Is your mouth watering for these small bites from UchibÄ? | Photo via Uchi
The new year is right around the corner, and big bites are coming to the Queen City. Here are five restaurants weâre most excited for in 2026: Sharigato, 420 E. 22nd St. | Sushi
Guests will be able to watch chefs and robots craft made-to-order hand rolls.
The Improper Pig, 1600 Central Ave. | Barbecue
The new restaurantâs flagship will be designed like a lively backyard barbecue, serving smoked meats and Asian-inspired specialties.
Dozo, 1419 East Blvd., Ste. A | Japanese-American
Expect to order menu favorites like Tonkatsu sandos, crab fried rice, small plates, and a new bar program with a focus on sake and Japanese whiskeys.
Uchi, The Commonwealth | Sushi
The renowned spot by James Beard award-winning chef Tyson Cole is expected to serve fresh sushi, hot and cold plates, and seasonal omakase â and we recently caught up with Shaun King, the Chef de Cuisine, to get the details.
Seemingly Overzealous, Davidson + Matthews | Ice cream
The Charlotte staple known for dairy-, egg-, and gluten-free ice cream will boast 12-16 rotating flavors, ice cream cakes, shakes, and flights.
Whatâs the best drink or meal you tried this year?
Whether itâs a dish you canât stop thinking about, a beverage you couldnât put down, or an entire meal you could eat every day, share your great taste with us.
December Promotion | 6 a.m. | TBC Location, Piedmont, SC | Free | Your good deed just made the nice list â donate blood and snag a holiday sweatshirt + $50 in TBC Rewards this weekend.*
Plan an alternate route â 36th Street between Davidson and North Tryon in NoDA is closed for pavement reconstruction, with Matheson Avenue or Sugar Creek Road operating as detours. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by tomorrow afternoon. (WSOC)
Civic
Donât forget.Stream or attend the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authorityâs first meeting today at 6 p.m. at the Valerie C. Woodard Center. The group is expected to discuss term limits and goals for upcoming transit projects.
Opening
Emmy Louâs opens tomorrow, Dec. 19 along Park Road in Dilworth. The new hangout will offer 300+ wines, beer + wine on tap, non-alcoholic options, shareables, and desserts. Weâre eager to see if our rec made the final draft.
Biz
The Charlotte Checkers and City of Charlotte are in talks about a community ice rink at Eastland Yards. The Checkers hope to build at least two full-sized rinks, with one of the rinks for team practices and a rec youth + adult hockey. The move is part of Zawyer Sportsâ ongoing commitment following its acquisition of the Checkers. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Real Estate
Charlotte ranked first as the best-performing retail market in 2025, according to CoStar. The rankings were based on percent of inventory leased, availability rate, market rent growth, change in sales volume, and total return for retail properties. Makes sense, as 157 people move to Charlotte every day.
Award
Congratulations go to LaTresha Wilson, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsâ principal of the year. Principal Wilson was selected from 11 finalists and honored for her work improving Tuckaseegee Elementaryâs performance grade. Watch her surprise. (WCNC)
Closed
Binki Cafe, a bubble tea shop in University, closed its doors this week. The family-owned shop did not give a reason for its closure, but thanked its customers on social media. Its location in Winston-Salem is still open. (The Charlotte Observer)
Asked
Want in on The Brief, CLTtodayâs new weekly business newsletter? Take a quick ~2-minute survey to help shape it â and if youâre interested in an exclusive launch partnership, email rjohnston@6amcity.com. Only five spots are available, so grab yours before theyâre gone.
State
Rawr. The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles issued a new specialty license plate featuring the Acrocanthosaurus, one of the dinosaurs found at the N.C. Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh. Itâs the only plate that was approved this year. (The Charlotte Observer)
Cause
$7.1 billion. Thatâs how much philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated to nonprofits this year. Here in Charlotte, you donât need deep pockets to do your part. You can give your time, kindness, or a few hours of hard work to one of these deserving volunteer opportunities instead. (ABC News)
If youâre a Costco shopper, you know about the $1.50 hot dog. But are you in on these other 10 lesser-known hacks all Costco shoppers should know about? Weâre talking deals on everything from travel to tires.*
A 2026 planner to keep track of your events, to-dos, goals, and more. We love this best-selling weekly option that includes 12 months of monthly and weekly pages for easy planning + scheduling. Or, opt for this flower-adorned daily planner with monthly tabs, metal cover protectors, and a page for expense tracking.
If you havenât yet, scroll back up and let me know your favorite new restaurant youâve tried this year. I plan to share mine soon. A little tasting: my favorites included a returning favorite, Italian and Irish-inspired cuisines, surf and turf, and ranch dressing â though not all at once.
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