Locally based restaurants offering Indian street food, Latin American street food, Southern fare and American comfort food and have opened recently in University City. Here are the details.

 

Chatpatay Casual Indian Kitchen

Chatpatay opened its second Charlotte location last fall at 9211 N. Tryon St. close to the JW Clay Blvd Lynx Station.

“We are a casual Indian restaurant where we bring the street food straight from Mumbai Chaupaati to Charlotte,” says the restaurant website, which describes Chaupaati as “one of the most famous public beaches in Mumbai where food enthusiasts enjoy a vast selection of street food from the “Thelas” or food carts.”

The website has much more detail about the inspirations for its dishes, the people who will prepare your meal and the ambiance you’ll experience while dining.

Most of the 78 reviews so far on Yelp for the University City location are enthusiastic.

“An unassuming gem, tucked into a strip mall, this place is BURSTING with flavor,” reviewer Elise posted on Jan. 28.

“As far as the food goes, it was AMAZING!!! Very tasty and different from the traditional Indian food,” Rick from California wrote after his visit on Jan. 2.

The original Chatpatay is at 9101 Pineville Matthews Road in Pineville.

Chatpatay at a glance

• 9211 N. Tryon St. (the former Kohl’s shopping center across from UNC Charlotte). Directions
• 980-875-7775
• Open 11 am-3 pm and 5-9:30 pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; 11 am-3 pm and 4-10 pm Fridays and Saturdays; Closed Tuesdays.
• Services: Order online. Catering. Delivery
• Website
• Yelp page

 

Cuzzo’s Cuisine University

A food truck proclaiming “World Famous Lobster Mac-n-Cheese” has helped cousins and business partners Anglee Brown and Andarrio Johnson ride their passion for Southern cuisine from parking lots to two permanent sit-down restaurants – including the newly open Cuzzo’s University at 9601 N. Tryon St.

The restaurant offers a wide range of dishes including some with tantalizing names, including several variations of the Half Lobster Mac & Cheese, the Sunday Soul Food Buffet, and the Aunt Bungie Chicken & Red Waffle.

Learn more about Anglee, Andarrio and their growing restaurant business in these articles by The Charlotte Observer and Qcitymetro. Also check out the reviews on Yelp.

 

Cuzzo’s University at a glance

• 9601 N. Tryon St. in The Terraces shopping center. Directions
• Website
• Instagram page
• Yelp page

 

Sabor Latin Street Grill

With more than a dozen locations throughout Charlotte, there was nothing particularly surprising about Sabor Latin Street Grill finally opening its restaurant in University City – except for the new address.

The new restaurant at 9325 JW Clay Blvd. is INSIDE the JW Clay Blvd LYNX parking deck.

Yet the location is fitting for a restaurant that offers “authentic street food.”

Menu items have roots in El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico  and Colombia, says the Sabor website. Sabor also serves beer and wine.

Daily specials include $1 tacos from 3 to 5 pm weekdays and Kids Eat Free on Wednesdays.

Learn more about Sabor’s newest location in this article published by hoodline.com. Also check out the reviews on Yelp.

 

Sabor Latin Street Grill at a glance

• 9325 JW Clay Blvd. in the JW Clay Blvd LYNX station parking deck. Directions
• 980-819-7274
• Open 11 am-9 pm daily
• 980-819-7274
• Website
• Yelp page
• Facebook page

 

1st & Goal Bar and Grill

There was a time at the dawn of University City that NASCAR was the one and only professional sport in town.

And if you wanted to get close to the sport’s top drivers and teams, there was just one place to go: The Sandwich Construction Co. restaurant and bar at 7801 University City Boulevard. Many of the teams hung out there on race weekends.

Fast forward to 2020. The name of the game these days is football. Our 49ers just went to their first bowl game. And  that old NASCAR pub has a new life as the 1^st & Goal Bar and Grill.

The new restaurant’s menu includes many classic pub snacks and dishes, including Philly cheesesteak, half-pound burgers, hot dogs and loaded nachos. Entrees range from Alfredo Chicken Pasta to Salmon and Shrimp dinner.

Daily specials include 50 cent wing Monday; $2 Taco Tuesdays; and Soul Food Sundays.

“Join us for great food, great drinks and great people,” reads the website. After all these years and changes, some things remain the same.

Learn more about the restaurant in this article by Hoodline.com. Also check out the reviews and photos on Yelp.

 

1^st & Goal Bar and Grill at a glance

• 7801 University City Blvd. Directions
• 980-237-2290
• Open noon to midnight Sundays-Thursdays and noon-2 am Fridays and Saturdays
• Special services include catering and hosting special events.
• Website
• Yelp page