NFL legend’s latest restaurant lands in the heart of Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Sept. 8, 2023, with the opening date and menu information.
A football legend’s restaurant group will a Charlotte location this month in the Elizabeth neighborhood.
Catalina Kitchen + Bar will open Tuesday, Sept. 12, in a 5,500-square-foot space plus patio at Elizabeth on Seventh. It’s part of Ditka’s Restaurant Group, owned by NFL Hall of Famer and television commentator Mike Ditka.
Elizabeth on Seventh at 1942 E. 7th St. is a four-story retail, restaurant and office building, real estate investment company Crescent communities previously told the The Charlotte Observer.
Other retail tenants will include Rosemont Market and Wine Bar, the team behind neighboring Elizabeth restaurants The Crunkleton and Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor, CharlotteFive previously reported. Rosemont Market and Wine Bar is expected to open this spring.
About Catalina Kitchen
Catalina Kitchen + Bar’s menu will merge local and Southern menu items such as Carolina Sunburst Farms Trout with Butter Bean Succotash, Pappardelle with short rib ragu and roasted tomatoes, and a spicy buttermilk fried chicken sandwich.
Catalina also offers protein bowls, salads, a raw bar and a kid’s menu.
The bar will have a daily social hour with specialty cocktails, 60 wines, and 10 local and regional beers on tap.
Catalina Kitchen + Bar will be open for dinner, with plans to add lunch service at a later date.
Ditka’s other restaurants include Oakbrook Terrace, Ditka’s Pittsburgh, Grill 89 and Ditka’s Grill, with locations in Chicago and Pittsburgh, according to the company’s website.
Each restaurant is tailored to its neighborhood, according to Ditka’s Restaurant Group’s LinkedIn page.
Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Catalina’s bar will remain open an hour after the last seating. Reservation seating is available.
About Elizabeth on Seventh
Office leases at Elizabeth on Seventh have been signed for approximately 34,000 square feet by companies including Lodging Capital Partners, Hord Coplan Macht, and LifeStance Health, Crescent said.
Five office spaces, ranging in size from 2,200 square feet to 4,900 square feet, are expected to be available this spring, Ned Austin, vice president of leasing at Crescent Communities, said in a statement. One of the move-in ready offices has been leased, Crescent said.
Elizabeth on Seventh has a total of 103,500 square feet, with 22,000 square feet for retail and restaurants on the ground floor. Only one retail space is available, Crescent said. The building has top-floor views of uptown and three patios, as well as adjacent parking.
Elizabeth on Seventh, a joint venture with Faison Enterprises and Crescent, is easily accessible to Interstates 77, 74 and 277, and the CityLYNX Gold Line. Other partners are Truist, Choate Construction, BB+M and LandDesign.
This story was originally published March 22, 2023 at 4:34 PM.