Q: negative

A: I was not impressed. We went for an oil change because it was close by, but the oil change took 2 hours. The man working inside was nice, but gave us no explanation as to what was taking so long. Will not be returning.

Q: negative

A: Yeah, the building is attractive - it reminds me of a Braun shaver in the daytime, and a martini glass at night. This review is not about the building, but about Duke Energy. Where is Teddy Roosevelt, the trust buster, when we need him? There hasn't been a politician who cared about "the people," since TR, or maybe FDR. Surely, our distinguished governor, Mr. McCrory, cares more about Duke Energy than he does about the local populace. Duke IS where most of his money is invested. Anyone who dares criticize Duke's money grabbing tentacles, is said to want to hurt their corporate profits and their shareholders. What about the blooming customers? My problem with Duke Energy is personified by their latest commercial expounding "we're boldly going where no energy company has gone before." Well, Capt. Kirk, why do average citizens and Duke customers have to pay for ALL your darned upgrades. What ever happened to using your corporate profits, budgeting wisely, and fiscal responsibility. In short, pay for the upgrades yourself, and stop trying to get massive rate increases each and every year. Last year, you absolutely had to have 15% more from your customers - or the world was going to come to an end, but you settled for 7%. Our legislature was not intelligent enough to figure out that you were asking for more than you needed. So now its 2013, and here you come again with another rate increase demand. Are you folks serious? Your latest commercial says that the average consumer just flips on the light switch and takes it for granted that the power will be there. When I flip on my light switch, I hear the dollar signs clicking like the revolving dollars on a gas pump. My energy bill is hitting $300 per month in the winter and summer. As a currently unemployed person, this effing hurts. Stop passing the buck along to consumers. Stop asking us to continually pay more for energy. If you want to upgrade and go green, check into wind farms, and solar energy like our educated brethren in the Scandinavian countries. Also, step up and take responsibility for your coal powered plants polluting the Charlotte water supply. I wouldn't drink the water adjacent to your slag pits, and neither would you. You also need to take responsibility for the clean up of these unlined pits, and their leeching problem. You have the money - use it to clean up the mess that YOU made. Duke Energy, you remind me of a beggar at an intersection, standing there trying to make us feel guilty, with a sign asking for money. Only later, do we find that this bast-id is making six figures each year off the generosity and gullibility of their fellow citizens. In short, put your out stretched hand back into your pocket, keep your eyes off my wallet, and practice fiscal responsibility. Your current policy of "just keep asking for more money," reminds me of the Carolina Panther's asking taxpayers for money that they don't need - and the stupid politicians just keep forking the dollars out. Frankly, the whole think is scandalous and sickening. Who's running Duke Energy now, Gordon Gekko? Greed IS NOT good!

Q: negative

A: Got their current promo item claiming to be a Island fire cheeseburger. The burger boasts spicy habanero sauce which actually fell very short of anything spicy. The redeeming factor is always their drinks but it's hard to get that wrong.

Q: positive

A:
Pizza Cat learned three very important lessons this weekend: 1. Never, ever bet against the LA Kings. Evah! 2. How to eat a Neapolitan pizza. 3. Burrrrrata! Meowzers! Where has this been all my life! Pizza Cat finally got over to 800 Degrees after much self-doubt. She had Neapolitan pizza before and (in her best grumpy face) HATED IT. But the Kings were playing in the Finals and it was a beautiful sunny day... what's a cat to do? She needs PIZZA! Pizza Cat thinks she found the secret to enjoying Neapolitan pizza. KISS. No, not a kiss from Giuseppe, although that would be ideal, KISS as in Keep It Simple Stupid. Neapolitan pizza is so different from its American cousin, so when people try to treat it like its American pizza, the dough becomes yucky, undercooked and the topping flop all over the place. The solution is to treat Neapolitans simply, Pizza Cat got a basic marinara sans the fresh oregano and added bufala cheese for an extra $6. It's a very, very basic pizza that will cost around $13. It doesn't taste like American pizza at all. It tastes like naan bread with crushed tomatoes and excellent slabs of cheese. It's ok, Pizza Cat didn't hate it. Now she can tell her food snob, errr... food epicurean friends that she can eat Neapolitan pizza! But the pizza was not the star of the place. Nope. Pizza Cat just about purred over the burr, as in burrata cheese. Burrata is a cheese thats in-between mozzarella and fresh cream. It melts in your mouth and it's silky smooth at the same time. It comes with prosciutto, melon balls and arugula. It's the perfect combination of cheese, salty, meaty, sweet and bitter. This is Pizza Cat's favorite bite of 2014 (for now)! She liked the meatball too but they reheat them in their 800 degree oven, needless to say, parts of the meatball were cold while others were hot. No bueno but the taste was good. **All in all, this is a cool, trendy new place located in front of the Monte Carlo. Food leans towards healthy and $30 will get one a good hearty Italian meal.**