Kaitlin Plave
Kind of surprised to see so many reviews calling this place amazing. It was solid, but nothing over the top to wow us. We got the squash fritto (yummy in a perfectly average way), coppa (good, and generous amount), tuna crudo (creative but ultimately underwhelming), full sole (tasty but didn't blow us away, especially at $89), and the bavette (best dish of the meal - delicious and different). My non-alcoholic drink was something I've found before at Total Wine, not freshly made, and my husband's cocktail was downright bad. The restaurant is very pretty, but quite loud. I couldn't hear my husband a lot of the evening. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful - we liked his vibe a lot. However, dirty dishes were left stacked on our table for far too long, and it took forever for me to get a menu to browse for my second drink. I even asked the woman who delivered my bottled drink to stick around while I tasted it in case I needed soda water, but she walked away as I poured it. They also didn't change our silverware between courses. I worked in fine dining in Boston and Denver for 10 years, and this level of service simply isn't top-tier. Our friends went earlier in the week and reported similar opinions - it was good, but not to the level that people are applauding it. They actually disliked a dish so much they sent it back. After such glowing recent accolades, I was surprised at how average Rada was. Charlotte's food scene is pretty mediocre, though, so anything helps.
Carly Barker
I was really excited to try this new spot in Charlotte, but unfortunately, it fell short for the price point. The menu pricing is comparable to Steak 48, but the service and overall experience did not come close. While there were some gluten-free options, there werent really any carb-focused side options which was disappointing since entres dont come with sides. It felt incomplete without the ability to build out a well-rounded plate. Service was where the experience really missed the mark. I wanted to give grace since the restaurant is new, but we sat for about 15 minutes before anyone took our drink order or walked us through the menu. Took 30 mins just to receive our cocktails (apps actually arrived before). The menu itself uses very elevated language, which makes it hard to know what youre actually ordering, and there are no GF notations, so we were left waiting (and a little bored) until the server returned. On the positive side, the desserts were excellent probably the highlight of the night and the cocktails were good. But overall, for the price and atmosphere (its also very loud inside), the experience felt underwhelming. Mostly sharing this review because the overall restaurant does have potential, the food is actually high-quality. I just think that they could work on getting up to speed with some of the basic feedback, especially when it comes to service for how expensive the menu dishes are.
Isaac Cochran
This restaurant came highly recommended. It was sadly a disappointment. Service was spares and disjointed. Dishes seem uninspired. They tasted good but were kind of boring. Highlight was the San Sebastin cocktail with Gilda on the side. If you go soon the pappardelle was the best dish even if you arent a fan of blue cheese you can put it off to the side. It seemed like everyone knew how to work in a restaurant but either werent comfortable enough to just do the work or were being forced to do something outside their comfort zone by management. Unauthentic.
Sam Farley
In a world where Charlottes food scene is dominated by trendy restaurants with shareables such as burrata and shisito peppers, its good to have something different enter the stage. Pretty much everything on the menu is something you cant find anywhere else in town. Rada was unlike anything weve had in Charlotte. Its a unique place with fresh takes on classics. From beginning to end our meal was fantastic. The olive and anchovy bites were briny and bursting with umami. The beef carpaccio was very onion forward but in a good way. The chef takes risks that pay off. The bavette was incredible with a nice char but I could have used it cooked up a touch more but thats a personal preference. The star of the show was the sole. It was a luxurious treat and one of the best dishes Ive had in Charlotte in recent memory. Our sever was attentive and pleasant during the course of our meal and explained the menu well. At this price point I expect service at this level. The cocktails were great and I felt were pretty reasonably priced. The vibes are great as well and the space is intimate and decorated well. I do think the tables are too close together and conversations can spill over into other groups but I get why the owners would want to maximize the use of the small space. Id love to go back and sit on the patio as an evening flowed into night. Overall I think this is a great date night spot for a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday but is definitely pricey for a regular outing. We will definitely be back a few times a year and look forward to trying whatever the Rada team cooks up.
Yuxi Liu
This has become my favorite restaurant in CLT! The eggplant is so tasty and unique, and the steak is perfectly smoky crispy on the outside and juicy inside. The interior design creates such a cozy ambiance, it feels like the kind of place youd expect to find in NYC
