McNinch House Restaurant

A night to remember at The McNinch House 🌹✨ Growing up, my Dad wasn’t just an industrial engineer—he was a hobby chef with serious skills. He spent his childhood in restaurants, and at home, he brought that magic to our table. I didn’t grow up eating “normal kid food,” and to this day, he’s the best cook I know. My love for food? 100% from him. The McNinch House has been on my list for over a decade—and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Executive Chef Eric O’Connor, who joined just a year ago, blew us away. We had the 4-course tasting menu (I truly don’t know how people survive the 5-course!), and every dish was a standout: *Corn & Clam Chowder – the cream is everything *Bone Marrow – best I’ve ever had *Lamb Lollipops (my husbands) – best I’ve ever had *Pork Wellington (my husbands) – the basil took it over the top *Snapper Succotash – the bacon made it *Crème Brûlée – perfectly done From the surprise oyster starter (cool presentation served in a shell over ice) to the palate-cleansing sorbet between courses, every detail was thoughtful and special. Chef Eric personally served our entrée—how cool is that? The service was impeccable, with a main server and 2-3 others helping throughout. At the end, they even handed me a freshly picked rose from their garden. 💐 We dined in a historic 1800s home filled with charm, and afterward strolled through the garden—flowers everywhere, twinkle lights, fountains, and the Charlotte skyline in view. I had to ask for the chef’s autograph and a photo—he’s just that good. We told him he deserves a star, and he smiled and said, “We’re on the list.” So now I’m shouting from the rooftops: let’s help make that Michelin star happen! He absolutely deserves it. Thank you, Chef Eric and the entire McNinch House team, for one of the most enchanting, romantic, and memorable meals I’ve ever had in Charlotte. The whole evening—2.5 hours of pure joy—was not just dinner, it was an experience. ❤️

We put our evening in the hands of the family (chef, staff and sommelier) at McNinch to make our experience amazing. We felt the food and wine spoke a language all its own and an extension of their love for what they do and who they host.

First time was an absolutely wonderful visit. This is a great experience restaurant. The tables don't get turned over so you can take your time and enjoy every course (4 course or five course options) with the wine recommendations. The crab cake, lamb, fish and steak were all fabulous. Ambiance and atmosphere were superb. Take Your time and enjoy the evening! We did.

Phenomenal dinner with such attention to details! My husband surprised me for my birthday! I must say there’s just no way to ever top this remarkable dinner! Matt, the sommelier, perfectly paired wines with each course & then some! He really made us feel heard & special! The plating was over the top perfection! Each course was perfectly timed, as we had the table for the evening! I could not pick a favorite course. They were all Michelin five star quality! My husband wants to return for his birthday!! 🍾🥂

Our dinner at the McNinch house made our trip to Charlotte. We literally found out about the house/restaurant on a Viator self-guided ghost walking tour and looked it up. Saw all the great reviews and decided to go for it and book a reservation for the “chefs table”. The house itself is a historical treat. So beautiful! The “haunted” house was made even more perfectly haunted for our dinner with the entrance of a big thunder and lightning storm. What fun! Each dish was beautifully crafted and each delicious. Definitely an elevated culinary experience that lasted the better part of 3 hours. We loved every bite and every minute of our time. Our server Nick was knowledgeable and kind and Chef Eric so very talented. If you have the time (and budget) I highly recommend this being a stop on your trip through Charlotte or for a special occasion. The family that owns the home has done a really great job making the place feel like you are truly stepping back in time.

I celebrated my birthday dinner here and was absolutely blown away! The table setup, service, and food all far exceeded my expectations. The highlight of the meal was definitely the bread pudding dessert—simply amazing!

Great location and history to have a business dinner with leaders. Service was OK with the stewards delivering a few wrong orders to the people.

Absolutely incredible food and service in Charolette. My husband and I love exploring fine dining in CLT and the McNinch house has been the best. The lamb lollipops were so juicing and seasoned very well and the duck confit was stellar juicy and crispy. Would recommend over and over again.

My husband and I went here for a special occasion. It was our first time dining here which we told our server. Note that the menu is not à la carte but rather served in courses and it is very pricey. The restaurant was empty when we arrived as we were the first reservation of the night. Service began to slow down as more people arrived, but the restaurant was not full by any means even by the end of the night. After we finished our appetizers, we waited a whole hour until entrées arrived. I did complain about the wait and they said they were shortstaffed and their dishwasher was causing issues. The staff did try to make up for it by discounting our bill and giving us a bottle of wine to take home. Overall, the food was mediocre so even if the service was better, I don't think it's worth the price point.

Copied from my other account that I am closing out to consolidate all here. A truly wonder place for upscale special intimate dining in NC's Queen City. "A rather pricey experience but wonderful for romantic special occasion / dinning / date / celebrating. Two 4 course meals with wine came to $550. -- In home built by the Vanderbilts. Residence of Charlotte Mayor McNinch back in 1890s. His ancestors renovated the house and with it did it historically correct. Original glass in the windows, warbly. Authentic touches. Routinely rated amongst America's best restaurants. The kind of sweat one's. They remedied with Martini's much better matching our desire. Appetizers and palate cleansing treats in between. Some most food was stellar and some just good have had better. The Fillet was good but not especially seasoned or tender so have had better experience elsewhere. But for the price it should be best in class. Everything else was stellar especially the service. The sommelier was pleasant, explained much with enthusiasm and professionalism. Wines were perfectly paired. I would definitely consider returning to celebrate something special."

