Headed to Charlotte for the Belk Bowl? Try these not-to-be-missed food & drink spots
It’s the holiday season in the Queen City. The month of December features menu updates, new releases and inventive cocktails, but it is the events that will make you merry. Get your calendars out and mark some of these culinary-focused events as must-dos to end 2019 and the decade with a bang.
We’ve noted the restaurants that will be closed during the holidays, but please check to see which ones will be open before trying to venture out to escape the family. (If prices are not listed, they are not yet available.)
(1) Barcelona Wine Bar
101 W. Worthington Ave., Suite 110
This month Barcelona Wine Bar is debuting the Antídoto cocktail. Made with fino sherry, lime juice, cucumber juice, simple syrup and Green Chartreuse. Anítdoto means antidote in Spanish.
(2) Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Multiple locations
There is still time to enjoy the Fig & Soppressata Pizza ($13.95) and a Charcuterie Board ($14.95). These dishes will be on the menu through Dec. 31.
The Brixx’s locations in Foxcroft, Dilworth, Blakeney and Fort Mill are now serving new IMPOSSIBLE dishes, the plant-based meat, including the IMPOSSIBLE sausage and pepper pizza with mushrooms, cherry peppers, pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese, as well as the IMPOSSIBLE sausage and parmesan pasta Bolognese with creamy tomato parmesan Bolognese tossed with gluten-free red lentil penne pasta and topped with fresh basil.
(3) Catawba Brewing Company
933 Louise Ave., Suite 105
On Dec. 12, Catawba will release White Tea White Ale (4.8 percent ABV) a small batch beer in celebration of the Presidents Cup golf championship that is an American-style wheat beer brewed with white tea, juniper and hibiscus.
On Dec.r 13, Worlds Collide APA (5.0 percent ABV) will be released. Worlds Collide is an American Pale Ale collaboration between Catawba and Lost Worlds Brewing Co. of Cornelius. Catawba will donate $1 from every pint sold to Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center of Charlotte.
(4) Dilworth Tasting Room
300 E. Tremont Ave.
This month, Dilworth Tasting Room is unveiling four new seasonal cocktails: Oh, Honey Beehave, The Cider House Rules, Cran-Apple Crush and the Fall Spice Bellini.
In addition to its new seasonal cocktails, Dilworth Tasting Room has updated weekly specials.
Monday: Featured wine ppecial (rotates weekly)
Tuesday: Free cheese plate with the purchase of a wine flight
Wednesday: $9 Ketel One Botanicals cocktails
Thursday: Half-priced select Pinot Noir (selection rotates weekly)
(5) Dunkin’
Multiple locations
Now through Dec. 31, you can enjoy the eggnog signature latte and coffee flavors such as peppermint mocha, gingerbread s’mores and winter white chocolate. You can also enjoy the Beyond Sausage® breakfast sandwich.
(6) 5Church
127 N. Tryon St., Suite 8
In December, 5Church will debut its winter fish dish, the Sixty South Salmon ($30), served over lentils with lardons, a beurre rouge sauce and topped with melted Dijon fennel.
(7) Noda Brewing Company
2921 N. Tryon St.
Throughout December, NoDa Brewing Company will be hosting numerous events including live music, trivia, events to fundraise for different charities, and even a holiday shopping market (Shop Drop N Roll Market on Dec. 8).
In addition to these events, there are new beer releases. On Dec. 6, it will release Premium Roast Breakfast Stout, made with a custom blend of Ethiopian and Colombian coffee beans. On Dec. 13, the monster is back — Monstro, a bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial stout, fortified with molasses and accented with cocoa nibs, will be a limited edition release, so get it while you can.
On Dec. 20, it will release Ales for ALS IPA where proceeds go to ALS research. And on Dece. 27, NoDa Brewing will release Lil’ Bit of the Bubbly.
Please note that the taproom will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25.
(8) Nuvole Rooftop TwentyTwo
220 E. Trade St., Suite 2200
Nuvole Rooftop Twenty Two recently launched new menu items including:
Braised chicken drums with orange ginger sauce, toasted sesame seeds and scallions. ($12)
Poached Bosc pear salad with mixed baby greens, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, poached quail eggs and champagne vinaigrette. ($10)
Roasted Brussels sprouts with roasted red onions, crispy pancetta, grated Parmesan cheese, whole grain mustard and red pepper aioli. ($11)
Seared lamb lollipops with dried fruit chutney and micro cilantro. ($16)
Truffled lobster mac n cheese with tender lobster meat, bacon and toasted herb breadcrumbs. ($19)
(9) Peppervine
4620 Piedmont Row Drive, Suite 170B
The team at Peppervine has created its take on the Negroni cocktail called Traffic Jam. Traffic Jam includes Elijah Craig bourbon, Antica Formula Campari, beer jam and chocolate bitters perfect for the season.
