Sanctuary Bistro

OH M GGGG…WOWWWW…this is what I felt with every item I ordered. Was first time at this place and have heard a lot about it and it was AMAZING…I can’t write anything without CAPS…that means a lot…we ordered sushi, soup, jackfruit steak, beer battered tofu, cheesecake and crème brûlée being just two people Cz everything on menu sounded so good and we licked every plate, it was so DELICIOUS…I would have generally given 3 or 4 stars for poor service but my soul is satisfied that I can’t do that for this even, would rather give it 20 stars for how amazing their food is. Why are they not Michelin yet??? We did some wine tasting and one other item which was amazing. Try sweet Resling wine, we finished the entire bottle. Man, I can’t stop bragging how good this place is. Just one request to make the service better, it took almost an hour for our order to arrive and it was soul teasing, EVERYTHING ELSE WAS FABULOUS. Love they are all vegan so I didn’t had to think what to order. MUST MUST TRY my vegan and non-vegan peeps.

This place is very tasty with great people. My favorite were the fried mushrooms. So tasty! All of the dishes were made with care and intention. The only thing I could say is a con is there may be a bit of a wait for the main entree to come out, but it is well worth the wait! It takes time to make good things. I highly recommend, whether vegan or not.

I have been to Sanctuary Bistro many times many times over the years even though it’s over 30 miles away from my home. It’s probably the best restaurant of my lifetime even though I have been blessed to experience many exquisite restaurants especially in the Southern California area where I lived until 6 years ago. The food is amazing, all vegan, gluten free and very delicious! The atmosphere is delightful and so are the people!!! I simply cannot express how much I love this experience and no, I am in no way profiting from this, except in the sense that I believe this business is making our world a better place!!! 😋💝

I was so excited to see some of the vegan options in Charlotte! I certainly experienced great customer service. My server was very helpful and even provided me with a list of all of the vegan options in Charlotte, which I thought was so kind and helpful. I had the mushroom oyster inside of the tortilla bc it was good. I wasn’t crazy about the roasted potatoes, but the strawberry cheesecake was good.

Excellent restaurant, good menu. Chef Barry and I do not align on taste preferences, but the food is very good. I would go back to try another menu next time I am in Charlotte. Fried mushrooms: 8/10 - much better with the remoulade for me. Did not like the sweet sauce. Batter was good, mushrooms held oil a little more than i’d like. The little potatoes and mushroom bacon served with the fried mushrooms were 10/10 Trumpet Scallops: 9/10 - the base was one of the best things all night. Mushroom texture didn’t mix well with the base for me. Purple ravioli: 11/10 - easily the best all around plate of the night. Pasta texture was strange, but the sundried tomato cheese filling was phenomenal, and the pesto cream was perfectly executed. Oyster mushroom entree: 6/10 - overall didn’t hit for me. Mushrooms were too rich, potato hash seemed undercooked, carrots were superb, sauce was not enjoyable and a bad pair flavor wise. Presentation is never really a factor for me, but having 2 feet of parchment on my plate was a turn off, too.

I am struggling to describe how great this restaurant is. I have been a regular customer for the last 3 years and cannot believe that I haven't submitted a review earlier. Everytime I go to Sanctuary Bistro, it is a special occasion, despite being a regular evening dinner. The food is simply stunning. I love that menu is changing often and every time is super delicious! I am truly grateful that such an amazing plant based restaurant exists and team is doing fantastic job! Thank you Sanctuary Bistro!

