ReportWire

Tag: Tega Cay SC

  • 5 new restaurants are opening in Charlotte, including a local barbecue joint

    [ad_1]

    Charlotteans can look forward to a slate of new restaurants opening soon in the city.

    This week, I reported on five recent or upcoming restaurant openings, including a woman-owned wine bar, a gourmet pizza spot and a Charlotte-area eatery serving modern Italian favorites

    Plus, a neighborhood barbecue joint with Asian flair will soon start hosting guests at its new flagship restaurant.

    Here a few spots foodies can look forward to:

    Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza

    Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza, known for its star-shaped pies, is coming to The Bowl at Ballantyne this fall.

    Founded by Italian chef Renato Viola, the Miami-born pizzeria has been recognized by the Michelin Guide for its “slow-fermented dough, premium ingredients and playful flavors.”

    A close-up view of a white pizza topped with melted cheese and fresh basil sits next to a glass bottle of Mister O1 white truffle oil.
    The Claudio at Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza features mozzarella, Italian tomato sauce, burrata stracciatella cheese, white truffle oil and basil. Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza

    Pizza lovers can look forward to Mister O1 signatures like the Star Luca made with mozzarella, Italian tomato sauce, spicy salami calabrese, basil and a ricotta-stuffed crust. There’s also the Coffee Paolo featuring Gorgonzola, honey, coffee and spicy salami for those with a taste for something bolder.

    “This opening feels less like adding another restaurant and more like bringing something genuinely new to Charlotte’s pizza scene,” managing partner Deepen Patel said in a news release.

    Crisp Uptown

    Crisp, known for its signature salads and wraps, is changing addresses The Alley at Latta Arcade. The fast-casual chain will find a new home in the former Young and Tate restaurant space in uptown, according to a recent permit request.

    A filing for the new digs at 132 Brevard Court seeks “a zoning inspection for the location with dba name of CRISP to get signoff for an ABC alcohol permit,” online documents show.

    The exterior entrance of the historic Latta Arcade features a grand stone facade with festive holiday wreaths and a dark green awning for “The Alley.” A few pedestrians walk along the sidewalk in front of the building’s large glass windows and classic architecture.
    A fast-casual restaurant known for its made-to-order salads and wraps will find a new home at The Alley at Latta Arcade in uptown Charlotte. Google Street View image from December 2025 ©2026 Google

    Details on a possible opening date weren’t immediately available.

    The fast-casual chain had spots in Elizabeth and Dilworth, but both have closed.

    Velvet Coupe Wine Bar

    Velvet Coupe Wine Bar began welcoming guests to its new spot in Tega Cay, South Carolina this week and will host an official grand opening celebration Saturday, Feb. 14, a spokesperson told CharlotteFive.

    Locals are invited to enjoy live music while exploring the cozy new eatery serving a mix of “approachable” yet unique wines and light bites.

    An interior view of a modern wine bar featuring a long, black L-shaped counter. Warm, tan leather barstools with thin black metal legs are lined up along the bar. The back wall is painted a muted plum color and features a large, back-lit glass shelving unit filled with wine glasses. Decorative lighting includes a mix of orb-style chandeliers and black-and-white striped pendant lights. The floor is dark hardwood under a black industrial ceiling.
    The bar at Velvet Coup in Tega Cay, SC. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    “We are a women-owned business with an exceptional woman chef, bringing together a love of great wine and thoughtfully prepared food,” co-owner Jessica O’Connor told CharlotteFive. “Our space is comfortable yet elevated.”

    “We’re pretty passionate about it and excited to share it with the Charlotte community.”

    Taverna Italian American Eatery

    Taverna Italian American Bistro will soon begin hosting customers at its new spot in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, the restaurant recently shared on social media.

    A wide shot of the exterior of Lily’s Bistro, a light gray building featuring a sign that reads “Fine Italian and American Dining.” A bright blue car is parked in the foreground near the entrance, where a person is sitting on a small porch area under a gabled roof.
    Another Italian eatery is set to take over Lily’s Bistro after the Lake Wylie business was sold, reports say. Google Street View image from July 2022 ©2026 Google

    Offering modern Italian and American dishes, it’s set to replace Lily’s Bistro after the latter was sold.

