It’s almost time to “spring forward” and you know what that means to us? Time to venture out to explore the latest culinary trends and hottest new openings around town. Read on to discover what should be on your plate this March:
Openings & Closings
Fin & Fino, Birkdale Village – Open now!
Rare Roots Hospitality has officially opened the doors to Fin & Fino’s new location in Birkdale Village. The beloved coastal concept will mirror the flagship location in Uptown, which will celebrate its sixth anniversary this April. Guests can expect fresh seafood, high quality meats, house-made pastas and locally grown produce on a menu of small plates.
Pie.ZAA, South End – Open now!
Much like its celebrated Asheville flagship location, the Charlotte location of Pie.Zaa will offer guests huge New York style pizza sold by the pir or 14-in slices.
Prime Fish Cellar, Cotswold – Open now!
From the team behind Prime Fish comes a new gourmet market and bottle shop offering wine, Japanese sake and provisions, sashimi platters, and gourmet chocolates. Guests can also pre-order meat and fish shipped from Japan for in-store pick-up.
bartaco, Birkdale – Open now!
Welcome to Lake Norman, bartaco! A favorite for specialty tacos and upscale street food has opened its third location in North Carolina in Birkdale Village.
The Club House, Ballantyne – Open now!
Expect elevated bar food and a lively, neighborhood vibe at this new local spot that recently opened in Ballantyne.
Nusa, South Charlotte – Open now!
From the owners of Prime Fish comes Nusa, a new Indonesian restaurant recently opened in the Arboretum in South Charlotte.
YAMA LOSA opened in mid-February.
Hippin’ Hops Brewery, Uptown – Open now!
On the ground floor of Savoy Apartments in Uptown, Hippin’ Hops Brewery is a Black-owned part brewery and distillery with indoor and outdoor space.
Dank Burrito, Rock Hill – Open now!
The first Charlotte-area location of Dank Burrito is now open in Rock Hill. Founded in 2014 as a food truck in Morehead City, Dank Burrito offers scratch-made salsas, slaws, kimchi and guacamole and made in-house desserts including Crème brûlée and brownies. Menu options like pork belly, honey truffle buffalo chicken, carne asada, impossible burger cheeses take and more can be ordered as burritos, bowls or tacos.
Restaurant X is now Habibi Lebanon Bar & Grill, Davidson
The restaurant, under the same ownership, features Lebanese cuisine with a modern twist. The menu includes kebabs, vegetarian platters, and many gluten-free, dairy free and vegan options.
Opening Soon
The Yard Milkshake Bar, Elizabeth – Opening March 8
The larger-than-life milkshake bar as seen on Shark Tank is coming soon to Charlotte! In Elizabeth, guests can satisfy their sweet tooth with pre-designed menu items or build-your-own options. Don’t miss The Royal TreatMINT milkshake when it opens, a menu item exclusive to Charlotte!
The Accidental Baker, Metropolitan – Opening March 15
The excitement is growing for Matt Cabana, a former pro tennis player and corporate banker, to bring his baked goods to the Metropolitan. Guests can enjoy breads, cookies, pastries and more, many of which can be made gluten or dairy free.
Babe Cave, LoSo – Re-opening soon
Babe Cave, the Black and woman-owned destination for cocktails, chic aesthetic atmosphere and events, is expected to reopen in LoSo soon.
Grand re-opening of City Kitch’s Wesley Heights location – Coming soon
The grand re-opening of City Kitch’s Wesley Heights locations coming soon! The refreshed front of house includes a new restaurant space for popular local concept What the Fries with an open kitchen and seating. In addition to What the Fries’ new space, guests can look forward to a new hospitality lobby complete with a designated ordering area where guests can order from a number of the food and beverage concepts under the City Kitch roof at easy-to-use kiosks.
Summer news: New Spanish tapas shop coming to Optimist Hall
From the team that’s brought us Customshop comes a new Spanish tapas shop this summer. It will be inside Optimist Hall between Village Juice and Boxcar Bettys and will offer a variety of bocadillos, croquettes tortilla española, patatas bravas and more.
Closures:
- Phillips Bistro (aka Bonterra Phillips Place)
- Dreamchaser’s Brewery
- Blue Blaze Brewing
- Stroke
- Wentworth & Fenn (Latta Arcade location)
- The Beverly, formerly known as Summit Seltzer
- BLT Steak closed, to be replaced by a new Southern restaurant, The Fifth Fork
- Midnight Mulligan
News to Note
We join with the entire Charlotte community in mourning the loss of Dan Wade, a co-founder of Wooden Robot Brewery. Please consider donating to a GoFundMe campaign benefitting Dan’s family.
Spring coffee menu coming to Salted Melon on March 19
Get ready to indulge with three new items coming soon to Salted Melon’s coffee menu:
- Strawberry Fields Forever: Iced latte, white mocha sauce, milk of choice, topped with strawberry cold foam.
- Spring Glow up: Iced Matcha, milk of choice, layered with strawberry puree.
