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October 27, 2026
The Chef Assembly restaurant guide
Our picks for conference goers and everyone dining out this Sunday and Monday
by UP Staff
Charlotte’s restaurant scene is built on local ingredients, local talent, and international inspiration. Here are our picks for restaurants open on Sunday and/or Monday night if you’re in town for The Chef’s Assembly, taking place at Johnson & Wales. Explore the city at one of these businesses open Sunday and/or Monday. Don’t miss the schedule of collaborative dinners taking place around the city, too.
300 East, Dilworth
Service: Lunch and Dinner
Menu: Casual American
This restaurant is one of Charlotte’s longest tenured favorites, serving classic American fare with the attention to detail of a pastry chef thanks to operating partner Ashley Boyd.
Don’t miss: French onion soup, any dessert
Albertine, Uptown (2026 Michelin Recommended)
Service: Dinner
Menu: Pan-Mediterranean
In the heart of Uptown, this fine dining spot from respected restaurateurs Joe and Katy Kindred is full of glamour.
Don’t miss: Razor clams, pickle-brined South Carolina hot quail with cucumber labneh
Chapter 6, South End
Service: Dinner
Menu: Western Mediterranean small plates
Step off the light rain into this concept from Rare Roots Hospitality, where dishes are meant to be shared.
Don’t miss: Chickpea-dusted skate wing
The Common Market, Plaza Midwood
Service: Breakfast and Lunch
Menu: Eclectic sandwiches with a dive-bar-meets-deli feel
A Charlotte staple, Common Market is a high-energy spot for a quick bite and a cup of coffee or craft beer.
Don’t miss: Darby’s Roast Beef sandwich
Community Matters Café, Uptown
Service: Breakfast and Lunch, Monday only
Menu: Classic breakfast and lunch fare infused with Southern style
This non-profit concept not only serves one of the best breakfasts in town, but trains adults fighting for a life of sobriety in food service roles.
Don’t miss: Pulled pork Johnny cake
The Crunkleton, Elizabeth
Service: Dinner
Menu: Contemporary American
A wood-fired kitchen is the backbone of a menu that is meant to be enjoyed with whiskey, a focus of this cocktail bar which boasts an extensive spirits collection, including some very rare bottles.
Don’t miss: Wagyu flat-iron steak, duck fat potatoes
Fin & Fino, Uptown
Service: Lunch and Dinner
Menu: Seafood-focused, with crowd-pleaser alternatives
With one of the best cocktail programs in town, Fin & Fino is a great place to settle in at the bar and grab a bite and a beverage to pair with conversation.
Don’t miss: The Treatment chef’s choice dinner (partial proceeds being donated to a local nonprofit)
Grey’s Diner, Plaza Shamrock
Service: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Menu: Diner fare with intentional sourcing
Housed in a 1940s diner relocated from New Jersey, this concept by chef Sam Diminich puts chef-driven fare on an affordable menu.
Don’t miss: Short rib and egg bowl
Optimist Hall, Optimist Park
Service: Lunch and Dinner
Menu: Food court
One of the nation’s top-ranked food halls with 22 specialty vendors offering everything from burgers to ramen and pasta to Ethiopian cuisine
Don’t miss: Dumpling Lady dan dan noodles, Schreiber’s hot pastrami, Comal blackened shrimp tacos, Harriett’s Royale burger, Eso’s orecchiette arrabbiata
Prime Fish Cellar, Cotswold (2026 Michelin Recommended)
Service: Lunch and Dinner
Menu: Selectively sourced sushi
A more affordable sister concept to Charlotte’s top omakase spot, Prime Fish Cellar’s menu is a study in carefully selected, premiere ingredients.
Don’t miss: Salmon flight, caviar bento box (with champagne)
Puerta, Elizabeth
Service: Lunch and Dinner
Menu: High-end Mexican with an agave spirit-focused bar
A bright interior pairs well with the bright flavors coming out of the kitchen.
Don’t miss: Braised pork shank, elote risotto
Rosemont, Elizabeth
Service: Lunch and Dinner
Menu: Seasonal bistro fare
Great for patio dining, Rosemont’s menus are built for flexible dining styles, with dishes that pair well with wine.
Don’t miss: Half-priced mussels on Mondays, roast pork sandwich
The Story of Mi Cariño, South End (2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand / Best New Chef)
Service: Dinner
Menu: Upscale Mexican, Mezcalería
Brings a Los Angeles perspective to regional Mexican cooking in South End, sourcing from many local farms. Menu features handmade tortillas, plus coastal seafood with an extensive selection of tequila, mezcal, and other agave spirits.
Don’t miss: Truffle corn dip, taco pancito (pork belly), agave spirits tasting
Supperland, Plaza Midwood (2026 Michelin Recommended)
Service: Dinner, Sunday only
Menu: Steaks and Southern sides
Church potluck meets classic steakhouse at Supperland, a restaurant inside a historic church that regularly garners national attention.
Don’t miss: Pork can can
Sweet Lew’s BBQ, Belmont Village
Service: Lunch and Dinner (until sold out)
Menu: Traditional North Carolina barbecue
One of the nation’s leading pitmasters offers up authentic slow-cooked pork, ribs, chicken, and brisket along with a variety of specialty sausages, traditional “down home sides”, and a growingly impressive collection of bourbon
Don’t miss: Any of the meats, fried fish when available, mac & cheese, collards
Vinyl, South End
Service: Lunch and Dinner
Menu: Upscale bar fare
A low-key yet dependable spot for lunch or dinner in the heart of one of Charlotte’s most popular neighborhoods.
Don’t miss: Ribeye & brisket Vinyl burger, Peri Peri chicken wings (gluten-free)
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