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  • 6 things you didn’t know you missed this week in Charlotte’s restaurant scene

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    There’s been a lot going on this week in Charlotte, but behind the scenes, its restaurant scene continues to evolve, blending local traditions with global flavors.

    Here are some of the things you might have missed this week when paying attention to the important news headlines.

    Laurel Park in SouthPark is poised to open soon in the former Village Tavern location, bringing a New American menu that incorporates local ingredients from nearby farms. Diners will enjoy a mix of Latin, Mediterranean, and Asian influences during lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. We got a sneak peek of the new space.

    Meanwhile, Haraz Coffee House expands its reach, offering authentic Yemeni coffee in Ballantyne. The chain, known for traditional Yemeni drinks and pastries, has quickly gained popularity with multiple locations in the city.

    Lang Van, a Vietnamese favorite, recently received Michelin Bib Gourmand status. Owner Dan Nguyen’s commitment to hospitality and affordable, quality meals keeps this spot bustling. Classics like pho and spring rolls charm both locals and visitors alike.

    In the barbecue realm, Midwood Smokehouse triumphs once again as Charlotte’s top choice according to local votes. The restaurant’s wood-smoked meats draw inspiration from Texas and Kansas City, offering a taste of America’s barbecue capitals.

    For those craving Italian cuisine, Fontana di Vino will soon open a new spot in Lake Norman. It promises fresh pasta, steaks, and unique pinsa flatbreads with influences from Italian culinary traditions.

    The local food community is actively engaging residents to vote for their favorite new dining establishments, with CharlotteFive asking locals to voice their top picks among more than 150 new restaurants opened this year.

    Dan Nguyen owns Lang Van restaurant in Charlotte, which was named a Bib Gourmand in the inaugural Michelin Guide American South. By Alex Cason

    NO. 1: THIS IMMIGRANT-POWERED, WOMAN-OWNED SPOT SHINES AS A GEM IN CHARLOTTE’S CROWN

    Lang Van is not a restaurant that visiting outsiders or new Charlotteans might easily stumble upon. | Published November 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley



    The City of Charlotte, NC skyline. By Lila Turner

    NO. 2: BEST NEW RESTAURANTS AROUND CHARLOTTE? TELL US YOUR FAVORITE ADDITION TO THE AREA

    You’ve probably lost count of all the new restaurants that have opened in Charlotte this year — more than 150 to be exact. | Published November 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon



    Midwood Smokehouse’s platter of barbecue meats, macaroni and cheese and collard greens. By Slice of Jess

    NO. 3: BEST BBQ? THIS SPOT WAS VOTED NO. 1 IN CHARLOTTE — AGAIN. WHY FOLKS LOVE IT

    Saucy ribs, tender brisket and your favorite fixings: | Published November 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    The semi-covered patio space at Laurel Park includes a fire place and fire tables for warmth and ambiance. By Heidi Finley

    NO. 4: LOCAL FLAVORS WITH GLOBAL INFLUENCES ARRIVING SOON AT FORMER VILLAGE TAVERN RESTAURANT

    Within a few weeks, SouthPark diners will be yet again lunching and brunching in a familiar Charlotte space, although the view will be brand new, and the food will be, too. | Published November 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley



    The menu at Haraz Coffee House features a variety of pastries from pistachio cake to fresh muffins and croissants.

    NO. 5: CAFé SERVING AUTHENTIC YEMENI COFFEE OPENS IN BALLANTYNE CHARLOTTE. WHAT TO KNOW

    Haraz Coffee House is expanding in Charlotte with a new spot in Ballantyne. | Published November 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    Fontana di Vino’s Spaghetti Pomodoro.

    NO. 6: A SECOND LOCATION OF THIS NEW ITALIAN RESTAURANT IS OPENING SOON IN LAKE NORMAN

    A new Italian restaurant that’s been in the works for quite some time will open soon in Lake Norman, bringing fresh pasta, prime steaks and pizza-like pinsa flatbreads to the area’s dining scene. | Published November 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

    The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

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  • Local flavors with global influences arriving soon at former Village Tavern restaurant

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    Within a few weeks, SouthPark diners will be yet again lunching and brunching in a familiar Charlotte space, although the view will be brand new, and the food will be, too.

