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Pio Pio
Category: Restaurants Latin American Latin American [Edit]
1408 East BlvdCharlotte, NC 28203
Neighbourhood: Dilworth
(704) 379-1911
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
74 reviews for Pio Pio
Review Highlights
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"Delicious rotisserie chicken and sides." In 15 reviews -
"Rice is great, so are the ripe plantains and fried yucca." In 7 reviews -
"the yucca was, well, fried yucca." In 5 reviews
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73 reviews in English
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Review from Erica P.
Charlotte, NC
5/6/2012
Pio Pio Restaurant is a latin restaurant with AMAZING chicken dishes, rice and plantains in the strip mall behind Outback Steak House and Brixx Pizza. HIDDEN JEM in Charlotte, I am anxiously awaiting their new location in Ballantyne.
Their chicken and corn soup is a broth based chicken soup with chunks of chicken breast, corn and potatoes, SUPER YUMMY.
Their amazing homemade spicy sauce and salad dress are both amazing.
You must try this restaurant! You will definitely not be dissapointed! DELICIOUS! -
Review from Peter E.
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you've not had Central or South American food before, please head to Pio Pio and introduce yourself to it. Specializing in Peruvian and Colombian cuisine, they serve some tasty food. Plenty of roasted meats, beans, corn (but not how you're used to having it), plantains, and interesting sauces. And random French fries where you'd least expect it. But go for the chicken - roasted meats are a staple in this region (and the star of the show at meals), and Pio Pio makes an incredible roast chicken.
The services was great, too. Friendly and attentive. It's a very small location, though, with few tables. My personal opinion is that the price-per-plate is a dollar or two high for what you get (portions and experience), but that's just me.
All in all, it's a great little place to check out and a new option for us when we're on this side of town. -
Review from Michael S.
Charlotte, NC
5/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Great place for dinner or lunch, I've been to both now and I love this place. It's pretty close to how I've eaten in S. America.
Both times I've eaten there I've had the 1/2 rotisserie chicken with either the sauteed yucca or the plantains, and I was stuffed and smiling. Their salads are really nice too, they're topped with avocado slices and have a nice citrus dressing.
The service was a little harried when I was in for lunch, but it was relaxed and mellow when we were there for dinner, so just depends on when you go. The prices are reasonable, not super cheap, but for what you get it's a good deal.
Needless to say, I'll be back again and soon, great meal and a great place for paleo types too. -
Review from Jimmy D.
What a cool place, and nearby the house as well! Convenience for those lazy days I guess. The place is nice and cozy walking in with warm lighting and friendly waiters.
The food is nice and all, I think you are paying a lot for ambiance and overhead though. Even sharing a plate with my dining buddy we still managed to pull an $8 bill each. I've had the dish we ordered before at this little hole in the wall where no one spoke English and it was a much larger plate for a much cheaper price. How depressing, also I find the cost of a 1/4 rotisserie chicken plate kind of prohibitive. How is a plate of chicken and rice almost $10!? I can go buy a whole chicken and some rice and have enough food for a couple days!
For those days you are too tired to cook and want a quick comforting meal I can see going here, they're open late and they're friendly. Rotisserie chicken and rice is not hard to make though so I don't know about going here all the time but it's A-OK for those lazy days. -
Review from Stacie D.
Charlotte, NC
4/10/2012
After my friend incessantly talked about this place, I finally dragged a coworker to go with me for lunch. Definitely worth all the hype - I've been back 4 times in the last month!!!
Chicken is their specialty and they serve it up right! I've only ever gotten the 1/4 chicken lunch special, but mostly because it's so good I don't feel it necessary to get anything else. Service is great, prices are reasonable and portions are huge - - large enough to have leftovers for dinner later! However, if you're a closet eater like me you'll eat the rest of your food as soon as you get back to your desk while you think no one is looking...
Definitely check this place out - it's sure to be around for a looooong time! -
Review from Sam P.
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Reviews are right. It really is hard not to call this place a "hidden gem" since i've never even seen it and i've been in the shopping center it is located several times and driven by thousands of times. Tracked it down by selecting a random Entertainment Book coupon and heading there for lunch. Fun game.
