A 62-year-old Charlotte restaurant closed. Here’s what’s taking its place.
A new Mediterranean eatery is bringing authentic Turkish cuisine to Charlotte.
Truva Turkish Kitchen is expanding with its first Queen City restaurant set to open soon, the owners confirmed to CharlotteFive. It will take over the former Riccio’s Italian Restaurant spot in Touchstone Village.
The latter closed its doors back in 2024, after 62 years of serving classic dishes like chicken parm, pizza and build-your-own pastas, CharlotteFive previously reported.
Truva Turkish Kitchen Charlotte first teased its opening via Instagram in August. Kelly and Tolga Karahan, the owner-operators of the new restaurant, haven’t nailed down a date for the grand opening. However, a soft opening is planned for sometime after Oct. 10, they told CharlotteFive.
“Inspired by the rich heritage of Anatolian civilizations, the Balkans, Greek and Armenian kitchens, the Aegean coast, and the broader Mediterranean, Truva’s menu is a true journey through cultures and flavors,” the restaurant owners said in a news release.
Truva Turkish Kitchen is known for its classics, including lamb shish kebabs marinated in a special sauce and served with veggies and bulgur pilaf. Stuffed cabbage rolls are also on the menu, along with grilled branzino, spaghetti bolognese and ribeye steak.
Other popular dishes include the baklava, lahmucan and adana kebab, according to the restaurant’s Yelp page.
Truva’s journey to Charlotte
The Mediterranean eatery’s first location opened in 2015 in Kenwood, Ohio, just northeast of downtown Cincinnati, and a second one later opened in Mason, according to the news release sent to CharlotteFive.
Next, Truva Turkish Kitchen is looking to give Charlotteans “a taste of Turkiye.”
“We believe Charlotte is a vibrant, growing city that appreciates great cuisine and cultural diversity,” the release said. “We see an opportunity to build relationships with local diners, share Turkish culture and Mediterranean traditions through food and drinks, and become part of the local culinary scene.”
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the details of Truva Turkish Kitchen’s other locations.
Truva Turkish Kitchen
Location: 9213 Baybrook Ln, Charlotte, NC 28277
Cuisine: Authentic Turkish + Mediterranean cuisine
Instagram: @truvaturkishkitchencharlottenc
This story was originally published October 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.