My wife and I are not vegan. We were a bit skeptical about trying this restaurant. However, we were blown away by our experience here. 1. The restaurant is small. There's no getting around having a small space. However, they've done an excellent job of using the space they have to feel warm and inviting. It's a great space for a date. Just remember, reservations are highly recommended. They have a couple of clean and private restrooms. They share a large parking lot with other businesses and the parking is free. 2. The service was awesome. Jennifer, (who I now realize is part owner) was really nice and attentive. She made us feel welcomed, explained the menu and the specials, and she timed all of our dishes perfectly so we could enjoy them in courses. She was very patient with us while deciding what to try and also gave great suggestions. 3. The food was amazing!! We shared their charcuterie board, oyster mushrooms, and the lions mane mushroom dish with potatoes. We did not feel like we compromised on flavors and/or tastes by having any of these dishes. They were all flavorful and filling. We will absolutely be back to try more of their dishes. 4. They have seasonal menus as well as drinks. So if there is something on the menu you really want to try, don't procrastinate. 5. Price. The pricing feels appropriate for the amount of food we received. It felt like a very fair exchange. Our meal was around $60 before tipping. 6. They also offer prepped meals that you can order and take home to reheat. I thought that was a great addition.

This food was amazing. It also just happened to be vegan. I’m not a vegan. I’m an omnivore, but I appreciate good food regardless of dietary restrictions. Let me start off by saying, ORDER THE FRIED OYSTER MUSHROOMS! This was the best fried food I have ever had. In. My. LIFE. They were that good. Just get it, you won’t regret it. Second, the ratatouille was fantastic. It was great on its own, but the fried tofu on top sent it over the top (and added protein)! The mushrooms en papillote were good. They came with carrots and potatoes all cooked en papillote with thyme and orange. The “cream” sauce was also thyme and orange flavored, but it had too much orange for my taste. It was still good, but it was my least favorite dish of the night. The bananas Foster’s was good, but not traditional. It was almost like a savory very of the dish. It had a noticeably grilled taste. Still great, but different. My only complaint of the evening was service. There was one woman hosting, serving, and bartending. Naturally, service was a little slow, and she failed to clear the empty appetizer platter when she brought the mains. Ambiance is great, light, casual, tastefully decorated. Although the sprinkler head light fixtures weren’t my style, everything else was aces. Will definitely return! I might even bring a vegan with me next time to get their take!

What a delicious experience! Even if you are not vegan or vegetarian- this food is fresh and damn good. The service has always been warm and welcoming. They are happy to explain dishes and make great recommendations. It is family owned and beaming with small business pride and we love supporting it! Charlotte is lucky to have Sanctuary Bistro.

OH M GGGG...WOWWWW...this is what I felt with every item I ordered. Was first time at this place and have heard a lot about it and it was AMAZING...I can't write anything without CAPS...that means a lot...we ordered sushi, soup, jackfruit steak, beer battered tofu, cheesecake and crème brûlée being just two people Cz everything on menu sounded so good and we licked every plate, it was so DELICIOUS...I would have generally given 3 or 4 stars for poor service but my soul is satisfied that I can't do that for this even, would rather give it 20 stars for how amazing their food is. Why are they not Michelin yet??? We did some wine tasting and one other item which was amazing. Try sweet Resling wine, we finished the entire bottle. Man, I can't stop bragging how good this place is. Just one request to make the service better, it took almost an hour for our order to arrive and it was soul teasing, EVERYTHING ELSE WAS FABULOUS. Love they are all vegan so I didn't had to think what to order. MUST MUST TRY my vegan and non-vegan peeps.

Lots of good stuff on the menu. I had a fantastic oyster mushroom chowder (New England clam chowder style) and a tofu florentine, the tofu was really tasty and had a nice crisp. Thank you. Edit: Alright, ok, hold on. We came back for dinner the same day we had brunch here. As we finished brunch we saw somebody else getting some chicken-fried oyster mushrooms and waffles and all day I had hankering for some fried oyster mushrooms. We didn't find anywhere else in town for them so we just came back. The dinner plates were phenomenal. First off we did get the fried oyster mushrooms and they were perfectly crispy and seasoned and Colonel Sanders would've tried to steal the recipe if he'd tasted them. The Dijon dipping sauce was delicious as well. Then we had scalloped oyster mushrooms in a buttery garlicky white wine sauce that had a sort of decadence to it that just made me feel fancy. Third plate was the beet salad with a bleu cheese dressing and holy shit man, that dressing was so fucking good I would've eaten a giant bowl of that salad just for that. We finished with the Lion's Mane and Fig skewers and it was delicious as expected but the secret mvp was the pile of vegetables sitting under those skewers in the light onion gravy that really had a surprising amount of flavor and when the veggies played as hard as the delicious fancy Lion's Mane and Fig I was just blown away. I had to revisit the review from brunch because dinner was amazing. Thank you guys.

