I am a massive fan of Soul! I absolutely loved them in their old space, and I have completely fallen in love all over again at the new location. The larger layout is fantastic, featuring a dark and eclectic decor, with live music that adds the perfect extra touch to the overall vibe. The staff is always incredibly welcoming, attentive, and more than happy to offer excellent recommendations if you're looking for guidance on the food and drink options. I am a huge fan of the tapas-style setup because it allows you to share and sample so many different things, and Soul completely delivers: The Sushi: Incredibly fresh and inventive. The Supernova and Queen Charlotte rolls are my absolute typical go-to choices. Menu Favorites: Honestly, I love so much of the menu, but the standouts you have to try include the lamb lollipops, soul truffle fries, sashimi tuna tacos, pork belly tacos, fried goat cheese balls, mini lamb burgers, Korean BBQ wings, and the fried brussels sprouts. You also can't go wrong with any of their dips and skewers! The Drinks: Their rotating seasonal cocktail menu is always exceptionally well thought out and delicious. You truly can't go wrong here. If you haven't been yet, you need to put it at the very top of your list and become a regular with the rest of us! Pro Tip: They also have a phenomenal cocktail bar right next door called Stylus. It has a vintage vinyl bar vibe, lots of gold accents, and great tunes--perfect for a pre- or post-dinner drink! read more

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Soul Gastrolounge was delicious! Everything we ordered was packed with flavor, and I'm already looking forward to coming back so I can explore more of the menu. It definitely lived up to the hype, and I can see why it's such a popular spot. The reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because we were seated at a high top table, which I personally find uncomfortable. On top of that, the table was so small that we could barely fit all of the dishes we ordered. Since Soul is a place where you want to try and share multiple plates, having a little more table space would have made the dining experience much more enjoyable. The food was outstanding, though, and I'll definitely be back. read more

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I booked another visit on a Saturday (preceding Mother's Day), and let my son splurge on me. This time, we also booked our dinner at 6:30 pm, so we can check out at least a bit of the DJ. I guess we were still too early...but the DJ music just wasn't that loud, as anticipated. Still, I enjoyed the preview. We three decided to share all of our plates. We ordered the 2 Pork Belly Tacos again, but decided to try a few new plates...Salmonopita and Korean BBQ Wings. Also had to repeat the Midnight Tokyo Roll, but added the new Crunch Roll. For dessert, we tried this Baklava Ice Cream. Well, happy to report that we devoured everything in sight...and agreed they were all really, really good! Also, the Baklava Ice Cream was a huge hit with us. For drinks, I tried the "Petal to the Metal" cocktail. I liked the light taste, but it wasn't strong enough. Think I preferred the drink I had on my first visit..."Nick Cave Suit", or something like that? Just as before, the service was good...and the foods came surprisingly quick. I just love the rich, comfy ambiance of this place, and the fun fusion varieties on the menu. Must try more of their superb sushi rolls in the future. Surprisingly, my son liked the place enough to say that he may bring his girlfriend over! read more

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Came for a tasting class. It was awesome! QC Unleashed was in the house recording for their podcast. We tasted 3 spirits and also how they are used in a cocktail. Has an awesome time! read more

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First time here at the new location and so glad there is plenty of free parking. They do have a few outside patio tables. Inside was loud so that's why we opt to sit outside so it is easier to have conversations. The service was good. Waiter was attentive and nice and formative. The food was delicious. Everything was good. I was expecting the wings to be sweeter since it says bbq but it didn't have quite a bit of spicy taste to it. But everything else was delicious. Would definitely come back. read more

Soul Gastrolounge - Midnight Tokyo and bbq wings - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Went out to Soul with a group of friends and had such a great time!! The service and ambiance were incredible, and the food and drinks were also so good! We did a mix of splitting some apps and having our own meals, and without trying to be annoying with our bill to try and split it up, the server offered to take care of splitting it up - we're talking 1/6th of a dip tray split evenly, then a salad split in half because it was just two of us sharing. I've rarely experienced such great hospitality to split things up in that way on the bill! For food we split the dip trio & brussel sprouts, then I did the grilled Caesar and hand rolls. The grilled Caesar was life changing and the espresso martini was perfect. The only thing I would change about my order are the hand rolls. I do wish they had chopped up the fish a bit like usual hand rolls as it made it a little challenging to eat. If I had known it was served this way I would have just ordered it in a standard sushi roll. Would absolutely return! read more

