Meet a few of the newest families helping to shape Charlotte’s food scene
Two family bakeries. Two immigrant stories. And a whole lot of pastries between them. 🥐 Today’s CharlotteFive newsletter is a reminder that some of the city’s most beloved sweet spots are built around recipes carried across oceans.
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Plus, a longtime South End sushi bar is saying goodbye and a coffee chain is planting a second flag in Lake Norman.
Here’s what’s happening.
Charlotte readers have spoken, and the CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice best bakery award goes to Innescas Sweets of Europe — the Matthews shop opened by sisters Ester Barokha and Abigail Borisik just a year ago. The pair pulled in more than 8,000 votes in the final round, edging out The Sweet Spoon Bakery to take the title.
The bakery is named after the sisters’ mother, Innesca, a Ukrainian immigrant who catered weddings and events and taught her American-born daughters everything she knows. Her handwritten recipes, tea cups and saucers now decorate the walls of the shop. 💙
What began as a family operation — with a kitchen built by Borisik’s contractor husband and relatives washing dishes — has grown to 18 staff members in a single year. Everything is made in-house, from the syrups down to the jam.
More than the pastries, the sisters want the space to feel like a gathering place. Regulars stop in for morning coffee and croissants; groups settle in for Bible study or a girls’ brunch.
“We just want people to have a place that they’re able to come in and hang out,” Barokha said. “We want to be able to be that spot for someone to come in and study, or for someone to have a little birthday party celebration — like that third place. So we’re not just a bakery, coffee shop. We want people to enjoy this space.” 📍 215 N. Ames St., #900, Matthews
🍓 Read Heidi’s story on the sweets shop.
Over in East Charlotte, another family is opening its doors. Lina’s Bakery & Coffee Shop, a Dominican and Latin American spot, just made its debut Saturday, Aug. 29, in the East Town Market.
Owner Isel “Lina” Robles is bringing homemade desserts, pastries and sandwiches rooted in Dominican tradition — alongside hot coffee, frappés, lattes, batidas (creamy Brazilian cocktails), smoothies and natural fruit juices. ☕
Customers will also find Mexican and Honduran influences on the menu, and Robles said she hopes to weave in treats from other Central American countries down the road. 📍 5708 Sharon Amity Road, Suite K, Charlotte
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After nearly two decades in South End, Nikko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar has closed. The space in The Arlington building officially sold Aug. 18 for roughly $4 million, and it’s set to reopen as Nikko Steakhouse — a concept blending premium steaks, seafood, sushi and traditional Japanese fare.
New owner Tyon D. Thompson, who will run the restaurant with business partner Allan Jones, said the goal is to honor the legacy while evolving it.
“We’re not changing the tradition — we’re elevating it,” Thompson said. “Guests will recognize the spirit of Nikko, but they’ll experience a new level of food, atmosphere, service, and hospitality.”
Renovations to the 6,800-square-foot space are underway. A grand opening date hasn’t been announced. 📍 325 Arlington Ave., Unit 108, Charlotte
The Arkansas-born drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew wants to plant another flag on Lake Norman. The company plans to open at 630 River Highway in Mooresville and will hold a neighborhood meeting on its rezoning request at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Hampton Inn.
7 Brew’s other Lake Norman location is already open in Denver, N.C., and the chain’s menu boasts more than 20,000 drink combinations — from teas and espresso drinks to shakes and sodas. 📍 630 River Highway, Mooresville
The CharlotteFive newsletter lands in your inbox every day with the best food, things to do and lifestyle news across the Queen City — no endless scrolling required. Sign up here for free ✉️
Keep up with what’s new, what’s opening and what to eat: @cltfive on Instagram, @cltfive on Threads, @cltfive on TikTok and @charlottefive.com on Bluesky. 💙
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.
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