Wide variety of selections on the menu. The service is top notch. Nice restaurant for a quiet dinner.

We called in and they were booked, they called us back the second someone canceled We thorough enjoyed every aspect The wine I love Malbecs from Argentina We tried most of the mushroom dishes and they are amazing

As someone with severe Dairy and Egg allergies, Sanctuary Bistro has been the first place I can go and order anything on the menu with no hesitations. The food isn't only allergen safe (unless you have tree nut allergies) but the food isn't only delicious but far beyond "healthy" and far beyond just "safe" for me to eat; it's delicious and carefully crafted. I love their use of seasonal menus based on local produce, and they even have frozen meals they've made for baking or reheating at home. Not to mention the extensive drink menu from wines to kombucha, to unique drinks in-house. Pair all of this with good service and people who clearly care about the mission behind their food and I don't know why this wouldn't be anyone's go-to spot for a healthy, allergen aware dining experience at reasonable prices. Chef Barry even created his own "egg" to make my breakfast experience as wonderful as it could've been. It was so realistic I was almost concerned TLDR: don't miss out on this gem and support local businesses like Sanctuary. If you have allergies they're super conscious about it, and nothing is sacrificed in the flavor or quality of food if you're vegan or have food allergies. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

This is a nice vegan restaurant located in Ballantyne area you have to make a reservation in advance. The menu changes quarterly the staff were friendly. The food was delicious. Definitely will return and highly recommend.

Once again we made our pilgrimage to Sanctuary Bistro from Dallas and it didn't disappoint. I had the po-boy dilla which was loaded with crispy savory oyster mushrooms. The tortilla had a great crunch and the veggies were so fresh. The hubs had his favorite BLAT dilla. He did what he could to savor every bite. Of course we had the cheese cake and no, I didn't ask the flavor because the cheesecake is always fire! We'll be back tomorrow before we pull out of town on our summer work extravaganza trip. Way to go Chef Barry and family! Great food, great service, great atmosphere!

Hidden gem alert! Blown away after doing a birthday brunch here for a Vegan friend. Brunch is probably the hardest meal to be a vegan around, but not for Sanctuary! I was amazed by their broccoli soufflé and their crispy oyster mushroom waffles. Which also are gluten free!?! I know, right? Brunch is done by a set menu where you have your choice of one, two, or three items (set prices) and you get get sides for 5 dollars. Honestly, I did not know what to expect and glad I went the "pick two" route... although, when the first waffle came out, I got a bit nervous that I had overcommitted myself. Luckily the soufflé was not that big size-wise, but flavorwise... was "big" in every way :). Brunch is first come, first serve so we arrived around 10:15am (it was a group of 5 of us) but they easily accommodated by pushing tables together. The entire dining room transports you into a warm, cozy place where the natural edge bar and decor really doesn't feel like you are in a strip shopping center. Our server, Maddie was great. She actually turned out to be a former student of my friend so they got to catch up. Maddie had some good recommendations and was definitely ON POINT with the mimosa pitcher we ordered. We were all so stuffed by the end of our meal, we didn't have room for dessert, but I definitely want to come back and try dinner. Seems like they highly recommend reservations for dinner.

Everything- service, attention and spotless clean. Food was fresh, creative recipes and delicious.

