Dine + Wine
Nibbles + Bites
by Aaron Garcia |
photography by Jamie Cowles
Keeping Things Fresh
EXCITING MENU MAKES VERDE THE PERFECT SPOT FOR AN ADVENTUROUS FIRST DATE
S
AUGUST 2019
74
Verde Mexican Nuevo Latin Fusion
LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS
itting down and choosing a meal from Verde Mexican Nuevo Latin Fusion for the first time can feel a lot like going on a great first date; you may have a general idea of what to expect when you crack the menu, but it’s the pleasant surprises along the way that make you want to see it again. Incidentally, it’s that same sense of adventure that has made Alex Soto’s Huntersville Restaurant one of the top date night locales in the area, and especially in chain-choked Huntersville. Even if that wasn’t his plan. “Sometimes things work out differently than how you think they will,” says Soto.
STATS Cuisine
Latin fusion
Price lunch dinner
Attire Casual
Keeping it verde Initially, when he opened Verde in 2013, Soto was planning to serve authentic Mexican cuisine in a family-friendly atmosphere, and that influence is easy to spot when the sunlight is pouring through the glass walls of the end unit near the corner of Gilead Rd. and Reese Blvd. The guacamole-green and pepper-red paint scheme combine with the dark floors and open concept to create an airy, inviting dining room. It’s a modern departure from typical Mexican restaurants that often favor taller booths and darker paint schemes. “We believe simplicity is the key,” says Soto, who adds that the décor matches the eatery’s name, which means “green” in Spanish. “We wanted a fresh look.” A few years after opening,
Atmosphere
Clean, modern, warm Verde offers a menu focusing on a Latin fusion concept.
Soto and his ownership team decided to freshen up the menu, as well. He says he and his uncle (and part owner) began to figure out that, while the Lake Norman region is home to people from throughout South America, there weren’t any restaurants catering to the different cultures represented in our area. In 2017, Verde began offering its Latin fusion concept, combining elements from different South American dishes to create unique offerings. For example, the Mar Y Tierra, or “Latino surf and turf ” combines
steak and shrimp on fire-roasted vegetables and a white corn arepa, combining Mexican, Venezuelan and Columbian influences. The Ropa Vieja pairs Cuban shredded beef with a sweet corn arepa, pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeno crema and mixed greens. The standard menu also includes influences from other Latin countries, including Spain and Brazil. Soto started also offering a rotating special menu with even more creations, and the owner says patrons can expect to see new dishes within the next few
Group Friendly Family Friendly Going Solo Lunch Meeting Date Night
PRICE KEY 15 and under
$
25 and under
$
50 and under
$
75 and under
$
This includes an entree and a non-alcoholic beverage.