Kindred Restaurant

Loved coming here. I took The Lady here for a birthday dinner over the weekend, and had reservations about a week in advance (thanks Open Table!). We were seated within about 4 minutes of us showing up, and as we sat down, you can’t help but notice all of the little things that makes this place so special. The subway tile, the piles of books, the brass pipes and faucets, the studded leather bench, the employee requirement for moonwalking out of the bathroom…
We started out with drinks. The lady ordered a Pimm’s Cup (complete with super awesome twisty english cucumber slice) and I got the Oaxaca Flocka (pronounced like the rapper) which features Mezcal (a tequila-​like liquor but smokey) and chili oil to complement the mezcal (and a few other things). Both were well crafted, well thought through, and beautifully presented.
Also, the milk bread that everybody is talking about? Yea, it’s that good. Really glad that it’s complementary now. Want more.
Food time: 4 dishes.
Gnocchi. Served with tomatoes in a tomato-​y broth. On point, y’all. Light and fluffy and not super dense.
Littleneck Clams. Served in this killer green sauce that had I-don’t-care-it-was-amazing in it.
Scallops. Every time I order scallops out I keep on thinking «okay, this is as good as it gets, other restaurants can’t top this» and then Kindred comes along and wrecks that.
Crispy Squid Lettuce Wraps. Devoured in less time than it took to bring them from the kitchen to our table.
Our server was super nice and helpful the entire time. I had put on my reservation that it was The Lady’s birthday, so to be sneaky, they gave us dessert menus. We had picked out which dessert we were going to try, when she surprised us by bringing out their incredible chocolate cake with a candle and the words «Happy Birthday» written in chocolate. Kindred is like that sneaky friend that plans surprise parties for you.
Their menu is seasonal, so we’ll be sure to have another Davidson date soon and let Kindred be our culinary provider.

Cool atmoaphere, great looking food (I only had drinks), and great drunk selection. Directly across from the University. Had a great time! The waiter seemed to have a little attitude when I told him I would just be having drinks, but other than that I had a blast with my date :)

Kindred is a one of a kind dining experience. Our server (I believe her name is Tia) takes customer service to another level. Her descriptions of the dishes are a new kind of art form. She made me want one of everything! In reality we tried the scallops (I think I licked the plate clean), duck fat potatoes (Amazing!) and gnocchi bolognese. I don’t remember what my husband had and the menu has changed (which only make me want to go back) so I can’t comment but it was delicious. After talking to Tia about my husband’s prior service, she brought us dessert on her — an amazing Apple galette! An unexpected but totally sweet end to our meal. Possibly the best thing we ate was the milk bread. I could eat one each day! Also dining outside under the lights is magical.

Excellent restaurant, very friendly staff and reasonably priced. One bite of Grandpa’s pickles and you won’t forget Grandpa’s pickles. Milk bread is delicious and melts in your mouth. Dishes are crafted and flavored so as to augment rather than overpower the natural taste of the food. I could taste the earthiness of my mushroom ravioli.

Great for a special occasion. The highlights for me were the gnocchi, lamb rigatoni, octopus, squid ink pasta, squid lettuce wraps, and the table bread. I wasn’t as crazy about everything else (we tried the majority of the menu), but that’s more a matter of preference. It’s really good food and service

Don’t let the drive scare you. Although, I will admit I-​77 is scary! A visit to Kindred is a must and worth the drive from Charlotte up to Davidson. We actually made a weekend of it, eating there Saturday night and staying over in the nearby Homewood Suites. Smart choice since my favorite part about the place turned out to be the Bar Keep drinks. I might have had 3. Don’t judge me. You tell the man what you like in a drink («rum, fruity or citrusy, herbs» is what I think I threw out there) and he concocts a special brew just for you. It makes me feel pretty darn special and each drink was just what I always wanted but never realized…
The restaurant itself is gorgeous. Take time to look around as you walk in, especially if they seat you upstairs. The bar downstairs is breathtaking. Every little detail is so well thought out, from the little containers the milk bread is served in to the «employees must moon walk out of the bathroom and also wash their hands» sign. You can tell the design of the place was a true labor of love.
As you can likely see from my photos, we ordered almost everything on the menu. Or, so it seemed anyhow. In our defense, we were there with a group and shared everything among the table. 18 courses divided by 6 people doesn’t sound so bad, right? Right?!
So, my favorites of the evening — besides the drinks, of course — in this order were the milk bread, duck fat potatoes, wagyu beef tartare, rigatoni with sausage and chocolate birthday cake. I feel like they missed the mark a bit on the seafood dishes we tried. The ceviche was really under seasoned and bland. The scallops were served with beets. And while I should have known better as I really hate beets, think the beautiful scallops were totally over powered by the earthy (or, as I described them, dirty tasting) beets.
Service was a B-​. The restaurant was packed when we visited at 7pm on a Saturday and while our waiter was friendly and attentive, there was a little personality lacking. I wanted to talk to him more about the food, his recommendations and favorites, etc. but seemed like I was being a bother or keeping him from other tables. We also had a few long lulls where we needed something, wanted to order more plates, another drink, etc. and couldn’t catch anyone’s attention.
Kindred changes their menu up regularly. So, I’m excited to visit often to experience their offerings in the Fall, Winter and Spring!