Had a date night last night and was not disappointed. Jennifer was our server and she was phenomenal. She was very knowledgeable of the menu, offered recommendations on drinks and dessert, and overall made us feel very welcome. We started with the Fried Sushi Platter & Soup Du Jour. The sushi was interesting and unique. It was served hot, not cold and came with 7 pieces. The initial taste was very seaweed heavy but then almost melted into a grilled cheese flavor. I would recommend if you want to try something tasty and new, but not if you're looking for that traditional sushi taste. The Soup Du Jour was Clam Chowder! I haven't had clam chowder in 9 years and it was so nice to be able to eat one of my used to be favorite soups again (: My partner who is not veggie said the taste was spot on. I am not a fan of mushrooms but they were perfectly seasoned and didn't give off a heavy, earthy mushroom taste. The potatoes were soft and flavorful. Very hearty as well. For our entrees we split the jackfruit and the tofu. The Jackfruit Bourguignon was similar to a tomato soup in regard to taste. The texture is chunky but well seasoned. Oh my gosh, the mashed potatoes were SO good. Whipped, melted in your mouth, and garlicky. The Tofu had such a nice, thin, crispy layer of skin. It was seasoned to perfection. The sauce really brought this whole dish together as well as the rice. Great portion sizes for everything. For dessert, we tried the crème brûlée and banana foster. The brûlée had a strong candied taste but unfortunately more burnt then i'd like. I've never had crème brûlée so I thought it was a warm dessert but it was served cold which threw me off as i'm not a big fan of flan type desserts / textures. The banana foster was yummy! Warm bananas, sweet brown sugar butter and perfectly made strawberry ice cream. I like that although the ice cream was a coconut base, there was not a strong coconut presence in the taste. I'd prefer this over the crème brûlée in my opinion. They serve beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. I recommend the 10% abv hard kombuchas if you want something similar to the feeling a cocktail will give you :p

Everyone on our table ordered different things so we could sample a large variety of the menu. Every single item was excellent! Customer service is notable. Felt comfortable and at home in the space and nobody needed to worry about accommodating dietary restrictions due to the thoughtful menu.

Absolutely love this place! Barry is a magician in the kitchen. We are not vegans but have good friends who are so we try vegan restaurants to check them out. Sanctuary opened during Covid but survived with family style take out. We are so happy they did. We usually go for lunch or brunch. We love the oyster mushrooms, all the 'dills and the quiche. For brunch she will go for the soufflé and for me the chilaquiles. Delicious, and reasonably priced.

I'd been under the weather, nothing contagious, and so went to Sanctuary Bistro., and I was not disappointed! The waitress suggested a rice meal with finely chopped up broccoli and carrots, and special hot green tea w aquave nectar in it!! Delicious ! The sweet waitress gave excellent advice!! Even felt like splitting delicious Tiramisu ma SueHmmmm Unmmm! Just what the Doctor Ordered. !! Five Star Rating. Food was delicious, The service out of this world, and sweet ambiance. Not rushed, let you eat and talk at your pace!! Excellent experience! Highly Recommend Sanctuary Bistro!!

What a nice place!! Food is good, wine list is nice, and there's cocktails. Servers were very friendly and nice. If you have a vegan or 2 in your family highly recommend you take them here. We enjoyed the food as much as our vegans!!

I don't venture to this side of town often but when I do, I have a list of places on my to try and Sanctuary has been at the top. I was able to stop by for a late lunch and took a seat at the bar as the restaurant is small and most of the tables were taken. I ordered the po-boy dilla(fried oyster mushrooms, grilled onions, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, and remoulade on a brown rice tortilla). It was ok but the mushrooms didn't seem to have much flavor and there was way too much remoulade for me. I may return to try something different.

My husband and I had the most lovely dinner at Sanctuary Bistro. I am vegetarian and try to be mostly plant based and my husband is a meat eater, but we both thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We got the charcuterie board, fried oyster mushroom "buttermilk chicken" and beet salad. Neither of us typically like mushrooms but the oyster mushroom dish was definitely a "gateway" mushroom dish for us. The portions were generous and we were too full for dessert but we look forward to going back to try more things on t. Jennifer the owner was the one waiting tables and she was so friendly and attentive. It is also the perfect spot for a date night because it is a smaller more intimate space that has a warm, cozy ambiance while still feeling a bit more upscale. I love that we didn't feel rushed and you can take your time to enjoy each dish. This place exceeded our expectations. We will be returning.

