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Freshwaters

3.9 (217 reviews)
Closed Closed
Updated 3 months ago

Freshwaters Photos

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FRESHWATERS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Intimate
Romantic
Classy
Quiet

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Recommended Reviews - Freshwaters

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Turkey wing special
Jennifer J.

While visiting family in Charlotte, my son took me to Freshwaters soul food. I had the special, turkey wings, with rice and gravy, yams and greens. It was soooo good! Reminded me of my mother's cooking. The service was great. The owner came out to ensure our experience and food was good. It's a small restaurant but very cozy. I'll be back in my next visit.

Dani F.

We came today to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. We actually caught them while they were setting up for a wedding reception. Ms. Fresh was FRESH, you hear me. She had on the baddest all lavender pants suit and was just the sweetest. She actually sat us herself. Now on to the food. My husband had the jambalaya, from the first bite, I thought he was going to melt in his seat. My son had the shrimp Alfredo pasta and the Mac and cheese, he said it was the best thing he ever ate. And I had the New Orleans Catfish and BAAAAAAAAAABEEEEEEEE it was PERFECTION. It was fried perfectly and the shrimp was juicy and seasoned like someone only gets joy from feeding people good. All the sides were well loved as well. There was literally nothing bad. And I am still trying to figure out how the food stayed hot the whole time we ate. Even when we boxed our leftovers, they were still warm. We will definitely be back when we get back in town. This will be our spot from here on out.

Sign upon entry at 6:08 pm
D A.

I initially stopped by for the first time on Saturday, 04-01-23. I wanted a take out order, but as soon as I stepped inside, I saw that take out was closed; the time stamp on my picture is 6:08 pm. Wanting to try them because they were on a list of good black owned restaurants, I returned on Sunday, 04-02-23. There was no staff near the restaurant entry. There were 2 gentlemen sitting & waiting, telling me that they hoped I'd called ahead because the wait was terrible. Talking with them was the highlight of the visit. I waited at least 10 minutes before a staff member acknowledged me; it was at least 5 more minutes before I was able to place my order. I ordered a sides plate of green beans, cabbage, mac & cheese, and yams with cornbread. The food was just alright and not worth the wait; the green beans weren't seasoned. Cornbread was a little burnt. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

Fried fish cabbage and Mac and cheese
Rob Snow S.

Old soul... Freshwaters is the definition of tradition, from the "Mrs. Freshwater will come greet you" to the lack of substitution/creativity you can have with the menu (because the chef doesn't make it "like that"). These are not slights to the restaurant, just observations of what feels like a much older establishment. Let's start with the ambiance, which feels like classic after church dinner, but also we just took over this Chinese buffet dining room. The only thing missing is a dragon sculpture and water fountain. While the interior can be a bit confusing considering they are serving traditional cajun mixed with soul food fare. It doesn't hinder what the owners are trying to deliver, which is southern hospitality and homemade simple dishes. Some of those simple dishes include, catfish, fried chicken, ribs, and a lot of delicious sides. So many in fact I had a plate of just sides that included collard greens, yams, mac and cheese, and cabbage. The cabbage was a stand out and paired perfectly with my fried fish. While you are trying to settle on a particular dish, there are cornbread muffins with a side of butter delivered promptly to your table. Overall I thought the Swai was very meaty and "unfishy" which may seem strange but thats the only fish I'll eat. Some of your other options are rainbow trout and catfish. Freshwaters is in a great location near the music factory by Graham street. The parking lot is large and you don't have to pay to park, that's a relief consider it's still so close to uptown. With such a great location, wonderful food and customer service...that makes it a bit of a Charlotte sleeper when it comes to people's favorites in the Queen City. Customer service was superb! Our host Devin was not only knowledgeable, but was very open and honest about her favorites menu items. She was personable and friendly, I felt very confident with my food choices and they turned out incredible. If you go, ask for Devin if she's not busy being awesome somewhere else. Pro Tip: Tell them it's your first time! Mrs. Freshwater herself will greet you and give you something of a secret menu (chef specials and such). I personally think thats a great touch, but also what Freshwaters is...good people and great good.

Shrimp Creole
Gino W.

Was glad to have had this restaurant show up in my Google search. Was on the hunt for restaurants in Charlotte that would remind me of home -- Mississippi -- while visiting. Ordered shrimp creole that took me back to New Orleans. Had it with a side of mustard potato salad that was reminiscent of homemade potato salad from my youth. The complimentary corn muffin was more savory than sweet, which was a high mark. I ordered peach cobbler for takeaway. The only thing missing was a scoop of my homemade ice cream. The owner and servers were outstanding. The restaurant wasn't crowded, so there was no scrambling or messed up ordering. I like that there was no pretense. There was, however, a lot of flavor.

