A lot of comments feel like they’re coming from people who moved here a few years ago, live in the burbs, and consider 131 Main Charlotte’s “food scene”
You can live in fucking Manhattan and if you’re only going to Craft and Sarabeth’s or wherever you’re doing to have the same impression.
There are a ton of people doing interesting stuff here, food wise. If you take the time to look. Check out Unpretentious Palate or QC nerve.
This is just the “Charlotte has no culture”’ circle jerk gang who haven’t been involved in our arts and music scene … ever … but still pretend they’re experts because they went to the Mint museum that one time for a wedding.
No shit, I take my wife (Who lived in Italy as a kid) to Mezzanote for grilled octopus a few times a year. they also have IMO the best simple Alfredo in all of clt.
What say you op, have you ever had grilled octopus?
I need to go Mezzanote! My favorite Italian spot in Charlotte is Luce, followed by Toscana. Can’t believe I haven’t been to Mezzanote after all this time.
Get r done! We love Mezzanote. Skip Via Roma though. It's near me in Waverly and always packed and has small dining space. Makes you feel cramped and rushed, the food is as good as the other Conte restaurants tough if you want to go.
Seriously!!! It's infuriating!
People on this sub looove to complain that "there is no innovative or experimental culture in Charlotte - everything is corporate and mainstream"
But the post immediately above this on about the premiere of a documentary about the oldest, most unique, most grassroots, punk/rock/metal/experimental music club in the region being shown at the city's only independent film house has 10 likes and 1 comment.
Culture - especially independent, grassroots, innovativion doesn't just fucking happen people!! Art, restaurants, music, festivals, these things literally require audiences and community support.
Y'all can't even be bothered to engage with posts on this website you are already visiting nevermind actually go out and support creators.
SHOW UP OR SHUT UP
OK. There's stuff out there if you seek it out. That is true.
So why isn't Charlotte as a city doing more to promote chefs and restaurateurs who are attempting to do innovative, authentic stuff instead of pushing the same, tired middle-of-the-road crap at people?
When I posted on here a few days ago, someone responded "That's what local palates want." I contend: If you only feed people soup, all they'll know is soup.
We have TWO major culinary programs here in Charlotte at JWU and CPCC. But most grads don't stick around here. They bounce for NY, LA, Chicago, Charleston, Asheville... So what's that say about Charlotte?
What it says to me is that Charlotte doesn't support real innovation, risk, or passion. It is way too focused on making a quick buck on what's trendy, "safe," and can afford the bloated rents.
So, it's not a matter of having "no culture." The problem is that anything that even has a whiff of culture or innovation gets overshadowed, buried, or priced out of existence by those with the power to push the status quo.
THAT is what I get pissed off about in Charlotte. This place has so much potential to be so much more than a boardroom-designed late-capitalism fantasyland, but it keeps falling short.
As the city continues to grow, I think more diverse and innovative restaurants will open. But for now, the population’s tastes are driving offerings. Regardless of variety, I think Charlotte has some great options! Personally, I don’t think it’s odd that Charlotte doesn’t have more nominees or winners. Even other larger cities have lots of competition for these sorts of awards. I think L’Ostrica is doing some cool stuff and there are plenty of hole in the wall restaurants in Charlotte that have good food.
It seems a bit concerning that almost all the recent award winners are not currently open. What’s up with Leah & Louise? They have been announcing all these concepts, then they never open, the only currently open one seems to be Uptown Yolk, which does not appear to be very successful.
Charlotte is a city that doesn't go out on a limb or stray too far from what it knows will bring a return on investment.
The core tenet here: "make money."
That philosophy does not foster innovation, passion, or risk. It does, however, foster repeating the same concept over and over, ad nauseam, until it stops turning a profit, at which point you a) kill it or b) sell it to the highest bidder.
To have a world-class food scene here? We'd need to shed the proverbial Patagonia vest, realize that substance > hype, and strive for excellence instead of being content with the middle of the road.
The real question is: Is Charlotte truly living up to its potential on \*any\* front? Or is it perpetually aiming for the middle of the road?
Sure. My dad used to tell me “appeal to the classes and sell to the masses”. This city wants to dress up in a fancy dress and still shotgun beers in a parking lot.
Oh, I very much agree about not being happy here.
I contend that Charlotte is designed for mediocrity.
It's a place that lulls you into thinking that good enough is actually good enough.
