The Asian fusion tastes you can’t find anywhere else in Charlotte just landed
A new restaurant has opened in Pineville, bringing Asian fusion cuisine with a contemporary outlook.
Flame Bistro & Bar — located right where Charlotte, Pineville and Fort Mill come together — is now in a soft-opening phase. A grand opening is planned for June 5.
“Essentially, we’re taking all of the best flavors of Chinese cuisine, but also incorporating some modern flavors, as well,” bar manager Jabari Bradford told CharlotteFive.
The restaurant’s ownership team includes general manager Amy Zheng, Sammy Wong and Michael Cai, who is also the head chef.
What to expect
Cai’s 30 years of kitchen experience includes a variety of work with Asian cuisine, including Malaysian, Taiwanese and Indonesian, “so he’s got this huge variety of recipes that got into his wheelhouse,” Bradford said.
“I’ve lived in Indonesia for a year. I’ve been to Japan, into Malaysia. The food that you eat over there, I have not found anything similar in Charlotte — especially in North Carolina — than what is currently at Flame Bistro & Bar,” he added.
“We’ve had multiple guests come in that are from other nations ... who said the exact same thing — that our flavors are so traditional, so authentic, that they feel like they’re at home.”
The restaurant offers a clean, modern aesthetic for date night dining or a family-friendly meal. It seats about 70 guests inside — including an eight-seat bar — and 30 more outside.
What to eat at Flame Bistro & Bar
Flame Bistro & Bar takes inspiration from culinary traditions in Beijing, Singapore and Hong Kong, along with other Asian countries, to create fusion flavors not found in other Charlotte restaurants.
Bradford said the “amazing” Golden Crab & Brie Wonton Crisps are among the appetizers you’ll want to try, along with the Garlic Butter Sand Wings. Those are deep-fried wings sauteed in garlic butter, then coated in cured duck egg yolk crumbs.
On the Taiwanese Gua Bao section of the menu, Bradford recommends first-timers try the Lacquer Duck Gua Bao, which includes cucumber and scallions, cilantro and a drizzle of hoisin sauce.
Bradford’s personal favorite is the Creamy Fruit Shrimp. It’s a dish on the chef’s signature menu made with jumbo shrimp in a velvety cream sauce that’s layered on top of seasonal fruit such as dragon fruit, kiwi and strawberries.
“It’s so simple and yet it’s so gratifying,” he said. “It’s such an amazing flavor on your palate.”
There are also plenty of familiar rice and noodle dishes available, including lunch offerings of Sesame Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken and Flame Stir-Fry Lo Mein. At dinner, consider the Thai Crab Rice or Cantonese Beef Chow Fun.
Cocktails and mocktails
Bradford created Flame Bistro & Bar’s signature cocktail offerings, tailoring the selections for food pairings to go hand in hand.
A top pick is the Baijiu Breeze, with elegant floral notes. He also recommends the Sparkling Lotus with Haku vodka, elderflower tonic and honey served with lemon juice.
A non-alcoholic option? The Jade Garden has a cucumber juice base with green tea, lime juice, honey syrup and lemon lime soda.
“We have such a large menu, which is great. It gives guests an opportunity to come back and try something new time and time and time again and be so pleased every time that they come in,” Bradford said.
Flame Bistro & Bar
Location: 10223 Mcintyre Rdg Rd, Pineville, NC 28134
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Hours: Closed Tuesday. Lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; and dinner 4:30 p.m.- 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 4:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Instagram: @flamebistroandbar
