Passion8

We seated ourselves in the Bar area for Brunch, the Bartender waited on us, won’t say he wasn’t friendly but not very helpful with offering answers to our questions. We both ordered the steak and eggs, the place was almost empty so it was puzzling to my girlfriend and I what took so long to bring out our food. I ordered my steak med well, however my steak came in 4 tiny slices and two of them where virtually raw, which made me ill to look at. we had to asked for ketchup, salt and pepper and some toast and that took him some time as well. We where very disappointed to say the least and very disappointed to know that they where advertising free cobbler or Benets with an entre at Brunch, of course that never was offered!

Giving it four stars for now because I have not been here for dinner only brunch.
The selection is minimal but quite the variety and curated for brunch lovers.
Really enjoy the place and hope to get back for a dinner one night.

Was in Charlotte last week for a work conference and had the pleasure of dining at Passion8. I eat at a variety of restaurants in the DC area, from hole in the wall establishments to some of the finer dining locales, and the meal and wine pairing we had at Passion8 would match up to any of them. I am genuinely having trouble finding anything to dock them points on… the service was fantastic, our appetizers were all surreal (potentially the best calamari I’ve ever had), and the lamb loin they had on special that night was first class… presentation, taste and texture. We couldn’t (and wouldn’t) leave without thanking the chef/​owner for an unforgettable meal. I plan to return to Charlotte for the sole reason of visiting Passion8 again.

We are lover’s of Passion 8 from the Fort Mill days, where every dining experience was a delicious 5-​star event. We finally made our way to the Elizabeth Avenue location for Valentine’s Day brunch, and the whole experience was disappointing. The hostess was visibly distressed when relaying the fact that the restaurant was running a half hour behind schedule. We were seated upstairs, horrible décor. The couple beside us asked for their bill before they received their food, we should’ve followed suit,. Service painfully slow, with no courtesy explanation. First courses of tomato bisque soup with mozzarella for me and fried crepes for my husband were both delicious. After we completed that course, we waited another 30 minutes for the entrees-​shrimp and grits was the worst I have ever had, my husband’s eggs benedict was okay, he didn’t even finish it. We waited another 30 minutes for the red velvet beignets, the pastry was tough and bland, saved by the cream cheese filling. The bar area was full, the dining room upstairs, and below us, was filled to less than half capacity. Another couple that was seated for about 20 minutes, left the restaurant without ordering. We will make another reservation on a non-​holiday evening, I will ask specifically if Luca is in the kitchen prior to booking, and also request seating downstairs. Such a dramatic decrease in food quality and service is hard for us to believe. We spent over $ 11 on 2 cups of coffee while we waited for our late seating, and $ 70 for this lack-​luster meal without complaint-​hoping it is an anomaly. The delightful meals we’ve enjoyed from Passion 8 in the past are so memorable, that we are definitely willing to gamble another couple of hundred dollars another evening, before we decide not to waste our time and money here again.

Mixed. And we had such high hopes. My entrée, grilled trout, was quite good. The pearl couscous accompanying it was on the bland side. Husband enjoyed his shrimp and grits, aside from the fact that the portion size was simply tiny. We also ordered beignets for dessert, which were stale, tough, and obviously not prepared that day. Regarding our dining experience in general… we had reservations, and waited almost an hour — we were seated downstairs. Our table, in the middle of the room, was part of an unfortunate layout. I don’t typically carry a tape measure in my purse, but our table was probably 18 – 24 inches wide, tops. The wait staff zipped by on either side of us, to the point where I was clipped twice on the arm. I had to actually spend my lunch with my arms pulled into my lap, so my elbows didn’t accidentally protrude into the path of traffic. It might have been a nice fit for a couple of 8 year olds, but not for anyone of normal stature. Granted, our experience might have been more pleasant on a weekday night when the place wasn’t hopping, but what can I say? Wait staff was attentive, but nothing out of the ordinary. The bar looked fun, and perhaps the upstairs had more ambience. But for these prices, I expected more. If we do venture back, it won’t be on Valentine’s Day.

We had reservations for 12:45, and were seated almost an hour later.
Service from the beginning was terrible. Food was average, some in our party thought it was good others did not.
Given the high price point, this restaurant does not meet standards.
Definitely pass on this for all the other better options nearby.

