The Agenda Guide to Plaza Midwood

Here’s everything you need to know to eat, drink and shop your way through Plaza Midwood, a neighborhood that’s awake while others sleep, outspoken when others are quiet and a vital counter to Charlotte’s culture as a whole.

If Myers Park is Queen Charlotte’s crowned jewel, Plaza Midwood is her majesty after all the ornamentation is stripped away and the hair comes down, an unapologetic rebel against the misguided perception that this fast-growing, vibrant city is (or ever was) just a stodgy bankers’ town.

Last updated April 4, 2016. Check with individual businesses for updated information.

Restaurants
Bars
Shopping
Events
Resources

EAT

Ajbani – 2903-C Central Avenue – Technically just over the official neighborhood line in Merry Oaks, this Moroccan takeout counter is the place to be for authentic north African cuisine like spicy lamb tajine, couscous, falafel and more. Do not pass up the spicy homemade harissa hot sauce. They’ve got a few bistro tables if you want to hang around and eat on site.

Ajbani Moroccan Cuisine is now open in Plaza Midwood and they mean business with their falafel (7/7/15)

Bistro La Bon – 1322 Central Avenue – Hit up Bistro on Sundays  for the all-you-can-eat brunch buffet($22 adults, $10 children) with homemade pastries, house cured salmon, roasts, Swedish meatballs, salads and made-to-order chocolate waffles and French toast. If dinner is more your thing, this is also an excellent date night spot. Start with the crispy fried avocado.

Top 10 brunches in Charlotte, ranked (3/21/16)

Central Coffee – 719 Louise Avenue – This friendly, no-frills cafe is a pillar of the Plaza Midwood neighborhood (even though maps technically place it in Elizabeth). It’s not uncommon to find a line out the door during the morning caffeine rush. Try their cold brew (on tap) or the signature Central Shorty, a mini 6-ounce latter with vanilla and steamed milk. Also, don’t sleep on the homemade Greek yogurt, quiche and assorted other baked goods.

Central Coffee is adding a second location in South End (1/11/16)

Charlotte brews more than beer: A conversation about our city’s coffee evolution (7/27/15)

Comida – 1205 Thomas Avenue – This Mexican eatery had big, historic shoes to fill when it took over the former home of the iconic Penguin Drive-In. And it delivers. You won’t find fat burritos dripping in queso sauce or sticky sweet neon green margaritas. Comida is all about traditional Mexican flavors with a modern twist and everything is made in house. The totopos, chewy tortilla chips, are a must try.

Comida is now open in Plaza Midwood. See the menu and what we sampled (3/17/16)

Common Market – 2007 Commonwealth Avenue – The Deli is the perfect stop for grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and soups. They’ve also helped quell the wrath of many a hangover with their build-your-own breakfast bowls in the morning.

Being Yourself: Common Market (5/20/15)

The Diamond – 1901 Commonwealth Avenue – When you need late-night sustenance after all the bars have closed, this classic diner will save your life with a generous 4 a.m. closing time on Fridays and Saturdays. Vegetarians appreciate the black bean burger, jumbo soy dog and meatless meatloaf with mashed potatoes.

Last call: Where to get food in Charlotte after the bars close (11/10/15)

As Seen on TV: 30 Charlotte restaurants featured on food shows (8/25/15)

13 Charlotte-area food challenges for gluttonous glory (11/9/15)

Dish – 1220 Thomas Avenue – Dish has been serving up unpretentious Southern comfort food since 2001. They’ll give mom (or grandma) a run for her money with their chicken & dumplings, shrimp & grits and pot roast.

Fern – 1323 Central Avenue – Head to Fern for meat-free food even your meat-eating friends will enjoy. The menu rotates but they’ve got hearty entrees like walnut risotto, bolognese with Italian seitan sausage and the always popular OM burger. For brunch, the chicken-fried tofu and waffles and the cinnamon rolls served in a cast iron skillet are major crowd pleasers.

Fuel – 1501 Central Avenue – Plaza Midwood is home to the original Fuel which is located, appropriately enough, in an old gas station. Open until 3 a.m. Thursday – Saturday.

Intermezzo – 1427 E. 10th Street – Don’t write this off as just another pizza joint. First of all, the pizza is excellent. Secondly, they also serve Serbian specialties like eggplant musaka, cabbage rolls and karadjordjeva. The traditional Serbian burek, phyllo dough stuffed with ground beef or spinach and cheese, is a requirement.

