Having dipped my toes in Charlotte’s restaurant industry, working every position from hostess to bartender, I’ve seen firsthand how dining trends can come and go. As new fads emerge, some taking hold stronger than others, one thing is certain: The landscape of Charlotte’s restaurant scene is constantly evolving.

So, what does 2025 have in store for Charlotte diners? Trend forecasting requires a delicate balance between analyzing the data and understanding your demographic. One size does not fit all. It also helps to have boots on the ground, i.e. I see a lot of these trends in action every Friday and Saturday night that I’m at work.

Using data from OpenTable’s 2025 Dining Predictions alongside the National Restaurant Association’s 2025 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast, we’ve highlighted the trends to look out for this year. We also spoke to some local restaurateurs about their predictions for 2025…

 

Smaller, chef-forward menus

The National Restaurant Association says smaller, streamlined menus are in. And I gotta say, I agree. Gone are the days of multi-paged menus with endless options. In a mid-sized city like Charlotte, with a small-but bustling culinary scene, Charlotte diners are expecting a less is more approach from their menus.

Restaurant goers are now seeking smaller, more stream-lined menus that reflect the chef who designed it. Think spots like Restaurant Constance, a new-ish Wesley Heights restaurant owned by chef Sam Diminich whose dedication to hyper-local, farm-to-table fare is unmatched. Or the intimate, dimly-lit, ever-romantic Customshop in the Elizabeth neighborhood, owned and operated by chef Andres Kaifer. What do these two places have in common? Small, curated menus.

Perhaps in a world of endless choices, we’re craving more simplistic dining options going into 2025.

 

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