Mangione's Ristorante **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

1984 interior shot

1985 ad

1989 ad

Your hosts-- Roberto and Anna

Original matchbook (courtesy of Robert McEwen)

Original matchbook from the East Blvd location (courtesy of Robert McEwen)

Early-70's photo of La Strada on Central Ave

mid-70's ad

Mangione's Ristorante opened on East Boulevard in the Dilworth neighborhood in 1977. Owners Roberto and Anna Mangione had become well-known on the Charlotte restaurant scene when they had opened the first La Strada on Central Avenue several years earlier. Mangione's would be a shift from a pizza-oriented restaurant to a more formal eatery. 

Mangione's was located in the former location of a Li'l General Convenience Store. The exterior was renovated to create Mangione's signature stuccoed arches and the interior was became known for the reproductions of classic Italian art that adorned the walls. The menu featured cuisine from both Northern and Southern Italy. Their signature dishes included black linguine with seafood, veal with mushrooms and cognac, and shrimp with pesto over angel hair.

Mangione's was a family affair. Roberto and Anna were the hosts who knew everyone and spent their time moving throughout the dining room chatting up the diners and insuring that dinner moved smoothly. Son Roberto Jr helped manage and daughter Sara was the hostess.

Mangione's would run for 27 years eventually closing on January 27, 2004. Mangione's was noteworthy for being one of the first Charlotte Italian restaurant operated by Italians (all other Italian restaurants prior to 1977 were primarily Greek-owned). Just like Roberto and Anna had introduced Charlotte to Sicilian pizza with La Strada years earlier, with Mangione's, they introduced Charlotte to a entirely new style of Italian dining that would forever change the face of Charlotte Italian restaurants.

Blue Marlin

Original Peking Palace matchbook (courtesy of Robert McEwen)

The Blue Marlin opened on East Blvd in the Dilworth neighborhood in 1993. It occupied a building that served as a former location of the Ranch House, the Peking Palace (throughout the 1970's), and (throughout the 1980's) the Sunset Bar & Grill. Owner Bill Dukes had started a buzz in 1987 when he opened Charlotte's first Texas-style steakhouse (the Longhorn on Morehead St) and with the opening of the Blue Marlin, he again would have one of the most talked about Charlotte eateries.

The Blue Marlin was noted for both its food and its ambience--both striking in early-90's Charlotte dining. The restaurant featured dark mahogany leather booths, dark wood paneling, and retro light fixtures. The goal was for a 1940's, Sinatra-era vibe and the bar and dining room were the talk of the town. The menu emphasized SC coastal recipes and Lowcountry menu items. From grilled seafood, to shrimp and grits (the first place in Charlotte to serve this dish), to collard greens, the Blue Marlin was instantly popular.

The Blue Marlin would operate until September 2001. Over the course of its run, Bill Dukes would open three other locations in town. The Dilworth location was important because it helped spark a revitalization of the East Blvd "restaurant row" that continues to this day.

Bayou Kitchen

Original Mac Mac's matchbook (courtesy of Robert McEwen)

The Bayou Kitchen opened in the Spring of 1988 on E. 7th St in the Elizabeth neighborhood. The building had several previous tenants ranging from Mac Mac's (a beverage store in the '70's), the Blarney Stone (an Irish bar), and (up to the opening of the Bayou Kitchen) a short-lived unsuccessful pizza joint.

"The Cajun Cowboy's Bayou Kitchen Restaurant & Bar" was the full name of the restaurant and it featured a menu that was a combination of Cajun and Texas-style dishes. Owner David Ammann was born in Texas and raised in Louisiana. This mixed background served for the foundation of the restaurant's menu. The Bayou Kitchen was popular for its Cajun creoles (shrimp or crawfish) and gumbos as well as its Texas barbecue and steaks. Its neighborhood bar-vibe helped it achieve a loyal and diverse following.

The Bayou Kitchen would continue it successful run until its close in mid-2005. Throughout its operation, it was known for its consistent food and for its inviting atmosphere.

Bistro 100

With the opening of Charlotte's tallest skyscraper in October 1992, came the opening of Bistro 100 in the building's Founder's Hall shopping area. 

Modeled after Chicago's famous Bistro 110, Bistro 100 sported antique heart-pine floors, peach walls, copper accents, and bold murals on the ceiling and walls by New York artist Judy Rifka. It was one of the first restaurants in Charlotte to sport an open-style kitchen and a distinctive wood-burning oven. The cuisine was French bistro and featured everything from unique soups to a popular cassoulet (a French meat and bean stew).

Bistro 100 would close during the Summer of 2006. When they originally opened, there were few upscale dining options available downtown. Bistro 100 was ahead of their time in both location and in their overall presentation.