Caribbean flavors, sweet treats & more: Charlotte’s food scene over the past month
There’s never a week that goes by in Charlotte without comings and goings in the food and beverage scene — and April was no exception.
Among the new restaurants that opened was Ms DiDi’s Caribbean Kitchen, serving Haitian-style fried chicken, a vegan veggie plate and plantains, among other island tastes. Familiar favorites Pacos Tacos and Burtons brought along new suburban locations to visit, too.
We lost a few favorites, however. Beyond Amazing Donuts — known for making tantalizing treats with creative flavors — closed up shop toward the end of April. And the only place in the area where you could pick up a Chicago-style deep-dish pie, Rosati’s in Waxhaw, also shut its doors permanently.
Fortunately, we have more new restaurants on the way to look out for in the coming weeks. Top of the list is Leluia Hall, which is set to open the week of May 8, along with a new restaurant collaboration between the founders of Rally and chef/owner Andres Kaifer of Customshop that’s set to open this summer.
Other notable happenings include Aqua e Vino reopening after renovations, a new look at The Cowfish Sushi and Burger Bar and Angry Ale’s coming out on top of the CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice poll for best fries.
Stepping back a bit, that’s a lot happening all at once. Here’s a look at what opened and what closed in April, and what’s on the way soon.
What opened?
Zeko’s Village Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria moved from Morganton to Lake Norman on April 8.
Aqua e Vino reopened April 11, unveiling a new look after a temporary closure for renovations.
La Bonbonnière Bakery opened April 12, churning out gourmet cookies inspired by international flavors.
Roasted Tinto also opened April 12. The bakery tucked inside a laundromat offers pastries, baked goods and sandwiches, plus coffee.
Ms DiDi’s Caribbean Kitchen opened a brick-and-mortar location April 13, expanding service of Haitian flavors past its food truck.
Sorellina Pasta opened April 18 in Plaza Midwood with offerings including fresh pasta, sauces, focaccia and wine.
- Paco’s Tacos, a longtime FS Food Group restaurant serving Tex-Mex food, opened a second location in Fort Mill on April 21.
Burtons Grill & Bar opened its third Charlotte-area location on April 22 at Huntersville’s Birkdale Village in Lake Norman.
- Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, a fast-casual restaurant chain, opened April 23 to serve traditional lobster rolls and other lobster-based menu items for lunch and dinner.
What closed?
- Rosati’s in Waxhaw closed April 1, leaving Charlotte without a spot to get Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.
Billy Sunday and The Spindle Bar closed sometime in April at Optimist Hall. Unpretentious Palate reported the bars’ leases ended unexpectedly.
Brown Bag Seafood closed its Birkdale Village location on April 15, shortly after closing its South End location, Charlotte Business Journal reported.. Its uptown Charlotte location remains open.
- Beyond Amazing Donuts — also known as B.A.D. — closed April 26, slightly earlier than owner Jasmine Macon had planned.
- Mezzo Market opened in late April with a full lineup from coffee to cocktails, in-store food selections and frozen meals ready to take home.
- Chefry’s Blue Smoke in Mooresville closed, posting a note on the door thanking customers.
What’s coming soon?
Gibson Mill Market has added Mediterranean eatery Piatto Fresco and gelato shop Gelato di Luna to its lineup, with plans to open in May.
Juice Box is planning a soft opening at a new location in historic West End on May 6.
The Juice Pod is entering the Charlotte market with a South End location. An opening date has not yet been set.
- Leluia Hall, a much-anticipated steak and seafood restaurant in the former church that once held Bonterra, has set an opening date for the week of May 6.
- PopUp Bagels — a chain with plans to open up to 10 North Carolina restaurants — will open its first location here in Charlotte at the Bowl at Ballantyne this summer.
Sora, a tasting menu restaurant with a French and Asian fusion point of view, is set to open in May.
- The Pub at Uptown, which was originally slated to open in March, will now open in May after construction delays.
- Seemingly Overzealous is planning to open a third location of its allergy-friendly ice cream shop in Dilworth in late May.
- A New Dawg in Town is bringing gourmet hot dogs to Charlotte starting May 31.
Dive Bar is opening its sixth location in North Carolina in Concord this June.
Mother’s Comfort Food & Cocktails — originally announced with the name Mama’s Comfort Food & Cocktails — will move into the former Cantina 1511 space in the Park Road Shopping Center in June.
A new restaurant that has not yet been named is set to open this summer at the former Rally Annex space under a collaboration between Rally’s co-founders and Customshop chef and co-owner Andres Kaifer.
Morelia Gourmet Paletas and Pure Green are planning summer openings at Centro NoDa this summer.
Copain Bakery & Brasserie is set to open at the Bowl at Ballantyne by the end of the year.
Suffolk Punch Brewing’s new Birkdale Village location is now set to open by the end of 2025, after a few construction and permit delays.
The Painted Rooster is planning to open in Plaza Midwood, in the space where Zada Janes used to be. An opening date has not been announced.
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
