Heirloom Restaurant
8470 Bellhaven Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28216
Heirloom Restaurant Menu
-
Popular Items
Healthy Meal suggestions for Heirloom Restaurant
-
Popular Items
Visit below restaurant in Charlotte for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charlotte for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
8470 Bellhaven Blvd
Charlotte, NC, 28216 - Phone (704) 595-7710
- Website https://www.heirloomrestaurantnc.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Lucinda L.
I was really very impressed with Heirloom. Although it is located in a nondescript shopping center off of Hwy 16 this is a special place totally worth the drive. This restaurant is truly a local restaurant from the greens to the meats to the wines and liquors. The manager commented that the only ingredients not from North Carolina are citrus and olive oil. We started off with special cocktails including one named "Surprise Me." The server asks what cocktails you typically like then the bartender makes something up on the fly. My group of three then ordered one twelve course meal and one four course meal. We shared everything and the quantity was filing enough for us all. Our twelve course meal consisted of two appetizers, two salads, eggplant bisque, pasta, grouper, beef, a divine fried rabbit, cheeses and two desserts. The protein dishes were complemented by perfectly cooked vegetables. The menu changes daily so what we had will likely not be what would be served to you. Chef Clark Barlowe goes to farms and markets daily to buy what's available then creates the menu that day. He also forages for edibles that he uses in his food. That must be an excitingly creative way to work and it certainly shows in what he serves. The service was first class. The restaurant is in what seems to be a former steak house or pancake restaurant and the way the tables are arranged makes it feel a bit sparse. To remedy this I think they purposefully keep it dark with little ambient lighting and candles on the table. We found it difficult to read the menu (even the twenty-somethings with me) and we had to ask for some additional candles. Another problem the night we were there was apparently because of two large groups of guests. There was about a thirty minute delay between the fish course and the beef course. That threw off our "pace" and we found ourselves just wanting to go home. BUT I will in no way let that negatively influence my opinion of Heirloom - I'm hoping that was just a temporary glitch that night. Make a reservation as soon as you can!
(5)Richard J.
This place is very innovative and I would say there were more hits than misses. Not everything was perfect--a couple items were not at all appetizing--but I took this to reflect a venture into new areas. We did the full 12 course tasting menu, which was plenty of food and a wide variety of flavored and textures. Particular highlights: the egg yolk pasta with rabbit, spinach, and truffles; ginger and honey panna cotta; duck breast with cabbage and spaetzle. On the less satisfying side: the farmstead cheese was a little too barnyard flavored for my taste, and the tobacco chicken feet had great flavor but I just can't stomach the whatever-it- is that you eat off the feet. Service was very attentive. Ambience was neutral. We were placed in the darkest corner of the room so the visual effect was muted. Overall, worth a try.
(4)Tony K.
What a great brunch! Everything was fresh and delicious. This is one of the toughest places to get into because it's so good! We loved the offerings of the day especially the apple pie for desert. The service staff was very knowledgeable and attentive and they kept bring us the blueberry scones which were incredible. I highly recommend it for a great dining experience with that special someone or a great group of friends. If you go for dinner be prepared for a 10 course experience
(5)Kristine M.
(Shortened; full review on Heirloom's FB) I'm only giving this place 4 stars because I know it's striving for absolute perfection, so the loss of a star is just to indicate room for improvement. For all other intents and purposes, this place is definitely a 5-star kind of joint and you should DEFINITELY visit. Why it's NOT perfect: - Some of the dishes were tooo oily. The salad had way more oil than vinegar in the vinaigrette. - The broccoli gnocchi suffered from the over-oiled problem, too. And it was just not a very well-conceived dish in general. The texture of the gnocchi was exquisite and the trout-chovy and local cheese was appreciated, but it's all hidden beneath the oppressive flavor of the broccoli. - I love bread and herbed oil to start off a meal, but a bread basket would be better (instead of a meager single slice), especially if it was an endless one for those who can only afford to indulge in 3 or 5 courses. - In the broccoli soup, the garnish of popcorn and chervil were cute and looked great, but didn't really add anything besides aesthetics to the dish. Wasn't sure how I was supposed to eat it. - The space seems a little too wide open. Makes for kind of stark feeling instead of the warm coziness their decor seems to be going for. Why it's EXCEEDINGLY AWESOME: + Pretty much every ingredient is locally sourced, whether it be from a local farm, foraged, or from a small business. We're even talking about the salt and pepper, guys. Insanely ambitiously awesome. + Cool, unusual ingredients. Chicken of the woods mushrooms. Chocolate mint. Blue corn. And not only that, but... + Creative, thoughtful use of ingredients. Perfectly cooked and crunchy beet matchsticks in the salad with a somewhat bitter foraged black walnut matched with a pungent cheese. It just works! + Perfectly cooked ingredients. The soft boiled egg. The gooeyness of the gnocchi. The seared monkfish. The duck falling off the bone. The crunch of the brussels sprouts leaves. The crisp on the rice waffle. Per-fec-tion. + Presentation. Every dish looks like a million bucks. + The portion size. Not too much, not too little, when you're considering the meal as a whole. For an exciting culinary adventure, get 5+ courses, 7+ if you want to feel full. + Dishes: 1) Caviar w/ rice flour waffle, watercress creme fraiche. Fun, beautifully presented, each component tastes delicious and it's absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS all together. 2) Duck Confit w/ blue corn grits, brussels sprouts leaves. We took pictures of all our dishes and we didn't get a picture of this one because it was GONE before we could snap it. Something about the roastiness of the duck going into the creamy grits and the crunch of the brussels sprouts leaves was just so gobble-worthy. 3) Monkfish w/ espelette broth, shaved fennel, pea shoots, gremolata sauce. WOW. I don't even know how all these ingredients came together to be so damn delicious, but it did. What a balance. The flavor of the crunchy fennel wasn't too powerful, the char on the fish gave it so much flavor, the broth had an acid kick to it and all together it just WORKED. All at the right temperature, at the right texture, outstanding. + Dessert was also complex: the fruit salad (strawberry, citrus, chocolate mint) was the highlight to the rooftop honey rye cake we got. + Can't forget the BEES! What's more local than taking the honey from your rooftop and drizzling it on your dessert?! + Service was super knowledgeable, friendly, generally well-paced, out of your face. Although with the nature of the size and number of the dishes, you will see a lot of your servers, and they have things to say about the dish, so your flow of conversation might be interrupted. About the cost: I hate paying a lot for food. Indeed, my 5-star reviews are reserved for restaurants that make excellent food I can't duplicate at home AND are a steal to eat at. So Heirloom's got the former requirement, for sure. Also, I feel better about paying $$$ when the restaurant is socially conscious. Heirloom's got bees on its roof, it goes local to an almost absurd extent. Check there. I also don't mind patronizing the arts. There is definitely artistry to these dishes. So point there. I mean, think about it--Chef Barlowe makes dishes out of NC-sourced ingredients and the menu is different every day. The kitchen's at the mercy of what's available, and since your menu's changing every day, you've got to train your line cooks to cook the new dishes AND teach your servers how to present it. Every. Day. That's a lot of work. I've been to a few restaurants at this price point that hardly does what Heirloom does daily. So in a way, it's kind of steal to get this kind of quality and effort at this price. Sure, it cuts off a lot of people in the community from dining here, but it's also doing the community a service to a certain extent. So it's a price I'm willing to pay, and even though I can only afford it for special occasions, I'll definitely be back.
(4)Brandon L.
This one has been on the list to check out for way too long and it didn't disappoint when we finally did last night! My bride made the reservations for my b-day and from start to finish this place was an absolute experience. Feels like the place is in the middle of nowhere and is not what you might expect from the outside, or inside for that matter... Super quirky, rustic, non-pretentious are a couple of words that come to mind but it works and I love the personality of the place. We were warmly greeted and our server Madison was super friendly, passionate and knowledgable. Madison recommended splitting the 12 course tasting menu and it was just the right amount for the two of us (note that we were both saving stomach real estate all day in preparation for the goodness!). You probably picked up from the other reviewers that this place changes the menu regularly which isn't unusual, but this chef changes it DAILY based on what is available at any time in NC and it is spectacular. Gastronomic Genius - period. I could go on and on about each of the courses which really won't do you any good given the menu is constantly changing, but it was all very unique and well done with a couple of dishes standing out that you aren't going to find like the lamb heart tartare (sounds weird I know but Anthony Bourdain raves about it for a reason I found out). The cocktails are also on point, especially the Bee Sting if you are a whiskey fan that likes a kick - provided by habanero. The coolest thing was the option to order a drink called "I Trust You" which is basically an option to tell the waiter what you typically prefer about different cocktails and the mixologist makes a drink just for you. Mine had some sort of pickled carrots and spice with ginger beer and it was awesome. Again, not going to get this everywhere so do yourself a favor and experience this place sooner rather than later!
(5)Brianna M.
I've been here two nights in a row now.... The food here is OUTSTANDING. I love that we are able to try different dishes with the tasting menu. We ordered two 5 course tasting since tonight I wasn't in a sharing mood, haha. Everything was crafted with excellence. The freshest ingredients! We will now make this our weekly Date night restaurant since we will ways be trying something new!
(5)Kellie K.
