Loading...
- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Passion8 Bistro
Category: Restaurants Mediterranean Mediterranean [Edit]
3415 Hwy 51Fort Mill, SC 29715
(803) 802-7455
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Passion8 Bistro
Review Highlights
19 reviews in English
-
Review from Arian A.
3/17/2012
What a gem. A friend of ours recommended this place to us for a nice romantic evening. We've been twice since the recommendation and both times have been nothing short of amazing. Great local fresh food and top notch service make this our Charlotte special occasion restaurant of choice.
-
Review from Emily P.
Charlotte, NC
Updated - 4/27/2012
We have been to Passion8 twice now, the first time was for restaurant week. This place really is a great spot in an unexpected area tucked off of Carowinds and intersects with 51. This time we ordered calamari to start. Different because it has an Asian flair. They bring out an amuse bouche each time you go. This time it was a chilled roasted cauliflower. Yum. They also brought out wonderful bread with olive tapenade with olive oil for dipping. I ordered the daily ravioli which was eggplant and sausage with ricotta. My guy ordered the veggie duo which consisted of corn risotto and a lentil dish. Everything was just out of this world. They also started doing a monthly Farm To Table dinner outside which occurs toward the end of the month.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/20/2011
My boyfriend and I choose Passion8 during Charlotte Restaurant Week/Queens Feast. I checked out the… Read more »
-
-
Review from Mary R.
Fort Mill, SC
4/13/2012
I love this place. It's definately not a place to take the kids. This is a place to go with your honey. Great use of local grown foods. The menu is almost always something different. I have a hard time chioosing because everything is always so good and unique. The food is just amazing and they have great espresso served out of silver, which I swear makes it better. The only thing I ever did not think was just amazing was a dessert where they used spherification, but it was done perfectly. I just don't like that in general.
-
Review from Todd S.
Charlotte, NC
3/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Passion8 Bistro is the best kept secret in Charlotte, Very Romantic and absolutely amazing food. Strange location but every bite was delicious.
-
Review from Claudine S.
Charlotte, NC
11/25/2011
What a truly wonderful and incredible Thanksgiving dinner it was. Thank you Passion 8, your staff, and Chef Luca for allowing us in your lovely home. That is how it felt, like I was in his house. Loved it completely and the ladies bathroom is great! I will post pictures.
What a beautiful restaurant and lovely staff - how they took care of all our needs. The dinner was the best every. I opted for the squash soup and let me tell you -- if I could have licked the bowl with perseverance in front of everyone else in the dining room, trust me I would have with a childish grin splashed across my face! It was just that damn good. I believe one of the ingredients they used was cardamon, and what a touch it added.
Then I had the turkey with the pancetta wrapped venison sausage with turkey gravy - can I just say that "the bird was the word oh deer me!". They served that with mashed potatoes (oh so fluffy), haricot verts in a tasty cream sauce topped with a wonderfully crispy and light onion rings, garlicky turnips (YUM, those babies nipped me right int he gut, love love loved them -first time I ever tried those like that), a bourbon cranberry and the freshest bread with olive oil infused with olive chunks! At first I was worried that it wouldn't be enough, but I was flat out wrong! My father finished his and some. My mother had the Berkshire pork chop -- or should I say chops! It was so large, the three of us could have shared it and would have been satisfied. It was so juicy and tender with a lovely chutney served a top of it. I have pictures, will post
Everything was beautifully prepared with highest level of execution. As I was getting up to use the ladies room, I ran into Chef Luca (much more handsome in person than his website photo's) and he started up a conversation. I led him over to our table to introduce him to the parental units. Chef Luca told use when our dinner was slaughtered and where our vegetables came from and when they were picked. What passion he has for the food he creates. And it really shows in the flavor... now I understand his career move....
My parents plan on returning for their anniversary on Dec 3rd, so I look forward to hearing about their experience. I, too, will plan a visit.
I am so shocked to see not many of us Yelper's have graced this spot, it is so worth the drive and a true shame for denying your stomach and taste buds, truly a shame not to go. -
Review from Patty H.
Charlotte, NC
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Like Claudine S., I headed to Passion8 Bistro for Thanksgiving dinner. Friends had raved about the food and I was looking for an excuse to check it out. Yes, Passion8 is a little out of the way, but it is certainly worth the effort. I had no problem finding the restaurant using Google Maps (just keep driving west on Pineville-Matthews Road/Rt. 51) and it is not on a dirt road ;-)
I travel quite a bit and have the opportunity to eat at terrific restaurants around the world. Passion8 ranks right up there with the best of them. All of the dishes had unique twists that made them stand out. My dining companion noticed that there weren't salt and pepper shakers on the table--and the chef is right! The first thing I noticed about all of the dishes was how well seasoned everything was--from the salad, to scallops, to side dishes, to pumpkin bread pudding.
I am looking forward to returning to this restaurant to discover what new dishes the chef has created from fresh, locally grown ingredients. -
Review from Cassandra R.
