Restaurant Constance

Objectively the best dining experience of my life (so far). The ingredients are locally sourced and intimately curated with an incredible attention to detail. Everything we tried was phenomenal, and an experience in itself. We were feeling curious and tried several small plates on the menu along with several entrees and desserts. Every single thing we tried felt special and crafted with integrity. Each dish was incredibly delicious, but a few stood out: the Hamachi Sashimi, Pork Dumplings, Braised Short Ribs over celery root purée, and my absolute favorite: the Oatmeal Cake with homemade gelato. Also really loved the non-alcoholic menu, only the best places truly think of everyone. Whenever I’m in Charlotte, Restaurant Constance will be first in mind.

It is hard to put into words just how phenomenal our dinner at Restaurant Constance was. We booked a reservation for my birthday after hearing rave reviews about it (and being inspired by Chef Sam Diminich's story of recovery), and our high expectations were easily exceeded. The staff were friendly, welcoming and very attentive, and the space is tiny, understated and elegant. We especially loved the slideshow of local farms and the large kitchen viewing window - watching the staff plate gorgeous meals reminded us a bit of watching "The Bear"! As for the food, we didn't eat a single thing that didn't blow us away. We ordered a great bottle of wine and started with the pork belly dumplings (I could have eaten 97 of those - they were too good for words) and the poblano yam pupusa (smoky, savory and unique). Entree-wise, we went with the seared scallops over grits (so juicy and flavorful) and the NY strip with rosemary au jus and a fresh green wrapped around spaghetti squash/cheese/mushrooms. What we loved most about the entrees was the table-side sauce additions, and to make it even more special and memorable, Chef Sam himself came out and added the au jus to our steak. He probably stayed at our table for a good five minutes, and he couldn't have been more down-to-earth and kind. We will never forget that. The chocolate miso tart was exactly as our waitress described it - like a luxurious Twix bar in the form of a fancy tart. The entire staff (including Chef Sam) even signed a birthday card for me that they brought out with the dessert. What a tremendous celebration of local ingredients and elegant flavors Restaurant Constance is. We already can't wait to return!

Food - simply amazing! Loved our dinner, food was unbelievably delicious, service really great. Restaurant is small and if there is a large party there, it can be very loud. Swordfish and eggplant pasta were so amazing. Korean beef lettuce wraps really good too. Don't underestimate the hummus because it's not your ordinary hummus and the naan very good! Highly recommend this restaurant!

It's been several months since we dined here and after having time to reflect, I think this is the best restaurant in Charlotte. My husband and I went with two friends and we all shared: - Shrimp Dumplings - Cashew Hummus Bowl - Jalapeno Cornbread Waffle - Smoked Chicken Lettuce Wraps - Hamachi Sashimi - Tuna Crudo - Kale Salad - Beet & Lobster Salad - Pork Shank "Osso Bucco" - Pan-Roasted Red Grouper - Saroya Potato Gnocchi - The Oatmeal My number one recommendation is to go with a group, order as much of the menu as you can, and share everything. We got to try most of the menu and it was all amazing. My favorite dishes were the Hamachi Sashimi, Cashew Hummus Bowl, Kale Salad, Tuna Crudo, and Pan-Roasted Red Grouper. I think the Hamachi Sashimi is the best dish I've had this year. I wouldn't typically order things like the hummus bowl and kale salad, but those that told me I needed to didn't lead me astray. Trust me, you should get them. The raw fish dishes will blow your mind with their flavorful sauces. The glaze on the grouper was fantastic. The menu rotates, so some of these may not be on the menu anymore, but you really can't go wrong here. We no longer live in Charlotte, but we will definitely prioritize coming back here when we're back in town.

An absolutely incredible first experience at restaurant Constance this weekend. Service was phenomenal - it’s an all hands on deck situation and each individual we interacted with was knowledgeable, passionate, attentive, and kind. Everything was delicious, but the hamachi, dumplings, short ribs, and panna cotta (with a cinnamon foam!!!) were insane. Reasonably priced and portions are large. Bravo to the entire restaurant Constance crew. We can’t wait to come back.

This is undeniably the best dining experience I’ve ever had- The restaurant is small and intimate, with the large window-wall view of the kitchen, the family photos and “collected” decor, and even the locally made clay plates giving the space all the comforts of eating somewhere that’s already familiar - but with a perfect upscale feel and vibe all its own. The menu is fun to read and the staff has a clear knowledge of the dishes - no request we had ever seemed too much! They are attentive, gracious, and make us feel truly cared for. Another thing we love is that Chef Sam is always present. When not in the kitchen, he is in the dining room saucing plates, connecting with customers, and checking on every detail for consistency and quality. His authentic connection with the food he prepares (all locally sourced ingredients) translates seamlessly and enhances the entire dining experience. And the food. Where do I start? Apart from a few staples, the menu changes frequently based on seasonality and what Chef is getting from his farmers. You can eat there regularly and have a completely different experience each time. Our go-tos are the always the Kale Salad, Cashew Hummus Bowl, and Sashimi. The dumplings, fish, short ribs, and vegetarian options are always on point- with each dish sauced table side for an impactful visual and sensory experience before the first bite. And the desserts - get all of the desserts. We are typically not ones for dessert, but these are just as fresh and unique as anything else on the menu (Hello Miso Caramel - Salted Chocolate Tart!!!). It’s honestly hard to go eat anywhere else after being here- many thank yous and congratulations to Chef and the entire team at RC!!!