Soul Gastrolounge - Grilled Caesar - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Soul Gastrolounge is back and the comeback is everything! It's the same owners from the Plaza Midwood spot, so the food and drinks are still fabulous. Our server, Bri, provided incredible service and the ambiance truly made the entire evening a total vibe. The fried oysters were crispy and the sushi was as fresh and inventive. You can't leave without trying the handcrafted milk punch--it is a total "chef's kiss" moment! I definitely recommend Soul Gastrolounge. Pro-Tip They are participating in Charlotte's Restaurant week but ask for both menus. read more

Soul Gastrolounge - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Here is the funny story this place is an absolute gem! If you drive, there's parking or take the metro it's right at the metro stop. They have a Deejay the ambience is incredible. It's outside seating as well. They have a cute sitting area with a sofa some chairs little tables. I can't say enough.. We were having so much fun with great drinks and good food that I honestly forgot to take pictures. Except for those anchovy fries. I will never eat those again however, the person that ordered them loved them and thought they were phenomenal. Just not my cup of tea. The service was on point everyone's attitude was fun and fancy free. I've been here twice and it's definitely a place. I have on my top places to go in Charlotte list. Just Go!! It's a girls night spot. It's a date night spot. It's even an after work with colleagues spot. It's a win!! read more

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Loved the food and vibes. Came here after a show at Blackbox Theater. Got a drink at Stylus sound bar . Highly recommend. The curated music was so good and added to my pre-dinner drink experience. I ordered the Tropic Thunder because it had mezcal - love a smoky tequila any day. Went to the soul gastrolounge bar to order since it was just me. I ordered the Repaly roll because I like eel and an order of fries. The flavors were so delicious and the fries were piled high. After dinner went back to stylus to get a postdinner drink orders the curd your enthusiasm- the lemon curd is cannot stress enough the lemon curd- get it! read more

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A fun restaurant with tons of options ranging from Greek to Japanese, fusing the two. I was a bit skeptical at first, but it was fun to choose from sushi rolls to sliders. Though my friend was late, our server Lee was very attentive and patient from beginning to end. His recommendations of the Supernova roll and flatbread were our favorites of the night. Loved all the flavors of the cheese, pistachio pesto, and arugula on the flatbread and the roll had so much crab meat on top it was a very tasty bite. We also ordered the Trick Fil A sliders which were a vegan take on Chick Fil A sandwiches and the Salmonpita. These dishes were okay, but not our favorite. I am a huge sucker for bread pudding and had to try their Chocolate Brioche bread pudding. This was the star of the night for sure! It was almost brownie like, but miso caramel ice cream and cocoa nibs really brought the whole dish together. It was excellent and would eat it everyday if I could! read more

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I'm so happy they've returned--Soul is truly top tier. The new space is much larger yet still just as sexy and inviting. It was great to see so many familiar faces on the staff; that alone speaks volumes about the business. Now, the main event: the food and the vibe are unmatched in the area. The short rib taco literally melts in your mouth, and whoever came up with adding a piece of watermelon deserves a raise. The Queen Charlotte roll remains my go-to, without question. If you haven't tried it yet, you need to get there ASAP read more