I have been coming to Sanctuary Bustro for well over a year now. When I first moved to the Charlotte area I was so intrigued. What originally enticed me was their full gluten free menu. It's so nice to be able to order anything off the menu. Speaking of anything off the menu. EVERY. SINGLE. item that I have tried, has been out of this world. I'm not sure how they combine flavors so well, but I'm in love with every dish I have tasted. I'm honestly shocked I haven't written them a review yet, but I guess that because I don't even know what to say. They truly leave me speechless time & time again. From their herbal teas, to their salads, to desserts, & everything else in between. The service is always great & every waitress we've had has been very kind. We appreciate businesses like you, thank you for putting in the extra work, it doesn't go unnoticed!

We are not that experienced with vegan food but if all vegan food is as tasty as what they served here, we are already partial converts! this spot is definitely a hidden gem of sorts beside Trader Joe's. Service was amazing and everyone was so accommodating for our 2 year old! Our son got a complimentary dish of fresh strawberries just because our server had overheard him asking for some!

Sanctuary Bistro did not disappoint. Everything from our birthday dinner was delicious. The purple pasta ravioli was excellently fried with a creamy filling, the oyster mushroom en papillotte was flavorful with perfectly steamed vegetables, and the lemon trifle was layered with the most delicious fruit. I'll definitely be back to support this local vegan restaurant!

I am not a vegan. My sister in law is so she gave us a gift card for this place. It was a year ago and because of the $30.00 binding fee I did not want to go. After a year I finally said ok let's try it out. The place is very small but was really beautiful inside. I loved the wooden bar and tables. The food was excellent but unfortunately because I am type one diabetic I can't eat rice beans and mash potatoes. They don't have fish as a protein but if you are healthy you can be vegan. My wife and I ate vegan for one year. My cholesterol improved from 237 down to 167 but my blood sugar was high most of that year. The waitress was nice but her only shortfall was we felt rushed. Her sentences were hard to understand because she was walking away before she finished. The chef must know what he is doing. The food was good. We tried several dishes. I don't like mushrooms but 50% of the 4 entrees were mushrooms. I still say if you can skip a fish, chicken or steak try it. My very favorite part was the NO cell phone rules. Amazingly you had to be present with the human you went with. If you don't like that person don't go. I hate to go out to eat because people are so stupid and rude. They tell you up front no phones. I love that and I'd say go with your love and go to Wendy's for your burger later.

Not sure how we missed this wonderful place for 4 years. An excellent Vegan restaurant with innovative menu options. Loved it. Vegan& organic makes it healthier option.

Food was excellent! Adobe tacos and Miso salad were both fantastic. Fun dining night out.

Just as incredible as described by other Yelpers. It's comforting to recently move here from Los Angeles, a vegan-friendly city, to discover this gem. We ordered the crispy oyster mushrooms, broccoli and bacon soufflé, and a host of other delicious dishes that left me full but now leave me drooling at the very memory. I should've Yelped this place immediately after visiting since they've now changed their menu, but based on the cuisine quality, Sanctuary Bistro seems like a spot that you can't go wrong no matter what you order. 1000% worth frequenting--whether you're planning a romantic evening or a guilt-free night in. Bonus points for veganity.

Everything was perfect! The food was incredible, the staff were warm and friendly and the vibe was just right. The owner talked to us about their story and it was so fun to hear! Go now!

This place had a pleasant interior for a suburban strip mall outlet, but was also running a very COVID-appropriate takeout operation, with easy online ordering and the option to order both freshly cooked food and frozen dishes for later. I did both. I know they were sauteeing up my tofu freshly because the kitchen was open and I watched it cooking. And they do make fantastic tofu, including a breaded, fried form and a barbecue dish that I liked a lot better than I usually liked barbecue-it was sweet but a bit spicy and crispy. I took for the longer haul a frozen shepard's pie made of lentils and vegetables with mashed potatoes and cashew butter on top, which reheated into a satisfying meal. The menu held plenty of intrigue, and given the small niche they are aiming for here (being both vegan and gluten-free) they hit the bull's eye. It had a menu full of interesting and creative things, which pretty much anyone can eat. And with both dine-in and take-out as desirable options, I definitely recommend it.

