Every year in March, the Queen City shows off its burgeoning food scene at Savor Charlotte, a two-week culinary showcase that invites diners to venture beyond their go-to eateries. I had the good fortune to experience the event this year, and to dine at some of the city’s top restaurants. Here are the highlights.
Savor Charlotte Highlights
Counter-
Step inside Counter- and prepare to be wowed. Personable servers guide you to a table in the front room, where bubbles and “snacks” (i.e., Carolina Gold rice ice cream with collard green furikake “sprinkles”) are presented. Later, they lead you to the long U-shaped counter, where the main part of the meal is served. Watching Executive Chef and founder Sam Hart and their team compose each of 14 exquisite courses, according to the season’s theme (it was Coast when I was there) doubles as entertainment. Every course is set to a different song, and as each one is presented, the chef explains its composition and tells the story behind it, adding to this extraordinary multisensory experience.
2001 W. Morehead St., Ste. D, Charlotte, counterclt.com
In the Montford neighborhood, Eric Ferguson and Cat Carter take the best products from North Carolina farmers and transform them into hyper-seasonal ten-course meals. That’s from Wednesday to Saturday, but on the last day of the week, the restaurant presents a popular Sunday supper. This is fine dining without white tablecloths, a family meal in five courses. Where your grandmother might make Sunday sauce, Chef Eric crafts a velvety cavatelli with mushrooms, fresh peas, and cream. Chicken ballotine stands in for the Sunday roast chicken, accompanied by a sunchoke and potato purée. Dessert delivers a sponge cake soaked in rhubarb liqueur and crowned with local strawberry compote and Chantilly cream.
4701 Park Rd., D, Charlotte, NC. lostricaclt.com
Albertine
At Albertine, the new Uptown venture by Joe and Katy Kindred—of nationally acclaimed Kindred restaurant in Davidson, North Carolina—Calcutta marble panels, soaring ceilings, and sumptuous textiles fashion an ambience fit for a queen. That was the whole idea of Katy’s design, as the Uptown restaurant is named for Duchess Elisabeth Albertine, mother of the city’s namesake, Queen Charlotte of England. From smoked gamebird cappelletti to lamb kefta, Chef Joe’s menu ranges across the Mediterranean region, making delectable use of the kitchen’s wood-burning grill along the way.
525 S Tryon St., Charlotte, NC. albertinerestaurant.com
Ever Andalo
Located in the artsy part of Charlotte known as NoDa (for North Davidson), this attractive little neighborhood cafe spotlights Italian fare. Fresh pasta, creamy burrata, and airy focaccia are all made in-house, with an all-Italian wine list and house-made limoncello to match. Weekend brunch is a bounteous affair, fueled by the likes of fluffy ricotta zeppole, zesty Calabrian crab cakes, and a luscious zucchini frittata that could easily feed three. Named for a town in the Dolomite region of northern Italy where the owner’s family has its roots, Ever Andalo embodies the Italian spirit of fresh, high-quality ingredients impeccably prepared.
3116 N. Davidson St., Charlotte, NC, everandalo.com
Recipes from his Cuban mother and Spanish grandmother pepper Executive Chef Andres Kaifer’s menu. Kaifer, who grew up in Miami, took over ownership of this Elizabeth neighborhood mainstay in 2022, bringing with him an appreciation for Hispanic cuisine from many countries. Expect to find empanadas filled with mojo duck and aji amarillo peppers, and hamachi crudo with parmesan leche de tigre on the menu, alongside pasta and grilled meat and seafood. Kaifer effects menu changes weekly, in order to highlight whatever local produce and North Carolina seafood come in his door—complemented by an equally seasonal craft cocktail program.
1601 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC, customshopfood.com
Savor Charlotte
For three years now, the immersive experiences of Savor Charlotte have been shining a light on the city’s favorite restaurants while providing exclusive opportunities to relish new ones. Craft your own epicurean adventure and connect with top chefs, pitmasters, sommeliers, mixologists, and brewers in areas all around the city through cocktail tastings, chef collaboration dinners, and culinary classes.
Learn more at charlottesgotalot.com/savor
