New place from BAKU people coming to SouthPark

Expect Treehouse Whiskey & Fork to open mid-month, beside sibling BAKU at 4423 Sharon Road. The idea? A rustically whimsical site -- yes, there's actually a treehouse -- and a menu executive chef Alek Goncharov describes at "a new take on BBQ and New American style cooking."

That means house-smoked meats and lots of whiskey-based sauces made daily (including the signature, a whiskey molasses sauce, served with a platter of hickory-smoked brisket, ribs, barbecued chicken and more). Entrees will run $15 to $45. Goncharov is a graduate of The Art Institute of Charlotte and a native of eastern Europe, to which he returned last year, working on Eastern-Western fusion food.

Owned by the Asi Group, this, like BAKU, is the product of architect Jason Hood and interior designer Scott Carpenter. The treehouse will be a private dining area for eight, on the patio; that space will also have swinging outdoor furniture and a fire pit. (The accompanying photos are from its Facebook page.)

More than two dozen whiskeys and nearly three dozen beers on tap will be on hand, plus house cocktails. (The Treehouse Trapdoor is described as "a Whiskey/Bourbon mix, cranberry juice, pineapple juice (no ice), shaken then poured over fresh ice, garnished with an orange half wheel, and topped off with a tree design grenadine floater.")