In a city full of transplants, it’s only appropriate to welcome transplant restaurants into the scene. and we saw many “out-of-town” additions to the dining scene this year. Here’s the highlight reel: Orlando-based Hawkers brought Asian street food to South End, and it’s been said their roti canai is like “curry crack.” Barcelona Wine Bar, which has locations in Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, and other cities, focuses on Spanish- and Mediterranean-inspired tapas and offers a charcuterie board that guests can customize with meats and cheeses from different countries and regions in Europe. Atlanta favorite Tex-Mex restaurant Superica delivers uncomplicated (and delicious) nachos, tacos, and enchiladas. Having already succeeded in Tampa and Atlanta, tapas-style Bulla Gastrobar offers Spanish tapas and sangria three ways in SouthPark. Inside SouthPark Mall is the Maryland-based Gusto Farm to Street, where guests can customize their salads or flatbread pizzas down to the greens, grains, sauce, and crust. The popular breakfast and brunch restaurant First Watch, based in University Park, Florida, opened its first Charlotte-area location in Matthews. And Holler & Dash brought creative biscuit combinations to a fast-casual setting in South End.
Other honorable mentions: Knoxville-based Tandur Indian Kitchen, the fast casual Indian restaurant in SouthPark; Austin-based Eddie V’s Prime Seafood uptown; Ohio-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in South End’s Design Center.