Local, black owned soul food!! It's DELICIOUS. I get the fried cat fish every time and it's always good! Mrs. Freshwater is a gem, I love supporting her business and family. She is very fabulous! read more

Very fast takeout order!!! Everything was soooo tasteful. Very nice staff. I over heard someone else's order and I ended up getting the same thing. I love trying new places and this one was a most. Will be returning. read more

Freshwaters - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Thanks for a great family Father's Day experience. Our family appreciates all the efforts to keep everyone safe, happy and full!

EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING!!! As soon as we walked through the door we were welcomed and treated like family the entire time. Even though they were short staffed Mrs. Freshwater made sure that everyone was great. She gave amazing recommendations and Mr. Freshwater is an amazing chef! Food was amazing! Seasoned and cooked to perfection. 10/10 would recommend and the next time I'm in Charlotte will definitely come back! read more

I was really disappointed. The place was nearly empty and service was ok. I ordered the New Orleans cat fish. Apparently, the server only heard me say catfish so I ended up with catfish without the shrimp or brown sauce. They brought the brown sauce on the side, but didn't bring me the shrimp. Instead, they just charged me for the regular catfish. I really wanted my shrimp, but as slow as the service was, I figured I wouldn't get my shrimp in good time. Their special drink (basically an Arnold Palmer) was good. Food seemed to be lacking salt. I won't be back. read more

Everything was so good! I had the Fried Catfish dinner with macaroni, yams, and greens. Everything was super fresh and hot. If I had to complain, the cornbread was a tad bit dry. Other than that, everything was great. 10/10 recommend! I'll definitely be back! read more

If you're looking for a delicious home cook meal this is the place to go. The collard greens tasted like Thanksgiving Day's. The candied yam, mac & cheese and garlic shrimp was good. I like their catfish nugget, only thing that was missing was a kick of spice.... I went during lunch, it was very quite not busy at all and the manager was very pleasant read more

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1st visit and I will definitely return!!!!!! What an awesome atmosphere with world class customer service. read more

Freshwaters - Jambalaya with white rice - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I NEED this place to stay open forever! I am so picky with my food esp new Orleans style, having been there and eaten until I was a out to burst! This place is amazing! You need to go here. Everything was amazing! Perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. Our waitress was so lovely. The owner came to the table. I was so impressed with the food that my boyfriend and I ordered three entres and dessert! I seriously considered asking for a cot in the back so I would never have to leave. Everything and I mean everything was delicious. I will be back. Again and again and again..... read more

Freshwaters Restaurant has been added to our list of best places to eat in Charlotte. Our experience was wonderful! Everything- decor & ambience, service, and food OMG it was sooooo good! I left full and happy. Even had the chance to chat with the owners, who moved the restaurant here from NJ about 4 years ago. I 100% recommend this place! read more

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My colleague and I are in town for a conference and decided we wanted some good Southern food for dinner. Based on the Yelp ratings and the menu, we tried Freshwaters. They did not disappoint. The staff was very friendly, explaining the menu and noting that everything is made to order. My colleague ordered the grilled trout and said it was perfectly seasoned and cooked. I had wonderful catfish fingers and a side of red beans and rice. If I'd saved room for dessert, I would loved to have tried the pineapple cake. Would totally go there again. Thanks for a fantastic dinner. read more

You MUST GO HERE NOW!!!! My husband and I were debating if I should write this review- I'm selfish and want to keep this place all to myself, and my husband said I must share. Well, I don't remember how I came across this restaurant but we are so glad that we came here. As soon as you walk in, the staff is greeting you. Shawna was our server. She is super sweet and super helpful. She gave us recommendations and was patient with us Our order: Appetizer: fried crab cake Theeeee best crab cake my husband and I have ever had. There is no breading in it, all crab, very tasty. Entrees: shrimp étouffee, salmon and shrimp Sides: cabbage, candied yams, red beans and rice The food was so good, we switched plates half way through the meal. The shrimp étouffée was so good. The gravy was delicious, and the cabbage was perfectly cooked. The salmon and shrimp was nothing short of amazing! The piece of salmon was huge, but extremely moist and very flavorful, as were the shrimp. The yams were perfect!!! The red beans and rice were good. I wanted to take food for lunch, but we couldn't stop eating. My husband even asked about dessert, which he never does. He ordered the carrot cake. The carrot cake capped off our perfect meal. It was moist and flavorful and we could not eat the very last bite. Seriously, my belt couldn't hold on any longer!!! I even ordered from the Wednesday wine selection. Shawna suggested a red, which I didn't care for initially but it was ok. She ended up bringing what I initially ordered. I kept waiting for something bad to happen but it never did. The owner came over and we spoke for a few minutes. She too, is absolutely lovely. Freshwaters gets 5 stars across the board: for food, service, and ambiance. I am already planning our next visit. Do yourself a favor and go there. You will not be disappointed. read more

