MOORESVILLE
A taste of authentic Uruguayan cuisine has arrived at Lake Norman.
Café Rio de la Plata kicked off its grand opening Monday, Oct. 19, at 2715 Charlotte Highway (U.S. 21) in Mooresville. The new breakfast and lunch restaurant leans into the flavors and traditions of Uruguay, where co-owners Patricia Alberro and Cecilia Gonzalez where born.
“This is basically a dream come true after a while,” Alberro told CharlotteFive at the restaurant before Thursday’s noon lunch rush.
A taste of authentic Uruguayan cuisine arrived at Lake Norman with the opening of Café Rio de la Plata on Monday, Oct. 19, at 2715 Charlotte Highway (U.S. 21) in Mooresville. The new restaurant leans into the flavors and traditions of Uruguay. Joe Marusak jmarusak@charlotteobserver.com
“We noticed there was nothing like it around here,” she said. “So that’s why we came with this idea to provide the community something different, something homemade, fresh, and unique in a way, because there are not a lot of people from Uruguay around here.”
Chef’s first ownership venture
The menu is 80% Uruguayan – traditional recipes and some that Alberro, a longtime chef, created. The other 20% is a fusion of what’s already in the area, she said.
Signature menu items pictured at Café Rio de la Plata include the Carne con Queso and Pride of Rio de la Plata empanadas, Puchero stew and yerba mate drinks. Joe Marusak jmarusak@charlotteobserver.com
Alberro moved to the U.S. at age 19. She arrived in Mooresville 4 1/2 years ago from Elizabeth, N.J., following a brother who’s been here 15 years.
“I fell in love with the community,” she said. “The community is so friendly, laid back, so welcoming. New Jersey is so rude. I feel like I’m home here.”
She worked as a dietician at Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital in Mooresville before she and Gonzalez, a friend from New Jersey who’s been here a year, decided to open the restaurant.
Alberro worked in the restaurant industry for decades, including as a sous chef in New York City’s Little Italy, as general manager of a vegan restaurant in Bernardsville, N.J., and sous chef at Hudson Greene Market in Jersey City, N.J.
This is her first venture as an owner.
The name of the restaurant refers to the enormous river/estuary bordering Argentina.
Fusion items on the menu include the Philly cheesesteak ($12.99), the Classic Chicken and Veal Parmesan Giro d’Italia selections and Classic Eggplant Parmigiana ($12.99 each).
The rest of the menu — which includes calories for all its dishes — is authentic, traditional Uruguayan, including the handcrafted breakfast and gourmet lunch empanadas ($4.49-$5.99), and chef’s soups such as Puchero, a traditional meat and vegetable stew ($4.99, 8 ounces, $8.99, 16 ounces).
Gourmet paninis also have an Uruguayan flair. The Uruguayan Chivito, a take on the country’s national sandwich, includes tender beef tenderloin, ham, crispy pancetta, melted mozzarella, hard-boiled egg, lettuce, fresh tomato and a basil, garlic aioli, served on a fresh-pressed Italian hoagie roll ($14.99).
“It’s a very big, big sandwich, very filling, so many flavors on it, it also has egg inside,” Alberro said.
Postre Chajá ($6.99) highlights the dessert menu. It’s described as “an iconic Uruguayan layer cake made with fluffy sponge cake, sweetened whipped cream, crispy meringue, and canned peaches, layered with dulce de leche.”
Postre chajá “is an iconic Uruguayan layer cake made with fluffy sponge cake, sweetened whipped cream, crispy meringue and canned peaches, often layered with dulce de leche,” according to the menu at Café Rio de la Plata in Mooresville. Joe Marusak jmarusak@charlotteobserver.com
Organic and build-your-own shakes, gourmet coffee and yerba selections, and artisanal teas and infusions also are offered.
Online ordering and delivery options are also available.
Café Rio de la Plata is open 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday and closed on Sundays.
Location: 2715 Charlotte Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28117
Cuisine: Uruguayan
Menu
Instagram: @caferiodelaplata
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Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
Dining and Cooking