Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Emeril Lagasse opening restaurant in Charlotte

Bam! Wells Fargo announced what else is going into the Levine Center for the Arts campus today, and it includes a restaurant from TV star chef Emeril Lagasse. He's got a dozen restaurants, from New Orleans to Miami to Vegas, and is known for his Creole expertise.

Other new tenants include the Energy Café, a second location of this quick-service, healthy eating concept; Mizan, a Mediterranean restaurant and lounge (both plan to open in the second quarter), and Emzy Asian.Sushi Bar, an Asian fusion/sushi place scheduled to open in the third quarter.

“I’m very happy to be working with our new partners at Wells Fargo and look forward to opening our first restaurant in Charlotte,” said Lagasse in a press release. “The beautiful new campus is the perfect fit for our restaurant and we’re excited to get started with plans and development.”

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Emeril, sushi, Mizan... Great. More$50 a plate restaurants. We are so desperately in need of them! The Bobcats, Panthers, and corporate CEOs just don't have ANYWHERE to eat! Oh, thank God we're finally putting some places up for them!!!

Whatever. Maybe one day we'll get some places for rank-and-file workers to eat that aren't located at EpiCentre, which is too long a walk for some uptown workers on a 1-hour lunch.

Anonymous said...

Hey J,

You are what is wrong with Charlotte, NC, its laziness and complaining all the time. Uptown is what 10 blocks? Give me a break and walk it.

Another business is good for Charlotte, NC whether its a fancy restaurant or corner deli.

Dee Stephens said...

That's awesome that Energy Cafe is opening another location! I love that place and frequent it a lot! It's a good thing to see local businesses like that flourish.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of a good corner deli, MAN does Charlotte need one! How hard is it to get a great deli like up north? Not that I don't love the other options, but a basic staple like a good deli would be AMAZING!

Also... so is Bam! the name of Emiril's place? Or Emzy? I'm confused. Article wasn't clear.

Helen Schwab said...

Details are to come on Lagasse's place - no name yet.

Anonymous said...

Charlotte has plenty of cheap, good food. It just doesn't get publicity like a famous chef's new restaurant does. As far as I'm concerned, the plethora of food in Charlotte is the best thing about the city, and I'm thrilled to see anything new, even if I can't afford some of it.

Anonymous said...

4:07, with the word.

Anonymous said...

At anon 4:20pm;

If you want a good local deli, there is one on Monroe Rd. called the Deli Queen, run by a greek family. It is fantastic and cheap but good old american food and of course some greek cuisine as well. It is so old school it is still a cash only biz but it is worth hitting the atm for a 20 and grabbin lunch!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE sushi, but we really don't need another sushi bar in uptown. Good to hear about more openings, but I was hoping one of these spots would be retail.

Anonymous said...

Also, Laurel Market (in south end and on the corner of laurel and providence rd) is really good and common market in plaza midwood and southend are great deli's too!

Stephen said...

Wow, another fake Asian/fusion/sushi "concept". Just what we need, especially downtown where it is so hard to find pad thai and a spicy tuna roll on the same menu.

Yes that was sarcastic.

Anonymous said...

Co sign... we don't need another overpriced,pretentious, average at best "Asian fusion concept".

Bad food, you pay for the lame "trendy" atmosphere which is a joke and tacky.

We need RETAIL UPTOWN!!!

Anonymous said...

A good deli like in New York City has to be a Kosher one. They need a Kosher Deli's in downtown/uptown Charlotte for a nice Hot Pastrami on Rye that is melt in your mouth good. I got one of those and ate it while driving a moving van in Manhattan. Good luck to Chef Emeril!

Anonymous said...

Agree with the lack of really good NY deli. I love Deli Queen and eat there often. Nothing to take away from there. Or the other 'deli' style places in town.

Ever visit south FL and hit TooJays? This is real NY style deli. Owners willing to put half a pound of the finest lean corned beef or pastrami (or a pound if you want) on a couple pieces of fresh rye, some mustard on the side, slaw and pickles. Sure they charge more than your average $8 deli in Charlotte, but the food is ten times better!

Travel to NYC and hit a few of the usuals (Carnegie, Stage, etc) and you'll see how it's done. The only reason this town has no real NY delis is because the few average places in town are still 'accepted' by the masses. Average quality, avg portions, avg prices, ok, it'll do. The owners know they could get better quality meats and put more on the plate, and charge more, but they just don't get it.

We're dying for someone with some big ones to step in here and show 'em how it's done. I'd be there 3x/week if they'd come here.

Kudos to Emeril for bringing his game to town. This place has really heated up nicely since J&W came to Charlotte, churning out some great talent.

Other great eats: Cajun Yard Dog, Sadie's (great chicken & waffles, veggies, etc) and of course, Lupies.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering if anyone making comments actually works in the restaurant industry? I have worked in Charlotte restaurants for many years, and Emeril opening a restaurant is something I never thought I would see. I hope he hires someone who actually knows how to operate a PROFESSIONAL RESTAURANT and stays open longer than a year.

Anonymous said...

Anoymous post at 1-19 1707: the reason there are no good New York deli's down here is um, drum roll idiot, we aint' in New York!