Mac's closes in Matthews, Michelin Bib chef debuts, the magic of Eddie’s Place

Hey, Charlotte foodies — if your inbox isn’t already stocked with the CharlotteFive newsletter, you’re missing the goods.

💌 Here’s a taste of what landed in today’s edition, from a beloved barbecue spot closing after nearly a decade to a Michelin Bib Gourmand chef that’s part of a new upscale Indian restaurant in South End.

🧇 Brunch with the ‘movers and shakers’ for $25

If you’ve ever wondered where Charlotte’s so-called power players gather over chicken and waffles, Evan Moore went to find out. He tucked into a booth at Eddie’s Place, the Cajun-inspired Cotswold eatery that’s been slinging New Orleans-style comfort food for nearly three decades, and walked away full for $25.

The menu sprawls across all-day breakfast, po’ boys, muffulettas, she-crab soup, shrimp and grits and Cajun pasta, with most entrées landing in the $13-$20 range.

📍 617 S. Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte

📰 Read Evan Moore’s full review on CharlotteFive.

🍖 Mac’s Speed Shop closes its Matthews spot

Sad news for the pulled pork faithful in Matthews: Mac’s Speed Shop has shuttered its Matthews location after nearly a decade. The Charlotte-based barbecue and craft beer joint had operated at 142 E. John Street since 2017 but couldn’t reach an agreement with the landlord, the Charlotte Business Journal first reported.

“We love Matthews and would consider another location if the right opportunity was available,” co-owner Wynn Davis told CBJ.

📍 Former Matthews location: 142 E. John St., Matthews

📰 Get Tanasia Kenney’s full story on CharlotteFive.

🍴 A Michelin Bib chef brings upscale Indian to South End

Now for the opening foodies are going to want to circle on the calendar. Zamindar’s Club House had its soft opening Saturday, June 6, in the former Link & Pin space in South End, with a grand opening planned for the weekend of June 27.

Leading the kitchen is Michelin Bib Gourmand chef Vamshi Adi, who opened Gazab near New York City’s East Village in 2021, followed by Ishq in 2024.

📍 155 New Bern St., Charlotte

📰 Read Tanasia’s full Zamindar’s preview on CharlotteFive.

🐔 The Chicken Store is back — here’s what changed

If you walked into the Shell station at East Boulevard and South Boulevard recently and wondered where the fried chicken counter went, you weren’t alone. The Chicken Store — the gas station chicken spot that has been praised by both CharlotteFive and Southern Living — paused operations for a rebrand and is back.

The recipe? Untouched.

📍 Inside the Shell at 201 E. Blvd., Charlotte

📰 Get the full Chicken Store comeback story from Evan.

🍕 A pizza-and-beer pick from the newsletter

CharlotteFive editor Melissa Oyler had a “happy news of the day” tip worth passing along to anyone hunting weeknight pizza: NoDa Brewing makes some of the best she’s had. Her go-to is a “build your own” with garlic, basil and red onion. File that one away.

🤿 Looking for somewhere to eat — and then jump in a lake?

If you’re planning a summer Saturday around food and water, CharlotteFive also published a guide to lakes, beaches, fishing spots and swimming holes near Charlotte.

Pair Lake Norman State Park (17 miles of shoreline on the largest manmade lake in North Carolina) with a meal nearby, or plan a swim in the natural quarry at Carrigan Farms in Mooresville, where open swim runs June through September and a snack stand serves burgers, pizza and ice cream.

📰 Read the full water guide from Alexandra, Heidi and Melissa.

💌 Want this kind of stuff in your inbox?

This is just a sampler of what CharlotteFive’s free daily newsletter delivers — restaurant openings and closings, hidden gems, the city’s food scene, things to do and Charlotte happenings. Sign up for the free CharlotteFive newsletter here to get it daily.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM.