The King's Kitchen

Address:
129 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Neighborhood:
Charlotte

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Cuisine:
Southern

Price: $30 and under

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The King's Kitchen Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.kingskitchen.org
Email: info@kingskitchen.org
Phone: (704) 375-1990
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:00am - 2:30pm Dinner: Monday - Saturday 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Southern, Organic
Executive Chef: Jesse Spann
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Beer, Counter Seating, Farm to Table, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Getting there

Cross Street: Church
Parking: Public Lot
Parking Details: Street parking is available in metered spaces on Church St (North of Trade St) and on Trade St (West of Church St).

A word from The King's Kitchen

The King's Kitchen is a not for profit restaurant that fuels economic vitality, growth in Charlotte's Center City and the greater metropolitan area creating jobs and supporting community development. First, the restaurant will employ a segment of our community that is considered unemployable, from… people who have come out of prison and rehab, to youths that are at high risk from dropping out of school. Once employed, they will receive training to run a full service restaurant from the front of the house to the back. They will also receive leadership and spiritual training as well in order to gain the life skills that are necessary to be successful in today's job market. Secondly, the profits from The King's Kitchen will provide funds and/or foods for established feeding centers in the community to provide meals for those in need. Designed to operate profitably, all profits will be used to help feed the hungry here in Charlotte, surrounding areas and in other parts of the world.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerKid Friendly