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Just like unwanted relatives and ingrown toenails, they're back... but in a much more satisfying way. If you were fan of their previous location, you'll be happy to know that parking was not a problem! That actually prevented me from going a number of times and I'm glad to go again and again when I'm in town. This Gastrolounge is more than just sliders and bacon-wrapped dates that seem to be on every other "gastrolounge" menu. I first ate here many years ago and fell in love with the concept, only to be let down by almost every other gastrolounge. Their menu was unique and innovative and I'm glad they kept some of my favorites. First, the Pork Belly Tacos with the Watermelon Salsa! Every bite is perfection (unless you're a dumbass and are just eating the tortilla). It's so much flavor and this is a MUST every time for me! So good. The Dirty South Nachos are another favorite, although it's not a dish for 1 as it's very rich with the fried chicken skins and pimento cheese. The pickled okra cuts through the fatty goodness nicely. That's all I could order on my first trip back in years, but plan on returning to try more and more stuff. The decor is more modern and chic and it does lose some of the character of the old location. But heck, it's bigger AND it has parking. They have some interesting cocktails but were out of the one I really wanted to try. The Japan Railroad was good, but the IDK tasted a little watered down for my taste. But not knocking off a star for that. They also had wine and beer but I was in a hard liquor mood. Service was outstanding and I saw many different people stopping at many tables so that was nice. If somethings ready, someone brings it to your table and force feeds you (Ok, that last part isn't true). read more

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Finally got to go since they reopened & im sooo happy they're back. Even better than before and that says a lot. Love this place! Don't close again! read more

Soul Gastrolounge - Menu - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Used to love this place in Plaza Midwood, so tried out the new location. Sushi was solid, but the goat cheese plate was separated and served on a small coffee plate, we barely touched it. Guacamole stack was just half an avocado on a coffee plate for $14. Sadly, won't be coming back as there are much, much better options in their price range. I was so surprised by the poor quality for the price that I wrote my first yelp review. read more

Food is still great! Service was also outstanding. About the food, the famous pork belly tacos are a must, Brussels, grilled Caesar salad was delicious, wings, fried oysters all were cooked well with plenty flavor. The rolls spicy tuna and caliente were fresh! Everything was on point. Def a routine spot! Will return soon! They also have a sound bar next door will music! read more

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We waited so long for this place to be back and boy, am I glad it's back. The new venue is exactly what they were missing, more space for dining and a big bar! I also love the new location area. It's an up and coming part of NoDa, and right off the light rail, so they'll definitely attract business here. Pretty much everything on the menu is good here. If you haven't been, give it a try! Don't forget the pork belly tacos. read more

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Grateful to have Soul Gastrolounge back. The location is only one light rail stop from NoDa and is in an up and coming development. This is what we have been missing in the area! The restaurant space itself feels very big. I've been on a busy Friday night and a quiet Sunday. Both visits the staff has been attentive and I've been able to enjoy different seating spots in the restaurant! The menu is extensive - I love the sushi and look forward to trying more tapas. The hamachi over lettuce and ahi tuna skewers were a standout on my first visit along with the famous pork belly tacos. The tacos were even better than I remembered! The music is fantastic and really helps set the mood along with the interesting decor pieces and dark/moody ambiance. Must visit! read more

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The pork belly tacos have to be the best thing I've ever had! The drinks were a bit of a variance, had the B**th no comment but it was a bit too Smokey for my taste. Ending up with a mezcla mix instead. We were sat in a back area that as a bit off to the side, wasn't sure if it's because some tables were reserved on the open end. Overall great food but a bit too pricey for the menu items. read more

Soul Gastrolounge - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I have been going to Soul since 2019, I have joyfully followed them around until they landed at their new spot. The spot may have changed but the food, cocktails and service are always outstanding. I cant wait to go again. read more

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This place has really stepped its game all the way up! I went when it was in the old location and its now Ah-MAZING!! Drinks were great, food on point, and service let's just say we were taken care of. The ambiance 100 out if 10. Love everything about this place. So cozy, romantic, and warm!! read more

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The atmosphere in here is very calm, mature and welcoming. The servers were super nice and attentive while I waited on my friend to arrive. They make sure that I kept water in a filled drink. I went with the bubbles and it was amazing. My friend and I ordered the lamb chop sliders, truffle fries, chicken skin nachos, lemon chicken, skewers, and sushi to share. Everything is a shareable size. My favorite was the sushi and the chicken skin nachos. I definitely wanna go back to this place because I enjoyed everything 100% I did order the shrimp ceviche, but it was more of a milky texture versus like a salad so I did not really like that but they were more than happy to take it back and to remove it from my check I absolutely love this place. I hate that they don't open until 5 because I crave them for lunch often. read more

