a day ago
Scoop: Highly anticipated Italian restaurant to open in Uptown next month
Spaghett will open in Uptown's Fourth Ward on Friday, July 11, chef-owner Sam Hart shared exclusively with Axios.
Why it matters: First announced in 2023, the new pasta and cocktail house is one of Charlotte's most anticipated restaurants. Reservations open today.
Dig in: Located in the former Poplar Tapas & Wine spot, Spaghett will specialize in classic Italian dishes and handmade pastas.
Mainstays include cacio e pepe and tiramisu, according to Unpretentious Palate. Local produce is central to the restaurant's mission, so expect a rotating menu crafted by chef Kendall Moore. Top Charlotte mixologist Amanda Britton will use local ingredients, including spirits, for the cocktail menu.
Small plates will range between $14-$15, pastas will be $20 or cheaper and entrees will be priced in the mid-$20s to upper-$30s.
"At the end of the day, it's going to be a neighborhood restaurant first, and we want to make sure that we are accessible to everyone that is in the neighborhood around us," Hart tells Axios.
Zoom out: Hart, a James Beard Award finalist, also owns Counter-, an immersive tasting menu restaurant in Wesley Heights.
Eventually, Hart hopes to offer a fixed-price tasting menu option at Speghett. To start, everything will be à la carte.
Counter- sommelier Michael Myers will be Spaghett's beverage manager. The restaurant will offer Italian wines and other Italian varietals from U.S. winemakers.
The vibe: The home/restaurant comprises three dining rooms, one of which can be closed and converted into a private dining room for 12-14 guests. Each room has a distinct wallpaper and feel.
The bar, which is in its own room to the left of the entrance, has a cool, old-school vibe. When the restaurant opens, you can expect to hear Italian House music through the speakers, Britton said.
Eventually, a private dining room upstairs will open, seating up to 14 people.
Once temperatures cool off, the restaurant's patio will open for reservations.
Flashback: Spaghett is located inside a 1900 Queen Anne-style home once owned by descendants of Davidson College's founding president, Robert Hall Morrison, according to The Observer.
In 2022, four members of the Friends of Fourth Ward neighborhood association purchased the 124-year-old home, The Observer reported at the time.
Between the lines: In addition to repairs, Hart and his team had to adhere to the historical house code.
"We had to do a massive overhaul of the electrical ... completely redo the crawl space and basement to prevent flooding ... even the hot water heater had to be changed," they said.
What's next: Spaghett will open Thursday through Monday from 5-10pm. Eventually, it'll serve brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
