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Vegan
American
Organic
Beer/Wine
Catering
Fine dining plant-based bistro by vegan chef of Local Love catering, Barry Horton. Brunch until 3pm. Features seasonal organic produce. Check facebook for special events. Est 2014 in California and moved here in early 2020. Open Wed-Fri 11:30am-3:00pm, Wed-Sat 5:30pm-9:00pm, Sat 10:00am-3:00pm.
110 Reviews
First Review by KarenBrighten
BBinNC
Points +20
Our favorite date night spot - Edit
My husband and I get to Sanctuary whenever we can. We have been vegan for years, and we love the salads, the sushi, the rotating seasonal menu, and the vegan wine list. But, more importantly, we have taken carnivorous friends, and they have liked it too. I am so grateful to have this restaurant in our community.
Read morePros: Seasonal specials , Wine list, Friendly staff
Guest
DougK
Points +878
Outstanding fine dining - Edit
Excellent restaurant. Service was terrific and the food was outstanding. The charcuterie plate and the fried oyster mushrooms were the stars of the meal. Drink menu was impressive as well. Highly recommend!
Read morePros: High end vegetable forward dishes, Great service, Varied menu
Guest
Grazer7
Points +40
Worth every penny - Edit
Fabulous work with mushrooms. Had 2 different dillas. Both most tasty. Will return
Read morePros: Food!, Atmosphere
Guest
mschlater
Points +1125
Would give 10 stars if I could - Edit
We had such a nice time here for my husbands birthday. The food was delicious and the atmosphere is great. There are so few fine dining restaurants in NC, so this is a gem. We will definitely make the 2.5 hour drive to eat here again.
Read moreGuest
missrissy
Points +20
So good - Edit
I love this place. The blatadilla is the best and I always crave it. Their potato salad is great too.
Read moreGuest
Rafael_Astolfi
Points +18
Delicious food, nice people. - Edit
Vegans always struggle trying to find what to eat. Going to a new place is always uncomfortable… but not here!
Read moreThe staff is kind and easy. No rush to kick the customer out asap. Food is perfect and prices are fair.
Pros: Food, People, Ambience
Guest
dk42
Points +11
Love this place! - Edit
Went here Thursday night with a small group. We went ordered most of the menu. Everything was delicious! I find the prices very reasonable, especially given the quality of ingredients and flavor.
Read moreWe started with the crispy oyster mushroom artisanal plate, which everyone enjoyed. Then the fried sushi and king trumpet scallops appetizers. We were surprised at how much everyone enjoyed the broth for the trumpet scallops. After eating the trumpet mushroom scallops, we took turns finishing the broth. And I am still thinking about the sushi. Mmm.
Next, the roasted beet salad which was lovely. Then, the crispy lions mane, the spicy lasagna, and the roasted tahini cauliflower. All were enjoyed! (My favorite was the cauliflower.)
Finally, for dessert we had the cashew cheesecake, lemon trifle, chocolate parfait, and crème brûlée. Cheesecake won in my opinion, but all were delicious and everyone had a different favorite.
The owner Jennifer is a delight! She is a great conversationalist while also handling all the tables. She’s also a thoughtful guide to the menu!
Highly recommend!!
Guest
DawnPeterson
Points +16
Best Meal in Charlotte - Edit
I went here for my birthday dinner last night. It was phenomenal! From the service to the presentation to the food, everything was incredible. This is the best meal I’ve had in Charlotte to date. As a 19-year vegan, I’m used to cooking my own food or going to a limited number of restaurants. It was so nice to go somewhere and not have to worry about whether something is vegan or how it was prepared. Please support this local, family-owned business! They work their tails off so we can enjoy a meal without compromising our values.
Read moreGuest
sinas
Points +21
Some of the best in Charlotte - Edit
If you can get in the door, you will be rewarded with some of the best vegan food in Charlotte. We are lucky to have them!
Read moreDefinitely try the fried mushroom appetizer and the crème brûlée’!
