by Cierra Lannon

For years, Amalia Macias and Alfonso Bravo envisioned a restaurant unlike any of the five restaurants they had created before — one that’s dark, moody, and elevated, with an atmosphere that transported guests far beyond Charlotte.

Raíces, the realization of that vision, takes inspiration from Jalisco and Oaxaca, weaving Mexican flavors, art, and traditions into the restaurant’s food and design. Macias and Bravo traveled to Oaxaca together in 2013 and quickly fell in love with both the state and the city itself. That trip stayed with them and eventually inspired Raíces.

“We’re really into bringing that little piece of our travel and home and a part of ourselves to what we create,” Macias says.

While Raíces’ main inspiration is their home of Jalisco, Oaxacan influences are prevalent throughout the menu. Their chef, T.J. Steele, brings a direct connection to the Oaxacan cuisine and traditions that initially inspired the concept. Steele spent 20 years living in Oaxaca.

For Macias and Bravo, the restaurant is also deeply personal.

Macias’ and Bravo’s parents were chefs in Mexico, their fathers in restaurant kitchens and their mothers in their home kitchens, making food and hospitality central to their story long before Raíces. The name itself, Raíces, meaning “roots,” reflects that connection. The restaurant honors their parents, their Mexican heritage, and the experiences that shaped them, while also embracing the place they now call home. Although their familial roots are in Mexico, the couple began their restaurant ventures in Camden, SC, before expanding to Columbia, SC. They had spent years traveling to Charlotte with their children and gradually developed a connection to the city.

“We just fell in love with Charlotte,” she says. “The food scene is really diverse.”

As empty nesters, the timing felt right to open a new restaurant in a new city. Charlotte offered the growth and diversity they wanted, along with a food scene where they felt there was room to introduce their newest concept. That sense of welcome has continued since they arrived. “People have welcomed us to Charlotte, and we really appreciate it,” Macias says. “It’s helped us calm our nerves.”

Raíces is also an evolution for a restaurant group that has now opened six restaurants, including Salud Mexican Kitchen, Coa Agaveria Y Cocina, and Masa Mexican Street Food, all in South Carolina. While their previous concepts helped build their experience in the industry, this restaurant gave them a chance to create something more elevated and immersive.

Part of the immersion comes from Edson Sanchez, a mixologist the duo met in Tulum. Sanchez works at Arca in Tulum, a restaurant known for its sophisticated approach to Mexican food, cocktails, and design. The team sought Sanchez’s collaboration to bring some of that energy to Charlotte while creating something distinctly their own.

The atmosphere draws inspiration from Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Jalisco, incorporating Mexican pottery and art scenes to create an earthy, rich ambiance that feels both authentic and immersive. “Black is my favorite color, so I knew I always wanted something more dark and moody and to incorporate a lot of the Barro Negro from Oaxaca, which we love,” Maicas says of the traditional black clay pottery.

Chef Steele develops dishes as the seasons change, letting the food evolve while staying connected to its Mexican foundation.

A distinctly Southern thread also runs through the menu. Mexican and Southern influences meet in the food, reflecting the owners’ own journeys between cultures and places and what they hope to share with guests. “When they walk in here, I hope they feel like they’re somewhere in Mexico,” Macias says. “That they feel warm, and a lot of heart and soul, because that’s exactly what we put into it.”

Opening a restaurant, especially one carrying so much personal meaning, hasn’t been easy. Turning family history, culture, and memories into something others can experience carries an emotional weight. “It’s really emotional because it takes a lot of work,” she says.

For Macias and Bravo, Raíces is a chance to share something personal with Charlotte through their heritage and the influence of their parents.

“It’s really rewarding for us,” Macias says. “To give people the best we can of our culture and a little bit of us.”

Unpretentious People Say...

Other Articles You Might Enjoy