Scoop: Dilworth Tasting Room is expanding to Plaza Midwood

inside restaurant — Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Dilworth Tasting Room will open its third Charlotte location in Plaza Midwood on Tuesday, Aug. 13 with a huge outdoor patio, Mediterranean dishes, craft cocktails and an extensive wine list.

Why it matters: DTR owners Jaffer Kovic and his wife Zorana (Zoe) Kovic say they want to honor the neighborhood's unique identity. They designed the place to be distinguishable from the original Dilworth and SouthPark locations.

inside a restaurant — Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

The vibe: Similar to its other locations, you can expect shareable dishes, cocktails and wine. But the Kovics are bringing a taste of their heritage to 1413 Central Avenue with traditional Croatian cuisine.

"It'll be the most unstuffy, sexiest-looking restaurant you walk into," Jaffer tells Axios.

mural of a donkey and Dalmatian on a boat — The restaurant's murals are by local artist Meredith Riggins. This one, for example, depicts one of their favorite beaches in Croatia. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Its outdoor patio is reminiscent of South Beach in Miami, with lounge chairs and palm trees. The patio is dog-friendly and accommodates all seasons, with heaters for the winter and shade against the sun and rain.

Dig in: The menu, by Chef Jonathan Shuler, is made up of shareable, Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

Staples include sopska salad, crni rizoto (Croatian cuttlefish risotto in ink), grilled octopus, fried calamari, seared tuna, Croatian kebabs, skampi 'Buzara' (a traditional Croatian shrimp dish) and cevapi.
Even its craft cocktail menu will nod to Croatia. Designed by DTR's bar manager Alejandro Ibañez, all of the cocktails' names are in Croatian with the phonetic spelling next to them. "So folks will get a language lesson in Croatian," Jaffer said.

aerial view of dishes — Chef Jonathan Shuler went to stag at Dubrovnik in New Rochelle, New York. "It is the most authentic style of Croatian cooking that you'll find anywhere in America," Jaffer tells Axios. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

The big picture: For years, residents, visitors, and business owners have feared that Plaza Midwood is losing its identity. Jaffer and Zoe say they want to preserve and add to it. "One of the things we're most proud of is being locally owned and grown," Jaffer said, adding that their success wouldn't be possible without the community's support.

Plaza Midwood, like the rest of Charlotte, is evolving rapidly. New developments are changing the landscape, treasured local restaurants have moved out, national chains have moved in, and last year, the neighborhood became Charlotte’s first social district.

DTR Plaza Midwood is next to Midwood Smokehouse. It will be right across from a new 12-acre Commonwealth development, which will have a mix of retailers, restaurants, luxury apartments and a boutique hotel.