Just tried them for the first time since moving to Uptown: ON POINT! The catfish is well seasoned and the sides are perfect. Very nice portions! *In fact, I ordered two fish and they gave me three! Not a bad first impression! read more

The food wasn't amazing. It was mediocre. I was not pleased. It's possible my taste buds are changing. I suggest you try it for yourself. read more

Freshwaters - This was my leftovers. Flounder, collard greens, mac and cheese with corn bread. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Came to Charlotte for a quick event - while at the hotel, I goggled restaurants nearby and this restaurant popped up first. I called the restaurant and asked if they had free parking and was told they had plenty of parking! I headed over and letmetellyou!!!!!! This restaurant is GREAT! The customer service, the food, the drinks - EVERYTHING was amazing! Our waitress, Shawn, was the only one on duty but she was STILL AMAZING! Mrs. Freshwater walked around to check with customers to make sure everything was good! She is such a sweetheart! I order the special which was a turkey wing with gravy over rice with 2 sides for $18. I chose potato salad and cabbage as my sides and that potato salad was GREAT! I ordered a side to go! Just an FYI, Mr. Freshwater is the Chef and he ain't playing in the kitchen! If you're ever in the area, please check them out! Thursday through Sunday! read more

Freshwaters - Turkey Wing with Gravy Over Rice - Potato Salad - Cabbage - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Freshwaters Restaurant is still the best Southern/Creole/Soul Food east of Texas. They have new items on the menu like the melt in your mouth Turkey Wings. There catfish fillets come in many ways and they cater to your taste. They not have $5 Mimosas and ice cream with the super crusty peach Cobbler. If you haven't been in a while or at all come in and enjoy the relaxed jazzy vibe. They also have TV at the bar for the Sunday sports fans. Everyone is friendly and Mr and Mrs Freshwater will always greet you warmly and accommodate you with care. Hope to see you there soon. read more

Freshwaters - The bar area. Nice. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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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. read more

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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. read more

Freshwaters - Turkey wing special - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

On Saturday, March 21, 2026, I joined a group of nine friends at Freshwaters Restaurant to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. Normally, this isn't the kind of restaurant I would choose myself, as I have a sensitive stomach and need to avoid Cajun and spicy foods. Wanting to be prepared, I checked the menu online a few days before our visit and saw a chicken pasta dish that seemed like a safe bet--if I could get it plain. Before we were seated, I asked our server if it would be possible to have the chicken pasta dish without any spices. She assured me this wouldn't be a problem, explaining that the spices were added at the end. I requested the dish plain, with a side of mac and cheese (to go), and felt confident about my order. When our meals arrived, the other eight guests were served, but my food was nowhere to be seen. The server returned to the table twice to confirm my order, even double-checking if I wanted the chicken prepared plain. I reiterated my request. By the time my food finally arrived, everyone else had finished eating. The server brought me a bowl of Penne Alfredo and explained, "You can't get the chicken, because it is pre-seasoned." At this point, I was hungry and accepted the pasta as it was. Thankfully, the penne and alfredo sauce were tasty, and I was satisfied with that part of my meal. When the check arrived, I was surprised to see I had been charged for the chicken--$20 plus tax--even though I had only received pasta. The server explained that they had never received an order like mine before and had to charge full price. I didn't argue with the server; instead, I spoke to the owner. She was aware of my situation and repeated that I had to pay full price because my order was unusual. I calmly refused, and she then offered to reduce the charge to $12 plus tax, which I accepted and paid. Throughout the evening, I also had to ask five times for my side of mac and cheese before finally receiving it from the hostess on my sixth request. One of my friends pointed out that if the chicken is pre-seasoned, it's probably either frozen or cooked ahead of time--not made to order. Overall, while I enjoyed my pasta, found the server pleasant, and appreciated spending time with friends, the experience left much to be desired. The entertainment was mediocre, and the owner's handling of my bill felt unprofessional. A simple explanation up front about the limitations of their menu would have avoided the whole ordeal. I always want to support small, family-owned businesses, but my experience at Freshwaters Restaurant was disappointing due to a lack of clear communication and flexibility for customers with dietary needs. read more