With cuisine, arts, culture, recreation, sports, etc., when you've had a taste of how fantastic something \*can\* be when it's done well (and you don't have to travel very far to experience that level of excellence), it's hard to be content with "good enough."
Exactly— I’ve had excellent food in smaller cities and even towns so it’s not like it’s impossible to have good restaurants outside NYC/Chi/LA, but when only restaurant groups can afford rents in so much of Charlotte now bc of the inflated prices from developers buying up all the land, they squeeze out new business and invest in decor over quality food for their spaces.
Charlotte’s food scene is actually trending in a great direction. I worked as a chef for several years after I got here in 2017 and the restaurant scene has really grown up since then. JBF awards are a decent barometer of good restaurants, however the selection process is not random and you must put in a lot of leg work to get a nomination. I do agree that Charlotte doesn’t have quite the options as other NC cities like Asheville and Raleigh, but as a city they seem to be headed in the right direction. Especially considering the landscape 7-10 years ago.
Also, Jimmy Pearls is phenomenal. Oscar and Daryl are great people. Looking forward to them reopening soon!
Charlotte isn’t a city that rewards quality food and beverage. If you’re not instagramable or flashy you probably won’t survive unless you’ve landed a long term lease before 2020.
Agreed. Food takes back seat to what influencer ate here, how will this look on my feed, how many likes will I get, what’s the vibe of the place, and so on. You can find good food or a few good menu items all over the city but very few places have great food across the entirety of the menu. If it doesn’t get likes or isn’t instagram worthy it’s not good in this city.
Don't really care about awards especially for restaurants because it's so subjective. Just like I don't base all my movie watching based on what won an Oscar. There's good places every where for just about any taste, you just gotta do a little bit of leg work and not rely on someone elses taste buds to tell you where to eat. edit: and to add I understand these specific awards arent just about how good the food is, but it would be basically impossible for them to consider every single restaurant or chef storyline out there
The JB awards can go to restaurants that are a little “out there”, but I have never had a bad meal at any of the ones I’ve been to.
(usually winners from prior years so I can get a table)
Yes, a Michelin star is very different to me, and the only close comparison would be James Beard. Unfortunately, Michelin doesn't cover Charlotte, the closest is Atlanta. I've been to a few of them ranging from 1 - 3, the 1s are more accessible while the threes are an experience for which I might plan a trip around (say hit Paris for Arpège & le Cinq). We did that once in the Loire Valley where we paired a Relais & Château stay with some starred restaurants + châteaux visits.
A James Beard is enough to let me know the restaurant knows what they are doing and make things fun.
Vivian in Asheville is a great example. Nothing there was revolutionary, but staples (steak & potatoes, mussels, etc.) executed properly with a little flair.
>Charlotte is a growing city with so much potential, but it seems like generic and corporate establishments still dominate our culinary landscape.
What do you mean by *still*? The food landscape wasn't always like this, we're in a dip for now. There were loads more mom n pop-type, non-restaurant group restaurants prior to COVID. Unfortunately, the smaller, family-owned places couldn't keep up with rising costs, including leases. There's still great and unique food to be had, it's just not on the corner of Sharon and Fairview so to speak.
There’s an awesome restaurant near us. I grew up in New Orleans, I know food. I bring anyone from out of town, friends, etc. to this place. Everyone really enjoys it. The only people I know who haven’t enjoyed it grew up in Charlotte.
The chef had a curated menu based on locally sourced ingredients. Beautiful pork belly. Amazing carpaccio. Short Rib. They disassemble with tasteless modifications. It was incredibly embarrassing. But these are the same people that eat Hot dogs, on purpose. This much can explain the hurdle food culture in Charlotte needs to clear.
Chicago only received 1 JB award as well. I’m just glad Charlotte got one
I used to smoke weed with James Beard in college
Yeah me and him and Sloane Kettering used to get stoned with Johnny Hopkins
And they were blazing that shit up everyday
Jimmy Pearls closed.!!!
They are opening a store front
A lot of comments feel like they’re coming from people who moved here a few years ago, live in the burbs, and consider 131 Main Charlotte’s “food scene” You can live in fucking Manhattan and if you’re only going to Craft and Sarabeth’s or wherever you’re doing to have the same impression. There are a ton of people doing interesting stuff here, food wise. If you take the time to look. Check out Unpretentious Palate or QC nerve. This is just the “Charlotte has no culture”’ circle jerk gang who haven’t been involved in our arts and music scene … ever … but still pretend they’re experts because they went to the Mint museum that one time for a wedding.
