One of my all time favorite restaurants. The food was amazing, the drinks divine, the service: the best of the best. The decor is welcoming and inviting. Although I don't travel to Charlotte much, if I do in the future, this will be a must stop. There's nothing bad to say about Sanctuary Bistro. Just go if you get the chance. read more

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This is an amazing place. My husband cannot have any dairy. If it's even cooked on the same surface, it's a no go, which can make trying new places stressful. Eating here was so... easy. Everything was safe and tasted amazing. We didn't have to think twice about ordering, and it was well worth the money. Service is a 10/10. Very personable and kind, it made dining even more enjoyable. Food came out promptly and was HOT and very fresh! The atmosphere was so relaxing, too. It's a small dining area with soft lighting, making it very intimate. Nothing was overly loud or distracting and they encourage putting phones away, which adds to engaging with your party. In short, it felt like we could fully breathe and just enjoy our dinner. No worries or distractions in sight! We completely reccomend this place and bought the cookbook before leaving, because I was that good. P.S. Try the ravioli! It is a amazing! read more

Sanctuary Bistro!!! One of the best vegan restaurants in town. Me and my family went here for my cousin (who is vegan) birthday. She picked it out and I'm so glad she did !! The ambiance is fine dining very small restaurant so reservation is necessary! But that means your food is out in no time. The service was very attentive and helpful with description since it was our first time. CHEF BARRY HORTON you did your big one ! We also order BROCCOLI AND BACON SOUFFLÉ* (NOT PICTURED) A light, fluffy soufflé with onion, garlic, broccoli, cashew cream, and shiitake bacon; which was also good just a texture preference. Some menu items are seasonal so some items do switch but the main ones stay and the ones I provided pictures off are still on the menu. Go give it a try you won't regret it !! read more

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I love everything about this restaurant! The food is amazing and always leads to new discoveries. The service is exceptional. Always a treat!!! read more

Absolutely incredible restaurant!! One of the best fine dining restaurants I've been to in the country! The establishment is very nice but small - be sure to make a reservation. The server was great and made great recommendations! We loved the chowder soup, ravioli, fried oyster mushrooms, soufflé, scallops and latte! The cauliflower was also good. The mushroom tacos were our least favorite but we're still very good. read more

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So I was here last year without reservation and since we were only 2 people, we didn't find any problem getting a table. However, this year we were group of 3 and didn't had reservation and we didn't get a table, so please reserve table before hand. I also have to say if you are dining in and if you take out are 2 totally different experience. When we dined in last year it was AMAZING but take out was not so good, was kinda disappointed. Ordered the lions mane steak and it was tasteless. Their sushi though is to die for, so good both times. I almost ordered all the deserts and those were perfect. read more

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Great service, but the main entree, the fried tofu, did not seem like a fair value. Fried tofu discs, tough potatoes, and a mediocre cheesy broccoli casserole. The broccoli was under seasoned and bland, especially compared to the great flavor in the green beans on the special. Everything else was well executed and it just felt bland in comparison. The special of the day was more outstanding and was fair for a date night price. The sushi was much better, and set high hopes for the meal. The chocolate shot was something I had never had and I wish more restaurants offer. Really enjoyed it as a light, post dinner option. Honestly, if the tofu entree was cheaper or just more interesting, it would've been 5/5. read more

Wow, talk about amazing food and service!! This spot is THE spot for every occasion in my opinion. Perfect for a date night (make your dinner reservation), solo lunch (the dillas are so tasty), Saturday brunch (get there early-first come first served) or with a group of friends for the specialty menus such as Friendsgiving!! The menu changes up and everything I have ever had was nothing short of amazing each time! All vegan and gluten free made with love and it shows in each bite! read more

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This is a small family restaurant;therefore, it's good to get a reservation. Service was very good. Our server was super sweet. The food---best vegan/vegetarian in Charlotte!!! We had the charcuterie board that does not disappoint- 4 people can eat off of it. I had the tacos with slaw and sweet potatoes which was fab. Others at my table had the tofu which was just lightly fried with good flavour. Sushi was an art form. Well done chef Barry! One person at my table is not a vegetarian and we may have converted him. read more

