Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Tilted Kilt is another revealing restaurant

Good news, guys! Your options for breast-aurants just grew (pun intended).


Tilted Kilt, a sports pub, opened this week in the Steele Creek area. And, judging from the name, I'm sure you've guessed the female servers wait tables dressed in skimpy plaid kilts, matching push-up bras and crop tops. As a male co-worker said, "Is this a dream?"


It's the first of five such pubs opening in the Charlotte area in the next two years thanks to Ben Thorman, who bought the franchise rights for the Charlotte market after visiting a Tilted Kilt in Green Bay, Wis. He's looking at the Lake Wylie, Lake Norman, Matthews and University City areas for his other locations.

And while the girls must be able to fit the suggestive costume in the initial interview, Thorman insists personality is just as important as showing some skin.


"The costume is just a gimmick to get people in the door," he says. "After your second visit, the costume will be secondary and it'll feel like any other restaurant."

With 24 beers on tap and 30 flat-panel TVs located throughout the big, open space, people will be likely to stay for the sports and guy-friendly atmosphere.


Decor is pretty pub standard: lots of wood, green walls, a pool table and arcade games, and Irish-, Scottish-, British-friendly knick-knacks from bagpipes to soccer jerseys.


"We are a tongue-in-cheek, poke-fun-at-everyone, Irish, Scottish, English, American pub," Thorman says. "We don't try to be authentic, but we want that local watering hole feel."

That fun atmosphere is displayed in the limericks painted on the walls ("Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more") and in the menu (sample item: Fat Bastard Meatloaf). Entrees range from $8.99-$14.99.

Tilted Kilt is open for lunch and dinner daily. 13230 Carowinds Blvd.

69 comments:

Anonymous said...

"After your second visit, the costume will be secondary and it'll feel like any other restaurant." BWAH HAH HAH!!! Not sure what kind of restaurants this gentleman eats at...

Anonymous said...

If you have to have gimmick to get me in the door then I don't want to come...the gimmick should be good food and good atmosphere. Won't be dining there..I will go next door to Fatz where the food is good and the servers are dressed. Skimpy waitresses are sooo 1995.

Anonymous said...

Its' nice to see some decent sports bars opening in the SW portion of Charlotte

Anonymous said...

The collective of that group of waitresses is probably a 27

chris said...

Must be the old Damon's location

Anonymous said...

Next...

Anonymous said...

mmm.. I didn't know this restaurant was going to be trashy. The girls are cute, but come on. No thanks.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering why my male co-workers made that the destination for our Friday evening gathering. Hopefully this Hooters type restaurant has much better food than Hooters itself!

Anonymous said...

Thought kilts were worn by men and boys. Where are the tall, handsome and hunky men in kilts?!

Anonymous said...

gross. I am wondering if they food is so bad they think they need to have half naked women serving it in order to get people to eat there. Do places not relize that women will steer away from there because WE do not want to watch our men or other men stare at 18 year old girls? It makes me sad that more and more places are doing this now.

Anonymous said...

No WAY will my husband spend any time in that tramp stamp joint! Get some class Charlotte!

Anonymous said...

My wife and I ate there last night. The food is very good and the servers are very nice. Yes, they are dressed suggestively, but they are also doing a good job.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, ladies, chill! No wonder most men have to sneak looks and lie...their wives are so insecure that they can't even look at another girl!?! Crazy! More power to these ladies for looking good in that outfit! I'll be attending with my fiance and our group of friends (girls and guys) this weekend!

Anonymous said...

Hey Anon 3:16, you must have a pretty tight leash on if your husband has to clear every bar/restaurant he goes to with you!

Where's the trust?

Anonymous said...

If a waitress is doing a 'good job', they will/should get tipped appropriately regardless of what they wear.

Anonymous said...

To all those lame overweight and/or ugly women hating on these girls, get over it! You come up with a better idea and make it profitable.

Anonymous said...

Been to a Hooter's? Same T-and-A, skimpy outfit, bimbo waitress idea ...

This is a "been there twice in one visit" restaurant for most people: The first time and the last time.

At least THEY have meatloaf!

Anonymous said...

Funny comments. Ate there last night and the food was very good. Not really sure what the fuss is all about. If it isn't for you, okie dokie, but this was definately not your typical crap food with TVs as the atmosphere joint.

Anonymous said...

And the trash keeps getting trashier. Way to go Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah. THIS place is going to attract a desirable demographic! Seriously, first we lose Oceanaire and now we get stuck with this??? I just threw up in my mouth a little bit...