I had been excited about dining at Kindred prior to their opening. My interest is always piqued when talented culinary, bar and design projects are built in small markets. From all indications, Kindred is crushing it. I visited recently, and had some of the best service I’ve experienced in the state. Attentive, on point, generous, a true treat. And the food, well, it is also stand alone. The best hand-​made pasta I’ve experienced in a very long time. The milk bread, too, absolutely excellent.
I can’t wait to visit again.

As my girlfriend would describe this place perfectly to a T: this restaurant is cool enough and the food is decent enough for me not to have to drive to Charlotte. But it is no New York or Chicago gastro pub.
Their cocktails are awesome. I recommend the drink with the mescal in it. Can’t remember the name but it is the perfect combination of smoky and sweet and flavor depth. Their beer selection is full of local and craft brews. I was very surprised to see Westbrook Gose on the list. Very nice!
We ordered small plates all night and I don’t really have any complaints except for the portion serving of scallops for the price.
I will definitely come back. My only warning for new visitors on a weekend night is that it is very loud with a bustling amount of people.

Charming and very well thought out design. Bright, clean and inviting. Adorable touches like mints and floss in the ladies room added to the cozy environment. Perfect mix of classic touch, the family silver and modern plates.
Three of us dropped in for lunch. We got there just in time, as every seat was filled within 30 minutes. We still recieved prompt, friendly service throughout.
A delicious menu, we had trouble picking out just 3 items! The warm castelvatrano olives were delicious, the avocado sandwich and seitan salad were impressive. We ate every bite.
Plenty of options for every diet.
We were given a small desert of house made chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon ice cream.
The pour over coffee provided a perfect finish to our afternoon.
I have nothing negative to say. I can’t wait to go back. Worth the drive from Greensboro!

The space itself is beautiful. It’s located in a historic building in beautiful Davidson, NC. The restaurant has three levels, has gorgeous light fixtures, beautiful wood, marble tabletops, exposed brick walls, gleaming white subway tile, and lots of large windows.
We were seated at a table upstairs, and started scanning the menu. The cocktail list was intimidating, so I ended up just having a glass of wine. I loved that the menu included an option to buy a round of beer for the guys in the kitchen.
Our server was friendly & helpful. He went over the menu, and made his recommendations. He came back with our drinks, & the milk bread.
The milk bread was fantastic. Soft, warm, and salty. It tasted like a warm, super soft pretzel, and I would have preferred not to have had to share this with Graham.
For our dinner, we went with four items from their menu: the duck fat potatoes & aioli, the NC mountain trout with herbs, radish, and sauce gribiche, the fried oysters with dill yogurt and Calabrian chile oil, and gnocchi with blue crab, citrus, crème fraîche, & chives.
Everything we had was fantastic. The oysters were perfect. They were crispy. and substantial. The trout was amazing, and the sauce it was served with was the perfect accompaniment. The potatoes were crispy, & delicious, with lots of extra flavor from being cooked in duck fat. But the star of this dinner was the gnocchi.
The dish was beautiful, and so, so delicious. The gnocchi were perfect, fluffy pillows of deliciousness, and all of the flavors tied together so well. There was a hint of citrus, nothing overwhelming (thankfully, since G isn’t a huge fan of lemon). The crab was perfect. The crème fraîche was perfect. I was expecting it to be heavier, but this dish was light, incredibly flavorful, and delicious.
We were full after dinner, but I was adamant that we order dessert.
We went with the roasted apple galette, buttermilk ice cream, milk jam, and thyme. We DEVOURED this. It was so, so good. If we had been eating this at home, I probably would have licked the plate.
The service was excellent, and the food was perfect. It was a wonderful meal, and I can’t wait for the next opportunity to visit again.