2nd part of Menu
Marcus W.

10/10! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! From Amazing Service to FRESH AND HANDMADE FROM SCRATCH FOOD to Shots, Not Drinks but Shots man oh man..You will deftly enjoy this place and wont forget it..Meeting Mrs. Freshwater who owns the place was even better and gestures like that to come speak about your menu and let you know that they are just happy to have you at their establishment made it that much sweeter! The Food truly is touched by grace and I feel you dont need any salt or pepper because its all seasoned and cooked very well...The restaurant is located in Uptown and the view by the window was Perfect seeing as it was my Birthday (1/17). I had the Fried White Fish Swai and Fried Jumbo Shrimp with Mac and Cheese and Red beans and Rice. My lady got Mrs Freshwater Blackened Salmon with the Red Creole Sauce with Mac and Cheese and Candied Yams! The Cornbread is Amazing that they give you at the beginning! The Salmon Cake and Crab Cake for an Appetizer is Superb! If you are anywhere in the charlotte area please swing by and give them a try!

Cornbread
Sedana N.

Love supporting black owned businesses. Our waitress was attentive and helpful. The owner of restaurant was not very welcoming nor warm upon our arrival, my husband and I were also shocked to hear how she addresses/talks to her staff while guests are in the restaurant. Yes, I know you must be firm and direct but you also get further with sugar rather than salt. I ordered Mrs. Freshwater Blackened Salmon with Mac and cheese, yams and a side of cabbage. Salmon was great which is paired with shrimp. The southern Mac and Cheese was great!! Along with the yams, the cabbage was sautéed and cooked perfectly and al dente with much favor!! My husband ordered the fried chicken wing meal which he thought could of tasted better. The chicken was as deep fried which was very oily. Personally I thought the chicken was more salty than flavorful, when biting into the breading which was crispy but it was over powered by the salt. --If you are on a low sodium diet I do NOT recommend the fried chicken wing meal. This was our first time dining in and will return again . We ordered out previously and the food surpassed expectations!! I recommend you give freshwater a try!!

a car parked in front of a restaurant

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

My waitress Dee was great!! She knows the menu & ingredients of the food. She kept our tables clean, cups filled & smiles on our face.

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Cajun Queen - Cajun Queen is located in a 100-year old house on 7th St. Come enjoy some great Creole cuisine tonight!

Cajun Queen

4.1(1.5k reviews)
1.8 miElizabeth
$$
Full bar
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I had the unique and amazing opportunity to be able to visit Cajun Queen in Charlotte and I was…read morecompletely blown away! Even after going to New Orleans- I have to say this is the best Cajun Food I have ever had! We were able to get the bbq shrimp and rice, the Cajun pasta, garlic mashed potatoes, seafood gumbo and the pecan pie. Starting with the bbq shrimp- the sauce was so aromatic, spicy and savory and delicious. It was such a well tasting dish! The Cajun pasta had the best sauce I have ever had in a pasta (and I just recently come back from Italy) along with the perfect blacked chicken. Seafood gumbo blew me away with the flavor and spice, everything in it was so well blended together. The mashed potatoes were a perfect addition and balanced out the meal. The pecan pie was to die for, freshly made and perfect in every bite The ambience was even better, we got to see a live jazz band play and they did a stellar job in creating the vibe and adding to the already warm and homey aesthetic. Don't miss your chance to come here if you're in charlo

My date and I thought this would be a good seafood spot to try, but honestly, it didn't live up to…read morethe hype. The biggest issue for us was the lack of seasoning. For my entrée, I ordered the blackened catfish with mashed potatoes and andouille sausage. The fish was pretty bland--I could taste the Cajun spice, but there wasn't much depth of flavor beyond that. The mashed potatoes, surprisingly, were the highlight--well-seasoned and delicious. The sausage was just okay, nothing special. For an appetizer, we got the Cajun popcorn (crawfish), and that was actually really good--well-seasoned and something we definitely enjoyed. I also had the New Orleans Iced Tea, but it had too much ice and ended up tasting watered down. My date didn't care much for their meal either and the lack of seasoning was bland too (even though I forgot exactly what they ordered), which says a lot about the overall experience. One thing to note: parking is rough, but they do offer valet. The valet attendant working Saturday night was very kind and did a great job handling everything on his own. There are definitely better seafood spots out there. This one just didn't hit the mark for us.

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Cajun Queen - Cajun Queen's New Orleans BBQ Shrimp.

