A Taste Of Charlotte

One thing’s for sure – Charlotte is quite the foodie city. Each year, a new slew of restaurants, bars, cafes, eateries and dives open their doors to the public, offering new flavors and new atmosphere. This year is no exception but hey, we love checking out the newest concepts brought to the QC. Here are some of the newest spots looking to put their names on the map – and here’s to hoping these places offer eccentric dishes, delicious cocktails and plenty of Friday nights out. Cheers!

Hubee D’s Tenders & Wings
Hubee D’s is the newest shop to hit Providence Road. Known for their fresh, never frozen signature chicken tenders sliced in house; this location will be set at the corner of Middleton and Providence, across from Boston Market. While some may consider this fast food, Hubee D’s prefers to be called what it really is: “fast fine food”. The jumbo wings are slow smoked for hours in special seasoning while the cole slaw and cornbread are made fresh daily each morning. While you can get your order fast, Hubee D’s prides itself on quality and freshness. With three shops in the Charleston area that are already locals’ favorites, the new Charlotte location is set to open mid-March and is bringing their amazing banana pudding with them.
815 Providence Rd. | HubeeDs.com

Block & Grinder
Eager patrons have been driving by the former Panda Express location in Cotswold for months now, waiting for Block & Grinder to open their doors. It shouldn’t be too much longer now as owners are finishing up the décor and putting the final touches on the bar area. Block & Grinder is part butcher shop, offering customers’ fresh cuts of steaks, priced from $15 to the low $30s, as well as house made deli meats and high-end burgers with the meat ground daily throughout the day, and fashioned with the owners’ recipe. You can also swing in and grab a crafted dish from their executive chef, as B&G is also a nice neighborhood restaurant.
2935 Providence Rd. | BlockandGrinder.com

Carrburritos
Carrburritos originally made a home in Carrboro, NC and has recently opened a second location in Davidson. The Mexican eatery boasts the motto ‘fresh, made right before your eyes’. You pick one of the classics - quesadilla, burrito, tacos, tostado or another – then fill it with one of the many options, like the slow roasted pork with tomatillos and beer, the mashed sweet potatoes with caramelized onions or the house-made spicy pork sausage. Choose from one of the six kinds of salsa, ranging from mild to wild, and a cool margarita to complete your Carrburritos experience.
445 South Main St. Davidson, NC | Carrburritos.com

Nom Nom Burger
Parktowne Center is welcoming Nom Nom Burger, an Asian-inspired burger bar, to the Charlotte. Nom Nom Burger will bring gourmet burgers to the Myers Park area with true Asian flare. An opening date has yet to be set but crews are working hard to open their doors to the waiting public.
1600 East Woodlawn Rd. | Park Towne Shopping Center

Nan and Byron’s
A new concept from the creators of 5Church is making a home in South End. Nan and Byron’s is setting up shop in the old Vinnie’s Raw Bar location. The restaurant is gearing up to serve ‘Traditional-American’ food, like the glazed chicken wings, and is currently mixing, shaking and concocting its own specialty cocktail list. The location is calling for a summer opening and is sure to be South End’s newest hot spot.
1714 South Blvd. | NanandBryons.com

Miyagi’s Asian Fusion
In the heart of NoDa lies a new Korean barbeque place, ready for you to stop by. Miyagi’s Asian Fusion opened its doors in December and the owner describes it as a blend of Korean barbeque, Sushi and Asian fusion. You’ll find all the Korean must-haves here including six different types of beef, sushi, rice, noodle dishes and tasty appetizers like the Mandoo, which are dumplings with minced beef, vegetables and rice noodles served with soy scallion dipping sauce. The tuna nachos are another dish frequently recommended. The tuna is tossed in a scallion sauce to pump up the flavor and topped with avocado, wasabi and spicy aioli. And the best part? Miyagi’s is open seven days a week until 2am. Midnight sushi? Yes, please.
3220 North Davidson St. | MiyagisNoDa.com

Chuy’s
If you know Chuy’s, you don’t need to bother to read this – you’re probably already eagerly awaiting the restaurant’s opening in South Park. The Austin based eatery will open it’s first North Carolina location here in Charlotte and is rumored to be taking the spot of Zink’s American Grill, which closed its doors at the end of February. Chuy’s serves traditional Tex-Mex cuisine in an eccentric style – you’ll see what we mean soon enough. The restaurant is known for crafting Elvis shrines and throwing a birthday bash, complete with Elvis impersonator, each year on the King’s birthday on January 8th. Chuy’s has quite the loyal following and the noise about its new home is already fueling hungry customers.
4310 Sharon Rd. | Chuys.com

AZN Asian Cuisine
Nestled in Piedmont Town Center, AZN Asian Cuisine opened in December. The two-story restaurant features a spacious 55-seat outdoor patio, an open air conversation bar and an intimate sushi bar. Open for lunch and dinner, AZN aims to bring the traditional Asian dishes to the diner, but in an upscale way. While you’ll find all your favorite dishes, and some specials of the house, AZN is looking to set itself apart by showing patrons what fine dining in the Far East really is. Stop by after work as AZN offers many of their appetizers and lighter dishes on their happy hour menu, available every day of the week, as well as an impressive cocktail list, compiled of delightful cocktails and extensive Sake options.
4620 Piedmont Row Dr. | AZNRestaurant.com

Nikki Wilson, Dining Editor