The fella and I have now tried Heirloom for dinner and Sunday brunch. I want to like it more than I do since I appreciate what they're going for, but I think it's the atmosphere (and value) that throw me. I feel like they're trying to be fine dining, but the roof is rusted, the inside is really dark with outdated, heavy wood paneling, and it's so uncomfortably quiet that I find myself whispering the entire time. That said, the food is really good... but the brunch selection was way too limited. Today, we had the option of the catch of the day (but who wants fish at 10:00 a.m.?), deconstructed eggs benedict, and eggs your way with toast and tesa, which is the fancy word for Italian bacon, and I had to Google it to find out what I was about to order. Only three entree options for brunch and one is fish? Yikes. I got the bacon and eggs ($13) and a small French press coffee ($4.50), and the fella went with the eggs benedict, which were beautiful, but he was still hungry when we left, and they cost $16. Mine was fine, but it's pretty difficult to mess up boring ol' bacon and eggs even though the eggs could've used some salt. All that said, we did enjoy dinner the one time we went and appreciated being able to try a few different courses. Today's 3-course brunch meal ($30) was a starter salad, the catch of the day, and a dessert. Again I ask who wants a salad and fish at 10:00 a.m.? I don't mean to judge so harshly, but when you're going to charge a hefty price, I want to feel like I got my money's worth and truly enjoyed the experience. I enjoyed their dinner more than their brunch, but "fancier" restaurants like Lumiere, Passion8, and Heritage have food that's just as delicious, but with a much less pretentious atmosphere and more value for what you get.
(3)Nora Day R.
We decided to have a celebration at Heirloom one night not knowing that it is a 12 course menu. Now, you can order 3, 5, 7 courses instead, but we adventurous and went for the whole 12 and split a pairing. The food was delicious! Everything was flavorful and the plates were art. I am glad we had the FULL experience. But I wouldn't recommend doing all 12 courses and a half pairing, as I was too stuffed and tipsy by course 10. I probably would have been fine at 5 or 7 courses. The hard part then will be picking which courses you want to eliminate. But that is a good problem to have. A really cool thing is if you have a dietary restriction, when you call for reservations a week or more ahead, they can tailor their menu around you and your party. Always call ahead as they have private parties a lot. This really isn't a drop in kind of place.
(5)Kay F.
My date and I each did the five course tasting menu. Absolutely amazing!!!! There was not anything we tried that we didn't like. The wine selection was great and the waiter assisted with our options. We originally showed up for murder mystery and then when that was cancelled we stayed to enjoy the menu. I'm glad we did. Now when you drive up don't be deterred. Appearances can be deceiving and they are. There is some fine dining behind the facade. Then the decor is a little rustic on the interior but don't let that fool you either. The service is great and the food is excellent.
(4)Dustin L.
If you have ever played video games in your friends basement while sitting on the families left over furniture then you have been to Heirloom. Ok that sounds like a negative review of environment but to me it is a compliment. The place has an eclectic style that reminds me of my youth, yet it works to convey a modern spin on grandmas. I just wish my grandma could have cooked this well. Dont get me wrong Lois was no slouch in the kitchen and her type of foraging was finding the goat meat at the bottom of the freezer and making something delightful. The fresh foraged fare at heirloom shines against the rustic wood walls. I had the tasting menu, what a way to experience this place. Here is what I had: Chicken skins - 2 stars Rabbit fried rice - 5 stars Steak - 5 stars Duck confit - 5 stars Rutabaga soup - 4 stars My only dissappointing menu item was the chicken skins. I had the redneck nachos at soul gastrolounge about a month before and I had high expectations, it wasn't terrible just not nearly as good.Everything else was a gastronomic adventure. Please don't miss out on this opportunity the food was outstanding, Inspired cousine that would make any grandma green with envy.
(5)Don L.
An unsurpassed dining experience, Heirloom offers an amazingly creative menu with top quality service. From the moment you walk in the door you feel the special care that is put into your dining experience. Each course is superbly prepared, artistically presented and downright delicious. Among the best farm to table dining experiences we've ever had. Clark Barlowe is a genius in the kitchen....kudos Clark.
(5)Marcie C.
Dined on a Monday evening during restaurant week. Can't believe it took this long and restaurant week to get me to try Heirloom. I think the distance has always kept me away. However, it really isn't that far. Uptown peeps it's 15 minutes. Took me 20 minutes from the Steele Creek area on 485. Don't let the perceived distance keep you away. Enough about that, on the to the experience. Exterior looks like an old Calabash seafood place. Inside has been updated and is very welcoming. We were greeted promptly and taken to our seats. Wasn't busy at all but it was also early, 630. The server was very knowledgeable of the menu for Restaurant Week as well as explained the 12 course meal. We all made selections from R.W menu. I had the cucumber tomato salad, the scallops and the blueberry jelly roll. It was all delicious! The presentation was great. The timing was spot on. Oh. Forgot to mention the freshly chopped herbs for the olive oil paired with the freshly baked bread that was prepared table side. That might not be necessary but a nice touch. Everything is local which is awesome. This place is legit. Make the small ride and you will not be disappointed.
(5)Julie A.
Am I missing something here? If you judge a restaurant by the writing on the bathroom wall, or the yelp reviews here, one would think this place is amazing. The decor is cute, the drinks were good. But the food? Is it because I attended the murder mystery dinner that the food was awful? Was there a different cook? The only good thing about my meal was the bread and olive oil! I had two slices to combat the two drinks I had. Everyone at my table had the chicken cacciatore except one who had the pork. My dish was inedible at best - dry chicken and tasteless sauce atop something that resembled riced cauliflower? The guys pork? Meh. He said the best part were the onion rings. The salad was ok. Small and uneventful. At least some goat cheese was added to flavor things up. Don't get me started on the dessert, though. I didn't think chocolate cake could be so depressing. I couldn't eat it. Some table mates decided to go out for wings once the murder was solved. Speaking of, the troop was good. They were funny and really tried to entertain the crowd. For a groupon, it was fun. But don't come hungry because the food is just nothing. Noting good to say about it. Will I be back to try on a normal night? Probably not. I'd hate to waste any more money on terrible food (recipes I can make myself for cheaper and more flavorful) and a babysitter.
(1)Darrin M.
Full disclosure, I was a little wary because I thought Heirloom might be too high brow for me. I see the pictures of the food on Twitter and Instagram and thought maybe this was a place only a Top Chef judge would love. I was very happy to be both right and wrong at the same time. Short version, we had an incredible experience from the moment we walked in the door. Beautiful, rustic decor on the inside, but in no way kitschy. The service was excellent. Our waiter knew the menu back to front, and same for the wine selection. The menu changes daily and everything is hyper-local. The server who brought our wine over gave us a great rundown of the local NC wineries. We did the 12 course tasting menu because why not? If you are going to a place like this, just get the full experience. Back to my concern above about high brow food, I thought each dish might just be a few bites and we'd leave hungry. We actually left the restaurant completely indulged. Although I wouldn't have wanted to give up any of the dishes we got, we probably could have done the 7 or 9 course menu and been completely satisfied. I won't give the complete rundown of every dish, but a couple of the highlights for us were the egg yolk pasta with braised duck and garlic cream sauce, NC grouper, duck confit, and an unreal rice pudding with a blueberry jam. I have no problems paying up for what I feel is well-crafted food that you can't get anywhere else, along with being waited on and treated like I'm spending a lot of money. That's EXACTLY what I got at Heirloom. We paid a recent visit to the new restaurant Kindred in Davidson and had a good experience. Nothing out of this world, but good. Heirloom knocked my socks off. The quality of the effort being made here is on par with some of the nicer restaurants we went to in Sonoma/Napa/SF on a recent trip. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Andre B.
Finally made it to Heirloom after being prompted by Groupon, and I'm glad that I did. The wife and I also were able to see a part of Charlotte that we've never visited before. Now Heirloom is a little off the beaten path, but maybe the space and location were perfect and couldn't be passed up. The outside building is unassuming to say the least. The decor and atmosphere inside is reminiscent of an old lodge or rustic cabin. Either way, we came here to eat, so let's talk about the food. We each opted for the 7 course meal and while our server explained to us the whole deal with meal options, I think that you can pretty much do whatever you want as far as options. To that point, you can order individual dishes a la carte, so really you can do whatever. Sadly, my first beer option was tapped out by the time that I ordered, but they do have some good NC brews on tap and in bottles. Actually all their beers, wines and spirits are North Carolina products from what I could see. I thoroughly enjoyed my Fullsteam Cack-a-lacky and the wife ordered a cocktail but it was bar tender's choice or a mystery cocktail. Let me explain. Basically she picked the spirit that she wanted, bourbon in this case and a flavor profile and voila, the mixologist crafts you a cocktail. Needless to say, she was happy with her drink. As I said above, we each opted for 7 courses, which wound up being a lot of food. The timing of food coming out was perfect to give us some time to digest before the next course came out. It also made for a longer dining experience, so plan on being at the restaurant longer the more courses you choose. Some courses that we both chose were the potato soup, a bay scallops dish and a trout dish. The scallops with the grits were very good and flavorful; the trout was also great, but the accompanying blue potatoes were devoid of any seasoning and kind of fell flat. Both the wife and I agreed on the last statement. We also both agreed that the potato soup was a strange preparation with a consomme added to the potatoes and other ingredients. It definitely was not for us. For my other courses, I chose a tomato salad, clams, duck ramen and a duck breast dish. The clams were ok with good broth, while the tomato salad and duck ramen were amazingly flavorful and satisfying, probably my 2 favorite dishes. The duck breast, which was my last course was good but then again it was under seasoned. The wife enjoyed her salad greens, tofu dish and she wolfed down her dessert, so I'm thinking that was a good sign. So all in all, a great first visit to heirloom overall. The service was by committee, while we did have a primary server, but everybody was very knowledgeable on the menu and helpful throughout the evening. I would certainly like to return, and they seem to have a lot of events and even cooking classes that could be very interesting.