So apparently chicken is their thing...after looking up Pio Pio online, it said it was the "short weak cry of a young bird" which is actually kind of sad. Anyway, there were several enticing lunch options assuming you like chicken. i went with a salad topped with rotisserie chicken and avocado. You can substitute other sides for the french fries. i went with the veggies which were good. One of the sauces they bring was really good with a great spice. Very good.
Almost forgot about the juice. i tried the mango juice and it was delicious. i believe they said it was just mango with ice and water. You could drink it with a straw, but it was thicker than just juice.
As i mentioned, there is a coupon for buy one, get one free up to $10 off in the 2012 Entertainment Book. -
Review from Julia A.
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place has some of the best chicken i have ever eaten! I don't understand the people that say this place is pricey...go to Wendy's of you want a cheap crappy meal people! I happen to think Pio Pio is very reasonable-especially since it fed myself and my boyfriend for 2 days AFTER we ate there with our left overs. We shared a chicken platter accompanied by a family style fresh salad with avocado and a delightful garlic vinaigrette. Good find, good eats, happy girl
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Review from Michelle K.
Charlotte, NC
3/27/2012
Pretty good food for lunch. It's casual n relaxed.
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Review from Jarrett O.
Winston-Salem, NC
3/10/2012
Friend brought me here. Menu looked exciting but lacked spice & flavor (ie. bland).
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Review from Danielle W.
Charlotte, NC
3/28/2012
Pio Pio Restaurant is a must try! It is hidden off East Blvd in a little strip mall, so I was not aware of it until recently. Ever since I found it, I get take out lunch for my office at least twice a month. Everyone LOVES it! All of their chicken dishes are delicious, but my favorite is the chicken wrap! It is HUGE and tastes amazing with their spicy green sauce!
You must try this restaurant! You will definitely not be dissapointed! DELICIOUS! -
Review from Kimberly V.
Charlotte, NC
4/26/2012
This is the best little spots. You have all got to try it. Yummy.
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Review from Adam R.
12/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Pio Pio is one of those strip mall gems that surprises you with good food and even better service. Their speciality is Peruvian and Columbian cuisine which means lots of rotisserie chicken, beans, and plantains. Everything involving these elements is delicious. Granted, the other dishes are probably delicious as well, but you want to go for the bird.
The only reason I don't give Pio Pio 5 stars is that when I went, my friend and I both ordered 1/4 chickens. She got all white meat, and I got all dark meat and a smaller portion than her. We were able to equalize things a bit, but if I had been dining by myself, I would have been disappointed. -
Review from David A.
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Short review: eat here. The beans and rice alone are worth writing home about!
Longer review:
Be prepared for juicy rotisserie chicken, fried plantains, amazing beans and rice, addicting garlicky and jalapeno sauces, yucca fries, and more fried plantains!!!
Shared the satisfying and left-over producing Latin Combo with the girlfriend containing:
Salad: sizable salad with avocado and a darn good dressing that was rather unique!
Beans and Rice: Ooooooof, these were fantastic. Nothing at all like the beans and rice you may be accustomed to at Mexican restaurants (this is Peruvian food after all!). Seasoned stewed black beans with flavorful yellow rice that were obviously made in-house with pride. I could be happy with a meal of just these. Best beans and rice I've had in recent memory!
Chicken: No messing around here. You get a whole darn chicken rotisserieed to juicy perfection with just enough Peruvian spice to hold your attention and coming back for more.
Sauces: This really shifted the chicken from 'yummy' to 'hot dang'. Near the beginning of the meal two mystery sauces appear on the table. The white one is a creamy garlic sauce. I am gonna write to Crest to request this as a new flavor of toothpaste because I was challenged to find something in the meal that wasn't enhanced by it. The orangish sauce is jalapeno-based and I used a bit more sparingly, but was just fantastic (although perhaps not toothpaste-worthy).
Fried Plantains: Let these cool down a bit before eating; they absorb heat well enough to buffer spacecraft from re-entry into the atmosphere. Upon their cool-down, the fried, soft, sweetness of these plantains offered a nice contrast to the rest of the spicy and saucy meal. Although probably not intended to be, I was satisfied with these as a dessert.
Yucca Fires: whereas not bad at all, wasn't anything super-special in my opinion. Seemed rather close to steak-cut fries to me. Go for the tostones instead!
