Returned to this fine establishment this evening and enjoyed a lovely limoncello lavender martini at the outdoor bar before moving inside for an exquisite meal. Inside we had superb service and the best short rib I have ever had in my entire life. I highly recommend the short rib. This meal was topped off with delicious tiramisu. My compliments to the owner, who stopped by our table and offered the highest hospitality. read more

Laurel Park - Limoncello lavender martini - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The old Village Tavern in South Park is now a sparkling new outfit called Laurel Park, and it is gorgeous. I don't know who had the decor assignment, but the attention to detail was on display, particularly at the patio bar. Food is slow to come out (maybe new opening jitters), but once it did, it was really quite good. Terrific service. Live music on weekends. A whole vibe. We started with house made biscuits that were crusty outside, tender inside. It was served with perfectly sweet & tart freshly made jam. THANK YOU! All restaurants serving biscuits should make their own jams! Shrimp and grits - this dish worked; good amount of heat; I'd probably blacken the shrimp first, but the flavor and texture were there in the grits: creamy but with a good chew. Pan-Seared Salmon with northern bean ragu, pickled onion salad, charred cilantro oil. Perfectly seared fish. I don't know what was in that ragu, but I need the recipe. I was wondering when I first saw the dish, but all of these elements really worked well together. Firecracker Shrimp with pickled onion cucumber salad, scallions, black sesame seed, fried kale and fire aioli. Really tasty. Great sauce. Although since I believe you should season at every step, I'd put some seasoning on the shrimp/in the batter itself rather than just letting the sauce do all the heavy lifting. Attentive service. Reasonable drink prices. Definitely a must try. read more

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Nope Really wanted to like this new restaurant in SouthPark A bit of an odd location near a business park. Chairs and table, uncomfortable and cheap looking. No ambiance. Server was sweet, but too busy to care. Chicken Florentine tasted like cafeteria food. Husband's short rib was dry and tasteless. Risotto was the same... Didn't finish food, had to track down server to pay almost $200 for two people Definitely not coming back. read more

Hubs has wanted to try this place for awhile now - and the reviews are strong, so I gave in.... that being said, perhaps we went at the wrong time? I respect the family owned concept and only hope that this feedback HELPS as they continue to evolve.... 1. We went in as they opened (waited for their meeting to end before being seated). We sat quietly for an uncomfortable amount of time before an actual server came to us - the water filler and initial greeter was great, but she wasn't our server. 2. We were the first ones there and sat right in the middle of the restaurant - a weird table for being the first one's there, but we shrugged it off assuming they'd fill up and the other tables may have been earlier reservations. 3. Our server was spending more time socializing (there were at least 6-8 employees standing around by the kitchen galley and they all clearly got along/liked each other). But we sat there for an awkward amount of time making eye contact with some of them waiting for acknowledgement. 4. The menu is limited. Don't expect a massive list of options. We were actually ok with that and the arancini app was AMAZING. Drinks sat empty for a LONG time before someone (water gal) finally asked if we wanted refills. Our server was too busy chatting with her pals. 5. Main courses looked great plated, but were not hot and really underwhelming. The chicken has such great potential, but it had an odd taste to me so I really couldn't eat it (and the server didn't ask when she later picked up a full plate of uneaten food). 6. Finished our meals and sat for 30 mins with no drinks or anything in front of us. (I wish I was exaggerating). We were chatting just fine, but nobody checked in and the restaurant had not gotten overwhelmingly busy.... so it was odd. Just continued socializing. You'd think they'd want to turn the tables as quickly as possible. We had to finally flag and ask for our check. It wasn't a cheap meal by any means - (and we weren't expecting it to be). But - will we be back? Probably not for awhile. The outdoor patio scene looked great - maybe it's a cocktail hour kind of place and that's where the excitement is... but inside, we were sadly disappointed and underwhelmed. (Except that arancini)! read more

I've only been twice. Once for lunch and once for dinner. I'm torn. It's a pretty place, the menu looks great but the food is really hit or miss. The lunch menu has a bulgolgi cheesesteak and I was so excited to try. Really underwhelming. Too much bread, the flavor was off. Honestly, it could be out of this world but it was a miss for me. read more

