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

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

Had grilled catfish & shrimp in brown sauce w/collard greens and green beans. Fish was excellent, beans were good, greens were just OK but went good w/the cornbread muffins. My wife had her "Phylliss" platter blackened, crab cake was maybe the best I've ever had, virtually all crab. $37 for both orders (and I had a $40 for $24 LivingSocial, which made everything even better;) One drawback was heat. AC must've been out or not working well, they had many ceiling fans going which made it tolerable. Looking forward to coming back. 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

Very poor service. Very unprofessional. It was the last day of black restaurant week and they were out of mostly everything. We ordered food to only be told twenty minutes later that they were out. They were out of the Uptown, ribs, macaroni and cheese, cornbread which they had some appear, and the red velvet cake was dry. The owners wife locked the doors right in front of us and didn't even speak to us. Later she did apologize for that but first impression is everything! If it has been busy all week for black restaurant week then this restaurant should have been more prepared. I enjoyed my first visit here now the second visit has me not wanting to come back! read more

This place is amazing! There was no wait at 7pm on a Saturday night and the food was out really quickly. I can't brag about the food enough! It's definitely Charlotte's best kept secret. Do yourself a favor and visit this place; ask for Nicki B. You won't be disappointed! read more

Chic family owned restaurant. Warm comfortable setting, culturally appropriate art throughout the dining areas. I truly enjoy the efforts made to make sure our experience was topnotch, that goes a long way. Thank you for the time we spent, left full! read more

The food was good but it took almost an hour to get my food. They are really slow. Not a place to come if you are pressed for time.

I wasn't sure what to expect and I was impressed from the time I walked in, until I reluctantly walked out. Talk about feeling at home! I was sad to leave. First, our greeter was very professional and friendly, seated us quickly and made us feel at home. She recommended drinks and gave us direction on the menu, also letting us know how fresh it would be and how it would be prepared for us. This is called "priming the pallet" (not an official term). Once she took our orders, the food came out hot and fresh and exactly how she said it would. The first bite was amazing and the last bite was sad. That's all I remember between that time period. I ordered cajun catfish, with candied yams, and greens (salivating as I type this). One issue did come up with a mix up on a plate and it was quickly fixed. The chef actually brought the corrected plate out to us, himself. The owner even came out to ask how it all was. All I know is, I'm going back for some sweet potato cheesecake AND peach cobbler because it would be rude not to. Thank you Sharon and Nichole! read more

We visited on Sunday 6/24, and arrived shortly after they opened at 1:00pm. We were greeted and seated promptly. I ordered the Uptown which is a take on a ArnoldPalmer...really good. The server asked if this was our first visit and if so, Mrs. Fresh would come over and walk us through the menu. We received some corn muffins while we waited. Mrs. Fresh came over, nice lady! She explained(complained) she was short staffed and then walked us through the menu. Decent prices but not really a Cajun/creole restaurant despite the selection. I ordered the blackened salmon, mac &cheese and greens. My husband ordered the ribs, yams and green beans. Took awhile but when our food came it was pretty good! The mac & cheese was baked and creamy!! Greens were bland, but fresh. My salmon was a bit over cooked. My hubs ribs were tender and he liked the sauce, you can tell the were crockpot ribs not smoked on a grill. He liked the yams too, but the greens beans were over cooked, bland and seemed like they were frozen French cut. Generous portions, we both had a to go box. Due to the short staff, refills on the drinks were not offered and we didn't get to see the desserts either. My hubs said we'd eat here again. I agree. Hopefully they will hire reliable people. I don't understand why the are open for lunch during the week. Location is not ideal for Uptown workers with an hour lunch. I'd open for lunch on Friday- Sunday. read more

Fabulous- best crab cakes ever!!!! Catfish was perfection, help staff (particularly with the lovely emerald hair) was off the charts great! read more

Terrific lunch - grilled catfish and shrimp etoufee with very tasty side dishes. Excellent service, lovely personable owner/server, comfy surroundings. A wonderful setting for a delicious meal. read more

