From anticipated openings to new seasonal menus, the Charlotte food scene is springing into action. The best in news and specials for the end of March below. ICYMI, here too are our recent updates on Best Patios by Neighborhood, on Half Price Wine Nights, and our take on Charlotte’s Cocktail Craze.
SPECIALS & NEWS
Speciality sommelier flights: Each week Corkbuzz features a specialty Sommelier Flight, where featured wines are available for retail at half price. From March 20-26 try wines from the Loire Valley, and March 27-April 2, enjoy their picks for Easter.
Easter Wine Pack:
Whether you’re pairing these wines with Easter Dinner or drinking them by themselves, these wines are the epitome of spring – easy drinking, acidic, vibrant and deliciously crave-worthy. Each wine pack comes with three wines, tasting notes, a short bio about the wine and Easter Dinner food pairings. Featured wines: Bouvet-Ladubay Rose Excellence Brut NV || Teutonic Wine Company, Willamette Valley Riesling 2016 || Domaine Dupeuble Beaujolais 2015.
New specials:
In addition, Reid’s will begin offering a new kids menu for $10 (half price on Mondays) that features grilled cheese, salmon, mac and cheese, flatbreads, chicken tenders, sides and more.
New menus at Draught just in time for Spring:
Head to Draught in third ward for Chef Donnie Simmons’ fresh takes on brunch, lunch and dinner classics. We can’t wait to try the crawfish mac & cheese (pictured) for dinner, blueberry dee-lite salad and “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” sandwich with homemade bourbon sauce for lunch and the Southbound Benedict and signature shrimp and grits for brunch.
Draught’s March Madness specials: Cheer on your team with Draught’s March Madness specials. As your bracket is put to the test, enjoy $15 buckets or pitchers of beer and 50 cent wings.
Down dog @ Draught: Grab your mat and head to Draught every Saturday morning for a class with NC Yoga Bar. $10 includes class and a post-workout mimosa.
Coaltrane’s Monday wing special: Here’s your #MondayMotivation. Coaltrane’s Char Grill offers 75 cent wings each and every Monday.
DON’T MISS FOODIE EVENTS
Merry Edwards Wine Dinner
March 19 | Bonterra Dining and Wine Room | 6:30 p.m.
Bonterra and The Wine Vault will team up to host a wine dinner featuring Merry Edwards Winery. Enjoy a four-course pairing dinner and learn about each selection from Merry Edwards Winery National Sales Manager Bob Bond. Preview the menu here. $100 per person. Call The Wine Vault to RSVP: 704.548.9463.
Yelp Restaurant Week 2018
March 18-24 | Participating locations
Find your new favorite restaurant during Yelp’s Restaurant Week. All week long, diners can enjoy 30% off at participating restaurants. Simply check-in on the Yelp app to unlock the discount! View the participating restaurant list here and start planning!
Wine, Food and Music Nighttime Pop-Up at Assorted Table
March 20 | Assorted Table Wine Shoppe | 8-10 p.m.
After the market closes for the night, the Assorted Table Wine Shoppe will open a special pop-up dinner. The evening features a three-course wine pairing dinner menu and live entertainment. Only 40 tickets are available, so act fast! $40 per person.
Dinner At Fran’s: Spring Cider Dinner with GoodRoad CiderWorks
March 21 | Fran’s Filling Station | 6:30 p.m.
Celebrate the flavors of Spring with a collaboration dinner between Fran’s Filling Station and GoodRoad CiderWorks. $43 per person. RSVP online.
7th Street Public Market Vegan Tasting ft. Zia Pia
March 21 | 7th Street Public Market | 6:30 p.m.
Viva Raw, Zia Pia Imports + Italian Kitchen and the Assorted Table Wine Shoppe team up for a vegan multi-course tasting. Enjoy three wines and four courses including cashew cheese, polenta and dessert. Seats are limited and past events have sold out, so don’t delay! $40 per person.
Frank Family Wine Dinner at The Palm
March 23 | The Palm | 7 p.m.
This three-course pairing dinner includes culinary creations from The Palm chef Colin Johnson and wines from Frank Family Vineyards. Preview the menu. $125 per person. To RSVP, email theidal@thepalm.com.
Sip into Spring with Reids
March 24 | Reid’s Fine Foods (both locations) | Beginning at noon
Celebrating the beginning of Rosé season on the patios of both Reid’s locations. Enjoy the amazing Rosé selection, taste cheeses, and learn how the unique qualities of wine and cheese enhance each other. Plus, enjoy special pricing on Rosé from France and Spain.
Second Annual Charlotte Wing Fest at Rooftop 210
March 24 | Rooftop 210 | 2-6 p.m.
Charlotte’s favorite restaurants will compete for the title of “best wings in town”, and you’re the judge! Sample specialty wings and beer from area restaurants, and put your skills to the test in a wing eating contest. General admission is $25 and includes 12 tastings, live entertainment and a cash bar.
PCG Food and Beverage Symposium
March 25 | Johnson & Wales University
Discover the region’s culinary past, present and future with informative classes and discussions. $75 ticket includes sessions, breakfast, lunch and a reception.
