We have a new swath of culinary news! Read on for the latest openings, news and events for April 2023.
FEATURED EVENTS:
Charlotte Wine + Food Week
Presented by Truist returns this April for its 35th year of fundraising with a wine and food event for every taste, all for a good cause. While there are daily events from 4/18 through 4/23 (deets here) the mac daddy of these is the GRAND TASTING, where you’ll find a selection of over 100 wines to try, tastings from many local restaurants & eateries, live music and more.
Charlotte StrEATs Tasting Tour
This ticketed tasting event ~ part of Charlotte SHOUT! features over 20 restaurants representing iconic Charlotte neighborhoods will serve a dish that represents their neighborhood. Guests can visit each tasting tent, enjoy craft cocktails, and enjoy live music while taking in intimate demonstrations from our stage.
NEW & OPENING SOON
Hestia, Open now in Ballantyne
You can now make reservations and visit the new hotspot in Ballantyne with panoramic views and modern Asian fare. Find Hestia at 14819 Ballantyne Village Way.
Benny DaCorsa’s – Open now in Concord
A new Benny’s pizzeria has opened in Concord, with the larger-than-life slices you’ve come to know and love at other locations across Virginia and Charlotte. “DaCorsa’s” means racing in Italian, a nod to the iconic Concord Speedway. Find them at 30 Church St S.
SWIRL CLT – Open now in LoSo
Made-to-order cupcakes, fresh baked cookies, and customizable ice cream are now available at the shop’s second location in South End. Find them at 2822 South Blvd Unit B.
Sugar Lounge – Open now in Uptown
The newest spot for non-alcoholic cocktails, coffee and CBD is now serving in Uptown.Sugar Lounge is also available as a rentable venue during the day. They’re open from 9am-2pm and then again from midnight to 4am. Find them at 231 N. Caldwell St.
Tutti Gelato – Open now for soft opening in South End
Fans of artisan gelato will love the sweet flavors family-owned Tutti Gelato will bring to the former Central Coffee spot in South End. They’re now open with soft opening hours. Find them at 1700 Camden Road.
JINYA RAMEN opened a 2nd QC location this week in SouthPark on Barclay Downs. Lines out the door.
Rhino Market & Deli – Opening April 17 in SouthPark. Cannot wait – huge scoop fam fave.
The go-to for sandwiches, market items, beer and wine is expanding into the SouthPark neighborhood. They’ll open April 17 near Legion Brewing at 4300 Congress Street.
CLOSINGS
Fuel South End closed after more than 20 years.
BARDO has closed, at least temporarily, while the owner evaluates its tasting menu concept going forward. Word is they will either open as a new restaurant or move Bardo to a different location. The group also owns VANA, the super popular South End spot soon to open another Vana in LKN.
NEWS TO NOTE
Looking for Easter Ideas? Sweets, Treats & Brunch HERE.
COUNTER- Chef Sam Hart is a James Beard Finalist for Best Chef in the Southeast. Winners will be announced this June.
Chef David Burke and Port City Club‘s Nick Lyssikatos Team Up
Restaurateur Nick Lyssikatos, owner of Port City Club, and David Burke Hospitality Management (DBHM), the restaurant management and consulting company, announced a multi-year agreement for chef David Burke to take over operations, rebranding it Port City Club by David Burke. The menu has already incorporated some of Burke’s touches, including Lobster Dumplings with tomato miso sauce and basil oil; and black pepper maple glazed Clothesline Bacon. For those craving something sweet, the dessert menu will feature a treat that Burke is credited with creating – the illustrious cake pop.
The changes will extend beyond the menu and include an interior design refresh, the addition of a dockside “Grab ‘N Go” area for expedited quick snacks, and the outdoor patio’s renovation. All of which will expand Port City Club by David Burke’s ability to host private events, ranging from intimate dinners to large receptions.
The Alley, coming later this year
This year, Latta Arcade will become The Alley, a new destination for “elevated street eats” in Uptown Charlotte, featuring new concepts and locations from The Dumpling Lady, Felix Empanadas, Wentworth & Fenn bakery, and much more. Renderings courtesy Southwick Architecture + Interiors.
Your Farms Your Table Meal Delivery Relaunches April 5
Your Farms Your Table, the farm-to-table meal delivery service executive chef/owner Sam Diminich started in March 2020, paused operations on March 25 and will relaunch April 5 as Constance @ Home. Takeout orders will also be available during regular restaurant hours.
