Beautiful atmosphere, fabulous food, an experience not to be missed! We went before a show. They made sure we were out with time to spare!

Wonderful atmosphere. The owners take their time to curate a personalized experience and talk through the history of the house. The food was impeccable, as was the wine selection. I came here with my wife for dinner and then booked a company dinner a few months later. Highly recommend. read more

20th anniversary dinner. The house was done up for Christmas which was incredible. Prior to the meal, the chef called us to understand our preferences. That said, from what I could tell, we got the same menu as everyone else so a bit weird. Service was solid but not exactly 5 star. It was fine. Whisky selection is quite poor for such a high end meal. We got the 5 course "chefs tasting" which again seemed scripted versus tailored to us. Food was hit or miss. Two good courses, two mediocre courses, one we didn't care for. Overall, hard to justify the $600+ we spent for the two of us. I've definitely had better meals so you're paying for the atmosphere. My main suggestions: - At that price, I want a more tailored menu experience - get some high end spirits - get more adventurous with the food/ take some risks read more

I am officially calling it, this is the #1 restaurant in Charlotte. Yes Steak 48 may be the #1 steakhouse. But this restaurant history, ambiance and chef led menu is outstanding. Our experience started at 1:00 pm although our reservations were not until 6:30. At 1:00 the chef called me asking for our wine preferences, food allergies and food preferences . I dreaded tell him that we did not like mushrooms, but his friendly response of I have a 1000 other things to use other than mushrooms, told me this was going to be a wonderful meal. The courses we experienced were outstanding. Each introduced by the chef. Yes we selected the Chef Choice menu. It was my wife's birthday and I wanted to treat her to the best. We brought friends with us. My best friend constantly chides me for spending so much money on food. After being told that Christmas was the best time to come with the decorations in the house, my friend said he wanted to come back. When I told him he had to pay next time, he said no problem this was more than worth it. We will be back after the house is decorated for Christmas. read more

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Wonderful experience, great ambience is food is superb. Service is also great and they have thought of all details. read more

McNinch House Restaurant - Beef tartare - French Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Not yet had meal BUT doing so soon. Meanwhile, THANK YOU for your vital role and continued sponsorship of Friends of Fourth Ward including today's Secret Gardens tour. Great tour in and out of this historical cornerstone of neighborhood. Met owners and chef and staff in full period dress and history of house that took decades to renovate and was leader in revitalization yet preservation of Fourth Ward residential. A MUST SEE and appreciate. read more

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My wife and I had our second experience for our 28th anniversary last weekend, and unfortunately our second experience was not as good as our first. The food and service were outstanding as always, however we ordered the Chef's Table ($375 per person) which includes what the menu referred to as Wine Pairing. It's the "wine pairing" that absolutely made the experience during our first visit and fell short during our last. Our first visit in March 2020 (days ahead of the lockdown) the sommelier then was amazing. He paired wines that accentuated the flavors of our food, took time to explain where the wine was from and why it was paired with each course. It truly was a dining "experience". I would have given our first visit 10 stars if I could. During our visit last week, the sommelier just said, "we have a bottle of red or white that goes with all the courses." We went with the red, it was fine but I can't say it accentuates the flavor of the food nor gave us any explanation of why it was chosen. I can go anywhere and just get a bottle of wine that's tastes pretty good with my meal. We were looking the experience, but this visit fell well short of our expectations. I still gave 3 stars because the food and wait staff were amazing, but can't say we'll be back until the "wine pairing" is a true pairing. read more

Copied from my other account that I am closing out to consolidate all here. A truly wonder place for upscale special intimate dining in NC's Queen City. "A rather pricey experience but wonderful for romantic special occasion / dinning / date / celebrating. Two 4 course meals with wine came to $550. -- In home built by the Vanderbilts. Residence of Charlotte Mayor McNinch back in 1890s. His ancestors renovated the house and with it did it historically correct. Original glass in the windows, warbly. Authentic touches. Routinely rated amongst America's best restaurants. The kind of sweat one's. They remedied with Martini's much better matching our desire. Appetizers and palate cleansing treats in between. Some most food was stellar and some just good have had better. The Fillet was good but not especially seasoned or tender so have had better experience elsewhere. But for the price it should be best in class. Everything else was stellar especially the service. The sommelier was pleasant, explained much with enthusiasm and professionalism. Wines were perfectly paired. I would definitely consider returning to celebrate something special." read more