(4)Jane F.
Amazing meal crafted from NC ingredients. Chef lists The French Laundry on his resume and I believe it. Comfortable dining room with attentive service but the food is the thing. Location is out of the way but this is a destination restaurant so you'll have to deal with that. Don't miss this one.
(5)A U.
This was our first time here. We were greeted with a handshake and name introductions. Everyone was very personable and well versed with the history of the restaurant and all the food items. We did the 12 course tasting and were thoroughly impressed with all of the offerings. The ONLY issue was the bathroom stalls. Be prepared to engage your gym squats. The stalls were the smallest stalls we have ever encountered anywhere. Use the bathroom before going to the restaurant. Bon Appetite!
(5)Theresa C.
Service was great. The food was nasty. Horrible flavor. Had to order glass of wine to camouflage the taste. Was sick later that evening. Price for the food was quite high for that. Would not recommend at all
(1)Kristin S.
I am always a big fan of the farm to table concept and this restaurant definitely met my expectations. They locally source all the items from NC farms and the menu changes every day depending on whats in season. I was visiting from DC and really wanted to come and check it out. I went here for a weeknight dinner with the family and from the moment we walked in, the experience was great. We were greeted and seated by Chase. He was very professional and friendly and gave us the background of the restaurant and how the menu worked. They have a twelve course tasting menu but you can choose any combination of 3,5,7, or 12. To start off they gave us hot biscuits and chopped fresh herbs right at the table to add to the olive oil. The biscuits were very light, moist and delicious. We were happy with every course and could definitely taste the quality of the food and ingredients used. For the tasting courses we got: - fresh oysters (light and briny), turnip salad (well dressed and fresh ingredients), white potato soup (smooth and creamy with a hint of cheesy flavor), Catfish and grits (nice flaky fish), Duck breast (perfectly cooked and flavorful), NC crab w/ brussels sprouts (great tasty mix), Lemon Blueberry parfait (so light and fluffy with the perfect mix of tart and sweet). I would absolutely come back for the great food and service. Everyone was attentive and very friendly. I would also be looking forward to see what is on the menu next time. The chef really knows his ingredients and how to create great tasting dishes.
(5)Erin B.
I am going to give Heirloom 5 stars event though I seriously want to dock it one star simply for being out in the boonies! I had no idea what to expect when the four of us showed up to Heirloom for dinner. I knew that Chef Barlowe does a kick ass job of sourcing local food and I knew the quality would be stellar but I was totally caught off guard by a 12 course tasting menu. Whoa, Nelly. 12 courses?! We started with cocktails and I was excited to be able to get a local kombucha since I was not drinking. My friends all had a great assortment of cocktails and local wine throughout the evening - 12 courses gives you plenty of time to drink. The waitress explained that we could do any combination of courses so two of us opted for 7 courses and our husbands went with 10. After perusing the menu, I was excited to see that all but 2 courses and the desserts were gluten-free. I easily ordered 7 gluten-free courses and patiently awaited their arrival. The courses were presented one at a time, whenever the table seemed to have a match - all of us ordering the same thing - the waitress brought out the same meal. The courses were very well sized and the waitress was very knowledgeable about which courses were more substantial than others. After 7 courses, I was definitely full, and I didn't even order a dessert course. However, not to feel left out of dessert, at the end of the meal, while my table-mates were enjoying their delicious looking treats, I was presented with two ginormous pieces of flourless chocolate cake. Amazing! And so thoughtful. I was told the pastry chef did not want me to feel left out. Our entire experience from start to finish was enjoyable and we cannot wait to go back. If you are looking for a restaurant experience that is completely different from anything out there right now, give Heirloom a try!
(5)Katelyn Z.
My boyfriend and I came here for the first time on my birthday. We decided to go all out and go for the 12 course meal and split it. The portions are on the smaller side, but our waitress did an awesome job of explaining everything before we ordered so we knew what to expect. Every dish was so different and they also explained each detail of the dishes very carefully when they were brought out. The courses were obviously all amazing and decadent, and we had a hard time deciding what our favorite was at the end! We also got a flight of beer to try out 4 different beers and enjoyed them all. We were very impressed with the staff's knowledge and kindness. They printed out on the menu Happy Birthday Kate and did a few extra things throughout the evening just to make it special for me. I praised my boyfriend for picking such a fantastic restaurant to spend my birthday! We can't wait to come back :)
(5)Julia T.
Best dining experience we have had in the charlotte area! Farm to table food, and the chef is so creative and unique with his dishes. Each course was different and the flavors were amazing. We did the 9 courses between 2 and it was the perfect amount. The wine and beer selection is amazing and all from North Carolina. The staff was very friendly and we even got to meet chef Clark.
(5)Andrew T.
We had the 9 course meal. Every dish was unique and perfectly flavored and the service was excellent. Probably one of the best meals I have had in my entire life! If I had to improve anything, it would be the ambient music choice and the bathrooms need to be updated.
(5)Robin S.
This place was amazing! Friendly service. Unique, amazing food. Flavorful, unique cocktail list. Everything tasted fresh. Freshly baked bread!!!!! Make sure if you use a groupon to let them know when u make a reservation. We didn't know that, but they were very kind and still let us use our groupon. A little far out of Charlotte but I highly recommend making the trip.
(4)Jeffrey S.
Great place. All the food is locally sourced and the entire experience will sweep you off your feet. This is a place you need to plan to go and not somewhere you just casually walk into. You have a choice of a three to Twelve course meal ranging from $35 to over $100 dollars. It's worth the price tag in this instance. So for special occasions or a special night out with your loved ones, you can't miss with Heirloom!
(4)Angelina B.
We came here for the restaurant week and had very high expectations based on the accolades such as "best new restaurant." Service was courteous and the menu looked intriguing but unfortunately the food ended up underwhelming. Both "stuffed pastry dishes - chicken pie and chocolate ravioli were woefully lacking in filling. Steak was declared to be medium rare but was pretty much rare with a few bites that I couldn't even chew/eat. And I like my steak on the medium-rare side. I did like the choice of wines and local brews. Overall - I did not feel that this was a good value, especially to make the drive.
(3)Susan C.
My family and I went to Heirloom as party of a murder mystery dinner. We were seated directly beneath the air conditioner which was extremely unpleasant to start. Our first course was an artful salad served on slate. The presentation and balance was wonderful. By the time our entrée arrived, mine was cold. I don't mean cool or not hot, I mean COLD. Smashed potatoes with a pork tenderloin and fresh made onion rings all stacked. The potatoes were warm but when I cut my pork, it was not just cold but had frozen granules inside the raw pork. I sent it back to the kitchen and the waiter was very apologetic and offered a meal replacement which I declined. The manager came next and he too was very apologetic and offered anything they could do to make up for it. He offered some hot tea which he brought out himself which was delightful to have as I was seated under a blowing fan. The desert course was definitely nothing to write about. Bland piece of 1 1/2 X 3" chocolate cake. Overall, nobody at my table was thrilled with their meals except for the salad but mine was the only one not cooked. The food was extremely disappointing, especially reading all the great reviews but I have to say that the service was outstanding. From the moment we were greeted until we left, everyone from the wait staff, the bar staff and the manager were terrific.
(2)Jared B.
Terrific adventurous menus. Very friendly staff that remembers you. High end dining with a local feel.
(5)Brianna H.
Had an early dinner there (5:30) last Saturday to celebrate our wedding anniversary. My partner and I are both vegetarians and had reserved the 12-course vegetarian tasting menu to share. The service was probably the highlight of the entire meal. The whole staff was friendly, accommodating, and extremely professional. I think we spoke to and were helped by just about everyone in the place, including the bartender who came over when he heard my partner homebrews to recommend his favorite beer. The atmosphere of the place leaves a little something to be desired. The decor is a bit odd and felt cheap, especially compared to the quality service we were receiving. You'd think we were in a 5-star/high-end restaurant with the level of service, but the decor just didn't fit. The food was okay. I definitely had some favorite dishes that stood out among the others (the broccoli soup, pickle plate, rye flour pound cake, cheese plate), but the rest were just decent. I have two big complaints. 1) It seemed like a lot of the vegetarian dishes were simply dishes where the meat component was either omitted entirely, or replaced by another vegetable. Most of our dishes had no protein component at all, which was a big disappointment, especially since the restaurant seems to advertise as being vegetarian friendly. Despite the 12 courses, I left Heirloom very hungry! 2) Almost all of our vegetables were grilled. At first, I was impressed and thought it gave our dishes a nice char flavor. But after a few dishes, they all started to taste the same -- heavy on the olive oil and grilled. There are other ways to prepare vegetables! Some of the dishes could have been 10x better if the vegs had just been prepared differently. Overall it was an okay experience. The prices were pretty high, for how I would judge our experience. I was also disappointed that our vegetarian menu cost the same as the regular (meat-filled) menu. I would have thought that the price would have been less. Our meal was a gift, so I can't complain too much, but I will not be going back to pay $120 for some grilled vegetables, no matter how good the service was.
