On a Saturday, scrolling through Yelp in hopes of finding a great lunch spot, I stumbled upon Black Chicken. Our party of three made the trip and were very pleased. This shop is set back from the road in downtown Matthews -- I think it's in the old Subway spot. The vibe is great with big windows and bright hardwood floors. We each ordered a sandwich, grabbed some sodas from the coolers, and shared a bag of chips. I was pleased to see that the sandwich menu offers gluten free bread, and for my order, it was toasted. If you're local to Charlotte, you might recognize Black Chicken as almost a grown-up, fancier version of Common Market. The gentleman behind the counter was friendly and helpful and seemed to enjoy being there. We weren't there to drink, but there was a decent variety of beer and an extensive wine area. I wish the crew at Black Chicken the best of luck -- we will be back, for sure. read more

Great staff and quiet atmosphere! A gem in Matthews! A must place to visit when in Matthews!

John is the absolute best! The new menu is so good! Been coming here for a long time and it's nice to see a refreshing update on the menu. Will definitely be back to check out new items! Wonderful service and spectacular wine! read more

Delicious wine recommendations and stellar service!! Tim was fantastic. Awesome musician playing. Small spot, but he was not overbearing. Great selection, super chill vibes. Chardonnay was superb and the smoked salmon salad is to die for. 10/10, will absolutely be back!!! read more

Nice spot for drinks or small plates in a convenient location in matthews. Great deal on draft beers and nice wine selection.

First time experiencing this wine bar for lunch this week. Arrived about 11:45 & there were about 6 patrons inside. Friend & I ordered a brut rose' which was delightful, but for $9 felt short on the approximate 3-4 ounce pour. We ordered a sandwich & smoked salmon salad which apparently there was only one kitchen staff to prepare food. It was almost an hour to receive our food & we noted service to all tables was equally slow. Food was delicious, no complaints on taste, presentation or portions. Cashier/server was balancing between orders, wine delivery & bringing food to table. May try again to determine if the service was off & not the standard. With the amount of food offerings in Matthews, which has improved tremendously over the years, the choice to give second chances to a venue are speculative. read more

Great updated menu. Andrea behind the bar was extremely knowledgeable and professional. She definitely made my rare visit here more pleasant and comfortable. Look forward to visiting again and recommend others to do the same! read more

Such a friendly, wonderful wine bar that serves other spirits. We played music bingo and had a blast.

We felt very welcomed at Cellar & Ale. The owners chatted with us. Wine selection is great, along with local beer options. Will be going back! Thank you for chatting with the old people. read more

Love love love Matthews Wine Cellar! Ray is the best!! We live Tuesday night music bingo and the weekend music.

Great atmosphere! We popped in for a quick bite and some wine after walking around downtown Matthews and were very glad we did. The staff were very friendly and went through the wine menu with us to find something we each would really enjoy. We also tried a sandwich and cheese tray and both were delicious. Will definitely be back. read more

I love Matthews wine cellar!!!! Music, Food and great staff! The new menu is what this place needed! read more

Cellar & Ale - Live Jams!!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Best place! Nice variety of wine - NO corking fee - fun event nights - great menu - this is our GO-TO place :)

Tammy was a wonderful hostess, the interiors have been updated and so cozy and classy. Wide variety of wines, cocktails and a great menu to compliment read more

Cellar & Ale - Light and smooth Riesling - Wine Bars Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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A couple of girlfriends & I went for ladies night and had an absolutely fantastic evening. We chose to sit at the bar so we got lots of attention from the staff and never had an empty glass of wine in front of us. We had the baked Brie as an appetizer which was amazing! Then we split the French dip sliders as well as the Caprese & buffalo chicken flatbreads. ALL of it was delicious! I think it'd be safe to say it was possibly the best buffalo chicken flatbread that I've ever had. The ambiance was cozy and we enjoyed the DJ who played a variety of tunes. We will be making this a regular event on Wednesday evenings. Shout out to Johnny, Tammy, & Kevin for excellent service! read more

