Tucked away in a Harris Teeter shopping center in suburban Matthews, this terrific little tapas restaurant feels like it belongs in a more prominent spot, like SouthPark or Plaza Midwood. And as crowded as it was on our recent visit, The One may eventually have to seek out trendier, more spacious digs somewhere else in the Queen City. Until then, be prepared for a noisy ambiance, peak hour waits and tables that are a bit close for comfort. But the food and cocktails make it all worth it. The extensive menu of shareable plates offers something for every palate, from the tasty Fettucini with Roasted Duck Ragu and flavorful Braised Short Ribs to the amazing Oxtail Empanadas. Paired with a perfectly mixed Old Fashioned or a bottle of wine from their impressive selection, it adds up to a compelling culinary experience for anything from date night to an evening with friends. Service was excellent on our visit and prices were very reasonable for a meal of this caliber. Parking is free and super-easy, but reservations are highly recommended -- especially for weekend visits. My only gripe was the tightness of the space, which makes intimate conversation a bit challenging and the tables a bit crowded -- especially when you order a variety of plates. But if you can manage to visit on a quiet weeknight, The One will deliver a wonderful tapas meal that will have you planning a return visit before you pick up the check. read more

This place is just the best. The drinks, the service, the food... it's all amazing highly recommend this for a date night or a girls night out. Favs: drinks- Let's fiesta , snacks: zucchini chips, tapas: butternut squash tortellini. Hubby had the surf and turf: it was delicious and the chimichurri was fire. Sit at the bar with Jesse and Johnny. read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Surf and turf and lychee martini- chefs kiss - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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This place is ridiculously good. So unexpected the first time we walked in- have now had almost everything on the menu - can't recommend enough Mushrooms are special The pork belly buns are out of this world Lamb is fantastic Those are my top three but don't shy away from anything read more

Sometimes not knowing is the best way to find a hidden gem! My husband and I were completely surprised by this place. A huge thank you to Alice and The Chef for an unforgettable dinner. Expect to experience a beautiful quaint atmosphere. Reservations are highly recommended but there is an open bar area if necessary. The food was spectacular: the Red Snapper was flawlessly prepared with yellow cherry tomatoes, the Oxtail Empanadas were rich and savory, and the Clam Chowder truly deserved the title "heavenly." Paired with the "Lychilicious" handcrafted cocktail? We will definitely be back, this is "The One". Enjoy! read more

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Absolutely loved it! We enjoyed a date night without the children while staying in Charlotte and we wanted to hit a tapas place. We found this gem and it was close to where we stayed. The service is excellent. The staff is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. The food is amazing, as are the drinks ! The atmosphere is cute. We had the Wildberry Refresher, the Honey One, and a Perfect Pair for cocktails and all were great. For food, we had the marinated olives, the Braised Oxtail empanadas (our favorite dish of the evening), the croquettes, and the seared scallops. All were fantastic. This was plenty of food for the two of us. I debated getting the Surf and Turf special because the people seated next to us had it and they said it was amazing. Maybe next time. Tip: they give you a one-page specials paper, but the regular menu is at the bottom of the clipboard featuring drinks on the first page. We ordered two crème brulee and it was oh so good! This place is the perfect date spot and it's also good for a small group of friends. It is small so reservations are a good idea. You can go dressy or casual and still fit in. read more

Sometimes you get lucky. In our case, it was us trying somewhere new on a Saturday night. The One Tapas and Bar Let's just say this place is a GEM. It is located in a shopping center which offers lots of parking. The place itself is pretty small and cozy, but the vibes are really nice. The music was at the perfect level where you can still have a normal conversation and enjoy the music. The service was on point and the food was INCREDIBLE!!! I am so glad we tried this spot, for it is officially on our must go list. You will NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! read more

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My wife and I went there on a Friday. We had a reservation for 8pm and showed up about 5 mins early. The restaurant is very small and was full at the time, so there was no where to stand and wait. Unfortunately they seat people at the bar, so couldn't even sit at the bar and have a cocktail while waiting. We were told we would receive a phone call when the table was ready so we went to the sushi place next door to have drinks. 30 minutes later, no phone call so we walked back over and two tables were waiting to be cleaned. Eventually we were sat and noticed there just seemed to be miscommunication with the staff, such as us being asked my several different people if we have been helped yet. This was likely asked because we were, but the food and drinks take a very long time to come out. The entire meal took about 2 hours total. Couple other things that bugged us, was the tables are so close, and when they bus a table, they are spraying the table down with chemical which got on us. They should be spraying the bus rag in the back and walking it out to the table to avoid this. It would have also been appropriate to offer us a comp glass of champagne or desert for not being seated until 30 mins after our reservation. The food was very good though and it's great to see craft cocktails available outside of uptown. Maybe will need to go back on a less busy night and try again. read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Food Menu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