On our first trip to Passion 8, we began with the infamous calamari which proved to be a great choice. Three adequate entrees later, we requested a dessert to go. We settled on the «Molten Chocolate Cake» which failed to satisfy. Cold, lumpy, shapeless, and completely lacking a molten center, a highly anticipated evening ended in disappointment.

I came here for restaurant week. I was incredibly impressed with both the service and the quality of food. The flavors were just right and well-​blended. They change their menu every month to use fresh and local ingredients. If you have some money to spend and are looking for a great quality meal, I highly recommend! They were also advertising different events and cooking classes for Valentine’s Day, so I think there I more than just food and drinks.

I have been here a couple of times for different experiences. Have met folks to just grab a cocktail and eat at the bar, have done the chef’s table (definitely a splurge but gather your best foodie friends and make a reservation for this) and also restaurant week. All three times have been great. The new location on Elizabeth is quite different than the spot down in Fort Mill. This review is for restaurant week. Like most participating restaurants, you get a teaser for their full menu. For the appetizer, I had the sweet potato gnocchi. Well portioned and was very tasteful. For the entrée I choose the braised pork cheek. Again, well portioned and very tender. The fried leeks were interestingly different and tasty. For dessert, I had the brownie with Nutella. YUM! The co-​owner Jessica and her husband Chef Luca do a phenomenal job. Loved that she remembered me by name — -I haven’t been there that much, but that’s a nice touch. While service was a bit slower than normal, they were busy and everything was great. Even had one of my favorite bottles of wine-​The Prisoner. If you haven’t been, GO! Support local! Expect top notch service and a delightful dining experience.
They also have local beers, a nice selection of specialty cocktails, a good win list & a bar menu.

It would’ve been a 4 star if it wasn’t for the $ 42 steak that my husband couldn’t even cut. At first, he said it was chewy. Then he was doing nothing but chewing. Then he quietly laid down the silverware and declared that the French onion soup was very good. He’s not much of a complainer and I have never seen him send anything back. The waitress came to ask what we wanted for dessert (even though I already told her) and I said his meal wasn’t edible. She offered a free dessert. The Rocky Road he ordered turned into the Nutella 3 ways on the way to our table.
He doesn’t eat Nutella.
This makes him sound terrible picky but he isn’t and, if I didn’t know him better, I would’ve never noticed. But after all these years, I know Nutella wore off its allure when our youngest ate it with everything for a period a few years ago. I was glad it was just the two of us and that our new neighbors canceled our dinner plans for the evening because I would’ve been embarrassed to take them here.
$ 130 for my meal (sweet potato gnocchi, pork cheeks and a crème brûlée that curiously tastes like actual butter) was good — if a little unctuous — and his soup.
It’s a little too much to need to stop for something to eat on your way home an hour later.

We decided to try out Passion8 for restaurant week after multiple recommendations from a friend. Once we sat down and took a look at the menu, we decided to deviate from the Queen’s Feast as we were much more interested in the regular menu.
We decided to start with the calamari and mussels with lamb belly, followed by the scallop and steak entrees, and asked for the cheese plate for dessert.
Our drinks were brought out timely, and we told the server our full order at once so that he could pace the meal for us.
We were there for 2 hours, but not by any choice of ours.
I really wish I had timed things, because I know that waiting always feels longer than it actually is. Since I didn’t, I’ll have to estimate that between drinks and appetizers, appetizers and entrees, then entrees and the cheese, we waited about 20 minutes each time. Mind you, that’s 20 minutes after having finished the previous course/​bread. Our server was attentive. We were not running him. Although it was restaurant week, it was also a snow day, and the restaurant was at about 50% capacity when we got there for our 7:45 reservation. So I’ll take a star for the timing.
The second star related to the food itself. You’re paying for portion here. If I wanted to pay for portion, I’d go to a buffet. We were looking more for quality. The mussels were alright; I wish there had been a bit more lamb belly. The calamari was good. The scallops were cooked well, but were salty. The steak was huge, but tough and lacking in flavor. No matter which way I cut it, I couldn’t find a sweet spot on that steak. The cheese plate was interesting, and had some elk mousse, which was cool. We paid $ 200 for the two of us after tax and tip with a couple drinks.
The staff is great, but the back of house and management seem like they have some work to do in the communication department.
As we were eating our entrees, we heard someone fussing at a table behind us about keeping their opinions to themselves as to not ruin his reputation. He stormed off to the kitchen after a sarcastic thanks and goodnight, leaving his patrons wondering who he was and what had just happened. Not sure what was going in there, but it was awkward. I guess that’s where they get the name Passion8?

