Formerly of Fort Mill, Passion8 has arrived in its new location in the outskirts of uptown Charlotte. If you ever visited its previous spot, you know that it wasn’t exactly spacious, but that’s not a problem anymore since its new home on Elizabeth Avenue can fit 120 guests inside it’s high-ceilinged building—there’s even a 10-seat chef’s table that can see the bustling kitchen through a plate-glass window. With a sophisticated décor of muted earth and gold tones (whereas before it was a lot of reds), the restaurant has certainly stepped it up to compete with other contemporary establishments. 

Though it has three dining rooms, a mezzanine upstairs, and a much bigger bar than the previous spot, the co-owner and executive chef Luca Annunziata told the Charlotte Observer that his favorite upgrade is the fully equipped kitchen—now he has 24 burners instead of eight. “It’s a dream come true for a chef,” Luca Annunziata says. “It’s fun to work in.” 

While in their former location, Passion8 (formerly Passion8 Bistro) became known for their use of local ingredients, which they’re still using. Maintaining the relationships they made with Fort Hill farmers, they have now expanded to include Charlotte-based ingredients. Speaking of food, their menu boasts such items as foie gras to start, and poussin, braised brisket and lobster, and Scialatielli and clams as entrées.