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Cajun Yard Dog - Mahi

Cajun Yard Dog

4.0(501 reviews)
10.1 miArboretum
$$

WOW, Wow, wow! This restaurant SCREAMS for a five-star rating, but as this was our first time…read morehere, I am reluctant to immediately give one of my precious five-stars based on only a one time shot. That said, Yard Dog is not a dog at all, but a superb little restaurant with a great menu and mouth-watering foods. Oh boy! Wife and I entered and were surprised at just how small their dining area was. Couple that with a not-so-pleasant noise level, you will have difficulty seating more than four and conversation will be tough, but not impossible. You came to eat. It is a very cozy, busy and fun place. In addition to the super menu there is a chalk board with specials. Check those out first. I spotted catch of the day, which was Red Snapper, a favorite of mine, which came with two sides ($26). When served, it was three fillets, so the whole eatable parts of the fish, topped with a Cajun spice mixture and a horseradish sauce. This is a to-die-for or last meal item. The fish was perfectly cooked and my side of collards were as mammy has done for eons: flavorful with pork and a perfect complement to my catch of the day. And the fried okra was great and I paid the $.50 for ranch dressing, as fried okra SHOULD be so complemented. Wife does not eat sea food, so she was, initially, confronted with the challenge of finding a dish without seafood in it. She did. There were a number of options, like pasta with Andouille sausage ($21) which is listed as with shrimp, but they omitted the shrimp for her. She also spied blackened meatloaf and some other items for the next visit. The place is busy and the wait staff is hustling as fast as the kitchen can get orders out. The kitchen looks so small, but they are a blur of motion cooking and plating. Kudos to the kitchen and servers. Our server was Sophie and she was excellent. There are beverages on a separate menu, mostly wine, beer and hard cider, with some non-alcohol items also available. We both had hard cider at $6 a can. Draft beer was available at $7 a glass. We will definitely return, even give lunch a try. I will most likely answer the siren call for five stars, which is certainly in the cards. See for yourselves.

We really enjoy this place. Just don't make it there enough. Service is always excellent. The food…read morealways has wonderful flavors. And it's decorated really nice. If you've not been here, you need to go check it out. A friend of ours does not like spicy. And he goes there. You can tell them you can't do a lot of spice if you need to. But nothing's overdone. But the staff there is excellent. They check on you a lot.

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The Southern Pecan - Pecan Crusted Catfish

The Southern Pecan

4.3(417 reviews)
6.1 miSouthPark
$$

As a girl born in Texas, a really good chicken fried steak is practically part of my DNA. It's one…read moreof those comfort foods I don't eat often because it's so rich--but when I see it on a menu, it absolutely catches my attention. That's exactly what drew me to The Southern Pecan in SouthPark. Here in the South, they call it country fried steak, and I'm happy to report this one did not disappoint. I met a colleague there for lunch, and everything about the experience felt easy from the start. The restaurant is located in Phillips Place, a lovely little shopping area that feels a bit polished and upscale--with shops like Orvis, Tory Burch, and even a Restoration Hardware restaurant nearby. They do offer valet parking, which is a nice touch, though honestly parking is easy enough on your own. We had reservations through OpenTable and were seated on the patio, which was absolutely delightful for this time of year in Charlotte. The weather was perfect, the setting was relaxed, and the service started off warm and welcoming right away. Now, the food. The country fried steak was beautifully cooked--crispy on the outside, tender inside, and served with creamy mashed potatoes and gravy that hit all the nostalgic notes from my Texas upbringing. I paired it with a vegetable side (I believe it was broccoli or corn), and it was a classic Southern plate done right. We also enjoyed a couple of cocktails, and to finish, we split a praline bread pudding, which felt like the perfect Southern ending to the meal--sweet, comforting, and indulgent without being overwhelming. The staff was friendly and attentive, and one of the things I continue to appreciate about Charlotte is how easy it is to connect with people. We even chatted with diners at nearby tables, which added to that welcoming, community feel that makes dining out here so enjoyable--especially for someone coming from the Bay Area. Prices felt fair for the quality, the setting, and the portion sizes, and overall the experience left a great impression. Bottom line: If you're craving a solid Southern classic like country fried steak--or just want a relaxed patio lunch in a charming part of SouthPark--The Southern Pecan is definitely worth a visit. And as someone happily eating my way through Charlotte and the Southeast, this stop was another reminder that the journey has been a delicious one.

