‘You’re in a dealership?’: Charlotte diner is an unexpected treat at a local car lot

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — People will go just about anywhere to find the flavor. Nor’East Family Treats and Eats strives to serve a “wicked delicious” taste of home, from burgers to house-made desserts.

But the twist is that the Charlotte restaurant often wows customers in a place where many don’t even expect food. The eatery, which opened two years ago, is located inside Town and Country Ford on Independence Blvd.

“’Google tells me I’m here, but all I see is a car dealership,’” co-owner Blake Anderson says, repeating a conversation he has frequently. “You’re here, just walk in the door.”

“We have a lot of people asking that question whether they’re in the right place,” says wife Carol.

It’s the right place in an unlikely venue. Right down the hall from the Town and Country Ford showroom, the owners whip up what they call “elevated diner food” with a New England spin.

Carol whips up treats like carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

“Really looking forward to having a root beer float or a piece of pie,” says customer Pegi O’Shea-Ford.

When it’s busy, the Blakes work together like a Nor’easter in the kitchen. Word has spread about the diner via word of mouth, social media, and serendipity.

“I think I randomly found it online,” said Bryan Ford, no relation to the auto family.

Location, location, location is what brought us here.

“The BLT?” we overheard at the counter. “No she said, she gets to be on TV.”

Bryan Ford comes here often, no relation to the auto family.

“In a little car dealership,” Bryan says. “I’ve been sending all my friends here, and I rarely talk up restaurants.”

Town and Country Ford has welcomed restaurants in this space before, but folks don’t know exactly what to expect.

“Yeah, they think they’re going to get a little hot dog and a bag of chips,” Blake said. “Our goal is to exceed expectations.”

“But this is kind of above and beyond, it’s so good,” says Pegi.

They exceed those expectations with treats like the bourbon-glazed burger, hoping it’s the best food you’ve ever had from a car dealership. Okay, so maybe it’s the only food you’ve had from a car dealership.

The Andersons had a food truck before this. The partnership between the Ford dealer and Nor’East Family Treats and Eats is mutually beneficial.

“We would not have been able to move into a brick and mortar without this opportunity,” says Carol.

“It’s been kind of a story of big business, Ford and the dealership here, helping small business, helping us get going,” Blake said.

They give their diners a break from the norm.

“You tend to get in a rut, and you go to the same half a dozen places,” says Jeff Ford.

Here, the diner takes full advantage of the element of surprise.

“They are very pleasantly surprised,” Carol said.

When in doubt, just look for the small signs pointing to a tasty destination.

“‘What do you mean you’re in a dealership?’” they ask Blake.