Food and Drink

Veteran-owned wellness restaurant to open at Camp North End. What to expect.

Eating well is at the heart of a new restaurant concept coming soon to Charlotte.

Sage & Citrus, a health-forward fast-casual eatery, is getting a food stall at Camp North End’s Keswick District with plans to open in March 2026, according to a news release sent to CharlotteFive.

Founder and chef Darius Johnson is behind the menu of bowls, soups, sandwiches, smoothies and kid-friendly options.

A close-up shot of a combo meal on a wooden cutting board. The meal features a sandwich or burger with a savory-looking, crunchy filling, a wire basket of golden-brown fries, and a pink beverage garnished with a strawberry slice.
Sage & Citrus, a fast-casual eatery with a health-forward menu, is headed to Camp North End. Sage & Citrus Sage & Citrus

“Sage & Citrus is all about food as medicine, and flavor without compromise,” Johnson, a military veteran, said in the release.

“We wanted to create a space where every meal is designed to energize and nourish, while still tasting amazing,” he continued. “Camp North End is the perfect fit for our vision, creativity, and community-centered approach.”

It’s the latest business to find a home at the sprawling mixed-use development, nestled just northeast of uptown Charlotte. La Bodeguita, a creative wellness space and craft café, recently opened its first brick-and-mortar studio after outgrowing its trailer at Camp North End’s Boileryard District, CharlotteFive previously reported.

Four vibrant smoothies are lined up in clear cups with the “Sage & Citrus” logo, each color splashing out of the top. The colorful drinks are surrounded by fresh fruit, including strawberries, bananas, peaches, blackberries, and blueberries.
At Sage & Citrus, customers can find fresh smoothies alongside meal replacement options. Sage & Citrus Sage & Citrus

Johnson said he plans to collaborate with others in Camp North End’s wellness community. He’s used health-conscious, farm-to-table practices in his work as a personal chef to professional athletes and as the founder of his own catering company, Noelle’s Catering.

Customers can expect more of the same at Sage & Citrus. The menu will feature plant-based options like cauliflower mac and cheese alongside heartier entrees such as short ribs and salmon, according to the release.

Johnson hopes to keep options fresh with rotating monthly specials and seasonal soup offerings, including lobster bisque and cauliflower leek soup. Fresh smoothies are also the menu, along with meal-replacement options and other treats.

Sage & Citrus will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Self-order kiosks will also be available for quick ordering.

A top-down view of a healthy grain bowl containing grilled fish or chicken, quinoa or brown rice, corn, mixed greens, diced red onion, and a small cup of sauce. The bowl is set on a dark green surface next to gold silverware and a cross-section of red onion.
“Sage & Citrus is all about food as medicine, and flavor without compromise,” chef and founder Darius Johnson said. Sage & Citrus Sage & Citrus
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Sage + Citrus

Location: 1801 N. Graham St., Suite 100, Charlotte, NC

Cuisine: Bowls, sandwiches, soups and smoothies

Instagram: @sageandcitrus_nc, @chefdariusj

A hand squeezes a lemon wedge into a bright pink drink filled with mint leaves and chunks of dragon fruit. The refreshing beverage, labeled “Sage & Citrus,” is surrounded by mint and dragon fruit slices on a light-colored table.
The dragon fruit lemonade at Sage & Citrus. Sage & Citrus Sage & Citrus
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This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 10:01 AM.

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Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
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