Lots of good stuff on the menu. I had a fantastic oyster mushroom chowder (New England clam chowder style) and a tofu florentine, the tofu was really tasty and had a nice crisp. Thank you. Edit: Alright, ok, hold on. We came back for dinner the same day we had brunch here. As we finished brunch we saw somebody else getting some chicken-fried oyster mushrooms and waffles and all day I had hankering for some fried oyster mushrooms. We didn't find anywhere else in town for them so we just came back. The dinner plates were phenomenal. First off we did get the fried oyster mushrooms and they were perfectly crispy and seasoned and Colonel Sanders would've tried to steal the recipe if he'd tasted them. The Dijon dipping sauce was delicious as well. Then we had scalloped oyster mushrooms in a buttery garlicky white wine sauce that had a sort of decadence to it that just made me feel fancy. Third plate was the beet salad with a bleu cheese dressing and holy shit man, that dressing was so fucking good I would've eaten a giant bowl of that salad just for that. We finished with the Lion's Mane and Fig skewers and it was delicious as expected but the secret mvp was the pile of vegetables sitting under those skewers in the light onion gravy that really had a surprising amount of flavor and when the veggies played as hard as the delicious fancy Lion's Mane and Fig I was just blown away. I had to revisit the review from brunch because dinner was amazing. Thank you guys. read more

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I've been eating at Sanctuary Bistro since they opened in 2020 and I've never been disappointed with any meal, ever! It's always a treat to come here. The food is made with so much love and there's always so much flavor. The owners are super sweet and kind. Chef Barry is always working hard in the kitchen to make all the food on his own. *round of applause* The atmosphere is always cozy and serene. The beet salad will always be one of my favorites, along with the creme brûlée. YUM! I love that the entrees rotate often and there's always something new to try. Great spot for special occasions as there are not a lot of places in Charlotte that are vegan, GF, and on the fancier side. I'm glad they are here and hope they are here for many more years to come. Thank you for all that you do!!!! read more

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We called in and they were booked, they called us back the second someone canceled We thorough enjoyed every aspect The wine I love Malbecs from Argentina We tried most of the mushroom dishes and they are amazing read more

I don't where to even begin. Sanctuary Bistro is a restaurant on the outside but once you step inside it is a pure safe haven. Jen and Chef Barry are great. When I first moved to Charlotte my daughter and I visited this place and fell in love. She wanted to be a chef and Chef Barry came out to encourage her it was so wonderful. The food is amazing. My absolute favorite are the oyster mushrooms. There have even been times when we could not get to the restaurant that we ordered a pick up. I will forever support this space because they are more than a restaurant they are very family oriented and their heart is embedded into their business read more

This is a nice vegan restaurant located in Ballantyne area you have to make a reservation in advance. The menu changes quarterly the staff were friendly. The food was delicious. Definitely will return and highly recommend. read more

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Once again we made our pilgrimage to Sanctuary Bistro from Dallas and it didn't disappoint. I had the po-boy dilla which was loaded with crispy savory oyster mushrooms. The tortilla had a great crunch and the veggies were so fresh. The hubs had his favorite BLAT dilla. He did what he could to savor every bite. Of course we had the cheese cake and no, I didn't ask the flavor because the cheesecake is always fire! We'll be back tomorrow before we pull out of town on our summer work extravaganza trip. Way to go Chef Barry and family! Great food, great service, great atmosphere! read more

