Taste of Belmont, NC: The String Bean

Parked in the happening downtown of a small neighborhood suburb of Charlotte, NC (NC’s biggest city) is The String Bean, a delightful cafe and deli that can supply any wine, beer, meat, hummus, cheese need that you have in your life on any given night.
A friend of mine, with ties to the areas GG Boutique (right around the corner from The String Bean), took me here. She knew I loved local, healthy, fresh, different food. This place has it all.
We started with a cabernet and the hummus platter. Cabernet was a nice robust start with a sweet finish. Great wine. The hummus platter (I could eat hummus every day of my life) was a chunkier one. Nice bite to it on the way down. Served with a warm pita (which we had to get a double order of and was graciously awarded one) and a spectacular cheese – some of the best I’ve had. Can someone from the market tell me what it was? (Saturday night, October 9)
For our meal we shared the garlic pesto flatbread. Delicious. Chicken, pesto, garlic, caramelized onions – nothing bad on this plate.
Dessert – or no dessert. Well, dessert of course (especially with the dessert guy standing at the front counter). We chose the seasonal specialty of the beer spice cake. The glazed IPA nuts I could eat by the palmful, but I just picked off the top of the beer ricotta and cream cheese icing. So good. Pale in color – very fitting for the cool evening.
The setting was a calm, refreshing evening. We could have sat there all evening. Speaking with other diners, feeling right at home, hearing about the boom boom shrimp which was great if it got all over your hands because you didn’t mind the smell because they were so good, conversations with the staff and owners. Waltzing through the extensive wine and beer collection (which they would happily open a bottle for you to have with your dinner).
There was outdoor seating, indoor pub tables or bench seating, a wide variety of take home deli needs. They have wine tastings and have splendid, friendly service. Great prices as well.
So, go here. I will be going back I’m sure of it. Love treasures like the String Bean.
(Only thing I would change is have more lighting at night in the dining room so I can come back and take better pictures. Since I don’t like flash – I would like more lighting. That’s all. Thank you!)