Charlotte’s hot new steakhouse, Guard and Grace, is now open

Chef-owner Troy Guard’s modern steakhouse Guard and Grace opens Oct. 1 in South End’s Queensbridge Collective, bringing skyline views, a globally influenced menu and a 10th-floor patio to Charlotte’s crowded steakhouse scene.

Available reservations are scarce for the next several weeks, but a few seats remain.

Guard and Grace’s third location is in Charlotte. Jason Sinn

Here are a few things to know about Guard and Grace:

This is the third location for Troy Guard, whose Michelin-recommended restaurants in Denver and Houston came first. The Charlotte spot sits on the 10th floor at Queensbridge Collective’s The Vivian at 111 E. Carson Blvd., with 10,000 square feet of space and a 2,000-square-foot patio overlooking South End, uptown and Bank of America Stadium. The bar at Guard and Grace. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive The Hawaiian-born chef leans global and playful — think: crispy tuna sushi, filet flights and country ham tasting paired with pimento cheese. Charlotte-specific menu items include local cage-free deviled eggs, smoky Carolina fish dip, oak-grilled North Carolina trout and roasted Carolina Gold rice.Design touches are a nod to Charlotte’s history: gold accents inspired by the region’s gold-mining past, a large portrait of Queen Charlotte at the entry and commissioned artwork by Victor Lytvinenko of Raleigh Denim Workshop honoring North Carolina’s textile heritage. TAG Restaurant Group, founded by chef Troy Guard, commissioned this contemporary, 3D re-intpretation of Queen Charlotte in collaboration with Kobolt Studios for the entryway at Guard and Grace. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive The dress code is “casual elegant” — no ballcaps or athletic wear for the two-hour reservation. Professional-style photography, flash and extra lighting are not allowed. Valet parking is complimentary, and lunch service is expected to launch in the spring.Signature dishes include Alaskan black cod with charred broccolini and yuzu kabayaki butter, Creekstone Farms Angus steaks, triple chocolate chip cookies and sticky toffee cake. Guard and Grace’s Triple Chocolate Chip cookies, a secret recipe created by chef-owner Troy Guard, are available by the half dozen. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

Read more: In steakhouse-heavy Charlotte, a newcomer is gearing up to change the scene

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This story was originally published October 1, 2026 at 11:49 AM.