Thanksgiving dinner was tops! Appetizers were done well. A prix fixe menu, we ordered the turkey and trout. They served ALL OF THE SIDES. Drinks from the bar were delicious; we had a great time. Great service.

I came to Passion8 last year for a Thanksgiving meal, and I had a great time. From the moment we walked through the door, my wife and I were impressed. The service was great, the environment was stylish and welcoming, and the drinks were incredible. I got a special Bloody Mary with an entire lobster claw in it. It was magical. The food was also impressive: your choice of three appetizers, your choice of three entrees, a platter of side dishes to share, and then a dessert sampler platter. Our server was very attentive, explained all of the dishes, was prompt with refills and drink orders, and boxed up our leftovers. It was a great experience, and I would have rated it 4 or 5 stars.
It was enough to bring us back for Thanksgiving again this year. Our experience was completely different, however. From the moment we walked in, everything felt off. The hostess was generally clueless — despite us having reservations — and wandered around for a good five minutes «to find another menu» before seating us in the upper area, which is dark and dungeon-​esque. Once we were seated, we got a bird’s eye view of the disaster of the main dining room; everything was out of sorts, and one staff member was working hard to clean up and vacuum a good percentage of the main dining area. Chaos.
Our waitress greeted us promptly, but everything else was at a snail’s pace. There wasn’t any kind of drink special like last year, and I was pretty bummed about that. The drinks we did order were good, however. I ordered a beer for my second round, and she forgot about it for so long that she ended up taking it off our tab. I was grateful for that. Water refill (singular) happened only once.
The waitress (along with any other servers) didn’t explain any of the dishes as she gave us the menus or as she served the food, which was fair at best. The shrimp and grits were really disappointing, and the turkey was very moist but very flavorless. Most of the side dishes were good, but we were never offered any extras like we were last year (or like our server offered the tables around us). The desserts were hit or miss, and we saw a lot of other people leave theirs behind. I don’t blame them.
I really expected more from this restaurant. One thing I can say for sure is that, should my wife and I choose to go out to eat for Thanksgiving next year, we will be going somewhere else. We won’t be back any other time of the year, either.

I came here for brunch on Sunday and thought it was one of the best brunches I’ve had in quite a while! First off, the French press they serve is incredibly smooth and delicious! It’s served with a subtly sweet and fresh biscotti. Great for dunking! Many others were ordering the caramel filled beignets but we did not indulge, instead saving our appetite for the pork eggs Benny with 2 different styles of pork (pulled and pork belly). It was truly magical. The perfect portion! The fig slaw was the perfect slightly sweet accompaniment to the salty pork. I also loved seeing some of our favorite servers from the now closed Lulu’s!
This was a great experience and I would come back to order the pork Benedict again! Someone order the pecan bacon French toast and report back? K thx!

This place has amazing food. I tried the homemade pasta but it was a special, off-​the-​menu version by the chef with mussels, baby octopus, and calamari in a red sauce. It was so delicious! The chef himself came out and personally asked about our food which I found very impressive. The other items on the menu that I tried was a cheese and charcuterie plate (the blue cheese and the chicken liver pâté were my favorites), the watermelon salad (so good!), and the homemade biscuit dessert which was delightful.
The service was very good. Our waitress Shelly (I hope I spelled her name right!) was amazing. Her cocktail and food recommendations were spot-​on. The décor of the restaurant is very elegant. I will be returning on my next trip to Charlotte.

My wife and I had a very nice meal here. The ambiance is a bit dark and romantic. When we were first seated (with a reservation), we were given a small two-​top table. Then I saw another couple seated after us at a four top and so asked our server if we could move to a larger table to make it easier for us to share our dishes. After a moment, she asked if we minded moving to the back dining room. We said of course not, and the back dining room was at least as nice as the front. So we were happy and appreciated them moving us with no issue.
The food and serve from there was all very good. My wife had the pasta with chorizo. Pasta was home made and the chorizo was not too spicy for her taste. It was also more than enough food, and I had to suck it up and help her finish.
I had the fresh-​caught North Carolina amberjack, which was rich and meaty. It was almost as good as real meat. I don’t order fish often because it can leave me feeling unsatisfied, but this dish was more than enough for me.
So, we had a lovely experience here at Passion8. My only reservation about going back is that some of the pricing was a bit surprising, like $ 26 for pasta, $ 13 for a Manhattan, and $ 9 for after dinner coffee and limoncello. I would not have even noticed if I was in San Francisco, Chicago, or New York; I guess I just don’t think of Charlotte as on a par with those cities.
But for a romantic meal with your special someone, I think this place is right on.