This is the best soulfood restaurant in Charlotte. Most are just okay. This is a hidden gem as the outside doesn't reflect how elegant it looks inside. It is my go to restaurant for meetings. You have to try the sweet potatoes! The sweet tea is southern sweet with a twist. read more

Just don't. I try to support Black owned businesses and you can't go wrong with soul food right? I do understand that these are very trying times but the owner complained the entire time. My cousin couldn't finish her mac and cheese because it was too salty. I couldn't finish my collard greens because they were too salty and swimming in salty liquid. I ordered catfish, the fish I received looked more like flounder and I could barely see any fish in the batter, did not eat it. Not to mention we were there during lunchtime with dinner time prices because the don't do lunch during lunchtime. Just don't. read more

I walked in to this place today with my 11 year old daughter and my 4 year old son as soon as we walk in the own yells out " everyone wants to bring their ass in here when I am about to close" and repeatedly said it. Other then say sorry we are close for today or full we are not taking anymore ppl. She yell it at us!!! Then I said I am sorry but that was rude and a disrespectful we will leave and she goes good get out. A waitress was leaving now and even said omg I am so sorry about that. I will NEVER EAT HERE!!! Don't waste your time or your money!!! read more

We had a wonderful time at this fabulous restaurant. The ambience, and atmosphere inside was very pleasant and charming. The owner was there and took the time to come to our table to welcome us and chat about the menu. Finally, the food was exquisite. We ordered a combination grilled platter with an assortment of seafood that was cooked well and very tasty. read more

This place is packed full of flavor. I will go back over and over. You get a ton of fish for the price, not to mention the number of sides they have to offer. You actually feel like they are making authentic food, aren't shy with seasoning, which I find with some other local Cajun foods. read more

We stopped in for lunch and had arrived a little bit early before they opened. The owner welcomed us in and opened early. The dining room has very pleasant lighting and smooth jazz. I had the fried crab cakes on the chef's recommendation with collard greens and red beans. I thought the red beans could have been soupier and spicier but the crab cake was to die for. There was no breading whatsoever, just a generous portion of lump crab and seasoning. They have live music on Friday nights, a weekend brunch and are closed on Mondays. read more

Freshwaters - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I always love the food here. I order the vegetarian plate with green beans potatoes yams and I have never been disappointed. Sometimes there is a wait but it's worth it read more

Freshwaters - My veggie plate. This place is awesome. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This place is just not what I expected. I ordered takeout and the lady who answered the phone said that my meal would be ready in 15 minutes, once I arrived the owner Mrs. Freshwater was super rude. She didn't even acknowledge me at all at first and then finally she asked if she could help me after allowing me to stand at the bar for about 5 minutes with no acknowledgement or even eye contact. Then told me it would be another 7 minutes. Once she gave me my total I asked her how many dinners she had rung up because the total was higher than I had anticipated, she instantly got an attitude. The food was "ok", but the service was terrible so unfortunately I won't be back. It's sad that people are in the service business and they lack the personality or skills to make dining an enjoyable experience. read more

Stopped in while I was in the area... the food and atmosphere was awesome! I recommend the catfish New Orleans Style with gravy.. you won't be disappointed.. my friend had the pork chops she said it was seasoned perfect (juicy not dry) also for desert the peach cobbler is "da' bomb!" Thanks for the recommendation Lee **150** read more

Freshwaters - Catfish - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Amazing food & service! Warm cornbread & service sets the scene for a lovely dining experience. Best creole chicken on the east coast & such tasty collard greens! The shrimp etouffee is sublime. Chef Cliff knows how to perfect the best timing for his shrimp to burst when you take a bite. Miss Sharon is a delightful host who is as passionate about her food as she is warm & inviting. Our new weekly go to! read more

Amazing food! I love the crab cakes, Mac n cheese, yams and collards! Absolutely delicious!

If you are in town, you must eat at Freshwaters! Owners are AMAZING! The food is fresh and cooked to order. Get the Special SWEET tea, crab cakes, and cobbler. You are sure to enjoy whatever you get. Tell them I sent you! read more

What a jewel in the Queen City! The service here is awesome...as well as the food. There are so many meal choices and I love that the sides are all cooked in smoked turkey and the meats are cooked in olive oil. I ordered the veggie plate, my husband had the porkchops and my mom had the fried catfish. I don't think you can go wrong. The owner's wife and our server were both very welcoming to our family....even to my one year old who dropped cornbread all over the place! We live an hour away but will definitely return. I would certainly recommend this place! read more