(3)John L.
"Adventurous" maybe, but I just wanted a good meal. Very disappointed. Service was good, wine and desert were pretty tasty, but nothing else was even passable. Beef was too tough to chew. Many courses were overcooked or overly dependent on creative seasoning to make them acceptable. Scallops were the size of small marbles, and oysters were not much bigger; no amount of creative seasoning can make this a tasty dish. Coffee was from a French press at the table, but was weak and tasteless. For $119 (9 course meal, two glasses of wine, two coffees) not counting the tip, I expect something really special. I think too much is made of "local" and "organic." Restricting yourself to these criteria makes it difficult to produce a really delicious meal.
(1)Grace Y.
we were here for Sunday brunch, the hamburger was good, tomatoes are fresh. The duck in the pasta ramen was too salty combine with the broth, I wish the broth was lighter. over all everything was good I give them a five stars.
(5)Dan A.
Fantastic bar with skilled, approachable, and very local - focused bartenders. Attended craft cocktail workshop and plan to return for dinner soon.
(5)Christina L.
Had the opportunity to try Heirloom last evening, and we were impressed. I had driven by the building, and thought it was a farmers market before reading reviews on Yelp and seeing the Groupon. The outside is a bit rough, but the interior is much nicer. It would be nice if there were some more divisions for a little more privacy. The group at the table behind us we having a good time, but using the 'F' bomb, and that wasn't good. The food was excellent, as was the service by Ashley. I will agree with other reviewers that a bread basket would be better than a single slice of bread. The timing of the food was perfect, and we left satisfied but not uncomfortable. Very fresh and excellent food. This is not an inexpensive restaurant, so be prepared to spend a little.
(4)Hannah O.
My parents ate here for their anniversary and could not stop raving about it. They loved that all the food was local, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the food was very interesting. They also said that the interior was unique because of the old barn wood that the walls are made out of. They had a seven course meal with just about everything you could imagine, and it all sounded delicious. While it was very pricey, I think they were happy with their purchases and believe that the price matched the food's quality and healthiness. Hopefully I will be able to join them here sometime, because it sounds like a very interesting and unique place. They recommend to all foodies :)
(5)Wes G.
You cannot ask for a better place to eat prepared food. Clark has a true understanding of food and does a fantastic job proving that all you need is locally (state) grown. We went for an artisan dinner and most definitely will be back. The artisan dinners are more social with the local purveyors talking briefly about their contributions. The staff is more than accommodating and the entire experience is well worth the trip and price. It is something you must experience.
(5)Sharad P.
I had such high expectations for this place based on the reviews, the awards and the buzz surrounding Chef Barlowe. There were 3 of us that sampled all 12 courses off their menu . A few of them were interesting, a few of them were depressingly mediocre (chalky bisque, miserably dry cakes, deep fried breaded duck that tasted like it'd been liberally doused in Frank's hot sauce) and not one of them really stood out. Now I know the menu changes daily so there's every chance that we were there on an off day but when you're dishing out $150 a person and are at what's generally considered the best restaurant in Charlotte, I would have thought even off days would be better than that. That being said, the staff was truly amazing and we had the pleasure of trying Chef Barlowe's pulled pork the next day at the Culture Festival and it was better than anything we'd had the night before! In short, just be warned, that on an off night you could well be dishing out a lot of money for not much in return.
(3)Lee B.
What occupied this property in past lives was a failed mexican restaurant and a failed diner. Heirloom completely blows away the old tenants fare and, well, other restaurants in the area with their eclectic menu items, farm decor (which major parts of the decor were taken straight from their barn), and quality service. We've had dinner or brunch on four occasions already and we'll be back for more. Reconstructed Eggs Benedict w Pork Belly is a fave. As well as, the Fried Chicken and Waffle; also the cheese platter. Next time, I'm pretty sure that we'll get the tasting menu. I'm glad that "we" finally have something in the area that serves farm to fork in a nice atmosphere and friendly service. It's been a long time comin'
(5)Arthur L.
A constantly thought out menu with locally sourced ingredients Heirloom is a great restaurant and an iconic one at that! Service was great and the food was tasty. On the downside the server forgot one of our dishes and didn't even notice. I had to bring up how we were missing a dish right before we paid.
(4)Jim G.
I brought two guests and was not disappointed. The waiter was very helpful in describing the meals and we took his advice going with the full 12 courses. One course seemed to build on the other. The wine and hand pressed coffee were perfect additions. The farm to table selection changes everyday and was perfect. I would highly recommend The Heirloom.
(5)Gary H.
First time there last night. We will definitely be back. Fabulous experience. Wife and I sampled all the courses and the food was amazing. Great pairings of wine and beer with the meal. A very friendly, casual appeal to the place. Never was rushed. We were able to truly enjoy and savor our evening. Kudos go out to the host at the front, the servers and our excellent waitress Meg. Highly recommended!
(5)Jim P.
My wife and I pulled over the side of the road a few weeks ago trying to think of a place for dinner. We found Heirloom on Yelp!!! OMG...This is unique. The food is small tapas style plates in ala cart by the course. We went with a 9 course and ate plenty for two people. We shared. The staff...exceptional, fun and really had passion for the restaurant. We are going back......with Groupons too.......
(5)Joel L.
Amazing food and service. Very high quality and presentation. All the ingredients are locally sourced. We chose the tasting seven course at $65.00. Most other entrees run $25-$30, The NC black drum and crispy pork belly where my favs. All courses were sided with awesome sauces and greens. Dessert was very good and they make bread on site. Inside, very comfortable and inviting. Crowd was young and middle aged professionals. All wines, liquor, and beers are from NC. So I like Goose and Italian wines. I was quite surprised at how good Shelton vineyards cab was not to mention the local vodkas. They even have a couple of NC moonshines. Not easy to find, but not as far out as you might think. Actually, only about 7 miles from downtown. Yeah, I'll be back.
(5)Ahmed A.
Chef Barlowe has something special going on just on the outskirts of CLT. Hyper locally sourced ingredients done to perfection. With each course that hit the table I caught myself saying "this one is my favorite". Nate and Tilman both served well to inform me of what was about to hit the pallet and where it was sourced. Hands down the best meal I've had in Charlotte since moving here 2 years ago. A+ all around. Keep it up guys!!
(5)Terry W.
If you are looking for a run of the mill restaurant don't go to Heirloom! If you feel the need to add salt or ketchup, you will be better off somewhere else. But if you are an adventurous diner with a willingness to experience new combinations of wonderfully earthy ingredients, check it out.
(5)Jessica K.
Loved every bite and sip of my meal! Everything was perfect; high-quality and meticulously chosen ingredients for all entrees and drinks, relaxed atmosphere, and wonderful service!
(5)Lori D.
We actually sat down and enjoyed the chief's "Tasting Menu" and it was absolutely fabulous. Our friend's had the chicken and steak which they also loved. We recommend that when you come to eat at this fabulous gem of a restaurant please plan to sit down and enjoy every bite. This is not a rush in rush out type of place. Every bite is accounted for and has thought and intention behind each plate to ultimately excite your palette. We loved this farm to table place and will be going back.
(5)steve s.
This out of the way chef-owned gem is well worth the trip. Every course was original and unusually delicious. We were there with friends for Queens Feast and will definitely return.
(4)Chris J.
When we pulled up we were a little nervous about what we were getting into. Then as soon as we walked it my eyes lit up. The atmosphere is very rustic/ French Country & very inviting. All the food comes from North Carolina which is a wonderful idea! The food was delicious & had great flavor. We will definitely be back to try dinner next time!!
(4)Jackie P.
Wish I had found out about this wonderful restaurant sooner! The food rivals a five star restaurant and the service is far superior than most, who have either let standards slip or didn't have to begin with. The personal touches make it such a special experience coupled with superb dishes, make it an evening to remember. Can't wait to go back and try more!
(5)Marshal C.
Ok. Where to start. We decided to take 5 friends out for restaurant week and Heirloom was the chosen destination. None of us had ever eaten there before. The deco is western mixed with southern hippy. A waitress rolls a small wooden cart around with herbs picked from their parking lot, yeh you heard me right (parking lot herb garden). I actually saw the sad arrangement as we were walking in and a friend spit his gum in it thinking it was a bunch of dead old flowers. Needless to say, we didn't partake of their herb-EVOO mixture. She then told us that when they run low, they have employees who bring herbs from their home gardens. Ummm, okay. That's not weird, and potentially gross. How do I know a dog hasn't urinated on my soon-to-be herb mix?! Then the waiter comes over to tell us all the minutia about the food that we may or may eat...... We order. The food took a LONG time to come out. It was just okay. Nothing I'd ever have again, on purpose. The dessert was French press coffee for me. The waiter tells me all about the mountain company in NODA they purchase the beans from "we pay 10% more to them on purpose" as if that would make me enjoy the coffee more. When he brought it over, he pressed so hard on the ancient French press that he spilled it all over the table (which may I add is covered in white paper from a roll as if we were going to color on the table). Each time the waiter came to our table, he would run his hand across the nearest person's back and shoulders very in appropriately. I didn't come for a massage, I came for food. After the coffee experience, he then tells our table about a new restaurant HE is part owner of called "Little Spoon," which if I was the owner of Heirloom, I would fire him on the spot for trying to steal business. Anyway, it was nothing short of a circus that was more of a show than a restaurant. Lesson learned! Sushi next time!!
