Food and Drink

New fusion restaurant opens soon in uptown’s former Haymaker space

Global fusion cuisine heavy on Japanese and other Asian influences is coming soon to a familiar space in Charlotte.

LILA Restaurant (prounounced Lee-La), which was first announced as a second location of Winston-Salem’s Sushi Rosé, has set a June 6 opening date. Reservations open May 25.

Co-owner Nevin Anuran told CharlotteFive last September that the restaurateurs fell in love with the architecture of the former Haymaker space at Ascent Uptown. “We decided to take a risk and take it as an opportunity to expand there,” he said.

A dramatic, close-up shot of a Lomo Saltado dish in a black bowl. A mound of white rice and French fries is at the center, surrounded by a rich brown and red stew of beef and vegetables. The dish is garnished with fresh green cilantro.
Sushi Rosé is best known for its lomo saltado, a classic Peruvian stir-fry dish made with marinated steak, onions and tomatoes. The dish will also be found at LILA Restaurant. Photo courtesy of Nevin Anuran

The name change came somewhere along the way, but the restaurant is still under the Sushi Rosé umbrella, he said Friday.

But, wait, isn’t there already a restaurant named LILA in Charlotte? Yes, that’s Love Is Love Always, a wellness bar with shakes and sea moss gels in University City. The new spot — named LILA Restaurant — is vastly different.

A plate of Lomo Saltado sushi is the focus of a long, white table. The plate holds a large roll topped with steak, red onion, and tomato, with other sushi plates blurred in the background.
LILA Restaurant co-owner Nevin Anuran described the lomo saltado roll as “a Japanese-Peruvian version of a surf and turf roll.” Photo courtesy of Nevin Anuran

Anuran described an evolving outlook for the restaurant, which leans heavily on the Sushi Rosé menu but branches out further into Latin and Mediterranean cuisines. French flavors will eventually make their way onto the menu, as well.

LILA Restaurant will also offer a cocktail lounge on Friday and Saturday nights. If the idea proves popular, live music Thursdays could be next.

A vibrant, high-angle close-up shot of a restaurant-style dish on a white plate. A large, rectangular block of deep red tuna is the centerpiece, topped with thin green herbs. It rests in a shallow pool of light-colored sauce with drops of reddish oil. Around the tuna are three small, halved red radishes, each topped with a small dollop of black caviar.
Sushi Rosé, a modern contemporary sushi bar specializing in Japanese and Latin cuisines, is expanding to the Queen City with LILA Restaurant. Photo courtesy of Nevin Anuran

LILA Restaurant

Location: 225 S Poplar St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Cuisine: Contemporary Japanese-Asian

Menu

Instagram: @lilarestaurantclt

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Heidi Finley
The Charlotte Observer
Heidi Finley is a writer and editor for CharlotteFive and the Charlotte Observer. Outside of work, you will most likely find her in the suburbs driving kids around, volunteering and indulging in foodie pursuits. Support my work with a digital subscription
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