Tostones: we ordered these on the side, and were grateful for that. Akin to those fried banana chips you find in trail mix, tostones are mashed and fried plantains to a crispy-yet-chewy chip-like consistency. Great by themselves, awesome dipped in one of the aforementioned sauces, and fantastic when use as a shovel for beans, rice, chicken, and sauce. You will not be disappointed!Listed in: Diamonds in the Rough
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Review from Kay W.
Charlotte, NC
1/31/2012
My BF and I decided to try this spot before going to check out Aries Spears @ The Comedy Zone on a Saturday night. The place was typical for a cafe and the service was decent. We loved how moist and tender the chicken was, yet it really lacked a lot of seasoning. We both are no big fans of sodium, yet this chicken could use a little more pizzazz. The sauces helped with this flavor issue, but sauces should enhance and not make the flavor IMO. Well the prices were decent and the flavored teas were tasty. We will definitely come back, but not somewhere we will be jonesing for. :)
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Review from Sydney A.
9/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hands down, this place rocks. It's usually the same two servers who are always friendly and on the ball. The food is authentic, the place is clean, rarely crowded, and the prices are cheap. What is there not to love here?
We usually get the corncake & sausage to start and then I get the arroz con pollo with ripe plantains (amazing!) and my boyfriend gets 1/2 chicken, rice & yucca fries. And it's enough for lunch the next day too! Also, please try the Sangria... heavenly.
Indoor and outdoor seating. They also have dessert and real Colombian coffee/espresso!
This place is a gem. An absolute treasure in Charlotte.
A+++! -
Review from Andrew H.
Charlotte, NC
11/15/2011
This place has REALLY tasty food. The sauces are incredible. I'm no expert on Colombian food, but after eating here, I can understand how one would become a drug dealer. They just want more money for their delicious food. Right? No wonder Pablo Escobar was so Goddamn fat (to the n00bs out there, I'm talking about the real Pablo Escobar...not Adrian Grenier playing Vinny Chase playing Pablo Escobar. Woah, that felt like an Inception moment.) Anywho, I digress. I ordered the steak with black beans, rice, and yuca. The steak was very well marinated, although a bit rubbery/hard to cut. The beans and rice weren't particularly flavorful, but a little dose of the verde (that's green for you Native speakers) sauce will fix that. Man o man, that verde sauce is the truth. Spicy (too spicy for my bozo dining pal) but very flavorful. The white sauce is tasty as well, but more bland. The yuca is quite good...like a banana/french fry hybrid. My bozo pal got the chicken, which I helped myself to, and I must say, I wasn't blown away. I preferred the steak.
The issues with this place are three-fold. Service. Price. Quantity. There are literally only two waiters, so they were slow to re-fill water, get the check, etc. While the food was very delectable, it's way too expensive for what it is. This genre of food is inexpensive and quick to prepare (particularly the beans and rice, which are mass-produced) so it shouldn't cost 10-15 dollars a plate. Moreover, the portions aren't heaping and I was still hungry after joining the CPR (clean plate club) and merking some of my bozo friend's chicken.
So...come here to try the wonderful food...but be prepared to sip your water slowly, pay a decent amount, and still be hungry afterwards.
Hmmm...solution!
Takeout. -
Review from Casandra G.
Charlotte, NC
4/3/2011 ROTD 1/14/2012
Delivery review:
YUM! Sometimes, even if you are living in the land of golden fried chicken, you're just jonesing for a nice, juicy, decently seasoned pollo rostizado with all of the fixins. For 27 bucks we got the "Latin combo" - a whole bird, a massive salad with tons of avocado, plentiful rice and beans (rice - kind of light yellow and mildly seasoned, beans - black and boiled with the cilantro and cumin and other stuff), delicious sweet fried plantains and lipsmacking yuca fries. It was enough for two dinners plus two lunches the next day.
Have to order from http://foodiecall.com (they have a phone number too...). Call the restaurant direct and they'll refer you to foodiecall. Food was delivered I think within 30 minutes or so - from Dilworth to Uptown. Overall very satisfying, and I'll definitely order again. -
Review from Todd S.
4/12/2011
Listen, I could write all kinds of words and try to give you some sort of foodie review of this place, but I'm not. Here's all that I'm going to say: half roast chicken, beans and tostones. That's all you need to know.
Located in the shopping center on East Blvd. behind Outback Steakhouse and the recently remodeled Brixx Pizza. Eat this chicken or you are doing your stomach a disservice. -
Review from Michelle B.
