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Felix Godward opened Felix Empanadas at Optimist Hall in early March, then days later—like restaurants everywhere—had to switch to pickup and delivery orders.

NOW OPEN EMPANADAS TO GO (AGAIN)

The former food truck brings Argentinean cuisine to Optimist Hall—then quickly kicks it to the curb

BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER TAYLOR

FELIX GODWARD’S EMPANADA TRUCK has drawn lines of hungry customers since he began to anchor parking lots across Charlotte in 2017. Godward uses recipes and techniques he learned from his Argentina-born mother to create sweet and savory fried turnovers for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert. You can usually follow the sound of Argentinean hip-hop and the irresistible smell of warm empanadas to his kitchen on wheels.

Felix Empanadas has customers order online, then pull into the roundabout at Optimist Hall and wait for an “OH ambassador” like Norelibi Jimenez to bring the food. (Left) A to-go order with pico, hot and green sauces.

FELIX EMPANADAS

(inside Optimist Hall) 1115 N. Brevard St. 704-886-6049 felixempanadas.com

CURBSIDE PICKUP 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday

Editor’s Note: Selections are subject to change. Prices above reflect those on the online ordering menu.

In early March, Godward opened his rst brick-and-mortar location in a stall in Optimist Hall. He built an expanded menu of empanadas with breakfast and dessert options and other traditional Argentinean dishes like solterito salad and arroz con pollo soup. Then, less than a month a er opening, COVID-19 forced Godward—and virtually every other restaurant in Charlotte—to halt counter service and switch to curbside pickup and delivery orders.

At press time, each of Optimist Hall’s restaurant tenants o ered daily curbside pickup. Godward served an abbreviated menu of savory empanadas with two dessert options. It’s not the communal dining experience OH regulars are used to, but it’s an e cient operation in the age of COVID19. Just place your order online and drive to the designated roundabout, where you wait as an “OH Ambassador” brings your boxed and bagged meal. The smell of the empanadas hits you as soon as you open the box, and each stu ed pocket looks like an artfully wrapped, edible present.

If you bother to put on pants and get into your car—and you have a family at home to feed—spring for the dozen empanadas for $35 (individual empanadas cost $3.50; he sells six for $19 and three for $10). Choose any combination from the following: pulled pork chorizo; steak; chicken; bacon, date, and goat cheese; pepperoni pizza; and cheese pizza—and don’t forget a few Nutella banana ’nadas for dessert.

(Left) A dozen empanadas with truffle, parmesan, and garlic fries and a Jarritos Mango, a Mexican craft soda popular in Latin America.

Bacon, date and goat cheese

Pulled pork chorizo

Nutella banana

The steak and chicken varieties are simplest, with seasoned meat and vegetables folded into a golden, aky, handheld pocket with a braided edge using a method called repulgue.

The bacon, date, and goat cheese empanada is made with the same Argentinean pastry dough, milhojas, but it’s triangular rather than semicircular. The pepperoni empanada is just as fun for kids as a traditional pizza slice.

The limited menu also has tru e, parmesan, and garlic fries ($4.50), sea salt fries ($3), and bottled cra sodas ($3) in avors that ($4.50), sea salt fries ($3), and bottled cra sodas ($3) in avors that include Jarritos Mango and Moxie Cola. When Godward reopens include Jarritos Mango and Moxie Cola. When Godward reopens with his full menu, look for new empanadas like lobster corn n’ with his full menu, look for new empanadas like lobster corn n’ chive, Shepherd’s pie, and guava n’ cheese.

Don’t leave without trying: The bacon, date, and goat cheese empanada ($3.50). Each bite is equal parts fruity and salty. You can reheat this one for breakfast if you don’t devour the entire dozen in one sitting. Cheese pizza

Steak