If you’ve ever had a sneaking sense of deja vu while perusing a menu, you’ve likely encountered a restaurant trend. And while “trend” can be seen as a dirty word, I, for one, unabashedly enjoy a frequent foodie find — to see how each chef shapes and turns a bite you’ve had many times before or how a specific restaurant takes a growing propensity for a particular atmosphere and makes it exactly their own.

For as many times as a restaurant can be unsurprising, there are the gems that can turn an everyday ingredient or an unsuspecting meal into something unforgettable. Charlotte restaurateurs weighed in on what they expect to see in 2026 and gave us a sneak peek at what might be coming next to your favorite watering hole or dining haunt.

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