What an amazing place! We went for my hubby's birthday. Food was delicious and light. Presentation was pleasing and a manager / server was very knowledgeable and told us a lot about the history of this place. It's a perfect place for a special occasion or a very romantic place.

After 10+ years in Charlotte, my husband and I finally made it to McNinch House. We had a 6:30 reservation on a Friday and were promptly greeted and seated upon arrival. Service was first class and very enjoyable, but you could sense their stress from being short staffed that evening. We were out on our first date night in a while and not in any rush. We reiterated that to the servers as we were enjoying our time and wanted them to know we understood. We were made aware that a new chef had just joined the restaurant about a week prior. Truth be told, you could tell that the chef needed a little more time to get acclimated with the menu and to perfect certain dishes. My husband and I both had the duck. The 'risotto' was not actually risotto and was crunchy. It actually had some grit on it and left you crunching after eating it. My duck was overcooked for my liking and the portions were very different sized across both plates. Overall, the duck left a lot to be desired. However, don't sleep on the She Crab soup! SO good! We will absolutely be back. There is no question that this is a quality restaurant and we look forward to experiencing the full 5 star experience that we have heard rave reviews about. Cheers to the chef getting more comfortable in their new role and we look forward to seeing the awesome staff again!

This place is very pricey but worth every penny . It was our 47 year anniversary. The food was fantastic, the staff was beyond perfect . Friendly attentive and very knowledgeable about food and wine. Definitely a must to do if you're dining in Charlotte.

I live in 4th ward, so I've been wanting to try this place out for a while, but I needed a reason to go. I decided that my 3 yr anniversary would be the best time to go. We decided to go with the 4 course package for $150. Before I go in to the food, I will say the server we had was amazing. She was very attentive and joy to talk to. However, it did take us a long time to progress through each course. After each course it took about 30-45 minutes for the next course. We arrived at 7:30 and didn't leave until after 10pm, without drinking. For our first courses we both got the shea crab soup and the crab cake. We both enjoyed the first courses. Although, the crab cake was sitting on a date cabbage mixture that really took away from the crab cake, so we ate around it. For our main course I got the NY Strip and she got the salmon. My NY strip was really good. It comes with a black pepper sauce that really complimented the steak. My wife's salmon tasted very bland, but she enjoyed the mashed potatoes. For our last course we both got the bread pudding. The bread pudding was both our favorite course of the night. It was cooked perfectly. It also had a rum sauce that really set the dish off! Overall, the food was good, but for that price point I was expecting to be amazed. I walked away thinking that was not worth $375.

This place is amazing from the Victorian home all the way to the staff. They left no stone unturned for my birthday dinner with my wife. She surprised me! The staff go above and beyond and are wonderful people. The food was out of this world! Words don't even begin to describe it. There is such love and thought put into it all. Thank you again for making my birthday one that I will never forget! Till next time!

Superb. Went for a celebration dinner with family and we were not disappointed! I have been wanting to go here for years but just never found the time. Finally got it off my restaurant bucket list and it did not disappoint. This is a Queen City institution of culinary wonders! The sommelier is one of the most knowledgeable I have come across in a long time, I learned a few new things about wines historically. The service is impeccable and most importantly unobtrusive so that we never felt interrupted during our meal. Timing is everything and the staff have it down to a science. Also, we had the whole room to ourselves as there was a corporate party in the adjacent room but with the doors closed, it felt as if we were eating out at a friends house! Between the 3 of us we picked the rack of lamb (2), scallops, crab cakes, foix gras, she crab soup, and pork belly. Sorbet was a nice touch between courses and espresso was a perfect finale to give us the energy to rollout of the restaurant.

What an experience! Three of us went for an amazing dinner, selecting the four course meal with wine pairings. So we could try a bit of everything, we all chose different options for each course. People think soups are easy to make, but true culinary talent can shine with a good soup and all three here were so complex, rich and beautiful. It's actually hard to develop these flavors, my favorite being the lobster bisque. The lamb was my choice for the entree and it was above average but didn't stand up to the rest of the meal. The vegetables were slightly undercooked for my taste and I thought the lamb could have had a harder sear. Overall, it could have been seasoned a little more aggressively but the dish was still delicious. My favorite dessert was the crème brûlée. It's was Godiva white chocolate which sounds dense and rich but it was light, creamy and not overly sweet. I found it to be a perfect balance with the perfect proportion of brûlée to custard. The wine pairings for each course were expertly chosen and Wesley is extremely knowledgeable about wines from all over the world. They are also generous with the pours so the price is very affordable. The service is over the top phenomenal; professional, friendly, knowledgeable and attentive (but not overly so). Add in the elegant decor, they are checking off all the boxes for a top rated establishment in any large city.

Fantastic place. The inside is perfectly decorated. The 4-course + wine tasting - came off pretty good. The server kept pouring more wine, really loved it. Just an awesome and memorable experience.