Sarah/Observer, shame on you for giving these people free press.

Anonymous said...

I have been waiting for a new rastaurant to open at this location. Was tired of looking at the old Damon's banner. Hope the food was worth the wait!

Anonymous said...

I'm all for sexy waitresses, but this looks dirty. Seriously.. we were excited that this place was going in near our house until we saw THIS!! My boyfriend was the first to say no way! Wonder if dirty old men and maybe some teenagers will be their only customers.

Anonymous said...

Some of you ladies must lack selfesteem when you say your husbands won't be going there. Maybe if you did crunches more than once a year! What makes these girls tramps? They're not wearing any less clothes than half of the younger female population in Charlotte on any given weekend. At least they have a job, and if you're husband feels like he has to stare at 18 year olds then what does that make him? A PERVE!

Anonymous said...

FINALLY some good news!!!! Is this part of the stimulus? It is working if it is! ha ha

Wow! :O

Anonymous said...

That's fine for Vegas, but come on...not appropriate in Steele Creek. It won't matter what the food is like (Hooters is a prime example of that) because the lusty men will flock there. Disgusting!

Anonymous said...

No WAY will my husband spend any time in that tramp stamp joint! Get some class Charlotte!

I ran into your husband there at lunch. Told me to tell you he wil be late tonight.

Anonymous said...

Is this the type of restaurant that defines a World Class City? Why not kilt-clad men in tank tops? Surely not someplace you'd take the family...unless you want your sons to continue the degradation of women. Pity pity.

Anonymous said...

"The collective of that group of waitresses is probably a 27," said the man who failed to include the most important noun of the entire sentence!

Anonymous said...

Provocative attire or not, I am not going in there if they permit smoking. Otherwise I'll be in ther eon January 2, 2010.

And, yes, it is the old Damon's. And yes, Hooter's food is pretty bad too.

Anonymous said...

The "bottom" line is that any resturant is better than "Pooters". Reasons, food sucks, it's overpriced, there is not that much to look at & the beer is not so cold, although the servers are.

I realize that most females don't care for this type of place but it's not as bad as it seems & it would probably make sense to have a guy in there with a kilt playing the bagpipes.

nickuss said...

I wish 'Paid to Party' was less opinionated and actually reviewed the restaurant. The Post should read: "Although the Tilted Kilt may not be for the whole family due to the Hooter'estc waiteress, if you are looking for a place with good food and a cold brew at a reasonable price, The Tilted Kilt is it. With entress between $ and $$ and more then 20 Beers on Tap. Nothing to un-ordinary in here, its a Sports Bar like Hickory Tavern or Fox and the Hound just with a more 'revealing' wait staff."

To me that gets the point across without the 40 something Soccer Mom attitude. No offense Soccer Moms out there, but you get what I am saying.

Anonymous said...

OK Mr. July 15th that ate there last night...so what did your wife have to say about the food and staff? I myself thought about gathering some co-workers to, well...gather there. However - when I saw it was "just another BAR" assisting in the moral decay of American women - I'm going to pass. Sure my male co-workers will be happy to come by and drop a few bills and stare...too bad these young ladies don't have good, moral, modest traits - these never wrinkle, sag or stretch...
Signed - Karsyn and yes I am a self respecting, modest female.

Anonymous said...

Ate there on Monday with my wife...food was great. Owner checked on the table to make sure everything was okay (ie serive was excellent). It is a NON-SMOKING establishment, even before the mandatory law. Even if the waitresses were "covered up" I would recommend it...and so would my wife!

Anonymous said...

To Anon at 4:33...you are quite right,and I blew it,big time! What I should have said was"the collective I.Q." of that group was 27!

Anonymous said...

"moral decay of women?". Please, if the Chippendales were there all the churchgoing ladies in Charlotte would be there.

And Charlotte already does have a restaurant like this - Bikini's near UNCC.

FWIW, my fiance enjoys these types of restaurants.

Nickuss: It's a blog; it's supposed to be opinionated!

Anonymous said...

Forget the uniform, this place is cool as $%#@. Mahogany everywhere, top of the line TVS and to correct the other guy, I counted 28 tap handles. The food is soooo much better then Hooters. Its worth the try folks... dont judge until ya try.

Anonymous said...

I live less than a mile away. My husband saw the website before they opened, and said he won't go there. I didn't tell him he couldn't. His own words. I might convince him to go once to see what it's like though.

