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  • New Year’s Eve guides, restaurant closings and 2026 previews: 21 Charlotte food stories from this week

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    The stories from this past week all explore Charlotte’s bustling food scene, showcasing its vibrant culinary offerings. Common themes include new restaurant openings, locally-sourced ingredients, and community engagement through food.

    Highlights from the articles include the opening of an all-you-can-eat sushi spot in Pineville, where visitors can expect dim sum and barbecue skewers. A cozy wine bar in Dilworth will offer a wide selection of wines by the glass and shareable plates like carpaccio and shrimp cocktail.

    For New Year’s Eve, Charlotte venues like Nuvole Rooftop offer events with live entertainment and champagne toasts. A new farm-to-table restaurant in South End, Naked Farmer, plans to highlight locally sourced produce.

    Suffolk Punch Brewing expanded with a new location near Lake Norman, promising a rooftop bar overlooking the area. Sycamore Brewing faced backlash, resulting in its beers being pulled from various establishments, though some donate the remaining proceeds to charity.

    Restaurants like Rada, lauded for dishes like fava bean salads, have gained national attention. A new Irish-style pub named Ginny’s Whiskey Bar opening in South End will offer bourbons and Irish beers.

    The culinary scene celebrates innovation with chefs collaborating on unique dishes, while some longstanding favorites such as Lang Van continue to draw attention for their consistent quality.

    Charlotte’s ongoing food narrative is one of tradition meeting modern flair, with new ventures keeping diners engaged and excited.

    The dining room at Yiding Hot Pot. By Heidi Finley

    NO. 1: NEW ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SUSHI SPOT OPENING SOON IN PINEVILLE. HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT

    Hot pot and sushi lovers, rejoice. | Published October 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    A pizza goes into the oven at Finale Pizza. By Tristan Graziano

    NO. 2: THIS BALLANTYNE STRIP-MALL SPOT IS A SERIOUS CONTENDER FOR BEST PIZZA IN THE CITY

    Finale Pizza may be tucked into a quiet strip mall, but the moment you walk through the door, you realize you have found somewhere special. | Published December 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tristan Graziano and Jamie Graziano



    Among the places you can celebrate this New Year’s Eve is at The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte. By Michael Freas Photography

    NO. 3: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES, DINNERS AND MORE AROUND CHARLOTTE

    Charlotte is ready to ring in 2026 in style, and there’s a party for every vibe. | Published December 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore



    Chef Andres Kaifer and business partner Alex Bridges sit in the “best seat in the house” at Emmy Lou’s. By Heidi Finley

    NO. 4: A COZY NEW GATHERING SPOT BRINGS CURATED WINES, SEASONAL BITES TO DILWORTH

    A cozy new wine bar and bottle shop from a Michelin-recommended restaurant team is opening soon in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood. | Published December 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley



    Our favorite restaurants of 2025 included, from top left: Kid Cashew, ESO Artisanal Pasta, Lempira Restaurant, Soma Bistro and Cafe, Hawkers and Sun’s Kitchen. By Collage by Melissa Oyler

    NO. 5: THESE ARE THE BEST MEALS WE ATE AT CHARLOTTE RESTAURANTS IN 2025

    All year long, the CharlotteFive team eats, sleeps and breathes food (yes, we even dream about it some most nights.)
    We write about restaurants opening; | Published December 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Melissa Oyler



    Hank’s Wing Company will join a handful of existing businesses at Tryon Plaza in Charlotte.

    NO. 6: A NEW WING SPOT IS SET TO OPEN IN CHARLOTTE. HERE’S WHEN + WHAT TO KNOW

    Those in search of crispy, fried chicken will find it a new wing spot coming soon to Charlotte. | Published December 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    Michelin Guides director Gwendal Poullennec, chef/owner Sam Hart of Counter-, executive beverage director Michael Myers of Counter- and Michelin Guide American South ceremony host Java Ingram gather on stage with Michelin Man mascot Bibendum on Monday, Nov. 3 as Counter- was awarded one Michelin Star in addition to a Michelin Green Star. By Heidi Finley

    NO. 7: 2025 HAS BEEN A YEAR WORTH CELEBRATING IN CHARLOTTE’S FOOD AND DRINK SCENE

    As we look back at 2025 in Charlotte, among the things that stand out most was the exceptional year it’s been for highlighting the city’s food and drink scene. | Published December 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley



    Chef Robert Nichols pulls fried chicken out of the fryer at Londa’s. By Alex Cason

    NO. 8: BELOVED CHARLOTTE SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT WILL CLOSE TO PURSUE ‘A NEW OPPORTUNITY’

    Londa’s To-Go is officially shutting its doors. | Published December 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    The building and “Coming Soon” signs are up for Charlotte based Suffolk Punch Brewing’s third location, in Huntersville’s Birkdale Village near Lake Norman.