Sanctuary Bistro - Po Boy Dilla - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I went to this restaurant for the first time today. I really should've known something was off because it was so hard to order and the woman answering the phone was so unpleasant. Anyway, I proceeded to place an order for salad and a vegan taco. As I was eating my food, I saw something moving in my salad. I was in shock and stunned. Then it it used its instinct of survival to climb up the side of the container and flop around. I was mortified that I had eaten some of this food!!! God who knows what I've else I've eaten from this container. I'm nauseous. I took a video and posted it here. I called the person at the restaurant. She did not offer an apology. She seemed perturbed and begrudgingly said to me "OK... we will refund your salad." She did not apologize. There was no humility. She offered the excuse that (basically I should expect bugs in my food because) they buy everything organic and that they "try" to wash everything. I couldn't believe my ears!! In all of my years of life, I've never had a LIVE BUG CRAWLING out of my food. And then to be met with her nonchalance, indifference, and utter lack of humility was breathtaking. She only offered to refund part of my order. This is a sign for me to start cooking my own food. I am pissed! DO NOT GO TO SANCTUARY BISTRO. It's only a sanctuary for bugs. RESPONSE: D.A.R.V.O. Deny / Attack the victim / Reverse the / Victim / and Offender. Your response reveals that you know your behavior was extremely inappropriate because you have to lie to fabricate a reasonable response for the public. So the only thing you can do is try to manipulate the disgusting situation and your lack of taking any responsibility is to use the very obvious D.A.R.V.O. method of distraction. My response is to stick to the facts and not be distracted by your irresponsibility. Thus, I will be calling the health department and lodging a complaint. Your restaurant is disgusting and your behavior is disturbing. You should not be preparing food for human consumption. read more

Hidden gem alert! Blown away after doing a birthday brunch here for a Vegan friend. Brunch is probably the hardest meal to be a vegan around, but not for Sanctuary! I was amazed by their broccoli soufflé and their crispy oyster mushroom waffles. Which also are gluten free!?! I know, right? Brunch is done by a set menu where you have your choice of one, two, or three items (set prices) and you get get sides for 5 dollars. Honestly, I did not know what to expect and glad I went the "pick two" route... although, when the first waffle came out, I got a bit nervous that I had overcommitted myself. Luckily the soufflé was not that big size-wise, but flavorwise... was "big" in every way :). Brunch is first come, first serve so we arrived around 10:15am (it was a group of 5 of us) but they easily accommodated by pushing tables together. The entire dining room transports you into a warm, cozy place where the natural edge bar and decor really doesn't feel like you are in a strip shopping center. Our server, Maddie was great. She actually turned out to be a former student of my friend so they got to catch up. Maddie had some good recommendations and was definitely ON POINT with the mimosa pitcher we ordered. We were all so stuffed by the end of our meal, we didn't have room for dessert, but I definitely want to come back and try dinner. Seems like they highly recommend reservations for dinner. read more

Sanctuary Bistro - Broccoli and bacon soufflé (a dinner item, but luckily it was available for brunch the Saturday I came) - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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As someone with severe Dairy and Egg allergies, Sanctuary Bistro has been the first place I can go and order anything on the menu with no hesitations. The food isn't only allergen safe (unless you have tree nut allergies) but the food isn't only delicious but far beyond "healthy" and far beyond just "safe" for me to eat; it's delicious and carefully crafted. I love their use of seasonal menus based on local produce, and they even have frozen meals they've made for baking or reheating at home. Not to mention the extensive drink menu from wines to kombucha, to unique drinks in-house. Pair all of this with good service and people who clearly care about the mission behind their food and I don't know why this wouldn't be anyone's go-to spot for a healthy, allergen aware dining experience at reasonable prices. Chef Barry even created his own "egg" to make my breakfast experience as wonderful as it could've been. It was so realistic I was almost concerned TLDR: don't miss out on this gem and support local businesses like Sanctuary. If you have allergies they're super conscious about it, and nothing is sacrificed in the flavor or quality of food if you're vegan or have food allergies. HIGHLY RECOMMEND read more

Sanctuary Bistro - Brunch Menu: Black Bean Chilaquiles - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Food was amazing! I was looking for a cashew cheese recipe while I was sitting there. I would've liked the portion size to be a bit more for how much it cost but the entire dish was gluten free and vegan so I suppose the cost makes sense. Very intiment family owned spot. read more