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My husband and I went here for a special occasion. It was our first time dining here which we told our server. Note that the menu is not à la carte but rather served in courses and it is very pricey. The restaurant was empty when we arrived as we were the first reservation of the night. Service began to slow down as more people arrived, but the restaurant was not full by any means even by the end of the night. After we finished our appetizers, we waited a whole hour until entrées arrived. I did complain about the wait and they said they were shortstaffed and their dishwasher was causing issues. The staff did try to make up for it by discounting our bill and giving us a bottle of wine to take home. Overall, the food was mediocre so even if the service was better, I don't think it's worth the price point. read more

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What an amazing place! We went for my hubby's birthday. Food was delicious and light. Presentation was pleasing and a manager / server was very knowledgeable and told us a lot about the history of this place. It's a perfect place for a special occasion or a very romantic place. read more

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I respect the history of this property and the food was mostly enjoyable so I won't leave a one star rating, but we had a truly awful experience at the McNinch house and left feeling swindled. Please read before spending your money here. At the end of the day the ambiance presents as a warm yet stuffy home reminiscent of grandmas, but we felt anything but welcome. Granted, me and my girlfriend were a few decades shy of the next wisest patron, but immediately I felt judged upon welcome and hurried to our table. I was wearing a polo so at first I was wondering if I was underdressed, as I felt like something must have been wrong, but after double checking the website nope, well within dressy casual. In hindsight after being there I'd probably wear a jacket if I had any interest in going back, but can't blame me for following the website's policy. The chef had called earlier in the afternoon checking about our dietary restrictions and preferences. We decided to do the tasting menu with 1 seafood and 1 non-seafood entree and added 1 wine pairing we would split. Tasting menus are one of our favorite things to do and we try to try a new one everywhere we go. Have been to 1, 2, and 3 * michelin restaurants around the world and unfortunately the 2 hours that ensued was the worst dining experience in my memory. Not recent, just my memory. The chef took their time to talk to all the other tables and then said hello, how is the food, thanks for coming, bye. In most other restaurants that's fine but it was so incredibly disrespectful given the lengths he was going in order to make other guests feel welcome after I had just called his food phenomenal (and yes, the food is mostly good, but largely forgettable compared to the unforgettable (crappy) experience). The younger female server we had was very kind, no hate to her. The sommelier would just mumble the wine name and vintage. Had to pull the region out of him... lol. The French Sommelier seemed to be under the impression us Americans are too dumb for his explanations. We were told our final course would be a red wine, makes sense as we had asked for a non-seafood dish as the second entree, and when the time comes we are told a change was made to the menu and this would be another seafood course with a white wine. This was passed on as "oh that crazy chef just loves to change things up on the fly" when, obviously, they either didn't have or hadn't prepared what we had asked for as we had one of the last reservations and final platings. No accountability and we were treated like fools. Spent $650 after being charged for 2 wine pairings (I'm pretty sure he was pouring us both half pours all night and I took it as them being accommodating to us splitting the pairing, but by the end decided might as well charge for 2. At that point I just wanted to get out of there and didn't want to haggle over the $80 and in all fairness we did both get a full pour of the cheap port...). 20% tip was included for our party of 2. Not sure if that was standard or if that was the last middle finger at us before we left. Maybe I'm reading in too far at this point, but when I saw that I erased the 25% I had already written so.. jokes on them I guess (but sorry to the one kind waitress). Anyway, at the very least, we felt very profiled and treated lesser than the other guests around us. Only thing I can think of is due to our age. As a white guy I don't get to get profiled very often, so thanks for expanding my worldview, McNinch. Not recommended for anyone under 40-50 or who likes to feel appreciated. Maybe that's what they're going for, and if it is they're nailing it! If this restaurant wasn't in that amazing historic house, it would be closed yesterday. I can only imagine it is a shell of its former self and a disgrace to the late owner. After researching the history a little (because we were told none) it seems all of the former management has passed, and with it so has what made this spot special. RIP McNinch. Don't be fooled by the flurry of 5-star reviews here from the prior generation of this restaurant like I was. I would have paid good money to have had the foresight to avoid this place. Honestly, they might be keeping its doors open by taking advantage of the elderly. Really, it's that bad. read more

