Charlotte’s Top Dining Destinations: Dressler’s Restaurant

The Chef: Chef Scott Hollingsworth

While Chef Scott Hollingsworth may not have had any formal culinary training, cooking has been his profession since 1985; he’s known he wanted to be a chef since he was just a little boy. The inspiration and influence behind his cooking has always been southern food, especially barbecue. Though Hollingsworth, like most chefs, intentionally creates dishes, he has gotten some great ideas for dishes completely by accident. He also believes all of the great chefs that are continuously making the food scene in Charlotte amazing are very inspirational. Hollingsworth loves the wonderful people he is able to work with, as well as the great community that supports Dressler’s every day. It’s what he loves most about the restaurant. Cooking is in Hollingsworth’s blood and a part of what makes him, him. If he wasn’t cooking and creating food for a living, he’s not sure what he would be doing.

The Look: Earthy Interior

Dressler’s Restaurant has a warm and inviting atmosphere. Owners Kim and Jon Dressler created this feeling by using stone, earth tones, and warm colors. There is a wine room that guests can see from the dining room displaying over 300 selections that are available on the Dressler’s wine list. The carpeted dining room and conviviality of the restaurant gives Dressler’s a bustling feeling that isn’t too loud and still allows guests to hear the people they are dining with. While the dining room is relaxed and comfortable, the bar is more lively and that energy from the bar flows onto the patio, which overlooks the center green space of the complex. There is also a back room with folding windows and doors that, when closed, is a very private, intimate space for parties of 10 to 45 guests. When the room is open, it still gives that open feel that occurs throughout the rest of restaurant.

The Dish: Just for the Halibut

Dressler’s signature dish is the “Just for the Halibut,” created by Chef Hollingsworth. Introduced as a special a month after Dressler’s opening, the halibut dish has been a hit since day one. Every single time it appeared as a special, it was the most highly ordered dish on that night. Due to the overwhelming approval by diners, Dressler’s knew it was time to make the dish a permanent fixture on the menu. The popular dish is made with sun dried tomato beurre blanc, a chive potato cake, sautéed spinach, a center block cut of halibut, and a crab topping (crab meat, béchamel sauce, roasted red peppers, basil) baked on top. Selling around 350-400 dishes of halibut a month, the combinations of flavors are what make this dish truly stand apart from the rest. All of the different components and ingredients work together to create a meal that is pleasing to the eye, palate, and stomach.

Dressler’s Restaurant: Birkdale Village — 8630-1A Lindholm Dr., Huntersville; Metropolitan — 1100 Metropolitan Avenue, Suite 125-E, Charlotte.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 8:17 PM.