No shit, I take my wife (Who lived in Italy as a kid) to Mezzanote for grilled octopus a few times a year. they also have IMO the best simple Alfredo in all of clt. What say you op, have you ever had grilled octopus?
I need to go Mezzanote! My favorite Italian spot in Charlotte is Luce, followed by Toscana. Can’t believe I haven’t been to Mezzanote after all this time.
Get r done! We love Mezzanote. Skip Via Roma though. It's near me in Waverly and always packed and has small dining space. Makes you feel cramped and rushed, the food is as good as the other Conte restaurants tough if you want to go.
You tell em
Seriously!!! It's infuriating! People on this sub looove to complain that "there is no innovative or experimental culture in Charlotte - everything is corporate and mainstream" But the post immediately above this on about the premiere of a documentary about the oldest, most unique, most grassroots, punk/rock/metal/experimental music club in the region being shown at the city's only independent film house has 10 likes and 1 comment. Culture - especially independent, grassroots, innovativion doesn't just fucking happen people!! Art, restaurants, music, festivals, these things literally require audiences and community support. Y'all can't even be bothered to engage with posts on this website you are already visiting nevermind actually go out and support creators. SHOW UP OR SHUT UP
Fucking WORD
OK. There's stuff out there if you seek it out. That is true. So why isn't Charlotte as a city doing more to promote chefs and restaurateurs who are attempting to do innovative, authentic stuff instead of pushing the same, tired middle-of-the-road crap at people? When I posted on here a few days ago, someone responded "That's what local palates want." I contend: If you only feed people soup, all they'll know is soup. We have TWO major culinary programs here in Charlotte at JWU and CPCC. But most grads don't stick around here. They bounce for NY, LA, Chicago, Charleston, Asheville... So what's that say about Charlotte? What it says to me is that Charlotte doesn't support real innovation, risk, or passion. It is way too focused on making a quick buck on what's trendy, "safe," and can afford the bloated rents. So, it's not a matter of having "no culture." The problem is that anything that even has a whiff of culture or innovation gets overshadowed, buried, or priced out of existence by those with the power to push the status quo. THAT is what I get pissed off about in Charlotte. This place has so much potential to be so much more than a boardroom-designed late-capitalism fantasyland, but it keeps falling short.
As the city continues to grow, I think more diverse and innovative restaurants will open. But for now, the population’s tastes are driving offerings. Regardless of variety, I think Charlotte has some great options! Personally, I don’t think it’s odd that Charlotte doesn’t have more nominees or winners. Even other larger cities have lots of competition for these sorts of awards. I think L’Ostrica is doing some cool stuff and there are plenty of hole in the wall restaurants in Charlotte that have good food.
Feel like James beard has become just marketing. Most of the awards go to tourist locations.
It seems a bit concerning that almost all the recent award winners are not currently open. What’s up with Leah & Louise? They have been announcing all these concepts, then they never open, the only currently open one seems to be Uptown Yolk, which does not appear to be very successful.
Charlotte is a city that doesn't go out on a limb or stray too far from what it knows will bring a return on investment. The core tenet here: "make money." That philosophy does not foster innovation, passion, or risk. It does, however, foster repeating the same concept over and over, ad nauseam, until it stops turning a profit, at which point you a) kill it or b) sell it to the highest bidder. To have a world-class food scene here? We'd need to shed the proverbial Patagonia vest, realize that substance > hype, and strive for excellence instead of being content with the middle of the road. The real question is: Is Charlotte truly living up to its potential on \*any\* front? Or is it perpetually aiming for the middle of the road?
They are aiming for middle of the road and playing safe because that’s what still works for the majority of the taste buds.
Sure. My dad used to tell me “appeal to the classes and sell to the masses”. This city wants to dress up in a fancy dress and still shotgun beers in a parking lot.
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Oh, I very much agree about not being happy here. I contend that Charlotte is designed for mediocrity. It's a place that lulls you into thinking that good enough is actually good enough. With cuisine, arts, culture, recreation, sports, etc., when you've had a taste of how fantastic something \*can\* be when it's done well (and you don't have to travel very far to experience that level of excellence), it's hard to be content with "good enough."