This is an AMAZING PLACE!! Hands down phenomenal. My husband and I went out on a date night and the food was so good after our delicious meal we ordered two more full meals Togo. The owners are present and personable. Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The decor and ambiance are very chill an relaxing. They okay Jas's music in the restaurant which we enjoyed. They have live jazz coming back in August we found out on Friday nights. Go here!!!! Seriously you won't be disappointed. read more

Five stars are not enough stars for rating this restaurant. My family and I along with another family from our church went there for Father's Day. I have been to this fabulous restaurant in the past and rated it with five stars. But Father's Day was AWESOME! The restaurant was short staffed and the owners, who by the way are always hospitable, did all the cooking and serving. They did it graciously and with a great attitude. People were waiting to be seated yet the owner, Mrs. Freshwater didn't make her customers feel rushed. She was as pleasant as always. The service Mr. & Mrs. Freshwater provided yesterday was AMAZING! I pray the missing staff members didn't have a serious emergency otherwise, shame on you for leaving such a great restaurant in that predicament on what is always know to be a busy day for restaurants. Freshwater's you out did yourselves yesterday!!!!! read more

Ordered crab cakes, mac n cheese and collards for lunch. This was my first time at Freshwaters. I must say it was good! I will definitely be back as I love cajun & creole food. My Mother grew up in Louisiana. I know good cajun/creole food and the food outside of the state of Louisiana just does not compare. The reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 is I felt the food was pretty high in sodium. But being good ole southern food, that is what you'd expect. read more

We came in party of 13 after a event for CiAA , we were seated very quickly even tho it was jam packed . Atmosphere was great very welcoming and The Food was TOP NOTCH . I'm still thinking about the cabbage and potatoe salad. Thank You fresh waters you truly are a 5star restaurant read more

Freshwater is located in the Fourth Ward, but parking is limited. Once inside, the food is Southern style with a twist of northern flare. You must have a reservation due to capacity and COVID restrictions, so please call ahead it is worth the wait. Your temperature is taken and you must have on your mask before entering and when not eating. The sanitation score is a 100! I never seen that high of a score in chain restaurants. I have had the opportunity to dine/in and takeout... the food was amazing and on point. I tried the sampler since this was my first time dining in.. the sampler had crab cake with no filler. The nice crunch on the outside and large pieces of limp crab meat inside, the fish I had grilled with shrimps and my sides were sweet potatoes, cabbage, green greens with cornbread and Mrs. Freshwater's famous lemonade. The servers are very attentive to the customers and Mrs. Freshwater came to check on us to ensure everything was good and to her satisfaction because she was training her new staff. The you g ladies were very well informed. Mr. Freshwater is the head chef because he's 'mean' on that stove and in control. I felt like a Janet Jackson eating my food... I can make my own decision because I'm in control' . Well, that was my mouth taking to the different flavors coming from the food... what a great experience. Oh and yes this is a Black-owned restaurant in the Fourth Ward of Charlotte. read more

Freshwaters - The sampler at Freshwaters...oh and the Mac and cheese is a slip your mamma. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I enjoyed my experience at Freshwaters! The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. I had the catfish appetizer which was a decent size for two people. The sauce served with the catfish was great! I also had the yams, Mac and Cheese and Pecan Crusted Catfish. The yams were just right (not too sweet and not too mushy). I'd give the Mac and Cheese a 3 out of 5 simply because it was a little greasy. The Pecan crusted catfish was just okay. Everything was made to order. The atmosphere is very homey and romantic at the same time. Overall I was pleased and would return. read more

The service, hospitality and most importantly the FOOD was absolutely delicious!!. Our waitress Shauna was extremely attentive and very professional. I recommend this place if you're in town looking for some good ole southern cooking. read more

If you are in the Charolette go to this restaurant!!! Absolutely the best soul food! Grilled, blackened, or fried seafood is out this world! Great service. Go there! You won't be disappointed! read more

We having our family reunion dinner here and the food is excellent. When I'm back in town will definitely stop in. I recommend this restaurant read more

This has become one of my husband and I favorite restaurants!! The thing we love the most is how friendly the owners and staff are, the owner always makes sure she comes to speak and tell us about the menu. It is such a family atmosphere and they make you feel so welcome. The food is great as well! Love the salmon, shrimp and crab cakes. I haven't had a bad experience to date. read more

Freshwaters - Date night at Freshwaters - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This was the best catfish and crab cakes ever!!! Staff awesome. Got to meet the Amazing chef dishing out these cajun favorites!

