Charlotte

Sonrisa Opening in Uptown Charlotte’s Brevard Court

Expect Latin American cuisine, regional cocktails, and patio seating.

Image from Sonrisa on Instagram

CHARLOTTE, NC — Sonrisa, a Latin American restaurant and bar, is targeting an opening next week at 137 Brevard Court, Charlotte, NC 28202, partner in operations Brian Woulfe told Business Debut.

The team is waiting on its state liquor license before opening to the public, Woulfe told Business Debut.

What to Expect

Sonrisa will open in Brevard Court, which Woulfe described as Uptown Charlotte’s only fully pedestrianized historic courtyard. The restaurant will join a collection of small businesses with operators from several backgrounds, Woulfe told Business Debut. It is also home to Crisp, which Business Debut recently reported on.

Sonrisa will have about 70 seats inside and another 16 to 20 seats on the patio, Woulfe told Business Debut. The atmosphere will lean casual. “It should feel homey,” Woulfe told Business Debut. “There’ll be an upbeat ambience.”

Sonrisa’s menu will draw from Latin American, Caribbean, South American and Central American cuisines, Woulfe told Business Debut. The team includes staff members from Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico, and Woulfe said that input helped shape the menu.

Appetizers and dishes will include empanadas, tostones, mariquitas, plantain balls, ceviche, Argentinian-style flank steak, Peruvian chicken, carnitas, ropa vieja, chicken tinga, birria and vegan sofrita, Woulfe told Business Debut.

The bar program will focus on cocktails from the region, including pisco sours, daiquiris, margaritas and mojitos. Woulfe said the beverage program will lean heavily on tequila, rum and mezcal.

Woulfe himself is a veteran of the restaurant business and credits his team for their contributions to shaping the menu and concept of Sonrisa.