While you’ve been out enjoying some well-deserved fun in the sun, Charlotte’s culinary scene hasn’t been taking any days off. From new menus, openings and foodie events, here’s the summer news you need to know:
NEW & OPENING SOON
Noble Smoke – Open Now!
Restaurateur Jim Noble’s fifth operating restaurant, Noble Smoke, is the culmination of a 25-year vision and passion for barbecue. Expect both Carolina-style pork and Texas-style brisket alongside seasonal vegetables and Southern side dishes. Find them at at 2216 Freedom Dr.
Pinhouse – Open now!
This two-story, Great Gatsby-esque taproom with 72 self-serve taps and Duckpin Bowling will opened its doors on July 27.
Flower Child – Open July 30
via Facebook
A much anticipated addition to South End, Flower Child will open on July 30. Expect bowls, greens, wraps and more made from farm-fresh ingredients. View the full menu here. Find them at 1537 Camden Rd.
Optimist Hall – Select vendors open August 1
via Facebook
Optimist Hall’s first food and beverage tenants will open August 1. Those retailers include Bao and Broth, Zukku Shushi, Honeysuckle Gelato, Undercurrent Coffee and Spindle Bar. More openings are expected in the coming weeks.
Eight and Sand Kitchen – Opening soon!
via Facebook
A new addition along the light rail, South End’s Eight and Sand Kitchen will serve as a chic cafe, eatery and bar from the minds of Inizio Pizza owner Grant Arons and Not Just Coffee owners Miracle and James Yoder. Eight and Sand Kitchen is expected to open this month at 135 New Bern St.
Sabor Latin Street Grill, Mooresville – Opening this month
The popular, locally-owned eatery known for its tacos, yuca fries and salsa bar will open a Mooresville location, the concept’s 13th restaurant, this month at 279 Williamson Rd., Suite G.
Tiff’s Treats – Opening August 24
Tiff’s Treats, a bakery focusing on baked-to-order cookies, will celebrate its grand opening in Waverly on August 24 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Meet special guests Andy Roddick & Brooklyn Decker from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. The day benefits Mecklenburg County Special Olympics.
Duckworth’s closes one location, opens another
Duckworth’s on Park Road closed its doors in July. The location served as the brand’s “test kitchen”. Duckworth’s new location in Rea Farms opened at 9805-D Sandy Rock Place around the same timeframe.
Other closures
Uptown’s Loft & Cellar closed its doors over the weekend. The restaurant was located at the intersection of 4th and Poplar Streets.
FOODIE EVENTS
Tillamook Presents: Lakeside in North Carolina with Hello, Sailor
August 5 | 6 – 9 p.m.
Oregon-based dairy co-op Tillamook is heading to the east coast as part of its inaugural Melty Fest Tour, where the brand is sharing its products through a series of curated regional events. Tillamook is teaming up with Hello, Sailor for a culinary celebration featuring chefs from all over the state:
- Joe Kindred (Hello, Sailor; Kindred, Davidson)
- Craig Diehl (Hello, Sailor, Cornelius)
- John Fleer (Rhubarb, Asheville)
- Elliot Moss (Buxton Hall, Asheville)
- Matt Kelly (Saint James Seafood, Durham)
Tickets include food from the chefs, Tillamook ice cream, an open bar and gratuity. Proceeds will be donated to Southern Foodways Alliance.
August Oyster Session
August 5 | Sea Level NC | 7 p.m.
Sea Level’s Oyster Sessions are back this month, with a night of Carolina-sourced oysters, drink pairings and southern small bites. $50 per person. Call 704.412.2616 to reserve.
Mama Presents: Here Today, Gone Tomato
August 8 | Mama Ricotta’s Restaurant | 6:30 p.m.
Chefs Tom and Paul go off the menu as they create a menu celebrating summer’s favorite fruit, the tomato. Each course will be paired with an Italian wine by Vinnie Delillo, Mama Ricotta’s managing somm. $50 per guest.
WFAEats: A Food Tasting Event
August 8 | Charlotte Museum of History | 6 – 8 p.m.
At “WFAEats”, restaurants, caterers and food purveyors will serve samples of their best dish or beverage in one bite or one sip samples before guests vote for their favorites. Proceeds will benefit WFAE’s award-winning local news and “Charlotte Talks.” See all food and drink participants here.
Sour Grapes Wine Dinner
August 10 | Not Just Coffee – Dilworth | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Enjoy a five-course menu prepared by Not Just Coffee and five wine pairings (two white, two red and one rose). $50 per person.
Cheese & Wine Pairing Class
August 14 and 28 | Orrman’s Cheese Shop | 6 p.m.
Josh of the Assorted Table and Rachel from Orrman’s Cheese Shop lead a tasting of cheeses and wines from around the world. Tickets are $25, plus you will also receive 10% off any cheese purchases the night of the event.
Community Feast: A Charlotte Collaboration
August 18 | Camp North End | 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy a meal crafted by well-known Charlotte chefs including Jamie Lynch, Whitney Thomas, Clarke Barlowe, Bruce Moffett, Chris Coleman, Jim Noble and more. The meal will feature three proteins, three starches, four vegetable sides, three breads and three dessert options. Tickets are available on a sliding scale starting at $20. All proceeds from the event will benefit Heal Charlotte, which is working to serve the community, to build trust and legitimate bonds between citizens, police and elected officials.