Charlotte, NC
10/25/2011
This place is a hidden gem! First of all, it's one of the only romantic restaurants left in the Charlotte area. The atmosphere is perfect for quiet conversation and staring into each other's eyes. Then there's the food! The chef takes great pride in finding and preparing fresh local ingredients daily. This includes the produce, meats and fish. And you can definitely taste the care and love he puts into each and every dish.
I found this restaurant on a fluke when I got lost in an industrial area of Fort Mill. What a happy accident! There is not a lot of publicity around this restaurant so I'm hoping word of mouth keeps this place going as I'm looking forward to many delicious meals there! -
Review from Greg B.
Huntersville, NC
1/4/2012
Great food. Great service.
-
Review from April S.
Charlotte, NC
9/5/2011
I am so excited to be only the 6th person to review Passion8 Bistro!
Do not let the little number of reviews steer you from trying this very unique restaurant. I was taken here for my birthday dinner date but actually had no idea where we were going as it was a surprise. With living in the uptown area, this place was definitely out of the way, but it is completely worth it. It is really only about 20 minutes from uptown but the restaurant is located down a far dirt road so it makes it seem further away than it truly is. The restaurant is a small house with a larger patio built on the back.
We had an early dinner so it was still light outside and much darker inside. The decor inside was extremely interesting with kitchy little knick knacks everywhere and dark red painted walls. The bathroom even reminded me of what my Grandma's bathroom would look like. But it was cozy despite the strange decor and also gave the dining room the flair that so many other eateries lack.
We were the first table to arrive for dinner (around 5:30) and were seated promptly because of our reservation and the menu was explained to us as well as the beer and wine list by our very knowledgeable server. There is no menu online for Passion8 Bistro because it changes so often. I've heard the chef really knows his stuff and the cuisine definitely proved that point. I ordered a salad that was deconstructed with green apples, cubed beets, fresh nuts, goat cheese and mustard vinaigrette. (MY type of salad!!) The appetizer that we ordered started off small so we were worried about the size of the other portions considering all menu items were fairly pricey. Were we wrong.. after finishing an appetizer and salad each, we were presented with the scallops. We each ordered the scallops but I suggested mine with risotto instead of succotash. 4 HUGE fresh scallops were beautifully presented on a place with risotto and deliciously prepared beets. I do not really care for beets but these were awesome! I ate every bite of my dish and even though I was stuffed, I of course saved room for dessert, which was a tiramisu cake with coffee ice cream. Nothing was left behind by us two. After we were finished with our entrees, the chef actually walked by our table and cleared our plates while walking back to the kitchen.. now THAT is personal service! :)
This was such a great birthday dinner and I would DEFINITELY return to Passion8 Bistro again for a special occasion. If you are considering a nice dinner and would like to get out of the same Charlotte areas.. try Fort Mill instead! The ingredients are super fresh, the menu is well-thought out and service was personal and attentive. I personally think the food here is better than most steakhouses and more expensive fine dining places in Charlotte. -
Review from Chad E.
11/5/2010
Cool little place. Horrible area. And I say that because I have been told I lived in one of the worst parts of town. But if possible, this might even top it. To make matters even more challenging, you almost can't map your way to their front door, so you may get lost in the manufacturing wasteland that surrounds this little gem. Or end up at Bojangles. Work through the pain. It's worth it.
We actually went for the Dining in the Dark event, to benefit a charity for the visually challenged. As such, we didn't get to see much of the place. At least, not once the blindfolds came down.
However, the experience was cool. It's different than what you see on television through the nightvision cameras. Those generally don't seem to have you blindfolded for one, or skanky hos doing nasty things when they think no one is watching. But as we were actually there with other diners, the blindfolds were required. It also gave the "normals" something to laugh at. Sort of a built-in entertainment if you will.
I can't really say much about the service, as I didn't drink much of my water, not wanting to spill it on myself, the people I dined with, the table or the floor. So the glass may very well have been empty the entire time. The whole process did seem to go a bit slow - though that could have been because they were trying to serve twenty blindfolded people and talk them through their meal while keeping up with regular diners as well.
As to the food, it was really good. I just wish there was more of it. When you're dining and concentrating only on the food, it's so much better. It may have not looked like much - or it may even have looked outstanding - but it tasted phenomenal. I am sure that I ate things that I may not even have ordered in a normal setting, and I probably looked ridiculous doing so, but I enjoyed the process immensely.
Finally found the menu, and it consisted of oxtail-stuffed ravioli, veal strip loin with ostrich pate, purple peruvian potatoes and a lemoncello pancetta on almond shortdough. For those that were wondering. I have no idea if this is a typical meal or if it was special for us.Listed in: 2010-11
-
Review from Maw T.