There are few experiences in Charlotte where you get to feel like royalty, nor are there places where the staff makes you feel like family. If given the chance to experience the McNinch House, consider yourself lucky. This is an experience you will remember for a long time. From the smiles upon seating to the sweet dreams they leave you with, you will not regret your choice to dine here.

My first time here. A beautiful night. Amazing meal with perfect wine pairings. I ordered a French martini to start, but if I went again I would wait on the alcohol until the food comes out. I wouldn't bother with the cheese plate because the rest of the courses are scrumptious and you don't want to fill up. The Asparagus soup was amazing!!

This was the worst fine dining experience I have ever had. It started with a lie about the wine. One person ordered a glass of wine, a nice Chardonnay from France. He drank it all, they even offered to bring him another glass but he refused as he was driving. He liked it so he asked to see the bottle. However, the bottle they brought out was an inexpensive wine from California ($15 a bottle). They explained they had served him a different wine than he ordered because the French wine "wasn't chilled". I do not know what happened in the kitchen or why we weren't asked about the change. But I know how it felt to us. It felt like we were swindled. I'm glad they at least admitted it when we asked to see the bottle, but that's the kind of malfeasance that can get a restaurant shut down. All three people on staff came out to apologize and comp the glass of wine, which was nice, but honestly I'm not sure what anyone could have done to fix an error that large. We all just resolved to never return to McNinch House. Even if you are comfortable making them pour your wine at the table, you are going to be displeased by the food. It was very inconsistent, some dishes were delicious, while others were so stale or over-seasoned I couldn't eat them. I was there with three other people and we all agreed some dishes were inedible. Because you order all of your courses right when you sit down, there was no turning back by the time we realized that the food was not going to be good. I suggest staying away from the lobster bisque and the pork belly succotash. I spent the rest of the night apologizing to my family for taking them to the McNinch House for a special occasion. Please don't make my mistake. There are such wonderful restaurants in Charlotte, this is not a good representation of what our beautiful city has to offer.

This would typically be out of our price range, but we decided to splurge for an early anniversary celebration. We did a 6pm reservation on a Friday night. There was only one other couple there the entire time we were there (we left shortly after 7). There's a few different options for ordering. We went with the smallest/cheapest which was the 4 course option for $105 each (2 appetizers, 1 entree, 1 dessert). Since we were celebrating our anniversary, they brought us a complementary glass of prosecco which was very nice. Prior to the first appetizer, they brought us a broccolini soup shooter which was very good. For our first appetizer, we both got the She Crab Soup. We wanted to try the Artichoke Soup, but they were out. We loved the She Crab Soup though. Prior to our second appetizer, the brought us a cheese bread with rosemary butter that was delicious. For our second appetizer we got the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and the Pork Belly. The Crab Cake was the best I've ever had and one of the highlights of the meal. The Pork Belly was the only thing we were disappointed with. It was over cooked and not tender like pork belly should be. Prior to our entree, they brought us a salted caramel sorbet which was very good. For our entrees, we got the Rosemary & Dijon Crusted Rack of New Zealand Lamb and the Pan Seared Scallops. Both were excellent. The lamb was tender and the scallops cut like butter. During the course, they also brought us a biscuit with rosemary butter that was very good. For dessert, we got the Hazelnut Crème Brulee and the Caramel and Apple Cheesecake. The Crème Brulee was very good and done perfectly, but the cheesecake was the star of the show. It was light and fluffy with a caramel apple sauce. It was the best cheesecake I've ever had. Our top four dishes of the night were the crab cake, scallops, rack of lamb, and cheesecake. To end the evening, they brought me a rose! They do valet parking, but we found street parking easily. They typically have a Groupon which helps with the cost a little. The service was outstanding. I'd definitely recommend this for your next special occasion!

This is not only a fabulous meal but a tremendous experience. Nestled in a Victorian-Era home in fourth ward. A beautiful home enamored with meticulously detailed craftsmanship, furniture and decorations. The house and décor alone are an unprecedented marvel. Now for the main event, the food. We opted for the four course meal with the wine pairing. I highly recommend the wine pairing. If not for the compliment of flavors for the conversation and experience from their wine expert. A knowledgeable and very friendly gentleman. The food was out of this world. It is a seasonal menu and can change regularly. I started with the lobster bisque then shrimp and gouda tart slice for openers. The main course were the scallops, mmmmmmmm, then polished off with chocolate mousse. Everything was not only cooked to perfection but perfectly combined with wine pairings and flavors that consumed my taste buds. Nothing was remotely less than stellar at McNinch House.

This unassuming house, built in 1892, has one of the most amazing meals I have ever had! My wife took me here for a holiday treat, and it was beyond phenomenal! You only have the choice of how many courses you want, if you want to add wine pairings, or if you want to do Chefs choice. We chose the 5 course, which includes 3 starters, a main, and dessert. I had the She crab soup, lobster roll, and the pork belly with succotash as my staters. My main was the filet (which was perfectly seasoned and so tender I only needed a butter knife) and the apple walnut cake for dessert. While everything was delicious, the pork belly was the absolute star of the show. It was top 5 best thing I have ever tasted! If you're looking for the ultimate fine dining experience, I fully recommend McNinch House

I had the best experience at McNinch House. It has such character and I wish I knew the story behind the old house! It's right in uptown, even has it's own parking lot behind the house which is super convenient. It's a great place to celebrate something special. I can't wait to go back and show my family what a cool restaurant this is!