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I visited this restaurant about 2 1/2 years ago and absolutely loved it, so I decided to make a reservation for my mother's birthday dinner and the experience I had was beyond disappointing! I called the restaurant and made a reservation for a party of 20 ( 3 weeks in advance to the actual date). I was told they could accommodate and that my guests just needed to wear masks and be aware of a temperature check at the door. I asked could I bring in a cake and was asked was I celebrating something, I stated yes my mother's birthday. I also asked was there a reservation fee and was told no. I left my contact information, of course and that was all that was needed. The reservation was booked so I proceeded to notify my guests of the venue and procedures. I called back a week before the reserved dinner to ensure everything was confirmed and would be seamless upon arrival! Thankfully I did, because upon calling I was told I'd need to pay $150 to reserve a room for guests and choose a menu for a buffet styled dinner. If I did not pay the fee my guests and I would have to wait 1 to 1 1/2 hours for our food because it's all made to order. I responded letting them know I was never informed of this upon making the reservation weeks ago and that no one called me to tell me anything. The lady was unapologetic, unaccountable and rude! She dismissed the fact that no one had communicated these things to me and that if I had not called again, I would have shown up with 19 other people unaware. The lady then proceeds to tell me to make sure I tell my guests the 1 to 1 1/2 hour wait on food because people have been leaving negative reviews and complaining about wait times. She made it a point to mention this to me several times throughout tut call BUT never once offered me an apology or acknowledgement for the fact that I was never properly informed as I should have been. She acted as though she was doing me some sort of favor by taking the reservation, once I stated I will not pay the $150 for the room but we'll just wait on the food she asked someone in the background, could they still accept my reservation....although I was told 3 weeks ago it was confirmed! Needless to say I took my business and my 19 guests elsewhere! I wanted to patron a black owned business and support, as I often do, especially since about 2 1/2 years ago I had such a wonderful experience. I will not spend my money with any company who can't respect me as a customer. I was disappointed and frustrated with this whole experience. A simple acknowledgment and effort to try and rectify the situation would have satisfied me but it was the lack of customer service and the dismissive demeanor that caused me to go elsewhere! read more

Came on a Friday night and the food was fresh and tasty. Tasted home cooked. There was a musician playing jazz and it was a very laid back feel. read more

We stumbled upon this place during lunch, its kinda hard to spot. We got there at 11:45p and had to wait till doors opened exactly at noon for lunch. We were quickly seated, our server was very nice and the manager was extremely hospitable, wonderful service and atmosphere. I ordered the fried crab cake with mac and cheese and collard greens. The food came out in good time. I loved the fact that the crab meat was seasoned and that there was no thick batter coating it. Despite being fried, it was extremely light and delish. The mac and cheese was good but, the collard greens came out really bitter and had a very porky aftertaste. It was my first time trying collard greens, maybe its not my thing... Will be back for the crab cakes sometime! Cheers! read more

Long story short: superior service. Welcoming and cozy atmosphere. Food didn't meet expectations however the portions were large. read more

Freshwaters - Seasoned collared greens, string beans, and blackened salmon - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This spot is amazing. Owned and managed by one woman and a staff of 3 people they are pushing out large volumes of amazing food! It reminded me of my cajun roots at home. It was very nice to support a business that has struggled throughout all of the shortages and have still managed to put out an AMAZING product. Everyone should go here. Even though there is a wait, you will not be disappointed. read more

I have eaten at a lot of different places and nothing like this in awhile. The food is prepared fresh daily and it's absolutely great! Do yourself a favor and come here! The crab cakes are great! Mr. Freshwaters is great and he came out to meet us and show his appreciation for coming out to eat. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and they have a live band on Fridays! read more

My wife and I enjoyed our first visit to Freshwaters. The service was excellent. The food was outstanding. The atmosphere was great. We enjoyed the catfish and the salmon. If there were a drawback with the food it would have been the time it took for it to come out. Our server was on top of it and made up for the lengthy wait. The owner even came out to make sure we enjoyed our visit. GREAT JOB FRESHWATERS. We will be back. read more

Freshwaters - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The food is always amazing. Which is why it's a favorite spot of mine, however, the hours of operation are odd considering they're only open on the weekends. Maybe I'm just hungry but opening from 5-8 just isn't feasible. The attitudes is there but they usually warm up after a while. read more

So one Saturday evening, my daughter and I decided to try some soul food We were pleasantly surprised at how friendly the service was and the food was extremely tasty as well We enjoyed our experience and will be back It is a small business and we hope it will weather the storm for the long haul Great addition to Charlotte's diversity read more