Guest
sharonrader
Points +174
Great vegan options beyond compare - Edit
Delicious and savory food, delightful wait staff
Read morePros: Amazing non alcoholic beverage selection, Great brunch selections , Soothing atmosphere
Guest
wwortiz1
Points +17
Amazing Experience! - Edit
We had a very difficult time choosing from the menu as everything sounded wonderful. We truly enjoyed the use of wood in the decor (tables especially). Very nice ambience. Our hostess was super nice, friendly, and knowledgeable of the menu. We have been trying to visit the establishment for months and finally had the opportunity to walk in on a Saturday during brunch time. Can’t say enough about the food. Everything we ordered was utterly delicious! Highly recommend and will definitely be back!!
Read morePros: Delicious Healthy Food, Very Reasonable Pricing, Great Atmosphere
Cons: Parking, NA, NA
Guest
LigeiaSmith
Points +614
AMAZING vegan food - Edit
I stopped here on my way from Charleston to Linville and I am SO glad I did.
Read moreI got the New England chowder and the golden beet fried ravioli. Amazing amazing!!!
Lots of parking as it’s surprisingly in a strip mall, friendly service and welcoming friendly atmosphere. I would go out of my way to eat here again!
Pros: Good quality fiud, Welcoming, For the animsls
Cons: It’s not next to my house. Lol
Guest
lucianf
Points +284
One of the best you’ll ever try - Edit
If you’d have to pick one vegan restaurant choose this and you won’t be disappointed. Chef Barry is preparing delicious meals every time. My top: shiitake bacon, clam chowder (using cashews as a base) and pretty much everything is new on the menu. You can’t go wrong.
Read moreGuest
AndrewVoss
Points +134
Awesome Bruch Spot - Edit
Stopped by on Saturday for brunch. The vibe is great. I highly recommend the po-boy sandwich. Dessert is also worth getting! 😊
Read moreGuest
vandalsence
Points +172
Good - Edit
I enjoyed the food, especially the oyster mushroom plate. The waitress was nice, and the whole operation was surprisingly efficient for only having one chef and one waitress with all of the tables and quite a few of the bar seats full. They even gave a list of vegan options and a sanctuary in Charlotte too with my receipt. Lovely place, you can tell they really care about the cause.
Read moreGuest
Elie48
Points +109
Incredibly delicious - Edit
We found this place while in Charlotte on a visit and instantly fell in love!! One of the owners, Jennifer, welcomed us so warmly and served us throughout the evening- making excellent recommendations and checking in with us regularly. The food was amazing, gourmet in every sense of the word. Presentation, taste and perfect portion size. We definitely return!!
Read morePros: Fully vegan, Friendly staff!, Intimate, warm atmosphere
Cons: None!
Guest
BackpackerVegan
Points +92
Awesome high end restaurant - Edit
Unique dishes in a very welcoming environment. All GF, and vegan. Wonderful service. The creme brulee needs to be firmer to have the right texture. Otherwise, it's perfect!
Read morePros: All vegan and GF, Unique dishes, Presentation
Cons: On the high side, but it's all organic and a nice
Guest
AlisonKoehler
Points +26
Amazing all vegan restaurant - Edit
I have had the pleasure to eat a few dinners here and now lunch (I don’t live close, or I’d be here weekly). This is a wonderful place for more upscale vegan dining, something we don’t have a lot of around here. It is a small, intimate restaurant; make reservations for dinner. The decor is nice with beautiful woodwork. The owner usually serves and her husband is the chef. Service is wonderful. The food is outstanding. The chef is a master at making unique, flavorful dishes with very fresh ingredients. I have loved everything I’ve tried. The chowder, beet salad, fried mushrooms, unique ravioli, lions mane steak, blue cheese dressing (unbelievable, could drink it alone), broccoli soufflé, chocolate parfait, among others. Hard to imagine these dishes are dairy free! This would be a great place to go with non-vegan friends; I’m sure everyone would enjoy. They are gluten free too if that is an issue. Highly recommend. Can’t wait to go back!