Superb. Went for a celebration dinner with family and we were not disappointed! I have been wanting to go here for years but just never found the time. Finally got it off my restaurant bucket list and it did not disappoint. This is a Queen City institution of culinary wonders! The sommelier is one of the most knowledgeable I have come across in a long time, I learned a few new things about wines historically. The service is impeccable and most importantly unobtrusive so that we never felt interrupted during our meal. Timing is everything and the staff have it down to a science. Also, we had the whole room to ourselves as there was a corporate party in the adjacent room but with the doors closed, it felt as if we were eating out at a friends house! Between the 3 of us we picked the rack of lamb (2), scallops, crab cakes, foix gras, she crab soup, and pork belly. Sorbet was a nice touch between courses and espresso was a perfect finale to give us the energy to rollout of the restaurant. read more

McNinch House Restaurant - French Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

After 10+ years in Charlotte, my husband and I finally made it to McNinch House. We had a 6:30 reservation on a Friday and were promptly greeted and seated upon arrival. Service was first class and very enjoyable, but you could sense their stress from being short staffed that evening. We were out on our first date night in a while and not in any rush. We reiterated that to the servers as we were enjoying our time and wanted them to know we understood. We were made aware that a new chef had just joined the restaurant about a week prior. Truth be told, you could tell that the chef needed a little more time to get acclimated with the menu and to perfect certain dishes. My husband and I both had the duck. The 'risotto' was not actually risotto and was crunchy. It actually had some grit on it and left you crunching after eating it. My duck was overcooked for my liking and the portions were very different sized across both plates. Overall, the duck left a lot to be desired. However, don't sleep on the She Crab soup! SO good! We will absolutely be back. There is no question that this is a quality restaurant and we look forward to experiencing the full 5 star experience that we have heard rave reviews about. Cheers to the chef getting more comfortable in their new role and we look forward to seeing the awesome staff again! read more

This place is very pricey but worth every penny . It was our 47 year anniversary. The food was fantastic, the staff was beyond perfect . Friendly attentive and very knowledgeable about food and wine. Definitely a must to do if you're dining in Charlotte. read more

I live in 4th ward, so I've been wanting to try this place out for a while, but I needed a reason to go. I decided that my 3 yr anniversary would be the best time to go. We decided to go with the 4 course package for $150. Before I go in to the food, I will say the server we had was amazing. She was very attentive and joy to talk to. However, it did take us a long time to progress through each course. After each course it took about 30-45 minutes for the next course. We arrived at 7:30 and didn't leave until after 10pm, without drinking. For our first courses we both got the shea crab soup and the crab cake. We both enjoyed the first courses. Although, the crab cake was sitting on a date cabbage mixture that really took away from the crab cake, so we ate around it. For our main course I got the NY Strip and she got the salmon. My NY strip was really good. It comes with a black pepper sauce that really complimented the steak. My wife's salmon tasted very bland, but she enjoyed the mashed potatoes. For our last course we both got the bread pudding. The bread pudding was both our favorite course of the night. It was cooked perfectly. It also had a rum sauce that really set the dish off! Overall, the food was good, but for that price point I was expecting to be amazed. I walked away thinking that was not worth $375. read more

This would typically be out of our price range, but we decided to splurge for an early anniversary celebration. We did a 6pm reservation on a Friday night. There was only one other couple there the entire time we were there (we left shortly after 7). There's a few different options for ordering. We went with the smallest/cheapest which was the 4 course option for $105 each (2 appetizers, 1 entree, 1 dessert). Since we were celebrating our anniversary, they brought us a complementary glass of prosecco which was very nice. Prior to the first appetizer, they brought us a broccolini soup shooter which was very good. For our first appetizer, we both got the She Crab Soup. We wanted to try the Artichoke Soup, but they were out. We loved the She Crab Soup though. Prior to our second appetizer, the brought us a cheese bread with rosemary butter that was delicious. For our second appetizer we got the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and the Pork Belly. The Crab Cake was the best I've ever had and one of the highlights of the meal. The Pork Belly was the only thing we were disappointed with. It was over cooked and not tender like pork belly should be. Prior to our entree, they brought us a salted caramel sorbet which was very good. For our entrees, we got the Rosemary & Dijon Crusted Rack of New Zealand Lamb and the Pan Seared Scallops. Both were excellent. The lamb was tender and the scallops cut like butter. During the course, they also brought us a biscuit with rosemary butter that was very good. For dessert, we got the Hazelnut Crème Brulee and the Caramel and Apple Cheesecake. The Crème Brulee was very good and done perfectly, but the cheesecake was the star of the show. It was light and fluffy with a caramel apple sauce. It was the best cheesecake I've ever had. Our top four dishes of the night were the crab cake, scallops, rack of lamb, and cheesecake. To end the evening, they brought me a rose! They do valet parking, but we found street parking easily. They typically have a Groupon which helps with the cost a little. The service was outstanding. I'd definitely recommend this for your next special occasion! read more