I have had this restaurant on my wishlist FOREVER! Years have passed and I didn't get there, but this year, stupid 2020 was my best year in business ever. So it was time to celebrate. Let me just tell you this: It was worth the wait. There are a few different choices for the courses you'll get, but we did the chef's choice and did not for one second regret it. I tried dishes that were amazing that I probably never would have ordered if given the choice. Forevermore I will let any chef choose for me what they wish me to eat because of this meal. First, the home itself. There is so much history here and the home is just gorgeous. We had the good fortune to go while it was decorated for Christmas and it was just beautiful and cozy. I felt so relaxed and pampered. One of the things that sets this restaurant apart is the roaming wine steward. He was so charming and knowledgeable! He guided us through the entire meal, regaling us with stories about each wine. Again, we tried some we'd never get to try elsewhere. But truly the food is what sets this place apart from all of the other fine dining establishments. Every single course we sampled was unbelievably delicious. Cooked to perfection. The revelation of the night was the veal tenderloin. I've never had anything so tender and flavorful. The pumpkin mousse was light and a perfect ending to our perfect evening. If you are looking for a super special meal, like a proposal level meal, this is the place for you. Make a memory!

What an amazing way to experience a different vibe! If you want something different and quaint, please check out the MH! Yep, I shortened the name because it deserves a little pizazz! This is not your ordinary restaurant so be prepared to enter a magical fairytale. My husband surprised me with this date night! We walked in and the house is beautifully decorated as if you were going back in time to the 1800s. The original hardwood floors and window panes are gorgeous. There are dining tables placed strategically around the first floor that make you feel like you are visiting someone's home. We were surprised to get the best seat in the house - right in front of the big window in the front of the house - to people watch and enjoy our food. There were a few different menu options to choose from. My husband and I chose the "Chef's menu", which meant that the Chef decides what to send out - we love surprises! We were able to tell the wonderful server what we don't want or like and the Chef made sure that was not on our plates. From the watermelon/cucumber and mint pallet cleanser to the wonderfully cooked scallops- everything was exceptional. This menu also included a wine tasting...so whatever the chef brought out to us, the wine expert chose something to compliment the dishes. WOW! When I tell you everything the wine expert brought out just made everything so much more flavorful! Cheers to Wesley! He definitely knows his wine! I can't wait to return! This was an unforgettable experience. Just a few side notes: This is a definitely a great place for special occasions, as the price tag is a little steep for a weekly visit. They also cater to private events and have a second floor for additional guests. There is parking behind the house and also metered parking on the street (remember after 6pmET, parking is free at the meters). The staff is wonderful and so knowledgeable and entertaining! You have to go back in time at the MH!! Until next time...

DECOR: Somewhere in Time. If you love antiques, you will appreciate McNinch. However Wesley's description exaggerated the connection between the Biltmore and McNinch - sorry, we've studied the Vanderbilts including George. McNinch is refreshingly quiet. SERVICE: Everyone was very pleasant and attentive, albeit at a very slow pace - just under 3 hours for cocktails and 4 courses, a little too slow to us. Many of the servers were very young, and not well versed in the menu. When we asked what Habanada soup was, she told us 'it's very spicy, don't order it if you don't like spicy foods?' [Evidently habanada is "the flavor of a habanero with none of the heat."] There are many servers, but they're not well coordinated- three different people asked if if we wanted our check after the first server went for it. FOOD: Cocktails were generous. Wine service was good. We've had tasting menus from Keller, Waters, Trotter, Tramanto/Gand, etc. so we're familiar with the concept. All of them develop menus with selections that are usually a mix of classics, clever variations on classics or breaking new culinary ground. McNinch uses great ingredients, mostly well executed, but there's nothing novel or creative on the menu - it's all the old classics. We had a cheese plate with run of the mill cheeses - I can have Colby-Jack anywhere. The Lobster Bisque, Pork Belly, Pumpkin Soup and Crab Cakes were all well done. Her scallops were fresh and well prepared. My filet was tender but overcooked, medium rare does not mean all the pink is gone. My Apple Walnut Cake was fairly good, her Chocolate Crème Brûlée w Cayenne was a total miss - it was barely thicker than chocolate milk, with too much cayenne. After breaking through the sugar and a small taste, she did not eat it. It's not easy to get the custard just right on crème brûlée - but this wasn't even close. OTHER: 20% gratuity is added to all checks, but that's stated on the menu. We were presented with a check for $337, they'd comped us for the cheese plate, cocktails and wine to acknowledge the dessert failure - a server told us "the pastry chef was out tonight." We told them that was too generous, and the server quickly said "we can just take the wine off, or put everything back," and it wasn't clear what would come next. The next check was for the full $483. Our experience was nowhere near worth that, though we've gladly spent quite a bit more on tasting menus in other cities. Well intended but if you've experienced the creativity a tasting menu is supposed to offer, you won't be impressed at McNinch.

