Earlier this week, I was in the mood for a manly and hearty meal. Something that said (in a manly voice) "fire, meat, good," and was then followed with a grunt. I was able to get this and a taste of the west at Firebirds located at the North Lake Mall.
When I first entered Firebirds, I was hit the the smoky aroma of burning wood; which I assume was coming from the clearly visible kitchen. My friend and I were seated, and took a look over the menu. I was craving something meaty and smokey, so I picked the Smokehouse Burger. Which is described as, "BBQ sauce, applewood-smoked bacon, shredded cheddar and diced red onion."
While waiting for our orders, we were brought our beer and freshly baked bread. The bread was easily broken into two, and had a nice crunchy crust. It was served with butter, and was quite delicious. In all honesty, I could have just eaten that alone. However, there was still food to be delivered, and I waited anxiously.
Finally our meals came, and mine was delicious. I'm usually not one for BBQ sauce on my burgers, but this was a wonderful exception. The sauce was a thick molasses based sauce, and was sweet, tangy, and smoky and was poured over a 1/3 lb burger with thick strips of bacon. The burger was also topped with loads of cheddar. My only complaint about the burger was that the cheddar wasn't melted. However, that didn't matter too much to me, because I immediately dove in and started eating.
The burger was cooked perfectly to my liking (medium well), and the thick BBQ sauce with bacon and cheese and onions was great. Just what I was looking for. In addition, the steak fries were very good, I used them to mop-up some of the BBQ sauce that dripped onto my plate.
In addition, I really like the interior of Firebirds. When I walk in the door, I feel like I'm in a very nice mountain lodge in Tahoe or Colorado. The rock facade, exposed wood, and large fireplaces all add to a relaxed feel, that makes this a good place for a salad, burger, or a steak. Next time I go back, I'm going to try the Bleu Cheese Filet. It sounds delicious.
Price: $$ (burger and beer had me just under $20)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They offer a kids menu (meals under $10) that is part of an activity book.
Conclusion: Slightly pricey, but the atmosphere and food make the couple of extra bucks worthwhile. I will definitely be back.
6801 Northlake Mall Dr
Charlotte, NC 28216