    NO. 9: SUFFOLK PUNCH OPENS DOORS ON NEW TAPROOM NEAR LAKE NORMAN. ‘IT TOOK US A MINUTE’

    A Charlotte-based brewery has expanded its footprint beyond the Queen City. | Published December 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    Shyam Padamati and Chandu Gangidi own Desi District in Pineville. Shyam is holding the Bombay grilled sandwich, and Chandu is holding the juicy mutton mandi. By Alex Cason

    NO. 10: THE BEST OF THE BEST: CHECK OUT THE 2025 CHARLOTTEFIVE READERS’ CHOICE WINNERS

    All year long, our team dishes out behind-the-scenes scoops and the freshest updates on the Charlotte area’s food scene — sprinkled with moments where we get to hear more about your favorite spots. | Published December 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Melissa Oyler, Chyna Blackmon



    A new neighborhood Irish pub is moving into the former Broken Promises space in South End Charlotte.

    NO. 11: NEW IRISH PUB TO REPLACE SHUTTERED SOUTH END LOUNGE SEEN ON ‘THE ULTIMATUM’

    There’s a new neighborhood bar coming soon to South End in Charlotte. | Published December 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    CharlotteFive assistant editor Heidi Finley on the red carpet at the Michelin Guide American South Ceremony on Nov. 3 in Greenville, Sc. By Courtesy of Heidi Finley

    NO. 12: DREAMS CAME TRUE THIS YEAR — FOR CHARLOTTE’S CHEFS, AND FOR ME, TOO

    As Charlotte has had a particularly notable year in the food and drink world, so, too, have I while following around the city’s best chefs and mixologists. | Published December 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley



    A sparkling toast is offered at Haberdish in NoDa, one of the Michelin Guide’s recommended Charlotte restaurants hosting New Year’s Eve events. By Courtesy of Haberdish

    NO. 13: CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE AT A MICHELIN-RECOGNIZED CHARLOTTE RESTAURANT

    For a twist on a traditional New Year’s Eve celebration this year, why not celebrate in a way that’s oh-so-2025: | Published December 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Melissa Oyler



    KPOT is an all-you-can-eat restaurant specializing hot pot and Korean barbecue. It’s opening its second Wichita location this weekend. By Courtesy

    NO. 14: THESE CHARLOTTE RESTAURANTS ARE SERVING DINNER ON CHRISTMAS, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO

    Looking for somewhere to savor a meal in Charlotte on Christmas Day? | Published December 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore



    The Spicy Salmon Ramen from Binki Cafe. By Courtesy of Binki Cafe

    NO. 15: CHARLOTTE RESTAURANT & TEA SHOP CLOSES ITS DOORS AFTER 6 YEARS IN BUSINESS

    After six years, Binki Cafe Charlotte has officially closed. | Published December 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    A red velvet waffle, cheese grits and Mark’s Womlette (waffle with egg and cheese in the middle) from The Wafflery in Charlotte. By Melissa Oyler

    NO. 16: BREAKFAST + LUNCH SPOT OPENS SECOND CHARLOTTE LOCATION. ‘CAN’T WAIT TO SERVE YOU’

    Fans of The Wafflery in Charlotte have a new spot to fill up on the restaurant’s famous waffles, biscuits and grits. | Published December 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    Assorted dishes from Lee Cafe. By Shindy Chen

    NO. 17: 12 CHINESE RESTAURANTS OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS EVE + CHRISTMAS DAY IN CHARLOTTE

    For many Charlotteans, Christmas traditions include more than just presents and pine needles — they also involve a plate of General Tso’s or a steaming bowl of noodles. | Published December 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore



    Naked Farmer, a Florida farm-to-table restaurant, is expanding to Charlotte in 2026.

    NO. 18: FLORIDA FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT COMING SOON TO SOUTH END. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

    A Florida farm-to-table restaurant plans to put down roots in Charlotte soon. | Published December 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney



    Sycamore Brewing, around mid-day Friday, at its South End location. The brewery co- owner charged in the rape of a 13-year-old Stanly County girl met his victim online and knew she was underage, Stanly County Sheriff Jeff Crisco said. By Chase Jordan

    NO. 19: SYCAMORE BREWING UNDER FIRE FOR NSFW CAN DESIGNS AMID OWNER CONTROVERSY

    Sycamore Brewing’s now annual provocative holiday beer branding was absent from its social media channels following a wave of backlash after the brewery’s co-founder and former co-owner, Justin Brigham, was arrested on multiple felony charges, including statutory rape and burglary in a case involving a 13-year-old girl. | Published December 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore



    The co-owner of Sycamore Brewing was arrested in Stanly County and accused of breaking into a home and raping a 13-year-old girl, according to court records. By TRACY KIMBALL

    NO. 20: MANY NC BARS & STORES HAVE PULLED SYCAMORE BEER. SOME STILL SELL, WITH A CATCH

    While many establishments have removed Sycamore Brewing’s beer from their taps in the wake of charges against the former owner, others are taking a different approach. | Published December 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore



    The award-winning Mecktoberfest beer is now available at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and at bottle shops around Charlotte. By Courtesy of OMB

    NO. 21: OLDE MECKLENBURG BREWERY IS EXPANDING — AGAIN. HERE’S WHERE AND WHAT TO KNOW

    Charlotte’s largest local brewer has a new taproom in the works. | Published December 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney

    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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  • The mostly unregulated natural cosmetics industry is booming. Regulators say to use caution

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    A bowl of Queen Kisses lip balm is pictured. (Courtesy photo)

    Tamiqua Whittaker was inspired to launch her homemade cosmetics business while working full time in the dental field.

