a plate after seeing three in photos (maybe you get 3 at dinner?), but 2 sliders + some fries = content. Could I have eaten another? Sure. Would I be more inclined to share/​swap sliders if I had three? Yes. Granted, we decided we could have probably had about 15 more they were so tasty, but in the end my belly was happy with two.
Service, well, we were the first customers of the day and maybe she just hadn’t had time to put her game face on. Definitely pleasant, but some of the questions were a little backwards («You guys didn’t want any dessert today, right?»). It also became apparent that they didn’t subject all of the staff to a full menu tasting before it opened, but I’ll give them til my next visit to figure that one out.
Atmosphere, I love the colors and the set up, they’re definitely ready for the after 5 crowd, but they seem to still be working on everything else. It definitely has a lounge feel, but they dimmed the lights, turned up the volume of the music (which most seemed more appropriate for an evening meal/​bar hour), and were adjusting TV channels continually during most of our meal, so I couldn’t tell you exactly what they were going for as far as daytime hours, because apparently they’re not entirely sure either.
The other two staff members (and I’m guessing one was an owner and maybe a manager, but no one introduced themselves) came by the table to welcome us and give us little tidbits about the place (in the spring veggies will be coming in from the rooftop garden). I definitely will be returning, most likely for dinner as I think this place will really shine in the evening hours, and the bar space (and menu — hello NC beers and delish cocktails!) is very appealing, but the food here is definitely a welcomed addition to Elizabeth. I want to eat everything on the menu!

My husband, some friends and I attended the Friends and Family preview last week, and were thoroughly impressed with the creative, contemporary cuisine and the nice, modern but cozy atmosphere.
The name of the restaurant matches the exterior– we passed by it three times before we finally spotted it, wedged among the larger restaurants along Elizabeth. Keep your eyes peeled!
For our meal, we shared the poached pear salad (Arugula, Butternut Crème Fraiche, Roasted Walnuts, Spiced Citrus Vinaigrette) which was out of this world. Imagine an adorable, soft perfectly plump pear and slightly bitter arugula and the crunch of walnuts. This was definitely a memorable salad. (I’ve had enough walnut pear and Gorgonzola, thank you very much!)
Because the kitchen was backed up because of the special event, the owner, Joe was very sweet in offering us some fried pickles. (Who doesn’t love fried pickles?) They’re nothing out of the ordinary, but were well executed.
Now, for the main event.
I had the 18-​Hour Short Rib (Parmesan & Bourbon Creamed Corn, Whipped Garlic & Chili Infused Yukon Gold Potatoes) and yes, it was ONE rib. Don’t let this deter you, it’s enough food. Perfectly seasoned and fall-​off – the-​bone yummy. The creamed corn was really special too. Slightly sweet, and cheesy, I could have eaten just the corn.
My husband had the Crispy Chicken (Thyme Waffle, Salted Caramel Butter, Chili-​Infused Honey) which I had anticipated to be boring, like other chicken and waffles I’ve had. But the touches like salted caramel butter and thyme infused waffle was a really nice touch and made the dish special and memorable. The only tiny, tiny, tiny critique… the waffle could have been a bit crisper, and maybe fluffier. Otherwise, we have a fantastic dish.
My friend across the room had the pasta, which is made in-​house, and from what she said, absolutely incredible. Another friend had the eggplant starter, which looked super crisp, and really pretty.
My husband also loved the NC craft beers available.
Overall, Smalls leaves a great impression. They’re the kind of restaurant you eat at, and as soon as your done eating, are already planning your next visit and who you’ll bring with you. I think our exact words were «…let’s put this into our regular restaurant rotation».
Well done!