A Doctor and a Nurse Take ‘Flight’ With a New Restaurant – Charlotte Magazine

Dwight and Vicki Bailey never planned to be restaurant owners. He’s a physician who specializes in pediatric critical care at Levine Children’s Hospital. She’s a nurse practitioner and director of clinical and quality outcomes at Providence Anesthesiology Associates. They travel often, for medical conferences and to unwind, and they love to seek out lesser-known food and wine experiences. Favorite destinations include Spain, northern Portugal, Tuscany, Belgium, and the French Riviera.

About four years ago, they started batting around ideas for a restaurant that would encompass their love of travel and give them a creative outlet from their demanding day jobs. “Wherever we are, we try to find those hidden gems where the locals go,” Vicki says. “We’d often think, We wish we could bring this back or have this in Charlotte.”  

It inspired them to open Flight, their new restaurant in Elizabeth.  

“It’s a double entendre, but maybe not what you may be thinking,” Dwight says. “There’s travel-related flights and flights of wine, but another aspect isn’t as intuitive. Both Vicki and I have health care jobs, so this is our first venture, a ‘flight’ into a new aspect of our lives, something on the creative side.” 

The menu features European-inspired small plates and artisanal pizzas cooked in a custom Italian wood-burning oven. They serve rare wines from around the globe (around 150 bottles and 30 by-the-glass options, including wine flights), signature cocktails (many of which can be made nonalcoholic), and local and imported beers. They’ve also got fresh bread, charcuterie boards, desserts, and sangria.

The Baileys admit they needed some guidance in the hospitality industry. Luckily, they didn’t have to look far for a general manager. Vicki’s daughter, Kayte Morton, began her career at FS Food Group and previously served as host and service manager at Supperland. The 27-year-old was thrilled to come on board and make Flight a family affair.

As longtime Elizabeth residents, the Baileys wanted to open a restaurant in their own neighborhood. But finding the ideal location proved to be a challenge. They began looking outside their radius, and in late 2022, a space in Elizabeth became available. The Dollar General, originally the Stanley Drug Store from 1934 to 1997, closed. “We worked exceedingly hard to get in that space,” Dwight says. “Vicki was the closer on that deal.” 

Renovations began in January. They worked with the team at Southwick Architecture & Interiors to preserve what Vicki calls the “industrial elegance” of the historic building and turn it into a neighborhood gathering place. “It had lots of steel trusses, exposed walls, and concrete floors,” she says. “We wanted to keep all of that and add soft touches of velvet and crystals to make it cozy and welcoming.” 

Flight in Elizabeth.

They also worked with a chef consultant in Nashville to create a menu that incorporates international influences and a few family recipes. “We talked to him about our likes, where we’ve been, and got to taste a bunch of things,” Kayte says. “We were specific about a tapas-style menu and wanted to make pizza in a beautiful Italian wood-fired oven.”

The Classic Pepperoni with a Twist is topped with red sauce, mozzarella, fontina, artisanal pepperoni, and dried marjoram.

They fine-tuned the wine list, too, anchoring it with varietals from regions they’ve visited. “We tried to find options that our guests will gravitate toward and maybe can’t find anywhere else in Charlotte,” Dwight says. They did extensive staff training so servers can guide guests on international labels and, of course, did plenty of tasting along the way. “It’s so tough to choose,” Vicki says with a laugh. “Dwight kept having to rein me in.” 

Flight opened in August with Executive Chef Clayton Sanders leading the kitchen. Dwight and Vicki will remain in their jobs and have turned over all operations to Kayte. But they plan to stay very involved with their “love letter to the city.”

“We want to get to know our guests by name and interact with them but allow Kayte and Clayton to be the real workforce and brains behind the daily operations,” Dwight says. “We’re in health care, so we always knew we’d need people who are smarter than us.” 

TAYLOR BOWLER is the lifestyle editor.