10 of Charlotte’s newest stops for escape rooms, ice cream, French cuisine and more
Sure, summer may be winding down, but the dining (and shopping and flying) scene is revving up. Here are 10 of the newest places in Charlotte:
Cafe Moka
Timed Out Escape
12239 N. Community House Road
This new 3,000-square-foot escape space in Ballantyne opened in July with two rooms: West (you have to protect the family homestead) and Precinct (time to track down police detectives who have vanished). Two more rooms are coming soon: Depth (dive down to an “underwater” research station) and Mystery Room (yet to be determined based on guest feedback). You have 60 minutes to get out.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
1920 Camden Road
Get a taste of Jeni’s first scoop shop in North Carolina, open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. The official grand opening party for the new artisan ice cream shop is Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. with a celebration offering free scoops. What will it be — Salty Caramel or Brown Butter Almond Brittle? Read more about the local shop here.
Sizzlewich
3607 Whitehall Park Drive, Ste. 1200
One of Charlotte’s newest breakfast and lunch experiences, Sizzlewich X Waterbean Coffee, offers a fast-casual breakfast and lunch menu with Banh Xeo, or Vietnamese crepes. Waterbean’s coffee is poured here as well. The menu is loaded with Sizzlewiches/Banh Xeo combinations, all with the same base of provolone cheese, scallions, lettuce and special sauce. The offerings include the Ham Sizzlewich, the Super Sizzlewich (with ham, turkey, bacon and salami) and the Vegetable Sizzlewich (with mushrooms and onions).
La Belle Helene
300 S Tryon St.
This French fine-dining restaurant brings a classic homage to Parisian brasseries, Belle Epoque menu included. Chef Michael Rouleau will serve up specialties like a chicken dish featuring Poulet Rouge chickens from Joyce Farms in North Carolina, along with daily roasted specials, such as suckling pig, that guests can see on the rotisserie. The restaurant has opened with soft opening hours for dinner, with brunch and lunch service to come. The interior is gorgeous.
Dramatic lighting stands out in La Belle Helene’s muted colors of dark green, black, white and gray. Photo by Kathleen Purvis
Reid’s Fine Foods Uptown
21 West Trade St.
Reid’s has brought gourmet, on-the-go bites to Uptown. Come inside for a full menu including coffee, dessert, and breakfast and lunch items such as avocado toast, the southern fried chicken biscuit and a build your own salad option.
GW Boutique
3609 South Blvd.
South Enders can relish shopping brands like J.Crew, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor at low prices thanks to this chic boutique, a creation of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. Browse the mix of men’s and women’s fashion, plus houeswares, decorative pieces and athletic wear (brands include lululemon and Under Armour). Funds from purchases helps support job training and employment services for people in the community.
Dunkin’ Donuts Next Generation Store
1308 The Plaza
This popular donut shop just celebrated a grand opening with a fresh design. A modern style, curbside pick-up options and premium pours with an innovative tap system are part of the sleek new look.
The new Concourse A North
5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy
Nine new gates in Concourse A North are transforming Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Yes, it offers more space for travelers, but there are also multiple outlets to charge devices in every seat, a glass facade with Internet-connected panes of glass that change to regulate light, and digitally generated LED artwork.
Twisted Eats
1402 Winnifred St.
Twisted Eats by Kre8 Xperiences has partnered with Hoppin’ in South End on a permanent food truck outside the self-serve taproom six days a week, Tuesday-Sunday. The food truck menu features wonton nachos, sliders and beyond.
This story was originally published August 2, 2018 at 2:01 AM.