I went there for lunch with co-workers. I really wanted to love this place because I have a special place in my heart for Simmons, which occupied the space before it. While I found the staff friendly, the service was a little slow, and the food just okay. Even though I ordered a grilled pork chop, they brought me a fried one. However at that point I didn't have time to send it back. My co-worker discovered what he thought was bones or something in his crab cake. But he rolled with it anyway. The lunch prices are reasonable, and the place is very well decorated. In the end, they emphasize the wrong aspects of the dining experience by over reaching. For example, they take the time to put place settings at all tables, but they fail to get orders right. My co-worker had a to-go order, and when he asked for a bag for his leftover entrée and dessert, the staff returned with two dinky brown paper bags which couldn't accommodate the containers. What was particularly striking was while the owner was explaining their addition of jazz night and a full bar, she watched my friend struggle to squeeze the containers in the bag without any apologies or offer of assistance. My advice is scale back the décor, and hire more experienced staff for better service and quicker turnarounds on the tables. Get larger bags for to go orders. And drop the crab cake, it's not that great. read more

Today We all ate at the Freshwater restaurant in the Forth Ward since we are visiting Charlotte NC. for the CIAA ... First I must say the restaurant was absolutely stunning. Second thing ,was that the that the staff absolutely polite courteous and attentive. The owner met us at the door and her introduced herself and began to explain the restaurant the menu and their experience in cooking New Orleans style cuisine for over 20 years.The first thing that they brought out to us was the cornbread muffins. They were not what we have become accustomed to when it comes to a soulful cornbread muffin. It was northern style but we're down south so if you love Martha Stewart cornbread then you'll love these !!! Now if you love Patti Labelle cornbread skip them there not worth the Calories .The second thing Was my seafood platter.... i am from the Washington DC area So when it comes to Crab Cakes these we're terrible!!! Because I am a Marylander and we have the best Crab Cakes in all of the World !!! I just shouldn't of order them !!!! its probably just a Chesapeake bay thing with us . If you never had a real Jumbo Lump Crab cake from Maryland then you'll love them Hahahahahah !!! Third thing was the the Ribs they were fair .. A simple oven baked Rib with Barbecue Sauce nothing fantastic... The Pecan Crusted Catfish was Fair the rice & gravy was OK the Greens we're cut up very small and reminds us of glory Greens in the Can .. The Mac&Cheese was a Truly disappointing you can not have a restaurant in North Carolina Be Successful without having Fantastic Mac&Cheese... Now after saying all of That I must Say Freshwater has the BEST CATFISH NUGGET & Catfish I have every had !!!! Period .....Light ,Crispy ,Golden, Flakey & Fantastic... Sharon & her Husband (the Chef) should Change the name of this Restaurant to "Carolina Catfish" I will eat here again in One Years Time when I come back for CIAA to see if anything has changed but until then the only thing I would eat here would be The Catfish & please Tip the Staff well they are doing the best that they can with the Cards they were dealt ... read more

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Read other reviews, thinking they just had a bad day so decided to try the restaurant. Told server it was our first visit, celebrating wedding anniversary. After delivering water and explaining menu, server left. Why did we have to wait 20+ minutes to try to place our order. Someone else was trying to get the servers attention to no avail. We decided life was too short, so we left. Would love to support minority owned business but in the service industry it's all about keeping the customer happy. We were not happy, left to go to a chain restaurant! read more

Hidden gem!! Me and my fiancé came here on a Thursday night. I love that they have a parking lot! Restaurant is nice and cozy. Decor is nice. This is honestly a perfect date night spot. They had someone playing the keyboard. I think his name was "Groove". We were immediately greeted when we walked in and got sat right away. I loved hearing the specials and the popular dishes to help us with our order from the owner. Staff was friendly and personable. We each got the seafood gumbo. It was delicious and flavorful! I got crab cake, catfish and grilled shrimp all blackened style. My side items were potato salad and red beans and rice. Potato salad was good and smooth. It's yellow based which I like! Red beans and rice had a good flavor. I added hot sauce to it to spice it up. My fiancé got the salmon. It was the biggest piece we've ever seen from a restaurant! Slightly crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth in the inside. He said it was cooked perfectly. He also got okra and tomatoes and collard greens. Music wasn't too loud and the ambiance was just right. Staff was caring and knowledgable. I would definitely go back, especially on Thursdays when they have music! You can tell all their food was fresh and home made and that they genuinely care. Give it a try! read more

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Very unprofessional staff and establishment. I called ahead for a rather medium size party and the hostess was very rude and failed to advise of reservation options but demanded a deposit. After making arrangements, I called to confirm and noone had any knowledge of my reservations. I had family coming in from out of town and was very embarassed because we had to go with another establishment to have dinner. read more

The staff was nice, friendly, warm, and inviting. The OWNER came to check on my table several times. The food is AMAZING!!! The crab cakes (fried & grilled), catfish bites, salmon, shrimp, macaroni & cheese, peach cobbler was DELICIOUS. Everything we tried was EXCELLENT. I ordered a drink that wasn't on the menu and the owner made it for me. It was one of the best drinks I had in a long time. So if you are looking for great, home-cooked food with a nice atmosphere this is the spot. It was my first time and I will definitely be back AGAIN!!! read more