Rooster’s Uptown

Sat at the kitchen bar upstairs, food was fine until my wife pointed out (who’s a chef) no one in the kitchen wears gloves. We were OK initially until we saw a guy in the kitchen cleaning flour from the breading station basket in the garbage can by first using a spoon or knife to get flour off then by hitting the basket inside the top of the garbage can and then putting it right back in the flour station right in front of me!!! Constantly seeing cooks wiping their nose scratching and then going back to making food!!! Will not be back and advise on not going.

I love the downstairs area. Bartenders are great, food is solid, drinks consistent. The parmesan mac and cheese is very good in small quantities. Always look forward to stopping in for snacks or dinner.

Very fresh and very good food. We went back in our anniversary and loved it at this location. A little pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for!

I must be honest, I was sooo excited about coming to this place only because of all the amazing reviews on here {Yelpers}. When I walked in the place was beautiful!!! The host was very pleasant and welcoming and stated I could have a drink at the bar while my table finished up. My experience with the bartenders was not impressive at all and I was not pleased with their services.
After enjoying my wine with my friend who met me there we tabbed out and went to our table. Upstairs was gorgeous I was thinking to myself we should have just come up here! We were seated a a round booth and I shared with the girls what took place downstairs. As I stepped away to use the restroom, I noticed a gentleman and to my surprise he was an old coworker {it’s been 10+ years} who’s now the manager of this Roosters!{Hey Bo!} I did inform him of what took place and he sincerely apologized and mentioned that I would be addressed immediately. Which it was and from there on our night went from sour to remarkable and I’m so glad it did. I did not want my first experience at Roosters to be this way and Bo truly turned things around. And sweet Sarah such an amazing and friendly server. We ate like little hungry women and laughed endlessly.
Thank You Roosters for turning around our evening and showing outstanding gratitude for your customers.

Rooster’s is legit! We stopped in here sans reservation prior to a show across the street at Belk Theater. We parked in the deck right there at the restaurant where they validate, which was an added bonus. Walking in, we found a really cool vibe, combining rustic with modern and urban. There was a bit of a wait so we took a seat at the bar. Had I reviewed the other Unilocal reviews beforehand (shame on me) I would have realized that reservations are HIGHLY recommended here.
When our table was ready, we were led up some stairs to a big dining area we had no idea even existed! (Side note: there is apparently first-​come first-​served seating available up there that they don’t tell you about at the front.) The menu had all your southern classics with modern twists on them. The mains are served a la carte and the sides are family style. If you order one of the daily specials, as we both did, you’ll find that they come with their own sides. I got the pork chop. This was a big azz piece of beautiful meat, bone-​in, tender, juicy, and buttery (almost too buttery). It was served on top of this bean and green situation which was equally delightful.
Only thing that kept me from going fiver on this one was the service. We didn’t see our waiter much and he didn’t explain anything on the menu until we asked him directly. At a nice place such as this one, you expect your waiter to offer specials and explain things that are unique about their menu.
This is definitely a spot we’ll return to!

If you are looking for a nice place that has traditional delicious options with a hint of creativity, Roosters is perfect. It’s on the higher end of the price range but delicious.
A unique concept of the menu is that everything is al a carte, meaning your protein comes on its own and then so do the veggies. We had 5 in our party and we each ordered our own main course but shared 3 different veggie options — corn, asparagus, and green beans. To start we ordered a charcuterie board that was fantastic.
Perfect for a night of celebrating or a nice out on the town.

I’ve been very impressed in my two visits to Rooster’s. As a meat lover, any place that specializes in smoking their own meat and does it well it going to rate highly in my book, but Rooster’s shines all around.
I’ve had their wings, roasted chicken, and bbq meatloaf as well as different sides. Their wings and chicken were both really flavorful and perfectly juicy (as I’m sure just about all their meats are), but if you take one thing away from this review — get the bbq meatloaf! It had a great blend of spices, was cooked perfectly, and Rooster’s bbq sauce is incredible. It’s sweet, spicy, and smoky without having any one of those elements be too strong. I got some on the side with my chicken this past visit, and it made the meal that much better.
The staff has also been very friendly, and the open-​kitchen concept where you can see the chefs working is pretty interesting.

Roosters is a good spot — a place I heard a lot about when I first moved to Charlotte because my executive would frequent there. It has two floors the top which is more open than the bottom. We had our Christmas party here, it was a little tight and very open as we were on the first floor. The food wasn’t too bad, we had a variety of aps and wine/​beer. I’d return to another event here.

