Local tapas bar and restaurant opens at The Pass in NoDa August 25th

Deeandra Michel,

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Soul Gastrolounge, the iconic cultural and culinary spot that helped define Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood for more than a decade, is officially back. The restaurant will reopen to the public on Monday, Aug. 25, almost three years to the date of its closure. Reservations are available on Tock.

More than twice the size of the original restaurant, the new space at 4100 Raleigh St. spans more than 4,700 square feet in its new home at The Pass, a mixed-use development in NoDa tucked along the light rail at the Sugar Creek Station. The restaurant can seat up to 221, with a semi-private dining room for more intimate celebrations, and an additional 30 seats in the large outdoor patio.

Soul first opened in 2009 at the heart of Plaza Midwood — Central and Pecan avenues — and quickly grew into a favorite with its globally-inspired small plates and sushi, expertly curated craft cocktails and magnetic atmosphere with a magical balance of elevated and effortlessly cool. Its name reflects the collective ‘soul’ of the nationalities, immigrants and cultures who brought their flavors to Charlotte and helped shape the city into the diverse city it is today.

Longtime fans will recognize many of Soul’s most iconic design elements reimagined in the new space. The taxidermy peacock and the infamous haunted mirror from Tattoo have both made their return, along with the DJ booth and bar—each repurposed and rebuilt by Reaching Quiet Design using materials from the original Soul Gastrolounge. The interior was brought to life by designer Scott Weaver, a longtime collaborator who helped ensure the space feels both fresh and deeply familiar, along with Cluck Design as project architect and Gais Construction as general contractor.

Also returning is Soul’s iconic menu, featuring fan favorites like the Asian Glazed Pork Belly Tacos, Lamb Lollipops, and Korean Barbecue Wings. Leading the kitchen is Chef de Cuisine Shiki Brewer, formerly Executive Chef at The Crunkleton and a finalist on Guy’s Grocery Games. She’s joined by Executive Sous Chef Wanda Orick, who returns after serving as Soul’s original sous chef, and Sushi Chef Joe Thu, the creator of Soul’s original sushi menu.

Music remains central to the Soul experience. Behind the decks are returning Soul resident deejays That Guy Smitty, Shanti Love, Scott Weaver, along with newcomers Suadade and See Bird Go, among others.

On the beverage side, Diageo’s Top U.S. Bartender Stevie Laws leads the cocktail program, joined by Assistant Beverage Director Jacob Taylor. General Manager Yuri Oliviera, formerly of Napa on Providence, and Director of Operations Jeff Jennings (Mythos, Cosmos, Salamandra) round out the leadership team built to carry Soul’s legacy forward.

Kitchen hours will be Sunday to Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 5 to 12 p.m.. For more information or to make a reservation, visit soulgastrolounge.com and follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date.