If you know anything about Charlotte’s buzzing culinary culture, then you’ve likely heard of James Beard nominee chef Greg Collier and his wife and business partner, Subrina, who moved to the area in 2012 and opened now-closed brunch spot The Yolk. (The couple plans to open a new incarnation in the South End neighborhood in 2022.) Last year, the couple debuted their new modern-day juke joint, Leah & Louise, in the city’s creative hub, Camp North End. The restaurant pays homage to Collier’s Memphis roots and the flavors of the African diaspora with dishes such as oxtail dumplings, Leah’s cabbage (named for his late sister), and Arthur Lou pie, made with Tang custard, oat crust, floral meringue, and fresh fruit.

With lots of accolades on his resume already, chef Greg Collier turned to his roots with Leah & Louise. Here he’s serving up the Soul Food inspired by the foods back home in Memphis, like chips made from chicken skins and smoked rabbit with grits. Collier, along with his wife and partner in the restaurant Subrina Collier, infused the place with the feel of an old juke joint, with old window frames up behind the pass-through, a wall of wood pallets, mismatched furniture and a big, long table smack in the center ready for the next celebration.

James-Beared nominated Chef, Greg Collier and business partner/wife, Subrina Collier, have brought a modern twist on Southern classics to Charlotte, and have become one of the best restaurants in the city. Whether you make a reservation (and we highly recommend you do) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they’ve got a full menu to choose from. Some of our favorite dishes include the Sweeter The Bush, a breakfast oat waffle topped with sweet potato butter and smoked bourbon maple, their Rich Boys fried oyster sliders, and their Wit’ Cheese, a beefy, double burger.

Developing a menu of “modern interpretations of Southern classics” is almost a Catch-22; classics are classics for a reason, yet reinvention is often necessary to make a dish feel new and different. James Beard semifinalist chef Greg Collier and his wife and business partner, Subrina Collier, however, have managed to solve this riddle at Leah & Louise. Billed as a juke joint with ties to the Mississippi River Valley foodways, the restaurant introduces its customers to menu items that combine the familiar in order to create the nuance of taste.

Helmed by James Beard Award–nominated chef Greg Collier and his wife and business partner Subrina Collier, Leah & Louise and its Southern-inspired food has already garnered heaps of praise. But the drinks program, formerly led by Justin Hazelton, deserves just as much shine, says Curtis. “Justin is a storyteller, and at Leah & Louise, it’s all about telling the story and sharing the history and contributions of African Americans in hospitality through his cocktails,” she says.

Leah and Louise, a black-owned business, interprets classics southern dishes in a refined and phenomenal way, thanks to James Beard-nominated Chef Greg Collier and business partner and wife Subrina. The menu changes frequently, based on seasonally driven ingredients as well as inspiration, but there are a few fixtures on the menu. The River Chips are chicken skins, somehow both crispy and melt-in-your-mouth tender, topped with a flavorful “granch” dressing.

From the same family behind Uptown Yolk, ownership, who are originally from Memphis, sought to infuse the Queen City with the distinctive flavors of that city. The hospitality was unmatched, making it feel as if I was in the presence of family. They start and end each experience with a complimentary gift for the table, including “Blacker Jacks” to wet our whistle while the kitchen prepared our meal.

Planning a birthday dinner in Charlotte centered around mouth-watering Southern food?. Book a reservation at Leah & Louise, an intimate eatery brimming with flavor and charm. A self-described “modern juke joint,” Leah & Louise, led by James Beard-nominated Chef Greg Collier, pays homage to the timeless flavors of Southern cuisine, offering modern interpretations of classic dishes.

Featured on numerous “Best Restaurant” lists, Leah & Louise is perfect for your foodie guests. The latest concept from culinary power couple Greg and Subrina Collier, Leah & Louise is a “Southern-inspired juke joint” located in Camp North End, also a must for out-of-town guests. The food is Southern cuisine with a more modern touch and refined touches.

The James Beard-nominated restaurant that has everyone talking about Charlotte’s food scene. Why we love it: Chef Greg Collier has come closer to claiming the prestigious James Beard Award than any other Charlotte chef. Camp North End’s first restaurant pushed Charlotte into the spotlight with features in the New York Times and Esquire.

Leah and Louise give their modern take on classic southern dishes while still honoring tradition and heritage. Brunch is a specialty for Leah and Lousie and pairs well with a signature cocktail. If you’re having trouble finding a drink you like, just ask the friendly staff that will work with you to ensure your complete satisfaction.

Leah & Louise is one of the restaurants in Charlotte whose chef was nominated for the James Beard award. The menu here features southern classics from along the Mississippi River with a modern twist!. The ingredients here are locally sourced with a changing menu at one of the colonial Charlotte restaurants.

Black MaybeGeorge Dickel Tennessee Whisky, “smurnt” (smoked and burnt) brown sugar, black mint, ginger, lemon. It started with an accident a year and a half ago, when Hazelton was experimenting with brown sugar. “I burned the sugar by mistake,” he says.

Located in the Camp North End area, Leah & Louise is a modern juke joint serving up Southern-inspired dishes with a contemporary twist. The restaurant has received national acclaim for its innovative menu.

Camp North End 301 Camp RoadCharlotte, NC 28206(980) 309-0690 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Leah & Louise is a laid-back restaurant offering Southern comfort food amid a retro-styled space.

Leah and Louise, in Charlotte, is an inventive restaurant in Camp North. It doesn't all land for me; however, I appreciate the risks being taken. Certain dishes are phenomenal though, like the burger.

Leah & Louise, which opened in the city's new Camp North End development, is one example that's earned positive reviews for its tasty dishes inspired by the Lower Mississippi River Valley.

Swing by Camp North End for a bite at Leah & Louise, a Mississippi-inspired, modern juke joint dishing out deliciously inventive concoctions from James Beard-nominated Chef Greg Collier.

Leah and Louise from James Beard-nominated Chef Greg Collier and Subrina Collier has opened in Camp North End. Inspired by foods found by the Mississippi River Valley foodways.