Service from Wendy, Jordan and Wesley was superb. The ambiance, food and wine were all spectacular. We will be back. If you want a very special place for dinner, this is it!!

Food was absolutely amazing. ( a tad overpriced ) Ambiance was breathtaking, ( music choices a little weird - #starwarsmusic ) Service was good. Dining at McNinch house was an experience we had looked forward to for some while and McNinch House didn't disappoint.

I have been to a lot of upscale restaurants but this place has a classic vibe you won't get anywhere else in Charlotte. McNinch House is truly in a category of its own and will not disappoint. The service is TOP NOTCH and the food is on point. This is a venue you would expect to see in "Southern Living" magazine.

Celebrated our 39th anniversary every part of the experience was fantastic Old world charm great chef great presentation great service Historic house with an explanation of the history during the visit Every course was better than the last

My dinner at the McMinch House was a meal AND an experience. The food was exceptional. The service was superb. The setting was regal. The night was perfect. The house, itself, has an extensive history. Several presidents once dined there many decades ago. I know this(and more) because the wine specialist also shared stories and pictures of its historic past. It was a pleasant addition to the experience. The menu gives you the choice of how many courses you would like. You also select your entree, your sides, and dessert. You have an option for wine pairing with your meal. We arrived a few minutes early. We were both given a flute of champagne during our brief wait while they prepared our table. Our opening courses came out. The she crab soup was wonderful. My date ordered the lobster bisque. I tasted it and it was super. I also got a lump meat crab cake that paired well with my soup. My main entree was braised spare ribs. They were tender and flavorful. My date chose the filet mignon. It was good choice. The desserts were. notable. My date's lemon cake was good. The maple cheesecake that I selected was one of the best slices of cheesecake i've ever tasted! Everything was served with an elegant presentation. The table looked opulent when we arrived. The china, the stemware, and flatware just glistened on the candlelit table. The little extras between courses were nice touches. We also received a corn muffin, sorbet pallet cleanser, an angel biscuit, and a small topped wheat wafer. It was special. This restaurant is like no other around this area.

My wife and I absolutely love Mcninch. We enjoy dinner here every few months and are never disappointed. The environment and menu is one of the most unique in Charlotte.

With a 4 star AAA rated restaurant you have expectations. I expect a multiple course meal to have smaller portions but I didn't expect to be leaving the restaurant hungry. The staff was polite and respectful which you expect. The atmosphere/decor has character in an old/historical house. The greet the table with a glass of champagne which is very nice and unexpected. We chose a bottle of wine from their extensive wine list. Unfortunately they did not have that bottle but provided us with two different options that were the same type and price. They allowed us to try both of the wines to see which one we liked (which I've never had before). My wife didn't like either of the wines and they allowed us to pick a brand new wine. The next one we picked she loved. They started us off with the gazpacho. It was interesting. It was room temp and had a mango flavor at the finish and just a touch of spice. It was not something I would order. They then brought out the first of our two apps. I order the foie gras which came out looking like a piece of pie. It was okay but the sauce and jam that they put with it were over powering and that is all you tasted. They served cheddar biscuits as their bread option which was arguably the best thing I ate. The crab cakes was also very good! However, it said jumbo crab cake and it was not big but very good. The sorbet the offered was peach flavored but could have passed as watermelon. It was tasty but hard to eat in the dish and the spoon. I order the rabbit tenderloin. I was a little disappointed as it didn't have much flavor itself. The sides that came with it tasted better than the main protein. Overall there were some good part of the meal and some I would rather not have again. For the price you pay for the meal you expect great things and are let down but the expectations. I wouldn't come here again unless they lower their price or provide the level of food you expect for the price you pay.

There are so many reasons to have this food experience in Charlotte. Dining in a beautifully decorated historical home is one experience. Amazingly crafted elegant dishes served by exceptional staff is another. The fine china and glassware, the wine steward, the service. Fine dining is a lost art but it can found at the McNinch house. You will feel like royalty while tasting some unique dishes served in 4 or 5 courses. We spent 3 hours here on dinner and wine but could have easily stayed all night. This hidden gem located in downtown Charlotte transports you back in time when dining was celebrated as art. Take your special person here and they will remember you for it. Highly recommended.

We had a fantastic time here! Excellent food and exceptional service and atmosphere. We loved the wine we chose, as well

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the McNinch House. The formal table, the top-notch service and gourmet food were beyond our expectations. We ordered the price fixed 4 course meal with a cheese plate, it's not cheap but it's a restaurant for a special occasion

10/10 dinner. I celebrated my anniversary there and the ambiance was very romantic, upscale, but also comfortable. The service was amazing as well and no complaints at all about the food. I will most definitely return. This place is great for a special occasion, a different vibe than a normal fancier date night.