I attended a Jazzy Friday event and it was nice. The singer sounded great and was engaging. There were cocktail specials to accompany the usual menu. It was a good time. read more

Freshwaters - Good Southern eats! - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I was here with a party of six and we all loved this place!! The food was AWESOME, especially the crab cakes!! The owner was friendly and explained the menu items to us. Our server was good too. We will definitely return!! read more

Mouth-watering, seasoned to perfection, and full of flavor are just a few of the words spoken by the Cuisine Queens after dining at Freshwaters. Here, diners can experience a Cajun/soul food fusion that you won't get anywhere else. Read more of the Cuisine Queens' Review at www.cuisinequeensnc.com read more

Freshwaters - The Cuisine Queens Loves Freshwaters! - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I read mixed reviews, so I was not sure what to expect, but love New Orleans food, so decided to give it a try. We were pleased! The sever seemed to be in trainee mode, but the owner was gracious and explained the restaurant, their style, and approach to food. The cornbread was dry, but other than that we enjoyed everything we ate. The catfish appetizer was spot on - light breading, just the right about of salt. Jambalaya and the seafood combo were delicious - did not disappoint. Once they get the service up to par, this will be a regular spot for us. read more

This restaurant was my second choice due to other southern place I wanted to eat at was closed for lunch. I am so happy it worked out this way. This place not only had amazing food but also had the friendliest, nicest, accommodating staff ever. I had Crab cake which was delish. I got it fried but thinking grilled would have let me taste all that fresh crab even more. My daughters both got the catfish. One pecan encrusted and one etouffee. Both amazing. Green beans were overlooked bit so if you like them but crunchier just ask. Collard greens just like I like them. Red beans and rice fab. Cornbread was good but they need honey. Chef Cliff Freshwater came out to table and met us. He recommended trying the bread pudding side by side with peach cobbler and man was hat combo and party in my mouth. They were so kind they wrapped our leftovers and gave us extra fish and dessert for our flight back home to Cali. Thanks Shonna, Crystal and Tanya!! Made our one meal in Charlotte amazing. My kids loved it. And the cocktail helped my flight read more

Freshwaters - Catfish etouffee, crab cake and pecan encrusted catfish. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

My dad and I happened upon this great, friendly restaurant while walking around the 4th Ward area. The service was warm and welcoming. Our sever recommended a few house favorites; the crab cakes & pecan crusted catfish. We had both with some collard greens and okra and tomatoes. Everything was fresh and came out piping hot. Don't skip dessert. We had the peach cobbler - fantastic' read more

Good Cajun food. Everything made to order still not a bad wait time. Great services with friendly staff and nice upscale atmosphere. Will be back soon! read more

Wonderful southern food. Hit the spot. Mom (the owner) is the epitome of southern hospitality. You must come try her coconut pineapple cake. Everything is made from scratch. You can taste the love. read more

Visited Charlotte from NYC and this place is a gem! Wonderful service, great hostess, relaxed environment, food has TLC. I had the okra with tomatoes and fried catfish. Their desserts are also homemade. Loved it and strongly suggest it. (Cornbread does need a little work but c'mon still cornbread and comes when you get in :) read more

This restaurant has excellent cajun food. Most memorable were the blackened shrimp and the crabcake. The cornbread muffins and the macaroni and cheese were also good though not outstanding. Ample portions are served so you will not leave hungry. The service is very good and the staff is friendly. We will likely return the next time we are in Charlotte. read more