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First, the ambiance relaxes you immediately when you step in. Color-drenched walls in rich tones, friendly staff, and chill music create an inviting atmosphere. Second, the service was top notch! As first-timers, the recommendations and descriptions from our server were spot on. Food comes out as ready so nothing is cold from sitting on a counter in the back. Third, the good was amazing! Sushi was fresh, as was the salad. Fries were hot and seasoned well. Fried feta appetizers were tasty! Even the cucumber water was refreshing (but the extensive cocktail menu was tempting). Note: This place is mainly known for its pork belly tacos, but I do not eat pork. Also, they serve mostly tapas (small plates) so keep that in mind if you're looking for huge servings. Finally, don't be turned off by the industrial location by the train station. Give this place a shot. I can't wait to return at night for the music. read more

Very original menu. Food came out fast and I considered it affordable for the type of food and atmosphere. Right at the Sugar Creek blue line stop. read more

Soul Gastrolounge - Chicken skin nachos with pimento cheese - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food is good and you must try the trick fil a sliders! They did not disappoint!!! Our server was very attentive and may excellent recommendations. This is a cute spot for a group, date night, or solo. read more

Me and a friend came here during Restaurant Week and they had a set menu called the "Queen Feast" special that included 4 courses with the option to add on dessert! I ordered the grilled Caesar salad, Philly roll, fried oysters, and the tric-fil-a sliders. As a pescatarian, I was very glad they had some options available on the menu. Our waitress was great and gave great suggestions! The grilled Caesar salad was SO delicious, the only con was that you had to cut the romaine up yourself which led to working a little harder for your food and I kept losing some pieces in the cutting process lol. The Philly roll was fresh and the fried oysters were flavorful. I LOVED the sliders! It was a nice vegan spin on Chic-fil-a's sandwich. The vibe of the space was really nice! They have different music/DJ sets depending on the day and it was a fun time! Also, free parking and not too much of a hassle to find a spot! Highly recommend this place (and making a reservation) for a cute date night or a night out with your friends. I most definitely will be back! read more

Soul Gastrolounge - Grilled Caesar Salad - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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FINALLY WE BACK! Such a fun space. The restaurant is comfortable and has a great vibe. As with most tapas, food comes out as it's ready. Our table of four ordered (what felt like the entire menu) and had trying everything again. We were a little disappointed that we couldn't try the gyro plate (that was sold out before 8pm on a Friday night) but all the more reason to go back! The drinks were good, our server was fantastic and all the food runners were kind and friendly and were fun to interact with. read more

Soul Gastrolounge holds a special place in my heart from when I used to go at its' old location. I very much wish it never moved, but I understand. It seems the prices have gone up a good bit and it may not allow for me to be able to visit as much as I'd hoped. Please be keen to check the current menu prices compared to only a month or two ago, they have changed again, mostly more expensive. The food was great, and I am very happy that I was able to try a good bit. The only critiques that I have are that the shrimp ceviche was nearly a soup. Maybe this soup like consistency is what was wanted, but it was a little too much liquid for how I would've liked. I remember when the Bone Marrow at Soul Gastrolounge was $13. This was my favorite appetizer to get, but it is now $22. I understand the need to increase the cost, but I don't believe that I can justify getting it often now. The food is heavy, so I recommend winter being a great time to come and eat a good bit. The music is a bit loud, so you may have a tough time hearing one another, but if you want some good drinks and food, then this is a good spot to find some. read more

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Amazing!!!! So glad they're back open! The staff is amazing, and the food is always the best!

Just as I remembered it!! Food, cocktails, service and the vibes were great!! Definitely will be back! The new location is much bigger but it's still such a cool place!! Only managed to get 1 picture but ordered a ton of options!! read more

Soul Gastrolounge - Dancing Tuna Roll - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Everything about the reopening of Soul Gastrolounge was absolutely amazing, from the food to the atmosphere, it brought back all the memories and tastes of the original dishes we loved. It truly felt like the Soul we remembered! The only disappointment was Table #10 (the table for larger parties near the door). Since seats are one-sided, it was tough to have a conversation and felt a bit like being on display for everyone walking in. That said, our server went above and beyond to make the night special, and his energy really turned it into an incredible experience. Overall, it was still an amazing girls' night, and I'm so happy Soul is back! But for parties of 5 and more, please make a request to not get table #10. read more