(2)Amy N.
This was my fiancé and my second time to the restaurant in one week. We truly enjoyed the first trip for brunch and had to come back for dinner with friends. The food and service are top quality! we will become regulars, I'm sure! It is a bit pricey, but for what they believe and serve, its worth the money! Talented chefs plate and pair everything perfectly and the food is sourced by local farms. Ashley was our server and her knowledge of the food was impressive and her service was spot on!
(5)Molly G.
Always good to know what you're getting into...this is a fine dining experience in every way. The menu is eclectic and locally sourced. You can select 3 courses for $35 and it goes up from there. The courses are small. Be advised. This is not typical Texas portion American dining. Our server said it was bigger than tapas, but I would argue. The cheese course was 2 slices of cheese. (Served with a great apple butter) the beef tongue salad was 5-6 pieces of tongue with 3 pieces of green. The oysters were great, but 3. The chocolate cake was less than an oreo. I consider myself a foodie and LOVED everything I put in my mouth, I just think you should be prepared for high prices and small servings. Also, this service is pretty relaxed, so don't be in a rush. Great that the chef came out to present the dishes. Save this for special occasions. As a suggestion, I would love to have a list of the farms they work with as well as more information about supporting them.
(4)Alicia N.
My husband and I came to heirloom for the first time on opening night. Our server was attentive and extremely helpful. You could definitely tell that the atmosphere was to be intimate, farm to table fine dining. We were excited because Charlotte doesn't have anything like this. The problem was that it was a little too dark, which made reading the menu a little difficult. The food however was very well prepared. Overall, we were extremely happy. We came here last night for restaurant week. New lights have been installed (we could read the menu!), but they are too bright and have taken away from the intimate ambiance. The first course was good, my husband had the tomato salad and I had the chicken and dumplings. The second course was lacking (both the sausage and the pork belly were over cooked), but the chef pulled through and really wowed us with the 3rd course. My husband had the filet which was prepared perfectly, but it was trumped (I know, how can you trump filet?) by the locally caught fish. Even my husband wished he had ordered it. The only way to describe it is that it tasted like someone had cared for the fish all the way through its life, death, and preparation. The dessert was interesting and tasty as well. We both had the chocolate cake. The flavor of the cake changed when you paired it with each of the sauces available on the plate. The chef definitely puts a lot of thought, effort, and care into the food. You can never expect the same menu when you go to heirloom, which makes the experience new and exciting every time. If you're not a chicken, you can also expect to try foods that you would never think to eat, like beef heart, but know that the flavor and preparation is not going disappoint. I'm looking forward to trying brunch :)
(4)Mary M.
Charlotte, nc should be so lucky that we have a restaurant like this in our city. The high quality and ingenous menu is only seen in the likes of nyc, napa valley, or paris. Chef Cark's enthusiasm for ingredients only sourced from north carolina makes this place very special. I recommend the tasting menu...but anything is excellent. Service is outstanding.
(5)Hungry E.
As you pull up to the restaurant you get the sense that this place could be the start of some kind of awakening in the area. It only takes one spark to start a fire and Heirloom can be that spark. As you walk in you feel comfortable. The decor is rustic and clean and not cluttered. The staff is friendly and ready to serve. The food and drinks are on par with any other restaurant in Charlotte. The biggest thing that I felt after we were finished eating is that the meal tasted like it was homemade. It was just really really delicious and satisfying and spot on. It wasn't over the top in a way that can detract from the ingredients themselves. Each one stood out on the plate and the flavors combined to compliment each other. Order a bottle of wine and enjoy all the local and NC sourced food and drinks. They even have NC rum! Who knew! Tell your friends!
(5)Chris R.
On hold!!
(3)Reid A.
I love this restaurant, with all the food and drinks coming from North Carolina. This is absolutely one of the best places in Charlotte. My wife and I went for brunch. We had a caviar appetizer that was amazing. I had fried chicken with purple sweet potatoes and nettles. The chicken was incredibly crisp and cooked perfectly. My wife had what I believe was called a Bermuda egg with fish cakes. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the fish cake was one of the best things I have ever had. We also had a chocolate chip scone while we were waiting... the best scone I have ever had.... and I don't really care for scones! The service was fantastic. Our server was great, very attentive and knowledgeable. The décor was so cool... the roof and walls were from his family's barn. They have herbs and veggies growing out front, with beehives on the roof for their own honey. I am still shocked that such an amazing restaurant is in our neck of the woods, but you have to try this place. It is completely worth the drive and you will love it.
(5)George M.
A very unique experience in farm to table type dinning. Ask for a tour of the restaurant from your server. The servers are well educated to the local wines, local liquors, local decor and local food. The building has been completely renovated to include a roof brought in from a barn to give the exterior a rustic look, the full bar is decorated with an extinct piece of cedar wood combined with pictures and memories from 7 generations of family in the chefs family. Some of the pictures in the building are of the farmers who personally pick some of the items for the Chef. The menu is printed daily, I looked at a previous days menu to get an idea of the variety of selection and I cannot wait to come back and try it again. My girlfriend is a vegetarian and the chef was happy to accommodate her. The appetizer cheese biscuits they brought out were incredible! They prepare a fresh herb dip at the table for you to enjoy with the biscuits. The herbs were extremely flavorful We each had the summer salads which were a great hot house tomatoes, house made mozzarella, and corn shoots with two types of oil. I myself had the line caught drum. It was a generous portioned serving of the most perfectly cooked fish I have ever had. I am not a normal fan of Drum but it was delicious. My girlfriend had a clover oyster mushroom steak with wild onions and Charleston rice. Served on a slate, the slate was a nice touch. We were offered from amazing desert options but opted to not have desert last night.
(5)Bethany W.
We tried them during restaurant week and were disappointed. Elven portions, to be sure. The food was tasty, delicious actually, just very small portions. Perhaps this was just a restaurant week anomoly, but if that is what we will get for our money, we will go elsewhere. Love the concept of local sourcing and the food was delicious, but we are not in the right tax bracket to drop $30 each for a handful of food.
(3)Karen P.
Had a positively wonderful dining experience at Heirloom! First, for a restaurant only open a month, they really have their act together with everything from drinks to dessert! The service was fabulous, not overbearing, but very attentive. The restaurant, itself, has a warm cozy aura, and nice soft lighting for a romantic dinner. Because there is carpeting, and the space is large, it is not deafening like most restaurants these days. Now to the food. It was really wonderfully prepared and very fresh. Farm to table with eveyrthing from North Carolina, including the sweet potato vodka Martini! We had the tasting menu. My favorite dish was the sunchoke soup, with a parmesian crouton in the center. There was a little kick to it which was nice, but not too spicy. I loved the fried beets, and I don't even like beets, so that was a first. The proportions were a bit large for us, as there were so many, but they were great about letting us box things up. The dessert was attractively placed on slate, and was really yummy. A mixture of different flavors and shapes. Overall, presentation was wonderful, you could tell everything was fresh and flavorful. I look forward to dining at Heirloom on my next visit!
(5)Margie G.
For a newly-minted addition to the restaurant scene in Charlotte, Heirloom more than holds its own. Don't be fooled by the modest exterior of the place; inside you'll find thoroughly sophisticated, creatively chosen, top-of-the-line food. I've eaten in countless highly regarded restaurants in the world,and I've never enjoyed food more than I did at Heirloom's brunch today. The chef clearly knows the business of food, not only in what he chooses to serve, but especially in the care he takes in highlighting quality ingredients. The asparagus was perfect--repeat, perfect. The desserts (I tasted two) were absolutely superb. Service was warm, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive. The price was almost embarrassingly reasonable. The staff is young and eager to please. I wish them well and hope to find them thriving on my next visit to Charlotte. Don't let this one pass you by, folks!
(5)Penny L.
We are so lucky to now have a restaurant of such high quality in this part of Charlotte. Everything tasted great. I even enjoyed turnips! The interior is stunning, the wait staff are all knowledgeable, and the twist on southern food is delightful. All the food is local, even the beer and wine. We will be back.
(5)Marc W.