    Watching her patients struggle with dry lips during and after checkups inspired the Tulsa resident to develop her first homemade cosmetic product, an all-natural lip scrub. 

    To ensure her products are safe and effective on different ages and skin types, she tests them on herself, her children and her husband. She also researches industry standards, and her background has taught her best practices in sterilization and how to prevent cross-contamination.

    Building on the success of her lip balm, Whittaker created the brand Queen Kisses and scaled it up to a three-part lip restoration system that includes lip exfoliators, balms and a nighttime aloe mask consisting of less than five certified organic or locally sourced ingredients from makers or growers in Tulsa or surrounding areas. 

    “What sets my business apart is that I am a licensed dental professional who started this endeavor, so I have the experience and knowledge necessary for caring for such a sensitive and important part of your face,” Whittaker said.

    Whittaker’s lip balms are a part of a quickly growing but largely under regulated sector in Oklahoma and nationally – the handmade cosmetic industry.

    Queen Kisses cosmetic product are pictured. (Courtesy photo)

    The market for natural cosmetics in the United States is expected to grow by nearly 71% by 2030 and reach almost $1.1 billion, according to a 2024 analysis by the Chemical Abstracts Service. The group, which aims to connect scientific knowledge to accelerate breakthroughs, said more consumers are shunning mainstream products, which contain synthetic chemicals, in favor of natural, sustainable and customized products. The growth of social media has also opened up opportunities for small business owners to showcase and pitch their homemade products to large numbers of people.

    But experts, including the Food and Drug Administration, warn that the handmade cosmetic industry is a buyer-beware market for consumers. Because there is little state and federal oversight of the burgeoning industry, they acknowledge that some homemade cosmetics could be misbranded or contaminated because they don’t have to be approved before use. 

    An FDA spokesperson said the federal agency does not approve cosmetics before they are sold but does regulate them after they become available on the market. 

    “The FDA does not provide specific resources or educational programs for small or home-based cosmetic producers,” an agency spokesperson said. “As a regulatory agency, our priority with regard to cosmetics is ensuring that products are unadulterated and properly labeled.”

    In Oklahoma, the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering is responsible for the protection and education of consumers who perform cosmetology services. The agency provides proper training for applicants and requires them to pass a written and practical examination. 

    If a consumer has a complaint about a business or product, they can submit it to the state board. The complaint will then be reviewed and acted upon if necessary. 

    The agency did not comment about how it regulates handmade cosmetics.

    Whittaker, though, said the state board primarily leaves regulation to the FDA, and it’s up to small business owners to stay abreast of the latest compliance regulations and requirements. She supports the current regulatory levels because she might not have been able to grow her home brand from nothing if the state had more stringent regulations.

    LaVonda Robinson, owner of Growing Hands LLC, is pictured. (Courtesy photo)

    LaVonda Robinson, owner of Growing Hands LLC, is pictured. (Courtesy photo)

    “Too many regulations could make the entrepreneurship dream a bit more of a reach for those aspiring,” Whittaker said. “Too many regulations ensure certain (items and ingredients) are unobtainable by us common folk capable of creating our own success, and even further limit options for those of us brave enough to attempt entrepreneurship.”

    But she acknowledged there are bad actors in her industry, which local and state agencies struggle to regulate.

    “That’s really a Catch-22 answer,” Whittaker said. “Too many regulations hurt us honest business owners, but not enough creates issues for consumers.” 

    Ken Marenus, president and CEO of the Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors, said the industry is oversaturated with personal care brands, and small businesses often struggle to find ways to stand out. 

    But the growing competition hasn’t deterred LaVonda Robinson, an entrepreneur and CEO of Growing Hands LLC.

    “My passion and happiness in my job is seeing the hair grow back and remain healthy,” she said. Robinson, of Tulsa, creates hair growth oils that are tailored to meet specific needs of each of her clients because there wasn’t one specific product on the market that could accommodate them all. 

    “I wanted to make a product that was safe and that helped maintain that natural, healthy look and feel,” she said. 

    Robinson said there are plenty of similar products being “marketed as healthy and effective,” and while she’s sure about the safety of her product, she isn’t as confident about others on the market.

    “(My) question is, ‘Are they really safe, and do they really work?” she said.

    Editor’s note: This story was produced through a reporting partnership between Oklahoma Voice and the University of Central Oklahoma’s journalism program.

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