This place is A game from beginning to end! The food is amongst the best I have ever had- vegan or not! Flavors and seasonings are exciting and interesting and make me want to try everything on the menu! The lovely couple that owns this place actually runs this restaurant "old school" speaking to customers and caring for them and their experience. I am completely blown away and will be back every time I come in town!

the food and service is always spectacular! We have been several times, and I have yet to order something that I didn't enjoy. My favorite vegan restaurant in Charlotte.

Sorry, this is gonna be just another boring 5 star review of the best gluten free vegan restaurant in the world. I went there 5-6 years ago when it was located in California and loved. I went back with my gf vegan fiancée and loved it even more!!! We had the fried oyster mushrooms, chocolate hot cups, 'dillas, and their world famous tiramisu. It was all 10/10 Sooooooo goood!! The atmosphere was great. Our food server was wonderful, and the chef came out to chat with us and autographed our well used and worn Sanctuary Bistro cookbook. One of the best 90 minutes of my life.

Vegan or not, I highly recommend you try Sanctuary Bistro. This locally, woman owned fine dining restaurant will not disappoint! I made a reservation for my birthday and upon my arrival I felt very welcomed by the Happy Birthday note at my table. Jennifer the owner, waitstaff, bartender, hostess and everything else in between made me feel very welcomed. She provided outstanding service and was super attentive to each table. The timing of the food was perfect, as well as the presentation. I had the Lion's mane 'steak' and it did not disappoint. The chocolate parfait for dessert is amazing and I was pleasantly surprised when Jennifer sang happy birthday to me! The interior decorating adds to the enjoyable ambience. I'm so happy I chose Sanctuary Bistro to celebrate my birthday. I'm looking forward to trying more of their yummy menu in the near future.

The food was excellent and the atmosphere was beautiful. The wine suggestions paired well with the entrees.

Sustainable, local, organic, dairy-free & gluten-free...simply amazing food! I had the GRILLED PORTABELLO-DILLA and the DECADENT CHOCOLATE PARFAIT. I highly recommend Sanctuary Bistro and will be back soon.

Love, love, love this restaurant. We've been for dinner and it is fantastic. Today we got to try brunch for the first time and it did not disappoint! The food was amazing! They have a tiered pricing system to order one, two or three items. We got a lot to share. Had the Florentine, broccoli soufflé, oyster mushroom po-boy dilla, biscuits and gravy, and black bean chilaquiles. Everything was really unique and so flavorful. My daughter is not vegan and loved it. Our server Noelle was wonderful. The portions are large and pricing is very reasonable. We will be back. Highly recommend.

Wonderful food with wonderful service. Our waitress was kind and helpful. The sweet potato bake was fantastic, and everything was reasonably priced. Sanctuary was such a pleasant surprise, we made a reservation to return as we paid the bill.

...On a lazy Thursday afternoon, looking to try something different, thought to try this place. Never imagined mushrooms could be so tasty until I tried their Crispy oysters mushrooms!!! It's a hidden gem! Had a quick chat with chef and complimented him about freshly prepared dish. This place is worth to visit!One regret, I could only give them 5 star, they deserve 10! :) keep up the great job, and make a difference with amazing recipe!

This is far and above the best Vegan food I have ever had. Service, atmosphere, friendliness way above expectations. Try it!

Sanctuary Bistro is delightful! The food is fresh, creative, DELICIOUS and nourishing. The cafe vibe is lovely and relaxing. And the desserts are a wonderful treat--if you like chocolate, try their chocolate parfait...it's heavenly :-).

I just went for dinner last night and the food and service were both great! Jennifer, the owner, is super sweet and the restaurant itself is so cute and welcoming. The menu is always changing and everything was delicious!