Intimate dining experience in a nice environment. I'd call the food farm to table nouveau southern with a twist. We went the first week (really the first day because of snow after the grand opening) for Valentine's day. We selected the V-Day sampler, which was four courses. The salads were very good with some pickled beets and I believe freshly foraged goodies. There was a lot of flavor from the spices, it wasn't an over-pureed dressing. We both had the Oysters for the appetizer, they were amazing. One was raw, and I believe the others were steamed and broiled respectively. They were all prepared perfectly. For the main dish my wife had a beef heart sampler, which was prepared three ways. I took very small samples of each, and it seemed good. I've never had been heart before, so I had nothing to compare it to. I had pork belly, which was served with sweet potatoes, and something pickled (I'm still not sure what). The pork belly was very good, and the pickled veggie and sweet potatoes paired really well. The pork was cooked to perfection. Dessert was excellent, it was a "smore" tart. It was fantastic. There were candied graham crackers and bruleed marshmallows. It was just great. Everything in the restaurant, including the alcohol is from North Carolina. I didn't have beer, but I would have liked to have seen Asheville beers in addition to Charlotte. Not knocking the CLT brew scene, but limiting to Charlotte would not have been the way I handled it. Our server Franklin was very well spoken, intimately familiar with the details of the menu and the story of the chef, which is what brought me there in the first place. We ordered a bottle of wine that they had just run out of and they upgraded us to something else, no extra charge. He also didn't have us look at the menu again, he brought out two suggestions to let us pick from as an alternative, which I appreciated. My only real complaint for the night, and the reason I didn't give it five stars is that, for the money, I would have liked a little larger portion of pork belly. I'm not talking Golden Corral, but for $90 for dinner for two, we got salad, three oysters each, and I got a couple ounces of pork belly and some sweet potatoes. The food is phenomenal, but with the bottle of wine and a tip it was $150, so I would have liked just a bit more from the main course. We will be back, we live a few miles away near the Whitewater Center. I'm hoping for good things for the restaurant, hopefully when I come back I'll get a little larger portion and I can up my review to five stars!
(4)Amber D.
Had a great experience! The Chef brought out one of the courses personally and chatted for a bit. Lovely space. Very intimate and organic. Love the family pictures at the bar. Food was very good. Bread done in house with table side herb butter serve. Can't wait to come back. BTW.... don't forget dessert!
(5)Don D.
Very disappointing, the server had no Knowledge of the menu, Very small servings for the price of the food, food was very salty and deserts very small and not tasty at all. Over priced and underfeed! We won't be gong back unfortunately because we need a good restaurant in this part of town
(1)Snapper S.
Wife and I arrived at Heirloom, first thing we noticed was the cool decor. As we entered the restaurant it was a bit confusing , the hostess station was to the right hidden behind a wall. No one was up front so, we kinda of stood there for a moment. Our server Chase sat us at the tree table and got us started. We ordered split pea soup, oysters,bone marrow, charcuterie, a cheese plate, the rabbit entrée and a beef plat( wife's meal can't remember). The cool thing is is that the chef actually broke it down into courses for us. instead of serving all the appetizers at once he paired the whole meal for us. I could go into the incredible experience of the food, how accommodating the staff was but the biggest thing that stood out was Clark the chef/owner came out of the kitchen and talked to everyone in the restaurant. I gave the fifth star because of this . Please keep this up , it makes the experience that much better. Chase if you read this you made one mean Old Fashion, great job. Awesome food!
(5)Melissa C.
I had read about this little gem, but still didn't quite know what to expect....is there REALLY a fine dining establishment in Coulwood? The answer is YES! The decor is eclectic farm shabby chic (our table had a tree stump as it's base). The menu is described as hyper local and changes day to day. It is on par with any high end restaurant downtown or in the South Park area. Please frequent this establishment we need to see it survive!! I made a reservation and noted that I required gluten free meals. Chef Barlowe called me less than an hour later ensured me that would be no problem, they can adjust the menu easily and asked if I might want dessert? If so, he would have his pastry chef create 2 choices for me. Now, that's customer service! Upon arrival we were greeted with fresh beet and sweet potato chips rather than bread due to my allergy. My husband and I both opted for "the egg" appetizer. It was fresh mixed greens with a poached egg, pieces of rendered lamb belly, and a champagne vinaigrette. In my mind, I thought I knew what this would taste like....I was wrong, the taste was quite different than what I had envisioned and SO much tastier. I hope this is a signature dish, because I could enjoy that again and again. For dinner I chose the tile fish which was served in a gluten free manner for me with sautéed bok choy and the most amazing purple sweet potatoes that I have ever tasted. I would go there again just for a plate of those sweet potatoes! My husband opted for the rabbit served with peas, sprouts, and roasted carrots. The rabbit was SO good...cooked perfectly and not nearly as gamey as I thought it might taste. Next time I dine there, I will have my own plate of rabbit, because one bite of my husband's was not enough! Portions were ample and plated eloquently with descriptions of the dish given at the time of arrival. Dessert was divine, a lemon vanilla cake with honeydew honey and champagne sauces and ice cream (if I remember correctly). By far the best gluten free dessert I have ever had, and maybe even the best non-GF as well. Service was great. Courses were spaced appropriately and you did not feel rushed. The staff was very knowledgeable and ready to offer recommendations. Chef Barlowe and the Chef Perlmutter (Pastry Chef) both stopped by the table to ensure that everything was acceptable and said to never hesitate to let them know when we were dining with them, it was no trouble to adapt the menu and Chef Perlmutter even welcomed the challenge to experiment with new gluten free items. We will definitely dine here again. I am still blown away at this true "neighborhood gem."
(5)Al H.
I'm glad others had such a good opinion of the food, since I love the idea of fresh food in out of the way locations. My take though, is that it doesn't hit the mark. I was excited that the chef had worked at the French Laundry in Napa and expected a real treat. Instead, the food was not special at all. They try gimmicky presentation and the menu confused more than it helped. The waiter seemed overwhelmed. We had to ask for more bread and drinks after he whisked by us several times. He acted like he wanted to be attentive, but was anything but. The duck was like chewing on grizzle and the other entrée of brisket was more like stew beef than the fancy description on the menu. I hope they can make it though. I just wanted to give more balance to the sterling reviews.
(2)Mindy H.
Horrible dinner here last Friday night. Front of House and Kitchen totally imploded. After being seated for a 45 minutes, we had to get up and go find our waitress to order. Were finally brought bread at the hour mark, but portion was so small, one friend called it the communion course. Ironically the hostess did fresh herbs and olive oil table side in an 8 inch bowl, which made the bread seem smaller. We thought perhaps more bread would be brought to be commensurate with the oil, but alas no. First Course was an heirloom salad, this was done well but should have been cold. Opt. 2 was chicken and dumplings. There was no dumplings to be found, tasted more like chicken pot pie without crust and was bland! 2nd Course - Pork Belly was probably the best thing all night. 3rd Course - overcooked fish and chewy steak. 4th Course was other highlight. Dessert nice blueberry shortcake. 7:30 reservation - didn't finish til 11:00. The waitstaff refused to come over, wasn't coordinated, and couldn't get a refill to save our lives. The kitchen couldn't keep up with a full house. It seemed like they were cooking one table at a time. Yes - restaurant week amps up exposure and business, but if the restaurant can't handle it - it drives customers away. Slow service, small portions, okay food. Train your waitstaff and trade the 3 of them hiding at the bar all night for a solid sous chef.
(1)Gerry R.
They don't have ice tea only tea leaves that get pressed for 4.50 no refills and the flavor is not pleasant even though they claim that it Is the best around .
(5)Megan T.
Went to Heirloom tonight for Restaurant Week and oh my god the food. Ever seen When Harry Met Sally? I almost had a Meg Ryan moment for real at the table. I started off with the tomato salad which was fresh and delicious and my boyfriend had the best chicken and dumplings I've ever tasted. Next course was pork belly with sauce that I literally had to stop myself from licking off the plate. We asked for bread and were both scrubbing our plates with it. Then came entrees. I had the filet which was cooked to a perfect medium with mashed potatoes that I could eat probably every day. And more sauce, and our waitress brought me lots more sauce. He had the daily catch, which when we got there was red drum and the flavors on the plate blended beautifully. And then the chocolate cremuex cake. Oh the chocolate cake. I told the waitress it was like angels descended down and gave us that cake, I literally held the last bite in my mouth for at least 30 seconds to finish savoring the flavor (see the Meg Ryan comment above). Now, the reason for the lack of star. When we were first seated we were seated in a back room that was COLD. I am NOT one to ask to be moved, but it was so cold I knew I wouldn't be able to enjoy my meal. We were moved to the main room and waited around for at least 5 minutes before someone even acknowledged us. The hostess ended up picking up our table and mentioned to us that they only had 2 servers on this evening. She was AMAZING (seriously, promote her to waitress, she deserves it) but my boyfriend and I both felt that only 2 servers for restaurant week was seriously understaffing (we both have service industry backgrounds). The server I'm assuming we were supposed to have was running around like a chicken with his head cut off, no seriously, he was running. I feel like you should never show the customers how flustered you are, that's what the kitchen is for. Thank God for the hostess and the male server's assistant. They were both on top of their game for sure. I was also a little off put by the fact that when our bill came the bottle of wine we ordered showed up as $54 and on the menu it was listed as $43. I love the fact that they only use NC libations but not so thrilled that I am willing to pay an extra $11 for something. They did fix it with no issues, so I was grateful for that. All in all, we will be back. Hopefully by then the hostess is promoted to waitress and we can get in her section because she saved the experience of the night, the food was already phenomenal, but when you go out it's about the experience too.
(4)Rachel A.