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This is a great place for a fun meal. I really loved the lamb chops and the soul roll. Great service and the music was amazing. read more

Highly recommend Soul Gastrolounge to everyone. It is the coolest vibe and best restaurant in Charlotte. The new speakeasy Sylus inside is incredible. Highly recommend Stylus Soundlounge to everyone. Our new favorite speakeasy in Charlotte. The atmosphere and vibe are amazing. Francis Cooper is an amazing bartender and highly recommend this new hotspot to everyone. read more

Really fun spot with great food and energy! Came on a Friday night to celebrate a friend's birthday and had the best time. The drink menu is creative, and later in the night a DJ comes on, giving the place a fun vibe. There's a wide variety of food options, so everyone can find something they'll love. Highlights for us were the pork belly tacos with watermelon and the Noda Fantasy Roll. Would definitely come back! read more

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I didn't realize how much I missed this place until I've been into the lamb chop last night and I took me way back to sitting on the porch at the former location. It was beautifully done. Music low enough so you could have a conversation and lighting in just the right places so you didn't have to use your phone flashlight. Andy and Lisa did an amazing job with this place. The service was excellent. The food was even better. We sampled several things. It was pretty packed but we were greeted by a great hostess and taken to a beautiful table where our server came up right away and took our drink order. It was an excellent evening. I highly recommend that you give it a shot. read more

Great service from host staff to servers and manager. Everyone friendly, engaging and attentive. The wines by the glass list could use some more mainstream varietals/blends (gsm, Pinot noir, etc). They had a good variety of small plates. We had the bruschetta topped with/ fried goat cheese balls. It was good. The saganaki was salty and not enough crostini. The "trick-fil-a sliders" were fun and tasty. Southern fried mushrooms on buns w/ vegan mayo and pickles. The Asian glazed pork belly tacos were good but awkward to eat - two big cubes of pork belly 2 cubes of watermelon on a small tortilla - and needed something else. We had one dancing tuna sushi roll and it came out much later after the other dishes. Everyone else was done eating when it finally was delivered. Our server did say that rolls took longer than kitchen items to make but this was way too long. Prices were fair so that was appreciated. We loved the old Soul and hope they work on perfecting the menu items and maybe expanding the wine selection a bit. We are rooting for y'all. read more

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Soul is back baby! They did an excellent job building out the new location and imbuing it with the spirit of the original Soul. Everything we ate and drank was excellent - from the spicy tuna roll to the saganaki - each dish was just how we remembered it. We are thrilled to have Soul back and look forward to many amazing meals and celebrations there in the years ahead. read more

Amazing as always! We got the brussel sprouts, flatbread, Queen Charlotte Roll, sashimi tacos, pork belly tacos, lamb sliders and garlic soul fries, all of which were on the old Soul menu except for the lamb sliders. Dare I say that everything was just as good as the original location if not better on some items. The shells for the sashimi tacos got an upgrade and so did the tortillas for the pork belly tacos. I do wish the wall color was a dark moody green like the accent wallpaper. I think would give more of the moody vibes of the original location but that is the only thing I would change! Service was quick and great! read more

This was my first time here. The service here was great. Our waitress was friendly and quick. We ordered about a few different items for the 2 of us. The dishes were hit or ok, nothing was bad. Sushi rolls were decent. The short rib was flavorful and good. Food presentation A+. Liked the ambiance and the dj set! Really good cocktails as well. Definitely recommend a visit. read more

I hope it's just because it is the first week open but we were unable to join waitlist online. We were told no more than 30 minute wait when we walked up, no biggie we grabbed a drink nearby. 45 minutes later we were told 15 minutes. We were sat about 75 minutes after being added to the waitlist. The pita chips were stale. The steak was raw. The tonic was flat. We were told to expect longer waits for sushi. The service was good but the food and experience was not like the old location. I hope it gets turned around. read more

Soul is amazing! Food was outstanding and the service was fast even on opening day. Can't wait to come back! read more

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