Only a robust lineup of dining establishments would be fit for a queen, and that’s exactly what Queen’s Feast is delivering to Charlotte for its twentieth Restaurant Week event. Running from January 19th to the 28th, this foodie fest will be a treat to all in the greater Charlotte area, sprawling across nine counties and including 134 restaurants. From Hickory to Rock Hill (about 80 miles) and Rock Hill to Rowan (about 60 miles), this culinary event has quite the reach. All counties participating are Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Catawba, Cabarrus, Union, York, and Rowan.
But the overall restaurant quality of the lineup packs a punch just as big as the geographic footprint.
For either $30 or $35 per person, you can enjoy a prix fixe three-course dinner at restaurants such as 131 Main in Lake Norman, Bonterra in Dilworth, Luca’s in Elizabeth, or RockSalt in SouthPark, just to name a small percentage of the participating joints. In case you needed a reminder, Luca Modern Italian Kitchen ranked number 14 on our 50 Best Restaurants list, Bonterra was number 19, and RockSalt came in at the 24th spot. Uptown’s participating restaurants, and first-year additions, include Wu’s Cajun Chicken (read about our visit here), Loft & Cellar (preview what you can expect here), and NoDa Brewing Company, which is teaming up with the TIN Kitchen food truck and caterers for a beer pairing menu. In total, more than a dozen new restaurants were added to this year’s list. The full list can be viewed here.
Though Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week launched a decade ago in 2008, the growth hasn’t slowed—it’s almost quadrupled. With husband-and-wife duo Bruce and Jill Hensley of Hensley Public Relations as the two organizers, founders, and owners of this event, there have been two Charlotte Restaurant Weeks per year since Queen’s Feast’s inception—one in January and one in July. The first event touted an impressive list of 42 participating restaurants, though only in Mecklenburg County. Bruce Hensley says they are particularly excited about the recent growth of the event in Hickory, where there are now six participating restaurants, up two from last July’s event.
Kids are invited, too. Although all participating restaurants will have prix fixe dinner menus available for $30-$35, Bruce says, “Most restaurants also offer their regular menu during this time if someone wants to veer away from the prix fixe offering.” He also notes that Queen’s Feast is “kid-friendly for parents who would like to expose their children to fine dining at a reduced price.”
Reservations are strongly recommended to make sure you get a seat during prime dining times. Remember, Queen’s Feast menu prices are only available during dinner. Visit Charlotte Restaurant Week online to learn more about the event.
VIA CHARLOTTE MAGAZINE
