The 22 new Charlotte restaurants to visit in ’22
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Winter Dining Guide
From where to go to how to dine outside in the cold, we tell you how to navigate Charlotte’s dining scene this winter.
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Charlotte foodies have had plenty to get excited about lately, with top-quality restaurants and breweries opening all over the Queen City.
The past year brought news of old favorites headed to new locations, flavors that got their start elsewhere coming to town and brand new restaurant ventures trying their luck in Charlotte. It’s been a fun challenge to try to get to all of the worthy spots that have opened their doors — and many are still on their way.
Here are 22 of the best new restaurants and breweries we recommend you make plans to try in 2022:
800° Woodfired Kitchen
Location: 6815 Phillips Place Court, Charlotte NC 28210
Neighborhood: Phillips Place
Instagram: @800degreescarolinas
Both 800° Woodfired Kitchen and its bar, BAR ONE, are worth a visit. The restaurant features scratch-made dough, fresh produce and artisan-quality meats and cheeses. It also has a clean-eating promise, which translates to careful sourcing of local and organic ingredients and cooking only with extra virgin olive oil. BAR ONE, with a separate entrance, is an exclusive spot for late-night cocktails.
Status: Now open.
Aura Rooftop
Location: 600 S. College St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Uptown
Instagram: @aurarooftop
This view is unlike any other uptown Charlotte rooftop bar. Located on the 5th floor of the new JW Marriott, you’re not so much on top of the city as you are nestled inside the skyline. Tucked inside Center City already feels intimate, but for extra coziness, visit while it’s still cold. This is when you can wrap your hands around a hot toddy and snuggle under a blanket — there’s one at every seat.
Status: Now open.
The Batch House
Location: 901 Berryhill Road, Charlotte, NC
Neighborhood: Station West Charlotte/FreeMore West
Instagram: @thebatchmaker
Cris Rojas Agurcia’s reopening made national news on Good Morning America, so you know it’s worth a stop. When you check out the Batchmaker’s new location, you’ll find the dulce de leche brownies of our dreams, along with all kinds of cakes, cheesecakes and cookies. There’s also an option to buy cookie dough to bake at home now, too.
Status: Now open.
Biblio and Counter-
Counter- current location: 2200 Thrift Road, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Biblio and Counter- future location: 2001 W Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: FreeMoreWest
Instagram: @bibliocharlotte and @counterclt
If the expansion of Counter- and the opening of Biblio isn’t enough to convince Charlotte that FreeMoreWest is the next hot spot in Charlotte — well, then we don’t know what is. Chef Sam Hart is known for his meals with stories designed to appeal to all the senses. The concept has been so successful that Hart needs a bigger home for Counter- and his new sister spot. Enter Biblio, a traditional tapas restaurant with a wine list 500 deep, focusing mainly on Spanish and French varietals. He’s hired Alex Wnorowski, who has worked at three-star Michelin restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, to lead the kitchen at Counter-.
Status: Counter- now open; Biblio opens August 2022.
Bitty & Beau’s
Location: 1930 Camden Road, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Instagram: @bittyandbeauscoffee
Bitty & Beau’s coffee shop has become known nationwide for its advocacy of the value, inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and it has received a warm welcome in Charlotte. Visit for the Bitty’s Blend coffee and pick up a muffin to pair with it.
Status: Now open.
Botiwalla
Location: Optimist Hall, 1115 N. Brevard St., Charlotte, NC 28206
Neighborhood: Optimist Park
Instagram: @Botiwalla
Botiwalla, the newest restaurant from Chai Pani and James Beard Award Semifinalist chef Meherwan Irani, is a go-to spot for Indian street food. You don’t have to make a reservation — you can just stop right in and order kale pakoras and a chicken tikka roll, or put in an order online for takeout.
Status: Now open.
Bun Appetite
Location: Toucan Louie’s, 2753 Rozzelles Ferry Road, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: Smallwood/Lakewood
Instagram: @bunappetitclt
Who doesn’t run toward the smell of made-from-scratch cinnamon buns? Bun Appetite is working on opening a space in 2022. In the meantime, you can place an order for pickup at Toucan Louie’s or find the sugar-laden creations at the Matthews Community Farmers’ Market, Uptown Farmers Market and Coco and the Director.
Status: Opens in 2022.
Burial Beer Co.
Location: 1214 and 1216 Thomas Ave., Charlotte NC
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Instagram: @burialbeer
When the Asheville-based brewery’s taproom opens, its food menu will include sandwiches and charcuterie — but the real star is the beer. Look for Burial’s popular IPAs, such as the Mythologies of Realism Double India Pale Ale, or the Riding into the Heart of Hell.
Status: Opens in 2022.
Church and Union
Location: 127 N. Tryon St., Suite 8, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Uptown
Instagram: @churchandunioncharlotte
What’s in a name, anyway? After spending years as 5Church, 5th Street Group decided to retire the name on Dec. 31 and reopen beginning Jan. 1 as Church and Union Charlotte. CU Charlotte will undergo a $1 million renovation in the spring.
Status: Now open.
Ever Andalo
Location: 3116 N. Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
Instagram: @everandalo
Few restaurants open to the fanfare that brings in the hot spots from Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel. This new opening announcement came with a twist, though — NoDa is getting a new Italian restaurant, but at the loss of neighborhood favorite Crepe Cellar. Though we’re sad to see the pesto brie fries and crepes suzette go, we know that Ever Andalo will be just as loved. Bring on the pasta!