Charlotte, NC
2/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow! What a gem. Met here for a girls' night dinner. We started with a Sangria that was quite delicious. My meal selection was the Filet of Tilapia with rice & beans and Yuca...YUMMY! The fish was crisply baked (not blackened) and full of flavor. The rice & beans were tasty and the Yuca was great as well. I didn't each much all day so that my tummy would be ready to receive some good food and it was not disappointed. The restaurant was not crowded on this weeknight and service was excellent. Although I didn't time it, the food seemed to come out in 10 minutes or less - I am not sure how they did that but I like their style. This is a nice (authentic Peruvian, Columbian, Spanish & Latin American) restaurant in the back of the Plaza with Outback and Black Lion. They have a kids' menu with traditional fare such as chicken fingers, chicken leg, frankfurter which means I can go back for a nother visit really soon, with the kids.
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Review from Kaila J.
Charlotte, NC
1/9/2012
Nom Nom Nom. I love Peruvian rotisserie chicken. Pio's is golden, fall-off-the-bone tender, and though it's not particularly well-seasoned, the two sauce accompaniments give the chicken (and anything else you wish you smother said sauce with) an extra oomph. The green sauce is muy spicy, and the white sauce is like a smoky ranch dressing. Both are delish.
For sides: I love the saffron rice, and the ripe plantains here are so tasty and sweet I usually save them for dessert.
For appz: empanadas (beef or chicken patties), calamari, or if you're feeling extra carniverous try the sample platter - a heaping platter of fried and grilled meats, sausage, potatoes, and chicharrones...your arteries will probably hate you after eating this.
This is a great place for a tasty, filling, and cheap meal with great service. -
Review from Melissa B.
Charlotte, NC
2/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Wow I love this place! Was here for lunch and had the 1/4 chicken with plantains and rice and it comes with beans. Very inexpensive and it is a very filling meal!
The chicken is roasted to perfection and comes with a spicy sauce and a mild sauce. I wasnt sure what to do with the sauces so i put them on eveything - delicious!!!! I think my platter was $7.50 and my friend's similar lunch entree but with steak was close in price. Everything was delicious and well cooked - i was worried that there would be too many spices. But the food was simple and delicious!
The decor is simple and cozy. The wait staff is super fast and very sweet. Cant wait to get back here! Thanks Pio Pio!!! -
Review from Pourina R.
Charlotte, NC
Chicky chicky bok bok, chicky chicky. Oh how I love me some roasted chicken. Pio Pio is a clean restaurant with great staff and excellent portions.
While rotisserie chicken is good no matter how it's prepared, there wasn't a distinct "Peruvian" flavor. Maybe I'm ignorant (don't answer that please), but it just tasted like any other roasted chicken with herbs and spices. Good nonetheless.
Sweet plaintains; well they're plantians no matter how you slice em. Fried yucca was just that, yummy in my tummy fried yucca. Rice and beans were solid but what Pio Pio does best are the dipping sauces.
I don't know how to describe them but I'm guessing one is a vinegar based garlic cream sauce and the second I can't even put my finger on. To be honest, I don't really care, it was good that's all I know. It's like going to a foreign country or eating foreign food. If it looks like grasshopper, crunches like grasshopper, well it just might be grasshopper! Don't ask, don't tell, just eat it if it's yummy!Listed in: The Bird's the Word
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Review from andrew a.
Charlotte, NC
11/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The best damn place in charlotte. they have the best hot sauce, great chicken, friendly staff. atmosphere is low key, and everything youd expect from a down to earth ethnic resto. its just damn good!
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Review from Hailey H.
2/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
First, I'd like to thank yelp, because without this site I never would have known this restaurant existed. And I'm glad I took the time to experience it.
Went for lunch with a friend, he had the #6(?) salad, 1/4 chicken, and soup and I had the #16, arroz con pollo with fried yucca instead of french fries. Lots of lunch combos to choose from, mostly revolving around a 1/4 of chicken, chicken breast, pork chops, and possibly fish.. but the combinations seemed endless.
