Tiramisu from Tap & Vine

Local Indulgences

Four new eateries to try this summer

By Jessica Gaddy and Jodi Werner Greenwald | Photos by Shrimp & Grisettes


Are you craving a tiki drink? Vegan soul food? How about a made-to-order soda or Italian wine and pasta? Four new eateries in the Ballantyne area offer must-try indulgences. Why not sample them this summer and help us spread the word!

Tap & Vine

Vibe: Upscale wine bar with food and cocktails

What to Try: House-made pasta, flatbreads, baguettes and desserts.

Pro Tip: Owners Joe and Stephanie Maus named cocktails in honor of their moms — Lady Geraldine (Stephanie’s mom) and Queen Victoria (Joe’s mom). Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis is a partial owner of the Stonecrest location. (There’s one in Indian Trail as well.)

Find them: 7828 Rea Rd., Charlotte, 28277 tapandvinestonecrest.com

A round of customizable, made-to-order beverages from Sips & Dips

Sips & Dips

Vibe: Vibrant outdoor kiosk for quick snacks and customizable, made-to-order beverages.

What to Try: Gourmet cookies and pretzel bites with various sauces. Try a sweet dip for the pretzels and wash them down with a Heatwave (Mtn Dew base with a splash of Blue Curaçao syrup).

Pro Tip: After seeing similar concepts out West, owners Blake and Lindsay Hart and their four children designed the store as a mood lifter. The bright colors and sugar rush are sure to do the trick!

Find them: 5345 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte, 28277 lovesipsanddips.com