Open Kitchen - Charlotte

We have been here before, but this time we were planning to speak with a concierge about booking a party. Our dining experience was okay when we first arrived. We were seated quickly since the restaurant was pretty empty, which is what we were looking for. We had told our server that we were happy that we got seated away from others since things are still unstable in the community. We got our food and began eating. About 5 minutes after we got our food, a host came over and began rearranging the tables directly beside us for a large party. The chairs were so close that the guy sitting in the end chair could not get in his chair without bumping our table. We ended up taking our HOT food out since they no longer cared about our comfort or needs. Even when we explained what happened to the cashier, he simply said oh, no and let if at that. There was no mention of reseating us in a different section or any solution to try to make your customer happy. We were not irate or rude to anyone, we just wanted to enjoy our meal inside of the restaurant. I know it 's all about money. Little did they know we were looking for a restaurant to host a party of 70-85 people and that this was the restaurant we wanted to reserve. We will take our business somewhere else.

I really enjoyed my lunch at The Open Kitchen. My dining partner and I both got the same meal, which was the lasagna special that included tea, a side and bread. We also got it Parmigiana style which meant the lasagna dish was covered with mozzarella cheese and then baked. For our side we chose the tossed salad with balsamic vinaigrette. The bread was served right when we were seated. Wow, was it good. I believe it was Italian bread or possibly French and when we buttered it it was an excellent start to the meal. Next came the salad. All it was was some spring greens and a tomato slice. Extremely basic and lackluster. My friend took two bites and pushed it aside. She did not like the dressing at all. I thought it was just okay and not bad enough to spoil the salad. I would order a different dressing next time. The lasagna was a huge portion and a total hit! They did not skimp on the lunch size or the cheese. Sooo much cheese covered the top...I was in heaven. The taste and flavor was outstanding and tasted like homemade. We could each only eat about half, giving us a nice portion to take home for later. Our server was really nice and very attentive. She was working her butt off and keeping everyone happy in our area. Loved the old school vibe, the food, and the service. The only ding was the sad salad. Can't wait to come back and try other things.

I 'm torn on the rating. The staff is fun but the food is basic . We had a party of 10 and ordered a variety of food. Top of the list is the cheese bread, everything else is run of the mill. The shrimp had a funny taste and everything else is coated in cheese . Parking is a pain, but you can park across from the airport. It 's a full bar and martinis have vermouth, even when ordered up

The food and service at this restaurant are excellent. The staff is friendly and always provide a perfect experience. I am thankful that the Open Kitchen was able to weather the pandemic and continues to thrive, allowing for many generations to enjoy its offerings.

I think everyone knows this spot is past it's prime. We went with family in town to celebrate someone we lost, who used to love this place. The food comes in really large portions, but just is not good. We started with the mozzarella sticks and some cheese bread, both were acceptable, but nothing to write home about. I had the chicken parm, which is nothing like any other chicken parm I've ever had. After it was delivered I realized that I had ordered it a long time ago and also thought the same thing. My mistake. It was basically grilled chicken swimming in a dish of underwhelming pasta sauce with some cheese on top. We will definitely not be back here again there are a ton of other better options in Charlotte for Italian.