3 Charlotte restaurants announced openings this week. Here’s when & what to know
Hello, Charlotte! It’s Tanasia.
Friday has rolled around again, and I’m back with the latest on few new and familiar food spots that locals are sure to love.
Exploring global flavors should definitely be on your to-do list this weekend. For instance, cheesy birria tacos are always a vibe. If you’re looking for more Latin American cuisine, a new restaurant in uptown is serving up authentic dishes from across the region.
Slurp on slow-simmered pho, or sink your teeth into warm bao buns at Steele Creek’s newest Vietnamese noodle house. I’m more of a ramen girl myself, but it’s never too warm for a good soup, in my opinion.
Catch up quick on what’s coming to Charlotte’s food scene:
Sonrisa
Sonrisa, a new restaurant specializing in authentic Latin American cuisines, is now open at Brevard Court in uptown, though an official grand opening celebration is slated for early June.
A brand spokesperson described it this way: “As we like to say: we’re not one country, we’re a whole continent of flavor.”
Expect coastal ceviches from Ecuador, Cuban ropa vieja and Colombian arepas.
Other options include customizable lunch bowls, burritos and tacos (think: fish, steak and pork belly), plus signature mains like Peruvian chicken, shrimp colonche and vegan sofritas.
Pho Steele Creek
If you’re looking for global cuisine with Southeast Asian influences, Pho Steele Creek may be one to add to your “must try” list.
The Vietnamese noodle house officially opened May 22, joining the chain’s other restaurants in NoDa and University City. Beyond steamy bowls of pho, customers will find banh mi sandwiches (I’ll take two!), pork bao buns, vermicelli bowls, and fried spring rolls.
Tammy Pham, operational manager at Pho Steele Creek, told me the “goal is to create a welcoming neighborhood spot for both quick lunches and relaxed family meals.”
Other menu highlights include:
- Cơm Sườn Bò – Grilled beef short ribs served over steamed rice and a fried egg, accompanied by fresh vegetables and sweet fish sauce.
- Phở Chín Nạm – Rice noodle bowl with beef brisket and flank in a beef bone broth. Toppings include sliced onion, scallion, cilantro, fresh basil, bean sprouts, lime and jalapeño.
- Tam Vi – An interactive “roll your own spring rolls” experience where guests assemble fresh rolls at the table using vermicelli noodles, herbs, vegetables, beef with betel leaves, sugar cane shrimp, and Nem (grilled pork patty) wrapped in rice paper.
Red at 28th
Multicultural restaurant, bar and hookah lounge Red at 28th is inviting locals to celebrate its new spot in North Charlotte.
The bar lounge opened the doors on its new digs Thursday, May 28. Earlier this year, I reported on community reactions after owners decided to close the Dilworth location due to what they described as a lack of support.
“To everyone who held us down through every delay, every pivot, every ‘almost’ — this one is for you,” they captioned a recent Instagram post. “Red has always been built on community. Thursday is just the beginning.”
Customers can look forward to an “elevated” food menu, $25 hookah and neighborhood lounge vibes.