I had a nice impression of this place. The servers were nice and made good food recommendations. No complaints regarding our food. Every single dish was tasty. Good variety of Tapas. Make sure to check it out. read more

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I found a little gem in Matthews but I'm not gatekeeping. Nope. I want everyone to give this spot a shot. Everything, from the food to the service to the ambiance was great. The One Tapas & Bar is a cozy spot, nice lighting, several tables and a little bar at the front. The service was phenomenal -- attentive, kind and quick. The food was as well. Ordered the octupus, the pork belly and then had the crab cake and all were great. So was my old fashioned. The difference between good and great are people that care and it's clear the people involved in this establishment care. read more

Quietly nestled in an unassuming stripmall next to a TCBY is an absolute gem! First of all, the service was warm and wonderful from start to finish. Monica is lovely as is the rest of the staff. Very conversational, congenial, and concerned about your experience. The food is truly delicious. The truffle fries (one of my favorite things on the planet) were done perfectly. No grease to be found on my fingers. The shrimp and corn salad is light and refreshingly flavorful. Now, the star that night was the scallop risotto. I don't even like mushrooms BUT the porcini crusted scallop risotto--just know I destroyed that dish. You MUST go here. I'll be back. Well worth the drive! read more

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Wanted this place to be great because its right around the corner. We went there a couple of weeks ago for my birthday and it was very underwhelming enough that we went somewhere else to get more food. The server had no personality and was not attentive. The food was mediocre. They are trying to do way too much for such a small location. Too many cocktails that took 15 minutes to come out. Too many Tapas items that came out overcooked and not to perfection. Less is more, do a couple things great and it will work well. read more

This restaurant was unexpectedly amazing!! I'm traveling from Los Angeles (and I almost never leave Yelp reviews), and I didn't expect to have such great food! Great service also! We sat at the bar and could see the chef preparing our food, it was cool! Crispy pork belly, mussels, oxtail empanadas, braised lamb shank and sangria read more

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I have yet to go to the one and not be just loud by the flavors and my experience there. We were greeted as we walked in. I did have reservations however we chose to sit at the bar which was not an issue. The wait staff was very attentive to us, although they did have a full house. The ambience inside the one is very intimate. It is a small venue with limited seating and I have yet to see it not full just because the quality of the food is awesome and the service is phenomenal. we opted to get a bottle of wine. It was the new Orin Swift a lovely Cabernet called sign of the times. It wasn't very dry. It was very fruit forward. It was rich, but not too heavy. Then we ordered the crispy calamari and the pork belly bao buns The calamari came out perfectly seasoned with a very light crispy texture, not overly greasy. It had a fabulous dipping sauce that was not the tomato base that you typically have with calamari it almost look like a mayonnaise based sauce. It was quite tasty. The bao buns were phenomenal. They were savory and sweet all at the same time with the crispy pork belly. They had a mix of yellow peppers and onions that accompanied them. And we finished our night off with the special of the day lobster and shrimp pasta. read more

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Another review I'm in the fence about. If people find out about this place I may not keep getting my VIP experience. Just had the Surf and turf special. Jumbo blackened shrimp, three very thick filet cuts, potatoes and asparagus. Enjoyed with a bourbon straight. Tried the Bakers 7 bourbon. Can't say enough about the chef , the kitchen and the bar staff. Plus the open kitchen vibe is great! read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Surf and turf, Filet Mignon with jumbo blackened shrimp - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Best new place in Matthews!!!! I was so excited to try One Tapas & Bar, and it did not disappoint! Lovely ambiance, the crushed green velvet is luxurious. The food is fantastic! Every single thing we ordered was superb! The fried zucchini chips should come with a warning label; they're deadly delicious. In fact, we didn't get a picture of them bc we gobbled them up! Duck breast, braised beef short rib and scallops all top notch. Good pricing on wine, and a respectable selection to choose from. As for service, attentive, kind, helpful; they're lovely people! We will be back! read more

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If I could give 100 stars I would, amazing service, amazing food and you can taste how fresh the ingredients are. Quaint and very special experience. Definitely earned the 5 stars from ample parking, to the first step into the atmosphere, to the delivery of the final check. read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Surf & Turf crispy mushrooms No so sweet cocktail - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Food was relatively good, but the cost vs portions just were not fair. I would say the comfort and noise in the restaurant was not good but, service was very good and I don't think we all go there again but they're getting there less tables or more space. read more