It is has been over a month since my visit to the McNinch House, and the reason for the delay is due to the fact I was torn on my review. But, unfortunately the more I thought about the entire experience the more I know it was just OK. In honor or my Mother's birthday I decided to take her to McNinch for the 5 course tasting menu. We arrived for our 7:00pm reservations and loved the atmosphere, a quaint house with a nice setting for a private, special occasion dinner. Being a Saturday night I was surprised to see only one other occupied table in our room and only two tables in the other room. Where was everyone? The McNinch House offers a variety of dining options, 5 course, 7 courses and a Chef's Tasting menu with the option to add wine pairings to your experience. We decided to go with the 5 course tasting menu, and after looking over the menu were very excited with the options and even more our selections. I started off with the She Crab Soup and the Crab Cake. All I can say is the She Crab Soup is a Must Have and honestly the only real highlight of my dining experience. The Crab Cake was not memorable at all and I can say I really didn't even taste crab. For my entree I chose the Filet, medium. Unfortunately that was overcooked and I have had better filets at some chain restaurants...Sorry. My Mother started with the Pear Salad and the Scallops, which she enjoyed both. Unfortunately she wanted the Foie Gras but they didn't have it available that night, which was a huge disappointment. For her entree she chose the Truffle Pasta, which was undercooked and had no flavor. Where were the truffles? As for the desserts, we ordered the Cheesecake and Baked Alaska, both okay. Overall, the entire meal was somewhat of a disappointment, mainly when it came to the taste of the food. I guess I expected more or maybe it was an off night??? I have been to a few other restaurants for birthdays, anniversaries, etc and would definitely return rather than visit McNinch again.

Wonderful time here as always! Food was delicious and beautifully presented. Definitely a nice special occasion spot or when u want a nicer night out. I would probably get rid of the yellow plastic ducks in the fountain out front though LOL

Let me start by saying, this - by far- has been the best dining experience I have ever had! The food was wonderfully cooked, beautifully displayed, and the service was very personal but professional! It truly was a once in a lifetime experience!! The ambiance was romantic and really made the night. I would definitely recommend. However, it was expensive. I would say worthy for a special event or if money is of no issue. Six course meal with wine was $185 per person plus tax and gratuity.

I'm so torn about this review, but I cannot lie. I mean really torn. My first time here and I'm all about nostalgia, history, a story, and going to nicer restaurants for the experience. I think this hits a lot of those. I'm just so disappointed in the food. The servers were good, nice and engaging when we asked questions, there is no problem there. Rebecca specifically stood out and told us a little more about the history of the home and the families that owned it and some features of the house. Everyone was nice and they kept the table ready for the next course and our drinks full. Ok great, good we got the foundation covered. On to the wine/food... The sommelier was out of town and that's totally fine. But no one really knew much about the wine when we asked questions. Instead of a bottle, we just got glasses of wine and could have spent more money and drank more. But limited us to two for only 2 of the 4 in our group. They do have a fairly decent selection of wine. We ordered the 6 cheese plate and it was good no complaints, except I wish we had more honey and jam to go with each bite. For a 5 course meal I would have expected so much more from a flavor and execution standpoint. So for myself specifically, I initially wanted the 7 course meal which included extra cheese and an extra opener. Since we were in a time crunch, I just said hey I'm gonna go back down to a 5 course and cancel the other two and they said no problem. In the 5 course you get 2 openers, sorbet, a main course, and dessert. My opener courses I got the crab cake and she crab soup. I liked both. Not amazing, but I liked it. Great presentation on both. When I wanted the stuff fried squash blossom, they said they ran out. I really didn't want anything else on the my openers, but fine and I ended up not even getting a 3rd so I guess it worked out. The sorbet palette cleanser was nice and refreshing with the sugar rim on the square bowl. The main dish I chose was the rack of New Zealand lamb. First off I wanted it medium and to me that's a little pink, but it came out rare. Check my picture. I actually sent it back but not for the color, for the actual temperature of the lamb. It was cold!!! I felt embarrassed sending it back, but I'm not paying $100, 5 course meal for cold Lamb. The crusting of it was fine, nothing spectacular. They heated it up and was still not hot, but warm. I asked why and they said it was because "you asked us to put it on rush." I don't think rushing the searing of Lamb made it cold. I've cooked plenty of Lamb myself and it doesn't take that long to cook, but bringing it out cold is just unacceptable and rare, not medium. Fine I ate it anyways. On to the dessert. I got the blackberry cobbler and it was hotter temperature wise than my Lamb. And not bad, wish it had more ice cream in it. U Nothing at all jumped out and was like wow this is so good or wow this is amazing. I just didn't get excited about it. My friends meal....The friends I was with had the pan seared duck, this was also not cooked correctly to what we asked for. And it wasn't that great. No one at the table finished every single course and I left hungry. The chocolate mousse and key lime pie desserts were also not good at all. I'm not about price or complaining on what costs what. It's an experience, but seriously how do you charge $100 for a 5 course meal and nothing wow'd me or anyone at my table??? I am just disappointed in the overall food experience. Anyone can have history and a cool place, but if they can't follow it up with the right food to match it doesn't make sense. I'm glad I went, maybe it was an off night, but nothing amazed me and made me remember the dinner. I honestly will not be back and it makes me so sad to say because I think it could have been so much better.

