In the last ebbing of 2025, a new restaurant opened its doors in SouthPark. After years working in restaurant scenes in Chicago and Knoxville, owner Dan McCormick saw an opportunity to introduce a concept that felt lighter, more vibrant, and more globally inspired than other options in the area. Several months of planning and experimentation result in a new-America concept called Laurel Park in Charlotte
Working with Chicago-based firm Dunne Kozlowski, the team transformed the space, which used to house Village Tavern, into something entirely new. Gone are the darker, traditional elements. In their place, there’s a bright, airy room with raised ceilings, natural light, and soft wood tones. Seating varies from intimate booths to lively bar spots, creating layers of energy throughout the dining room. At the center of it all, the bar glows warmly, anchored by an antique Italian mirror framed with gold veining and amber glass. A sprawling 2,000-square-foot patio expands the experience even further, offering a treetop escape above the bustle of the neighborhood.
Familiar Favorites with a Twist
At the helm in the kitchen, Executive Chef Brian Farrell embraces the theme of new-American cuisine by shirking clichés and leaning heavily on flavor and seasonality. Expect to find house-made pastas, inventive small plates, and composed entrées that balance comfort with creativity. Standout dinner offerings include focaccia stuffed with rosemary and quatre fromage and served with garlic herb butter; the bucatini topped with beef and pork meatballs, roasted tomato sauce reggianito, and olive oil; and the crab cakes served with kohlrabi slaw, pickled Fresno peppers, and spicy aioli. No matter the menu item, there’s a clear throughline: familiar dishes, reimagined with exceptional technique and subtle international influence. The result is food that feels both approachable and ambitious.
The beverage program, overseen collaboratively by the bar team and General Manager Lauren Klempay, mirrors the kitchen’s ethos. Cocktails evolve with the seasons, shaped by creativity and teamwork rather than rigid tradition. The menu is dynamic and complements the food while also standing confidently on its own.
Carolina at the Heart of Laurel Park in Charlotte
Despite the global twists to the menu, Laurel Park still feels thoroughly Carolina. The restaurant’s name itself nods to the Carolina Cherry Laurel, as well as the leafy, park-like setting of the restaurant. Furthermore, sourcing from regional growers ensures that seasonal, southeastern ingredients play a foundational role in the menu. Additionally, local partnerships, like one with Pizza Baby Bakery for fresh focaccia, underscores the importance of a tether to the area within the Laurel Park ethos.
What ultimately defines Laurel Park, though, is as much the food and the design as it is the feeling. There’s an ease here, a sense of genuine hospitality that turns first-time visitors into regulars.
laurelparkclt.com
@laurelparkclt
