A new restaurant opened today and the QCity Metro team gave it a go.
State of Confusion is an indoor-outdoor restaurant in the South End that serves Peruvian, Latin and Creole cuisine “with a Southern twist.”
about chaos
A sister concept to popular brunch spot STIR in the South End, this Latin-inspired restaurant serves the same type of menu: lunch, brunch and dinner. There’s also a full beverage menu, including draft cocktails, signature agua frescas (refreshing mocktails), and beer.
State of Confusion has four bar areas – one in the main dining area, one to the side of the restaurant, one entirely near the back of the restaurant, and one on the rooftop.
free newsletter
Stay informed about news and events affecting Charlotte’s Black community.
Inside, there are plenty of seats including booths, high tops, low tops, and bar seating. On the roof, guests will find fewer tables but more private seating areas with individually zoned tables and a long bar overlooking the outdoor dining area downstairs.
food and drink
A group of five of us chose to dine inside. We sat in a large booth that seats six and ordered one appetizer, one dessert and five different entrees.
Among appetizers of custom guacamole, calamari, egg rolls, and lettuce wraps, we opted for vegetarian ceviche as an appetizer. As a group of people with varying dietary requirements, including a vegetarian, vegetarian ceviche seemed the safest bet, and no one complained afterwards.
For the main course, I chose the fried chicken sandwich with fries. I like my meal but my chicken was a bit salty. The sandwich itself is huge. I only ate half of it and left the rest.
Others ordered the vegetarian po’boy, fried shrimp po’boy, chicken plancha—pineapple-marinated chicken with cojita cheese and vegetables—and homemade burgers.
According to the team, the house burgers are “tender, juicy and well seasoned,” the chicken plancha has a “perfect blend of flavors,” and the po’boys are great.
We ordered the Peruvian Lucuma ice cream, a homemade ice cream made with Lucuma fruit. Our server said it tasted like “butterscotch and caramel”. The butterscotch flavor hits right away, and the ice cream is really smooth and soft.
Everyone in our group enjoyed their drinks, but the strawberry basil aqua fresca was a mocktail and “bland” according to one person in our group.
experience
State of Confusion is a perfect name because the menu looks… confusing. There’s no real rhyme or reason to the menu offerings, but it works nonetheless.It’s a real place to do something Everyone.
Regarding the service, it was a bit slower than we expected, but the staff were attentive and friendly. There was hardly anyone there when we went, so it was quieter and calmer, but I can imagine it would be more chaotic when the restaurant is full.
One major downside is parking, or lack of it. The State of Confusion is just off Remount Road – next to Weathered Souls – and the parking situation is a bit of a nightmare. Street parking is very limited and the restaurant’s gravel lot doesn’t fit many cars. We rode for about ten minutes and finally decided to park across the street, next to the QuikTrip.
final thoughts
Overall, State of Confusion seems like a good dining option. The music wasn’t too bad and the food was good. The relaxed atmosphere inside and out, and the cocktail list – at least for me – are reasons to come back on a sunny day. The bright colors and open design of the restaurant make it feel like a nice meeting place.
I will return.
What we tried: 5 main courses, one dessert and one appetizer
Total score: 3.8/5, QCity Metro team scoring average includes three 4s and two 3.5s
price: About $30/person
If not, what can we do: parking situation
What we like: Ambience and drinks in the restaurant
