We are met with a giant teddy bear. "That's our mascot," the woman at the front says as we enter The Charlotte. The bear is wearing an apron emblazoned with the restaurant's name
The Charlotte, an all-day neighborhood American bistro and bar, opened in late September. We're here on a weekday evening. Only days earlier, when coming out of Tei-Tei, we saw a group of women, decked out in lovely threads, taking selfies in front of The Charlotte.
"Is that your selfie light," one of the hosts asks as we're seated with one of the bears, adding, "We have extra selfie lights at the front if you need them." I look at the bear, a welcomed third wheel at our table. Adorable, I think, as my wife poses for photos with our fuzzy guest.
"We picked the bear as our mascot because we wanted something that is friendly, approachable and cozy," Operating Partner Kimberly O’Neal tells me. That approach carries through the menu, carefully curated by Culinary Director Wyl Lima, who has 20 years of restaurant experience, including time at Michelin-starred Temporis in Chicago and Duro Hospitality’s Sister in Dallas. Likewise, O’Neal brings decades of experience, including 11 years at Hillstone Restaurant Group.
The restaurant’s name, though, refers to the mother of one of the partners, Auntie Charlotte, who was the heart of the neighborhood. The moniker also reflects The Charlotte’s raison d'être: "We're a neighborhood restaurant," says O’Neal.
The menu leans comfort food with strong Southern, Texas as well as global flourishes. From the booth, I watch Lima working in the kitchen as our first plate, charbroiled oysters with crawfish, arrives. I don't know why I avoided oysters for years of my life. I love them now and am making up for lost time. These oysters are especially delicious, with the cajun accents adding so much flavor.
The dishes that follow, whether it's the smash cheeseburger, the spicy vodka pasta or the seared branzino, are comforting and flavorful. The service is so good and the space is so nice. This is a restaurant you want to remember, through Instagram pic after Instagram pic. It's cute, and we love the bear, but what really matters is the food. The Charlotte is way more than a mere selfie grist.
This is a serious restaurant with a friendly smile — a welcoming, warm culinary hug. Auntie Charlotte must be so proud.
We thank The Charlotte for hosting and treating us. The restaurant is located at 2822 N Henderson Ave, Dallas.
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