I have to say I was really surprised by the portion of rice, I couldn't finish it. The menu states it is a mix of vegetables and chicken and that it was, a very colourful and tasty blend of peas, corn, carrots, sausage, chicken, (i think that's about right) in rice with a few pieces of yucca. Lots of flavour and perfect consistency. (the yucca was, well, fried yucca. nothing spectacular)
My friend's soup was delicious, though we both thought the section of corn still on the cob was a little odd to be served in the bowl, and some of the chicken pieces were a little large. The rotisserie chicken was moist and flavourful.
I'm not sure what the two sauces were on the table, my friend insisted the white one was what was also on his salad, but I was all about the green one. Kind of a green chili cream/mayo sauce? Whatever the ingredients, it had a nice little kick to it.
The staff was very helpful, and even though the space is small wasn't very crowded for lunch (maybe 1/3 full) There was a bit of a lag between us finishing our meal and having the plates cleared/receiving the check, maybe because we weren't dressed in suits they assumed we weren't on a lunch break, but it was overall a minor infraction towards the whole meal.
Maybe not the "best chicken in town" like their sign says, but a very good meal and nice portions for a low price (each lunch was under $10). Definitely one to keep in mind when in that area of town. -
Review from John H.
6/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great "hidden" gem in Dilworth. I've only been here a handful of times, but I always leave satisfied and dreaming of my next visit.
It is a little worrisome that whenever I go, the place is almost dead most of the time - which is great since I get all the attention, but not-so-great if this place is to survive the long haul.
I am still going through the menu and wanting to try all of their offerings and sides. If you are a fan of plantains, definitely give this place a visit since some of their combinations come with fried plantains. Not your typical southern style cooking comfort food, but you leave comforted none-the-less. -
Review from Tiffany N.
Denver, CO
12/22/2010 1 photo
Even though I grew up in South Florida, where we had a number of South American establishments, I don't believe I've had Columbian or Peruvian before but was sure happy to try it out. I had a BOGO coupon from my Citipass book (they offer two coupons for Pio Pio in there-score!) and decided to check out this cozy establishment.
First thing I noticed-- when walking it, the space was small, dimly lit, intimate---saucy!
Second thing I noticed--the appearance of the food! The table next to us got their food right as we were sitting down and I think I made it awkward moment b/c I just kept starting at this chicken all lustfully and stuff. I guess it could be considered creepy the way I was eyeing their food but whatev. My staring was a compliment.
Third thing I noticed-the menu and prices. I like that the menu wasn't dish overload with too many things that sound delicious. I hate when that happens because I usually pick something random in the end since I feel pressured to order. The prices were way more reasonable then I thought they would be. Many dinners for under ten bones that come with rice and plantains. Sign me up,
Four thing I noticed--the taste of the food. I got the quarter chicken with rice, beans and plantains.The chicken was all that and a bag of chips! It was moist, flavorful and juicy. They also brought out a white garlic sauce that looked similar to tsaziki sauce along with a green jalapeno sauce that had my eyes watering. Both were equally fantastic on the chicken and on top of the rice. The rice wasn't anything to write home about taste wise but the plantains were as good as I expected---I miss having plantains that taste like they should! South Florida would be proud of you Pio Pio!
Fifth thing I noticed---lighting fast and friendly service. Sometimes places take forever once you hand them a coupon and our waiter had it back within two minutes.
Sixth thing I noticed-how fun saying Pio Pio over and over again is!
Seventh thing I noticed-how long this review was--oopsie
All in all, a terrific place and wallet friendly. I will be back in the future!Listed in: Citipass Love, Dilwizzle, Getting ethnic with it!
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Review from Shauna H.
11/18/2011
3.5 stars Pio-Pio is good, but it wasn't as good as I expected it to be after reading the reviews. I had the #13 1/4 chicken and rice/beans plus side salad. The chicken fell off the bone and was tender - but it really tasted as good as the ones at Harris Teeter available at a much lower price. The rice and beans were good but I didn't think anything that special. The salad did have four small slices of avocado which was nice -and was served with that really good (white) sauce intended for the chicken as well. I'm not sure my chicken was quite worth over $10, so I probably would opt for something else for lunch.
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Review from Ayon J. R.
Baltimore, MD
5/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
The chicken is awesome! Specially, for the price. Service is quick.
Update: Didn't have the same great experience on follow-up visits. Still, it's a good place for good chicken. -
Review from Tim C.
