L'Ostrica
Restaurant · Closeburn ·
Seasonal tasting menus, caviar service, bar snacks, and cocktails
Seasonal tasting menus, caviar service, bar snacks, and cocktails
"Built to challenge the preciousness of upscale dining, this Montford spot favors a light, airy room with high ceilings, Asian art, scattered cookbooks, and an open kitchen rather than white-tablecloth formality. Chefs lean on hyper-seasonal, refined tasting menus of five to 10 courses that spotlight Carolina Piedmont ingredients—examples have included hamachi crudo bathed in dongchimi, a humble split pea and ham soup, and rich squab involtini—while younger natural wines and a concise cocktail list offer fresh pairings. Service is warm and communal, and the approachable weekly Sunday Supper has become a casual, fun draw that has cultivated loyal regulars." - Erin Perkins
"L’Ostrica found an untapped market in Charlotte — fine dining — and filled it with a sophisticated, yet inviting, tasting menu restaurant in the Montford neighborhood. Wednesday through Saturday evenings, the menu consists of five to 10 courses — delicate offerings, like a brilliant crispy beet chicharon or a velvety mussel mushroom cappelletti. Also, the caviar service is a must-get when feeling this fancy. For the casual or curious, try the daily to-go offerings from the market (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or pop in for the evening bar snacks menu and cocktails, like the decadent fall whiskey, amaro, and Carolina persimmon drink. On Sunday evenings, L’Ostrica shifts the dining format to a Sunday Supper theme with a rotating a la carte menu. Note: Reservations are required (except for the bar)." - Kayleigh Ruller
"When Cat Carter and chef Eric Ferguson opened up L’Ostrica in November 2023, they filled a gap in Charlotte’s culinary landscape with an upscale tasting menu. Patrons can select a five- or 10-course option, but truthfully, the more, the merrier with dishes showcasing meticulous technique and deep respect for Piedmont produce. L’Ostrica’s dishes change religiously with the seasons. Some shining dishes from the various menus have included a local mushroom cappelletti with smoked mussels, kombu-braised leek hearts, and split pea and ham soup — an ode to Carter’s father. Each ingredient on the plate in the restaurant has intention — no extra fluff. If a tasting menu isn’t in the budget, linger and lounge at the bar, or pop in midday to try the rotating sandwich special." - Kayleigh Ruller
"L’Ostrica opened this past fall under the helm of chef Eric Ferguson and his standout, creative tasting menus. It’s a special occasion destination. The Montford space is refined, with views of the sleek open kitchen, where Ferguson and his crew craft seasonal dishes, like poached lobster enveloped in a crisp golden crepe or chilled cucumber soup with smoked mussels. If prix fixe isn’t your style (or within your budget), pop in on a Sunday for a themed dinner with a la carte options or snag a seat at the bar for a cocktail and a small bite." - Kayleigh Ruller
"L’Ostrica’s 10+ course tasting menu is so artful and exquisite that it almost feels wrong to eat. Cat Carter and chef Eric Ferguson’s sleek new spot has a balance of what’s hip and what’s classic with veteran bartenders and servers and utter precision in the seasonal plates, like kombu-braised leek hearts cloaked in nori and a butter-soft pork belly zested with yuzu. Collectively, this warrants the $175+ tasting menu price. For a same-but-different (aka same vibe, different price) experience, walk-in customers can sit at the bar and order from a condensed menu, still highlighting the shining stars of the tasting menu dishes. This restaurant reimagines stuffy fine dining as an experimental culinary undertaking in a relaxed setting." - Kayleigh Ruller
