Charlotte’s Albertine Lands Spot on Garden & Gun’s Top 30 Restaurant List

A downtown Charlotte dining spot just earned major recognition. Albertine, which mixes Mediterranean and North African cooking, made Garden & Gun magazine's elite list of 30 Southern restaurants worth visiting. The spot started serving meals in 2023, with Katy and Joe Kindred at the helm.

"I'm very excited about a lot of the details that went into that and all the little stories I get to tell folks about how I kind of came up with a lot of this. All our art around the space is all women," said Katy Kindred per CharlotteFive.

Small plates steal the show here. Dates burst with spicy chorizo, while crisp quail gets a kick from Aleppo honey. Creamy whipped feta comes drizzled with fragrant marjoram oil. Main dishes pack a punch too: from juicy wood-grilled steak to tender short ribs and wild game birds paired with spiced merguez.

Staff shine at making guests feel special. They'll spot someone squinting at the menu and bring reading glasses without being asked. The kitchen works magic with Mediterranean classics: their fish-egg spread sings with fresh tuna, and spiced lamb meatballs hit all the right notes.

Named for the mother of Queen Charlotte, the space pairs bold art with soft velvet seats and sleek marble. Wine prices stay reasonable to spark guest curiosity. The bar mixes up zingy vodka drinks and rich bourbon sips.

This win puts Albertine next to some stellar Southern spots. Asheville's Potential New Boyfriend made the cut, as did Ajja in Raleigh. Charleston scored twice with Bintü Atelier and Palmira, while nearby Hanahan added Kooban Café Mexicano to the mix.

Up in Tennessee, Sewannee's Judith and Nashville's Kisser got the nod. Virginia rounded things out with Richmond's Lost Letter and Staunton's Maude & the Bear.

The Kindreds keep building their food empire. Besides Albertine, they run Kindred, Milkbread, and Hello, Sailor across North Carolina. Each spot brings something fresh to local dining.