Charlotte, NC
After living in Northern Virginia for 8 years and having Peruvian rotisserie chicken for lunch about once every 2 weeks, I can safely say that it is one of my favorite comfort foods. The skin is perfectly crispy, the meat moist and delicate, and the spices just enough to kick up the natural flavor of the bird. Add in a plate full of yuca and beans, maybe a beef empanada to start, and a cold beer. Heaven.
Pio Pio nails it. The food here is delicious, the service quick and friendly, and the location perfectly close to my house. I can't say how excited I am to find good roasted chicken in my neighborhood. The best part? A quarter chicken is $3.50. Yes, you read that right.
Now, if only North Carolina would ease up on their draconian liquor laws and allow Pio Pio to serve real Peruvian and Colombian beer.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Justine C.
Charlotte, NC
9/26/2010
What a lovely surprise! My family came here by happenstance recently, as we were at the running shoe store in the same plaza and got hungry while shopping.
From the outside, it looks like any other strip mall joint. But the inside is pleasant and the food is excellent! I had the grilled steak and my husband and daughter shared the 1/2 chicken plate. Everything was well spiced, not the usual southern blandness we thought we were consigned to in Charlotte. The side dishes: plantains, rice and beans were terrific too.
The price is reasonable too, considering.
Service was prompt, courteous and they accommodated our toddler very gracefully. We will be back soon! -
Review from Hans J.
Dilworth, Charlotte, NC
11/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Best place to eat in Charlotte!!! I go there at least twice a week!!!! A+++
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Review from Khang P.
Fullerton, CA
10/9/2010
I came with 2 family members and we got the Matador Combo, which came with a whole chicken, fries/sausage, rice, beans, green plantains, and ripe plantains.
The rice was cooked in some sort of broth so it tasted excellent. Beans were good, fries were good, green plantains were good, and the ripe plantains were amazing!
Unfortunately, we came here for the chicken and the one we got came out overcooked and very dry. It was still good enough to eat but I was pretty unsatisfied considering the chicken is what this place is known for.
Fortunately, the service was excellent and our server was very helpful to us (he knew it was our first time here).
I think Pio Pio is very unique and has a lot of potential (plus they have awesome service), so I'm willing to give it another try next time I'm in Charlotte. Hopefully they won't overcook the chicken next time! -
Review from Rafael S.
Charlotte, NC
11/10/2011
Best Colombian restaurant in town hands down! I love their chicken dishes and soup.
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Review from Erin W.
Charlotte, NC
10/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love this place! The staff is friendly and attentive but I really come here for the food. First I start with a beef empanada which is flavorful and made even better with the two sauces they give you. Then I get the #1 (1/4 chicken with rice and beans) and I choose the plantains that come with it. Everything is delicious on it's own, but if you have an adventurous palate like me, try a mixture of rice, beans, plantain, and the two sauces all in one bite. Heaven! You will never taste anything like it! Anyways, all this food for under $15 and a very satisfied tummy. Thaaaank you!
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Review from Lauryn C.
7/19/2010
My friend keeps talking about this place well actually she keeps talking about the spicy green sauce they serve with their meals so I finally had the chance to grab lunch here with her today.
She ordered the grilled chicken meal with rice and beans and plantains and I ordered the grilled steak with rice and beans and plantains. We split the meat and had a nice taste of both. I loved the rice and beans and the plantains. The meat was tasty but a little on the greasy side for my taste. I however have never had Peruvian or Colombian food so maybe this is just the way it was suppose to be.
I will definitely be back next time to have the rotisserie chicken. The place is a little pricey for lunch but the service was good and the food came our fresh and fast. -
Review from James B.
Troy, MI
5/13/2010
I've spent the last several days writing and rewriting this review. Every hook I came up with just seemed lamer than the one before. While eating my Royale with cheese for lunch today, it hit me... KISS... keep it simple stupid.
Instead of writing lots of fluff as per my normal proclivities, why not just come out and say what I have to say. So here it goes....
"My name is James, and I like a chain restaurant..."
Pio Pio is a Peruvian chain based out of New York with a few branches scattered across the eastern seaboard. The specialty of the house is rotisserie chicken. Do not, however, make the mistake of thinking that it is a South American themed Boston Market. It is so much more than that.
The chicken (touted to be antibiotic and hormone free) is marinated and slow roasted to succulent perfection... the breast so juicy, the thighs so supple... when dipped into the creamy hot sauce... it is almost obscene. Caliente! (OK... so I couldn't keep my predilection for fluff in check... I'll try to do better for the rest of the review).
