Table Of Content
Andrew Schools and Larry Suggs have infused their veteran bartending expertise into a new moody bar in Villa Heights. And somehow, the eight shooters on the menu transform shots into expertly crafted, socially acceptable, even classy drinks at this intimate bar. It’s a walk-in only spot with a limit of six people per party — a choice that reflects a dedication to focused table service and a come-as-you-are neighborhood feel. Enjoy the tucked-away pool table that lives in the back, maybe on Amaro Mondays. When Kindred first opened in Davidson in 2015, the cult-favorite dish was milk bread — pans of golden rolls based on a Japanese baking technique.
DAVIDSON
Gonzales-Mora’s Noche Bruta is a new Camp North End gem, taking over Hex’s sweeping space Thursday through Saturday evenings for a slightly fancier sit-down service. At reasonable prices, the hyper-limited menu still gets to a bit of everything — the flautas drenched in a salsa verde, the ribeye tacos, and a can’t-miss miso caramel churro. The crispy pork katsu sandwich marries Japanese, Hawaiian, and Mexican flavors between pillowy shokupan. Is there a regional cuisine that restaurateur Frank Scibelli hasn’t put his finger in?
Hottest Restaurants in Charlotte, April 2024
The experience isn’t cheap — $175 for 10-course menus and $235 for 14 courses (most courses have more than one item, pushing the number of creations to as high as 50 bits and bites), and wine pairings can add $100 to $300. But it’s regularly selling out, proving that Charlotte eaters are willing to go all in on an experience. Owner Dan Nguyen and her family-run Vietnamese restaurant are so beloved in Charlotte that regulars started a fundraising campaign to keep the place open through the pandemic. The menu at lunch and dinner still has more than 130 items, and Nguyen still uncannily remembers what customers like when they come back. Try banh xeo, a classic curry-yellow pancake filled with shrimp; com chien thom, pineapple fried rice served in a hollowed-out pineapple half; or the crispy quail, served with a little dish of salt and black pepper with lemon. Is there anything more satisfying than picking up a dense, build-your-own-salad-bowl to-go on a work day for under $15?
Eater Carolinas
Sure, this town has technically existed since 1768, but we weren’t invited to sit at the Big City table until the early 2000s. That might explain why Charlotte doesn’t really have that one tangible dish. What’s our version of the juicy lucy in Minneapolis, the half-smoke in DC, or hot chicken in Nashville? Lorem Ipsum is, in a way, a hotel bar, but it’s cooler with Justin Hazelton at the helm, cozier with moody candlelight, and with much, much better music. That’s the main part of this bar’s identity — listening to rotating music offerings over the specialized sound design system, with paired visuals projected onto the wall. Alongside a small, specialty wine and beer list for sipping, there’s a classy Earl Grey take on an Old Fashioned, a banana-infused rum cocktail, and a salted, citrusy tequila drink, just to name a few.
Neighborhoods
The menu and atmosphere of a restaurant may define its public perception, but it’s the people behind the operation who become the heart and soul of the entire entity. Lang Van’s owner Dan Nguyen is well-known and loved in the community, and her passion for serving Vietnamese dishes is equally matched by her uncanny memory for customers and their orders. If you once ordered pho, spring rolls, or the vermicelli noodle dish Bun Bo Xao, there’s a good chance she’ll remember. Chef Hector Gonzales-Mora fans are thrilled for him to have a new home after departing Resident Culture.
The grab-and-go grocery and freezer sections are heavy on high-end snacks and a few cooking ingredients. There’s a parking deck right behind it, but it doesn’t validate parking (yet), so add $5 to your bill unless you live within walking distance. This snug ramen shop overlooking the Charlotte Rail Trail in South End features deep bowls of steaming ramen ranging from vegan to pork belly. Start with the shishito peppers and the crispy fried Brussels sprouts with light bonito flakes, and end with the soft serve ice cream of the day — miso ginger is the latest.
OPTIMIST PARK
As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. The Super Boy, a double burger with housemade chili and slaw, might be the star of the show at South 21 Drive-In, but the curb-side service restaurant has plenty of other options too. Opened in 1955, the historic eatery continues to whip up Fish-o-Burgers, BLTs, and other favorites for its customers. With such a long-lasting legacy, the family-owned drive-in is proof that good food has been central to Charlotte’s culture for decades—and hopefully it will stay that way for years to come. Authentic Ethiopian fare is present in Midwood thanks to the team behind Abugida Ethiopian Cafe & Restaurant.
Looking ahead to 24 new Charlotte restaurants to eat and drink your way through in 2024 - Charlotte Observer
Looking ahead to 24 new Charlotte restaurants to eat and drink your way through in 2024.
