Surviving Charlotte’s tough dining scene: The 30-year secret of Mimosa Grill
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On any given weekday afternoon in uptown, the dining room at Mimosa Grill in uptown is home to buzzing business lunches, glasses clinking at the bar and sunlight pouring through floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the plaza outside.
Longevity in any dining scene is rare, and in Charlotte, more than 200 restaurants opened and over 60 closed last year alone. Meanwhile, Mimosa Grill has quietly defied the odds, serving local diners for three decades.
This April will mark 30 years since the restaurant first opened its doors at 327 S. Tryon St. Since Day One, the restaurant has been owned by Tom Sasser, now president of Burke Hospitality Group, which includes Harper’s and Union Barbecue. Maria Fernandez is Mimosa Grill’s proprietor.
On April 23, the group will host an anniversary five-course Legacy Dinner featuring chefs including Brittany Cochran, who is competing on “Top Chef.” The dinner will bring together Burke Hospitality Group executive chef Scott Wallen and four of Mimosa’s former executive chefs to serve dishes that reflect their time in the kitchen and highlight different chapters of the restaurant’s history.
How Mimosa Grill got its start
The path to Mimosa Grill began long before the restaurant itself. Sasser had already been working in Charlotte’s restaurant world for years — running a restaurant for Houston’s for nearly a decade and, earlier still, working in professional theater.
By the mid-1990s, Sasser opened Harper’s Restaurant on Woodlawn Road, but found yet another opportunity kept presenting itself.
First Union (which merged with Wachovia, which was later bought by Wells Fargo) begged him for a long time to open an uptown restaurant. It took some convincing — the area’s restaurant scene was far less developed at the time — but eventually he agreed.
Mimosa Grill officially opened its doors in April 1996.
Sitting in the heart of the city center, surrounded by office towers, museums and theaters, Mimosa Grill has become known for a style of cooking that blends regional Southern ingredients with global influences, with a long-standing emphasis on working with local farmers and purveyors.
Mimosa Grill’s inspiration
The menu reflects that philosophy. Expect appetizers like pimento cheese or Carolina crab cakes before moving on to dishes like shrimp and grits, seared salmon or a filet mignon. Brunch — a longtime draw for diners — includes favorites like chicken and waffles and, of course, the restaurant’s namesake mimosa.
As for that name, Sasser’s inspiration came naturally.
“Morganton is my hometown, and in the early 1900’s it was nicknamed ‘Mimosa Town’ because of all the mimosa trees,” he says. “There was a Mimosa parade each year, and a Mimosa queen was named.”
The goal from the beginning was a restaurant that could be many things at once: a business lunch spot, a date-night destination, a celebratory dinner and a place regulars return to week after week.
“The atmosphere is warm, comfortable and a little bit timeless,” Sasser says. “It’s a place where you can celebrate something special, have a business dinner or just enjoy a great meal downtown.
Inside, the look is warm, comfy and a touch traditional. Think: solid cherry wood millwork and stacked Tennessee field stone. The dining room’s floor-to-ceiling glass and the large open patio overlooking the plaza grounds the restaurant in its longtime location.
Sherry Persinger has been going to Mimosa Grill since it opened. “It’s one-of-a-kind,” she said. “It has always been a warm and welcoming restaurant, including for every event that happens uptown. And the staff has always been top notch.”
The secret to 30 years
The balance of staying true to its identity while evolving with the city around it is part of what Sasser credits for Mimosa Grill’s staying power.
“Short answer: It’s because of great people: our associates, landlord and partners,” he says.
“Long answer: We’ve always stayed true to who we are while still evolving. For more than 30 years we’ve focused on genuine hospitality, great ingredients and consistency. Restaurants come and go, but if guests know they’ll have a great experience every time they walk through the door, that creates loyalty.”
Over the decades, the restaurant has also quietly played a role in shaping Charlotte’s restaurant scene.
Sasser says one of the things he’s proudest of is “having been a place that let young associates, managers and chefs grow and go on to being a part of making Charlotte a culinary destination.”
At the same time, Mimosa Grill has remained deeply connected to the city around it.
“The city has supported us for more than 30 years, and we’ve always felt it was important to give that support back,” Sasser says, noting the restaurant’s work with organizations such as No Kid Hungry, Second Harvest Food Bank and Communities In Schools.
Mimosa Grill memories
As Charlotte has grown, so, too, have the memories tied to the restaurant.
“We’ve had guests who first came in 25 or 30 years ago who are now bringing their kids, or celebrating their anniversaries after coming to Mimosa on their first date,” Sasser says. “Being part of people’s celebrations, milestones and memories over that kind of time span is incredibly meaningful.”
Mike Domagela is another longtime patron. “When I walk in, I feel like Norm on ‘Cheers,’” he said.
“We keep coming back because the food is great, the service is warm and we’re treated like friends. I’ve been going there for 23 years, every Wednesday. If I miss a week, it throws off my internal calendar.”
For newcomers walking through the doors for the first time, Sasser hopes they’ll also notice there’s something special beyond the food.
“We want them to know that the moment they walk through the door, they’re going to be genuinely welcomed and taken care of. Hospitality has always been at the heart of what we do. Great food matters, of course, but what people remember most is how they felt while they were here.”
And after 30 years in a rapidly changing Southern city, that simple formula still works.
Mimosa Grill
Location: 327 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Cuisine: Modern Southern cuisine, bar bites, cocktails
Instagram: @mimosagrill
Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