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. read more

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Visit to Freshwater Restaurant Experience on 12/07/2025 I visited Freshwater at 516 N Graham St, Charlotte, NC 28202 on December 7, 2025, around 2:00 PM. As a customer, I felt I was being treated differently. Unlike others who were loudly informed from the bar about a 30-minute wait, I was not addressed in this manner. Observations Inside the Restaurant While waiting, I walked around the restaurant and noticed there were 10 to 12 empty tables. Despite this availability, I was told there would be a 30-minute wait. read more

Wonderful carefully prepared food. Welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. You will enjoy a pleasant meal in a lovely and sparkling environment where the owners work hard to deliver a flawless dining experience.. Cliff mans the kitchen and his wife Sharon manages the front of the house.with charm and efficiency. read more

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. read more

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I had the pleasure of eating at this wonderful restaurant yesterday. I finally found a good place to eat soul food after many years of searching in Charlotte. The servers were very nice, and the owners even came out to greet our party. I really enjoyed the food selections and how well seasoned everything was. The ambiance was very nice and comfortable as well. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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. read more

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Food and dessert was made fresh and boy was it amazing. We had a group of four and everyone loved and raved about the food. We especially enjoyed the salmon cakes, the red velvet cake, and the peach cobbler. We felt very welcome by staff and was checked on regularly. The lemonade was also super delicious. The ambiance was classy and had nice jazz music playing in the background. This will become a favorite spot of ours! read more

10/10. Great service, food, and drinks. Jambalaya and Mac n Cheese were fantastic. Excited to be back.

This was my first visit to Freshwaters after many tries and it was well worth the wait. Everything was delicious and the service was great. So happy I got to celebrate Juneteenth at this black owned establishment. I will definitely be back. read more

The food was over a hour to be served and none of it was good, place looked nice but put spaghetti sauce over Salomon burnt shrimp lack of service after waiting over an hr for food was rushed to eat it because a party of 40 was about to jam restaurant up. All dishes were nasty!!!! Would not ever recommend no one here sorry! 70 dollars complete waste. The ambiance was great over all. read more

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!! read more

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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! read more

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Ambiance was well above expectations for a small restaurant. The food was amazing everything we had was awesome. I had the ribs, my wife had the crab cakes, my son had the Catfish, and my daughter had the Shrimp pasta. All the sides were great! The serving was excellent, we arrived right at opening and the owner was so pleasant and sweet. She personally escorted us to our seats! The best taste I've had in Charlotte! read more

PLEASE DO NOT GO HERE! THE OWNER IS MEAN, NASTY, RUDE, AND CRUDE. I brought my friend here because the food was good. We waited 30 minutes just to be seated. And then another 25 minutes for our food. As soon as the food came I handed the waitress my credit card. She returned with the receipts and I saw additional charges. I questioned what it was, and she answered "There is an up-charge because you 2 are eating off of the same plate". I was floored! She then LIED and said, several times, that the disclaimer was on the menu, and asked if I wanted to see it. I said "Yes"! The waitress returns, but not with the menu I requested. With the owner herself, Mrs. Fresh. Before I could say anything, Mrs. Fresh said "IT'S NOT ON THE MENU! IT'S MY RULE! IT'S MY PLACE AND I MAKE THE RULES! AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE CHARGED FOR DOING THAT! AND THAT'S IT!" I was Horrified! And the other guest around us were in shock! I was mortally embarrassed. In total disgust I got up and walked out. I have never in my life been lied to about something so stupid! And treated so horribly! NEVER GO HERE! The worst restaurant in America! read more

