These restaurants and breweries are on their way to Charlotte in 2022
Charlotte is never stagnant. And that includes the Queen City’s restaurant scene, with dozens of restaurants closing and new ones opening every year.
Sometimes, that means saying goodbye to an old friend — like Crepe Cellar — to make way for something fresh and exciting — like Ever Andalo. Or welcoming a new location of a familiar spot, like Amelie’s or Uptown Yolk. While change is hard, it’s good, too. Change means growth and new experiences, which is exactly what we’re seeking out in a new restaurant.
Here are some of the Charlotte restaurants planning to open in 2022 that we’re most looking forward to:
Amelie’s
Location: 136 E. 36th St., Charlotte, NC 28206
Neighborhood: NoDa
Amelie’s is moving its flagship bakery and cafe from its original home in Charlotte’s Villa Heights to just a little over a mile away in the NoDa neighborhood Before COVID-19, the French bakery known for its funky decor had announced plans to move to the new NoDa location. That change was put on pause as the pandemic arrived, but now, it’s back on.
Benny Ferrovia’s
Location: 340 W. Tremont Ave., Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Benny’s, known for its 28-inch Virginia-style pizzas with slices bigger than your head, has expanded. We already have Benny Pennello’s in NoDa, and on Feb. 10, Benny Ferrovia’s opened near Common Market and Bang Bang Burgers, Pins Mechanical, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit and Small Bar South End. Benny’s was named one of the best places to get a slice of pizza in 2020 by CharlotteFive.
Biblio
Location: 700 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Biblio will be a traditional tapas restaurant with a wine list 500 deep, focusing mainly on Spanish and French varietals. Customers will purchase a bottle, then wait while the kitchen pairs custom curated food to go with the wine selection.
Broken Promises
Location: West Tremont Ave.
Neighborhood: South End
Lost & Found owner Orlando Botero told Axios Charlotte that Broken Promises, without a dance floor, will be different from Lost & Found in several ways. Check out their coverage to see how Botero envisions us all utilizing the new cocktail bar when it opens in South End.
Burial Beer Co.
Location: 1214 and 1216 Thomas Ave., Charlotte NC
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
When Burial Beer’s taproom opens in the space that formerly held Boris + Natasha and the Stash Pad, there will be a 3,000-square-foot beer garden. It will feature a covered deck, heated patio and an outdoor kitchen similar to the one at Burial’s Asheville brewery.
Church and Union Charlotte
Location: 127 N Tryon St Suite 8, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Uptown
Following the lead from its Church and Union restaurant in Nashville, 5th Street Group closed 5Church on Dec. 31 and reopened Jan. 1 as Church and Union with a new menu and a new look.
Cinder
Location: TBA
Neighborhood: North Charlotte
Chef Duke Kroger plans for a new kind of farm-to-table Charlotte steakhouse in 2022, where you an get a locally sourced dry-aged steak or a game meat such as elk or emu. The menu will focus on live-fire cooking over an open hearth with the help of an indoor smoker.
Condado Tacos
Location: 1515 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
The build-your-own and specialty tacos chain based in Ohio is expected to open a South End location in May. Its best seller is the Lucy’s Fire, with a signature Firecracker shell, roasted chicken, lettuce, cilantro, onions, Middlefield smoked cheddar, corn salsa and cilantro-lime aioli.
The Crust
Location: 2107 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Location: 1600 Woodlawn Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: Montford
This Florida-based chain calls its thin crust pizza “Midwest style,” even though there is not actually a crust around the edges. Two locations of the pizzeria are on the way to Charlotte: a takeout-only spot in the former Mr. K’s space and a larger one in the former Libretto’s space, the Charlotte Business Journal reported.
Cuzzo’s Cuisine
Location: 9601 N. Tryon St., Suite F, Charlotte, NC 28262 (opening soon)
Neighborhood: University City
With a location off of North Tryon Street and across from the UNC Charlotte campus, co-owner and chef Andarrio Johnson said he is excited to bring Cuzzo’s second location to a well-trafficked area. Look for a familiar lineup of wings, oysters, fish and more, along with the restaurant’s signature lobster mac and cheese.
La Capital
Location: 1910 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
La Capital will offer upscale Mexican dining, plus sipping-style tequilas in the former Luciano’s space in South End.