As tasty as the chicken is, it is the side dishes that really make me a fan of Pio Pio. These include fried plantains, fried yucca, avocado salad, saffron rice and beans, and salchipapa. All the ingredients were fresh. The avocado salad was particularly good... the avocado was at peak ripeness, and the dressing well balanced.
Let's quickly talk about the salchipapa. This is actually a combination of 2 words... salchichas, meaning sausage, and papa, meaning potato. Now, despite the English translation provided on the menu that stated "hot dogs with fried potatoes", I was actually expecting a chorizo-like sausage with fried potato wedges. Well, the dish was indeed sliced, sauteed hot dogs served over a bed of french fries... and it was awesome. It paired nicely with the sangria I was drinking.
There were several fish entrees, some ceviches, and soups which all looked wonderful but I didn't get to try. I'll have to save them for next time.
Is Pio Pio authentic? I couldn't tell you because I've never been to Peru. Is Pio Pio good? You bet your llama it is!
If I must eat at a chain restaurant, Pio Pio would be my choice. -
Review from Veronica O.
Charlotte, NC
12/13/2009
A great little place in an unfortunate location. The food is authentic Peruvian and Colombian, but still a good starting point if you're not looking for something too adventurous in Latin American Cuisine.
I went for dinner and my only complaint (lame, I know) is that it was very very dark and they had no candles on the tables. When I asked, they just truned the light on full which was nice but it changed the ambiance. Good service. -
Review from John I.
North Augusta, SC
10/14/2011
We loved this little restaurant. The food was very good. As stated in other reviews the beans and rice were very good as were the plantains. It is tucked away in a shopping center so it is easy to miss. There was an Outback restaurant on the corner of the shopping center.
In addition to the great food the wait staff was excellent. several different waiters took care of keeping our drinks filled and making sure everything was satisfactory. I wish we lived in Charlotte so we could come back often. -
Review from Dave S.
Charlotte, NC
3/18/2010
I was drawn to Pio Pio because someone recently wrote a review stating it is the best rotisserie chicken in Charlotte. Since I reserve that tag for the chicken at The Roasting Company on Montford Dr., I was intrigued.
Danielle and I dined at Pio Pio last night after a failed attempt to go to Sir Edmund Halley's on St. Patty's Day for fish & chips. We couldn't even get close to the place!
We both had rotisserie chicken with salad and French fries. I really wish I had ordered the rice and beans instead of fries... it would have made me feel a little less "gringo." Everything we had was really good... although in my opinion the Roasting Company still has more flavorful chicken. I can taste the citrus marinade on the Roasting Company's chicken, but not so much on Pio Pio's.
Rather than the salsa bar at RC, Pio Pio serves two sauces on the table when you are seated. One is a white garlic sauce (which serves double-duty as an excellent salad dressing), and the other a light green jalapeno sauce. The sauces are kind of creamy, but I believe they are non-dairy... probably an oil and vinegar emulsion.
Where Pio Pio really shines over the Roasting Company is in the dining experience. I almost never dine in at RC, because I find the dining room to be uncomfortable and unwelcoming. This is in stark contrast to Pio Pio where the dining room is warm and cozy. I especially like the masonry work on the bar and the back wall. Great ambiance for what is essentially a storefront location.
The service at Pio Pio was also excellent. Rather than walk-up, place your order and wait for your number to be called, Pio Pio is a sit down experience at a nice covered table with friendly and accommodating wait service.
My bottom line: If you're looking for the best take-out rotisserie chicken, I'd still got with RC. If you're looking for great rotisserie chicken AND a great dining experience, go to Pio Pio.Listed in: South of the Border flavor:…
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Review from Tracy D.
8/3/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Not much else to say that hasn't been said, but I do love me some Pio Pio. I have to be in the mood for it, because I don't usually crave roasted chicken. But whenever I go its always been great. I used to get the 1/2 dark meat until I started doing weight Watchers and switched to the white meat. I thought it'd be dry and not as flavorful, but I was soo wrong, its just as good. Add to that a side salad w/avocado and the yummy garlic dressing, rice and beans and tostones (def a splurge on WW but worth it) and I am a very full and happy girl!!
I've had the tres leches and sangria in the past and both were also excellent!
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