The One Tapas & Bar — Restaurant in Charlotte

My husband and I dined at The One on a Sunday evening. Although we didn’t have reservations, we were warmly welcomed and promptly seated. The atmosphere struck a perfect balance between simple and sophisticated, with tasteful green and gold accents woven throughout the space. I especially loved the open view into the kitchen — a charming detail that added to the experience.

The service was outstanding. Our orders were taken with care, and the owner herself crafted our cocktails, which felt like a special touch. The menu, a thoughtfully curated selection of tapas, made it genuinely difficult to choose — everything sounded so enticing! Safe to say, I'll definitely be returning to try more.

Each dish arrived hot, fresh, and beautifully presented. We began with three bacalao croquettes, a perfect way to start the meal — crisp on the outside, creamy and flavorful inside. Next came the oxtail empanadas, which were truly a standout. I highly recommend trying them if you get the chance; the meat was tender and juicy, wrapped in a perfectly flaky pastry.

Following that, we enjoyed the wagyu beef sliders accompanied by truffle fries — a classic elevated to a refined, well-executed version. The Spanish-style meatballs served with a side of toast were hearty and satisfying, though I was starting to feel pleasantly full by then.

We finished our savory selections with the duck ragù fettuccine, a beautifully light and clean-tasting pasta that satisfied my Italian food craving without feeling overly heavy.

For dessert, we couldn't resist the evening’s special — matcha tiramisu — and it was absolutely divine: delicate, not overly sweet, and a memorable finish to the meal.

Overall, everything from the service to the food exceeded expectations. Compliments to the owner & chefs for curating a menu that excites you to come back and try even more.

If I had one minor critique, it would be the bed of arugula used decoratively under several dishes. While it looked nice, it felt unnecessary and led to some food waste.

Nonetheless, The One delivered an exceptional dining experience, and we’re already looking forward to...

Wonderful is the word that comes to mind everytime I come here. After having had a variety of the menu through my various experiences, I have only not enjoyed one menu item, and that was because I did not understand it was a soup that was served cold instead of hot.

My favorite dish at this establishment is a toss up between the Lamb, and the pork belly bao bun. Both are just such great dishes, that have made me want to come back time and time again, sometimes multiple days in a row. The truffle fries are now the standard of quality of what I desire when I order truffle fries anywhere else. I am always suggesting this place to my wife for date nights, and bring out of town guests here to experience it when they visit.

The staff is wonderful, I have a toddler who is a messy eater, and has a lot of personality. The staff here is always so kind to us, and understanding towards our toddler making a mess. I appreciate this more than I can express.

THE DRINKS!!! Oh my, just wow. Hand crafted cocktails next door to your local neighborhood grocery store. I have tried more than a handful of drinks on their menu and have been satisfied with each one. I am obsessed with their espresso martini for a desert drink, but am always ready to order a "not so sweet one" when I walk in. My wife did order a drink one time that was a little too "merry" for her liking, and the staff without any issue made her another drink. They value their customers, and really want you to have a wonderful...

Talk about a vibe! The One has cultivated an atmosphere of intimacy in a very unassuming spot in the Plantation Market. This place is a firecracker! It's the bomb! I havent eaten here yet but I've seen the specials change daily and the food looks so good! I walked in 7 minutes to close and couldn't bring myself to get a drink it's just not my style to order 30 minutes before closing and usually an hour before closing I'm very wary as a consumer.

I just love this place. It's like a fireplace became human and started a restaurant it's just so warm and inviting once you open that door. The bar is so chic and I really did want to try the drink special "the mellow polmelo" really brings me back to my Singapore days as a child I lamented not being able to eat my favorite fruit, grapefruit, and having to settle for it's much less tart but equally juicy cousin, the polmelo. Let's just say my favorite fruit is orange now haha.

I spoke with Amy, the owner, she was so friendly and charming. As a new transplant to Charlotte this place is a bit over my budget but I would say if your budget is similar to mine, The One is your go-to "special" place. The place you and yours and even your friends too can visit and it's going to be a really nice time. All I can say to finish off this monstrous review is "A really nice time" would be a cliché understatement for The One. Truly the best things in life are...