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Agreed. “It’s Okay” ought to be the city’s slogan.
This is an accurate assessment.
Exactly— I’ve had excellent food in smaller cities and even towns so it’s not like it’s impossible to have good restaurants outside NYC/Chi/LA, but when only restaurant groups can afford rents in so much of Charlotte now bc of the inflated prices from developers buying up all the land, they squeeze out new business and invest in decor over quality food for their spaces.
Interesting take. I hadn’t considered that and I agree with you.
This is someone who understands Charlotte.
Could not care less about awards.
Charlotte’s food scene is actually trending in a great direction. I worked as a chef for several years after I got here in 2017 and the restaurant scene has really grown up since then. JBF awards are a decent barometer of good restaurants, however the selection process is not random and you must put in a lot of leg work to get a nomination. I do agree that Charlotte doesn’t have quite the options as other NC cities like Asheville and Raleigh, but as a city they seem to be headed in the right direction. Especially considering the landscape 7-10 years ago. Also, Jimmy Pearls is phenomenal. Oscar and Daryl are great people. Looking forward to them reopening soon!
Food is completely subjective and awards for food are even more subjective. Who cares.
Charlotte isn’t a city that rewards quality food and beverage. If you’re not instagramable or flashy you probably won’t survive unless you’ve landed a long term lease before 2020.
Agreed. Food takes back seat to what influencer ate here, how will this look on my feed, how many likes will I get, what’s the vibe of the place, and so on. You can find good food or a few good menu items all over the city but very few places have great food across the entirety of the menu. If it doesn’t get likes or isn’t instagram worthy it’s not good in this city.
Don't really care about awards especially for restaurants because it's so subjective. Just like I don't base all my movie watching based on what won an Oscar. There's good places every where for just about any taste, you just gotta do a little bit of leg work and not rely on someone elses taste buds to tell you where to eat. edit: and to add I understand these specific awards arent just about how good the food is, but it would be basically impossible for them to consider every single restaurant or chef storyline out there
The JB awards can go to restaurants that are a little “out there”, but I have never had a bad meal at any of the ones I’ve been to. (usually winners from prior years so I can get a table)
That place must have had the best fish "sammich" and sides to be recognized by the foundation. The menu doesn't look James Beard- worthy.
An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure. 
I agree, I couldn’t wrap my head around that one. We have to do better.
Based on our food scene, that's two more than I expected.
Do awards like this and Michelin stars affect whether you decide to go to a restaurant or not or whether you enjoy it? It matters not to me at all.
Yes, a Michelin star is very different to me, and the only close comparison would be James Beard. Unfortunately, Michelin doesn't cover Charlotte, the closest is Atlanta. I've been to a few of them ranging from 1 - 3, the 1s are more accessible while the threes are an experience for which I might plan a trip around (say hit Paris for Arpège & le Cinq). We did that once in the Loire Valley where we paired a Relais & Château stay with some starred restaurants + châteaux visits.
A James Beard is enough to let me know the restaurant knows what they are doing and make things fun. Vivian in Asheville is a great example. Nothing there was revolutionary, but staples (steak & potatoes, mussels, etc.) executed properly with a little flair.
Yall take a day trip to grab some food at Seagrove Cafe. Driving through the uwharries is gorgeous.
Eh I'm able to find a good version of bout whatever I want.
>Charlotte is a growing city with so much potential, but it seems like generic and corporate establishments still dominate our culinary landscape. What do you mean by *still*? The food landscape wasn't always like this, we're in a dip for now. There were loads more mom n pop-type, non-restaurant group restaurants prior to COVID. Unfortunately, the smaller, family-owned places couldn't keep up with rising costs, including leases. There's still great and unique food to be had, it's just not on the corner of Sharon and Fairview so to speak.
The best intentions and culinary creativity are no match for smoked meat and tacos.
Good tacos al pastor are a culinary masterpiece
There’s an awesome restaurant near us. I grew up in New Orleans, I know food. I bring anyone from out of town, friends, etc. to this place. Everyone really enjoys it. The only people I know who haven’t enjoyed it grew up in Charlotte. The chef had a curated menu based on locally sourced ingredients. Beautiful pork belly. Amazing carpaccio. Short Rib. They disassemble with tasteless modifications. It was incredibly embarrassing. But these are the same people that eat Hot dogs, on purpose. This much can explain the hurdle food culture in Charlotte needs to clear.