The Fig Tree Restaurant is a beloved Elizabeth neighborhood favorite, known for excellent food, wine and service. Open since 2005 (an eternity in the restaurant industry), the Fig Tree is located at 1601 East Seventh Street in the John Paul and Alice Craft Lucas House. It offers patrons 5 different dining rooms, outdoor seating on the veranda or patio, and a charming full-service bar (when it’s open for inside dining again, I recommend having a pre-dinner cocktail here, it’s adorable!). The Fig Tree is a 3 minute walk from The Towers at Mattie Rose, and many of our residents enjoy frequenting the establishment.
The Lucas House has a unique story, with only 3 families having owned it during its 107 year history. The Craftsman style bungalow was built in 1913 and was purchased by John Paul Lucas, editor of the Charlotte Evening Chronicle. Lucas was active in civic affairs and later held roles with Duke Power Company and with the United States Food Administration during World War I. Alice Craft Lucas graduated from Trinity College (now Duke University) in 1905 and went on to serve as the southern correspondent for the Boston Transcript newspaper. The couple lost the home to foreclosure in 1936, after which Mr. William Calhoun McIntire purchased the home and owned it for over 30 years. In 1969 the house was purchased by the Chipley family, still the owners to this day. Source
The Lucas house was designated a historic landmark by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission in 1993. The ordinance described the house as “architecturally significant for the many exterior features and appointments, such as the Tudor false half-timbering and wood single siding, intact and in very good condition” and “the many interior features and appointments, such as massive fireplaces, the woodwork and the pocket doors, intact and in very good condition”. The ordinance also mentioned “substantial contribution to the cultural richness of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County”. Source
During these trying times of Covid-19, it’s critically important to support our local businesses, especially ones with 15 years of service to this community. And ESPECIALLY business that are in short walking distance to The Towers at Mattie Rose 😉 The Fig Tree is currently offering curbside take-out, and I definitely encourage everyone to check it out!
We ordered last night and it was an excellent meal that took no effort. Check out my take:
The chicken and rice dish was rich,
comforting, and had a touch of spice from poblano peppers. The Caesar salad was bold, with undertones of anchovies in the dressing and well-seasoned croutons. The cornbread was incredibly moist.
We opted for the recommended wine pairing, the French white blend from Bordeaux, and it was a great match for the meal.
Comfort food, elevated!
The deserts were perfection.
The brownies featured a drizzle of salted caramel on top, perfectly balancing sweet and salty.
The individual coconut cream pie was light and fluffy with a wonderfully buttery crust.
Big thanks to The Fig Tree Restaurant for a fantastic take-out dinner last night! To place your own order for curbside take-out, visit http://charlottefigtree.com/ and click on ‘Curbside Takeaway’. Menus change daily. And when we can all go back out to eat, please go!
Happy Ordering!
Lauren