Vueve Cliquot Wine Dinner
August 22 | Ruth’s Chris Steak House Charlotte SouthPark | 6:30 p.m.
Ruth’s Chris next TasteMaker Dinner is a champagne pairing that features five courses inspired by Veuve Clicquot’s French heritage. The menu features dishes like Lobster Agnolotti, Filet Mignon & Buttered Crab Cake and a traditional Apple Tarte Tatin for dessert.
Cooking Class with Chef Gene
August 24 | Legion Brewing SouthPark | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Chef Gene Briggs’ next cooking class features a curated tomato themed menu that includes items such as Green Fried Tomatoes with pickled shrimp and remoulade, Heirloom tomato and watermelon salad with feta cheese and dukkah, Pork Milanese with Tomatoes, Pomegranate Molasses and Arugula and Eve’s Dark Chocolate Tomato Cupcakes. $60 per person, which includes food and beer tastings, recipes to take home and 20% gratuity.
Barbecue 201
August 24 | Midwood Smokehouse Park Road | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Executive Pit Master Matthew Barry will share decades of barbecue secrets, from how to smoke the perfect game-day wings to how to prepare other tailgating favorites. $25 per person.
Charlotte Tacos & Margs Crawl
August 24 | Uptown Charlotte | 2 – 9 P.M.
The Tacos & Margs Crawl is back, taking over 10 of Uptown Charlotte’s best bars for a taco and tequila-inspired bar crawl featuring Whiskey River, Vida Vida, World of Beer and more.
Fahrenheit Charlotte Summer Dinner Series Presents: Locations
August 28 | Fahrenheit-Charlotte | 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Join Fahrenheit for the next installment of their summer dinner series. This dinner’s theme is “locations,” where guests will be able to experience tastes and sips from around the world. Early bird tickets (available through August 12) are $75, while general admission is $100.
MENU UPDATES
Uptown’s Aria updates menu with new summer options
Aria Tuscan Grill and Chef Alex Piatt recently unveiled several summer additions and menu updates. Here’s a break down of what to expect:
Tomato dishes for summer: Heirloom Tomato Soup served with Pecorino Crostini ($7); and a hand-tossed, wood-fired Heirloom Tomato Bianco Pizza with mozzarella, watercress salad, and aged balsamic ($12).
New pasta options: Handmade Whipped Burrata Ravioli with roasted pattypan squash and preserved lemon ($18) and House-Made Sweet Basil Pappardelle with Bolognese, local Uno Alla Volta fresh ricotta, pine nuts, and lemon zest ($17).
Seasonal seafood: Preparations include Roasted N.C. Trout with summer succotash and tomato brodo ($19); Faroe Island Salmon alla Plancha with house-made beet triangoli pasta and poppy seed butter ($25); and Pan-Roasted Nantucket Scallops with roasted corn risotto and Genovese basil pesto ($30).
From the field: Other entrée additions include a Grilled 12 oz. Meyer Company Ranch N.Y. Strip, featuring vegetarian-fed, hormone- and antibiotic-free Montana beef with fresh watercress salad, shaved Grana Padano, and aged balsamic ($32); and a Braised Beef Short Rib with house-made corn agnolotti pasta, roasted corn, and spinach ($32).
Sweet tooth: New desserts include Nonna’s Torta with lemon pastry cream, pine nuts, almonds, and fresh blueberry sauce ($8); and Pistachio Cassata (ricotta cake) served with Gnam chocolate gelato made in the Triad ($8).
Here for lunch? New to the lunch menu is an Eggplant Parm panini with mozzarella, Kalamata olives, peppadew peppers, arugula and basil aioli on Nova’s ciabatta ($10); and Pan-Seared Salmon with broccoli rabe, whipped potatoes, and olive oil-cured tomatoes ($13).
Bar Marcel names new Executive Chef
Former Aix en Provence chef Nicholas Tarnate has taken helm of the kitchen at Bar Marcel, SouthPark’s newest Italian spot with French and Spanish influences.
A cook since childhood, Tarnate speaks about his plans for the menu at Bar Marcel:
“I’ll continue Bar Marcel’s focus on the roots of italian cuisine, with attention paid to the Umbria, Emilia Romagna, Sicily and Piedmont regions,” Tarnate says. “I’ll also concentrate on French cuisine while introducing influences from Morocco, Tunisia and Spain.”
WP Kitchen + Bar now serving brunch every Sunday
via Facebook
WP Kitchen + Bar has recently started serving Sunday brunch starting at 11 a.m. Don’t miss the carbonara pizza. Other menu favorites:
- Shakshuka with lamb sausage, spiced tomato sauce, caramelized onions, cilantro, feta and pita
- Korean Chicken & Waffles with crispy chicken, charred scallions and maple syrup
- French Omelet with fine herbs, boursin, hollandaise and petite greens
- Steak + Eggs with asparagus, patatas bravas and a sunny side up egg
- Potato & Egg Pizza with garlic cream, potatoes, bacon, parmesan, egg and calabrian chili oil
- Prosciutto Sandwich with stracciatella cheese, truffle-garlic aioli, tomatoes, peppers, watercress and a fried egg
Make reservations online here.
