by Kristen Wile

Sam Diminich, the chef behind Your Farms, Your Table, opens his first restaurant today in West Charlotte. Restaurant Constance, named for his eldest child, replaces Counter-‘s original location in the front of The City Kitch.

Diminich has called the restaurant “non-concept,” a term that makes much more sense after dining there. Following the priorities of Your Farms Your Table, the local farm-sourced home delivery service Diminich launched during the pandemic, Restaurant Constance’s menu isn’t tied to any specific cuisine. Rather, it follows the Carolina seasons, offering a selection of dishes that make use of local bounty as well as cooking techniques and inspiration from around the world.

Dishes include a YFYT favorite, the shrimp and lobster dumplings, as well as light but incredibly complex and flavorful dishes like a pear kale salad and hummus bowl. On the entrée section of the menu, diners can select heartier dishes such as braised short ribs and coffee-rubbed pork tenderloin. See more on the dishes we tried below. Diminich’s time as executive chef of now-closed seafood spot Upstream shines through with a raw bar selection that inludes oysters, tuna crudo, and sea scallops.

Reservations can be made online. While the restaurant is currently serving guests, it will open without beer and wine options. However, Diminich and beverage director Edward Keuhnle have collaborated on an extensive, creative zero-proof cocktail menu that is available.

The chef, a two-time UPPY Award winner for Ghost Kitchen of the Year, told us in earlier coverage he decided to open a restaurant largely because he wants to help guide positive changes in the industry in this time of upheaval, including a more diverse workforce and fostering connection across all levels of the local food ecosystem.

“I want to be a part of the new voice of food and beverage and how we operate,” Diminich says. “I want to be part of the leadership from a directional standpoint, on really investing in our community or the people that we employ and our local suppliers. That was kind of the beginning of my thought process.”

Here’s our take from our first look at the restaurant below (by invite only, but paid for by us).

Short ribs with sweet potato, cabbage, smoked onions, and a red wine jus is a warming dish on a cold night. Kristen Wile/UP

The kale salad brings a variety of flavors and inspirations to one bowl, with the parsnip fondue adding a creamy yet fresh bite to each bite. Kristen Wile/UP

The cashew hummus bowl, served with warm bread, is a must order. Kristen Wile/UP

The shrimp dumplings, a popular item from Your Farms Your Table, make an appearance on the menu. Kristen Wile/UP

The dining room at Restaurant Constance gives you the feeling of being entertained by a hip friend. Kristen Wile/up

Read our earlier coverage announcing Restaurant Constance.