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We were very fond of Village Tavern's patio dining scene...so were sad to hear they closed. Still, we were glad to hear that this great space was reoccupied again, so decided to check it out. Well, the place has been nicely renovated. Looked completely different than before...a bit more upscaled. The look of the place was very classic. Their patio was vastly different as well...with this huge bar area occupying the center portion. Also the patio is now much smaller...as the area is now somewhat more confined. The menu seemed more Italian than "New American" as described (?). Price points were a bit lofty for what they were...and the options were a bit limited. This is where I deducted a star. We started with Fried Calamari....which was DEE-Lish! For our entrees, my husband got the Chicken Florentine, which he really enjoyed. I got the Torchio Pastio, which I kinda regretted choosing. Guess I didn't love the overall flavor of the dish? Service was good. From hostess to our waitress, everyone was very attentive. We also loved the big, open booth seating...but didn't like how we ended up right next to the kitchen area, where all the waiters congregated to chat right next to us. Still, we enjoyed the experience...and are definitely up for revisiting in the future. read more

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My daughter and I try to spend Sundays together, so I've been wanting to come and try Laurel Park. When we arrived, we were greeted and seated quickly. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful! Our waiter, Jacob, was such a sweet person and gave us suggestions since it was our first time there. Everything for brunch looked amazing, but he suggested Biscuit and Gravy and I added a side of bacon. It was AMAZING!!! The gravy was chicken gravy with chicken pieces and biscuits were soft and filling. I will definitely come back and try something different but 10/10 I definitely recommend! read more

Laurel Park - Biscuits and Gravy with bacon - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Wow! This might just get added to my favorite spots list in Charlotte. My mom and I made the decision to go to a last-minute reservation for dinner tonight and they just so happened to have one time slot left for 5:30 PM. I am so glad that we went here tonight for dinner to celebrate a special occasion. First of all, the decorations inside the restaurant were adorable. The outdoor patio area that I could see through the windows since it was so cold outside tonight looked amazing and I can't wait to come back to eat outside when the weather gets warmer. They've completely renovated the outside to make a bar area and extra seating compared to the restaurant that was there previously. Inside the restaurant it's decorated very nicely. It's very bright and the bar is super cute too. Now for the staff!! The hostess was so nice and so was our server! Everyone that I spoke to that worked there seemed very friendly and very welcoming which I love that especially since it was at a nice restaurant. My mom and I started with brussel sprouts appetizer and it was amazing. It had bacon, candied walnuts, and green onions. The mixture of the flavors was just so good! Then for our entrées, we both ordered the steak frites. I ordered mine medium rare, and my mom ordered hers medium. Both of us enjoyed the steaks and the Parmesan truffle fries that came with it. The steak also had a peppercorn sauce on top that was really good and it was just enough sauce! Overall, we had a great experience here tonight and I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Laurel Park - Steak frites - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This is where Village Tavern used to be and what an upgrade! The food is delicious especially the shrimp pasta and short rib. Yum! Servers are attentive and always will give recommendations on their faves. It can be a little pricy but they don't cheap on the food- large portions. The outdoor bar space is also amazing! read more

It was great! Perfect Bloody Mary!! The BLT is so good. I didn't want to eat when we got there. I just wanted to have a drink and hang with friends. I are it all!! read more

I really wanted to like this highly recommended SouthPark restaurant, but our recent visit, to celebrate an early Valentine's Day, left us wondering what all the fuss was about. To start with, the low ceiling in the main dining room amplified the noise from the surrounding tables and made intimate conversation difficult. Laurel Park has an impressive covered patio that looks like a great spot to meet friends on a summer evening, but it wasn't open on the cold February night we were there. We started with cocktails and the delicious Nana's Meatballs, a flavorful appetizer drenched in melted cheese and a rich pasta sauce. But our entrees were both disappointing, and I found the accompanying wine list a bit underwhelming. The Malfadine I ordered, with grilled shrimp and pasta, was decent, but the Braised Short Rib dish my wife chose was dry and forgettable. We were also let down by the Chocolate Cake we shared for dessert, which honestly tasted like it came out of a box in the grocery freezer section. Service was excellent throughout our meal, and parking is conveniently available in the surface deck of the office building that houses the restaurant. Maybe we came by on an off night, but based on the experience and the premium pricing, I really can't recommend Laurel Park. read more