Kickstand Burger Bar – 1101 Central Avenue – Burgers are the star of the show but they’ve also got hot dogs, wings, flatbreads and shells-and-cheese (gluten-free available) with an assortment of “stir-ins”, including chili, broccoli, avocado, chicken and steak. Keep an eye on Facebook for regular half off BOGO deals.

Krazy Fish – 2501 Central Avenue – Krazy Fish’s menu can’t figure out where it is. They’ve got seafood specialties (as the name suggests) but then there’s also pad Thai, curry, tacos and roti. I’m a huge fan of the lemongrass tofu tacos with a completely unexpected blueberry tamarind chutney.

Mama’s Caribbean Grill & Bar – 1504 Central Avenue – Get your Jamaican food fix with jerk chicken, oxtail and ackee & salt fish, the country’s national dish. They’ve also got Jamaican drinks like Ting (a grapefruit soda) and sorrel, a red beverage made from steeping the petals of the sorrel plant.

Midwood Smokehouse – 1401 Central Avenue – Popular barbecue joint known for high-quality prime brisket smoked in a 100% wood smoker.

Nova’s – 1511 Central Avenue – Responsible for making the block smell like sweet baked goods. Stop in for fresh baked bread.

Okra – 1912 Commonwealth Avenue – This yoga studio is also home to a coffee and tea bar. Stop in for local Pure Intentions Coffee and Tea Rex Tea.

Pizza Peel – 1600 Central Avenue – There’s no shortage of pizza in Plaza Midwood. Pizza Peel has a little something for everyone, including vegan and gluten-free options.

Pure Pizza – 1911 Central Avenue – Pure is all about local ingredients. The flour for their dough is milled in North Carolina and their toppings are seasonally sourced through local farmers. They can also accommodate specialty diets with gluten-free crust and vegan cheese.

Pure Pizza Plaza Midwood to open end of June (5/28/15)

#pizzamidwood: Pure Pizza is now open in Plaza Midwood (8/6/15)

Soul Gastrolounge – 1500-B Central Avenue – Always expect a wait at Soul. The intimate, dinner-only spot is one of the most popular date night locations in town. The menu is served tapas-style with small plates for sharing. They’ve also got a legit sushi operation with nigiri, sashimi and some inventive original rolls like the Godzilla: “salmon, cream cheese, kani stick and jalapeño, coated with spicy fish mix, flash fried, finished with sweet and sour sauce, wasabi mayo and sweet sushi sauce.”

Soul Gastrolounge is beautiful. Here’s proof (1/12/16)

Three Amigos – Located next door to Ajbani (and technically just outside the Plaza Midwood neighborhood limit), Three Amigos is home to some of the best Mexican food in town. For something different, try yaro, a Dominican street food specialty consisting of french fries smothered in beef or chicken and then topped with ketchup, mayo and melted cheese.

The Workman’s Friend – 1531 Central Avenue – The soup of the day at this Irish joint is whiskey but they’ve got real food too, like pork & beans, shepherd’s pie and fish & chips.

Coming Soon: Workman’s Friend brings Irish pub to Plaza Midwood (6/3/15)

Yama Izakaya – When microwave noodles won’t do, head to Yama for the real deal in the form of big bowls of ramen. They’ve also got yakitori, teriyaki and udon specialties.

Zada Jane’s – Don’t be surprised to find a line out the door here on the weekends. Although the serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, weekend brunch is a big draw. At least they have yard games to play while you wait.

DRINK/PARTY

Charlotte drink specials by day: Plaza Midwood Edition (8/24/15)

Common Market – 2007 Commonwealth Avenue – Beer tastings on Monday nights, wine tastings on Wednesday nights and an extensive wine, beer and sake retail section where you can buy and then drink on site

L4 Lounge – 2906 Central Avenue – LGBT-friendly dance club, bar and lounge

Legion Brewing – 1906 Commonwealth Avenue – The neighborhood’s only brewery

Peculiar Rabbit – 1212 Pecan Avenue – This is a full restaurant but I’m listing it as a drinking spot because it has one of the rare rooftop bars in town, making it a popular spot for cocktails at sunset

Petra’s – 1919 Commonwealth Avenue – Piano bar with live music

Pint Central – 1226 Central Avenue – Restaurant and bar with a sizable patio out back

Snug Harbor – 1228 Gordon Street – Intimate music venue with shows every night of the week

