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Discover the Best New Restaurants in Charlotte

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by The OpenTable Team
Updated October 23, 2019

Locavore cuisine defines the best new restaurants in Charlotte, a contemporary trend centered around locally sourced ingredients. From Italian eateries in Uptown to downtown gastropubs and South End seafood spots, Charlotte's most innovative chefs take advantage of the incredible natural bounty of the region's mountains, plains, and waterways. The celebratory seasonal cuisine represents a new wave of culinary excellence across the Queen City. But where do the smartest, savviest foodies eat out in Charlotte when they want to go somewhere new? We studied data covering thousands of restaurants to discover the top spots according to OpenTable's most experienced diners. The following new names in Charlotte come highly recommended. Why not book a table and become one of the first to discover them?

Peppervine
4.8 (2231)
$50 and over
Contemporary American
SouthPark
Produce-forward small plates showcasing impeccable locally sourced ingredients are the signature of Peppervine, a spacious new restaurant in SouthPark. Several full-sized entrees also feature on the frequently changing dinner menu created by award-winning chef Bill Green. Some standouts among the small plates include squid ink bucatini with Spanish octopus, bone marrow and kale, a Thai-flavored fried chicken with papaya and burnt lime, and N.C. shrimp with grits, maque choux and tomato jus. Diners with bigger appetites might opt for such large plates as snapper baked in banana leaf and the 48-hour short rib pastrami.
Top review
LeslieVIP
Dined 6 days ago
We have eaten at Peppervine a number of times and enjoyed it. It wasn’t until took a guest with gluten allergies that we realized that Peppervine makes little to no provision for guests with dietary restrictions. The waiter did ask and did steer our guest away from an item that had gluten that you would not expect. However, there were no indications on the menu, no gluten-free pasta, bread, or crackers. This was surprising since we frequently eat at award-winning restaurants with these friends and have found even Michelin star restaurants have gluten-free pasta. Most surprising was that there was no real apology from anyone, just “We don’t have gluten-free pasta/bread/crackers, you’ll need to make another selection.”
Produce-forward small plates showcasing impeccable locally sourced ingredients are the signature of Peppervine, a spacious new restaurant in SouthPark. Several full-sized entrees also feature on the frequently changing dinner menu created by award-winning chef Bill Green. Some standouts among the small plates include squid ink bucatini with Spanish octopus, bone marrow and kale, a Thai-flavored fried chicken with papaya and burnt lime, and N.C. shrimp with grits, maque choux and tomato jus. Diners with bigger appetites might opt for such large plates as snapper baked in banana leaf and the 48-hour short rib pastrami.
Top review
LeslieVIP
Dined 6 days ago
We have eaten at Peppervine a number of times and enjoyed it. It wasn’t until took a guest with gluten allergies that we realized that Peppervine makes little to no provision for guests with dietary restrictions. The waiter did ask and did steer our guest away from an item that had gluten that you would not expect. However, there were no indications on the menu, no gluten-free pasta, bread, or crackers. This was surprising since we frequently eat at award-winning restaurants with these friends and have found even Michelin star restaurants have gluten-free pasta. Most surprising was that there was no real apology from anyone, just “We don’t have gluten-free pasta/bread/crackers, you’ll need to make another selection.”
forchetta
3.1 (550)
$31 to $50
Mediterranean
Uptown
For the lunch and dinner menus at his new Uptown restaurant forchetta, chef Luca Annunziata draws on the authentic cuisine of his hometown, Naples, as well as other regions of Italy. His enticing creations include an award-winning fagottini, a dish of lobster-stuffed crepes enveloped in vodka sauce, and elk meatballs in a saffron aurora sauce. Also expect perfected versions of Italian classics like veal osso buco and casarecce carbonara. Some more casual options include burgers and paninis. The sleek and modern yet warm space is attached to the Holiday Inn Charlotte City Center. Since forchetta’s summer 2019 opening it has proved a big hit among locals as well as hotel guests.
Top review
Andrew
Dined on Jun 22, 2025
Food was excellent and staff was very friendly. Would recommend.
For the lunch and dinner menus at his new Uptown restaurant forchetta, chef Luca Annunziata draws on the authentic cuisine of his hometown, Naples, as well as other regions of Italy. His enticing creations include an award-winning fagottini, a dish of lobster-stuffed crepes enveloped in vodka sauce, and elk meatballs in a saffron aurora sauce. Also expect perfected versions of Italian classics like veal osso buco and casarecce carbonara. Some more casual options include burgers and paninis. The sleek and modern yet warm space is attached to the Holiday Inn Charlotte City Center. Since forchetta’s summer 2019 opening it has proved a big hit among locals as well as hotel guests.
Top review
Andrew
Dined on Jun 22, 2025
Food was excellent and staff was very friendly. Would recommend.
Fin & Fino - Uptown Charlotte
4.7 (2998)
$31 to $50
Seafood
Uptown
