Sharigato, Charlotte’s first sushi hand roll restaurant, set to open next week

Charlotte’s first dedicated hand roll restaurant finally has an opening date.

Sharigato, the sushi concept from chef and restaurateur Shari Lynne Robins, will officially open May 19 at The Joinery in Optimist Park, according to a news release.

The 23-seat hand roll bar will specialize in freshly prepared sushi hand rolls served individually as they’re made, a dining style designed to highlight the texture, temperature and quality of each bite. The restaurant will also offer Japanese-inspired snacks, maki rolls, draft cocktails, craft sake and beer.

The intimate space leans into what Robins calls “affordable glamour,” with deep green tones, warm wood accents, grasscloth walls and colorful Japanese street photography meant to evoke Tokyo nightlife, the release said.

A bright red sink, described by the team as “the most beautiful sink in Charlotte,” sits at the center of the restaurant and features a custom hand soap collaboration with luxury hair and skincare brand Philip B.

West Coast-inspired cuisine

Robins previously told CharlotteFive the concept was inspired by her love of Los Angeles hand roll spot KazuNori and her desire to create a high-quality but approachable sushi experience in Charlotte.

“If I want to make money, I want to have a restaurant people feel like they can come to two or three times a week,” Robins said. “I’m kind of thinking of it as affordable glamour.”

The streamlined menu is expected to feature premium seafood like toro, Faroe Island salmon, yellowtail, scallops and lobster, alongside vegetarian options and small plates like blistered shishito peppers, edamame and ube tempura, according to the release.

In addition to dine-in service, Sharigato will also feature maki rolls created with the help of “Shariboto,” a maki-making robot Robins said she refined to maintain consistency for both in-person and to-go orders.

Sharigato will operate Tuesday through Sunday from 4-10 p.m.

Sharigato

Location: Joinery, 420 E 22nd Street, Charlotte, NC 28206

Menu

Cuisine: Asian, sushi hand rolls

Instagram: @sharigato_clt

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.