The Station – 2131 Central Avenue – Casual dive bar

Thirsty Beaver – 1225 Central Avenue – Biker bar, casual saloon, Plaza Midwood icon

Thomas Street Tavern – 1218 Thomas Avenue – Casual neighborhood bar known for patio games out back

Twenty Two – 1500 Central Avenue – Combo wine bar and art gallery with lots of craft beers on tap and Monday night figure drawing classes

Whiskey Warehouse – 1221 The Plaza – Like Peculiar Rabbit, Whiskey Warehouse is a full restaurant, but it’s second to the draw of its rooftop bar Top Shelf

SHOP

1510 Antiques – 1510 Central Avenue – 3,500 square feet of antiques from the 1800s to mid-20th century

Armada – 1200 The Plaza – Skate shop with gear and apparel

Book Buyers – Used bookstore home to a cat named Page and The Greener Apple, an eco-conscious selection of vegan grocery items, cookbooks and other sustainable products

Three used bookstores you need to know in Charlotte (10/22/15)

Boris & Natasha – 1214 Thomas Avenue – Trendy men’s and women’s apparel under the watch of the owner’s friendly pit bull

Buffalo Exchange – 1521 Central Avenue – Buy, sell and trade new and used clothing and accessories

Century Vintage – 1508 Central Avenue – Vintage furniture, home decor, clothes and more

CLTCH – 1512 Central Avenue – A curated collection of unique accessories and one-of-a-kind collaborations with local labels

CLTCH is now open in Plaza Midwood (8/10/15)

Frock Shop – 901 Central Avenue – Resale shop selling curated vintage apparel and accessories

Green with Envy – 1111 Central Avenue – 4,000-square-foot boutique filled with “necessary luxuries” like candles, home decor, stationery and Charlotte-branded gifts

Gumbo – 1916 Commonwealth Avenue – Yoga apparel and accessories, snacks, gifts and other products that support healthy living

Now Open: Gumbo brings “celebrated goods” to Plaza Midwood (5/27/15)

House of Africa – 1215 Thomas Avenue – Authentic African goods, including jewelry, instruments, furniture and more

Junior League Wearhouse – 1117 Pecan Avenue – Nonprofit resale shop stocked with apparel (including designer consignment), housewares and accessories

JLC Wearhouse transitions to a new season by opening the store to free shopping for charities (8/10/15)

Lunchbox Records – 1419 Central Avenue (moving to 825 Central Avenue) – Record store buying and selling new and used LPs, 7″s, CDs and DVDs

Lunchbox Records & the mega Sabbath collection (3/4/16)

Moxie Mercantile – 2008 Commonwealth Avenue – Lifestyle shop featuring handmade home and personal accessories

Reggae Central – 1506 Central Avenue – Specialty shop with reggae music and merchandise

Slate Interiors – 1401 Central Avenue – High end furniture and art

Social Status – 1519 Central Avenue – Sneaker and apparel store

The first college English course on sneaker culture in the history of higher education is taught in Charlotte (4/4/16)

Masked thieves crashed a mini-van into Social Status and stole $7,000 in merchandise (7/23/15)

Stash Pad – 1216 Thomas Avenue – Funky vintage accesories and apparel shop

Tuft – 1222 Central Avenue – Reupholstered vintage furniture, local art and furniture showroom

White Rabbit – 920 Central Avenue – LGBT bookstore

Events

Food Truck Friday – The Light Factory, 1817 Central Avenue – A weekly roundup of popular food trucks every Friday night during the warmer months (Fridays)

Plaza Midwood Tuesday Night Ride – meet at Common Market at 7:30 p.m. – A casual 10- to 15-mile bike ride to a different destination every week (Tuesdays)

Shuck & Awe Oyster Roast & Winter Fling – End of winter celebration hosted by the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association (March)

Midwood Maynia & The Plaza Midwood Home Tour – Festival, 5K race, live music and home & garden tours (May)

Plaza Midwood 4th of July Pig Pickin’ – Live music, food and views of the Uptown fireworks show (July)

Yard Art Day – Grassroots arts exhibition curated by the community (September)

Plaza Midwood – Chantilly Chili Cook Off – Enter your own recipe in the competition or just come for the samples (October)

Charlotte Marathon – Yes, it’s a citywide course but there’s something special about watching it in Plaza Midwood where you’ll find live music and cheer stations lining the streets (November)

Resources

Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association

Plaza Midwood Facebook Page

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission