Charlotte’s food scene is on the rebound, with new restaurants popping up across the Charlotte area as the industry begins to recover from two of the hardest years its seen. Yet with so much going on, it can still be difficult for some diners to break from their typical routine, get out of their neighborhood bubble, travel to a different area and try a new concept.
Queen’s Feast, formerly known as Charlotte Restaurant Week, offers a prime opportunity to do just that.
From Friday, July 22, through July 31, more than 80 restaurants around the Charlotte Metro area will offer three-course, prix fixe dining deals ranging from $30 to $45 per person, depending on the restaurant.
This summer’s participating restaurants are located in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Iredell, Gaston, Union, Catawba, Stanly, York and Lancaster counties, including nine newcomers in a dozen locations, which we’ve highlighted below.
Visit the Charlotte Restaurant Week website for the full list of participating restaurants and their special Queen’s Feast menus or to make reservations.
Drift on Lake Wylie
$45 per person; 315-M Lanyard Lane, Belmont; 980-351-0111
Drift is a chef-driven chophouse that opened on Lake Wylie in May and offers a menu anchored by ingredients locally grown and sourced from the Carolinas. The restaurant’s contemporary barn look serves as a nod to Gaston County’s farming roots while bringing into focus its modern lake life. Drift is by the same team behind The Pump House in Rock Hill and Napa at Kingsley in Fort Mill.
PARA
$45 per person; 235 W. Tremont Ave.; 704-812-0607
In his May 2022 review, Queen City Nerve food critic Timothy DePeugh called Chef Alex Verica’s new restaurant, PARA, in South End a “blockbuster” and raved about the crab Rangoon, which happens to be on the Queen’s Feast menu. The restaurant is known for its globally influenced small plates that are meant to be served family-style and highlight local farms such as Freshlist, Small City Farmer, Urban Gourmet Farms and Vital Greens Micro Farm.
Juniper Grill
$35 per person; 15235 John J Delaney Drive; 704-490-4500
Located in the Ballantyne Commons East shopping plaza, Juniper Grill offers Southwestern-style cuisine with a Southern Californian influence in a cozy space — think shrimp-and-crab enchiladas, beef brisket, grilled fish tacos and rotisserie chicken tortilla soup. Their cast-iron skillet cornbread for the table is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
Gilde Brewery
$35 per person; 3530 Dewitt Lane; 980-613-8454
Earlier this year, Gilde, a 476-year-old German brewery from Hannover, Germany, opened its first international location in the lower South End area of Charlotte. Gilde boasts an interior bier haus and outdoor bier garten and offers traditional German beers brewed by a German brewmaster and authentic food like sausages and pretzels. Their special Queen’s Feast menu includes beef stroganoff, langos (Hungarian flatbread) and apple strudel, among other options.
Old Pineville Premium Pub
$35 per person; 4548 Old Pineville Rd, Suite A; 980-430-5403
Old Pineville Premium Pub is a family-owned neighborhood tavern in the lower South End area with a large, partially covered patio and over a dozen TVs inside and out. They’ve got classic bar apps plus a big selection of wing flavors, salads, burgers, tacos and sandwiches. For Queen’s Feast, they’re highlighting their signature Boom Boom Shrimp as well as an oven-roasted 12-ounce prime rib.
Harry’s Grille & Tavern
$40 per person; 8426 Park Road; 980-337-4958
This Charlotte-based gastropub, located in the Quail Corners Shopping Center in south Charlotte, features upscale casual American cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere and innovative signature cocktails, curated by award-winning mixologist and Charlotte native Bob Peters. Standouts from Harry’s QF menu include the bison meatloaf, fried green tomatoes with pepper jam and pimento cheese, and the 24 Karat Carrot Cake.
Silverlake Ramen
$30 for two people; 2041 South Blvd.; 980-299-2400
Also at 8694 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord; 980-585-2008
Los Angeles-based Silverlake Ramen, located in both South End and Concord, is offering not one but six prix-fixe menus just for Queen’s Feast. Highlights include the crispy rice with spicy tuna appetizer and The Shoyu On Fire noodle bowl, which comes with a choice of protein, spicy clear chicken broth with shoyu, green onion, corn, seaweed, lime, jalapeño and egg.
Peninsula Prime
$45 per person; 19918 North Cove Road, Cornelius; 704-655-2727
Peninsula Prime Seafood & Steakhouse replaced Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails earlier this year, succeeding the latter’s long run in Jetton Village near Lake Norman. After an extensive renovation, new owner Rad Bennett reopened the restaurant as a modern Southern steakhouse. Its Queen’s Feast menu features Southern Pickled Chicken, which is fried pickled chicken breast with cheddar mashed potatoes, broccolini and Carolina barbecue sauce, among other options.
Tap & Vine
$35 per person; 7828 Rea Road; 980-335-2758
Also at 6443 Old Monroe Road, Suite 1A, Indian Trail; 704-776-9597
Upscale wine bar and restaurant Tap & Vine is offering two different Queen’s Feast menus between its two locations — Sun Valley Commons in Indian Trail and the new spot in Stonecrest Shopping Center in south Charlotte. However, both feature the restaurant’s popular Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer and bourbon brown sugar-glazed salmon.
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