A Scandanavian comfort food spot is opening this week in Charlotte

Nordic comfort food is on its way to Charlotte.

Vivienne, which started in 2025 as a pop-up concept, is opening Friday at Free Range Brewing in Villa Heights for service five days a week.

The restaurant started by James and Cameron Barker aims to introduce Charlotteans to Scandanavian cuisine with an “innovative yet approachable menu that blends experimental Nordic culinary traditions with beloved street food classics.”

Vivienne will serve traditional Danish-style Røde Pølser (pronounced RUH-thuh PUHL-se”), which are street hot dogs piled high with pickles, raw and fried onions, curry remoulade and other classic Nordic toppings.

Menu items will also include Faroese-inspired seafood dishes and savory puff pastries.

At brunch, look for other Scandinavian staples such as Swedish Pytt i Panna, a potato hash that includes cured salmon, ham and beets, along with a rotating selection of Danish open-faced sandwiches known as Smørrebrød and traditional Norwegian waffles.

“The shortest way to describe Vivienne is through our slogan: Bringing the Far North, South,” the Barkers said in a press release.

“We’re excited to share the flavors, stories, and culinary traditions of the Nordic world with Charlotte while creating a welcoming experience that’s accessible, comforting, and uniquely our own.”

The Barkers planned their concept with “thoughtful sourcing and close relationships with fishermen, farmers, and trusted suppliers,” the press release said, noting that the arrival of Vivienne marks a new chapter for Free Range Brewing, as well.

“Free Range Brewing has always been about cultivating connections,” the brewery founded by Jason, Jeff and Sarah Alexander said in the release.

“Whether through beer, food, local agriculture, the arts, or community partnerships, our mission remains the same: to create meaningful experiences that bring people together. Vivienne expands that vision by introducing a culinary program that shares those same values of craftsmanship, hospitality, and community.”

Location: Inside Free Range Brewing, 2320 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205

Cuisine: Scandanavian

Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Instagram: @vivienne_clt

This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 12:37 PM.