Seafood restaurant to replace shuttered Cotswold pizza joint. When does it open?
Coastal flavors and seasonal catches are on the menu at a new restaurant coming soon to Charlotte’s Cotswold neighborhood.
The Belly of the Whale, a seafood concept, officially opens Thursday, July 16, at 4422 Colwick Road.
If the address sounds familiar, that’s because it was last home to The Pizza Peel + Tap Room, which closed in November after 17 years in business, CharlotteFive reported. It was the pizzeria’s last remaining location in the city.
The Belly of the Whale will bring coastal North Carolina vibes to the 2,700-square-foot space. Led by husband-and-wife team Raynold and Tatiana Mendizabal, the restaurant will center fresh seafood while drawing on a variety of culinary traditions.
Raynold, who spent more than two decades diving and fishing the Outer Banks, will head up the kitchen while Tatiana manages the front of house, according to a news release.
“Much of our seafood comes from the waters of North Carolina,” the restaurant’s website says. “Because no two days on the water are the same, the menu changes frequently — sometimes even daily.”
Featured items include beau sels oysters, salted fish croquettes, roasted swordfish and pizzas topped with lobster, tomatoes and stracciatella.
CharlotteFive reached out to the Mendizabals for more information and was awaiting a response.
The dining room is intimate, so reservations are strongly recommended, the release said. On Monday evenings, the restaurant will open specifically to workers in Charlotte’s hospitality industry.
The Belly of the Whale will be open for dinner from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. daily.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
The Belly of the Whale
Location: 4422 Colwick Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Cuisine: Seafood
Instagram: @cltthebellyofthewhale