This place is a tough one. The food is elegantly plated, and the service was very friendly. The ambience is nice and the selection is unique. However, since it is on the same street with several other excellent upscale restaurants, it’s hard not to compare Passion8 to them.
My entrée, a mahi mahi, was just on the bland side. I usually don’t ever season my food, though in this case I felt salt and pepper were necessary. The appetizer, infamous calamari, was exactly as the server described, and was indeed delicious.
The drink section is good, I had a classic whiskey sour (with egg white) that had a bacon-​salt rim. The drink was good, though a tad fancy for my everyday consumption.
It was a Friday night, and it wasn’t that busy, though service was somehow slow. Would try Passion8 again, but perhaps for one of the nights that had food or drink specials.

I’ve heard so many mixed reviews about this place and all I can confirm are the good ones. We went to dinner here prior to a play and they were very polite and accommodating our time constraint.
The décor is dark and warm and a good date spot for dinner all around. The food was equally impressive as well as the beer and cocktail selection. I really enjoyed the bar area and the layout. It is a bit narrow but as long as it doesn’t get overcrowded it would be the preferred spot to eat I think.
Parking is all street side.

I waited to review Passion8 until I had a second chance to taste the menu. We went for Valentines Day where the menu was fixed so I thought it unfair to write up a review without fully experiencing the menu/​ambiance/​etc.
Unfortunately my preliminary opinion remained unchanged when we revisited this past month. Service was average, food was alright, and the wine list overpriced.
The most unsettling takeaway from the second experience first hit us when we walked in and the entire restaurant smelled like spoiled fish. Later to find out that this was coming from the scallops… Definitely not something you expect at a high end establishment.
While this place has hints of being a trendy/​foodie/​hotspot, it misses the mark on most core fundamentals. I may recommend this to a friend as a place to grab a drink, since the bar area is cool, but that’s all.

I had heard rave reviews of this place ever since I first moved to Charlotte, and more recently, read about Chef Luca when he competed in Fire in the City cooking competition. Before entering, I made sure my shoes were tied tight — for fear of getting my socks knocked off! Well, socks weren’t knocked off… in fact, I felt like a teenager sneaking into a strip club mid-​day, only to be disappointed by the JV squad. Okay, that’s a little harsh but you get the picture (or I can send them to you…)
One thing that Chef does extremely well is plating. Everyone’s brunch dishes came out looking absolutely tantalizing. When Michael N’s benedict came out, I immediately regretted ordering my basic, boring toast and eggs. However, when my dish arrived, I immediately dis-​regretted ordering it. But then, I re-​regretted it when Moses S’s flatbread came out. Check out their pics and you’ll see that I’m not mis-​regretting. My toast and eggs were fine, but not special… I suck at ordering brunch items not named Bloody Mary.
What legit-​drags this place down for me is the brunch ambiance. It was a tad dark and there was live music. DARKNESS! I can tolerate. Live music at brunch is absurd and makes no sense. Brunch has traditionally been for: (a) getting over a hangover; or (b) catching up with friends. Neither goes particularly well with live music. Hostesses and Charlie, our server, were genuinely nice and helpful. Hold onto them tight, P8!
Glad I came… wish I ordered better… but likely won’t be headed back.
dmo out.

I hadn’t been to that area for a while because of all the road work and construction. So I never saw Passion8 there. But man am I glad I went to have brunch with a group of great fellow Unilocalers Tonya, Mike, and John. In short, the place was my type.
The minute I walked in I was greeted with a warm smile. You know, the one that’s cordial. Not the fake ones with a very high note «hello!» After I was directed to the right table, which was behind that purplish curtain, I immediately bonded with the place. I liked it. The high ceiling. Minimal interior décor. Low lighting with apotlights here and there. Brick walls. And hey, I even see a band getting ready for a live jam.
Now, some might feel like it was a bit dark for a brunch. I get ya. But it’s also preference. If I’m. Ot working and out to eat my technicaaly first meal of the day at 11, then I’m not the most awake man in the world and I want to stay that way. So for me it was perfect. Even the wall being empty was good. I find that paintings are a hit or miss. Rather than grabbing something that can turn some people off, I respext their decision not to put anything up and look minimal.
And the food was super. It’s all local! Can’t get fresher than Passion8. I tried everyone’s food and they were all amazing. The egg benedict, brisket, lobster, grits, and my Farm Egg Flatbread was pretty awesome. The best part is that none of what I ate was frozen in a container on the back of a 18-​wheeler from Cali. So yeah, I’ll be back!