The reformatted, pre-order meal delivery service will now offer a menu that mirrors that of Restaurant Constance. Constance @ Home delivery will be available Wednesday-Saturday each week. Same-day orders must be placed before 1 p.m., and pickup/delivery begins at 4:30 p.m. Takeout orders placed online after 5 p.m. will be pickup only at the restaurant, Tuesday-Saturday.
401 Social rebrands to welcome visitors and locals alike
401 Social, a modern bar and lounge, has been refreshed and rebranded to host business and leisure travelers, as well as locals. The modern and sleek 5,500-square-foot space is located in the heart of Charlotte’s Second Ward at East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and South Caldwell Street, is the perfect spot to meet up after work, enjoy a fun night out or to grab a quick bite or pre- or post-event cocktail and features live music Fridays 7 – 10 pm.
FOODIE EVENTS
Charlotte Wine & Food Week
April 18 – 23 | Various event locations
Join Charlotte Wine + Food Week presented by Truist this Spring for their 35ᵗʰ year of fundraising. Attendees of this cherished Charlotte cultural institution will not just be imbibing the world’s finest wines, savoring the creations of the area’s top chefs, hobnobbing with renowned vintners and somms, adding to their wine knowledge, and bidding on fantastic one-of-a-kind items, they will also be helping Charlotte-area children. This year’s event schedule includes:
- Restaurant vintner dinners
- Collectors Gala & Live Auction
- Signature walk-around Grand Tasting on Saturday night featuring 100+ carefully selected wines, tastings from Charlotte-area restaurants, and live music
- Sunday Bubble Brunch
- Buenas Noches: A Celebration of Spanish Food & Wine
Proceeds for 2023 benefit four local children’s charities; A Child’s Place – a program of Thompson Child & Family Focus, Augustine Literacy Project, GenOne, and The Learning Collaborative.
Fin’s Fantastic Five Year Oyster & Weenie Roast
April 15 | 1-3 pm
The team at Fin & Fino will celebrate 5 years with a day filled with roasting oysters, grilling weenies up sides galore!
Proceeds will benefit North Meck Animal Rescue! NMAR will-site at the event with puppies ready to go to safe, loving foster homes! Tickets are $30 each (tax and gratuity included). Entry and food included with ticket purchase. Cocktails, beer, and wine will be available for purchase at the event.
Charlotte StrEATs Festival
April 15 and 16 | Gateway Village
On Saturday, a tasting tour ticket will include samples from more than 20 of the city’s best restaurants, craft cocktails by local bartenders, live entertainment, and more! Tickets are all-inclusive. At Sunday’s free event, attendees can celebrate the city’s culinary scene with vendors, a celebrity chef (to be announced soon!), cooking demonstrations, food trucks, cocktail tastings (with purchase of a wristband), live music, art, and more.We will also host our Neighborhood Cook-off, that will pit chefs head-to-head in a cook-off to win the title of StrEATs Neighborhood Champion.
ROSE FEST at Petit Phillipe
April 21 and 22 | Petit Phillipe MYERS PARK location
Earth Day Celebration at Urban Sweets
April 22
Come have ice cream in the best earth friendly container – waffle cones and get a free plant while supplies last! Cones are $4 for small and $7 for regular.
Kings & Queens Dinner Series
Various dates throughout summer | Bayhaven Restaurant Group Concepts
The husband-wife team of Chef Gregory “Greg” and Subrina Collier are launching Kings & Queens, a series of dinners that will celebrate the collegial culinary community and those who put the QC on the map.
Each dinner will take place at a BayHaven Restaurant Group concept, and will feature a dinner prepared by the BRG team in collaboration with guest chefs. The multi-course meals will feature optional wine or spirits pairings, and will be limited to 40 guests.
Upcoming confirmed collaborations include:
April 27: Chef Chris Coleman, Chef Marc Jacksina and Chef Greg Collier
May 2: Chef Ashley Boyd, Chef Alyssa Wilen and Chef Joleen Usher
May 23: Chef Tim Groody, Chef Luca Annunziata and Chef Brandon Staton
August 7: Chef Joe Kindred, Chef Ben Philpott and Chef Greg Collier
Additional events are expected to be added to the Kings & Queens lineup for this summer and into the fall, Greg Collier