    Laurel Park, named after the cherry laurel tree native to North Carolina, is expected to open in early December. Owner Dan McCormick’s upscale yet casual restaurant is taking over the former Village Tavern space, which closed in October 2024 after 35 years of serving Charlotte. Its lease had run out, and negotiations proved unfruitful.

    “We’re picking up where an iconic SouthPark restaurant left off. Village Tavern leaves a legacy that goes back decades,” the Laurel Park team shared via Instagram in August.

    “They created a great culture for their employees and a great dining experience for their guests. We appreciate the great example they gave our industry, and we’re excited to bring hospitality back to this address for our guests.”

    Soon, a top-to-bottom renovation began.

    What to expect at Laurel Park

    While Village Tavern fans will still recognize the layout of the restaurant, it’s now more bright and spacious., with higher ceilings and more natural light.

    “We wanted to be very open and airy,” McCormick told CharlotteFive on a tour offering an early look of the updated space.

    Now, greenery accents a dining room for 100 diners that’s awash in neutral tones of tan, rust and wood. Sturdy directors chairs with rattan backing pull up to marble tabletops. Cushioned circular booths along the wall face out toward the dining room, helping to bring people together.

    An eye-level shot of a restaurant dining room featuring light-colored upholstered booths and wooden tables. The central seating area is dramatically divided by a long planter box containing a line of tall, leafy artificial trees, with large windows visible behind the greenery.
    Greenery accents the dining room at Laurel Park. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    The newly re-imagined bar is centered with a distressed mirror, imported from Italy, and artwork now in storage will soon hang on the walls.

    When weather allows, plans call for opening the patio with space for 100 more diners. Highlights include an open-air bar, green space and fireside seating.

    “We’re big on hospitality. We have a great venue, and we plan to have a high level of service, but not stuffy,” McCormick said.

    A wide, eye-level shot of a spacious outdoor dining terrace covered in artificial green turf. The patio is furnished with many light wood-topped tables and black woven rope chairs. A black covered structure with a wood plank ceiling is on the left, and the terrace overlooks trees with yellow autumn leaves under a bright blue sky.
    The patio at Laurel Park. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    Food and community at Laurel Park

    As the transformation was underway, chef Brett Faldstein and his team set about exploring local food purveyors to help execute his vision for Laurel Park’s new American cuisine.

    Much of the produce and protein hitting tables will be sourced from Charlotte-area farms and vendors, including hydroponic lettuce from Adrina Farms, tomatoes from Barbee Farms in Concord, mushrooms from Urban Gourmet and Fresno chilis from Boy and Girl Farms in Waxhaw. Brasstown Beef is supplying its beef, while Joyce Farms will supply the chicken.

    “Similarly with the cuisine, we’ve got lighter fair,” McCormick said, referencing the restaurant’s lighter setting.

    A wide, eye-level shot of a modern restaurant dining room featuring small tables and dark wooden chairs positioned by large, floor-to-ceiling windows. The view outside shows a spacious patio with covered seating and a backdrop of trees with autumn foliage under a bright sky.
    Sturdy director’s chairs pair with tables along the window at Laurel Park. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    Diners will savor house-made pasta, pastries and breads during daily lunch and dinner service, plus weekend brunch.

    “And then there’s a little bit of influence from around the globe,” McCormick said of the menu. “There’s a couple Latin dishes, a few Mediterranean, one or two Asian. So it’s really got some comfort food, and then some other stuff for people that are a little bit more adventurous when dining out.”

    A beautifully plated Fried Green Tomato Caprese sits on a wooden board. On the speckled blue plate, a swirl of orange tomato sauce and a dollop of creamy white burrata form the base for several golden-fried green tomatoes. The stack is topped with a chunky tomato relish, large fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of dark balsamic.
    Laurel Park’s Fried Green Tomato Caprese. Laurel Park

    “It’s upscale casual, so you can come in and grab a big sandwich for lunch, and if you want to come back in the evening for a special occasion, certainly we’ve got a nice wine list and beautiful cocktails, as well,” he said.

    Making an investment in community connections has also been important to McCormick and his staff.

    As the renovation work stretched on, the kitchen team looked for ways to give back in Charlotte. Pastry chef Jennifer Evans organized outreach opportunities for the staff that included work to help keep people fed — particularly during the time of greater need during the long-lasting government shutdown — at Dilworth Soup Kitchen and the Bulb.