Read moreGuest
SusanEst
Points +40
EXQUISITE food, great ambience, wonderful organization!!! - Edit
First, I love the fact that this is all 100% vegan and gluten-free! But the food is beyond all expectations! Absolutely divine!!! You can't go wrong. Plus they support good vegan causes and local artists, etc. Love you, Sanctuary Bistro! We are so blessed to have them in Charlotte!!!
Read moreGuest
ELT
Points +418
There aren't enough stars to accurately review Sanctuary! - Edit
If you only try one vegan restaurant in Charlotte, it should be Sanctuary. You will meet one of the nicest people in town and eat one of the most delicious meals of your life. You'll get more than just dinner - it's an experience, from the ambiance to the thoughtful menu to the kind and attentive service.
Read moreIt's best to make reservations.
Guest
tuelltime78
Points +245
Great for date night - Edit
Finally got to try Sanctuary Bistro and it did not disappoint! The flavors were excellent, the food was very attractive, and the atmosphere was great! The staff were very kind and attentive. All the flavors of the food were very well balanced and it was nice to go somewhere that had more than fast food options like burgers available. The menu changes seasonally and I'm excited to try all the dishes they have to offer! #Veganuary
Read morePros: All vegan and gluten free , Chef driven, excellent flavors, Great atmosphere and staff
Guest
Jōjia_Momo
Points +505
CLT is lucky to have them. - Edit
Outrageously good brunch.
Read moreThe atmosphere is true of a high quality bistro. The staff is very friendly and the menu has a lot of variety.
The waffles are to not be skipped. The oyster mushrooms are bomb!
Charlotte needed this so badly and y’all are lucky to have it. It’s like a slice of California in the Carolina’s.
The entire menu is gluten free, which is unheard of. And there’s no awful impossible or beyond. This restaurant has a real chef that pours themselves into their craft, and it shows.
Pros: Entirely gluten free menu, Atmosphere , No impossible / beyond garbage
Cons: Nothing!
Guest
Flyingmouse29
Points +29
Delicious! - Edit
This restaurant is tiny and adorable. Make sure you make reservations to get a table. We shared the fried lions mane mushrooms as a starter, had the lasagna and portobello Rockefeller as entrees, and tiramisu as dessert. All was delicious but the portobello Rockefeller was the star. I love this place and can’t wait to come back.
Read morePros: Seasonal menu, Lots of choices
Guest
vegangyy
Points +752
Sophisticated and delicious - Edit
Certainly a higher end, sophisticated dining experience. The dishes we ordered were excellent, service was great. They have a thorough drink menu with wines, beers and caffeinated and caffeine free teas which was lovely. Indoor space is lovely and decorated so nicely. Food is focused on veggies which was awesome.
Read moreGuest
greysonstrzelczyk
Points +181
Absolutely Delightful - Edit
This restaurant is everything you could ever ask for. It has a wonderful intimate atmosphere. They kindly suggest no phones and encourage connection. I am from out of town and had lovely conversation with the people at the table next to me who are regulars that live right by the restaurant. Jennifer (owner) is one of the kindest people. She served the entire floor making sure everyone was taken care of. Chef Barry prepared some of the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten. The tiramisu was heavenly. This is a restaurant you just HAVE to experience. Life changing.
Read moreGuest
MariaMcMillan
Points +65
Fresh and good food - Edit
Excellent food- fresh ingredients and interesting combos. The chowder is amazing!
Read morePros: Fab Food
Cons: Small so plan ahead
Guest
jennnnn
Points +365
Elegant Vegan Dining - Edit
Sanctuary Bistro has a rotating menu that is all vegan and all gluten free. Dinner dishes usually contain mushrooms and the brunch seems to have more variety. Expect an elegant, multi-course meal in an intimate setting.
Read morePros: All vegan and gluten free , Family owned, Creative meals
Cons: Dinner options somewhat limited, Pricey, but worth it
Guest
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