Evan D.
Yelp
Leluia Hall has been living rent-free in my head since it opened. I waited for the right moment, and when my parents planned their first-ever visit to Charlotte, I knew this would be the dinner to close out their trip. I booked nearly a month out. The only time available was 5 PM on a Tuesday, so yes, we were early-birding it while the dining room slowly filled up... and honestly? No complaints. We had the space to soak it all in.
The restaurant is inside a beautifully restored 1915 church with massive windows, vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, vintage chandeliers, and a whole section of seating that looks like an HGTV dream sequence. It's elegant without being stuffy and feels like Southern charm meets secret society dinner club. The Tonidandel Brown team also runs Supperland, Haberdish, Growlers Pourhouse, and Ever Andalo.
Chef Christian Medrano had been teasing me for months on Instagram with specials, test dishes, and plating so beautiful it felt personal. So the anticipation was real, and I'm happy to report: this was hands-down one of the best meals I've ever had in Charlotte. Maybe the best.
Service was top notch. Julia, our server, was warm, funny, and had clearly tasted everything on the menu. She was basically our food Sherpa. And then there was the garnish tray. Yes, a tray of fresh fruit, mint, cucumber, and citrus slices brought tableside to flavor your water like we were checking into a boutique wellness resort. Totally unexpected and now completely necessary everywhere I go.
We started with the tiny tacos: lobster and wagyu ribeye tartare. The lobster was dressed in brown butter aioli and lemon zest, tucked into an heirloom masa shell with a violet blossom perched on top like it was about to walk the red carpet. The wagyu tartare tacos were rich, velvety, and had just the right amount of serrano heat. Both were bite-sized mic drops.
The saffron honey chicken was my favorite of the night. It's cooked confit then finished on the plancha for crispy skin that crackles like a sitcom laugh track. It's glazed in saffron honey beurre blanc, layered with chili crunch made from fermented black beans, and finished with lemon. Rich, juicy, and unforgettable.
The Chilean sea bass came wrapped in a thin sheet of sweet potato, resting on a smooth avocado chimichurri with brown butter and lemon. It was so delicate I felt like I needed to lower my voice. The whole roasted branzino, a special that night, came with charred herbs, mint, house-blended sazon, black garlic, black lime, sherry vinegar, and smoked jalapeño oil. Absolute flavor bomb.
We also had the creamed cipollini onions with shaved parm, espelette, and thyme, which had us spoon-fighting. Chef Alex surprised us with the Masa & Cheese which had masa dumplings, cotija cheese, sweet corn, and popped corn on top. Like if mac and cheese and a street festival had a baby.
For dessert, we had the fudge cake. Julia poured warm fudge sauce tableside over a dense chocolate cake until it cascaded down like it was staging a takeover. It sat on chocolate milk crumble with toasted vanilla ice cream slowly melting into the mix. Rich, dramatic, and perfect.
By the end, we were painfully full. My parents have been on a serious diet streak, and I'm 90% sure I broke it in one sitting. Worth it. We had to walk the South End Rail Trail just to function again. And even during that walk, everyone was still talking about the food, the experience, the sauces, the ambiance... all of it.
Pro tip: parking is mostly street. I got lucky out front, but give yourself some time to circle.
Leluia Hall is something special. The food is as thoughtful as the design. The energy is warm but elevated, and the kitchen clearly has a lot of love behind it. Huge thanks to Chef Medrano, Chef Chris, Chef Alex, and the team for an unforgettable meal. I already can't wait to return.
Want more legit Charlotte food spots without the fluff? I made a guide. It's called evansfoodguide.com
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Go eat something good.