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This place is amazing from the Victorian home all the way to the staff. They left no stone unturned for my birthday dinner with my wife. She surprised me! The staff go above and beyond and are wonderful people. The food was out of this world! Words don't even begin to describe it. There is such love and thought put into it all. Thank you again for making my birthday one that I will never forget! Till next time! read more

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I wanted a special dinner for our anniversary and friends recommended McNinch House. The place is elegant and a treat for the eye both inside and out. The website lists several options for dining and we decided on the 4 course meal for $160 a person with no wine pairing. The chef called me the afternoon of our reservation to ask about food allergies, etc., but never asked which meal we chose. But it was a very nice touch. When we arrived and we were seated at a great location at the bay window table. We looked forward to a wonderful experience. We should have realized something was wrong when no one asked which meal choice we wanted. We ordered our drinks, wine for me bourbon for my husband. We were served several courses which were quite good. The entree was lamb chops which were very rare but the rest of the courses were perfect. We observed other diners receiving the same food items so we didn't say anything about not being asked for our choice of meal. Service was impeccable. The ambience was perfect. We had a very enjoyable time until the bill came. Dinner for two, 2 glasses of wine, one glass of fine bourbon, and one coffee the total came to $600. Choke. Looks like they made the decision for us: Chef's tasting 5 courses, $200/each with drinks extra, of course. Still $600 is a massive amount for two. One and done I'm afraid. We've eating at a Michelin Star restaurant twice in Amsterdam for much less than this. read more

What an experience! Three of us went for an amazing dinner, selecting the four course meal with wine pairings. So we could try a bit of everything, we all chose different options for each course. People think soups are easy to make, but true culinary talent can shine with a good soup and all three here were so complex, rich and beautiful. It's actually hard to develop these flavors, my favorite being the lobster bisque. The lamb was my choice for the entree and it was above average but didn't stand up to the rest of the meal. The vegetables were slightly undercooked for my taste and I thought the lamb could have had a harder sear. Overall, it could have been seasoned a little more aggressively but the dish was still delicious. My favorite dessert was the crème brûlée. It's was Godiva white chocolate which sounds dense and rich but it was light, creamy and not overly sweet. I found it to be a perfect balance with the perfect proportion of brûlée to custard. The wine pairings for each course were expertly chosen and Wesley is extremely knowledgeable about wines from all over the world. They are also generous with the pours so the price is very affordable. The service is over the top phenomenal; professional, friendly, knowledgeable and attentive (but not overly so). Add in the elegant decor, they are checking off all the boxes for a top rated establishment in any large city. read more

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My dinner at the McMinch House was a meal AND an experience. The food was exceptional. The service was superb. The setting was regal. The night was perfect. The house, itself, has an extensive history. Several presidents once dined there many decades ago. I know this(and more) because the wine specialist also shared stories and pictures of its historic past. It was a pleasant addition to the experience. The menu gives you the choice of how many courses you would like. You also select your entree, your sides, and dessert. You have an option for wine pairing with your meal. We arrived a few minutes early. We were both given a flute of champagne during our brief wait while they prepared our table. Our opening courses came out. The she crab soup was wonderful. My date ordered the lobster bisque. I tasted it and it was super. I also got a lump meat crab cake that paired well with my soup. My main entree was braised spare ribs. They were tender and flavorful. My date chose the filet mignon. It was good choice. The desserts were. notable. My date's lemon cake was good. The maple cheesecake that I selected was one of the best slices of cheesecake i've ever tasted! Everything was served with an elegant presentation. The table looked opulent when we arrived. The china, the stemware, and flatware just glistened on the candlelit table. The little extras between courses were nice touches. We also received a corn muffin, sorbet pallet cleanser, an angel biscuit, and a small topped wheat wafer. It was special. This restaurant is like no other around this area. read more