Impressed, and will definitely be back. As mentioned in other reviews, the drive is lengthy, but so worth it for many reasons. The service was impeccable. From recommendations around drinks, to sharing information about the restaurant's concept, I've rarely had such friendly service. I challenged their mixologist to create something similar to a Pimm's cup, and by golly was he able to do so. The mister also loovved his Forager cocktail. I also really appreciate the commitment to only using North Carolina ingredients. There are a lot of farm-to-table restaurants (lived in Nashville for a spell, and that is a hot bed for that concept), but very few that succeed in sourcing ALL ingredients locally. Bravo! Now, on to the food. This was a restaurant week pick for me and the mister. And, Heirloom mostly delivered. The plating was wonderfully done, and I appreciated the granita as a palate cleanser before dessert. I had the salad, steak, and chocolate ravioli, while the mister had the hand pie, catch of the day, and angel food cake. So, why the four stars? The first and second courses were certainly the highlights for our meal, but neither of the desserts quite worked for us. The ravioli texture was off for me, and the cake was a bit too sugary. I also have to just put it out there that the restaurant decor is lacking. It's such a solid restaurant, but the rustic look is just not working for it. It reminded us both of the early 90s hunter's lodge style.
(4)Taylor R.
The restaurant's atmosphere is charming but the music does not fit the feel of the rustic ambience. Country music played most of the time we were there. The service was adequate but not stellar. I dont mind the concept of a tasting menu and farm-to-table, but neither my wife or I were impressed with with most of the food served. With the exception of the Angus Course, the food always tasted like it wanted to be better. It was bland and uninspired. The price tag for food that should explode with flavor given the tasting size portions made me realize that my money would have been better spent on anything else. The other reviews that give this place high marks may have been a result of excited folks influenced by its postings as best new restaurant, or that they want to seem supportive of a growing restaurant trend in Charlotte. I do not see how high marks are deserved. Finally, Heirloom is not kid friendly in any way. If you are going, leave your kids behind and experience the lackluster that is Heirloom without them. Your sanity and wallet will thank you. We will not be returning to Heirloom.
(1)Mary L.
This restaurant is an absolute delightful dining experience. The chef prepares this farm to table dishes unlike any other dining experience. The duck was the best I have ever had. The pink Snapper was perfectly prepared, to the last bite. The start of the salads to the end with desert was so perfect, it just makes you happy with all the flavors. Every course is served by an exceptional staff that describes the dish and where the food was grown. I will definitely be a regular and recommend the wonderful restaurant to all.
(5)Ray W.
We visited for the first time for Valentine's Day. The decor is warm & cozy, rustic, definitely a lot of reclaimed stuff. We felt like we had our own "space". The wait staff was very attentive and tuned in to when our next course should arrive. I ordered an Old Fashioned made with Gin. Figured I might not get that opportunity again. It was surprisingly good. I followed with a Triple C Stout. Bread with Freshly Whipped Butter/Cinnamon. It is wonderful. Too good, really. Filling up on bread is not a good idea. First Course: Oestra Caviar, Sunchoke Crisps. Watercress Creme Fraiche, Yellowfin Tuna Tartar, Baby Parsley. Makes it sound like a caviar dish. It isn't, really. It's really a nice hunk of tuna with a few specks of caviar on it. No matter, it was delicious, but I think I might have named it other than "Happy Valley Caviar". No mention of where the Yelowfin Tuna came from. Second Course: Oysters with Texas Pete and Sour Cream "Caviar", Sunflower shoots. Awesome if you like oysters. Third Course: Scallops, Potato Salad, Baby Bok Choy, Applewood Bacon Vinaigrette. Started feeling like it was time to stop eating now. Fourth Course: Tomato Braised Chicken Leg, Caroline Gold Rice, Baby Spinach. OK, so can I just take the rest of it home? Fifth Course: Angus Ribeye, Blue Potato Puree, Carrots, Sorrel, Au Jus. Cause yeah, I really needed a second entree. Mama? Sixth Course: Cow's Milk Brie, Beet Puree, Crispy Flatbread, Baby Greens. Because when you are stuffed you want a big ol' hunk of cheese. Cheese was delicious and we asked where it was from but we never got an answer. Seventh Course: Spiced Cake, Cinnamon Streusel, Whipped Cream, Mallow, Chili Threads. Regret not boxing this, but at this point I thought I might explode. So - was it good? Yes, awesome. Here are a few thoughts... With this much food, it would have been more romantic to "share", especially on Valentine's Day. I don't think this was sized properly. I know for the price you don't want us to share, but if we can't eat it all...maybe too much is too much? Honestly half of what I had plus a small pour of each "pairing" would have been sized and priced right. I know you can't send anyone home hungry but I felt bloated like Elvis by the time we rolled out of there. We are looking forward to going back. The food was very well prepared and presented, and the service was top-notch. Maybe just a few bites from a regular menu this next time tho.
(4)Laura M.
Worst meal in my 77 years. Ordered a vegetarian plate and was presented with 4 coin sized pieces of fried sweet potatoes topped with popcorn and sauerkraut. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought it was a joke!!!
(1)Andrea E.
Very disappointed. I got a hard boiled egg as an appetizer for there happy hour special with a glass of red wine. Really? Not saying I won't go back, but that's ridiculous. A hard boiled local chicken egg complimented by a glass of red wine???!
(1)Jordan-Elizabeth L.
What an amazing restaurant! I'm a big fan of the "farm-to-table" trend and this was perfect. I went with my family for Charlotte Restaurant Week (aka Queen's Feast) and we had a three course menu. It was extremely well planned out and very fresh. The ambiance is also very nice and just right for a nice family dinner.
(5)Amy S.
My fiancé and I recently returned to Heirloom and our experience could not have been more different than our first outing. This time we shared the 12 course tasting menu as all the courses were appealing to at least one of us. Not one of the courses disappointed. Particularly delicious were the first course, a salad with wonderfully fresh greens and flavorful but not overwhelming dressing. The sixth course which was listed on the menu as red drum but they ran out so they replaced it with monkfish. I was first disappointed as I love red drum but the monkfish was perfectly cooked and seasoned. This was followed by a chorizo pasta. The pasta was homemade egg noodles and amazing! The monkfish and the pasta made me wish you could order a full size plate of some items. I give heirloom 4 stars following this visit, rather than 5 because the daily change in menu is incredibly hard to maintain. There is no guarantee that the menu options will be to your tasting on the night you dine. As this really is a destination restaurant for most, it is hard to plan ahead to make reservations in the event that the menu on the day of your reservation will be to your liking. That being said, the service was outstanding. The cocktails are the most creative I have ever had. And the overall experience was a five star experience.
(4)Lourdes E.
This is a top restaurant hiding in a strip mall. We enjoyed everything here- did the 5 course tasting that was very impressive. Our waiter was well versed in food and some of the staff was new and not well versed in good. We enjoyed some excellent food tonight.
(5)George F.
Based on reviews and what we've heard from friends Heirloom seems to be a tale of two restaurants. Unfortunately, the tale is akin to Jekyll & Hyde. We went to dinner with another couple having heard about the restaurant from friends. It wasn't crowded at the time, yet the waitress was, let's say, less than prompt. After being seated for about 10 minutes she finally came over to us to take our order. Never asked if we would like a drink, and was less than helpful. We had high hopes for this restaurant having heard good things from several friends. Unfortunately that was not our experience. All of our orders were less than impressive The chicken I had was stringy and not particularly flavorful. The salad had some kind of julienned vegetable on top of it that literally tasted like, and had the consistency of, straw. I appreciate the farm to table concept, but the fact that the source is local is not enough. The food should also taste good, especially at the prices charged for such small portions. Other reviews have mentioned, and I agree, the ambiance gives me the impression they're not sure what they want to be: a rustic farmhouse or a white glove restaurant??? The friends who suggested we try this place later told us they've gone for lunch several times but not dinner. So maybe the lunch fare is better. Unfortunately, based on our first experience I don't think I'll be finding out if that's the case.
(2)Marcus C.
A wonderful experience dining out during restaurant week. We had the opportunity of trying a four course select menu. 98% of the produce and livestock is locally sourced by North Carolina farmers which makes the taste exceptionally clean and flavorful. The Service only added to the exceptional experience having fresh picked herbs prepared at your table. Charlottes hidden gem a must try for food connoisseurs wanting to taste North Carolina. We will be back. They also offer cooking classes and other 5 course selections to fancy any appetite.
(5)Kelly K.
I bought the Groupon and did the 12 courses (small plates to be shared) for 2. I wanted to try it all. I hear the menu changes weekly so accomplishing this has got to be a huge undertaking. I do believe the chef is talented and I saw some of the brilliance come through in a few of the dishes. The problem here, in my humble opinion, is that the chef is trying too hard. Heirloom should focus and perfect their best dishes and add specials based on seasonal items. Many of the dishes (the salads) and the overly-foodie concoctions (which I have to say I typically LOVE) just didn't fully work (but rounding up here from a 2.5). The finale of the duck, (we must have literally gotten the last duck of the evening as it was all dried out) was a bad way to end the dinner portion and the desserts following fell a bit flat. The bacon in the desert -- was like a episode of Iron Chef "BACON" and it didn't work. The other dessert was a bit bland (dry and not sweet enough). The sweet bread freaked my date out but I found it kind of interesting/different. Nothing bad or terrible here and as I said, some courses were really good. I loved the local, organic, sustainable concept of this place and why I wanted to try it and love it. I also loved the edible flowers in the salads, the presentation and overall creativity of the dishes. A+. The staff was especially nice too -- especially the host. While I think the talent of the chefs is legit at Heirloom, they simply need to work the bugs out (figuratively of course!) I will be back.