Stopped by early on a Saturday afternoon, so there was no wait. We met the Mrs. Freshwaters herself, who was very nice and outlined the menu/specials. It was good to know that it was a scratch kitchen. Our server Mary was pleasant and checked on us frequently throughout our meal. Now - on to the food. There were highs and lows. The cornbread came out piping hot. I did not have any, my grandson ate the middle of it out. My daughter commented they were hard, we didn't eat all of them but they sure smelled good when placed on the table. My blackened catfish was delicious, the sauce not too heavy and seasoned well. The shrimp topping my catfish was cooked & seasoned well but a little salty. I wished the tails were removed from the shrimp. The collard greens and cabbage were great - I had no leftovers. I tasted a piece of my girlfriend's fried catfish. It was well-seasoned and crispy. My daughter ate her Cajun pasta, stating it was "all right". My friend's daughter didn't feel the Mac n cheese was homemade, likening it to Stouffer's. The jambalaya was meh, with no spicy kick/much flavor and somewhat watery. The potato salad needed more sugar and relish to balance the tanginess but was okay. There is no kid's menu, so you may have to pick and choose from the appetizers and sides to build a child's meal. Parking was plentiful based on the time we arrived, but I imagine the lot can fill up quickly given that other businesses share the space. We enjoyed our visit overall. read more

Tried to come with hubby Friday evening. Hours on Yelp said they closed at 9pm. We arrived at 7. Closed. Darn. Had a taste for catfish. read more

Freshwaters - a car parked in front of a restaurant - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We happened upon this great place while exploring Charlotte and are lucky we did! Atmosphere was relaxed and classy with nice jazz in the background but the food was the centerpiece. We ordered a salmon cake app and it was delicious. The Cajun pasta with shrimp was, too. Plenty of sides(Austin's fried cabbage was a favorite $. Wish we had room for the homemade desserts! Staff were friendly and helpful as well. read more

Recently, my family and I were reminiscing about the old Simmons restaurant located in Fourth Ward. I was pleasantly surprised to find another Soul Food restaurant had taken residence in the same location. After Church we made our way to Freshwaters and ordered several items. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Breast lunch with a side of Austin's sautéed cabbage and green string beans. For the lunch portion it was a generous serving! The chicken was tender and well seasoned but not overly salty or saucy, the cabbage was INCREDIBLE! It's not overly sweet but there is a light savory/sweetness to it. I was stuffed and saved the string beans for dinner with the rest of the chicken. I added some shrimp I made at home the day before and it was superb! I give Freshwaters five stars for their friendly hostess, efficiency in ordering, and delicious healthy food offerings! read more

Freshwaters - Grilled Boneless Chicken Breast Lunch, Green String Beans, Austin's Sauteed Cabbage. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I had the opportunity to dine at Freshwaters with a few friends. The food was good but there wasn't anything special about it. Classic southern food. The service and hospitality were definitely top tier! read more

Freshwaters - Fried Catfish and shrimp Dinner, collards, Mac n cheese and candied yams - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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DO NOT GIVE YOUR BUSINESS TO FRESH WATER RESTAURANT ON GRAHAM STREET IN CHARLOTTE! SEVEN OF US made reservations 2 weeks ago and after waiting for 20 minutes.The owner comes over with a very bad attitude, SHE WAS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL and was flipping through pages and said that she did not see it. We told her that we would take our business elsewhere, she literally WALKED AWAY FROM us, with no concern about not finding our reservation!. read more

The food is awesome. The Ne Orleans catfish is tasty and the cabbage!!!! My favorite is the Uptown tea

Omg this place was so amazing. Food was fresh the server and the owner was lovely and pleasant. I think I was a little underdressed the were still welcoming. They need 10 stars read more

Freshwaters - Denzel been here was a picture in there entryway - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This gem is tucked away in an older strip mall. Parking is a beast. If you get luckily enough to find a parking space come inside. Authentic soul food and seafood combined in one. Meals are made to order so don't be in a rush to get your food. Come if you have time on your hand and want to enjoy the company of someone special. The seafood is fresh! The sides are delicious! The environment is like being at home in your dining room with family. Nice ambience and dimly lit. There's even a nice bar if you want to just come for a drink and good conversation. read more

Freshwaters - Seafood platter. Fish, shrimp, crab cake with green beans and candied yams! - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This restaurant should be packed based on the quality of the food and service. This was my 2nd time here and just like the 1st the service was top notch and the food was something out of the 70's or 80's! Meaning it was the same quality and greatness that my grandmother would have produced. I had Fried Catfish, cabbage, and Macaroni & cheese that was Amazing. Tia was our server and she didn't miss a beat! Please if you have the opportunity give freshwaters a try! You won't be sorry! read more

