The light rail rushes to a squeaking stop at the New Bern Station in Charlotte’s South End, and as the doors whoosh open, an after-work crowd flows out, briefcases in hand. Just as quickly, many of them flow into the enormous brick building a few steps away. This is no typical happy hour: The 1950s-era former warehouse is home to a chic restaurant, café, brewery, and cocktail bar — all under the same (very high) roof.
In Suffolk County, England, where cofounder Dan Hyde’s family is from, a “Suffolk punch” is an energetic workhorse. That English influence translates from the name to the busy, pub-like community atmosphere — but not to the space itself. Instead of dim and intimate, it’s airy, with cement floors and a jungle of plants hanging from metal beams. Patrons belly up to a 50-tap bar, which wraps seamlessly around a corner into an espresso bar. Booths are packed with patrons ordering the Suffolk Punch Burger, made with Ashe County hoop Cheddar, fried onions, house-made pickles, and roasted tomato aioli on sourdough brioche. On weekends, the patio becomes a brunch wonderland, full of dogs and babies. It’s just what Hyde and cofounder Collin Ricks envisioned: Forget the food trucks and bar snacks — why shouldn’t you enjoy gourmet food with your brew? Why wouldn’t craft cocktails and craft coffee pair perfectly? What they created is a one-stop shop with all the bells and whistles.
The Suffolk Punch
2911 Griffith Street
Charlotte, NC 28203
(704) 319-8650
thesuffolkpunch.com
In North Carolina, spring brings the scent of fresh-cut grass and memories of helping Dad mow the lawn.
Nostalgic burger joints are like time machines, delivering something extra special that keeps us coming back.
This tiny city block in downtown Greensboro once had a gigantic reputation. Not so much for its charbroiled beef patties — though they, too, were plentiful — but for its colorful characters and their wild shenanigans.
In the 1950s, as Americans hit freshly paved roads in shiny new cars during the postwar boom, a new kind of restaurant took shape: the drive-in. From those first thin patties to the elaborate gourmet hamburgers of today, North Carolina has spent the past 80 years making burger history.