(3)Laurie M.
Ok, I had to wait and think on this place a bit before I reviewed it. Loved the food and the concept but the price was a bit .....yes..its up there....high. The courses and food was great. I enjoyed most of the courses. We shared the 12 course between the two of us. Love the start with the fresh herbs with the butter but it should have been mixed in . Maybe ask if the clients lie salted since you are mixing it fresh...just a thought. Some of the courses were hard to split. Would say the soup was the hardest. The whole on NC was fun just its just a little hard on some things since we don't grow olive trees in NC. But I will say we use local when we can. Love that you carry local wines like Raffaldini. But my whole problem is the cost . If you charged a bit less the place would be mobbed. The music did not reflect the price of the meal. I would have though instrumental would have been appropriate. We were also seated in the corner so we could not see anything and the place was empty. I would have liked to book my family for Christmas eve but they are closed. Then the thing is they are in the middle of nowhere and charge like 300.00 for dinner. so I liked it but with those prices will not be back for a really long time. I loved the staff and liked the concept I think they just need to lower the cost a bit to draw a crowd. Would I return, sure, if I was not paying the bill or if it was a super special occasion. I had a groupon but it was a drop in the bucket compared to the bill. A dinner for 2 is going to be over 200.00 without even thinking. But again, the food was really good
(3)Giannabrie F.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to check out Heirloom. If I was going to be totally honest I would probably give a 3.8 out of 5. There were some great things about our experience and there were a couple things that were not so great. Let me recap: The location is about as random as it gets. Off the beaten path, heading towards Gastonia. Not much in the area to look at and I wouldn't say that it is in the "safest" part of town. Nonetheless, the restaurant itself looked nice from the outside and stood apart from the surrounding environment. When we stepped in, it was very quiet on a Thursday evening. No music, no hustle or bustle. It was bright and I remember thinking it was a bit cold...in terms of temperature. We were immediately greeted by a handsome young lad. I don't know if he was a manager, host, owner or whatever but he was very friendly and pretty much let us pick where we wanted to sit. The restaurant was basically wide open. I appreciated the rustic, granola, organic feel of the place. The décor wasn't necessarily inviting but it was unique and fitting for the theme of the restaurant: farm to table. It had a quaker feel to it. As I previously mentioned...the lighting was a little TOO bright and the temperature was almost to the point of being uncomfortably cold. The menu changes daily so they print it on cardstock every day with only local ingredients sourced and used. My boss was treating my husband and I to a nice dinner and when she made the reservation she mentioned it was my 5 year anniversary with the company. They were supposed to print something on the menus to reflect the celebration but they forgot. They also mentioned that they were low on cardstock so we had to wait for others in the restaurant to finish with the menus so we could have our own. A little bootleg but forgivable. The four of us decided to do the full 12 course meal (1 per couple) as suggested by the very friendly waiter. There were some items that were definitely out of my comfort zone but they were so creative and outside of the box that I truly enjoyed the spin on everything we tried. I can't run through everything but it was basically everything from clams, kale salad, custard, a variety of cheese, butternut squash soup, curried rabbit, duck carbonara, oysters, beef liver mousse, grilled snapper, etc. The deconstructed pumpkin pie, hot chocolate, and truffles completed the meal. Truly everything was done very well and had something special or nonconventional to tantalize any palette! My personal favorite was the snapper and the curried rabbit. Very tasty. Some of the cheese choices were either too bland or too strong so no love there and I found the duck carbonara to be a little bland but that is just me. The courses were served with just enough time spaced inbetween so we really didn't leave feeling stuffed. It was the perfect "taste" of everything. They allow you to bring your own bottle of wine but they also offer all NC wines, spirits, cocktails, etc. Overall we were pleased with the presentation of the food, the brave choice of flavor combinations, the freshness of the ingredients, etc. A great experience. Not the type of place you will frequent but they certainly hold their own. They also offer different types of cooking classes and other specials throughout the month. Check them out!
(4)Jules S.
I came to Heirloom with high hopes. After all, it is revered as the top restaurant right now in Charlotte. I love farm to table and I love small plates and trying lots of things, so it was made for me! So a group of us went to Heirloom on a Friday night to finally check things out. It's a former Mexican restaurant and they did a pretty nice job with the renovation. It was very open in the middle but I liked how you're not right on top of the table next to you (hear me Zebra?). The host was incredibly gracious and enthusiastic. There seemed to be a side room for private dining on the other side of the saloon-like bar blaring country music (very, very odd). The server introduced the restaurant and chef by telling us he grew up in Lenoir foraging for food. I know it was a set up for the "farm to fork" concept but honestly it made him sound like a hillbilly who was so poor he had to scrounge for food- we all laughed that he was a freegan. Lenoir isn't exactly the culinary mecca like someone from say, Tuscany, so I would have left that off the description. The food was beautifully presented. 5 out of 5 for presentation for just about all the courses. Really gorgeous technique. However... I tried 7 different courses (out of a 12 course menu) and sadly there was only 1 out of 7 that I would order again. When you go to a new place that has regular portions and you don't love your meal, you shrug it off and say I just ordered the wrong thing. But when you have 7 different courses and 6 of them are not good, I'm pretty much decided on the place. Maybe it was an off night of seasoning but the soup was a bland godawful mushy bowl of lentils and unidentifiable fish, the meat was not the type of cut to leave that rare so it was rubbery. The fish course was underseasoned and bland, the steak chorizo was pretty darn plain and one of the desserts was OK but I wouldn't even get it from somewhere if it was $3. The good news about their concept is that their menu changes DAILY, so hopefully you won't have the same experience I do. But it also means it might be hit and miss because they don't have specialty that is a go-to expertise. The saving grace was the last dish which was a nice whiskey cake. When we left, someone asked "Would you go back?" Three out of three of us said no, probably not. I was sad and very disappointed and it ruined my night. :( Bottom line: for me, I'm going to head to Passion 8, Asbury or Good Food instead.
(2)Kurt D.
Really impressed with this place. Top notch service and every dish in the 3 course meal was delicious. Great beer selection from local breweries. Come with $$$.
(5)Demetria C.
I had one of the best cocktails I've had in life here. It's called orange sage martini. Very different than anything I've had at any bar in Charlotte & all the ingredients were sourced locally. The food for restaurant week was amazing also.
(5)Todd K.
Heirloom is simply one of the best dining experiences in the greater Charlotte area. Well thought out menus made with farm to table goodness, terrific service and wonderful cocktails. Make sure you allow time to split and enjoy all 12 tasting courses with your dining partner!
(5)Jessica Y.
Checked out Heirloom, from out of town, and loved it! Asked chef for vegetarian 3-course and it did not disappoint. Very attentive and helpful staff, delicious and inventive courses included baby bib salad with roasted shallot dressing (our fave!)
(4)Megan T.
We decided to check out Heirloom for Charlotte Restaurant week. We arrived right on time for our reservations and walked in. We were standing in the entry way a couple of minutes before we were acknowledged. I did not realize, but I think the hostess stand is to the right as I saw people going there after we were seated. That area is not visible as you walk in, you just have to know this. We were promptly seated. I appreciate the fact that their tables are disbursed out and you are not on top of each other. They come around with blue wine bottles that are filled with water to start you off with. It looks refreshing, but it is lukewarm, and that is not how I like water. I had to ultimately ask for some iced water. Kevin started off with a beer, and I asked for a glass of wine. Unfortunately they were out of stock of what I wanted. Not cool! So the waitress offered something else, and I was just not a fan. She asked how I liked it, and I told her I was not a big fan, it was not the wine I wanted. And that was that. A little disappointed she couldn't offer something else. Both of us went off of the Charlotte Restaurant Week menu. We each ordered the different item so we could essentially taste every item they were offering. They first started us off with some corn bread, I'm not a corn bread person, but I thought it had great flavor. For the first part - the salad was pretty good, but the chicken and dumplings had a lot of flavor! I loved that! Then for the second course we had sausage and pork belly. The sausage had a nice flavor, but the pork belly stood out, so good! For the third and main entrée, I am not the biggest fish fan, but Kevin said it was good. The steak was really good, along with the potatoes. Last was dessert, which was some chocolate mousse type cake and a berry shortcake. I am a huge dessert fan, but both of these were unfinished. They were just a big miss. The chocolate cake tasted like something I could get anywhere. The berry shortcake was different. I actually liked the concept and it looked like a local southern desert. The berry part was good, but the biscuits were a miss. I looked at their actual menu for the day, and each of their entrees were around $28. We got four courses for $30, so I cannot imagine paying $28 for the main entrée like the steak we received. Maybe you get larger plates with their main entrees?? I don't know, but it will be hard to return without it being restaurant week or some special occasion. One last note, the service was okay. Their process is slow, we were there for almost 3 hours. It did not necessarily feel slow, but they would take their time between each course, so you weren't rushed. By the end though, we were itching to get out of there. Overall, pretty glad we checked out a local place and enjoyed the food.
(4)