We hadn't been here since it became Laurel Park. We had a very nice dinner - kudos to Edwin who was very attentive and provided excellent service without being intrusive. We had the Brussels sprout appetizer which was great and I would get it again. Then the Cobb salad and the pasta with meatballs. Both were very good options - we will be back. We sat on the outdoor patio and there was music at Symphony Park. Overall a great experience! read more

What a perfect evening! Our server was Ashley C. She answered our questions about the food to a tee! Always with a smile and she genuinely cared. Ambiance was great! I was concerned my friend and I would not have enough room at a two top, but we did! We were able to converse without the rest of the restaurant drowning us out, and it was a busy night on 2/12/26 Thursday. Food was excellent! My friend had the Bucatini with meatballs. I had the Malfadine. Pasta was made in house...fresh. Generous portion of grilled shrimp. Calabrian cream sauce wasn't too spicy. The pistachio gremolata was a slight touch on top to give depth of flavor and some soft crunch. You won't be disappointed here and I've recommended it to friends and neighbors. read more

New favorite spot. Welcoming, professional environment from the maitre'd, our server Jessica and the owner Dan. Although our first visit we already felt like regulars. The decor is bright and open. The acoustics were also great. The steak frites was perfect temperature. The chicken marsala was a 10. The chocolate olive oil cake was delicious with just the right amount of sweetness. We went for lunch, which coincidentally was the first day lunch was offered. Very pleased... can't wait to come back for dinner soon. read more

The quality of the food doesn't match the prices. We went for brunch and nothing that we purchased stood out in any way. The vibe was a bit stuffy overall. Not a spot I'd go back to. read more

Beautiful restaurant and great food. We had hamachi crudo appetizer and it was delicious. KC Strip was good portion and cooked perfectly. Nice experience! read more

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Went for brunch. Food was delicious. Our table had burgers and omelettes. Service was great and the place is beautiful. We enjoyed ourselves and will be back. read more

I have gone three times to Laurel Park and really think they have done a spectacular job of transforming the restaurant. It is beautifully decorated and the outside bar and patio are perfect for socializing. The only problem is the menu is limited to fried or high calorie appetizers for the bar area. I am not the only one who thinks so. I heard many of my friends make the same comment. The shrimp appetizer is fried with a heavy crust and would be healthier and tastier in an Asian sauce. The cauliflower dish is not that tasty and could be prepared in a healthier way. Maybe bar bites would be a good addition at an affordable price. A vodka on the rocks is priced at $17.00 and when you have two drinks and an appetizer, you walk away with a hefty tab. I will go back but won't order an appetizer and will stick to one or two drinks. I think the wait staff is friendly and want to please and they definitely are in a great location. Healthy appetizers and more affordable prices will keep people coming. read more

Food WAY overpriced!! It took FOREVER to get a glass of wine and they were not that busy. Chicken was average...certainly not something I would recommend. Bring back Village Tavern! read more

Had a great time at the bar with 2 friends this weekend. Riley our bartender was so friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this place and him for cocktails, can't wait to come back to eat. read more

Great remodel to Village Tavern. Can't wait until the weather becomes warmer to hang outside.

Loved the vibe of the restaurant, food was good and service was great. Would return again!!

