Behind the scenes at PARA, opening soon in Charlotte with globally inspired small plates
Deviled eggs with miso, shrimp, trout roe and scallion.
“Tuna” crudo made with watermelon, jalapeno, lime, avocado, citrus, hot pepper and radish. (Check out the video above to find out the secret ingredient!)
These are just a few of the inventive dishes you can expect at the new Charlotte restaurant PARA, opening Jan. 19 in South End.
The globally influenced menu is the brainchild of executive chef Alex Verica and will be complemented by a creative cocktail program developed by Yashira “Yoshi” Mejia.
The family-style small plates will highlight foods from local farms including Freshlist and Small City Farm.
“We’ve been working on the menu since the beginning of April and have changed it around a bit,” Verica said. “There is really something for everyone — vegan, vegetarian, seafood, red meat, higher-end foods like caviar from a company called Oro that no one else in Charlotte is serving.”
Before patrons enter the 55-seat restaurant, they will be greeted by a custom mural painted by local artist Dustin Moates, co-founder of Southern Tiger Collective. Incorporating local talent from Verica and Mejia to Moates and general manager Stephen Johnson was something important to the founders.
“That’s what I love about Charlotte — it’s a little big city or a big little city and everyone kind of knows each other,” co-founder Chet Desai said.
In addition to PARA’s 16-18 tables, the restaurant will feature a full 12-seat bar and lounge seating on its patio. PARA will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 a.m.-11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Reservations can be made using Resy.
More restaurants to come
PARA Charlotte is the first in a series of restaurants that Desai and co-founders Jigs Desai, Dave Feimster and Ricky Patel have teamed up to open under Parliament Hospitality Group, LLC.
The group of industry veterans has already signed a lease on another space. Parliament’s next Charlotte venture will include 3,000 square feet on the first floor and 11,000 square feet of rooftop space at The Platform, which is under construction on the border of South End and LoSo.
While COVID-19 has slowed construction, Chet Desai is hopeful that Parliament Hospitality Group will be able to open two or three restaurant concepts in those spaces by late 2022 or early 2023.
PARA Charlotte
Location: 235 W Tremont Ave #100, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Cuisine: small plates, family style
Instagram: @paraclt
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 at 1:00 PM.