Newtown Square, PA
10/9/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Price range for dinner are between $$ or $$$ price range. Had veal chops (22 oz) and it was very nice balance of flavor with plum based sauce and collard greens cooked on its own with bacon. Overall if very nice place and the chef takes the time to come out and say hello. Like the name, he is a passionate foodie and cared greatly about locally grown and gathered foods. If you are in the area, it is definitely a special occasion place that is worth visiting even when it is a bit out of the way.
-
Review from Bob B.
Charlotte, NC
4/20/2011
I just ate lunch at this place and was pleasantly surprised. Everything was fresh, unique, and tasty. All for a reasonable price.
The reason that it is not a five star place is simply because of its location. Too bad - the location is what has likely contributed to apparent low traffic as seen during lunch and as I drive by in the evening.
The food is as good as you would get downtown at some of the best places. After today, I now intend to take my wife for an evening meal one of these weekends.
One lesson for the hostess - don't seat anyone in the back room unless the main dining area is crowed. -
Review from Terri P.
Fort Mill, SC
3/3/2010
Don't let the looks or location fool you--this is serious fine dining, albeit in the last place you'd look.
When I saw this pop up amongs the former gambling dives where 21 and 51 intersect in Fort Mill, I was more than a little dubious. After I'd read a couple of surprisingly good reviews, I decided to give it a shot. I was not disappointed.
It looks a little 'iffy' from the outside, and you could easily miss it if you're not paying attention. The interior decor could be better--it's a little ecclectic, and not necessarily in a good way--but it's very cozy and intimate. Nice for a romantic dinner for 2, or to gather with a few friends for a cozy dinner.
But it's the food that keeps me coming back. I make it a point to order something different every time because I'm always happily surprised each time I do. Their menu changes with the seasons and with the availability of local incredients--I respect the chef for working with local/organic growers.
We've had many things there that we love, including sea bass, giant ravioli with a pumpkin filling, lamb, and on and on. Often, before the entree arrives, the waiter will bring us an amuse-bouche. It's always some very unusual concoction, and it's always good (except one time, they served us goat-cheese-stuffed marischino cherries--that was weird).
I'm usually too full for dessert, but once I managed to order something. I can't quite remember what it was (it was awhile ago), but I remembered dying and going to heaven. Excellent cup of cappucino didn't hurt either.
The bartender is seriously good. Every drink I've had is top-notch yummy. Certainly not stingy on the alcohol.
The waitstaff are very attentive and informed and can easily help you choose from the menu. Service is very good. Often, the owner's wife will greet you herself at the front door and check on you during dinner.
One funny thing we've noticed is that we always end up chatting with the couple at the table next to us, even tasting eachother's foods. And we make long-term friends right there.
This is one of my favorite places. I love to bring my food-snob Charlotte friends here and watch their faces light up as they are impressed with every bite. -
Review from Darren F.
Charlotte, NC
2/14/2011
Based on my last visit, this review should be a 4. After going to this "Dining in the Dark" challenge, where they blindfold you and you guess what you ate. The food was okay, but it was too expensive for not having a choice what you eat. $70 per person for red snapper? Won't do that again. I felt like it was a great idea that just wasn't executed properly and overpriced. My advice is to order from the menu, which changes based on the seasonal offerings.
What's worth the money on the menu? Start out with the fried calamari with jalapeno aioli. Calimari is tender, not rubbery, and the sauce is crazy good. I think it's one of the only mainstays on the menu. Main course - pork chops. Period. It's huge so split it or take some home. Save room for desert.
Be prepared to spend money here. It's worth it if you follow my instructions ;-) -
Review from S E.
Charlotte, NC
11/30/2011
This is just a great place to eat, great care in the food and such a warm place to be
-
Review from Juan V.
Tega Cay, SC
Updated - 4/11/2010 6 Check-ins Here
Wonderful, locally-grown, organic food. An incredible gem in the Charlotte area. Service is warm, and the food is outstanding. Love this place. Jessica and Luca (owners) are sweet, caring people. Try it. You will not be dissapointed.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/8/2009
Wonderful food, warm and friendly service. Chef Luca is internationally-trained, and his wife… Read more »
-
-
Review from Michael S.
Charlotte, NC
9/19/2011
Passion8 Bistro is a dining experience that you will remember. From comforting decor to service and gorgeous plating to impeccable food, this is a gem of a restaurant. Farm to table, the server carefully described the menu and dishes. The portions are generous and the taste is amazing. This is your place for a special occasion, a nice date night, and if you just want to experience a 5 star top quality restaurant. Passion8 Bistro is a must try!!!!!!
-
Review from Winston C.
Palm Beach, FL
5/22/2009
Great food and unique menu. Place is out of the way and a little hard to find.
-
Review from Ron C.
Fort Mill, SC
6/10/2011
Awesome food... the chef is the owner and has worked for some of the best restaurants in the world. His wife is the hostess and is so gregarious that time with her makes the trip worth it... Well worth your time and money.... My favorite place to eat in the Charlotte area
