By: Dana Donkle
Tired of eating at the same old chain restaurants of the picture-perfect suburbs? Get out of your comfort zone and explore a part of Charlotte that remains undiscovered by the Ballantyne crowd.
Take a trip to Central Avenue, in Plaza Midwood, and become enamored with the artsy community. There stands a restaurant with huge personality: Krazy Fish. Covered top to bottom with sea-life graffiti and “scrap art,” the restaurant cannot be ignored by passersby. Scrap art turns trash into an artistic sculpture; the two founders of the restaurant are actually welders who create the featured art.
The atmosphere itself could keep fans coming back, but the food is the real “catch.” Inspired by Mexican, Italian, Middle Eastern and American foods, Krazy Fish is the place to go for a range of tastes. For an appetizer we ordered a seafood dish: the Chili garlic Calamari, and I can easily say it’s the best calamari I’ve ever eaten. Usually most restaurants batter and deep fry the squid to where it is unidentifiable, but Krazy Fish has mastered the fryer so you can actually enjoy the flavors of the seafood.
Not only is there a wide variety of foods, but there are unique dishes incorporated into the menu. One that caught my eye was the Cactus Salad. The cactus is served cold, and slightly marinated with a hint of citrus—I couldn’t even tell I was eating a spiny plant, for it was perfectly prepared to soothe the taste buds. For the main dish I decided to try the Bulgogi Beef Roti with Jamaican Curry Sauce— a type of Korean beef on a Middle Eastern roll served with a Jamaican Style Indian Curry—this delicious wrap has roots from every corner of the Earth. My dad ordered a Salmon and Kimchi Taco (Korean- and Mexican-inspired) which he described as excellent. The tortilla was home-fried and flaky, and it melted in the mouth. All the food we tried was a little spicy, but the perfect note to leave a lingering but not uncomfortable burn.
Lastly, the service was phenomenal. The waiter was very personal, so much that he actually sat down with us to describe the menu. Maybe he was aiming for a great tip, but this friendliness added to the atmosphere and proved that Krazy Fish cares about customers.
The only sinker is the location. Central Avenue is relatively far from the Ballantyne area, closer to uptown Charlotte. But isn’t the point to stray from our comfort zone? Going far away from our homes can be a fun experience, especially around Plaza Midwood. There are plenty of vintage second-hand shops and jewelry stores, which can provide a great excuse to visit this artsy community and restaurant.
Overall, I would rate this restaurant 4.5/5 stars. This funky, relaxed fun atmosphere, superior food and top notch customer service could “lure” you back to Krazy Fish.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars Address: 2501 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 Hours: Sun- Thurs: 11am- 10pm Fri- Sat: 11am-11pm
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