I can't express enough how great of an experience we had here today! Jason was terrific and was so committed to making our first experience at this store special. the wines were terrific and the staff and service was even better! read more

Incredible food!!! Love the cozy ambiance and the kind, friendly staff. The wine selection is really good!! The ambiance is so warm. You can come for a quick drink or lunch or even a decent meal! Great place for come during the day and bring your laptop. Or book. Or sit at the bar and chat with your fellow neighbors and the personable staff. I came here a few years ago and there must be a new owner as it's changed for the better!!! I look forward to bringing some people here over the holidays and will bring my book group here. read more

Cozy and inviting. Just a nice neighborhood spot to sip good wine and eat some good food. Definitely will return.

Can't wait to go back. Very low key and relaxed atmosphere. Excellent wine list but we did not get to try the menu so we need to get back there soon! In my opinion head and shoulders above the rest of the dining and entertainment scene in Mathews. Really a nice place. read more

We stopped in tonight for a bottle of wine & some appetizers. UGHHHH! We sat at the bar which was fine at first. The wine & service was good, appetizers were ehh. The worst part were the extremely loud & obnoxious patrons at the bar. They were rude, loud & obviously obliterated but they kept drinking & they kept being served more alcohol when clearly they shouldn't be. The couple sitting next to us asked if it was always like that (it was their first time there) & we said not really. It was such a bad experience that we will not go back. It came down to the fact that poor behavior was being tolerated. read more

My favorite place in Matthews! Love this place! Something going on every night of the week. Friendly people, great service, big wine selection, warm ambiance. My favorites are Wine Tasting Thursdays, Music Bingo Tuesdays, and the monthly theme parties. Highly recommend!!!! This place can't be beat! read more

Excellent food, great ambience, and overly accommodating! We will definitely be back.

Great little place with outdoor seating. Food was delicious, wine was very good and Jonny was awesome!

Wow! What a great experience! The food was excellent and the bartenders are on point! Will definitely be back!

My boyfriend and I were on a casual walk around historic downtown Matthews. We originally thought we were headed to a different restaurant when we passed Black Chicken. We took a look at the menu outside and decided we'd stop there. The inside was so calming and home-y and the lady running the bar and register was so kind she felt like an immediate friend. Everything was super clean and being cleaned as people came in and out. I sat down with a glass of wine and my boyfriend tried the beers and watched golf above the bar while we relaxed in the corner couch. We felt comfortable and were gladly served to whatever we wanted throughout the evening. Oh can't forget, - highly recommend the Caprese salad, bratwurst and pretzel! read more

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Wonderful atmosphere, great food and drink options. Staff is always friendly and the facilities are clean!!

Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner there. They had a wonder pasta special. Nice beer selection and several wines to choose from as well. There is no diet cola. Seating is limited. The service was excellent and the recommendations given on food and beer were spot on. Street parking is limited but available. Definitely worth a trip to downtown Waxhaw! read more

We had so much fun at music bingo! The Old Vine Pinot Noir was delicious. Anyone reading this needs to check out this place!

Went here the other night and Ashley was awesome and super fun and outgoing never waited for a drink also I love the interior and decor super cute little place!!! We will be back! read more

First time back since they changed up the menu. I was torn as everything looked amazing. I started out with the Brussels.... Amazing. Enough for two to share. I strongly suggest to get them as an app. I then had the burger sliders with pimento cheese. They were stunning!! Not to mention the amazing staff who waiting on me! Big shout out to Ms.Erica she's amazing and does not miss a beat!!! Please come out to the cellar and try their amazing new menu! read more

This place is such a great place for a night out! Great wine, great food, great atmosphere. The hamburger sliders are probably the best sliders I've EVER had. They also do things like 1/2 priced bottles on Mondays, they offer music bingo on Tuesdays, and live music on Saturdays! Such a great little spot in lively downtown matthews! read more

Great spot right in Matthews! Great wine and beer selection and excellent service! :)

Great food, staff, drinks, and atmosphere! Highly recommend! My aunt lives in Matthews and I'm visiting from Massachusetts and love coming here! read more

Great food, drinks, and service. Perfect for lunch with friends or a date night! Enjoyed it!

