New uptown restaurant blends Southern barbecue and seafood-forward cuisine
Classic Southern barbecue meets seafood at a new restaurant taking shape in Charlotte’s uptown neighborhood.
The team behind Chop Chop Red Pot, a popular food truck, and Marlee Jean’s Raw Bar & Kitchen in Davidson will launch a new concept at The Market at 7th Street, marking its first spot in Charlotte proper.
A recent Instagram post showed a “coming soon” sign hung high above an empty stall inside the buzzy food hall. The space was most recently home to burger and sandwich joint Mad Dash, Axios Charlotte reported.
Opening day is still in the works, but locals can get a taste of what’s to come at its soft launch on Monday, April 13, a restaurant spokesperson told CharlotteFive.
Led by chef-owner Erick Crawford, the eatery started out as a food truck serving Southern-inspired dishes and grew into a catering company that’s been serving greater Charlotte since 2022. He built the business alongside his life partner, Chef Amanda Overdorf, and together they launched what would become a massive success.
“The idea behind Chop Chop Red Pot on 7th is that guests will be able to enjoy the flavors of both seafood and BBQ with all the local ingredients Erick and Amanda like to feature sprinkled in, as well,” the spokesperson said.
What to expect
Chop Chop Red Pot on 7th will marry the food truck’s original Southern street food concept with the seafood-forward menu at Marlee Jean’s, which opened last year. Expect East Coast oysters, pulled pork and chopped brisket sandwiches, along with classics like shrimp and grits and lobster rolls.
The menu will also feature old favorites, like Chop Chop’s whiskey-braised smoked turkey collard greens.
The restaurant’s original concept was a nod to Crawford’s love for cooking with his dad “in their big red pot,” the spokesperson told CharlotteFive. Like his other eateries, Chop Chop Red Pot on 7th will prioritize “Farm to Table” and “Boat to Table” ingredients in every dish.
“Family has and always will be the inspiration of everything (Crawford and Overdorf) do, and guests can see that in the love they pour into their food,” the spokesperson said.
Chop Chop Red Pot on 7th
Location: 224 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Cuisine: Southern BBQ, oysters and smash burgers
Instagram: @chopchopredpot
This story was originally published April 6, 2026 at 11:45 AM.