Review: The Degenerate

The Degenerate is a casual restaurant and bar in the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina. They offer several tapas-style selections alongside sandwiches, main dishes and craft cocktails.

The Menu

Classic choices are dressed up with creative twists, including dishes like tandoori roasted carrots and miso maple brussels sprouts. The pierogis are the claim to fame at The

Degenerate, and it's for good reason — they're soft, flavorful and served with two delicious dipping sauces. The shareable plate menu allows guests to try many different choices per visit, which I've always taken full advantage of. Some selections are seasonal while others stick around for a while. My favorite small plates include the short ribs, the pesto gnocchi, and of course the gochujang wings.

The Experience

The space is large, spread out and bathed in natural light during the day from a large garage-style door. Candles light each table at dinner, providing a warm balance to the concrete and wood interior. The service is prompt, friendly and knowledgeable when providing recommendations. It's a more casual spot, but you also wouldn't be out of place if you dressed up for date night.

The Value

Although The Degenerate is not objectively a low-cost experience, it's definitely worth it for the flavor. The portion sizes for small plates are larger and more filling than I expected, especially the gnocchi and wings. I'd expect to spend about $40-60 per person to get the full experience of trying multiple dishes and maybe a drink or two.

Overall

The Degenerate has consistently delicious food served alongside well-thought out drink selections. I've never been disappointed with a single dish there, and there always seems to be something new to try. The only downside is that if you're not in a sharing mood, it's difficult to know how many plates you'll need to fill up if you want to try multiple. Overall, it's a 9/10, and I absolutely recommend giving The Degenerate a try for your next night out.