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My first time here. A beautiful night. Amazing meal with perfect wine pairings. I ordered a French martini to start, but if I went again I would wait on the alcohol until the food comes out. I wouldn't bother with the cheese plate because the rest of the courses are scrumptious and you don't want to fill up. The Asparagus soup was amazing!! read more

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This is not only a fabulous meal but a tremendous experience. Nestled in a Victorian-Era home in fourth ward. A beautiful home enamored with meticulously detailed craftsmanship, furniture and decorations. The house and décor alone are an unprecedented marvel. Now for the main event, the food. We opted for the four course meal with the wine pairing. I highly recommend the wine pairing. If not for the compliment of flavors for the conversation and experience from their wine expert. A knowledgeable and very friendly gentleman. The food was out of this world. It is a seasonal menu and can change regularly. I started with the lobster bisque then shrimp and gouda tart slice for openers. The main course were the scallops, mmmmmmmm, then polished off with chocolate mousse. Everything was not only cooked to perfection but perfectly combined with wine pairings and flavors that consumed my taste buds. Nothing was remotely less than stellar at McNinch House. read more

I have had this restaurant on my wishlist FOREVER! Years have passed and I didn't get there, but this year, stupid 2020 was my best year in business ever. So it was time to celebrate. Let me just tell you this: It was worth the wait. There are a few different choices for the courses you'll get, but we did the chef's choice and did not for one second regret it. I tried dishes that were amazing that I probably never would have ordered if given the choice. Forevermore I will let any chef choose for me what they wish me to eat because of this meal. First, the home itself. There is so much history here and the home is just gorgeous. We had the good fortune to go while it was decorated for Christmas and it was just beautiful and cozy. I felt so relaxed and pampered. One of the things that sets this restaurant apart is the roaming wine steward. He was so charming and knowledgeable! He guided us through the entire meal, regaling us with stories about each wine. Again, we tried some we'd never get to try elsewhere. But truly the food is what sets this place apart from all of the other fine dining establishments. Every single course we sampled was unbelievably delicious. Cooked to perfection. The revelation of the night was the veal tenderloin. I've never had anything so tender and flavorful. The pumpkin mousse was light and a perfect ending to our perfect evening. If you are looking for a super special meal, like a proposal level meal, this is the place for you. Make a memory! read more

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What an amazing way to experience a different vibe! If you want something different and quaint, please check out the MH! Yep, I shortened the name because it deserves a little pizazz! This is not your ordinary restaurant so be prepared to enter a magical fairytale. My husband surprised me with this date night! We walked in and the house is beautifully decorated as if you were going back in time to the 1800s. The original hardwood floors and window panes are gorgeous. There are dining tables placed strategically around the first floor that make you feel like you are visiting someone's home. We were surprised to get the best seat in the house - right in front of the big window in the front of the house - to people watch and enjoy our food. There were a few different menu options to choose from. My husband and I chose the "Chef's menu", which meant that the Chef decides what to send out - we love surprises! We were able to tell the wonderful server what we don't want or like and the Chef made sure that was not on our plates. From the watermelon/cucumber and mint pallet cleanser to the wonderfully cooked scallops- everything was exceptional. This menu also included a wine tasting...so whatever the chef brought out to us, the wine expert chose something to compliment the dishes. WOW! When I tell you everything the wine expert brought out just made everything so much more flavorful! Cheers to Wesley! He definitely knows his wine! I can't wait to return! This was an unforgettable experience. Just a few side notes: This is a definitely a great place for special occasions, as the price tag is a little steep for a weekly visit. They also cater to private events and have a second floor for additional guests. There is parking behind the house and also metered parking on the street (remember after 6pmET, parking is free at the meters). The staff is wonderful and so knowledgeable and entertaining! You have to go back in time at the MH!! Until next time... read more