    Details on a possible opening date weren’t immediately available.

    The Improper Pig

    Local barbecue joint The Improper Pig will open the doors on its flagship restaurant in Plaza Midwood on Monday, February 16.

    Owned by Stomp, Chomp & Roll hospitality group, the new 3,100-squarefoot spot will feature an outdoor bar and expanded kitchen with a wood-fired grill. Customers can look forward to favorites like Improper Pig’s St. Louis-style ribs and brisket, as well as a few new offerings.

    A metal tray holds a long, glazed rack of ribs alongside four slices of triangular Texas toast and a small bowl of golden-brown hushpuppies with pickled red onions. Three small white square bowls contain southern sides: sweet potato mash with a crumble topping, collard greens, and creamy coleslaw.
    The Improper Pig’s Smokin Rack. Courtesy NiceDay and LunahZon Photography

    Vegetarian options are also on the menu, including collard greens, smoked tofu and Asian slaw.

    “Our whole customer experience is come in, eat great food, in a relaxed atmosphere welcome to everyone,” founder Will Bigham told CharlotteFive.

    Heidi Finley contributed to this report. Portions of this story were previously published in The Charlotte Observer.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    Tanasia Kenney

    Sun Herald

    Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.

    [ad_2]

    Tanasia Kenney

    Source link

  • Wine, bubbles + light bites: New upscale wine bar opens near Charlotte

    [ad_1]

    Pours and light bites are plentiful at a new wine bar now open in Tega Cay, just outside Charlotte.

    Velvet Coupe Wine Bar officially opened Feb. 9 and will host a grand opening celebration Saturday, Feb. 14, at 1177 Stonecrest Blvd., a spokesperson told CharlotteFive.

    The community is invited to enjoy live music from jazz saxophonist Platinum on the Sax while exploring the new upscale eatery.

    A cozy lounge area inside the wine bar with a moody, sophisticated atmosphere. Along the left, a plum-colored wall is decorated with a gallery of vintage-style framed paintings and lit by warm wall sconces. Seating includes long brown leather sofas, teal velvet armchairs, and deep purple velvet tub chairs arranged around small, round stone tables. Ornate beaded chandeliers and amber globe lights hang from the dark ceiling, creating a warm, intimate glow.
    Seating inside Velvet Coup Wine Bar. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    “Independently owned and founded by four strong, passionate women, we set out to create more than just a place to enjoy wine — we created an experience,” Velvet Coupe’s website says.

    “Our goal is to bring our city a space filled with ambiance and soul: a place for unforgettable date nights, effortless ladies’ nights, and evenings that invite you to slow down.”

    The bar’s curated wine list includes an array of red and white wines alongside bubbly Brut, rosé and moscato. There are a few beers in the mix, too.

    An interior view of a modern wine bar featuring a long, black L-shaped counter. Warm, tan leather barstools with thin black metal legs are lined up along the bar. The back wall is painted a muted plum color and features a large, back-lit glass shelving unit filled with wine glasses. Decorative lighting includes a mix of orb-style chandeliers and black-and-white striped pendant lights. The floor is dark hardwood under a black industrial ceiling.
    The bar at Velvet Coup in Tega Cay, SC. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    On the food menu, customers can pick from flatbreads, ribeye steak tartare, marinara meatballs and other light bites. Meat and cheese boards are also on the menu alongside a few desserts.

    CharlotteFive reached out to Velvet Coupe Wine Bar for more information and was awaiting a response.

    Location: 1177 Stonecrest Blvd, Tega Cay, SC 29708

    Menu

    Cuisine: Wine bar

    Instagram: @velvetcoupewinebar

    A daytime wide shot of the exterior storefront for “Velvet Coupe Wine Bar.” The building features a clean, white facade with horizontal wood-slat accents above the signage. Large floor-to-ceiling glass windows reflect a clear blue sky and a parking lot. Two black metal awnings hang over the entrances, and there are designated accessible parking signs in front of the brick-accented base of the building.
    Velvet Coupe Wine Bar is located at 1177 Stonecrest Blvd., in Tega Cay, SC. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    Tanasia Kenney

    Sun Herald

    Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.