The One was tucked away in a small shopping center in Matthews that I definitely would never have noticed on my own. So I am thankful for the recommendation I was given! The restaurant is small, cozy, and intimate with only 7 tables. It is the perfect place for a date night or special occasion. I would definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time since the place is so small. I was not super impressed with the service especially with it being such a small place. My mocktail was delicious and the wagyu beef slider and fries had to be my most fav dish of them all. (Of course it's the only dish I didn't take a picture of because I was too excited to dive right in!) The duck pasta was good. Very flavorful and a nice size portion for a tapas. My least favorite item was the pork belly bun. Unfortunately I couldn't even finish it. I'm not sure what about it turned me, but I will say the size of the bun is large enough to split. For dessert there were two options and I decided on the caramel crème brûlée. It was so so good!! I highly recommend it! Overall, I was not super impressed and most likely won't be coming back anytime soon, but I am glad I went to see what all the hype was about. read more

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Small restaurant with less than 10 tables, reservations would be good to have for large parties or during meal time. The food was flavorful - in the way that - you either love it or hate it. I like how they use the spices but it did not quite hit my friend's taste. Would recommend the bone marrow and the crostini (from special menu). read more

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An underappreciated gem in Weddington Discovered this thru a foodie gf and she was absolutely right on 1 the One is fantastic. The zucchini chips were really light and not greasy. The crispy mushrooms were tasty but just not my jam. My dining companions loved them. The shrimp was just a touch overcooked. The corn relish was bright and delicious. The emerald green is beautiful against the black. It's a very chic look. The service was excellent. There were only 2 tables when they opened on a Sunday so she was very responsive & addressed our questions on the menu. read more

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So The Girls and I needed a night out and wanted to be close to home. A quick Google search led us here. This is a quaint spot so we had to make a reservation but from the moment we arrived everything was top tier! The atmosphere, the patrons, the staff, drinks and food. Everyone was so pleasant and friendly. Ok let's get to the food, the oxtail empanadas, lamb chops, mussels, grilled snapper, shrimp and scallop pasta, pork belly, braised ribs!!! DELICIOUS. I think we sampled all of the drink menu and let me say Jesse the bartender knows exactly what he's doing!! Our server Nia was great as well even becoming our photographer. The owner frequented our table giving smiles and suggestions. At one point we was so impressed with the food we asked "who was back there cooking?" And we were immediately graced with the Chef's presence. We gave him our Chef's Kiss and he was very humble and appreciative. This place is definitely a gem for the South Side. 10 out of 10! read more

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Great time, arrived when they first opened. Ended up exchanging my drink and had no issues. read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Crispy Calamari - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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Service was great. Food just OK. The crab cake was disappointing. Scallops, 2 small ones on a bed of risotto were just OK. read more

We went here tonight for the first time and are definitely coming back. For daily specials we had the seafood canneloni and the pumpkin soup (both excellent but not on the menu every day). Off the regular menu we really enjoyed the braised oxtail empanadas and the zucchini chips. There are many other dishes we want to try so we will be back. read more

I'd been meaning to try this place for a while and had high expectations based on neighborhood recommendations. The food was decent but the service fell way short. For the price point I expect good service, but halfway through the meal when my wine glass and my husband's ice tea was empty it was a little strange and borderline rude for the server to come over and ask if my husband would like more ice tea but not ask if my wine glass could be refilled. I think maybe she missed the lesson on upselling. When she returned with the tea it was clearly watery. My husband pointed it out and the reply was "oh yeah." Did she think we wouldn't notice? There wasn't enough toast for the $30 bone marrow plate so we asked for more. When my husband got the bill he noticed that they actually charged us $2 for toast. SERIOUSLY??! The food was good but not great read more

Wanted to be their 100th view. Family owned. Chef creates. Love this place. Food is awesome.

Fantastic small plates! We had a phenomenal dinner and drinks at The One Tapas. Delicious food and amazing service! We had the octopus appetizer and then shared duck ragu and angus sirloin. They were all fabulous. We liked the octopus and angus sirloin the best! The drinks were incredible! I had the Negroni and it was perfect. The dessert of bread pudding was so finely balanced with bourbon and chocolate! The atmosphere was welcoming and homey. Fabulous date night hidden gem!! read more

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Cute and intimate. I went with several friends but this would be a great date night spot! I would have never come here had it not been for a raving review on Instagram. The food had great flavor. We shared several apps and I also ordered a white fish with some sort of crab topping that was on special (I think it was Halibut??) and so good! It was served over yuca. I highly recommend. read more