BTW Anon 3:59 - I USED to look like that. I had a freaking 6 pack! I bet none of the waitresses in that picture have a kid... Oh, I do my crunches/ab exercises, but once you have a kid... it's NEVER the same...

Anonymous said...

"but once you have a kid... it's NEVER the same..."

Two words to prove this statement is false: Angelina Jolie.

As for the other stuck up woman saying she has worked in high end sexy cocktail lounges: it must be so great to be better than everyone else. You probably also worked for Hush Huish which was "sexy high end".

Ali said...

If half of the servers were buff guys in kilts, it'd be more fun to go there with my husband and/or friends... not sure why a place called Tilted Kilt has only female servers. But we'll still go and try it out.

Anonymous said...

Are the guys topless & in kilts too?
If the food was great, the owner wouldn't need some gimmick to get folks in... great food, big screen tvs = sports bar.... He's opened a strip club you can take your kids to.
Someone please let the owner know all rental spaces in UC are taken.

Anonymous said...

Another classy place in Charlotte to eat... Maybe we should spend more time and money sending country girls to school than ho-ing them out southern style. It's near a ton of chains and places that children hang out. How grosse

Sarah Aarthun said...

I should have been clearer: the male staff (bartenders and bus boys) are also in kilts -- albeit a lot longer. I've posted a pic though it's a bit blurry.

Anonymous said...

Ok first of all Ive been there and I know girls who work there!!! and for all of u who are talking trash and havent even been there u are officially some certified HATERS!!!! The food is great! The drinks are even better and the service is remarkable!!! please dont knock it until you try it!!! Big ups to the TIlted Kilt!!! My new favorite hang out!!!!!

Anonymous said...

"If the food was great, the owner wouldn't need some gimmick to get folks in... great food, big screen tvs = sports bar." Yeah, like there isnt't a thousand of these place in the Charlotte metro.

Anonymous said...

WOW! No wonder why this is called the Bible Belt! If it is not your thing, don't go! But to say those mean things about the servers there, when you don't even know them, or have never bneen there, is a very un Christian like thing to do. Take a look at yourselves, you are worse for judging a book by it's cover! Get over your perfect little, small minded selves and enjoy life however you choose! Just stop judging others for doing the same.

Oh, and by the way, I have two kids and am teaching them to respect everyone as individuals. No laws are being broken here!

Bianca said...

Ok..So I work here. I DO have morals...I dont drink or do drugs..I actually didnt have sex til i was in my 20's if you really care. I was a great kid. My boyfriend thinks it's awesome i work there. NOT for the other girls but he feels proud that I am comfortable enough to wear the outfoit. Our training was awesome! It was NOT about the clothes but it WAS abot the food, service and Making sure we made this SMOKE FREE AWESOME place GREAT for guy/girl's. I bartend there and I have a great time. The people are not rednecks and actually latstnight my best 2 customers were women in there 40's that just got off work. I feel like you guys are bashing ME, and I am a great person so please, if you dont like it than DON'T GO. But if you want to have a great time I say come taste our great food and experience our WONDERFUL service!

Anonymous said...

Get your heads out of your assses people! Who cares about gimmicks or clothing to get people inside. It's smart! look at the feedback on postings for this place! I bet even the people bashing it will have to go check it out. Women who don't trust their husbands to eat in a public place with sexy girls... You stopping them from going to a restaurant is not going to keep them from cheating! Wonder why you worry... Hmmm... Coo-Koo, Coo-Koo!
It's about time Charlotte grew up and got some cool places like this and Bikini's Restaurant. Wish I thought of the idea! I'm going ASAP!

Anonymous said...

Next...

Anonymous said...

This is not an original idea. It is a chain. I have always been to the one in Austin and it was awesome. Wish is was closer to CLT. People don't hate. Shoot if I was young and could work there I would that would be a lot of tips when you are in school. Everyone knows those women and men aren't there forever.

Anonymous said...

I think we should be thankful that in this horrible economy a man has had the balls to venture out and OPEN a restaurant. He is giving people in our community JOBS!

By the way, has anyone seen George W. Bush lately? Must be drinking beer and counting his money behind the sturdy walls of the Bush Compound.

Get off these girls AND guys backs! Everyone has to work!

Anonymous said...

just a different version of hooters. yawn.

Anonymous said...

So, it's pretty much like Hooters but less Tacky and with GOOD food. Cool!