Small and quiet. Service is slow but worth the wait. Order everything up front. Be wary of the charcuterie board. Extremely filling and might spoil your appetite if you aren't careful which you want to protect because the food is amazing. Oh and they're vegan. I'm generally a proud and dedicated carnivore. So what. Food is amazing. So many things on the menu I am excited about trying.

As a recent vegan, one disappointment has been a "nicer occasion" restaurant. The problem has been solved with the addition of Sanctuary Bistro. We finally got a chance to dine there this past Saturday. I was pretty excited since they have been on my radar for 3 months (when we began a vegan lifestyle). We made a reservation because it says on their website they have limited seating (COVID, and it is a small place in a "strip mall"), although I did notice there were about 6 seats at the bar in "twos" (good for future reference). I was surprised that I had to pay $30 to reserve our table but I assumed it would be taken off our bill. We actually forgot about it until we got home and checked and it was not removed, so I was going to call-but it was credited back to my account the following day, without calling. The service was excellent and I am fairly certain it was the owner, Jennifer (she told us her name but not that she was the owner, but even with the mask she looked like the picture on their website). She was waiting on all the tables, as stated before-it is a small place and she was on top of it the whole time. She checked in just enough and was very friendly and professional. The food was some of the best Vegan food I have ever had, just incredible flavor profiles. I had read about Chef Barry on their website and that was the main reason for my excitement on trying this restaurant. His bio, showed impressive training and I imagine California to be way ahead in vegan food. I grew up a chef's daughter and appreciate well thought out and technique driven food. My fiancé and I shared everything we ordered and were impressed by everything we ate with one small disappointment being the soup of the day: New England clam chowder. We felt it to be under seasoned and therefore a little too sweet for our liking, but we loved the texture and it was very reminiscent of clams. I was hesitant to ask for salt and pepper, as I know some chef's take that as an insult and we prefer salty food so I thought perhaps it was just us. We ate most of the soup anyhow. We were into our entrees when another table sat down and ordered their (same) soup. I heard them saying it was too sweet and they asked for salt and pepper. Jennifer went to the kitchen and she came back with salt and pepper and a new bowl of soup from Chef Barry with a message that he agreed with them and also felt the seasoning was off and had prepared them another soup but still sent the salt and pepper just in case...lesson learned, ask for the salt and pepper! No ego there, just great customer service! That was a small hiccup in an otherwise truly delicious and unique meal. We started our meal with a tasty amuse bouche (on the house) consisting of a healthy portion of mushroom pâté on a slice of gluten free baguette. We then got the charcuterie plate. YUM! Their house made cheese is SO good we bought some of the spicy smoky cheddar to take home! The other cheese, the lemon peppercorn was equally delicious. The black eyed pea sausage was a wonderful surprise. The dish hit all the right spots for charcuterie, with the richness (cheese, sausage) being balanced with acidity (mustard, pickled red onions and olives) and the crunchy texture of the gluten free baguette. Next came the soup and then the King Oyster scallops. We both had to resist the urge to drink all the scallop sauce from the bowl, and luckily we didn't have to because we had baguette slices to use for sopping. Scott got the BVQ Mignon and I got the Polenta and King Mushroom. All was flavorful and satisfying. I really enjoyed the polenta, and the mushroom was really good, it must have been marinated- I thought I tasted the mustard from the charcuterie plate, and there were white beans underneath. I liked most of the Mignon dish except the beet egg, but I do not like beets-Scott does and he liked it. But the BVQ, potatoes, yuba, asparagus and hollandaise sauce all shone. Dessert was the blueberry cheesecake (this changes flavors). I liked it, Scott loved it-especially the crust, which he raved about on the way home. We took leftovers (as we ordered a lot). We also bought two frozen take home meals to try, the sloppy Joe's and Mac n cheese. We have not tried them yet. And we bought Chef Barry's cookbook, I am excited to try some of the recipes! We will return soon and with friends! I still want to try the bacon and broccoli soufflé, crispy oyster mushrooms, and red beans and rice!

