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Tag: The Artisan's Palate

  • A NoDa restaurant is struggling, and fans are stepping in to help keep it open

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    A popular Charlotte restaurant is fighting to keep the doors open, and customers are stepping in to help.

    Longtime customer April Crigger-Hudson has set up a GoFundMe to support The Artisan’s Palate, which has struggled with “rising costs and economic shifts, unexpected repairs and more.”

    So far, customers and friends have pitched in $4,155 of the $15,000 that effort is seeking. But more assistance is needed.

    “If Artisan’s Palate has ever made you feel seen, welcomed, celebrated—or simply given you a good meal on a hard day—we humbly ask for our community’s support now and deeply appreciate the generosity of those who wish to donate or come in and dine. Every share, every donation, every kind word helps keep our doors open,” a message the restaurant posted on Instagram said.

    Chef and owner Christa Csoka told CharlotteFive that sales have gone down significantly at the same time that multiple — and expensive repairs — hit at the restaurant. With costs reaching about $25,000 to fix up its air conditioning, burst pipes and a failing ice machine, it’s a lot for Csoka to balance as a woman running the show alone.

    This chef’s professional headshot shows off dark hair and a smile, with a black chef’s coat embroidered with her name and the logo for The Artisan’s Palate. The background is artfully blurred, showing what appears to be a well-stocked bar or wine collection.
    Christa Csoka is chef and owner of The Artisan’s Palate. Courtesy of The Artisan’s Palate

    “We know that people are struggling — and we see that in our own community. I see it with the artists we’re trying to help get paid. But in the meantime, we’re struggling,” Csoka shared.

    “I just don’t know if we’re going to make it through the month — like it’s that bad,” she said. “We’re just not having people in the doors like we used to. We’re competing with so many corporate restaurants that can kind of wade it through.”

    About The Artisan’s Palate

    Although Csoka has a fine dining background that includes training at the French Culinary Institute and time spent with master chefs including Jacques Pépin, Daniel Boulud and Jacques Torres, the all-day restaurant in NoDa is far from fussy.

    A high-angle, close-up shot of three golden-brown empanadas served in a terracotta dish lined with parchment paper. The empanadas are drizzled with a bright yellow sauce and topped with fresh microgreens. A white ceramic spoon filled with a chunky tomato and herb salsa sits in the foreground. The dish is placed on a dark, rustic wooden tabletop.
    Duck Confit Empanadas at The Artisan’s Palate. The Artisan’s Palate

    The comforting space offers fare such as biscuits and gravy at breakfast, Artisan’s Grilled Cheese at lunch and mussels in white wine for dinner. In between, there are bar bites of bacon-wrapped dates and duck confit empanadas. Or you can sit down to Sunday brunch with a smoked salmon board of lox with grilled bread, cream cheese, capers and red onion.

    But that’s not all. The Artisan’s Palate stands out in Charlotte’s food and drink scene as a space for nurturing creativity and inclusivity, serving as a gallery space for featured artists, a home for drag brunches and other events such as its popular Women of Whiskey gatherings.

    An inviting scene inside a warmly lit, rustic restaurant. A diverse group of women are gathered around a long wooden dining table, sharing a meal and animated conversation. Large garage-door windows in the background show a patio and the street outside at night. A sign on the wall clearly reads “The Artisan’s Palate.”
    The Artisan’s Palate hosts a variety of unique events including the monthly series, Women of Whiskey. The Artisan’s Palate

    Help for The Artisan’s Palate

    A similar GoFundMe effort organized by CLT Black Owned recently raised more than $26,000 in an effort to save The People’s Market from closing. However, the funds were not enough to save the all-day cafe and market with locations in Elizabeth and Myers Park, and in November the owners announced the restaurants would permanently close.

    From the entrance, a view into The Artisan’s Palate restaurant and bar. The industrial-chic space is characterized by its exposed black ceiling and a large ceiling beam covered in colorful, stylized graffiti. The dining area has wood and metal furniture, and a large sign with the restaurant’s name hangs on the far wall.
    The Artisan’s Palate, a local restaurant, craft bar and art gallery, hosts a variety of distinctive events including monthly Women of Whiskey tastings. Liz Rothaus Bertrand CharlotteFive

    “April, a good friend, did this for me, and it’s great,” Csoka said. “But, you know, the reality is everyone’s hurting right now, yeah, and it’s hard to ask for help. Quite honestly, we need people to make reservations and come and support us — and that’s what we really want and need.

    “If you have that choice, come support local — and not just my restaurant, but other restaurants that are struggling. We don’t want to see another one that is closing the doors and all of sudden, everyone’s lined out the door, right? You know, it’s, like, too late.”

    A vibrant gourmet salad served in a white bowl, centered around a halved pear poached to a deep ruby red. The salad features a mix of leafy greens, including frisée, topped with thinly sliced watermelon radishes showing their signature pink centers and green rims. It is garnished with crumbles of blue cheese, whole roasted pistachios, dried cranberries, and thin slivers of red onion. A dark balsamic glaze or wine reduction is drizzled over the ingredients, highlighting the textures of the fruit and nuts.
    Poached Pear Salad at The Artisan’s Palate. The Artisan’s Palate

    Location: 1218 E 36th St A, Charlotte, NC 28205

    Menu

    Cuisine: American

    Instagram: @theartisanspalate

    A braised lamb shank rests atop a bed of golden-yellow squash and farro risotto in a matte grey bowl. The lamb is coated in a rich, dark red reduction sauce and topped with a cluster of delicate purple microgreens. Small, bright pink peppercorns or garnish dots are scattered across the creamy surface of the grain. The dish is presented on a textured, grey wood-grain surface.
    The Artisan’s Palate’s Lamb Shank Farro & Squash Risotto. The Artisan’s Palate

    This story was originally published December 31, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

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    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.
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    Heidi Finley

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