Restoration Hardware Rooftop Restaurant
Exterior
In an exciting move, Restoration Hardware is now in the restaurant business. The new Restoration Hardware Gallery opened in Charlotte, and it has a restaurant on the top floor. I heard it was stunning and the food was good, so I decided to check it out.
Plan ahead
It took weeks for me to get a reservation. I wanted to go as a party of four, but it was very difficult for them to accommodate this during COVID. The first reservation I could get for four people was two months from the day I called. Instead, I went with just one friend — but still had to wait two weeks to go.
No photos — a perplexing policy
I showed up with my camera and was immediately told professional cameras are not allowed. Even if you just want to shoot the building from the outside: smartphone cameras only. When I arrived, I asked if the “no photos” policy applied to the restaurant upstairs. It does. OK… I can understand not wanting photos of the gallery taken; however, I would think Restoration Hardware would want buzz created about their restaurants to drive customers through their galleries. I also don’t understand why I was allowed to use my iPhone but not my actual camera. I can accomplish the same effects using a DSLR application on my phone — the lighting just won’t be as dramatic. I was only further confused as I expressed my disappointment with this policy to our server, and she, too, was perplexed. She noted that people come into the restaurant and use professional cameras all the time — so why was I the exception?
The main event: The Food
Regardless of the camera situation, I was excited about the food. Everything looked and smelled FANTASTIC! The service was also excellent. Our waitress was friendly and very attentive. She made sure we were enjoying everything and continuously checked to make sure we didn’t need anything else. Her service was as fantastic as the atmosphere they created.
Here’s the rundown of what we ordered:
Peach Bellini: Peach juice and champagne. It was excellent. It had a robust peach flavor and wasn’t too sweet — you could still taste the champagne.
Cappuccino: Standard. They did offer oat milk, which was nice. Not many restaurants offer this; I usually only see it as an option at coffee shops.
Crispy Artichokes: Potato, rosemary, aioli, lemon. It looked beautiful but wasn’t anything to write home about. I was expecting the artichokes to be meatier — instead, the dish was thin, flash-fried leaves.
Burrata: Heirloom tomatoes, Genovese basil pesto, charred sourdough. Simple but delicious. They used a very creamy burrata topped with garlic, salt, and olive oil. It was served with tomatoes covered in pesto and grilled sourdough. The tomatoes were nothing special - pretty acidic rather than sweet - like what you would buy at the grocery store. While still delicious, it wasn’t anything revolutionary… just a tasty, classic burrata dish.
Arugula: Fennel, grapes, sunflower Seeds, Parmigiano-Reggiano, with a citrus vinaigrette. My favorite thing we ate. The salad was light and crisp with a very bright acidity, balanced out by the sweetness of the raisins (note: they were not fresh grapes). The thinly shaved fennel provided a very delicate flavor — it was delicious. If I go back, I will probably order this salad and add lobster meat to it.
RH Burger: Sharp American cheese, pickles, onion, and dijonnaise with added thick-cut pork belly bacon. I’ve heard it’s one of the best burgers in Charlotte, and our server also said it was her absolute favorite thing on the menu, so we had to try it. I was very disappointed. It wasn’t a bad burger; however, it was average. Very standard. The bun, pickles, and each ingredient was good… but when it was all put together, it tasted like it was missing something — almost like it just didn’t have the dijonnaise on it. Deep sigh.
Lobster Roll: Drawn butter, mayonnaise, Old Bay Seasoning. A good mixture of claw and tail meat. The roll was PERFECTLY toasted and was peppery, flavorful, and bright. They served it with some butter lettuce on the side (which I definitely recommend putting on). Pro tip: Don’t let this sit. Eat it as soon as it gets to the table, or the bread will start to get soggy.
Truffled Fries: Black truffles, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, truffle aioli. Great fries, but very standard as far as truffle fries go. There was nothing that made these stand out from the truffle fries at any other restaurant.
And the verdict is… 6.5/10. The atmosphere is fantastic — it’s the key selling point of this experience. I was put off by the selective enforcement of the photography policy. Once this was coupled with good but standard food, at the price point they charge, it made it a very average experience. There’s a lovely vibe, and I want to love it (I did enjoy the atmosphere), but the food itself is nothing to write home about. It’s nothing revolutionary, and I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here. It’s more of a place where I would stop by for a nice lunch with clients.