Amazing experience and the staff is very accommodating The McNinch House is one of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte Food is incredible and a top notch service

So the sweetie and I decided to try something different and go to The Mcninch House for dinner. After trying to make a reservation for several weeks we finally got one for a Friday night. This place is super cute and I loved the decor. When we got inside there were only 2 other tables occupied so I found that to be weird especially since the reservations always show this place as extremely limited. First, the service was great. Everyone was extremely polite and welcoming when we entered. The wine concierge was very knowledgeable and encouraged us to try something new and different with our meal. The meal started with a serving of balsamic watermelon with goat cheese. That was definitely different for me lol. It wasn't bad. For our dinner we both ordered the same thing; she crab soup, crab cake with cucumber salad, steak with squash, and carrot cake. I thought the soup and crab cake were really nice. My steak was cooked exactly the way I like it. Im not a fan of squash but this was cooked really good. It was crunchy and not soft like other places prepare it. We got the carrot cake to go so sorry no picture as I forgot lol but it consisted of about 4 cubes of cake, whip cream, and a small serving of sorbet. It was ok. That could be because I ate it the next day and it was cold. I also had a cocktail with my meal. I believe it's called The French and it is really good. It's Chambord, pineapple juice, and vodka. I'm making those at home lol. In between dishes we were bought sorbet. That was a nice touch. Overall, this was an experience. If you're looking for something fancy then this is for you.

We returned after 7 years and we were happy to see the server from many years ago also serve us yet again. Warm, hospitable and knowledgeable in wines he paired all our meals with the perfect choices. Seven delicious courses over a three hour period that we'd do all over again in a NY minute. Great evening and money well spent.

The McNinch house is located in the Fourth Ward neighborhood (my favorite part of Charlotte.) The front yard is so inviting with it's warm lighting and shaded trees along the sidewalks. It's surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city, but once you walk through the gates, it's as if the city doesn't exist. It's cozy, charming and historical. If you want to feel like a princess for one night, this place will make it all seem so real. It's one of the most romantic restaurants in Charlotte. It's worth every penny and something you must experience at least once in your life. If you're thinking that it's "too fancy" or "I don't belong", well that's probably true. I definitely didn't belong in a place like this (Sometime eat salad with my fingers), but they'll make you feel like you're the most important person to ever walked through their doors to dine. Even though it's extremely elegant and fancy, you never once get the "hoity-toity" attitude. You're simply graced with southern hospitality at it's finest. We weren't in the mood for alcohol, so we skipped out on the wine, but I must mention that they are known for their selection and knowledge of fine-quality wine. If you are a wine connoisseur, this is your place. Wes, the wine steward, is a pretty big deal. He's been working in the industry for twenty-one years and has trained at the New York's Windows on the World Win School. I believe he's worked at the McNinch house for thirteen years. He was so pleasant and loved to joke around. He gave us a little history lesson on the house. All of the ceilings and woodwork in the house were so eye-catching. I couldn't stop starring at all the detail. It was handcrafted by the same man who designed a lot of the woodwork at the Biltmore. I love the touches of purple throughout the house, indicating it's royalty and elegance. The detail did not go unnoticed. Some people may think that the classical music in the background is too cliche, but I appreciated it. I loved the mood it set and the pieces playing were beautiful and calming. The only complaint I have is that everything on the menu sounded so decadent, that it was hard to choose. They reassured us that the one thing they don't do there is rush, so we could take our time looking at the menu. And if you don't know what something is, just ask because the staff is so informative and know everything about their menu. They don't educate themselves for nothing. They are more than delighted to assist you in anyway. You're royal, remember? The food is incredible. The chefs are talented and artistic! Everything we ate was wonderful! Check out my blog for all food photos and thoughts! I loved that our dinner was long and enjoyable. There was no waiting in-between courses. Once we were done with one course (on our time) they'd grab the plates from table and serve the next course within seconds. The dinner was at our pace and never rushed, or too slow. I call that a good course flow. http://simplytaralynn.com/2016/08/16/dined-like-royals-mcninch-house/ Read the rest of my review at the link above for my food descriptions and thoughts!

Such a wonderful find in Charlotte for a date night with the hubby! The house is gorgeous, dining in a Victorian style home with amazing details to catch the eyes are simply everywhere. From the paintings on the walls to the chinaware, it's the details that enhanced the meal. Kudos to the chef for his use of garden herbs grown on property, and the wine pairings were perfection.

An experience for sure. The ambiance, attention to detail and delicious food made our anniversary extra special.

