Customshop
New American restaurant · Elizabeth
1601 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204
Highlights
New American w/ European accents, global wine list, rustic-chic
New American w/ European accents, global wine list, rustic-chic
"Customshop has been serving farm-to-table dinners since 2007, which is around the same time that people across the country realized their food comes from farms. We’re only sort of joking, but this is one of those restaurants that celebrates North Carolina’s extremely good and varied produce. Come for dinner and definitely get a vegetable-focused small plate or two before moving to a seafood or pasta main. If the menu has a pasta dish with seafood, and it usually does, get that. The restaurant stays true to the organic theme, with fresh flowers on the wood tables, stoneware dishes, and a general, upscale granola energy." - tess allen, g clay whittaker
"A New American restaurant in Charlotte where the general manager describes certain menu staples as “can’t-miss” highlights intended for first-time guests; recommending these early favorites helps build a connection and trust between server and diner. Calling out popular or signature dishes can reassure guests and encourage repeat visits when the suggestions align with their tastes." - ByMaggie Hennessy
"Customshop is a cornerstone of Charlotte’s food scene; the obvious answer for when someone asks how to impress their out-of-town friends or their new crush with good taste. Coming from Miami, chef Andres Kaifer revamped Elizabeth’s Customshop into a handsome, lively place to be. What’s cool about Customshop is that it transcends being a spot with singularly good seafood or a singularly good cut of meat. Each item on the menu — from the crudo trio to the duck breast painted with miso and blackberry — could be considered the restaurant’s claim to fame. The whole menu is full of smart but simple offerings. The marble bar stuns, and the cocktails, like a chili salt espresso martini and a mezcal and beet sour, match up to the food." - Kayleigh Ruller
"Charlotteans book up reservation slots at Customshop weeks in advance to try chef Andres Kaifer’s rotating seasonal menu. The dishes range from bright crudo with Parmesan leche de tigre to seared duck with a strawberry demi-glace, and the fresh North Carolina scallops are worth any wait. Or stop by for a quick sip at Customshop’s sweeping granite bar or on the casual front patio. Don’t leave without trying Kaifer’s flan, either. It should be the finale to any meal here." - Kayleigh Ruller
"Walking into Customshop feels like strolling into a New York City restaurant, but instead, it’s in the heart of Elizabeth. The much-appreciated dark lighting, splashes of brick, and the familiar staff that has been around for a good while make it so. Chef Andres Kaifer combines ingenuity with seriously simple ingredients — the squash gnocchi in a herby, tomato-ey lamb sauce, or the tender duck with a sweet-and-sour cherry demiglace. While Customshop has certainly been a tried-and-true spot for a special occasion over the past 15 years, it’s arguably a really ideal go-to spot as well, for splitting a generously-sized pasta or sipping on a mezcal and coffee-washed Campari cocktail or a bright matcha gin drink at the bar for first-date vibes." - Kayleigh Ruller
