Bar director Amanda Britton was running the cocktail programs at Charlotte restaurants Bardo and Vana in 2019 when she came across a recipe for a Spaghett cocktail. “I’m very familiar with a Miller High Life, says Britton, “and the addition of lemon and Aperol sounded really good.” So, she put it on the menu. She also introduced the drink to James Beard-nominated chef Sam Hart of tasting menu restaurant Counter.
Now, Britton is on the opening team of Hart’s highly anticipated Italian eatery named after the drink — Spaghett will open on Friday, July 11, at 224 West 10th Street. Executive chef Kendall Moore also joins the group. Moore previously worked in management with the Easton Porter Group in Charleston before moving back to his hometown of Charlotte.
Located in the historic Young Morrison House in the Fourth Ward, the unique environment dictated how the group shaped the restaurant. “When I walked up to the space, I couldn’t imagine it being anything other than a neighborhood Italian restaurant, just because it’s so comforting,” says Moore, “When I close my eyes, I think of a dimly lit street and walking into the foyer of this bustling restaurant with timeless music playing and the chirps and the chatter of happy people.”
While the cuisine is Italian, it’s very much rooted in North Carolina. “We use Italian food as a way to introduce the people in Charlotte, in our neighborhood, and in our greater area to the things that are growing in their backyard,” says Moore, “We’re really a restaurant of the Carolinas and of the produce and of the seasons and the story of where we are located.” He sources as close to home as possible, using Anson Mills flour, Carolina Gold rice, Boxcarr Cheeses, and a wealth of produce from local farms.
The opening menu reflects the summer produce season of North Carolina with squash (bucatini with summer squash), corn (a corn and sorghum panna cotta), peaches (farro with fior di latte, peach, and shisho), and tomatoes (local fish crudo with melons, tomatoes, and green coriander oil).
The drinks menu also puts a twist on Italian flavors. There’s a tiramisu milk punch, a Negroni with local gin, a cocktail made with a Nutella-washed sherry, and of course, the Spaghett for only $6.
Take a look at the full menu here before the opening on Friday.