I celebrated my birthday here with my family earlier this month. The ambiance was calm and classy and the customer service was that of a business truly attempting to please the customer. We've added Freshwaters to our list of places to visit again soon! read more

This was a surprise find. We're not exactly sure how it got on our radar during a quick net search leaving IKEA on a Sunday afternoon. Crab cakes & gumbo are a must (assuming gumbo is your soup of the day when you go). Fall off the bone St Louis ribs. Jambalaya was generous in portion and quite tasty. Coconut cake! Needless to say we were quite stuffed & quite happy with plenty of leftovers to take back to our AirBnb. And the staff? Wow, they really treated us like family. A welcoming, inclusive environment. We look forward to coming back on a return trip to the Queen City. read more

I had high hopes for this place since the majority of the reviews were good. However, I am very disappointed that I did. We arrived at 146 for a 2:00 reservation we made two weeks prior. We were seated right away but it took twenty minutes before someone came over and took our drink order. They placed lukewarm corn muffins on the table and left. After another twenty minutes we had to pull a server aside and ask who was our waitress because we hadn't received our drinks. Finally she took our order again and brought us our drinks, apologizing that they hadn't arrived yet. We ordered our food at 2:30. That time frame is unacceptable. It shouldn't take 45 minutes for someone to come over and take our order. But the real problem arose as we were waiting for our food. It took almost two hours for our food to come out. Our server kept apologizing for the wait but the owner/manager didn't bother to come and tell us what the problem was. Once our food arrived it was bland and needed seasoning. But by this time we were so hungry we didn't care. When the manager finally came over to our table, she gave us excuses rather than trying to appease our group. She stated that the kitchen was trying to do the takeout orders as well as the dining room. Her comment was "We had to shut down the takeout menu. Notice the phone stopped ringing." Not understanding what that had to do with anything because other restaurants are able to operate fully producing food for the dining room and to-go orders. Then she stated "We make everything from scratch, made to order." So do most other restaurants. The final clincher was that the manager came back over and gave us some 10% off coupons for our next visit. Some people in our party had ordered some to-go items and still hadn't received them after we had been waiting for more than 2 1/2 hours. When the manager was asked about this her response was "You already got your food." She then stated that we would not be discounted for that current meal, even though the service was lousy and extremely horrendous. Not our server. She was great and we could tell she was getting extremely frustrated with the kitchen as well. But the owner was horrible. She offered more excuses than solutions. And she never apologized for the service just an excuse. After her display of attitude towards our frustrations we placed the 10% coupons back on the table and stated we weren't coming back. We also wouldn't suggest the place to any of our friends for them to be subjected to the same attitude. I can understand that our food might have taken a little longer because we were a party of 6. But there was a table where there we only 2 people and they were waiting as long as we were. A lady came in and sat down while we were still waiting and then she waited for 30 minutes before anyone came for her. She finally cancelled her order and went to the bar to speak with the manager and the woman ignored her. I will never come back here. If she had been apologetic then maybe I would have kept the 10% off coupon. But her attitude and service skills are ridiculous. That's not how you do business. I don't respect people who treat their patrons like crap. Edited: The owner had the audacity to call us and tell us that some of our party hadn't paid for their food. But she was the one who rang everyone up and closed out the checks. She said we were damaging her bottom line. No her crappy attitude and customer service is damaging her bottom line. Positive, I am never returning. read more

I was thoroughly disappointed with the service and management this evening. This was my first time at this restaurant and I would classify the management as lack luster based upon how they treated the presenters of a seminar that I attended. While receiving valuable and life changing information from the presenter, management allowed a live band to begin to play and disrupt the seminar. Of the 27 patrons in the restaurant 25 were there for the seminar. There was no reason to begin the music during the presentation. Pure disrespect was displayed and an attitude which was reminiscent of what one would consider "ghetto". I will not return to this restaurant again as long as I am able to eat. read more

Disappointed. Pleasant environment, polite staff but very bland food. Everything lacked basic seasoning. When I commented on it the owners explained that they intentionally do not season the food to allow the customer to order how they want it. Too bad they didn't tell us when we ordered. read more