    [ad_2]

    Tanasia Kenney

    Source link

  • Charlotte-area restaurant + cocktail bar to open new spot. Here’s what to know.

    [ad_1]

    A Charlotte-area cocktail bar and restaurant is taking its classic American fare across state lines.

    The Garrison is expanding from Pineville to Tega Cay, South Carolina, with a second restaurant slated to open in mid-spring 2026, the restaurant announced in a recent Instagram post.

    The side-by-side exteriors of Margaux’s and The Garrison restaurants are shown, featuring dark brick facades and outdoor patio seating. Patrons are visible sitting under green and striped umbrellas on the sidewalk on an overcast day.
    The Garrison and Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market stand side by side in downtown Pineville. Incentive Travel Solutions

    The eatery, nestled on Main Street in downtown Pineville, will take over the former Tega Cay Shore Club spot on Molokai Drive, according to a news release sent to CharlotteFive.

    “This community has such a unique charm and strong sense of connection,” owner Kevin Devanney said in a statement. “We don’t want to lose the history of Tega Cay, but rather honor it while creating an atmosphere where families, individuals, and couples can all feel at home.”

    A generous portion of seasoned french fries and a large bacon cheeseburger are presented on a white plate. The burger, held together by a toothpick, is topped with cheese, bacon, and sauce, and the fries are served with a small metal cup of ketchup.
    The Garrison’s food menu features modern American fare, including classics like The Garrison Burger made with applewood smoked bacon, a fried egg, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. WAYNE ST. JOHN

    The Garrison opened its Pineville location back in 2022, serving up signature dishes including Cheerwine short ribs and braised lamb shank. Gourmet burgers are also on the menu alongside local seafood, ribeye and fried chicken sandwiches.

    “I want people to be able to come in three days a week,” Devanney, who also owns Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market next door to The Garrison, told CharlotteFive at the time. “They come in and sit at the bar one evening to have some chicken wings. The next day, they come in with their kids to have sandwiches. Then, Friday night they come back and have a ribeye.”

    This is an interior shot of a stylish, upscale restaurant bar with a dark, L-shaped countertop and a front clad in glossy green subway tiles. Several ornate crystal chandeliers hang from a tin ceiling, illuminating the bar and the rows of brown leather barstools.
    “Now suburban income-level people are demanding better dining. They have a culinary palette, want independent restaurants and are willing to pay,” said Kevin Delaney, owner of The Garrison: A Cocktail Bar & Restaurant in downtown Pineville. Chad Whittington

    There’s also a 20-drink cocktail menu, plus an outdoor dining area.

    A grand opening date for The Garrison’s new location wasn’t announced, though renovations will begin in February, according to the release.

    Three distinct, colorful cocktails are lined up on a dark bar top in front of a brightly lit display of liquor bottles. The drinks include one with a salt-rimmed glass, one in a coupe, and a tall one with chili flakes on the rim.
    The Garrison: A Cocktail Bar + Restaurant features a 20-drink cocktail menu inspired by flavors from across the globe. Incentive Travel Solutions

    The new space will feature a wood-fired pizza oven and an area for private events and community gatherings.

    “We can’t wait to welcome guests into our new space and create something truly special,” Devanney said.

    A smiling, middle-aged man wearing a dark blazer and blue jeans stands on a metal staircase inside a commercial space under construction. Behind him, large industrial windows look out onto a city street, and a ladder sits on the partially finished wood floor.
    Kevin Devanney owns The Garrison in Pineville. Sara Douglass

    Location: 15083 Molokai Dr, Tega Cay, SC 29708 (opening spring 2026)

    Location: 314 Main St, Pineville, NC 28134

    Menu

    Cuisine: Cocktail bar, modern American

    Instagram: @thegarrisontc, @thegarrisonnc

    This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 8:42 AM.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    Tanasia Kenney

    Sun Herald

    Tanasia is a service journalism reporter based at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She recently joined the NC Service Journalism team and covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide stories. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.

    [ad_2]

    Tanasia Kenney

    Source link