No one believes me when I tell them one of the best wine bars in Charlotte is in downtown Matthews, just a few yards from the library and town hall. On this very unsuspecting avenue of whitewashed clapboard is the Black Chicken, one of my favorite spots to unwind. Owner Jason has outdone himself fashioning together this comfortable, warm wine room that features unstained wood shelves, a natural wood community table with stools that let you get to know your neighbor, a small bar and a few tables outside. He features a large by-the-glass menu of at least a dozen bottles that rotate each week, filled with names you've seen before and a few new finds that are sure to impress. You can also buy a bottle from the stacks, which contain a treasure-trove of some of the best wines from around the world. For the beer drinker, there is a small assortment of fine craft and imports, too. To top it all off, nothing is astronomically priced like many wine bars can be. If you can't decide what to pick, just ask Jason's opinion; he is incredibly knowledgeable and can help you find just the right bottle. Black Chicken is what Matthews has been missing for quite a while. Stop in and have a glass, meet some of his many regulars, and be prepared to become one yourself. read more

When wine whispers your name, none can satisfy like the Black Chicken. A true gem, BC provides downtown Matthews with a substantially diverse selection of red, white, blush, rosé, sparkling, and dessert wines -- all at relatively reasonable prices, whether per glass or bottle [or a plural form of either]. Shop owner Jason is a wine god; he's thoroughly knowledgable and passionate about each wine profile and every bottle offered. Pay a visit as a connoisseur or knowing absolutely nothing... regardless, he'll help you out and hook you up. Rating specifics (i.e. 1-5, low-high)... - Overall recommendation = 4.5 - Wine quality = 4 - Wine variety = 3.5 - Price = 4.25 - Atmosphere = 4.25 (cozy & dim, but too few seats even w/ the patio included...) - General service = 5 - Interaction (staff/crowd) = 4.75 (Jason's friendly enough... local crowd is lively) - Location = 4.5 read more

Our southerly friends introduced us to Black Chicken recently and, well, "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" Terrific wine selection with a very knowledgeable barkeep who seems to be cultivating a neighborly community vibe. Went to a tasting there of Willamette Pinots, learned how to pronounce the wine valley properly and bought a couple bottles of seriously delicious Pinot Noir. Also picked up a four-pack of extremely hard to find Flemish Sour Red Ale. All in all, a tremendous night. If B.C. was right down the street from me in Huntersville, I'm pretty sure I'd be there weekly, too... not to say our friends go there every week... or twice a week... heh... read more

Black Chicken is a really neat little spot in downtown Matthews. I must admit that when I first went last year, I was worried that Matthews couldn't support something like this, but fortunately the place seems to be doing good business. The owner is very knowledgeable, and the selection, while not large, is interesting and varied. The real charm of this place, however, is not in buying bottles to take home, but in hanging out while watching people go by. It's quite the pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon, especially when the weather is pretty enough to sit outside. read more

My friend held a birthday party for me and everything was excellent. The staff was very friendly, the service impeccable and the food was delicious. And a special out to the manager, Tim, who made sure everything was perfect read more

Good little wine shop with a large selection and very fair prices for bottles even when you drink them at the shop. We've discovered a few great wines here. The owner will allow you a taste of any wine he currently sells by the glass, but in my experience that only happened when I specifically asked for it, which is a bit of an awkward moment every time. The locals/regulars that I see there seem to be having a great time talking to the owner whenever I go (four or five times so far), but personally my questions were always answered rather curtly, without a chance at a conversation developing, which is disappointing at a small cozy place like this. Maybe this is due to the fact that they always have their TV running with some kind of sporting event, which I hate for being a conversation killer. read more