I was a huge fan of the Fort Mill location and was thrilled to see that Passion8 was moving into the city where it could truly get the exposure it deserves! While I was excited for them, I was also a bit nervous about whether they would be able to re-​create the dining experience that they had in the old location. While the new Passion8 is a different experience from the old one, it is exceptional and it is now right up there with any restaurant you will find in Charlotte!
We stopped in for Sunday brunch. This is a new thing for the Passion8 folks and we were excited to try it out. The atmosphere — while very different from the former location — is charming with high open ceilings, good lighting, and terrariums on the tables. There was a Bloody Mary bar with basically everything you could ever want to put in a drink. The brunch menu included some unique takes on classic brunch dishes. Chef Luca is a culinary artist who has worked all over Europe, and you can see the various influences in his dishes. The attention to detail is evident in the presentation. I got the root vegetable flat bread with goat cheese, cooked nicely with a crispy crust. I also got to taste some tender brisket and cheese grits. The service was good, our waiter was attentive without being obtrusive and was well-​versed in the menu options.
We have eaten dinner at the old location several times and have always been amazed with the quality of the farm-​to-​table selections. Now that there is brunch as well, there is really no reason to miss out on this place. I am so glad that Passion8 has arrived in the city! Folks, if you are looking for a nice dining experience in Charlotte, this is THE spot.

Ok, I’ve only been once, but I was very impressed.
I really liked the chill décor, the nice bartenders and the interesting food.
We got the 5 bar bites and they were good. I don’t usually like pâté, but theirs is really good. The beet tartare was interesting and I enjoyed the smoked salmon. My least favorite were the pork and then the beef.
They have a white port gin and tonic, which was good and it’s nice to see creative drinks.
I look forward to going again and making some new taste discoveries!

It’s about time good taste found its rightful place from Fort Mill to Elizabeth Ave. For ages, I meant to try Passion8 Bistro in Fort Mill, but anytime we had the time to go, it was on a Sunday (on which they were closed). It must have heard me complaining and decided to come to me. :)
The stud decided to take me out to dinner Saturday and it was a last minute deal, so we sat in the large bar area at a high top. The space is quite large with the bar separated from the main dining room with a peekaboo architectural wall and a terrace of tables upstairs. The crowd is lively but more mature than the uptown crowd, so think 5Church but grown up. They have some unique cocktails that are quite boozy. I tried one with a pecan orgeat and rum, and hubs had a rye and apple cider cocktail with lavender that was lovely and perfect for fall.
The food concept is farm to table, and the menu changes regularly. We started with the butternut squash with walnut oil and fried sage. Then I had the second course of clams. You don’t often see just clams on a menu around here, mainly because mussels tend to be more flavorful. The flavor profile was wonderful– the clams were paired with a smooth arugula pesto, apples and pecans with savory white wine foam and some crispy kale on top. I don’t know how they get so much flavor in that foam!
Hubs had the braised short ribs with ginger braise over mashed potatoes. The short ribs were the most tender he (or I) had ever tasted. It was pretty incredible. The mash was fine, but nothing amazing. We should note, he also ate all of the small, savory rolls because they were so delicious.
I’d echo what Chris H said about the servers– they were all incredibly knowledgable, and apparently had all tried the menu. it’s my pet peeve when you ask about a dish and they hadn’t tried it. Our server, Amanda, was up there as one of the best servers we’d ever had. Even the guy that brought us utensils was amazingly friendly and informed. Jessica came over and talked with us like we were old regulars. She informed us that they will be open Sundays for brunch in December, along with lunch service.
Bottom line: Amazing service, inventive flavorful menu, great interior = one of our new favorite spots.
PS, I don’t care if it’s trendy, the term «fluid gel» should never, ever, ever grace a menu. It’s both unappetizing and pretentious.