October 16, 2018
Where to eat before Hamilton
Here are the best restaurants close to Blumenthal theater
We’ve been getting a lot of questions from friends about where to eat before seeing Hamilton at the Blumenthal. I was lucky enough to score two tickets this week to a Sunday afternoon show, so I’m no longer too bitter to recommend places to those who are going. Here are our top recommendations for where to eat before seeing the show. Wherever you go, make sure you tell your server immediately that you have tickets to a show. You don’t want to be walking out on a whole dessert.
The Asbury
Nearly just across the street from the venue, this restaurant is familiar with the pre-show routine. We enjoy The Asbury for its sourcing; it’s always been one of the most farm-friendly places in town. What the kitchen is able to do with those ingredients is why this place remains one of my Uptown go-tos; the texture and flavor combinations are unique and complex. The menu also gives the option of small or large entrees, meaning you can order small and not have to decide between dragging leftovers around or wasting good food. Open daily.
Stoke
This restaurant in the Marriott City Center is serving a three-course dinner option from 5 to 6 p.m. while Hamilton is running. Staying on theme, the Not-So-Presidential menu includes three acts: a choice of salad or deviled eggs; a choice of fish, fried chicken, flank steak, or pork belly; and dessert options of doughnut holes, sorbet, or chiffon cake. The tasting menu is $45 a person. Of course, you can also order some of executive chef Chris Coleman’s Southern-tinged global flavors off the regular menu, too. Open daily.
Halcyon
With its elegant interior and a wall of windows overlooking Uptown’s main drag, this restaurant is quintessential night on the town. It’s often overlooked in favor of one of the newer restaurants in town, but Halcyon Flavors from the Earth treats its diners to reliably delicious food and solid service. If you’re seeking a sophisticated dinner-and-theater date night, Halcyon is your best bet. Open for brunch only Sunday; closed on Monday.
Fin & Fino
Rare Roots Hospitality’s newest addition is seafood-focused, but has some fantastic meat options as well. From poke bowls to flank steak, you can eat light and healthy or go big with a plated entree. We recommend ordering small plates at the bar if you have a small party, or grabbing one of the high top tables if you’ve got a bigger group. Get a few cocktails, a round of small plates, and start the celebration early before walking down Tryon Street to the Blumenthal. Closed Sunday.
5Church
With executive chef Jamie Lynch now a Top Chef alumni, this hot restaurant has only gotten hotter. 5Church is the reservation to make if you don’t get into Uptown often and are looking for that big-city nightlife vibe. The interior is dark and sultry, and the large bar seems to draw some of the city’s most attractive residents. You’ll want to wear your night out attire here, not because it’s a formal restaurant, but because this is where people go to be seen. Open daily.
Looking for a night cap after the show? Stoke and Fin & Fino have strong cocktail programs and nice bars. You can also try Sophia’s Lounge, a cocktail spot with comfy couches run by the 5Church crew. You can also use our Restaurant Finder to see all of the places we’ve reviewed in Uptown. —Kristen Wile
Our favorite restaurant before going to the Belk is Luce. Located in the Hearst Building, my wife and I feel it is the best Italian restaurant in Charlotte. Give it a try Kristen.
I like Luce! With so many great places around town, it was hard to narrow the list down, but I tried to pick something for a bunch of different tastes.