Diner Reviews

"The food was excellent as normal. We were seated in the bar area which we have never been seated before. A large party came in and swarmed the bar resulting in the bar tender being unable to come back to his tables. I have never seen one bar tender have to take care of SO many people! I have been to this restaurant multiple times and this has never happened. It took us a long time after finishing our entree to order a dessert and also to get our drinks re-filled. The food was excellent and the service was a good attempt as the entire staff appeared very stressed and restaurant hectic which is not the norm for King's Kitchen. We'll definitely be back soon!"
Dined on 4/4/2014
"I will come back again. Loved the mixed atmosphere(groups and intimate dining). The pot roast was sooo tender and a very large portion. Would loved to had a larger amount of the veggies thou. Have already told others about my experience and they should try it too."
Dined on 3/14/2014
"I dropped by this restaurant while on a visit from out of town. I absolutely loved this restuarant. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Also the proceeds go back to the community!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Our second visit to this restaurant, a not-for-profit ministry, the service and food was very good. For starters we chose the artisan cheeses with bread. Then our group chose (a) skillet fried chicken (very moist) with mashed potatoes, basil corn, and green beans plus (b) the duck breast special served over a bean combination as well as (3) pork chops with hominy grits and leeks. We shared the lemon cheesecake with blueberry compote for dessert. Charity, our waitress, saw to our every need, and we were pleased with her recommendations. Everyone dining seemed to be enjoying their meals and all were talking so the noise level was high but not intolerable."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"You can absolutely count on King's Kitchen for delicious locally-sourced food, knowledgeable and helpful servers and quick service. I recommend it without reservation. Looking forward to going again!"
Dined on 3/6/2014
"This restaurant is located in a busy part of downtown Charlotte where most restaurants of this caliber will validate parking at local parking garage. This restaurant, however, leaves customers totally on their own. After driving around downtown looking for a spot for 30 minutes we finally found a spot that was too expensive for just going to eat at a restaurant. Food here was great, but the stress & expense of just trying to get there is simply not worth it."
Dined on 2/27/2014
"You can't go wrong here. Great food, amazing cause (not for profit restaurant), and convenient."
Dined on 2/24/2014
"The food was excellent - love the biscuits and cornbread on the table to do with your meal - but it was our server who made it a great meal. Very knowledgeable about the menu, courteous, check on us often and didn't rush us out the door after we had completed the meal. Great experience."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"Overall I love the concept of King's Kitchen, however the food fell short of expectations. The NY Strip was restaurant grade that you would get a Denny's and lacked any spices (even simple seasoning). My wife did enjoy the scallops and wine was very generous pours."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"What's not to like? An interesting variety of very nice dishes, unbeatable service, home-cooking feel but with flair, fair prices and a mission for helping others that's unmatched. A great restaurant!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Had the southern fried chicken and it was as good as advertised. The fried oysters with greens was a wonderfully flavorful appetizer."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"This is a charitable restaurant that serves a good breakfast. Service was particularly slow. There was almost nothing on the menu that was not cooked with pork."
Dined on 2/6/2014
"Delicious southern cooking! We loved it so we had to take the kids. They loved it too! Will return many times over!"
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Food is delicious, atmosphere is warm and inviting, and staff do their best to make you feel like company. Love this place. Best part is the mission!"
Dined on 2/15/2014
"I had been aware of Kings Kitchen for about 2 years and had heard good things about it. However, with so many good places to eat in Charlotte, especially uptown, we simply never ate there, until last Saturday night. I was so pleased with the information provided while making my reservation (for 8 people) and with the information provided about dishes once we arrived. On top of all that, the food was great; actually better than i anticipated. I will certainly eat there again and will absolutely take friends there."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Very well executed southern cuisine. The evening started with incredible appetizers that included oysters with colored greens and red eye gravy to sweet potato fritters with drizzled honey on top. For main courses, my wife had fried chicken with Collard Greens and creamed potatoes and gravy. A hearty meal for sure, but the flavors just soared and there were plenty of leftovers. I had the grilled salmon with white bean cassoulet and arugula pesto. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but the pesto mixed in with the white beans created a powerful flavor combination that I find myself still wanting several days later. I highly recommend trying this restaurant and I know I will be returning regularly."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Good food - but a little too bright, noisy and busy to qualify as "fine dining"(as website leads you to believe). I tried some type of salmon and salad - it was ok, but found myself wishing for the fried chicken, potato salad, and Mac and cheese ordered by my husband! Their specialty seems to be down-home Southern cooking....which is great.....and we love the concept of non profit --- supporting the local community, supporting back-to-work programs, etc.......but my advice: don't try to be something you are not, which disappoints people....... Stick to good , home style Southern dishes - charge fair, decent prices - offer good service ..and people will keep coming back! Especially to support the community!"
Dined on 1/25/2014
"My First visit was very good. I'm looking forward to my next time."
Dined on 1/27/2014
"We ate here at 830 Friday night, restaurant 30% full. Service was prompt. Menu adequate. Food very homestyle for typical southern fare. Very surprised by our bill, $120 dollars. Our daughter only had an appetizer and my husband a beer. This would be great for a group as it is very relaxed and casual."
Dined on 1/24/2014
"This was my third time at The King's Kitchen and it did not disappoint! The service is great and the food was excellent. Looking forward to next time!"
Dined on 1/24/2014
"Fanastic Food experience. Our favs: Seared Scallops, Flounder, Mac and Cheese and Pimento Cheese Cornbread. The service was friendly. We will be back!"
Dined on 1/18/2014
"The side dishes were delicious, perfectly seasoned. the skillet fried chicken was very dry and not hot. the manager admitted that the chicken is prepared 10 minutes in advanced then placed in the oven. That's a NO-NO for chicken especially breast. IT WILL BE DRY and it was. Advice to the restaurant: cook your skillet chicken to order. It probably takes 20 minutes. For good food, people don't mind the wait."