A classic, vintage ambiance set in a house turned historic landmark, paired with the chef's tasting menu and Bourdeaux wine complement, made for the perfect belated birthday dinner. The best way to describe a dining experience at McNinch is to feel lost in a dining whirlwind of pure, blissful happiness and given the perfect pair of ruby slippers by Dorothy herself, yet no desire to go home or even be found. We began our dinner with Wagyu Tartar, Seared Scallops and Foie Gras as opening courses. The Wagyu Tartar had the perfect texture that simply melted in my mouth. While I enjoyed the scallops, it was nothing out of the ordinary. It was the Foie Gras that warmed my heart. The dish came with a whipped chestnut puree, crispy arugula, and a caramelized onion pound cake. The flavors complemented oh so well and the texture was absolutely perfect. After our opening courses, we received complimentary sorbet as a palate cleanser. DELICIOUS. For our main courses, we got the Rosemary and Dijon Crusted Rack of New Zealand Lamb and Beef Stroganoff. Both were divine, but I would have to say the Lamb was my favorite of the two. Each piece of lamb was cooked to perfection and complemented well with the parsley couscous ad onion jus. The flavors of the stroganoff blended perfect, but the homemade truffle pasta was definitely the highlight. On to my favorite part of every meal, DESSERT! We landed on the Chia Panna Cotta and the Baked Alaska Flambe. While both were way too beautiful to devour, their beauty only helped delay long enough for pictures. The Baked Alaska Flambe was completely submerged in whipped cream and then completely toasted with Italian Meringue, lemon and chocolate ice cream simmering inside. My absolute favorite was definitely the Panna Cotta. Presented as a terrarium, a mini pink rose sat in the center with Nutella powder sprinkled all around and honey and ginger caviar subtly placed throughout. With a single rose and complimentary champagne to help celebrate, I genuinely thank you McNinch for such an amazing experience!

Our friends recommended this restaurant to us. We are so delighted that we tried it. It's set in a very quaint old Victorian house. Beautifully decorated. The service was really great. Very nicely paced with a five course meal. Each dish was elegantly presented with fresh edible flowers. We had corn bread and a biscuit to pare with two different dishes. I didn't like that the corn bread crumbled apart each time I tried to eat it but the flavor reminded me of my mom's Johnny cake which was wonderful. The she crab soup and crab cakes were both delicious. My husband had the filet minot and I had the scallops. Both very good. Our desserts were every bit scrumptious. I had the flourless chocolate cake and my husband had the Carmel pecan pound cake. We had more than we could eat. Everything was perfectly cooked. An expensive but well-worth-the-extravagance restaurant.

So we've seen this place on lists for Charlotte fine dining and based on romantic/kitschy decor we decided to try for our 10 year anniversary. Like others I am not excited to write this review as the decor was fine for what they are going for and overall generally nice people. For a 5 course meal and the price associated with it one would expect something more than extremely mediocre and slim portions. And with two melon ball sorbet scoops being counted as a "course." Last I recall that is considered a palate cleanser in tasting courses. I won't get into the details of each course but can definitively say that if you want to splurge $400+ for two people (bottle of wine and 5 course)-There are plenty of restaurants (maybe not in Charlotte) but around the world where you can get your money's worth and feel like the splurge was worth it. This meal should have been no more that $150-175. Ambiance is nice- kitschy/corny but nice and people were nice- just in no way worth anywhere near to what they charge. I would not recommend.

Took my boyfriend here for his birthday because I've heard such great things about it. Was fully prepared to dish out a good deal of money but I was okay with that because it was for a special occasion. I had heard great things about this place from friends and family who have been over the years. But what I failed to realize is that the people telling me the great things had not been back in at least 5 years. I was expecting amazing food and service (especially for the price). We got the Chef's tasting with the wine pairing. So it was going to be about a $400 meal for two. The food was average at best. The service was awful. Our waitress knew nothing about the menu and was a little too casual for such a high class place. The upside is that the wine was great and the guy serving the wine was very knowledgeable and friendly! Another upside is that my boyfriend was disappointed with the meal that he said something to the manager in private and she felt very bad about the subpar experience so took a $100 off our bill. I really do hope they step their game back up. Because from what I've heard it used to be quite the experience to go here for a great, high-end meal.

First off, the atmosphere of this restaurant is incredible. There is so much history and the employees will gladly give a tour. The tables are beautifully set and the attention to detail is very obvious. The food was great and beautifully prepared! And most importantly, the service was outstanding. The prices may seem a bit steep, however the experience is very much worth the price and more. After dining here I can understand why the prices are set where they are. It is definitely an experience and they will exceed expectations. I definitely recommend going and I DEFINITELY recommend trying one of their many martinis. They were to die for!

I and my wife dined at McNinch on 2/25/21. It's a beautiful historic house, with unique table settings. We appreciated the small thoughtful unique touches - champagne when waiting for the table, edible flowers, tasteful classical music, intra-course palate cleansers (soup, sorbet). These made McNinch stand out.

I need to start this by saying this all happened on a day they were supposed to be closed! I spoke with the manager of the restaurant and explained that there was only one night that my party and I could have dinner due to our work schedule. After whittling downtime the guest list down to 13, the chef and manager come up with an amazing array of courses. Add a very knowledgeable sommelier and a detail oriented waitstaff and dining bliss was had by all! Each course, every pairing was meticulously explained and prepared to perfection. During courses we were given the history of the building as well as a tour. The only issue we had was that the evening couldn't last forever. Cliché, sure. But also very accurate. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the McNinch House Restaurant!

Let's be clear, this rating is in relation to the price you pay for the experience. You can't really justify eating here and spending well north of $200 for a couple for the overall quality. Corn bisque was underwhelming but She Crab soup was good. Jumbo lump crab cake tasted good but was small. Rack of lamb was decent, NY Strip was underwhelming. Again, nothing was terrible but absolutely nothing was 5 star.