Corkbuzz Raid The Cellar: Loire Valley
March 26 | Corkbuzz Charlotte | 6:30 p.m.
Laura’s back for one of Corkbuzz’s most popular cocktail-class series, Raid the Cellar. This time, guests will be exploring the Loire Valley in southern France to find out why the Loire is favored by wine geeks all over the world. $75 per person.
Biscuit Birthday Bash
March 26-30 | Flying Biscuit Park Road
The Flying Biscuit will celebrate another year with a week-long celebration. Enjoy a kick-off event Monday from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and half off all breakfast items Tuesday – Friday from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Winemaker Dinner at Heirloom
March 27 | Heirloom | 6:30 p.m.
Heirloom is joining with North Carolina native Daniel Benton, owner and winemaker for Croze and Smith Wooten, for a five-course pairing dinner. Preview the menu here. $65 per person. Reserve your seat here.
Castello Banfi Wine Dinner at Bistro La Bon
March 28 | Bistro La Bon | 7 p.m.
Take your taste buds on a tour through Italy as chef Kevin pairs a four-course menu with Castello Banfi wine pairings. Hosted by Paul Ponce, fine wine portfolio manager. $70 per person. Call 704.333.4646 to RSVP.
In-Depth Pinot Noir at Corkbuzz
March 29 | Corkbuzz Charlotte | 6:30 p.m.
Ever wondered what famous regions like Burgundy, Willamette Valley, Pfalz, Central Otago and Sonoma all have in common? They produce exceptional, yet very different styles of Pinot Noir. Gear up for a fun Blind Tasting of high-end to affordable Pinot Noirs in this in-depth class. Guests will also explore the versatility of pairing Pinot Noir with a selection of Chef’s cheeses and charcuteries with accompaniments. $70 per person.
2018 Patio Concert Series Kickoff at Reids
March 31 | Reid’s Fine Foods SouthPark | 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Kick off patio season with a live concert from Charlotte-based folk rock band, Time Sawyer. Enjoy drinks from the outdoor bar at Reid’s SouthPark while you dance and sway to the tunes. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance at Reid’s SouthPark.
MAKING HEADLINES: OPENINGS & OPENING SOON
Holler & Dash – OPEN NOW!
The highly anticipated biscuit destination is now open in South End. In addition to their Instagram-worthy biscuit sandwiches, Holler & Dash will feature an assortment of bowls, salads and other Southern specialities. The Scoop pick is their kickback chicken biscuit (pictured). Think the classic crunch of savory fried chicken with a twist from goat cheese, green onions and pepper jelly. Open 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. every day.
Let’s Meat – OPEN NOW!
The sister concept of the popular Seoul Food Meat Company allows you to cook your own meats and. They are currently opening each day at 4:30 p.m. and do not take reservations.
Bang Bang Bites – OPEN NOW!
235 West Tremont Avenue Suite 101
Photo via Facebook
If you’re a fan of Bang Bang Burgers, you’ll love their new concept that focuses on sliders. Venture out and try more of their specialty burgers side-by-side. Choose one slider, two sliders or three sliders and a side item. Open 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Mon. – Thurs., 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Fri. – Sat. and 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sun.
Comida + LittleSpoon – OPENING TUESDAY
If you’ve been experiencing LittleSpoon or Comida withdrawals, you may not have to suffer much longer. The sister restaurants are joining forces and will operate out of one space to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. They teased at an opening on their Facebook page, but be sure to confirm hours.
Le Cochon d’Or – OPEN NOW
The new cozy French bistro in Waxhaw is featuring a special opening menu (pictured), and will be serving Sunday brunch beginning March 18. View the brunch menu here.
Davidson Ice House – OPENING SOON
416 South Main St.,Davidson
A new “fine casual” concept down the street from Kindred will features bowls, wraps, soups and salads, and will be “flexitarian” with a menu which will be 80 percent vegetarian and 70 percent vegan, while also including meats that are humanely and ethically raised. Expects to open this week.
Tandur Indian Kitchen – OPENING APRIL 2
Fast-casual Indian is coming soon to SouthPark. Tandur Indian Kitchen expects to start serving saucy entrees, biryani bowls and bold Indian flavors the last week of March.
Haymaker – OPENING SOON
From William Dissen, chef and owner of The Market Place in Asheville, Haymaker is set to open within the next few days in the Ascent Uptown Charlotte. The restaurant will be located at 225 S Poplar Street. Hours will be 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday- Sunday.
Famous Toastery – OPENING SOON!
Help welcome Famous Toastery to Uptown at their soft opening March 24 and 25, when 100% of sales will be donated to Classroom Central. They will celebrate their official grand opening on March 26.
Fin & Fino – OPENING SOON
A self-described “social seafood house” will be coming soon to Uptown. The new concept, developed by the owners of Dresslers Restaurant, will feature fresh oysters and cocktails at 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts. Fin & Fino anticipates an April opening.
Kre8 Gastropub – OPEN MARCH 24
Wooden Robot Brewery will soon expand to include Kre8 Gastropub. The menu created by Chef Rob Masone will include locally-sourced charcuterie and cheese boards, tacos, enrolls, lobster gnocchi and more. Follow along on Instagram.