Status: Now open. .
Gilde Brewery
Location: 3530 Dewitt Lane, Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: LoSo
Instagram: @gilde1546
Prost, y’all: Gilde’s Charlotte location is the 475-year-old brewer’s first expansion outside of Hannover, Germany. Expect to find authentic German food, including housemade sausage. And you’ll want to try one of its staple brews: Pilsner, Kellerbier, Urbock, Red Rooster, Lemon Radler or Pale Wheat. All varieties will be made according to German Purity Law, requiring only hops, barley and water.
Status: Now open.
Golden Owl Tavern
Location: 9041 Robert D. Snyder Road, Charlotte, NC 28262
Neighborhood: University City
Instagram: @goldenowltavern
Golden Owl Tavern, which opened in 2021 inside the Marriott Hotel UNC Charlotte, takes Southern food upscale. Sink in to the baby back ribs on the Wood Fired Signatures section of the menu. The dish comes with collard greens and Carolina home fries.
Status: Now open.
JINYA Ramen Bar
Location: 601 S. Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: 4401 Barclay Downs Drive, Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Instagram: @jinyaramenbar
In a recent roundup of the city’s best ramen spots, CharlotteFive’s Brent Peters gave a nod to the The Premium Tonkotsu Red. You can choose your spice level, and it comes with pork broth, pork chashu, kikurage, green onion, seasoned egg, nori dried seaweed, red hot chili oil, spicy bean sprouts and thick noodles.
Status: Uptown location is now open; SouthPark location opens in 2022.
Lulu’s Maryland Style Chicken & Seafood
Location: 2308 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Instagram: @lulus_restaurant_charlotte
Lulu’s second outpost was slated to open in 2021, but construction delays held us at bay from grabbing some of Jay and Miketa Davis’ crab cakes in a new location. Don’t pass on trying the chicken — we recommend the Honey Old Bay Wings.
Status: Now open.
Mariposa
Location: 500 S. Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Uptown
Instagram: @mariposaatthemint
The former Halcylon space has transformed into Mariposa, a fine dining experience with a global outlook based on the travels of Mother Earth Group President Jill Marcus. Expect small shareables like Tuna Crudo and Street Corn Fritters, along with larger plates for the table such as Piri Piri Chicken and Vegetable Tagine.
Status: Now open.
Milkbread
Location: 1431 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Location: 624 Jetton St., Davidson, NC 28036
Neighborhood: Davidson
When a restaurant gets a shoutout in the New York Times before it’s even open, you know something good is coming. James Beard-nominated chef Joe Kindred and his wife, Katy, of Kindred and Hello, Sailor have announced their third restaurant concept will feature must-try milk bread donuts, along with crispy chicken, vegetable-focused bowls and salads.
Status: The Davidson location is now open. The Charlotte location is opening late summer/early fall 2022.
Night Swim Coffee
Location: 1620 Oakhurst Commons Drive #306, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Oakhurst/near MoRA
Instagram: @nightswimcoffee
What would happen if two of Charlotte’s best coffee shops decided to join forces? Not Just Coffee and Undercurrent Coffee owners: “Hold my beer and watch this.” The team’s roastery in LoSo is newly open, and its Oakhurst cafe is open, too. It’s worth putting on your priority list for 2022.
Status: Now open.
Resident Culture + El Toro Bruto
Location: 331 Bland St., Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End’s Gold District
The familiar Charlotte brewers partnered with Chilito Tacos — now known as El Toro Bruto — to feed guests inside its new location. You’ll want to dig in to the breakfast tacos, along with other lunch and dinner fare. San Diego’s Mostra Coffee will provide the caffeine.
Status: Now open.
Romeo’s Vegan Burgers
Location: 5518 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: Closeburn-Glenkirk/South Charlotte
Instagram: @romeosveganburgers
Moove over, McDonald’s — we’ve got meatless drive-thru options in Charlotte now. Romeo’s Vegan Burgers is Charlotte’s food truck famous for its line of patrons circling the block, waiting patiently for hours to order — yes, even in the rain. That’s how good the food is, and we can’t wait to visit the brick and mortar.
Status: Now open.
Veltree
Location: 14825 Ballantyne Village Way, #150, Charlotte, NC 28277
Neighborhood: Ballantyne
Instagram: @veltreevegan
Veltree is known for drawing in celebrities and has been recognized by PETA as one of the top 5 vegan soul food spots in the U.S. Now, it’s serving up favorites in a new part of town after moving from its University City digs into a full-service dining room in Ballantyne. Try its plant-based chicken dishes or the mac and cheese.
Status: Now open.
Uptown Yolk
Location: 1220 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 20203
Neighborhood: South End
Instagram: @uptownyolk
The Yolk has lived a few lives. It was born in Rock Hill, moved into 7th Street Market as Uptown Yolk and now is on its way to South End to join the food options at The Vantage South End. Head there for brunch of chicken and waffles, and you’ll also find a new coffee program and a full bar.
Status: Opens in 2022.
What The Fries
Location: 10707 Park Road, Suite R, Charlotte
Neighborhood: South Charlotte
Instagram: @WhatTheFriesCLT
One of Charlotte’s favorite food trucks turned brick-and-mortar, and chefs Jamie Barns and Greg Williams have kept on innovating. Now, you can try your favorite loaded fry combo as a wrap or scarf down a chicken sandwich or cheeseburger quesadilla with the restaurant’s signature tots.
Status: Now open.
This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
