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New Restaurants To Look For In Charlotte North Carolina For 2023

I’m a bit of a self-proclaimed “foodie.”  Quite simply, I just love food.  So, any time I run across news about dining out, I take notice.  Therefore, I wanted to…

New restaurants to look for in Charlotte North Carolina in 2023
(Photo by Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images)

I'm a bit of a self-proclaimed "foodie."  Quite simply, I just love food.  So, any time I run across news about dining out, I take notice.  Therefore, I wanted to share news I found in a Charlotte Magazine story about new restaurants to look for in Charlotte in the new year.  Some are new. But, others merely plan expansions with multiple locations.  If it's family style dining, steaks and a raw bar you seek, look for Leluia Hall.  Reports indicate it will open in Dilworth in what was Bonterra.  Spouses Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown are the restaurateurs behind it.  Secondly, Rea Farms in south Charlotte has a lot of fun things happening.  Just recently, Duck Donuts opened in that shopping center.  And now, Little Mama's Italian will have a second location there with an outdoor patio .  Plus, they will have a "Mozz Bar" making fresh mozzarella daily.

Next, the man behind one of my faves, "Porter's House," Jon Dressler is at it again.  The restaurateur plans to open Chapter 6 on Hawkins St., South End.  The spot occupies a 7000 square foot space overlooking the Rail Trail.  The menu with dishes from "around the world," sounds delicious.  Also, staying in the area, STK Steakhouse opens in summer in Uptown occupying the former Carolina Ale House.  I love a good steak.  And, that's exactly what we expect from STK, along with seafood and cocktails.

Of course, this is probably one I get most excited about.  Olde Mecklenburg Brewery opens a second location in Ballantyne.  We visit the Yancy Road location in Charlotte often, and it's always fun.  They offer tasty food and a biergarten.  Along with award-winning brews, we enjoy their amazing burgers and soft pretzels.  I really love the smoked pork nachos.  The new space promises a 7000 square foot patio, a second floor private event space and family playground.  There's a lot to get excited about with these new restaurants to look for in Charlotte.

List: The 10 Best Charlotte Restaurants According To Open Table

Looking for the perfect meal in Charlotte? With new restaurants opening all the time, it can be hard to choose your next destination. Is that new place down the street any good? Or is it just crowded because it's new? What are the best Charlotte restaurants? Well, luckily Open Table has a review feature where you can easily review the restaurants you dine at. And many of them have 1000s of reviews. Reviews can be a great way to find good spots for date night, a special occasion, or a spontaneous meal out.

Here are the 10 Best Charlotte Restaurants according to Open Table. Keep in mind this list only features restaurants that allow reservations through Open Table.

Community Matters Cafe

Location: 821 W 1st St Charlotte

Cuisine: Breakfast and Lunch/American

Description: Community Matters Café is an extension program of Charlotte Rescue Mission, an addiction recovery program that offers its 120-day recovery program free of charge. Recognizing that graduates of the recovery program needed additional support to secure long-term employment, Charlotte Rescue Mission launched the Life Skills Program at Community Matters Café in 2019.

The Melting Pot Charlotte-Lake Norman

Location: 16625 Statesville Rd Huntersville

Cuisine: Fondue

Description: The Melting Pot is Huntersville’s fine-dining destination, with mouthwatering offerings for people with all tastes. One bite is all takes to make a fondue believer out of you. Whether you’re arrived for drinks, cheese, and chocolate, or you want to experience the full 4-Course Experience, you’ll leave a fan of our gourmet fondue.

McNinch House

Location: 511 N. Church St. Charlotte

Cuisine: Continental

Description: The circa 1892 Queen Anne style home of Victorian-era Charlotte Mayor Sam McNinch has served for the last 30 years as the McNinch House Restaurant. The McNinch House Restaurant is the perfect place for your anniversaries, birthdays, or any time you need to make it memorable.

Novanta Pizzeria Napoletana

Location: 120 Langtree Village Dr #102, Mooresville

Cuisine: Italian

Description: The owners of Brooklyn South and Brooklyn Boys Pizzeria's are venturing again to bring you truly Authentic pizza. Pizza cooked by wood fire in 90 seconds. Among pizza stay tuned for the finest, truly authentic, rustic Italian dishes from different regions of Italy. Enjoy our extensive wine and beer indoor/outdoor bar and private dining area for your most exclusive intimate celebrations.

O-Ku - Charlotte

Location: 2000 South Blvd Suite 510, Charlotte

Cuisine: Sushi

Description: O-Ku Sushi Charlotte celebrates authentic Asian cuisine with a southern approach with a menu that focuses on unique ingredients and sophisticated presentations. From petite plates to sushi specialties, Chef Bachieng Phankhaysy showcases the freshest fish from the world’s finest markets in areas such as Norway, Scotland, Hawaii and New Zealand, as well as local sustainable sources.

Steak 48

Location: 4425 Sharon Rd, Charlotte

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Description:
Steak 48 is an award-winning, contemporary steakhouse with a vibrant atmosphere and an upscale environment. Brought to you by James Beard semifinalists Jeffrey Mastro, Mike Mastro, and Scott Trolio, this is a steak house unmatched in its likeness.

Copper

Location: 311 East Blvd, Charlotte

Cuisine: Indian

Description: Welcome to Copper. Located at 311 East Boulevard sits the Mayer House of Southend, a turn-of-the-century bungalow rich in local and national history. Meticulously updated and stylized with a modern interpretation of Indian artistic flair, the Mayer house is a perfect backdrop of our presentation of modern Indian cuisine.
Here at copper, you will come to know Indian food in a new and extraordinary way. Without losing a single spice from the ancient Indian tradition, we bring you a dining experience that is distinctly modern yet delightfully traditional.

The Melting Pot Charlotte

Location:901 S Kings Dr, Ste 140B Charlotte

Cuisine: Fondue

Description: Take a night off from your routine and try something special at The Melting Pot in Charlotte. Located in Midtown across the street from Little Sugar Creek Greenway, we have something on our fondue menu for all tastes, from artisan cheeses to indulgent chocolate melted to perfection at your table. If you indulge in the full 4-Course Experience, we also deliver freshly made salads with signature dressings and customizable entrée options, including succulent seafood, fresh veggies, and savory and chicken. Enhance the flavor even more with our signature dipping sauces.

Dolce Osteria

Location: 1710 Kenilworth Ave, Charlotte

Cuisine: Italian

Description: We thought of a place that had two ingredients: pasta and happiness, we added the warmth of home respecting the original recipes of our Italian grandmothers. The tradition of pasta prepared every day by the expert hands of our Rita, we dream to unite the world around this simple ingredient so loved by the world.

Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails

Location: 1320 S Church St Suite 400, Charlotte

Cuisine: Contemporary Ameican

Description: Nestled next door to Craft Tasting Room and Growler shop. Alyson and Dan Davis designed Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails to be local inside and out, from the small plates menu to the space itself.  The seasonal small plate menus’ are inspired by the roots of the region and local farmers. The restaurant is also known for innovative cocktails featuring house made shrubs, sodas, barrel-aged cocktails and curated wine list.  The restaurants midcentury nostalgic rustic yet refined design finds the balance between nature and modern, featuring a moss wall, lime washed brick, a walnut live edge bar, 48 seat dining room and a 30 seat roof top deck.

Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.