Mediterranean food, new lounges and more: March’s food scene in Charlotte
Change was churning in Charlotte’s food and drink scene throughout March, with a flurry of new restaurants opening and closing throughout the month.
The city lost Lebowski’s, along with other popular spots like Bryant Seafood and JJ’s Red Hots. Although one bright spot: We said goodbye to longtime Fenwick’s owner Don Rabb as he enters retirement, but a new owner plans to reopen Fenwick’s.
Even more new spots opened, too including Kaya Gastrolounge and the long-awaited uptown Charlotte location of Bar One — joined by other new lounges, Blinders and Teranga City. A notable number of Mediterranean restaurants opened, as well, including: Mazi, Nazo’s Mediterranean Bowls & Salads and Yassou Greek.
Here’s what happened to catch you up:
What opened?
Kolpasi Indian Canteen opened in late Feburary in Steele Creek with a Chipotle-meets-Indian food sort of vibe.
- Nazo’s Mediterranean Bowls & Salads opened in late February in South Charlotte near Pineville, offering a Turkish point of view on fast-casual cuisine.
Bar One opened March 1 in uptown Charlotte, bringing along a burlesque show you can watch on the weekends.
- Kaya Gastrolounge, a new restaurant from the team behind The Bottle Tree, opened in Belmont on March 6.
Let’s Meat reopened March 10 after a year-long closure due to fire.
Mazi, a new Mediterranean restaurant operated by Built On Hospitality, opened March 13 in South End.
- Yassou Greek opened in early March in the former Volo space.
Blinders, a new sports bar with a cocktail lounge aesthetic, opened March 20 in South End.
Tommy Bahama’s Marlin Bar opened March 21 at SouthPark Mall.
Teranga City opened March 21 in uptown Charlotte, near Bank of America Stadium.
La Lima Sangunchería, a Peruvian sandwich shop from the co-founder of Viva Chicken, opened March 24.
Seaboy Restaurant and Bar opened in Cornelius on March 26.
Clark’s Snack Bar opened quietly on March 31, with a menu largely echoing its predecessor, The Good Wurst Company.
What closed?
- Bryant Seafood closed in March, but owner L.J. Bryant hopes to reopen in a new location in the future.
- JJ’s Red Hots closed its doors permanently on March 16 after days of long lines, filled with Charlotteans saying farewell. Its food truck will remain in operation.
Smithfield Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q closed its Charlotte location in March, but a representative said the company looks forward to “returning to this area as soon as possible.”
- Louisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria was set to close March 17, but a new owner took over.
- PuckerButt Pepper Company closed its longtime location in downtown Fort Mill in March, but relocated not too far away in Kingsley Town Center.
- Fenwick’s closed at the end of March after 41 years in Charlotte with Rabb and his wife, Catherine, who passed away in 2021. Plans call for a new owner to reopen it within weeks.
- Lebowski’s announced its closure March 31, sharing plans for a Ladybird Taco location to take over the space.
- Beyond Amazing Donuts announced on March 31 that its brick-and-mortar location would close in a few weeks, but owner Jasmine Macon said it was not a “goodbye.”
What’s coming soon?
- Burton’s Grill & Bar plans to open a new location April 22 in Huntersville near Birkdale Village
The Pub at Uptown, which was originally slated to open in March, will now open in April after construction delays..
- Distro Beer Hub is working on opening soon, offering a food hall of sorts for beer lovers in South End.
ESO Artisanal Pasta, featured on “The Great Food Truck Race,” is set to open at Optimist Hall in May.
Gibson Mill Market has two new food vendors coming on board this spring: Piatto Fresco, offering Mediterranean food, and Gelato di Luna, which will sell gelato and other desserts.
Greco Fresh Grille is opening a new location this spring in the former Wolfman’s Pizza spot in Cotswold Village.
- Krazy Curry is expanding from Pineville to uptown soon.
- Leluia Hall, named a must-visit spot to try this winter by Bon Appetit and one of the top 25 restaurants to try in 2025 by CharlotteFive, is expected to open in early May.
Mezzo Market shared an update via Instagram in late March and plans to open soon.
Sorellina Pasta Co. coming to The Plaza this spring.
Dilworth Grill plans to open a second location in Fort Mill in the former Killingtons restaurant space in Baxter Village in late summer.
An unnamed new wine bar from the team behind Customshop and Marina’s Tapas will open in the former Mere’s space in late summer or early fall.
- McHale’s, an Irish pub that once had locations in Rock Hill and Fort Mill, will reopen in Charlotte, but a timeline has not been shared.
Sharigato, a new restaurant bringing sushi hand rolls to Charlotte, plans a fall opening.
This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