    A beautifully composed brunch dish of French toast bake on an oval plate. The dish is a riot of color, decorated with translucent, star-shaped slices of starfruit, cubes of white dragon fruit, blueberries, strawberries, and caramelized plantains, all interspersed with piped dollops of a rich purple cream.
    French Toast Bake with tropical fruit and whipped ube butter at Laurel Park. Laurel Park

    Location: 4201 Congress St., Unit 190, Charlotte, NC 28209 (opening early December)

    Cuisine: New American

    Instagram: @laurelparkclt

    An inside look at Charlotte: The Charlotte Observer takes you behind the scenes of your favorite Charlotte teams, landmarks, businesses and more to show you how it all works. Follow along to see where we’re going next.

    An eye-level, angled shot of the main entrance of the multi-story Laurel Park building. A black awning with the white “LAUREL PARK” text and logo covers the entrance, which is accessed by a long, black-railed accessibility ramp. The building has a light-colored stone facade and large reflective windows.
    Laurel Park is located at the former Village Tavern site at 4201 Congress St., Unit 190 in Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    A wide, eye-level shot of a modern outdoor patio, partially covered by a black roof with a wood plank ceiling. The terrace features an outdoor bar area and lounge seating furnished with contemporary rope-style chairs and stools. The patio overlooks a dense line of trees displaying brilliant autumn foliage.
    The semi-covered patio space at Laurel Park includes a fire place and fire tables for warmth and ambiance. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    An inside look at Charlotte: The Charlotte Observer takes you behind the scenes of your favorite Charlotte teams, landmarks, businesses and more to show you how it all works. Follow along to see where we’re going.

    This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    Heidi Finley

    The Charlotte Observer

    Heidi Finley is a writer and editor for CharlotteFive and the Charlotte Observer. Outside of work, you will most likely find her in the suburbs driving kids around, volunteering and indulging in foodie pursuits.
    Support my work with a digital subscription

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  • Historic Pimlico Race Course transferred to State of Maryland for $1 (plus $400 million) – WTOP News

    Historic Pimlico Race Course transferred to State of Maryland for $1 (plus $400 million) – WTOP News

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    The Stronach Group, the owner of the racecourse and nearby Laurel Park, will transfer ownership to the state of Maryland’s Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority for the cost of $1 on July 1.

    Baltimore’s beloved but deteriorating Pimlico Race Course has a new owner — the State of Maryland.

    The Stronach Group, the owner of the racecourse and nearby Laurel Park, will transfer ownership to the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority for the cost of $1 on July 1. This means a long awaited rebuild of the home of the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, can finally take place.

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore approved the agreement to transfer ownership to the state on Wednesday.

    Last week, Moore signed a bill passed by the state’s general assembly that set aside $400 million in state bonds to rebuild the course. The complicated process involves Maryland taking over control of the track, building a training center and eventually closing Laurel Park to shift full-time racing to Pimlico in the northwest quadrant of Baltimore.

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore with Stronach Group CEO Belinda Stronach and Greg Cross, chair of Maryland’s new Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority. (Courtesy Office of Governor Wes Moore)

    “When it comes to projects with generational impact, our administration has made it clear that we aren’t just focused on closing a deal — we’re focused on driving economic development in all of our communities,” said Gov. Moore.

    Under the agreement, the state will lease Laurel Park racetrack for $1 per year for three years beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, to host the Preakness while the Pimlico is under construction.

    Once construction of the course wraps up, the Stronach Group will gain ownership of Laurel Park and can either sell it or redevelop it for non-racing related purposes.

    “Thanks to the support of Gov. Moore and to the partnership of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority under the leadership of Greg Cross, a sustainable and bright new future for the Thoroughbred racing industry in Maryland has been secured,” said Stronach Group CEO, Belinda Stronach.

    The agreement extends to all Pimlico facilities, including its hotel and event spaces, along with a $10 million investment from the Department of Housing and Community Development to promote the Park Heights community surrounding the course.

    The 149th running of the Preakness Stakes is set to take place this Saturday, May 18. Preakness is projected to return to Pimlico in 2027.

    The equine industry in Maryland is crucial to its economy. It provides 28,000 jobs, accounts for 25% of the state’s agricultural base and, overall, has a total economic impact of $3 billion.

    WTOP’s Alicia Abelson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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