We had 5 star service dining in the bar area. It's small but comfortable. The bartender Riley was friendly and very well-trained on menu items. We enjoyed watching him shake martinis & pour up drinks. Overall we had a great experience! read more

Laurel Park - Bar ambience - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Great Crab Cakes! Great cocktails! This place is very swanky and expensive, but completely worth it. Haven't been to a restaurant this nice in a long time. read more

Laurel Park - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

My wife and I enjoyed our second dinner at Laurel Park last night, February 12. It was not only significantly better than our first experience, it was exceptional. The food was excellent (shrimp starter to share, chicken florentine and salmon); the atmosphere is sophisticated (but not overly so); and the service (both the waitperson and backwaiters) was flawless. read more

Went with 2 friends for a birthday dinner. Service was great . Had the beef braised short rib. Was very flavorful. Looking forward to warmer weather so we can visit the outside bar area. A great time was had by all. read more

Great location, great food, great atmosphere. Love this place. My new favorite restaurant in Charlotte!

Great new restaurant in a familiar place! Laurel Park is a beautiful, well designed and very tasty restaurant. The ambiance and decor are all complimentary of each other with 4-5 person booths, 2 tops, 4 tops, and padded bench seating for larger parties. We dined in the evening, but there are large windows surrounding the restaurant that look onto their private outdoor space as well a shared courtyard for a nice daytime view. We were able to try many of their dishes during the soft opening and each one I would order again. The firecracker shrimp appetizer & roasted cauliflower appetizer were delicious & had great flavors. The beet hummus appetizer was incredibly unique & red, but still maintained the hummus taste I am used to. The braised short rib entree was very moist, great flavor and easily pulled apart for each bite. The crab cakes were also delicious and had a light crunch to the breading that complimented the crab, as well as a cabbage pickled slaw (I think) to accompany the 2 crab cakes. We finished with 2 desserts, vanilla & chocolate olive oil cakes- both were great, but I preferred the lighter taste of the vanilla with strawberry glaze. We were also served freshly brewed decaf coffee at our request that tasted very delightful! Service was superb with very attentive wait staff where water was consistently refilled even by those who were not our main waiter. Food service was also very timely. The vibe was comfortable for a casual quality lunch with a friend, yet professional and elevated enough for a business dinner or date. The mix of carpet & wood floors with the varying table & chair designs were expertly designed and thought out to blend into a beautiful space. Very excited to return with family and coworkers from the area! read more

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I was very disappointed with everything! Obviously they had invested a lot of money in remodeling the old Village Tavern location but the place lacked ambience. The bar area lacked a large selection of both alcohol and wine selections. There were only 7 main entree selections and 3 salad selections. I ordered the beef short rib served over risotto with a red wine reduction. The presentation seemed clumsy and was hard to eat because it was very liquidy. The short rib was placed in the middle of the plate. The portion was large and the short rib was good but not overly delicious. The risotto was OK but again too much liquid. I will not be returning. This is a very poor replacement for a restaurant that had become a Charlotte tradition!!' read more

worst dinning experience in Charlotte. how can you fuck up brunch on an uncrowded Sunday? flat greasy biscuits overdone omelet with requested excluded ingredients added back in to mix Chives. bland deviled eggs and discusting crab cake. dried out omelet. such a sad effort, but good service . going out of business soon read more

Tasty food! From start to finish, all service was friendly. It's a very welcoming environment for all to enjoy!

It was really nice to find a restaurant with such ambiance and comfort after spending the afternoon shopping in South Park Mall. We had heard good things about Laurel Park and it did not disappoint. They have a nice selection of unique appetizers from meatballs to cheese-stuffed focaccia bread to firecracker shrimp and many others. It wasn't easy choosing an entrée from so many excellent options, but I went for the dry-aged KC Strip steak and my wife loved the fresh-made Bucatini pasta. And of course we had to indulge in the beautiful desserts. The tiramisu was the most light and fluffy I'd ever tasted. We're definitely going to return to Laurel Park. We can't wait to see what they come up with next. read more

The front of the restaurant was not well run at all. The staff was very friendly but not well trained. We ordered a nice bottle of wine off the menu and were told 10 minutes later that they only had wine by the glass! The food was decent but not outstanding. None of our party were excited about the menu selections. I ordered a cappuccino and was served a regular coffee with milk! The server then told me they didn't have a cappuccino machine! Another person in the party ordered an express martini and was told they didn't have the ingredients. It was simply not a good experience and not ready for prime time. read more

Amazing food and experience ! The lighting was awesome and the vibe was killer. And all around great experience