Posted: Tue, 02 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
According to Chef Sam Diminch, the “seasons write the menus” at Restaurant Constance, a 10-table, no-concept restaurant. Born out of Diminch’s Your Farms Your Table Restaurant Group and named after his daughter, Restaurant Constance is highly focused on quality, local produce, and the power of connecting over a meal. Expect an evolving raw bar, inventive desserts, and a vast and creative non-alcoholic cocktail menu with your reservation.
El Veneno Food Truck
It was such a hit, it became the inspiration for the Kindreds’ breakfast and brunch cafe, Milkbread, first in Davidson and now at their stylish reimagining of the classic Central Avenue Dairy Queen in Plaza Midwood. Customers can sit down at the Davidson location, while the Plaza Midwood spot is a walk-up counter with limited outdoor seating. The doughnuts and cinnamon rolls, along with the crispy chicken sandwiches, prove that Milkbread has staying power. “Sustainability” and “heirloom ingredients” sound like culinary buzzwords, but they’re true North Stars for Chef William Dissen and his team at Haymaker. The Uptown restaurant whips up its offerings—which include PB&J pork belly, beef short ribs, and bacon fat beignets—using local farm deliveries, artisanal products, and a brick hearth. You may want to try everything on the menu, but the mac and cheese made with Benton’s country ham is a non-negotiable.
After indulging in the miso mac and cheese, wagyu pot roast, and sausage gravy croquettes, guests can head downstairs to the restaurant’s speakeasy, which offers first-come-first-serve seating as well as pre-booked coursed cocktail tastings. Good Wurst is a carnivore’s paradise that dishes up all kinds of housemade bratwursts, dogs, and sausages. We like it for a casual lunch when we want something more filling than a salad (and with substantially less lettuce). Head on up to the counter and order the currywurst frites with a fried egg to share and a really great reuben, which comes with homemade sweet-and-spicy pickles on the side.
The restaurant is small and cozy, with exposed brick walls, soft lighting which provides a warm golden glow and simple yet elegant decor. Luckily, Good Food gave up its no-reservations policies, meaning there’s no longer a painfully long wait to get a table. There’s a decidedly low-country Carolina vibe at Fin & Fino, not just because of the fresh seafood on offer but also for the beachy and airy feel of the place.
This elegant establishment boasts farm-to-fork oysters grown in North Carolina, as well as other fresh seafood offerings sourced from the coasts of the Carolinas when available. Settle in for oyster shooters (there’s the Oyster Jammer with vodka, pale ale and mignonette), fish tacos, and steam buns, plus house favorites like fried catfish and paella with the daily catch from North Carolina. The most amazing aroma wafting along the North Tryon Street sidewalk by day or by night (it’s impossible to ignore after stepping out of a show at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center). This cash-only mobile restaurant serves hot food straight out of its walk-up window including chicken and lamb over rice with pita, falafel salad, Philly cheese steaks, and chicken gyros. Two dozen vendors in the city’s first food hall include offerings from several of the region’s favorite chefs, like Charlotte’s own The Dumpling Lady and fried chicken spilling out from a fluffy bun at Charleston’s Boxcar Betty’s. A space brightened by big windows inside and a large patio outside creates a vibe that’s more of a destination than just a simple food court.
Sustainably caught or raised seafood is the star here, headlined by the $150 Penthouse, a tower of oysters, mussels, shrimp, scallop ceviche and butter-poached lobster tails. There are plenty of non-seafood items here too, like the duck breast and wagyu flatiron, but the truly adventurous eaters should opt for The Treatment, a $65 chef's choice sampler that includes a $5 donation to charity. You don’t need to book a ticket to New Orleans to get your fix of Cajun dishes. Instead, head to Eddie’s Place in the Cotswold neighborhood, where she-crab soup, muffuletta sandwiches, and po’ boys are menu staples.
Little Mama in SouthPark is his upscale sequel to the ever-popular Mama Ricotta’s. But the thrill of shuffling downstairs to your kitchen to forage for lunch has definitely worn off. Now that some of us (most of us?) are back to morning commutes and afternoon slumps that don’t include binge-watching HGTV makeovers, it’s time to return to going out to lunch. Whether you pick it up to go or take a seat while you take a break, a lot of new options have popped up. The menu in this lounge-y hangout just got a makeover thanks to the onboarding of chef Greg Collier, known for his Rock Hill brunch hot spot The Yolk, and his leadership with the pop-up dinner series called Soul Food Sessions. Under the prowess of former Top Chef contestant Jamie Lynch, the Charlotte-based eatery has grown in popularity and expanded to Charleston and Atlanta.
No comments:
Post a Comment