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Stopped in for some tapas plates and had a good shared meal for an early date night. We started with the Pei mussels in white wine garlic broth served with toast to soak up the broth. Next we got zucchini chips to pick at with Remi sauce. Then came the Arancini saffron rice balls. And after all that was ate we decided to try the crispy pork belly. The patio is interesting with the TCBY patio next door. Very nice seats and tables under a large counter weighted umbrella. The service was very attentive to our drinks and refilled the remi sauce when we were out. Good place. Give it a try! read more

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Service was phenomenal. Great attention to when we needed something or when we were done. It was very quick. This place would be good for an intimate dinner tapas style. The portions were large for a tapa and each came with some kind of side to in a way like veggies. When you mix all the items on the plate together it was delicious. My favorite was the truffle fries, wagyu beef slider, and baked Brie en croute. As for the desserts it was all very light beside the mousse. I liked the green brûlée the most and next would be the tiramisu. Have yet to try their brunch style but will be coming back for that! read more

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Great local restaurant that specializes in small plates. They had a special holiday menu out for Valentine's Day and I ordered from that. Food is well prepared and seasoned quite well. They have quite a few specialty drinks that you will want to sample. This place has been getting a lot of buzz lately and that is probably the reason I couldn't get seated until after 830 even though I had 8pm reservations. There are about 7 tables in this spot so expect a wait. The service was great though and the food was worth the wait. I predict they will outgrow this location soon and relocate to a larger location where they can better serve the demand they will be getting. read more

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Amazing tapas, developed flavors and unique twists on your favorites. Great cocktails, wine selection and attentive service. The One was our stop for our 15th wedding anniversary and it did not disappoint! read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Crispy Pork Belly & Charred Octopus with Warm Olives and Shishito Peppers - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Amazing food, amazing service. Will recommend to all and will be back. Cocktails were unique and delicious.

I heard myself say "I just wish I were hungrier". We tried the short rib, mussels and the seafood stew, which was a special. Every last bite was so flavorful and perfectly prepared. I do not have an anything negative to say! We came on a Wednesday, which is half priced bottle night...Shhhh don't let the word get out... this place will be packed! Needless to say, we are already planning to go back! To make the night even better, their wine list is very well planned. It was not your typical cheap and cheerful wine list. We had a Petite Syrah. It paired very well with the melt in your mouth, short ribs. Everything was just lovely and the staff so friendly! read more

Elevated tapas. Alice was very nice and helpful explaining everything. They have two ipa's on draft to choose from. Shrimp had a great grilled flavor and the corn salad was refreshing. Croquettes had a nice sweet and salty dimension and the homemade dipping sauce was on point. Short ribs were fall off the bone tender and the sauce that came with them was a perfect complement. Only four stars because it was a bit pricey for tapas. read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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My wife and I went to this hidden gem in Matthews. The food was amazing. The highlights were the crispy mushrooms and lamb lollipops. Service was friendly and personable. Look forward to going there again soon. read more

Monica was our server for our table of 9. We were celebrating a friend/colleague who was going to teach in Spain for a year. Everything we ordered exceeded our expectations. The restaurant is gorgeous inside and has a great vibe with the lighting and music. I would definitely return to this location for a girls night out or a date night. read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Large Charcuterie Board - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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This place is such a surprise! If you've gotten this far to consider it go. I recommend getting a reservation. The ambiance is so classy. The staff is incredibly kind and attentive. Shout out to Sarah since I sat at the bar. The food, which I posted photos of, was all spot on. read more

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We went here on date night and it was a winner. The servers were super friendly and genuinely happy we were there. The food came out surprisingly fast but was excellent. We had the burrata, meatballs and crab cake - along with chocolate ganache for dessert. All were very good, and satisfying. Great spot- we'll be back, we didn't get to try the calamari which looked amazing! read more

This is a gem in Southeast Charlotte near Matthews. A cozy location with excellent and varied tapas/small plates. I've had the corn & crab bisque (soup of the day), duck ragu fettuccine, roasted quail & grilled shrimp and corn salad. These were very well done and many other options I saw pass by me for other tables looked great including a really good value surf & turf (petite filet, grilled shrimp & scallops w/ asparagus and potatoes) for only $45. I am highly impressed with the food quality and preparation (including tapas where each plate is the right size without being too small), wait staff & a good wine, beer and cocktail list (including a cocktail with flamed rosemary called The Pink Smoke. You should go. read more

The One Tapas & Bar - Soup of the day (corn & shrimp bisque with piquillo peppers) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina