The Teal Turnip — Restaurant in Charlotte

Updated Review: In spite of leaving a glowing review for The Turnip last year, a recent visit (7/18/25) made me realize it fell far short of the praise this place deserves. In the Charlotte metro area, there is no dearth of outstanding places to eat. So, when my wife recommended we head back to TT for a date night, I almost proposed trying a place we have not been to yet. Oh what a mistake that would have been.

Although we remembered the food, drink, staff, and atmosphere to have been exceedingly great, all were outdone on this visit, and by no small margin. For example, I cannot recall ever having to -- genuinely -- pause and collect myself after taking a bite of a dish, but the Mod Tom (featured in my picture) is, easily, the single greatest thing I have ever sampled. Truly. No cheap hyperbole. I absolutely mean it.

It is beyond understanding how much flavor can be derived from the burrata, tomatoes, curd, and the like. I was reflecting on it that night, and decided the closest I can come to explaining it is like watching a skilled magician. We know, as rational human beings, there is no such thing as magic. We know what is happening in front of us is the result of decades of practice and craftsmanship. But still, in that moment, we cannot help but permit ourselves to wonder if there is indeed something more to this world than what is possible with sleight of hand. What was on my plate was such magic.

Alas, I could go on about the other dishes, but stated above is simply a microcosm for everything else that you can and will order. Plus, as much as the cuisine can stand on its own merits as unrivaled, the staff deserves their own special call-out.

From our server to the front end manager, everybody treated us like a close friend, and you can just tell there is a very proud, family atmosphere among the staff; they know where they work is something special, and they appreciate those who recognize it as well. But, don't take my word for it. In talking with our server, we learned she was actually doing the Chef's Table as a feature of her bachelorette party. To not only come dine where you work, but make it a part of such a cherished ritual, says everything about TT, and the chefs who have made it so great.

At the risk of bordering on the absurd, I will end my updated review here, and conclude with the simple message I left for the staff when making our reservation (it is recommended you make a reservation): We love you guys. And, we will be back soon.

Hopefully for the Chef's table.

Original Review (10/23/24): The true definition of a hidden gem. Unfathomably good food, with an exceptional staff. The "small" plates are a bit of misnomer, as the portion sizes were generous; three of the medium-sized dishes had both of us stuffed, with plenty to take home. And, don't forget the drink menu! Words fail to describe the all-around awesomeness of this place, and hopefully you'll stumble upon this gem sometime...

This review is for the Chef's Table experience. Spoiler alert: it is FANTASTIC!

Charlotte does not have an abundance of Chef's Tables, and The Teal Turnip have created a true Chef's Table experience that I can only recommend. Just the table itself is a work of art: a beautiful wooden table made from salvaged tree wood sits right at the top of the kitchen. It seats 6.

We booked it for our combined wedding anniversary and birthday celebration. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, the staff were welcoming and engaging. Sure, the food was the star of the evening, but the staff, and especially co-owner and chef Taylor Kastl, were vying for top spot as well.

Obviously you want great food, and The Teal Turnip delivered on that, and then some. My wife and I both commented on the fact that there was literally not one dish that we did not like. That is as rare as finding an album of which you love each song.

The menu, which The Teal Turnip created (orchestrated?) adjusted to what we told them were our likes, dislikes and allergies, was amazing. Each dish looked great, tasted even better, and was accompanied by Taylor's introductions which were interesting, informative and also often funny. She could easily try out for a side gig as food stand-up.

But there is also a story to what they create. One of their philosophies is to use and reuse almost all ingredients as they cook. Pork or bacon drippings? You can use that as an ingredient in bread (and yes, you want that bread!!!). Or a bacon jam. Or a handmade candle (not a joke!). Nothing goes to waste.

Another key element is to support local farmers and growers. Many restaurants do this. But it is not just about partnering with local suppliers, it is also about finding those that have amazing produce or meat. And that takes time. The Teal Turnip team have found truly outstanding partners. I could wax poetically about the tomatoes alone. Or the Burrata. Or the Beef. Or any of the other locally sourced ingredients.

Adding to the fun were the cocktails and mocktails we enjoyed, created by bartender Ben. I tried four different mocktails and each was unique and refreshing. Valerie tried two cocktails and one was so good that it had to be tried again.

The evening ended with sweets, and they were easily as good, original and tasty as the main courses. By this time we had eaten so much, we had to take some home.

We started the evening committed to taking a few pics of each dish as it was served at our table. About a third into the menu we had completely forgotten our plan. The food was just so good that when it came, we tucked in. Forget about pictures - we wanna eat!

I again want to thank the staff, and especially the kitchen staff and Taylor, for creating such an amazing experience. I have no doubts that even if you pop in for lunch, you will walk away with a smile on your face. If you love great food, you will love The...

Was very excited to try The Teal Turnip in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s a great location because there’s not a lot around there to eat. I liked the space. Pretty simple and industrial. They had an eight seat bar and then about 6 to 8 tables inside. There was also a really nice outside space. I went on a Tuesday and somebody at the restaurant let us know that there was live music and a limited menu. We still decided to go. I felt really bad for the live music because it was outside and it was probably 95° that day. We had a really good experience there even though there was only one server who was also bartending at the same time. Towards the end of our meal, someone else helped us clear the table. They had a really good cocktail list. I had the martini. It came with blue cheese olives, but I thought it was strange they threw the olives in the drink and not on a toothpick. It still was very tasty. They also had a pretty decent wine list. Since we were a big group, we decided to order one of each of the small plates. We were bummed they were out of the empanadas. We saw a few of those orders go out and they look very good. The fries were well seasoned & crispy. I liked their play on a meatball parm hoagie- a piece of crusty Italian bread with meatballs and red sauce. My favorite thing might’ve been the Arancini. They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. The shrimp and grits were also very good. Not many shrimp but for the price, I thought that was very fair. The grain bowl with the roughy fish was also very good. The fish was well cooked and I liked the texture. The salt and vinegar wings were also very good. They had no sauce but were crispy and juicy and a good size. They came with a delicious dipping sauce and that was perfect. I will definitely go back when they have their full...