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This unassuming house, built in 1892, has one of the most amazing meals I have ever had! My wife took me here for a holiday treat, and it was beyond phenomenal! You only have the choice of how many courses you want, if you want to add wine pairings, or if you want to do Chefs choice. We chose the 5 course, which includes 3 starters, a main, and dessert. I had the She crab soup, lobster roll, and the pork belly with succotash as my staters. My main was the filet (which was perfectly seasoned and so tender I only needed a butter knife) and the apple walnut cake for dessert. While everything was delicious, the pork belly was the absolute star of the show. It was top 5 best thing I have ever tasted! If you're looking for the ultimate fine dining experience, I fully recommend McNinch House read more

I had the best experience at McNinch House. It has such character and I wish I knew the story behind the old house! It's right in uptown, even has it's own parking lot behind the house which is super convenient. It's a great place to celebrate something special. I can't wait to go back and show my family what a cool restaurant this is! read more

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Fantastic place. The inside is perfectly decorated. The 4-course + wine tasting - came off pretty good. The server kept pouring more wine, really loved it. Just an awesome and memorable experience. read more

This was the worst fine dining experience I have ever had. It started with a lie about the wine. One person ordered a glass of wine, a nice Chardonnay from France. He drank it all, they even offered to bring him another glass but he refused as he was driving. He liked it so he asked to see the bottle. However, the bottle they brought out was an inexpensive wine from California ($15 a bottle). They explained they had served him a different wine than he ordered because the French wine "wasn't chilled". I do not know what happened in the kitchen or why we weren't asked about the change. But I know how it felt to us. It felt like we were swindled. I'm glad they at least admitted it when we asked to see the bottle, but that's the kind of malfeasance that can get a restaurant shut down. All three people on staff came out to apologize and comp the glass of wine, which was nice, but honestly I'm not sure what anyone could have done to fix an error that large. We all just resolved to never return to McNinch House. Even if you are comfortable making them pour your wine at the table, you are going to be displeased by the food. It was very inconsistent, some dishes were delicious, while others were so stale or over-seasoned I couldn't eat them. I was there with three other people and we all agreed some dishes were inedible. Because you order all of your courses right when you sit down, there was no turning back by the time we realized that the food was not going to be good. I suggest staying away from the lobster bisque and the pork belly succotash. I spent the rest of the night apologizing to my family for taking them to the McNinch House for a special occasion. Please don't make my mistake. There are such wonderful restaurants in Charlotte, this is not a good representation of what our beautiful city has to offer. read more

With a 4 star AAA rated restaurant you have expectations. I expect a multiple course meal to have smaller portions but I didn't expect to be leaving the restaurant hungry. The staff was polite and respectful which you expect. The atmosphere/decor has character in an old/historical house. The greet the table with a glass of champagne which is very nice and unexpected. We chose a bottle of wine from their extensive wine list. Unfortunately they did not have that bottle but provided us with two different options that were the same type and price. They allowed us to try both of the wines to see which one we liked (which I've never had before). My wife didn't like either of the wines and they allowed us to pick a brand new wine. The next one we picked she loved. They started us off with the gazpacho. It was interesting. It was room temp and had a mango flavor at the finish and just a touch of spice. It was not something I would order. They then brought out the first of our two apps. I order the foie gras which came out looking like a piece of pie. It was okay but the sauce and jam that they put with it were over powering and that is all you tasted. They served cheddar biscuits as their bread option which was arguably the best thing I ate. The crab cakes was also very good! However, it said jumbo crab cake and it was not big but very good. The sorbet the offered was peach flavored but could have passed as watermelon. It was tasty but hard to eat in the dish and the spoon. I order the rabbit tenderloin. I was a little disappointed as it didn't have much flavor itself. The sides that came with it tasted better than the main protein. Overall there were some good part of the meal and some I would rather not have again. For the price you pay for the meal you expect great things and are let down but the expectations. I wouldn't come here again unless they lower their price or provide the level of food you expect for the price you pay. read more

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My wife and I absolutely love Mcninch. We enjoy dinner here every few months and are never disappointed. The environment and menu is one of the most unique in Charlotte. read more

McNinch House Restaurant - Anniversary dinner at the most amazing place in Charlotte! - French Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

There are few experiences in Charlotte where you get to feel like royalty, nor are there places where the staff makes you feel like family. If given the chance to experience the McNinch House, consider yourself lucky. This is an experience you will remember for a long time. From the smiles upon seating to the sweet dreams they leave you with, you will not regret your choice to dine here. read more

