Artistry of many kinds

Soul hits Plaza-Midwood

Put the kitchen, the DJ and the diners all in one space and you have a gastrolounge. Make the food small plates from tapas to mezes, and the music house-and-more, and you've got Soul, recently opened at 1500 Central Ave. (at the corner of Pecan).

Andy Kastanas and James Fedele co-own; Johnson & Wales-trained Patty Greene is chef, focusing on local and organic foodstuffs and whipping up fare such as sesame-scallion tuna sashimi with siracha mayo, served with a shot of sake; roasted bone marrow with parsley salad; anchovy fries; a full sushi menu and more, with prices from $3-$12. DJs from Kastanas and Fedele to That Guy Smitty and Jah-Sun Rising will spin, and the interior features art by local favorite Duy Huynh, a peacock (really), world influences from Turkish fabrics to Asian wallpaper and custom mirrors. Dinner nightly; brunch weekdays begins May 16. 704.348.1848.


Artists' dinner

Mimosa Grill (327 S. Tryon St.) continues its Artist Series of dinners with a May 30 four-course meal and the work of New Orleans-based David Halliday, who does still-life paintings and photography. Pieces will be available at special prices for diners. On the menu: hot smoked Alaskan King salmon with Yukon Gold blini; foie-gras-stuffed hush puppies; pan-roasted ribeye and more. $45; 704-343-0700.


A creative winner

Rhea Vogelhut won the pizza topping competition at Pie Town (710 W. Trade St.) with a Flat Iron Steak and Yukon Gold Potato Pizza. A new menu, on which this pizza debuts, kicks in Friday.

New in charge

Since chef Blake Hartwick moved to Andrew Blair's, sibling Dilworth restaurants Bonterra and Las Ramblas have new folks at the helm. In charge at Bonterra is Cory Sharpe, who had been sous chef since 2002, while Marcelino Sanchez has taken over at Las Ramblas; he's been with the restaurant since it opened.