- I Can Buy Myself Lattes – Honey Lavender Latte, milk of choice, topped with dried lavender.
New Brunching is Hot:
Brunch launches at The Fox & Falcon
The Fox & Falcon by David Burke is now open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am until 2 pm. The brunch menu offers a wide range of options, including classic breakfast dishes, seafood delights, and some of Burke’s signature dishes, like Lobster Dumplings and DB Clothesline Bacon Popovers.
New brunch menu items also at Link & Pin
Plan ahead for weekend brunch at Link & Pin, where they’ve just launched new menu items.
VINYL adds brunch
On the heels of introducing Matt Moore as their new executive chef, VINYL, the music-themed bar and kitchen in South End announces the addition of brunch to their culinary offerings. Starting Saturday, March 2, the new food and cocktail brunch menus will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The overall brunch menu combines traditional breakfast fare with later-in-the-day dining options. Menu items range in price from $10 to $15 for main dishes, with sides starting at $2 and cocktails between $13 and $16.
Resident Culture Brewing Supercharges Barbecue Menu
Barbecue has found a home at Resident Culture Brewing Co., with a new menu launching today created by executive chef Edmar Simoes, which honors Carolina barbecue while incorporating global influences. The new menu will feature a butcher’s block sampler with a variety of barbecue styles. Plus, Simoes’ personal touches on the menu include:
- Brazilian cheese bread (pão de queijo): chewy bread with a cheesy center
- Smoked brisket egg rolls: smoky brisket, caramelized onions, and melted cheese, served with garlic aioli
- Espetinhos (skewers): lightly smoked top sirloin steak topped with fresh chimichurri
Steak 48 Named Top Romantic Restaurant in the U.S.
Looking for a spot for your next date night? Steak 48 has been named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in America for 2024, the only Charlotte restaurant to make the list.
Foodie Events
REIDS March Events
- Saturday Pop-up Wine/Cheese Tastings 11am-2pm at Reid’s SouthPark & Myers Park
- St. Paddy’s Day Pop-up Wine & Cheese Tasting, 11am – 2pm at Reid’s Myers Park & SouthPark
- Honig Wine Dinner Thursday, March 28th at Reid’s SouthPark 6PM
CLT Hot Sandwich Week
March 1-10 | Various locations
via Facebook
Ever wondered where the best “Nashville” Hot Chicken Sandwiches are in the Charlotte area? Elevate Lifestyle has partnered up with Stella Artois and Yellowstone Select to find some of Charlotte’s best Hot Chicken Sandwiches. Enjoy $8 Specialty Hot Chicken Sandwiches at 20+ Participating Restaurants and then vote for your favorite hot chicken sandwich for the title of the “Best Hot Chicken Sandwich”.
Burly Paired Wine Dinner
March 6 | The Fox & The Falcon
Indulge at the exclusive Burly Wine Paired Dinner on Wednesday, March 6, at 7 pm. Priced at $95 per person, the dinner promises an exquisite four-course experience complemented by meticulously selected wine pairings. Hear from Executive Chef Seth Wilson and a Burly Wine representative as they walk you through the featured wines and carefully curated menu.
Napa on Providence:
- $25 Wine Tasting on March 20th at 6 pm ~ Featuring 4 wines, 2oz. wine pours! Option to purchase wine at a discounted rate. A culinary sneak peek is provided and stay for dinner and receive 10% off your entrée bill.
- In honor of Women’s History Month, guests can round up their bill and donate to Dress for Success all month long
Napa Kingsley:
- $25 Wine Tasting on March 13th at 6 pm ~ Featuring 4 wines, 2oz. wine pours! Option to purchase wine at a discounted rate. A culinary sneak peek is provided and stay for dinner and receive 10% off your entrée bill.
- Chappellet Wine Dinner on March 27th at 6:30 pm $125pp | Five courses
Savor Charlotte
March 12-26 | Various locations
From March 12 – 26, Savor Charlotte offers the culinary community the chance to connect over special offers, exclusive menus, immersive events and more.
South Africa Wine Dinner with Mathilda Joubert
March 12 | Foxcroft Waverly
Chef Jacob Hujar has curated a distinctive four-course menu designed to complement each of the eight wines that Mathilda will present. Join us for an evening that celebrates the fusion of tradition and innovation in South African winemaking.
A Taste of Leluia Hall
March 28 – May 9 | Supperland Speakeasy
Get a preview of what’s to come when Leluia Hall opens at the next Supperland Speakeasy spirit experience, “A Taste of Leluia Hall.” The reservation-only experience — which runs March 28 through May 9 — will feature four cocktails paired with four dishes. Price is $160/person + tax and gratuity. Tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. will go live Friday, March 8 at 11:11 a.m.
Cabarrus Burger Madness
March 1-31 | Various locations
Image via Michael A. Anderson Photography
During Cabarrus Burger Madness, diners are invited to indulge in limited-time burgers at participating restaurants and cast a vote for their favorite.