This is a great spot in Davidson (and Charlotte area in general). I feel like North Charlotte/​Lake Norman area is really lacking in upscale restaurants and Kindred is a pretty cool spot. I miss my Curate in Asheville and I was glad to find a decent tapas place to reminisce the food creativity.
Our server was new and he was fantastic… very chill and friendly. He helped me understand plenty of items on the menu.
The milk bread was damn good. It was probably my favorite part of the meal. Also my favorite since my friend is gluten free, so I got that bad boy all to myself. After reading other reviewers (aka Nikki’s) I thought I needed to order a truckload to take home. But I was satisfied having one to myself.
I ordered 3 different cheeses to start — even though the guy who cut the cheese (sorry I couldn’t resist) was kind of a smart-​ass. The cheeses, especially the gouda, were excellent. I wish they had some kind of chutney to accompany my trio, however my red wine was a perfect match.
Next I had the chilled asparagus with the parmesan encrusted poached egg. How they make the egg so perfect — is a miracle in itself! My friend proceeded to squash her egg with her fork and sprayed herself with the yolk. We were definitely the entertainment for the evening and I wanted to yell in my best southern twang: «we don’t get out much!»
Next I had the tagliatelle with mushrooms… it was tasty but salty and oily. I love salt (let’s be real, I am a savory girl) but good lord I had to take half of it with me and drain the oil out when I reheated it.
Last but not least I got the birthday cake for dessert. After our server raved about it– I was thinking it was going to be some awesome chocolate abstract «birthday cake» but no, it was literally LOOKED like a birthday cake from the grocery store. I hate to say that… it hurts my Unilocalin’ soul to say that. but it was very moist and icing was good. Nothing fancy like you’d expect after all of those other interesting plates.
For $ 63 plus tip (only 1 glass of wine) just for me… was a bit pricey, but worth a try! May come in here next time for a cocktail and some more milk bread! :)

I have been on a quest to dine at Kindred for at least a year. The food was manna from heaven and lived up to all the praise I had heard! We shared a variety of dishes:
Squid ink pasta with shrimp – my favorite dish!
Scallops – mouth watering and tender
Gnocchi with blue crab – savory seafood and homemade pasta
Salami –savory charcuterie
Beef tartare – another favorite of the table
Hamachi yellow tail and tangerines
Duck fat fries – mm-​good
Milk bread — addictively delicious & worth ordering an extra for the table, like yeast rolls from grandma’s
Cocktail (like a negroni) — they called it a s’one west or something aka «yummy in a glass», bourbon and campari and orange bitters.
I loved the atmosphere and the quality of the service. I cannot wait to return and try more dishes. Truly one of the best dinners in NC!

Crazy awesome. Kindred would be a top restraint in any big city. NYC San Fran or Vegas. The menu, which changes daily is as unique as it is impressive.
The squid ink pasta with uni butter was on the top of my «things I could everyday for the rest of my life» list.
Well done Kindred!

Hands down the best restaurant I’ve been to in NC. Everything was so good. It’s hard to pick my favorite thing! They print their menu daily too.
The milkbread (thankfully, they took it off the menu and is now complimentary) came out when we sat down, and we were immediately blown away. Despite the generous portion, we easily devoured the croissant-​like bread within a few minutes.
We ordered the squid ink cochiglie, the trout, the crispy oysters, and the potato and green garlic soup.
The crispy oysters were seasoned to perfection, not too greasy and just the right amount of crisp. The potato and green garlic had a nice peppered spice. The pasta was flavorful; the sea urchin butter gave it a nice seafood fragrance. The NC shrimp was so good and added to the flavor.
Four dishes were plenty for 2.
No complaints here, they did everything perfectly, and I will definitely be coming back!

Finally got to try this place after months of hearing the husband rave about it and driving me crazy with tasty looking meals! After eating here, it’s hard to say what’s best, the food, service or atmosphere.
We didn’t have reservations so started at the bar for a quick cocktail. I didn’t mind, as it gave me a hot minute to check out the bartender’s skillz. Both of our cocktails were absolutely stunning and carefully crafted. You really get the feeling that these bartenders take spirits seriously!
We were shortly shown to our table and embarked on our fabulous meal. Of course, we started with the milk bread and, of course, it was absolutely amazing. The husband did not want to stop after the first loaf, but I eventually convinced him to leave room for all the tasty plates we ordered! We started with the hamachi crudo and beet ravs. The crudo was a super interesting combo of flavors and was super tasty. The ravs had a sweet potato filling and were topped with a rich creamy sauce. The pasta was beautiful and delicious.
We also ordered the bucatini w/​clams and gnocchi, which we could not pass up after our waiter described it as «offensively good.» I agree, I was quite offended that I have not experienced such light, pillowy gnocchi before! And the flavor of the blue crab in the dish was incredible — pungent and divine.
Ya ya, everything was beyond tasty, but what also stuck with us was the amazing, gracious hospitality. Everyone we came across was so nice and actually seemed happy we were there, despite the fact that they were super busy and we lacked reservations!
But, there was also something else. My husband throughout the meal kept on commenting about that bread, I don’t think he could stop himself! As we were wrapping up a waitress presented us a bag tagged with his name. I immediately peeked inside and discovered a loaf of the fabulous bread. I was so touched, but it got even better. In the car, I opened the card, it was personal and contained details unique to our experience. Such an amazing, special, and heartwarming gesture!
I am a fan, think this place is worthy of all the praise and am already dying to go back!