Dined on 1/10/2014
"Very friendly & attentive staff. The pan fried chicken and pimento cornbread were both delicious. Great lunch place in uptown for southern bistro cuisine!"
Dined on 1/4/2014
"We went to celebrate my wife's birthday. Parking was easy and location was not hard to find. The Sweet Potato Fritters were out of this world. They were light and airy and just the right size. My wife had Aunt Beaut's fried chicken and roasted beets. The beets were her favorite. The chicken was great, juicy and favorful, the mashed potatos were smooth. I had the Flounder and Mac&Cheese. The fish was superb and the mac&cheese was better than expected. We arrived at 5:30 and the crowd was light. By 6:30 the place was filling up and the atmosphere was wonderful. I would recommend the King's Kitchen highly. We will be back! Thanks for a great night out!"
Dined on 1/4/2014
"I'm from Jax FL and accidentally found TKK about 2 years ago on urbanspoon. I was attracted to it because it's nonprofit. Once I tried the food, which was EXTREMELY reasonably priced with large portions, not to mention everything is made fresh from scratch, I was hooked! When I decided to spend NYE in Charlotte, I knew this was going to be on my list of places to eat. I took my (local) friend who had never been there before because he HAD to try this deliciousness! We both loved it. The service was wonderful and the food, phenomenal!! I'll definitely be a regular when I relocate!"
Dined on 12/30/2013
"After hearing about how King's Kitchen helps homeless people get back on their feet, we knew we had to go there during our stopover in Charlotte. Welcoming hostess, fantastic service, and fabulous southern cooking ... we had a wonderful evening. Limited beer and wine list, but good enough. Our server, Angela's, was knowledgeable and gracious. I had vegetable plate which was scrumptious and my fiancé had the fried chicken. This concept should be repeated in every city where homelessness is a problem. Chefs around the country several restaurants in an area. With corporate and private assistance, we can rehabilitate people and help to eliminate homelessness."
Dined on 1/4/2014
"Our party of four had a great early dinner on New Year's Eve. The food was excellent (esp the fried oyster app) and the service from Charity was superior. Highly recommended"
Dined on 12/31/2013
"Excellent food. Great concept for a restaurant and everyone was VERY, VERY nice. We had a great time and would definitely recommend The King's Kitchen. I hope the restaurant continues to do well!"
Dined on 12/31/2013
"One of our favorite restaurants in Charlotte. The menu features locally-sourced ingredients and elegant versions of classic Southern tastes. The staff is rightly proud of its fried chicken. The biscuits and the cornbread are some of the best you'll find outside your mother's kitchen, though the cornbread could use a bit less butter. The amount of butter in and on the cornbread makes it a little too soft under the teeth and a little too buttery and greasy on the tongue. The side dishes are consistently excellent. We're especially fond of the collards, the green beans, and the mashed potatoes. The appetizer menu is interesting and the service is always very friendly, professional, and prompt."
Dined on 12/21/2013
"We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at The King's Kitchen. We were seated immediately and served promptly with excellent service from Stuart. We started our meal with the hot pimento cheese and it was a delicious indicator of how great all of our dinners would be. Our table ordered the shrimp and grits, chicken and dumplings, salmon, and steak, and everyone had to try each other's food because it was so good! The story behind The King's Kitchen, friendly staff, and awesome food made this restaurant a perfect place for a Christmas season dinner out with friends on our first trip to Charlotte!"
Dined on 12/14/2013
"We had a good meal, as always, but it was really crowded due to a large group. Our waitress wasn't serving them but her service was very spotty, which is unusual for them. Our waitress basically forgot us, and we had to flag her down every time we wanted something. We asked for condiments when the food was brought and she took so long to bring them, we asked another young lady to bring them. IMHO a server should ask beforehand what condiments you would like so she knows what to bring when the food is served. It took 20 minutes after the dishes were cleared for her to bring the check! People at the bar who sat down after us got quicker service and finished before us. Don't sit at the two top next to the TV, it's no man's land."
Dined on 12/7/2013
"Good was good, service was good, their mission is awesome."
Dined on 12/4/2013
"While the menu options are fairly limited based on the season, this restaurant has a great vibe, good food, and even better mission. The place had great ambiance and a good selection of food - southern, seafood, salad, and excellent dessert. We had a small group for an after work dinner (with people from all areas of the country) and the menu appealed to them. They felt it was a farm to table style dinner in the city. While the offerings don't mimic that precisely, I will say everything was impeccable. Will definitely go back and recommend to others."
Dined on 12/3/2013
"I have been here during a weekday lunch and it was packed and food was good. However, my husband and I went for dinner the other night and it was the complete opposite. We were sat near no one else and though the staff was excellent, the wait time for some of our food items and overall was a bit more than expected. Food was good, but not great."
Dined on 11/30/2013
"Truly a fun evening! Relaxed setting with attentive service. Updated Southern Classic cuisine was excellent."
Dined on 11/30/2013
"The fried chicken was a lot of what previous people raved about but we thought it was just ok. My husband loved the cornbread. We loved our waiter and the decor was nice as well."
Dined on 11/15/2013
"Decided last-minute to eat in uptown Charlotte before a nearby concert, and The King's Kitchen came through with availability, quick service, and wonderful meat-and-three plates. Had roasted golden beets for the first time, which were amazing. As usual, there were a few people there but we had no problem getting a table. That's good for us, but I don't understand why this is always the case ... it's centrally located in uptown, the food is terrific, you leave full and satisfied, you can purchase bakery items to take with you, and the servers are friendly and helpful. Wish I got to eat here more often!"
Dined on 11/22/2013
"Had high hopes for this place but was disappointed to learn that they have run out of chicken for the night they even ran out of glasses to serve soda in I found both of these extremely weird"
Dined on 11/18/2013
"Service was a little slow but to be honest, they were slammed. The food is spectacular and I plan on heading back ASAP. I have read about the operation and applaud them for giving back to the community."
Dined on 11/15/2013
"The staff was so helpful and positive. They shared responsibilities since the restaurant was so busy. Food was fabulous. And not the usual fare."
Dined on 11/15/2013

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The King's Kitchen Details

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