I’ve been to this location a couple of times and every time we have been seated out in the atrium (party of 6). It’s super awkward sitting out there. There’s no music and it’s you with 3 other tables. Maybe that’s where they place the bad kids ;-)
Anyways, the food has been pretty good. I’ve had the mushroom pizza (awesome), the assorted mushrooms (guess I love mushrooms), the Mac and cheese (yummy in my tummy) and the steak burger (jaw dropping). My favorite has been the steak burger, which my husband and I split. It was cooked to perfection and had the best flavor. Plus it was only $ 13 and came with the side. FYI the onion rings are bomb! I haven’t tried the chicken yet (which I think is the signature item), so I’ll above to try it next time.
My only drawback to Roosters besides our seating arrangement is that they are sometimes out of items because it’s farm to table. When they are out– they are out. Last time I was there they were out of the scalloped potatoes, asparagus and broccoli. I was really craving the potatoes which was a let down.

I had a very strange experience with this restaurant. I actually started dinner at the «sister restaurant» Kings Kitchen. They had a horrible situation happen where the kitchen flooded and they had to send us to Roosters. The manager at Kings told us that everything would be taken care of due to the fact we had already waited an hour for our food and now they couldn’t serve us. Roosters was about to close so we ran several blocks.
They said they were excepting us. All four of us ordered the Short Ribs which were out of this world fantastic. We had two sides that were ala carte. We enjoyed a bottle of wine as well. Finally with happy tummy’s the manager brings us the check. It was the full amount spent… We were quite confused since we were told it would be taken care of. Then the manager offers to take care of the side items. I was quite embarrassed at this point to be asking for the manager to take care of our meal when that had already been promised since the overall experience had taken several hours to even get dinner.
I truly think there was a miscommunication from Kings to Roosters and the manager ended up taking care of it. I was simply very embarrassed to have to ask them to do what they said they were going to do. Roosters was quite a bit more expensive than Kings so we most definitely would not have chosen to take friends here on a double date since it wasn’t in the budget.
Overall the food and service was amazing. The situation we had was very rare and uncomfortable. I would absolutely return to Roosters for a nice evening out, that is when I know what I’m getting myself into.

You ever sit down after eating at a restaurant and think to yourself, ‘That might be it. That might very well be the best meal I have had in my entire life’? Well, that’s how I felt after finishing my coconut cake at Rooster’s. If I chose to starve myself after this meal, resulting in my death, I hope they make mention on my tombstone that my last meal was at Rooster’s. I will have died happy if that’s the case. I was in town with some friends for a little getaway in Charlotte and each one of us rolled out of this place with the biggest smiles on our faces. We tried the sampler, split mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes. My buddies had steak, pork shoulder, and I had the ribs. I will make a trip back to this place someday. You have my word. Absolutely fantastic.

We were 2 couples in Charlotte for the weekend to attend a Panthers game. Roosters was close to our hotel and we were able to book through Open Table for the time we desired. The food was delicious, the server Gavin was attentive and offered pleasing suggestions. He hit a home run with the wine he suggested! Roosters is pricey, but we all agreed it was a wonderful evening. We were even reminiscing the following day.
As my dinner I had the Fried Oyster appetizer and a side of Roasted Beets. There were about 10 briny oysters with a small cup of cocktail sauce. The cocktail sauce wasn’t needed because the oysters were so good. In fact our friends placed an order to add to their dinner once they tasted mine. My husband enjoyed the Housemade Pasta with Mixed Seafood in a buttery seafood broth with a hint of tomato. He loved it. In addition to their oyster add-​on, our friends had the ¼ roasted chicken, a dinner salad, and side of Macaroni and Cheese. The salad was so-​so but the chicken was reported to be juicy and flavorful. Sides are offered a la carte to be shared family style. Although we ordered beets and macaroni & cheese as the only sides, they were sizable enough that we didn’t finish them but wished we had been able to since they were delicious.

The food was yummy and the restaurant had a great family style ambience. The menu entails choosing your protein and then ordering your sides a la carte so it’s great if you’re in the mood for family style dining. Our table got the wings and scallops with Mac-​n-​cheese, butter beans and the kale caesar as sides. All were delish!!!
The drinks were great too.

Went to Rooster’s before a show at the Blumenthal. Since the two are connected via walkways, you never have to go outside.
The food here is always nice (mushrooms are scrumptious, and the beets are a favorite).
Gavin, our server, was just the right amount of attentive, and the pork chop special was delicious.

Went there for lunch with a co-​worker. Love the modern, wooden décor and open space. I had the open face BBQ Pork sandwich, with fries, coleslaw and corn. My friend had a three vegetable sampler platter. Both were very good. The service was good. Quite busy for a weekday lunch period.
Feel this is a solid 4 star location.

We ended up at Roosters after wandering around downtown Charlotte on a busy Saturday evening (due to an international soccer match). Although this wasn’t our initial selection, I must say I’m happy we ate here.
I ordered their special duck sausage dinner, which was served with house made kimchi and a side of flash fried cornbread cake. For only $ 14, this meal was amazing! Their regular menu was reasonably priced too. I recommend eating upstairs, as you get a nice view of their open kitchen.

This is how it’s done.
A straightforward concept that has been mastered. The smoking and grilling are to another level that the rest of Charlotte can’t keep up with.
Been here twice and was not disappointed in any way.
You need to try this pace at least once because all the bother chains can’t compare.
Treat yourself and see my pictures.