My wife actually pointed this place out to me. She wants me to try it for lunch and let her know how it is. Maybe we'll do dinner there if the food is any good. Seriously folks, it's just a restaurant with a strong marketing idea. The "gimmick" gets you in the door, but if the food and service aren't up to par, then it won't do any good. Hey, Hooters has great service and attractive ladies, but the food is typical bar food. Looking at the Tilted Kilt Menu, it has some really decent looking items. I'll go, and if the food is good, I'll go back with the wife. If not, neither of us will be back.

Anonymous said...

Ugh no thanks. They need good beer specials to get me in the door!

Anonymous said...

God damn people. Who is ever hating without even being there because they are so uptight, learn to have fun. The economy sucks, try to make the best out of it. If you have kids and dont want them around this place, simple answer: don't take them. If you don't want to go around this place yourself, then don't go. But get off your high horse and stop trying to ruin it for other people. Not everyone is as high strung as you. Cheers Tilted Kilt...

Anonymous said...

"but once you have a kid... it's NEVER the same..."

Two words to prove this statement is false: Angelina Jolie.

If a celebrity doesn't look flawless, they're a failure. When you have the means to have a personal chef, dietician, trainer, hair & makeup artist, masseuse, stylist, nanny, etc etc you look like the million bucks you paid for them. What a stupid comment.

Freddy said...

I like the little "kilt" outfits a lot better than the tired old Hooters hotpants. The idea was obviously to get a little "Catholic schoolgirl" fantasy going on with those short skirts. Works for me. And let's face it - for a man it's a kilt, for a woman it's a skirt. Whatever. Great concept; I'm so there. Might even order something to eat.

Anonymous said...

I'm a happily married woman who is very much looking forward to taking my husband to watch the Panthers-Giants game here in a SMOKEFREE atmosphere! Congrats to the owner and to the employees for opening up and working at a new and interesting place. As for all of you who are bashing this place without even visiting it or worried about your kids seeing a girl's upper thigh, please, get a life.

Unknown said...

This is another mediocre bar with a boring copycat bar menu that you will see at any sports bar in the city. They use little outfits to allure men similar to a Hooters. Burgers are $10 and most of the other items are about the same as you will find anywhere. TV's are nice and there is a wide open floorplan. The Beer selection is their best asset with a wide selection of import and specialty beers. Overall the place is just ok and if it wasn't a block from my house I probably wouldn't go back. Best of Luck, your gonna need it.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I think this place is great. I went with my husband and we had great drinks and appetizers. The girls costumes are too cute. I do not see what the big stink is all about. I have seen shorter skirts at the high school I teach at, Like the cheerleaders. Do you complain at the football games? And for you girls who are jealous, shame on you. Be happy for someone who is young, beautiful and trying to work for a leaving or maybe these young girls are trying to pay for school. Not everyone has rich parents.

Anonymous said...

The kilts I get, yeah they're cute and yeah you see much more revealing clothing on any given day. But, the 'in-your-face' tops? It's a gimmick only a man could appreciate.

Anonymous said...

It's not the most creative concept- but hey, hopefully it will be profitable. Guys like to look at pretty girls, scantily clad and drink beer. If there was a place with scantily clad hot men and good vodka drinks, I'd be there.

Good luck to those gals- hope they get good tips and have fun at their job!

Anonymous said...

"Skimpy waitresses are sooo 1995."

Well, some things just don't go out of style. I'm looking forward to visiting this establishment.

Anonymous said...

I ventured out today to see what all the fuss was about. For those people that compared it to Hooters, boy you could not be wronger. This place is sharp. I dont know I call it upscale, but it is very well done. The food is very good and the place was packed.
For those bashing the place, have ya ever thought about the number of jobs this place created?

Two thumbs up. Well worth a trip.

Anonymous said...

I didn't realize so many losers and complainers lived in Charlotte. It's a resturant with a gimmick. Big deal. If the girls want to look how and have fun--more power to them. If you don't like it--don't go. Alot of insecurity seems to equal alot of harsh judgement. Go eat at the local church BBQ if you are "offended."

Anonymous said...