Celebrated our 39th anniversary every part of the experience was fantastic Old world charm great chef great presentation great service Historic house with an explanation of the history during the visit Every course was better than the last read more

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There are so many reasons to have this food experience in Charlotte. Dining in a beautifully decorated historical home is one experience. Amazingly crafted elegant dishes served by exceptional staff is another. The fine china and glassware, the wine steward, the service. Fine dining is a lost art but it can found at the McNinch house. You will feel like royalty while tasting some unique dishes served in 4 or 5 courses. We spent 3 hours here on dinner and wine but could have easily stayed all night. This hidden gem located in downtown Charlotte transports you back in time when dining was celebrated as art. Take your special person here and they will remember you for it. Highly recommended. read more

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It is has been over a month since my visit to the McNinch House, and the reason for the delay is due to the fact I was torn on my review. But, unfortunately the more I thought about the entire experience the more I know it was just OK. In honor or my Mother's birthday I decided to take her to McNinch for the 5 course tasting menu. We arrived for our 7:00pm reservations and loved the atmosphere, a quaint house with a nice setting for a private, special occasion dinner. Being a Saturday night I was surprised to see only one other occupied table in our room and only two tables in the other room. Where was everyone? The McNinch House offers a variety of dining options, 5 course, 7 courses and a Chef's Tasting menu with the option to add wine pairings to your experience. We decided to go with the 5 course tasting menu, and after looking over the menu were very excited with the options and even more our selections. I started off with the She Crab Soup and the Crab Cake. All I can say is the She Crab Soup is a Must Have and honestly the only real highlight of my dining experience. The Crab Cake was not memorable at all and I can say I really didn't even taste crab. For my entree I chose the Filet, medium. Unfortunately that was overcooked and I have had better filets at some chain restaurants...Sorry. My Mother started with the Pear Salad and the Scallops, which she enjoyed both. Unfortunately she wanted the Foie Gras but they didn't have it available that night, which was a huge disappointment. For her entree she chose the Truffle Pasta, which was undercooked and had no flavor. Where were the truffles? As for the desserts, we ordered the Cheesecake and Baked Alaska, both okay. Overall, the entire meal was somewhat of a disappointment, mainly when it came to the taste of the food. I guess I expected more or maybe it was an off night??? I have been to a few other restaurants for birthdays, anniversaries, etc and would definitely return rather than visit McNinch again. read more

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I have been to a lot of upscale restaurants but this place has a classic vibe you won't get anywhere else in Charlotte. McNinch House is truly in a category of its own and will not disappoint. The service is TOP NOTCH and the food is on point. This is a venue you would expect to see in "Southern Living" magazine. read more

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the McNinch House. The formal table, the top-notch service and gourmet food were beyond our expectations. We ordered the price fixed 4 course meal with a cheese plate, it's not cheap but it's a restaurant for a special occasion read more

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Food was absolutely amazing. ( a tad overpriced ) Ambiance was breathtaking, ( music choices a little weird - #starwarsmusic ) Service was good. Dining at McNinch house was an experience we had looked forward to for some while and McNinch House didn't disappoint. read more

DECOR: Somewhere in Time. If you love antiques, you will appreciate McNinch. However Wesley's description exaggerated the connection between the Biltmore and McNinch - sorry, we've studied the Vanderbilts including George. McNinch is refreshingly quiet. SERVICE: Everyone was very pleasant and attentive, albeit at a very slow pace - just under 3 hours for cocktails and 4 courses, a little too slow to us. Many of the servers were very young, and not well versed in the menu. When we asked what Habanada soup was, she told us 'it's very spicy, don't order it if you don't like spicy foods?' [Evidently habanada is "the flavor of a habanero with none of the heat."] There are many servers, but they're not well coordinated- three different people asked if if we wanted our check after the first server went for it. FOOD: Cocktails were generous. Wine service was good. We've had tasting menus from Keller, Waters, Trotter, Tramanto/Gand, etc. so we're familiar with the concept. All of them develop menus with selections that are usually a mix of classics, clever variations on classics or breaking new culinary ground. McNinch uses great ingredients, mostly well executed, but there's nothing novel or creative on the menu - it's all the old classics. We had a cheese plate with run of the mill cheeses - I can have Colby-Jack anywhere. The Lobster Bisque, Pork Belly, Pumpkin Soup and Crab Cakes were all well done. Her scallops were fresh and well prepared. My filet was tender but overcooked, medium rare does not mean all the pink is gone. My Apple Walnut Cake was fairly good, her Chocolate Crème Brûlée w Cayenne was a total miss - it was barely thicker than chocolate milk, with too much cayenne. After breaking through the sugar and a small taste, she did not eat it. It's not easy to get the custard just right on crème brûlée - but this wasn't even close. OTHER: 20% gratuity is added to all checks, but that's stated on the menu. We were presented with a check for $337, they'd comped us for the cheese plate, cocktails and wine to acknowledge the dessert failure - a server told us "the pastry chef was out tonight." We told them that was too generous, and the server quickly said "we can just take the wine off, or put everything back," and it wasn't clear what would come next. The next check was for the full $483. Our experience was nowhere near worth that, though we've gladly spent quite a bit more on tasting menus in other cities. Well intended but if you've experienced the creativity a tasting menu is supposed to offer, you won't be impressed at McNinch. read more