This is the first time I’ve ever written a review and wished that I could give more than 5 stars. The hype is real. One of the best meals I’ve had in Charlotte, maybe even the best. And I’m just going to say it, give Joe Kindred that James Beard award.
Everything was top notch, the staff, service, food, drinks, ambiance… all of it. You start with milk bread, which may as well be called manna from heaven. Pro tip: order some to take home with you. You’ll want it. You’ll crave it. You’ll dream of it. You’ll need it.
Our server fully walked us through the menu and explained everything. It’s a small plate type menu here that changes regularly. First of all, you can’t order wrong here. If you don’t like this place, maybe blame yourself. We started with a couple amazing cocktails, the Santiago and the Soigné West. For food, we ordered the hamachi crudo, wagyu beef tartare, scallops, gnocchi with blue crab, beet ravioli and the citrus panna cotta for dessert. Everything was amazing. The pastas are made fresh daily in house. Overall, my favorite dish was the beet ravioli. The big winner was the vanilla purée on the scallop dish. Holy. I’m not ashamed to say I was using my finger to scoop up the rest of it on the plate.
Story time, my good friend Aaron Rivera was sitting at the table next to us. He raved like I raved about his meal. I think it’s a true testament of how good a place is when another fantastic chef pays the highest of compliments.
Joe and Katy, bravo. You deserve all the buzz and accolades. Thank you for setting the bar very high in the Charlotte area restaurant scene. And I learned my lesson: next time, order milk bread to go.

Seriously as good as it gets. Tried a number of dishes and ALL of them were epic. Did you know food could be epic? THIS food can!
Cocktails– beautifully balanced, flavorful, and unique! A friend I went with only likes tequila and and went with Bartender’s choice. Seriously excellent.
The bread. My God. The bread!!! That bread is what DREAMS are made of.
Main dishes were superb. I made a fool out of myself trying the duck fat potatoes.
The BIRTHDAY CAKE. I wish I had ever gotten a birthday cake like this. Incredible.
Go here; order everything you can; enjoy every bite.

When you learn of a restaurant’s acclaim in something like Bön Appetit or Food52, with extremely kind mention of an infamous bread program, my interest is piqued beyond the norm. I remember the first time I read the article in BA magazine about Stephanie Detweiler’s milk bread — I immediately set out to gather all needed mise en place to bake it in my own oven. Upon seeing the photos of her craft, trying to recreate it myself, and yearning after more and more perfect loaves of the aforementioned, I couldn’t wait to visit Kindred.
Fast forward seven months or so and we’re sitting on the second floor overlooking main street for our 4^th anniversary. Kiddo in the highchair, champagne in our glasses, and a loaf of milk bread at my fingertips. Tearing into that melon-​sized loaf was like fireworks. I wanted to strike up the band. I needed an old priest and a young priest. I wanted to thank the academy. With very depression of the crumb between my fingers I studied and studied. Almost in shock of how bafflingly soft it was. Paired with the rich flavor and flake salt, the awe didn’t cease throughout the course of our meal. My hat is off to you, Kindred and Chef Detweiler. My goodness.
Pertaining to the rest of our visit, it was spectacular. Abby was the most hospitable server in taking care of us on such an occasion whilst being so kind to our little boy. The food was delightfully presented with gusto, complex with bold flavors, and portioned with the careful precision of a tweezer-​wielding Chef de Cuisine. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken lacked nothing — a salted, Southerner’s dream amalgamated to just a mouthful. It was all that was needed.
As for booze, I’m not one to do as much as sip at a small, potent concoction for the entirety of a meal. The Bartender’s Choice was staring at me plainly from the face of the menu. The dapper gents at the bar whipped up a mighty fine option replete with citrus and enough astringency for yours truly.
Finishing with dessert was a must! Buttermilk Panna Cotta and an Apple Galette. We only needed a few small spoonfuls to savor the complexity of the galette. Every small bite produced a new bouquet of herbs and spices. The candied thyme atop the ice cream set everything off. The Panna Cotta only produced smiles. Happy to report that you have a mighty fond 10-​month-​old, Kindred.
We left with satiated appetites, a very happy memory, and two loaves of milk bread under our arms with thoughts of «I can’t wait to return.»
Pro Tip: Take a look at the bar menu and pay close attention to the «Round for the Kitchen.» This group of guys and gals deserves a cold one. I’d love to have a beer with this group in person, but this is the next best option. HEARD!