***Rooster’s specializes in meats roasted and grilled by fire and the end results are satisfying as the kitchen achieves crispy and smoky sears to go with rich and moist meat; Rooster’s also has upscale notes in the design of the dining room as well as their non-​meat choices like a good variety of cheeses and macaroni and cheese that is not infused with truffle oil like a lot of places but instead topped with a fresh shaving of summer truffle***
Rooster’s is a meat and poultry centric restaurant in Downtown Charlotte. They specialize in their proteins grilled or spit-​fire roasted and you can definitely tell fire plays a large role in this restaurant as several of their BBQ meats like pork shoulder reveal a great smokiness while their grilled duck breast combines a charred and crispy skin with a rich, moist and red center.
Of the meats I tried, I liked their duck breast the most. It was simply prepared and seasoned, but the incredible char they were able to achieve on the outside of the duck breast gave it a great smoky flavor. The juiciness was also excellent. It was one of the most well prepared duck breasts I have had to date. The grilled hanger steak was also good but did stand out compared to great hanger steak preparations I have had at other restaurants.
Rooster’s also features an impressive variety of cheeses including good goat cheese and blue cheese choices. Sides are served a la carte here and their goat cheese with arugula and peaches salad was fine, but the most satisfying side was their macaroni and cheese. It was creamy but also had a crispy, lasagna-​like crust. For the macaroni and cheese, they also offered an option of summer truffle shaved tableside (at a very reasonable cost) and the summer truffle was quite fragrant and pungent.
Service was very good and friendly. Prices were not too bad. At first glance, prices might seem high here since the preparations appear to be so simple, but the quality of proteins is very noticeable as Rooster’s meats are well marbled and the high heat from the fire allows the fat to evenly melt, which provides a soft, juicy and very flavorful experience.
Rooster’s has a contemporary dark wood dining room with large booths. The booths are definitely designed for big crowds given that meats and sides here are served a la carte to allow for easy sharing.
Rooster’s was the best dining experience I had in my limited stay in Charlotte. The food was prepared with skill and care and there were enough Southern touches like pimento cheese and pan fried corn to make this restaurant feel unique to the area. I think Rooster’s is definitely a good option for an upscale and satisfying but not too pricey dinner in Downtown Charlotte.
I do not know what the parking situation is in this area.

Quick update. Came for a Wednesday lunch, and I ordered the Steak Burger. Last time I came I had their INCREDIBLE Vietnamese Pork sandwich, which my buddy Jeff ordered today (he LOVED it!).
Unfortunately, when I got my burger, I got yet another Depleted Uranium (DU) bun. Well, ok. This time it was Titanium. I showed my waiter the heft of this bun, and I said if I had pirhanna teeth I still wouldn’t be able to eat it. Sad part is that I remember getting this hard bun a year or so ago… maybe they kept it that long???
OK, the Waiter and Manager attempted to make this right. They took my DU Burger and put in a new order. Right call. The Manager asked if he could get me something while I waited for my new order. He brought me out some grits with bacon. Sounded yummy. Unfortunately it was average at best. Grits were not fully cooked (or maybe they were just designed to be texturally stiff?). Could have used more flavor… I left the majority of that «snack» on the table.
Burger took a long while to come out, but it did, and it was better. Look the bun was softer the second time around… but it’s still a dense bun. But I don’t understand why this Jim Noble restaurant insists on using HARD BREAD for their burgers? Note to Rooster’s Management: USE SOFT BUNS! Try Brioche… Cowfish uses Brioche buns and they make their burgers ROCK! Nothing like butter and burger… it’s a match made in heaven!
So this rating is for their burger. Waiter and Manager tried doing the right thing. And I appreciate that. But using hard buns just don’t work for me. Hard to believe since they make such delicious, fresh bread at King’s Kitchen. I mean, they have an awesome, soft bun for their Vietnamese Pork sandwich. Why not use that Rooster’s for your burger? My mouth (and teeth) would be SO much happier! Yeay.

I don’t remember why we decided to stop here for dinner, but I’m glad we did. Not wanting to blow our budget on an expensive meal, we had to choose a bit carefully, but luckily there were options that interested us.
We started with the house cured duck plate. Super thin slices of tender, cured duck meat piled up on the plate with a drizzle of olive oil. It’s delicate, subtly smoky, and wonderful. I could have eaten two pounds of it. No, really. Chalk it up to poor impulse control.
For the meal, we decided to order one of their pizzas and a batch of chicken wings, and split everything. The wings were really excellent — smoked/​grilled, spicy and absolutely packed with flavor. The pizza (it was an olive oil based mushroom pizza) was a bit less fulfilling. It wasn’t particularly bad, but it was a bit light on substance, and the olive oil base was overdone, leaving the pizza feeling too oily as a whole.
The upstairs dining area is dimly lit and attractive, and it feels private in the booth, despite the room’s size. Our waitress was great, offering her suggestions and maintaining just the right amount of presence.