What a delicious experience! Even if you are not vegan or vegetarian- this food is fresh and damn good. The service has always been warm and welcoming. They are happy to explain dishes and make great recommendations. It is family owned and beaming with small business pride and we love supporting it! Charlotte is lucky to have Sanctuary Bistro. read more

Everything here is delicious! We always order at least one appetizer to share and then we each get a main, and often at least one side. This food is so good, you'll want to eat it every day! read more

Had a date night last night and was not disappointed. Jennifer was our server and she was phenomenal. She was very knowledgeable of the menu, offered recommendations on drinks and dessert, and overall made us feel very welcome. We started with the Fried Sushi Platter & Soup Du Jour. The sushi was interesting and unique. It was served hot, not cold and came with 7 pieces. The initial taste was very seaweed heavy but then almost melted into a grilled cheese flavor. I would recommend if you want to try something tasty and new, but not if you're looking for that traditional sushi taste. The Soup Du Jour was Clam Chowder! I haven't had clam chowder in 9 years and it was so nice to be able to eat one of my used to be favorite soups again (: My partner who is not veggie said the taste was spot on. I am not a fan of mushrooms but they were perfectly seasoned and didn't give off a heavy, earthy mushroom taste. The potatoes were soft and flavorful. Very hearty as well. For our entrees we split the jackfruit and the tofu. The Jackfruit Bourguignon was similar to a tomato soup in regard to taste. The texture is chunky but well seasoned. Oh my gosh, the mashed potatoes were SO good. Whipped, melted in your mouth, and garlicky. The Tofu had such a nice, thin, crispy layer of skin. It was seasoned to perfection. The sauce really brought this whole dish together as well as the rice. Great portion sizes for everything. For dessert, we tried the crème brûlée and banana foster. The brûlée had a strong candied taste but unfortunately more burnt then i'd like. I've never had crème brûlée so I thought it was a warm dessert but it was served cold which threw me off as i'm not a big fan of flan type desserts / textures. The banana foster was yummy! Warm bananas, sweet brown sugar butter and perfectly made strawberry ice cream. I like that although the ice cream was a coconut base, there was not a strong coconut presence in the taste. I'd prefer this over the crème brûlée in my opinion. They serve beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. I recommend the 10% abv hard kombuchas if you want something similar to the feeling a cocktail will give you :p read more

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I don't venture to this side of town often but when I do, I have a list of places on my to try and Sanctuary has been at the top. I was able to stop by for a late lunch and took a seat at the bar as the restaurant is small and most of the tables were taken. I ordered the po-boy dilla(fried oyster mushrooms, grilled onions, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, and remoulade on a brown rice tortilla). It was ok but the mushrooms didn't seem to have much flavor and there was way too much remoulade for me. I may return to try something different. read more

Sanctuary Bistro - Po-boy dilla - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Just as incredible as described by other Yelpers. It's comforting to recently move here from Los Angeles, a vegan-friendly city, to discover this gem. We ordered the crispy oyster mushrooms, broccoli and bacon soufflé, and a host of other delicious dishes that left me full but now leave me drooling at the very memory. I should've Yelped this place immediately after visiting since they've now changed their menu, but based on the cuisine quality, Sanctuary Bistro seems like a spot that you can't go wrong no matter what you order. 1000% worth frequenting--whether you're planning a romantic evening or a guilt-free night in. Bonus points for veganity. read more

Sanctuary Bistro - Holy wow. - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Everything- service, attention and spotless clean. Food was fresh, creative recipes and delicious.