Let me start by saying none of my pictures do these dishes justice. It’s so hard to get good food pictures in restaurants with dim/​quiet lighting. The atmosphere was lively, the people around us were happy and engaged, and the service was exceptional. All in all, I have a very high opinion of Kindred, and would recommend it to anyone.
This restaurant is a must if you are ever in the north Charlotte/​Davidson area. It’s adorable and cozy, yet trendy, located right off of Main Street in an old pharmacy building (photo borrowed from Bön Appetit). Go early for a cocktail — Their bar is absolutely beautiful.
When I asked the waitress about what’s the most popular, she had a great answer, listing what is the most ordered on the current menu but reinforcing that because they operate off of local and seasonal ingredients, their menu is ever-​changing. My favorite kind of place.
I love how they treat their guests with complimentary milkbread. I was prepared for this having done my research, and they’re even so kind as to share their recipe in Bön Appetit. Oh, by the way, did I mention they were listed among America’s top restaurants of 2015?
The milkbread is a fine fusion of light and flaky crust, similar to a croissant, yet the honey, sweet finish on top with sea salt gives it a pretzel taste. You can’t compare it to anything really; it’s one of a kind. We then ordered the vanilla scallops with blood orange. These may have been one of my favorite dishes of the night. The vanilla crème was thick and an awesome accompaniment.
We also had the fried oysters, on account of recommendation. There’s a pretty generous serving size for this dish, and while they weren’t my favorite, they were definitely good. I would prefer more oyster: fried batter ratio, personally. Next up was the Wagyu Beef Tartare, which is one of the more popular dishes. The mushroom and katsuobushi flakes were amazing and provided a light crunch to the umami taste of the tartare meat. I wouldn’t have normally ordered this dish, but I’m glad I was given the recommendation because it turned out to be incredible. Great twist, Kindred.
For dessert, we wanted the cinnamon ice cream and butterscotch cookies, but unfortunately, they were out, which was a bummer. Instead though, we got to try the infamous chocolate birthday cake (baked fresh daily). I love this dish just for the authenticity of it. How many restaurants bake fresh chocolate cakes daily and have pieces always available? THIS ONE. This is a standard on their menu so I would recommend ordering it if you have that sweet tooth after dinner.
Overall, hope to be back to Kindred sooner rather than later.

3.5 stars.
After seeing this on the must try new restaurants by Bön Appetit I put it on my list never thinking I would get a chance to go here. Then, I got the opportunity to come to NC for a business trip and put this on my list.
The city of Davidson is very cute, it’s like an east coast college town with a lot of local flavor. The restaurant had parking right out front. The inside is very small so make a reservation if you can.
I would say this is similar to a lot of hipster restaurants in LA, but maybe the fact that it’s in NC makes it more legit? Everything is shareable or «small plates» so I would suggest getting 3 – 4 dishes for 2 people and even then it was plenty.
FOOD:
MILK BREAD — we ordered this as an appetizer/​starter and it was really good. It reminded me of asian sweet bread or «bao» that you get at asian bakeries. For someone who has never had such a thing, this will be very good. It’s soft like a roll but slightly sweet.
APPLE SALAD — this was a lovely salad and my first time having «country ham!» It’s basically like prosciutto but more sturdy. Very good and very fresh.
RAVIOLI — very light white/​butter/​cream sauce and delicate ravioli. Definitely enough for 2 people. Again, very fresh tasting.
PASTURED RAISED CHICKEN — good rotisserie chicken. Not oversaturated with salt, tender and juicy. Overall good.
DUCK FAT POTATOES — they were basically thick cut french fries, honestly nothing too mind blowing and slightly salted. I prefer thinner fries so I’d probably pass on this next time.
Overall, I’d say that this place was pretty good but I’m not sure I would call it the top place to try in the US. I feel like you could get food just as good in LA.