We only just found Sanctuary Bistro a few months ago and have already been back many times. Neither my wife nor I are vegan or even vegetarian but the food here is outstanding and the owner is there personally serving the amazing food cooked by her chef/husband. I almost hate recommending them because it is already hard to get a reservation and I'd love to keep it a secret.

Amazing food, cozy restaurant, great service. Love everything is gluten free and vegan. We'll definitely be back again!

Yummy food and awesome service! Love their po boy and deserts are super delish. I want to go all the time.

I stumbled upon this place by looking at Yelp for Vegan restaurants. I should have did more reservas because I walked in there with a t-shirt and this place is definitely a bit upscale. Although I wasn't dressed properly the waitress, Jennifer, was very nice to me. I didn't make reservations but she sat me at the bar which was still very nice. She helped me pick out what I want to eat and let's just say my entree and dessert were both excellent. Prepared and plates well as you can see from my pictures. I forgot the chef's name but he's definitely great at his job! Please check this place out if you get a chance. I look forward to coming again.

Amazing food and service. Cant wait to go back. Food was creative and atmosphere was great.

If I could give this place 6 stars I would!! The Oyster mushroom chowder is fantastic! Oyster mushroom Po Boy is amazing! Everything is fresh and fantastic vegan or not! They say you need reservations for dinner but lunch is usually ok without. I went to lunch and there was plenty of seating. If you're vegan, vegetarian or Gluten free this place is a must go!!!!

Best vegan meal. This coming from a non-vegan. Great flavors. Nice atmosphere. Outstanding service.

I can't say enough great things about this spot. My BF (A Hunter and meat lover) loved everything this compassionate eating bistro offers. Super impressed with their Frozen Meals options and will be taking advantage of it open. And recommend anyone wanting to try a plant based diet to grab their cookbook. We will be making their house cheese as a staple in our home.

This exceptional little gourmet vegan joint owned and operated by do-it-all husband and wife team of Barry and Jennifer Horton is a much needed addition to a South Charlotte restaurant scene awash with sterile restaurant chains. Unfortunately, it is located in the always crowded, parking challenged Piper Glen Shopping Center (a few doors down from Trader Joes) but don't let that stop you from giving it a try. You won't regret it. My first experience here was lunch with a vegan buddy. Let me just say, we were both blown away. I am the farthest thing from a vegan and expected to walk away hungry. NOT! I started things off with the most savory beet salad that I have ever eaten. Beautifully displayed, it included walnuts and a variety of beets that I have never seen: Red, yellow, pink and multicolored. I'm not quite sure what it was that replaced the goat cheese that I am used to but it was delicious! My buddy enjoyed the soup of the day - Oyster Mushroom. It was a generous serving and was rich and tasty. For our entrees, we both went with the Spicy Buffalo Tofu-Dilla which consists of Crispy Soy Boy tofu, buffalo sauce, tomato, "bleu-cheese", romaine on a brown rice tortilla. The portion size was huge, it was indeed spicy and the brown rice tortilla was fantastic. Meat? Who needs meat? For lunch you can choose any one entree for $9 or any two for $16. Dinner entree prices run about $16, which is very reasonable for genuine gourmet cuisine. Desserts look and sound divine and run $10. My wife and I will definitely split a tiramisu on our next visit, which, hopefully, will be soon. They also offer gluten free beers. Our server Laura provided friendly and attentive service. It was a joy observing Barry in chef hat passionately preparing his delectable creations thru the open kitchen window. Everthing was immaculate and attractively decorated. The table tops and bar top was gorgeous. Other than the parking situation, the only another drawback its tiny dining area consisting of about 10 two-person tables and a 10-person bar. You can look at it as either intimate or crowded. Regardless, I think they will be so successful that they will need a larger space very soon. The five stars that I have given them really doesn't do them justice. It was the best Charlotte dining experience that I have had over the past couple of years.