Get your appetites ready! There is plenty of foodie news and must-try menus to round out your May. Where you’ll find us dining:
NEW & NOTEWORTHY
Open now: The Stanley in Elizabeth
The much-anticipated opening of this farm-driven restaurant owned and operated by James Beard Nominated Chef Paul Verica and his son Alex is now open. Expect seasonal, market-driven menus, a local and regional beer menu, food-friendly wines and creative cocktail features.
Open now: 131 Main SouthPark
131 Main continues their tradition of providing fresh and hickory wood-fire grill options in their new SouthPark location. Don’t miss half price wine on Tuesdays and the Top Chop salad ($18) with chopped grilled chicken, kale, quinoa, goat cheese, cucumbers, marinated tomatoes,almonds, Craisins, artichoke hearts, avocado, corn salsa and herb vinaigrette. Find them at 5970 Fairview Road.
Undercurrent Coffee‘s Cafe and Educational Lab Coming Soon to Plaza Midwood
Founder and Owner Todd Huber will open Undercurrent Coffee, a cafe and educational lab, in Plaza Midwood. Expect options featuring local and regional coffee partners and cold brews on tap as part of the beverage program developed by Director of Operations Diana Mnatsakanyan-Sapp. Undercurrent will also serve pastries, breakfast bowls, toasts and salads for breakfast and lunch, sourcing seasonal ingredients from local farms and purveyors. Find them soon at 2012 Commonwealth Avenue.
Opening soon: Bardo Restaurant
Bardo, the newest restaurant to enter South End’s growing Gold District, is set to open Friday, May 25. Expect savory and sweet plates from executive chef Michael Noll and a cocktail program from mixologist Amanda Britton.
Opening soon: Superica in South End
via Facebook
The Atlanta-based Tex-Mex destination will open it’s first Charlotte-area location in South End this week. Ready your appetites for flour tortillas made in-house, wood-grilled fajitas, tacos and enchiladas. Find them at 101 W. Worthington Avenue.
New Menus & Cocktails around Town
Happenings and new menus at Upstream
It’s the perfect time to discover (or rediscover) the seafood and sushi offerings at Upstream from Executive Chef/Partner Gene Kato and Proprietor Tripp Cagle. The restaurant’s new lunch, brunch and dinner menus feature new bar bites and Asian-inspired fare. Try “The Rock”, a perfectly sliced New York Strip with a soy ginger marinade that you cook tableside on a hot rock.
Make plans to visit during the following weekly events:
Monday: $1.00 East Coast Oysters on the half shell all day. Pair it with a $5 glass of sparkling wine for a great start to the week.
Tuesday: Drink local and enjoy special pricing on North Carolina’s best craft beers.
Wednesday: Half price house sangria, red or white.
Angeline’s and Merchant & Trade team up for No Kid Hungry:
Order Angeline’s Whole Roasted Branzino or Merchant and Trade’s Beet It cocktail to support No Kid Hungry. $1 from each dish or cocktail ordered through June will benefit the organization.
Sip on Merchant & Trade‘s new cocktails
Head to the 19th floor to sip Merchant & Trade’s new cocktails from the rooftop. Additions include the Peach Persuasion ($16), Rainy Day Susan ($15) and Blackbeard’s Grog ($13).
New Menu at Corkbuzz Charlotte
In the latest update of their local and seasonally-driven menu, Corkbuzz Charlotte introduces new favorites including their mozzarella salad (confit cherry tomato, local honey, focaccia, pancetta vinaigrette), risotto carbonara (smoked bacon, spring peas, thyme, parmigiana, pea shoots) and brioche doughnut bites (sweet ricotta, dark chocolate ganache).
New brunch menu items at Vivace
Vivace has introduced a new brunch menu just in time for mimosas and Bloody Mary’s on the patio. Popular menu items include grilled salmon with mediterranean cucumber salad and pink peppercorn vinaigrette (Scoop personal favorite!), shrimp and “grits” with parmesan polenta, prosciutto, roasted tomato, basil and parmigiano reggiano, Sicilian quiche with spinach, Italian sausage, caramelized onion, goat cheese and onion fonduta and a crispy chicken and biscuit with with italian sausage gravy, rosemary biscuit, poached egg and scallions.
FOODIE EVENTS
Bourbon & Bacon Tasting
May 23 | 7-9 p.m. | Corkscrew on 5th
Pair two favorite flavors in this Uptown tasting at Corkscrew on 5th. $30 includes a flight of four bourbons and handcrafted bacon. Reserve your spot by emailing tim@thescrewcrew.com.
Big View Diner Ice Cream Class
Thursday, May 24 | Big View Diner | 6:30 p.m.
Beat the heat by learning how to make cold treats with the pros at Big View Diner. The class will learn to make strawberry shortcake ice cream bars, a traditional chocolate ice cream sandwich and orange creamsicle push pops. $45 per person, dinner is included.
Group Red Wine Profile
May 25 | 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Corkbuzz Charlotte
France produces some of the best red wines in the world, isn’t it time you got acquainted? Your crew can learn, taste and discover new favorites with the guidance of a sommelier. $42 per person.
The Prisoner Wine Company Tasting
May 25 | 5:30 – 7:30 | Reid’s SouthPark
Celebrate National Wine Day (!!) by tasting the full line of unexpected, artful wines from The Prisoner Wine Company with the Reid’s SouthPark team.
Lobster & Beer Summer Fun Fest
May 26 | Noon – 10 p.m. | Sycamore Brewing
In the ultimate nod to summer, Sycamore will host an all-day festival featuring beer, a full live music line-up and special lobster features from the area’s favorite food trucks. Visit Cousins Maine Lobster, Baltimore Crab Cake Company, Gyro Twins Truck, Papi Queso Food Truck, Cuzzo’s Cuisine Food Truck, Carolina Seafood and more while sipping on beer and Sycamore’s own cider.
Fire Up Your Engines Watch Party
May 27 | 6 p.m. | Draught Charlotte
Catch the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Draught Charlotte while dining from their dinner menu.