I've heard rave reviews about this place so Michelle & I went for Sunday Brunch…read more They recommended a reservation so we had one @ 12n. It was already quite busy when we arrived and it's not clear where your parking options are. People are pulling up to the entrance and dropping people off so it gets jammed up and chaotic, of course people are running late so those BIG Yukons and Suburbans are making it a challenge to navigate a small entrance area. You would THINK they would at least have a Valet option of Sat/Sun during Brunch. To park, go BEHIND the restaurant on the street to the left and you'll see some free parking options that are close and walkable. We asked for a table on the patio and were immediately seated. The bar was already buzzing with solo diners enjoying their Mimosas. The patio is NOT that big, a little over crowded and table are very close with not much space in between. There was a LARGE group of 'FUN' ladies right beside us enjoying their MIMOSAS, dropping the 'F' bomb from time to time and making a LOT of noise. What can you do? Nothing but try to make the best of it and just start talking LOUDER like everyone else. The OVERHEAD heaters were way too intense so the Staff was very responsive at our request to turn down the heat. We shared the BBQ Shrimp Starter which was SO good, I highly recommend. I had the Gumbo and Michelle had the beet and goat cheese salad. We both had the Red Fish which comes with smashed potatoes and broccoli. The potatoes were so BLAND, the broccoli had NO seasoning. The Red Fish wasn't that great of a flavor and not very tender, not easy to cut, had to use my knife at times to get a bite. Kinda disappointed, I lived in N Orleans for a couple of years and it was always so good there. The biggest disappointment was the Gumbo. It had all the right ingredients but the ROUX was to strong, dark and heavy. It actually gave me indigestion afterwards. The service was OUTSTANDING. Our Server was Daylean, she was so nice and helpful with the menu and kept our refills coming.

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The Southern Pecan - Cornmeal coated fried shrimp

Cornmeal coated fried shrimp

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Poboy's Low Country Seafood Market - Fried Shrimp po boy

Poboy's Low Country Seafood Market

4.5(329 reviews)
2.7 mi
$$

First off this appears to be great little local owned business which I really appreciate. They also…read moreseem to be relatively new. Now let's look at what is important. Lots of parking but I did have to do a U turn to get back to the restaurant. This was an old chain restaurant building so the drive through area isn't used. The building is dated and in need of repair but that isn't their fault as I am sure they are renting it. The food. Decent menu with steamed, grilled and fried options. I went with the small low country boil which was plenty. It was good. Could have soaked a bit if it was in fact boiled to pick up more of the flavor. I got a side bowl of gumbo. Interesting as it didn't come over rice. It was ok but let remember I worked in Louisiana for a decade plus so I can be a Cajun food snob. Service was awesome. Very friendly and the checked on me a couple of times. A huge majority of the customers get it to go. They have picnic tables inside to eat at and that is what I chose. Friendly service and decent food so a good option if in the area.

Highly recommend! Great food and very reasonable pricing for what you get! Now this is a low…read morecountry boil so it's not a saucy shrimp bowl (I forgot that). The food is made to order and very fresh. We got there about 30 minutes before closing but still received great service. We got the low country boil with shrimp potatoes and corn and subbed out sausage for more corn. The potatoes were cooked perfect which says a lot and the shrimp was delicious and corn on was not mushy. I have also gotten a fish sandwiche here and it was delicious. Definitely worth checking out !

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Poboy's Low Country Seafood Market - Interior

Interior

Poboy's Low Country Seafood Market - Alligator bites

Alligator bites

Poboy's Low Country Seafood Market - Parking lot- lots of space

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Parking lot- lots of space

Haberdish - @rondaexplores

Haberdish

4.3(1.8k reviews)
2.2 miNoDa
$$

Haberdish is one of those restaurants you leave and continue thinking about for the rest of the…read morenight. We started with the deviled eggs, so good. The tater tots and sweet potato gnocchi were absolutely incredible, and honestly, every dish we tried was memorable. The Brussels sprouts and mac and cheese are also standouts. If you're going with a group, sharing plates is definitely the move so you can try a little bit of everything. And if it's your first time visiting, the fried chicken is a must. To finish, get the banana pudding. Trust me. Our server, Sebastian (we've had him twice now), was amazing both times.. attentive, personable, and always on top of anything we needed. The atmosphere ties it all together: dim lighting, cozy vibes, and the perfect spot to settle in for elevated comfort food. A charlotte staple

This was such a disappointment. found this place on tik tok and the found was absolutely horrible…read more I ordered the haber dish with a chicken thigh , macaroni and cheese"dressed greens" the chicken here is 70% fried breading and 30% stringy, unflavored chicken. the mac and cheese was decent! the dressed greens were literally cut off ends of romaine, dont waste your time. We also shared green beans and Brussel sprouts . the green beans were charred on the outside and undercooked ok the inside. The brussel sprouts were cooked to a crisp and lacked flavor. My boyfriend had the OG chicken sandwich and he couldnt finish/ stomach it, this includes the burned fries that were served with it. The restaurant itself is nice, I don't think their AC was working but its got a cool rustic look. Our server was kind and attentive as well. Maybe they had an off day but this was a pretty big waste of a $60+ meal.

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Haberdish - Inside

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Leafy Greens Salad and Prosecco

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Freshwaters - southern - Updated May 2026

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