Ever Andalo
Location: 3116 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
Ever Andalo will serve homemade Italian food and wine in what is now the Crepe Cellar space. Changes to the decor and branding will also make way for a new menu, although a few old favorites will stick around, including the burrata.
Gordon Ramsay Food Market
Location: 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719
Neighborhood: Cherokee
The Gordon Ramsay Food Market at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort will open soon, with full-service dining at breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night, along with market-style elements with seven different concepts.
Harry’s Grille & Tavern
Location: 8426 Park Road Suite 9, Charlotte, NC 28210 (opening February 2022)
Neighborhood: Quail Corners
The new location of the American gastropub that started out in Steele Creek is scheduled to open Feb. 16, serving salads, sandwiches and entrees including meatloaf and blackened salmon tacos. There’s plans for growth outside of Charlotte in the near future, too.
LuLu’s Plaza Midwood
Location: 2308 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
LuLu’s Maryland Style Chicken and Seafood was a smash hit —with car lines wrapping around the building — when it opened at 2400 Tuckaseegee Road. Plans called for the Plaza Midwood location to open in 2021, but construction delays have hit the project. Stay tuned.
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Maiz, Agua, Sal
Location: Lower Tuck, 1018 Jay St. Charlotte NC 28208
Neighborhood: Seversville/Wesley Heights
In summer 2022, a new Mexican tortilleria from the team behind Craft Growler Shop and Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails is coming to the Lower Tuck adaptive reuse development. MAS will serve freshly pressed tortillas for its tacos, along with huevos rancheros and more. Drinks will include aguas frescas and hand crafted agave-based cocktails.
Milkbread
Location: 1431 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Location: 624 Jetton St., Davidson, NC 28036
Neighborhood: Davidson
James Beard-nominated chef Joe Kindred and his wife, Katy, of Kindred and Hello, Sailor, opened milkbread in Davidson. A Charlotte location will open in summer 2022in Plaza Midwood, where the iconic walk-up Dairy Queen once operated.
PARA
Location: 235 W Tremont Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
PARA is now open, with creative cocktails and globally influenced small plates from executive chef Alex Verica. The menu includes family-style dishes that highlight local farms, and the cocktail program was developed by Yashira “Yoshi” Mejia.
Peninsula Prime Seafood & Steakhouse
Location: 19918 N Cove Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031
Neighborhood: Lake Norman
Cambridge Hospitality Group purchased Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails with plans to make renovations and reopen in March as Peninsula Prime Seafood & Steakhouse. Renovation plans for the modern Southern steakhouse call for a new look that will compliment an entertainment-focused atmosphere.
Saucy Brew Works
Location: 501 E. Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Second Ward/Uptown
Saucy Brew Works plans to break ground in January and open the brewery toward the end of 2022 or early 2023. With a combination of a seven-room Airbnb, brewery, a full kitchen and programming, the brewery hopes to become a destination for bachelor parties, business dinners and weddings.
Southern Strain Brewing
Location: 1800 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
A 2,500 square-foot taproom will occupy one third of the first floor of the building next to the Harris Teeter parking lot and will have a similar look and feel to the Concord location. In addition to the same blue glass backsplash and concrete block bar, the taproom will also feature artwork from local artists at the Southern Tiger Collective.
Uptown Yolk
Location: 1220 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 20203
Neighborhood: South End
Subrina and Greg Collier’s breakfast and brunch restaurant known for its chicken and waffles, grits and Tennessee fries had been temporarily closed at 7th Street Market since early 2021. Now, the spot with a James Beard-nominated chef behind the wheel is headed in spring 2022 to The Vantage South End, Lending Tree’s new headquarters, which will also include a second location of The Good Wurst Co. delicatessen and the Dram & Draught whiskey and cocktail bar.
VANA LKN
Location: 20823 N Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031
Neighborhood: Lake Norman
VANA LKN will open in 2022 on Main Street in Cornelius, in the former Lean Music space at Heritage Plaza. It will have the wood-fired cuisine you’ve come to know at the original location, plus an outdoor bar and patio.
Weathered Souls Brewing Company
Location: 255 Clanton Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: South End
The second location of the San Antonio-based brewery known for starting the Black is Beautiful beer initiative will be moving in next door to Red Clay Ciderworks on Clanton Road. It’s targeting a late spring 2022 opening date.
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 6:00 AM.