Whew, glad the dust is settling on "The Kilt"....no news must be good news, and judging from the parking lot at lunch and dinner EVERY day since they opened 10 days ago, I'd say they're blowing it up, whatever y'all may think. While you're at home eating Frito's dreaming about days gone by and the number of frat brothers that ogled all over you in the name of Olympus, or worse, blogging during business and helping to drive down the GDP, "The Kilt" is employing a cast of characters, adding to the economic base, and last but not least helping thousands of miserable, married men (and in many cases women) delay their arrival home for another night of "(fart and burp), let's talk about the neighbors so we feel better about our 'perfect' life...."
Wonder how many of you folks would stay on the proverbial moral high ground if your boss busted your ass for spending (his) dime while giving ratings to an establishment for which you haven't likely yet even patronized? If you need an interpretation, I think it falls under "theft" to get paid for a job "not" done?! Keep in mind, "gluttony" (for you fat ass haters), "jealousy" (for the self-loathing), and "vanity" for the guy/girl who can't decide that the cumulative IQ or Vanity scale is 27(...H.S., I'll bet you're a prize, you even know the max IQ possible?!), keep in mind that there are many ways within your control to lead a "wholesome" life, starting with not libeling something for which you have zero basis.
So, either get a life, or grab a stool and order up a pint of the Guinness-250, maybe it'll cure what ails ya....and yes, I'm a regular-food, beer , service, and yes, the "Kilt's", are fantastic-stop by and say hello! Peace and chicken grease!

Anonymous said...

Love Hooters, love Bikinis, and I'm sure we'll love this place! I'm a straight woman and I've been married for over 25 yrs and I go to these places not only with my husband but also with a male friend when my hubby isn't available. We like beer and appetizers while watching the tv's and talking to the waitresses (who aren't stuck up or act like they're on drugs like at some "regular" eateries).

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the supporters! I am a server at the tilted kilt. yes i wear a skimpy outfit but in the morning i wear an all black outfit at another eatery. so for everyone that is calling us trashy...how bout my parents are splitting and i have to find a place to live so i work here to pay to live and i work another job. so not all of us are trashy some of us are smart. ohh and for the women saying their husbands will never go...give me a break...bc half of them are prob regulars there!!!

Unknown said...

I am a server at the Tilted Kilt. I do have another career as a Licensed Massage Therapist of thirteen years. I have a boyfriend of three years. I am not trashy and fyi (I am 43 years old although nobody can believe it). I worried about my age when applying due to checking out the tilted kilt website.I even said to a manager "I think I may be too old to work here". The response I got was it is about personality. I was sold on being one of the team. I have took great care of my body and self and feel proud to be able to wear this uniform. I moved away from Charlotte a couple years ago to live at the beach, still too seasonal and well, we all know what happened with the economy. I needed to make up for lost income and being stuck in a dark room with relaxing music and not talking for living for years made me want a change of pace part-time. I worked for years as a waitress and bartending but had to stop due to issues with cigarette smoking environment. Love the no smoking part of the TK. This has been an opportunity for me to get back to a fun work environment where I can be social (don't get me wrong though, I love doing massage therapy - it is my true calling). I've waited on many couples, and many families with small kids and I am pretty sure from the tip % I make that I have not offended anyone. There are some great gals and guys working in this place but there have also been some not so great - but trust me - they have weeded out as needed. And I feel confident that the awesome management staff will continue to cut those who can't measure up to what they want to be great experiences for the guests we get in the door. If you have any bad experience here please ask for a manager and I am sure they will make it into a positive one. If you have a bad server experience, please don't judge all of us by one person. All companies have a hard time getting rid of bad seeds, I've witnessed that way too often through the years. There are some really great menu items. We will host some great sports times. And they will have bands/entertainment on most weekend nights. The bagpipe night was awesome. Please, all out there hating us, give it a chance before your judging. And for all you who want to give it a shot, come see me. I hope to give you my best service possible and hopefully a good time. Ask for me...Tamara B. (I made a rhyme) : - } I also give a great PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE....

Anonymous said...

"BTW Anon 3:59 - I USED to look like that. I had a freaking 6 pack! I bet none of the waitresses in that picture have a kid... Oh, I do my crunches/ab exercises, but once you have a kid... it's NEVER the same..."

I went in there and had a long conversation with my waitress. She has a baby. She says a lot of the women there have babies. Most of them are in college or have graduated college.

Once you go in and actually have a conversation with these women, you'll see that they are not trashy, but intellectual, charming young ladies. In fact, one of my male friends was rejected a phone number, haha.

The food was great, really something new in this area at the price it is. I felt I got my money's worth.

The atmosphere was inviting and attractive (in more way than one haha). Over all I'd say I was greatly pleased, and I'm a girl. Yes, a real girl. I came in with my boyfriend and some of his friends. Good job Tilted Kilt!!