Food and Drink

16 must-try new and revamped food spots in the Charlotte area

Stories by Charlotte Observer journalists, with AI summarization

The Charlotte area’s dining scene keeps growing, with fresh options opening in nearly every neighborhood. Restaurant news you may have missed this spring: Classic favorites like Fenwick’s are making comebacks with new owners, while revitalized eateries such as Aqua e Vino now shine with art-deco flair and expanded seating.

Seemingly Overzealous offers dairy-free ice cream and retro arcade games, and Juice Box returns with healthy juices and smoothies to support well-being. Lake Norman welcomes Zeko’s Village Italian and gourmet deli The Counter with familiar menus and new faces. Seafood enthusiasts will find curated menus at Seaboy in Cornelius, and pure lobster indulgence at Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls.

Meanwhile, Eggroll Company brings inventive combos to Camp North End, Dive Bar readies for Concord, and pure noodle artistry arrives at Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles in Matthews.

Concord’s Gibson Mill Market expands with Mediterranean pitas from Piatto Fresco and Italian sweets at Gelato di Luna. Uptown sports fans now have The Pub At Uptown for game-day food, and new mobile carts like A New Dawg in Town put creative spins on classic hot dogs around Charlotte.

Gibson Mill Market in Concord is expanding its lineup in May with two new additions: Piatto Fresco, a Mediterranean eatery, and Gelato di Luna, a gelato shop from the owner of Taco Street. By Catherine Muccigrosso

NO. 1: TWO EATERIES TO DEBUT, ADDING NEW FLAVORS TO GIBSON MILL MARKET FOOD HALL IN CONCORD

The market was the city’s first food hall, opening three years ago in a repurposed mill. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Catherine Muccigrosso

At Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles in Matthews, you can watch the chef work on your dinner. By Tonya Russ Price

NO. 2: NEW CHINESE RESTAURANT IN MATTHEWS PUTS THE ART OF NOODLE-MAKING ON DISPLAY

The Charlotte-area restaurant serves authentic, hand-pulled Lanzhou noodles — and allows you to watch while they’re made. | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Fenwick’s is at 511 Providence Road in Charlotte. By Alex Cason

NO. 3: WE DON’T HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE: CHARLOTTE STAPLE FENWICK’S WILL REOPEN WITH A NEW OWNER

In just a few weeks, the cozy neighborhood spot you’ve eaten at for decades will welcome you back. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Rio 150’s Aparrillada. By Creart Design Studio

NO. 4: A LAKE NORMAN MEXICAN RESTAURANT IS TAKING OVER A FORMER CHILI’S LOCATION IN CHARLOTTE

Coming this summer: Traditional tacos, enormous margs and more. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Seemingly Overzealous’ third Charlotte ice cream shop is set to open in Dilworth in late May. By Sarah Wood

NO. 5: OVERZEALOUS ALERT: CHARLOTTE’S NEWEST ICE CREAM SHOP WILL HAVE ARCADE, RETRO GAMES

Before summer, the local brand that specializes in allergy-friendly ingredients will be scooping out inventive flavors and offering a bonus built for family fun. | Published April 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is opening in Charlotte on April 23. By Helen Norman

NO. 6: NEW LUXURY LUNCH OPTION WITH A MENU FULL OF LOBSTER IS COMING SOON TO CHARLOTTE

Lobster rolls, lobster mac and lobster bisque are heading our way — and there’s a chance for free food and merch, too. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Dive Bar opens Nov. 18 at 152 N. Main St. in Mooresville with about 16 arcade games.

NO. 7: READY, SET, DIVE: POPULAR LAKE NORMAN DIVE BAR IS EXPANDING, WITH GAMES GALORE

The new location will have darts, pool tables, pinball, Buck Hunter and arcade games. | Published April 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Owner Sam Leo is shown outside Zeko’s Village Italian Family Restaurant in Catawba County near Denver NC and Lake Norman on Thursday, April 17, 2025. By JOE MARUSAK

NO. 8: ICONIC RED BUILDING IN LAKE NORMAN NOW HOME TO AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE

On the menu, you’ll find a few of the family-run restaurant’s home-cooked specialties, along with NY-style pizzas. | Published April 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joe Marusak

A server preps the tables for service at Aqua e Vino. By Tonya Russ Price

NO. 9: CHARLOTTE RESTAURANT UNVEILS NEW LOOK: THIS IS ‘TO REMIND PEOPLE WHERE I COME FROM’

The food at this Charlotte staple is “100% Italian, like my accent.” Now, you can get a feel of Monte Carlo, Milan and Torino there, too. | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kayleigh Ruller

Chef Jonathan Cox cooking behind the chef’s counter at Seaboy in Cornelius. By LunahZon Photography/Seaboy

NO. 10: WHAT MAKES THIS NEW CORNELIUS RESTAURANT A MUST-VISIT FOR SEAFOOD ENTHUSIASTS

The newest restaurant in Lake Norman is serving up fresh oysters, shrimp and more with a side of cozy charm. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sunny Hubler

The L.A. Dawg with crispy bacon and hot Cheetos. By Milica Cardona

NO. 11: THERE’S A NEW DAWG IN CHARLOTTE — AND THE FOOD CART IS BRINGING THE HEAT

Look for a blend of NY and LA hot dog culture, plus Caribbean flavors such as jerk chicken and oxtail. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sunny Hubler

Members Only owner Kimberly Wilkinson. By DeAnna Taylor

NO. 12: SMOOTHIES, SALADS AND SELF-CARE — JUICE BOX RETURNS TO CHARLOTTE WITH A NEW LOCATION

Owner Kimberly Wilkinson brings her wellness and all-natural juices to the Historic West End. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tamia Boyd

The Fire Bird sandwich at The Counter in Mooreville. By Heidi Finley

NO. 13: OWNERS OF POPULAR LAKE NORMAN GOURMET DELI RETIRE. MEET THE COUPLE WHO TOOK OVER.

“I want to take what they’re doing and expand upon that,” one of the new owners says. | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joe Marusak

Morelia Gourmet Paletas can be dipped, drizzled and covered in your preferred topping. An added bonus is that it can rest in a fresh waffle bowl.

NO. 14: SCOOP AND SIP: JUICE BAR AND ICE CREAM SHOP WILL OPEN IN NODA CHARLOTTE

Scoop: These are the new shops spicing up Charlotte’s Centro NoDa with diverse culinary delights and creative retail. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Melissa Oyler

Eggroll Company is opening a permanent location this fall at Camp North End.

NO. 15: GROWING FOODIE SPOT JUMPING INTO FORMER BABE & BUTCHER SPACE AT CAMP NORTH END

Long lines for its lineup of sweet-and-savory creations have put this restaurant on the move yet again. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Late night eats will be available at The Pub at Uptown, which will serve food until its 2 a.m. closing time.

NO. 16: A NEW PUB FOR CHARLOTTE SPORTS FANS IS OPENING UPTOWN — AND IT FEELS FAMILIAR

This weekend, you could be eating gouda mac ‘n cheese bites and burgers with bourbon while you catch a game. | Published May 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.