This is still one of my favorites in Charlotte and I had to update my review since I was able to book this restaurant for a party of about 100 people with only about 30 days prior to the event. The owner was great to work with for the menu, the set up, appointments, etc., and just for any and everything that I needed she was there to answer my questions or give input as I had to pull the event together pretty quickly and was really stressed about everything going well. The parking lot is a little tight with the other businesses around but it all worked out and the party was definitely a success. The set up was wonderful, the staff was amazing, and the guest are still raving about how great the food was. If you're planning an event, don't hesitate to give Freshwater a try. read more

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Exceptional service, delicious food, and a beautiful ambiance with diners who socialize and are friendly with newcomers. Etoufe was amazing! read more

Freshwaters - Welcoming environment and first class experience. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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So I dined here with a friend on Sunday and was very disappointed in the inconsistent customer service Mrs. Freshwater gives. Not to mention, this was my friends first time visiting. She normally comes around and greets 1st time guests and mentions all vegetables are cooked with turkey etc. When others entered the restaurant they were treated with the upmost respect. She has her favorites. What disappointed me the most, we got the Phyllis's Seafood Platter and it was served with a salmon patty instead of a crab cake which the menu states. So lower the price if you aren't gonna serve what menu outlines. Needless to say, I ordered a slice of red velvet cake! It was not good at all! No flavor! Needless to say, I will not be back! I would never patronize this restaurant again like I've done before in the past! Horrible service and quality of food has declined! read more

I really enjoyed our dinner and service. Sharon and Mary were wonderful hosts. Everything was fresh, service was excellent. We will definitely be returning. read more

I'm honestly not one to write poorly about restaurants, especially a Black owned restaurant, but this needed to be said. Let me start by saying the food is actually pretty good. We went twice sometime last year (2022) and actually left satisfied. But now they have these "updated hours" that are actually insane. We've tried to go on two separate occasions at this point (recently in May, and then today, in July) where we'd get there and they would tell us they're closed, despite being well within the time frame of business hours that are displayed on the site and the front door. Mind you, the hours on the site and the hours on the door are two different hours. Basically go early in the afternoon or don't go at all! If you do go though, the catfish fritters and étouffée are actually really good. read more

Mr. & Mrs. Fresh are amazing people whom shows tremendous pride in what they've built. The ambiance is beautiful with excellent service to match. The food it Top Tier! Everything fresh and homemade with love. In all of my travels, I have never come across another soul food restaurant that can compare to the food at Freshwaters. Everything my husband and I ordered was delicious. Catfish, salmon cakes, BBQ chicken, collard greens, mac & cheese, string beans, candied yams, shrimp cocktail, chocolate cake and peach cobbler. Oh yeah, and Mrs. Fresh makes a mean drink! We are going back again today before our flight. read more

It's everything they say it is! Sides are on point! Get the peach cobbler! You're welcome!

I really love Freshwaters for a number of reasons. I've been here twice, so far, and will absolutely be back. Walking in, it's intimate and cozy. The decor is pretty and the "feel" of Freshwaters is very inviting. Someone is always there to greet you warmly and each time I've been there, it has been the owner :) There's also a wall of pictures when you 1st walk in, with all of the celebrities that have been there. Ok, on to the food. I had a platter the first time with shrimp, fish, a crab cake and sides. It was so good! Most recently, I went for lunch and had the shrimp etoufee with collards and an arnold palmer. The dish was delicious and filling, and the Arnold palmer was on point too. My Mother-in-Love had the ribs, potato salad and collards. I saw the ribs falling off of the bone with my own two eyes, as well as the cleaned plate and bowls once she was done, lol! The price was certainly reasonable. It was less than $10 per person #win Customer service is top notch every time and I can't wait to go back. Also learned from our server, that they host events often (including a New Year one tonight). Looking forward to attending some time soon. Definitely give this establishment some love!! read more

Freshwaters - Warm cornbread - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food was really good. The uptown drink is awesome!!! Would come again!!! Enjoyed my first experience there. read more

Freshwaters - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina