Meet the founder: How L'Ostrica is making fine dining more accessible in Charlotte

Why it matters: L'Ostrica has become one of Charlotte's best restaurants not because it fits neatly into a category, but because it reflects a broader shift in the city's dining culture, which is adventurous, globally influenced and less interested in traditional fine dining rules than ever before, Carter tells Axios.

Driving the news: Starting June 3, L'Ostrica is expanding its à la carte offerings and adding more flexibility to its tasting-menu experience.

Zoom in: Starting June 3, on Wednesdays and Thursdays L'Ostrica guests can choose between a six-course tasting menu, à la carte dining or a hybrid of both.

• The expanded à la carte menu will feature roughly 25 items, including new pastas, entrées and desserts.
• While previous tasting menus were a surprise, now they'll be available to view online in advance — and guests will be able to select between multiple dishes for certain courses.
• On Fridays and Saturdays, tasting menus will still be required in the dining room, though guests will now have options for several selections. À la carte offerings will remain available at the bar and patio.

Catch up quick: Ferguson and Carter arrived at L'Ostrica through very different paths.

• Ferguson trained at the Art Institute of Charlotte before cooking in Italy, New York and San Francisco. He later co-owned Nick's Italian Cafe in Oregon, which won a James Beard Award during his time there, before returning to Charlotte as chef at Stagioni.
• Carter originally planned to become an English professor before pivoting to consulting in Washington, eventually realizing her love for food was more than a hobby. She later founded magazine Edible Charlotte and worked as a food writer and strategist.

Flashback: A couple of years before opening L'Ostrica in 2023, the two hosted tasting menus in people's homes.

• "At the time there wasn't a whole lot of that in Charlotte," Ferguson says. "I loved bringing people through a progression."

Context: The tasting menu remains the backbone of L'Ostrica, but the restaurant has evolved to include weekly "Sunday Supper" pop-ups, a chef's market and a more casual bar experience.

What they're saying: "We don't fit neatly into a box, nor do we want to," Carter says.

• L'Ostrica combines European and Asian techniques with Carolina ingredients and West Coast influences, a direct reflection of both Carter and Ferguson's backgrounds.

• The two build each tasting menu collaboratively, debating wine pairings and sourcing ingredients from local farmers."It's a beautiful negotiation," Carter says.

The intrigue: Carter and Ferguson say they intentionally designed L'Ostrica to make fine dining feel accessible rather than exclusive. Tasting menus typically run around $120 for six courses and $175 for 10 courses.

• "We try very hard to make this about joint exploration and discovery — not pretentious and unapproachable," Carter says.
• "I don't want this to be a place you come once in your lifetime," she adds. "I want this to be part of the community."

The big picture: Carter says Charlotte diners are more informed and adventurous than ever before, thanks in part to greater exposure to different cuisines and cultures online.

• "The average guest just knows more walking in the door," she says. "There's more of a desire for an elevated dining experience that doesn't require a jacket and a tie."

What's next: Menus will rotate every two to three months, with expanded cocktail, by-the-glass wine and amaro programs also rolling out this summer.

• "'Always seasonal, always evolving' has been our motto since the start." Ferguson says."This shift is a continuation of that philosophy,"

Stop by: 4701 Park Road, between Park Road Shopping Center and Selwyn Avenue, in the same building as Waterbean Coffee and Vintage Nail Bar.

• Open Wednesday-Saturday 11am-3pm and 5-10pm, Sunday 5:30-8pm.