This place had a pleasant interior for a suburban strip mall outlet, but was also running a very COVID-appropriate takeout operation, with easy online ordering and the option to order both freshly cooked food and frozen dishes for later. I did both. I know they were sauteeing up my tofu freshly because the kitchen was open and I watched it cooking. And they do make fantastic tofu, including a breaded, fried form and a barbecue dish that I liked a lot better than I usually liked barbecue-it was sweet but a bit spicy and crispy. I took for the longer haul a frozen shepard's pie made of lentils and vegetables with mashed potatoes and cashew butter on top, which reheated into a satisfying meal. The menu held plenty of intrigue, and given the small niche they are aiming for here (being both vegan and gluten-free) they hit the bull's eye. It had a menu full of interesting and creative things, which pretty much anyone can eat. And with both dine-in and take-out as desirable options, I definitely recommend it. read more

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Everyone on our table ordered different things so we could sample a large variety of the menu. Every single item was excellent! Customer service is notable. Felt comfortable and at home in the space and nobody needed to worry about accommodating dietary restrictions due to the thoughtful menu. read more

We are not that experienced with vegan food but if all vegan food is as tasty as what they served here, we are already partial converts! this spot is definitely a hidden gem of sorts beside Trader Joe's. Service was amazing and everyone was so accommodating for our 2 year old! Our son got a complimentary dish of fresh strawberries just because our server had overheard him asking for some! read more

Wide variety of selections on the menu. The service is top notch. Nice restaurant for a quiet dinner.

My husband and I had the most lovely dinner at Sanctuary Bistro. I am vegetarian and try to be mostly plant based and my husband is a meat eater, but we both thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We got the charcuterie board, fried oyster mushroom "buttermilk chicken" and beet salad. Neither of us typically like mushrooms but the oyster mushroom dish was definitely a "gateway" mushroom dish for us. The portions were generous and we were too full for dessert but we look forward to going back to try more things on t. Jennifer the owner was the one waiting tables and she was so friendly and attentive. It is also the perfect spot for a date night because it is a smaller more intimate space that has a warm, cozy ambiance while still feeling a bit more upscale. I love that we didn't feel rushed and you can take your time to enjoy each dish. This place exceeded our expectations. We will be returning. read more

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This exceptional little gourmet vegan joint owned and operated by do-it-all husband and wife team of Barry and Jennifer Horton is a much needed addition to a South Charlotte restaurant scene awash with sterile restaurant chains. Unfortunately, it is located in the always crowded, parking challenged Piper Glen Shopping Center (a few doors down from Trader Joes) but don't let that stop you from giving it a try. You won't regret it. My first experience here was lunch with a vegan buddy. Let me just say, we were both blown away. I am the farthest thing from a vegan and expected to walk away hungry. NOT! I started things off with the most savory beet salad that I have ever eaten. Beautifully displayed, it included walnuts and a variety of beets that I have never seen: Red, yellow, pink and multicolored. I'm not quite sure what it was that replaced the goat cheese that I am used to but it was delicious! My buddy enjoyed the soup of the day - Oyster Mushroom. It was a generous serving and was rich and tasty. For our entrees, we both went with the Spicy Buffalo Tofu-Dilla which consists of Crispy Soy Boy tofu, buffalo sauce, tomato, "bleu-cheese", romaine on a brown rice tortilla. The portion size was huge, it was indeed spicy and the brown rice tortilla was fantastic. Meat? Who needs meat? For lunch you can choose any one entree for $9 or any two for $16. Dinner entree prices run about $16, which is very reasonable for genuine gourmet cuisine. Desserts look and sound divine and run $10. My wife and I will definitely split a tiramisu on our next visit, which, hopefully, will be soon. They also offer gluten free beers. Our server Laura provided friendly and attentive service. It was a joy observing Barry in chef hat passionately preparing his delectable creations thru the open kitchen window. Everthing was immaculate and attractively decorated. The table tops and bar top was gorgeous. Other than the parking situation, the only another drawback its tiny dining area consisting of about 10 two-person tables and a 10-person bar. You can look at it as either intimate or crowded. Regardless, I think they will be so successful that they will need a larger space very soon. The five stars that I have given them really doesn't do them justice. It was the best Charlotte dining experience that I have had over the past couple of years. read more