(10) Queen City Grounds
Queen City Grounds has launched its holiday menu, which is full of seasonally tasty beverages.
Walt Mintman is a minty matcha latte. ($6)
Sugar Plum Fairy is a latte with holiday spices mixed with plum sauce. ($5.50)
Let It Snow is a black-peppermint mocha with whipped cream. ($6)
Holly Jolly is a colorful iced cranberry matcha lemonade. ($5)
(11) Roots Cafe
2135 Southend Drive, Suite 109
Roots Café has launched a few new menu items and updated a few favorites to match the season.
Chickpea veggie burger served atop fresh greens, feta, pickled onion, cucumber, lavender tzatziki and citrus vinaigrette. ($11)
Potato latke with crème and chives as a side or an add on to any meal. ($4)
Avocado toast has been revamped: Thick-sliced French baguette, avocado, slow-roasted local beets, butternut squash, clementine and two over-easy eggs. ($11)
Roots classic pastrami has been updated for the season. House made pastrami, local marble rye, quick deli pickles and house mustard. ($14)
Basic B this fan favorite has been updated. Two eggs over easy, two slices of cornhusk smoked bacon and choice of Roots’ Hash or house made potato latke. ($11)
(12) Ted’s Montana Grill
7404 Waverly Walk Ave.
Ted’s Montana Grill has recently added new items to its menu, as well as new cocktails to its beverage offerings.
New menu items:
Bison brisket
Brussels sprouts
Bison steak for kids
New cocktails:
Haymaker made with basil Hayden’s, ginger beer, housemade switchel syrup, chocolate bitters and an orange twist.
Cranberry Gimlet made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, cranberry, freshly squeezed lime juice and agave nectar.
The Slide Adult Shake made with vanilla ice cream, half and half, Kahlúa, Absolut vodka, Bailey’s, chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream.
Salted Caramel Adult Shake made with vanilla ice cream, Jack Daniel’s, salted caramel and finished with whipped cream.
Deals
(13) Bardo
1508 S. Mint St.
• Mondays and Tuesdays: 20% off your meal when you eat at the bar (does not include alcohol)
• Last Chance Wine List: When only one or two bottles of wine are remaining, it’s offered at a discount ($35/bottle, $8/glass)
(14) BLT Steak Charlotte
110 N. College St.
Sunday: Half price bottles of wine, 50% off dinner for first responders.
(15) Fran’s Filling Station
2410 Park Road
• Monday – Thursday: Prix fixe menu (1 app, 2 entrées and a bottle of wine) for $50; and half-priced bottle of wines.
• Monday – Tuesday: Kids eat free (under 12, 1 free kids entree with the purchase of 1 adult entree, dinner in the taproom only, while space permits).
• Monday: $3 draft beers (Fran’s only offers local and regional beers on tap); and $10 flatbreads.
*Please note the holiday schedule: Fran’s will be closed Dec. 24-26, and Jan. 1.
(16) La Belle Helene
300 S. Tryon St.
Apres Midi Menu (Monday – Friday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., bar and terrace only)
• $1 East Coast Oysters (each)
• $5 Mimosa Eggs
• $5 Chef Olives
• $6 Pomme Frites
• $8 Seasonal Tart Flambé
• $10 LBH Burger A La Carte
• Charcuterie & Fromage Board (Market price)
Dinner menu daily specials:
• Monday: Duck confit, lentils, apple and celery ($32)
• Tuesday: Braised short rib, horseradish pomme purée ($30)
• Wednesday: Boeuf Bourguignon, pommes purée ($25)
• Thursday: Confit lamb shank, house made ratatouille ($32)
• Friday: Roasted branzino, leek fondue, clams ($32)
Holiday schedule:
Open for lunch for the first three Saturdays in December from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., in conjunction with the holiday train display at 300 S. Tryon St., in addition to normal dinner service.
Christmas Eve: regular lunch hours, dinner open until 9 p.m.
Christmas Day: closed
New Year’s Eve: open until 11:30 p.m.
New Years Day: closed
Events
New Year’s Eve Dinner: The Roaring 2020
Dec. 31, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.
Corkbuzz Restaurant and Wine Bar
4905 Ashley Park Lane, Suite J
Roaring Twenties NYE Dinner at Dot Dot Dot
Dec. 31, 6-8 p.m.
Dot Dot Dot
4237 Park Road, Unit B
Roaring Twenties NYE Party at Dot Dot Dot
Dec. 31, stars at 9 p.m.
Dot Dot Dot
4237 Park Road, Unit B
This story was originally published October 1, 2019 at 12:00 AM.