The New Spots From Our 2021 Best Restaurants List

These places debuted over the past year

Based on 50 Best Restaurants in Charlotte: 2021.

Mico at The Grand Bohemian
201 W. Trade St.
980-999-5550
The South American-inspired menu is full of complex flavors and unexpected mash-ups like harissa creamed spinach and brown butter bread crumbs.
Try This: Lamb Kofta kebabs + Flourless Chocolate Cake

Red Salt by David Burke
555 S. McDowell St.
980-237-5354
Celebrity chef David Burke is known for his Himalayan salt aging process for beef, and avant-garde approach to food presentation is on full display with bites like the maple-glazed bacon clothesline.
Try This: 32-oz. Dry-Aged Porterhouse for Two

VANA
1440 S. Tryon St., Ste. 100
980-819-5913
The team behind Bardo opened this rustic dining experience in 2020. Chef Michael Noll offers a blend of tapas and shareable plates in this open kitchen spot, and Amanda Britton reflects the wood-fired theme in her cocktails.
Try This: Quail (with Tandoori marinade, buttermilk, and chili oil)

The Goodyear House
3032 N. Davidson St.
704-910-0132
Grab a table in the botanist room or the open patio on a warm night, and enjoy elevated comfort food like smoked cashew mac and cheese and guinea hen stew.
Get This To Go: The Goopy Burger with a Shaken Fry bag

Leah & Louise
301 Camp Rd.
980-309-0690
A James Beard-nominated chef and Soul Food Sessions co-founder Greg Collier serves the dishes he grew up on, like hot fried quail and dirty grits, in a space modeled after a Memphis-style juke joint.
Try This: Bird is the Word sandwich

Little Mama’s Italian
4521 Sharon Rd.
980-209-0323
Think of this eatery as the prequel to Mama Ricotta’s, with family recipes and scratch-made pastas and mozzarella. Settle into one of the dining rooms with a plate of pappardelle or cozy up at the “Mozz Bar” and watch the chefs at work.
Try This: Penne alla Vodka

Easy Like Sunday
1600 E. Woodlawn Rd., Ste. 100
980-335-2428
The fried chicken and cornmeal pancakes are worth standing in line for, but if you’d rather skip the weekend rush, go in the evening and have a boozy brunch after dark.
Try This: Fried Chicken and Cornmeal Pancakes

Southern Pecan
6705 Phillips Place Ct., Ste. C
704-749-2949
The team behind Café Monte serves Gulf Coast-inspired cuisine like pecan fried catfish, Louisiana barbecue shrimp, and oyster po’ boys.
Try This: Roasted Corn Cakes

Red Sake
8410 Rea Rd., Ste. 100
980-498-1578
This is sushi for true sushi aficionados. The Luke Lobster roll is a delectable mouthful of lobster meat, spicy tuna, avocado, and eel sauce topped with sweet potato strings.
Try This: Black Jack Roll