Everything you need to know about Orosoko Sound Bar in South End
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Orosoko is a new upscale restaurant lounge in South End offering shareable plates and a range of cocktails.
Why it matters: Orosoko embraces top-notch acoustics, allowing conversation to flow without getting too loud. You can speak to your friends across a large table without having to yell over the DJ playing house music in the corner.
The vibe: Expect an intimate setting inside the 2,300-square-foot space, chill beats, cocktails and a food menu with a blend of Latin and Asian cuisine.
"Our sound system [was] specially engineered for this venue," co-owner Greg Pappanastos tells Axios. "We've gone to great lengths to attenuate sound so that the experience is more pleasant all the way around."
Dig in: Orosoko's food menu was designed by co-operating partner Jay Pound, who previously worked as the executive chef at Soul Gastrolounge.
- The menu comprises shareable plates, and it's separated into two sections — east and west.
- The east side features dishes with Asian influences, like truffle-chili edamame ($8), BBQ chicken dumplings ($12) and crab egg rolls ($15).
- The west side has Latin influences with dishes like blue crab burritos ($15), and Cuban-style escalope – AKA scallops ($28), made with black beans.
- Its cocktails are unique and feature a variety of flavors. The "Golden Hour" ($16), which is rich and floral, contrasts their "Bullet Train" ($16), Orosoko's version of an espresso martini.
Zoom in: Pappanastos and Pound opened Orosoko with chief operating officer, Nick Spain, who was most recently the general manager at Merchant & Trade and has a history of managing large nightclubs, according to Pappanastos. Together, the three make up Solandra Hospitality Group.
- Pappanastos is the president of Argos Real Estate Advisors, a commercial real estate development firm. But those who've lived in Charlotte long enough to remember popular nightclubs like Label might recognize him for his DJ sets.
The big picture: Listening bars like Orosoko and Lorem Ipsum in Plaza Midwood are growing in popularity at the same time Charlotte is trying to establish itself as a music city.
Go deeper: Where to check out electronic music in Charlotte
If you go: Orosoko is walk-in only and has a section on its website to join the waitlist.
- It's located at 130 W. Bland St., across from Morelia Gourmet Paletas.
- It's open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5pm-midnight and Friday-Saturday from 5pm-2am, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