Wonderful time here as always! Food was delicious and beautifully presented. Definitely a nice special occasion spot or when u want a nicer night out. I would probably get rid of the yellow plastic ducks in the fountain out front though LOL read more

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I'm so torn about this review, but I cannot lie. I mean really torn. My first time here and I'm all about nostalgia, history, a story, and going to nicer restaurants for the experience. I think this hits a lot of those. I'm just so disappointed in the food. The servers were good, nice and engaging when we asked questions, there is no problem there. Rebecca specifically stood out and told us a little more about the history of the home and the families that owned it and some features of the house. Everyone was nice and they kept the table ready for the next course and our drinks full. Ok great, good we got the foundation covered. On to the wine/food... The sommelier was out of town and that's totally fine. But no one really knew much about the wine when we asked questions. Instead of a bottle, we just got glasses of wine and could have spent more money and drank more. But limited us to two for only 2 of the 4 in our group. They do have a fairly decent selection of wine. We ordered the 6 cheese plate and it was good no complaints, except I wish we had more honey and jam to go with each bite. For a 5 course meal I would have expected so much more from a flavor and execution standpoint. So for myself specifically, I initially wanted the 7 course meal which included extra cheese and an extra opener. Since we were in a time crunch, I just said hey I'm gonna go back down to a 5 course and cancel the other two and they said no problem. In the 5 course you get 2 openers, sorbet, a main course, and dessert. My opener courses I got the crab cake and she crab soup. I liked both. Not amazing, but I liked it. Great presentation on both. When I wanted the stuff fried squash blossom, they said they ran out. I really didn't want anything else on the my openers, but fine and I ended up not even getting a 3rd so I guess it worked out. The sorbet palette cleanser was nice and refreshing with the sugar rim on the square bowl. The main dish I chose was the rack of New Zealand lamb. First off I wanted it medium and to me that's a little pink, but it came out rare. Check my picture. I actually sent it back but not for the color, for the actual temperature of the lamb. It was cold!!! I felt embarrassed sending it back, but I'm not paying $100, 5 course meal for cold Lamb. The crusting of it was fine, nothing spectacular. They heated it up and was still not hot, but warm. I asked why and they said it was because "you asked us to put it on rush." I don't think rushing the searing of Lamb made it cold. I've cooked plenty of Lamb myself and it doesn't take that long to cook, but bringing it out cold is just unacceptable and rare, not medium. Fine I ate it anyways. On to the dessert. I got the blackberry cobbler and it was hotter temperature wise than my Lamb. And not bad, wish it had more ice cream in it. U Nothing at all jumped out and was like wow this is so good or wow this is amazing. I just didn't get excited about it. My friends meal....The friends I was with had the pan seared duck, this was also not cooked correctly to what we asked for. And it wasn't that great. No one at the table finished every single course and I left hungry. The chocolate mousse and key lime pie desserts were also not good at all. I'm not about price or complaining on what costs what. It's an experience, but seriously how do you charge $100 for a 5 course meal and nothing wow'd me or anyone at my table??? I am just disappointed in the overall food experience. Anyone can have history and a cool place, but if they can't follow it up with the right food to match it doesn't make sense. I'm glad I went, maybe it was an off night, but nothing amazed me and made me remember the dinner. I honestly will not be back and it makes me so sad to say because I think it could have been so much better. read more

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