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Sorry, this is gonna be just another boring 5 star review of the best gluten free vegan restaurant in the world. I went there 5-6 years ago when it was located in California and loved. I went back with my gf vegan fiancée and loved it even more!!! We had the fried oyster mushrooms, chocolate hot cups, 'dillas, and their world famous tiramisu. It was all 10/10 Sooooooo goood!! The atmosphere was great. Our food server was wonderful, and the chef came out to chat with us and autographed our well used and worn Sanctuary Bistro cookbook. One of the best 90 minutes of my life. read more

Sanctuary Bistro - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Vegan or not, I highly recommend you try Sanctuary Bistro. This locally, woman owned fine dining restaurant will not disappoint! I made a reservation for my birthday and upon my arrival I felt very welcomed by the Happy Birthday note at my table. Jennifer the owner, waitstaff, bartender, hostess and everything else in between made me feel very welcomed. She provided outstanding service and was super attentive to each table. The timing of the food was perfect, as well as the presentation. I had the Lion's mane 'steak' and it did not disappoint. The chocolate parfait for dessert is amazing and I was pleasantly surprised when Jennifer sang happy birthday to me! The interior decorating adds to the enjoyable ambience. I'm so happy I chose Sanctuary Bistro to celebrate my birthday. I'm looking forward to trying more of their yummy menu in the near future. read more

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Absolutely love this place! Barry is a magician in the kitchen. We are not vegans but have good friends who are so we try vegan restaurants to check them out. Sanctuary opened during Covid but survived with family style take out. We are so happy they did. We usually go for lunch or brunch. We love the oyster mushrooms, all the 'dills and the quiche. For brunch she will go for the soufflé and for me the chilaquiles. Delicious, and reasonably priced. read more

Not sure how we missed this wonderful place for 4 years. An excellent Vegan restaurant with innovative menu options. Loved it. Vegan& organic makes it healthier option. read more

Sanctuary Bistro - With the Chef - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I'd been under the weather, nothing contagious, and so went to Sanctuary Bistro., and I was not disappointed! The waitress suggested a rice meal with finely chopped up broccoli and carrots, and special hot green tea w aquave nectar in it!! Delicious ! The sweet waitress gave excellent advice!! Even felt like splitting delicious Tiramisu ma SueHmmmm Unmmm! Just what the Doctor Ordered. !! Five Star Rating. Food was delicious, The service out of this world, and sweet ambiance. Not rushed, let you eat and talk at your pace!! Excellent experience! Highly Recommend Sanctuary Bistro!! read more

I have been coming to Sanctuary Bustro for well over a year now. When I first moved to the Charlotte area I was so intrigued. What originally enticed me was their full gluten free menu. It's so nice to be able to order anything off the menu. Speaking of anything off the menu. EVERY. SINGLE. item that I have tried, has been out of this world. I'm not sure how they combine flavors so well, but I'm in love with every dish I have tasted. I'm honestly shocked I haven't written them a review yet, but I guess that because I don't even know what to say. They truly leave me speechless time & time again. From their herbal teas, to their salads, to desserts, & everything else in between. The service is always great & every waitress we've had has been very kind. We appreciate businesses like you, thank you for putting in the extra work, it doesn't go unnoticed! read more

Sanctuary Bistro - blackberry cheesecake - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

What a nice place!! Food is good, wine list is nice, and there's cocktails. Servers were very friendly and nice. If you have a vegan or 2 in your family highly recommend you take them here. We enjoyed the food as much as our vegans!! read more

...On a lazy Thursday afternoon, looking to try something different, thought to try this place. Never imagined mushrooms could be so tasty until I tried their Crispy oysters mushrooms!!! It's a hidden gem! Had a quick chat with chef and complimented him about freshly prepared dish. This place is worth to visit!One regret, I could only give them 5 star, they deserve 10! :) keep up the great job, and make a difference with amazing recipe! read more

Sanctuary Bistro - Vegan Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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What a hidden gem! This is some of the best (if not THE best) vegan food in Charlotte. Highlights and things you must order: the broccoli bacon soufflé and the tiramisu. I would order the tiramisu again and again. Also, mad props to the server, who was handling seven tables at once with grace. All around, what an incredible restaurant. read more