Fin & Fino, which opened in Uptown in 2018, is committed to serving only the freshest sustainably sourced local fish and seafood, which it brings in daily. At least a dozen oysters feature on the raw bar menu every day, making Fin & Fino one of the best new restaurants in Charlotte for oyster aficionados. Tiki drinks are another signature, some served inside pineapples for a tropical touch. Highlights of the lunch and dinner menus include the "dish of fish" comprising six oysters, six NC shrimp, blue crab, mussels and a lobster tail, and the squid duo of squid ink shells and squid Bolognese. Diners tempted to try a bite of everything should opt for “The Treatment.” It’s an ever-changing tasting menu that includes a series of on- and off-menu items for a fixed price, $5 of which goes to a select charity.
Top review
NicoleVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Amazing experience, the bartenders added such a special touch to my birthday dinner. Fantastic cocktails!
Fin & Fino, which opened in Uptown in 2018, is committed to serving only the freshest sustainably sourced local fish and seafood, which it brings in daily. At least a dozen oysters feature on the raw bar menu every day, making Fin & Fino one of the best new restaurants in Charlotte for oyster aficionados. Tiki drinks are another signature, some served inside pineapples for a tropical touch. Highlights of the lunch and dinner menus include the "dish of fish" comprising six oysters, six NC shrimp, blue crab, mussels and a lobster tail, and the squid duo of squid ink shells and squid Bolognese. Diners tempted to try a bite of everything should opt for “The Treatment.” It’s an ever-changing tasting menu that includes a series of on- and off-menu items for a fixed price, $5 of which goes to a select charity.
Top review
NicoleVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Amazing experience, the bartenders added such a special touch to my birthday dinner. Fantastic cocktails!
Angeline's
4.6 (1546)
$31 to $50
Italian
Uptown
Angeline’s, an upscale casual restaurant inside the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, specializes in contemporary Northern Italian cuisine prepared with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The menus focus on wood-fired pizzas and house-made pastas, plus a range of handhelds at lunchtime and hearty entrees for dinner. Some dishes are traditional and straightforward, such as the Margherita and funghi pizzas, pappardelle Bolognese and a whipped ricotta and sourdough appetizer. Others are more complex creations like the cavoletti pizza topped with white sauce, pancetta, Brussels sprout leaves, Calabrian chiles and mozzarella, and the braised oxtail baguette sandwich. Angeline’s hosts a popular brunch on weekends.
Top review
Mary
Dined 4 days ago
Our kids gave us a gift certificate and we used it for our 38th wedding anniversary. We had a very delicious meal.
Angeline’s, an upscale casual restaurant inside the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, specializes in contemporary Northern Italian cuisine prepared with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The menus focus on wood-fired pizzas and house-made pastas, plus a range of handhelds at lunchtime and hearty entrees for dinner. Some dishes are traditional and straightforward, such as the Margherita and funghi pizzas, pappardelle Bolognese and a whipped ricotta and sourdough appetizer. Others are more complex creations like the cavoletti pizza topped with white sauce, pancetta, Brussels sprout leaves, Calabrian chiles and mozzarella, and the braised oxtail baguette sandwich. Angeline’s hosts a popular brunch on weekends.
Top review
Mary
Dined 4 days ago
Our kids gave us a gift certificate and we used it for our 38th wedding anniversary. We had a very delicious meal.
Flour Shop
4.6 (1221)
$31 to $50
American
Myers Park
Farm-to-table fare cooked over live fire is the signature of Flour Shop, certainly one of the best new restaurants in Charlotte. Chef-owner Trey Wilson uses produce from his own garden as well as top-quality seasonal ingredients from local farms. He turns to minimalist preparations to best showcase such ingredients. An exhibition kitchen is the centerpiece of the intimate, dinner-only restaurant. Diners can watch the chefs make fresh pasta by hand for some of Flour Shop’s most popular menu items, among them a bucatini with salami and zucchini, and lemon ricotta ravioli with sage, parmesan and almond. Other popular choices are the wood-fired Lady Edison pork chop and the grilled UGF mushroom appetizer.
Top review
Jessica
Dined 4 days ago
Food was great. Chef came by several times to check on us. Great ambiance and fun crowd.
Farm-to-table fare cooked over live fire is the signature of Flour Shop, certainly one of the best new restaurants in Charlotte. Chef-owner Trey Wilson uses produce from his own garden as well as top-quality seasonal ingredients from local farms. He turns to minimalist preparations to best showcase such ingredients. An exhibition kitchen is the centerpiece of the intimate, dinner-only restaurant. Diners can watch the chefs make fresh pasta by hand for some of Flour Shop’s most popular menu items, among them a bucatini with salami and zucchini, and lemon ricotta ravioli with sage, parmesan and almond. Other popular choices are the wood-fired Lady Edison pork chop and the grilled UGF mushroom appetizer.
Top review
Jessica
Dined 4 days ago
Food was great. Chef came by several times to check on us. Great ambiance and fun crowd.

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