UNPROFESSIONAL OWNER...MS. FRESHWATER. DO NOT GIVE THIS RESTAURANT YOUR BUSINESS:My six friends and I made reservations at Freshwaters Restaurant two weeks ago for March 23rd. We arrived early and waited at least 20 minutes before the waitress told us it would be a minute mind you, there is not a host at the front desk. While waiting, another walked in behind. The OWNER MS. FRESHWATER was behind a desk by the bar yelling out, "I only reservations for a party of 5 or 6". Then the waitress comes over and ask us if had reservations and how many were in our party. We told her it was for seven, she stated "8". We said no, 7. She then leaves and continues to serve patrons in the restaurant. Again, MS. FRESHWATER YELLS OUT, I have a party for 5 or 6 and then the group that came in after us, rushed passed up and sat a table because there was no at the front desk!! Then MS. FRESHWATER walks over and rudely states "WHO MADE RESERVATIONS WITH ME. My friend gives her, her name and then this lady looks through some ARCHAIC notebook where she has scribbled reservations in which she stated that she could not find ours mind you earlier, she yelled out that the wait would be an hour.After she told us she could not find our reservation, we told her that we would take our business elsewhere. This rude woman closed up her ARCHAIC NOTEBOOK and walked away without even an apology. Not that it matters, because it could have been anyone. What she did is turned away two doctors, one professor, one director and 3 managers...all at prestigious locations. Needless to say, none of us will ever recommend this place of business and in fact, we will tell our colleagues to BEWARE if they decide to go to FRESHWATER RESTAURANT! WE WILL NEVER GO HERE AGAIN!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Pamela Hempstead
I can’t tell you how the food was because the way that I was treated prevented me from choosing to eat at this establishment. I made reservations for 7 two weeks prior to the arrival of my guests, when we arrived, we waited 5 minutes before being acknowledged. When the person finally came to acknowledge us, she wasn’t able to find our reservation information.In the background we heard someone say “they have to wait an hour”. The person walked away, came back and said she couldn’t find our reservation and that the owner would come and speak to us. She walked up with much attitude and a lack of gratitude that we were patronizing her business. Her attitude was a SIGNIFICANT turn off. As a result, we decided to take our business elsewhere. I will NEVER give her my business! Such a disappointment!Update:They responded and said we didn’t have a reservation. That’s not true! Maybe if you used a more reliable system instead of pen and paper you would have captured the information that was set!
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Aeysha Manning
best food I had in Charlotte! party of 15 and all of our food looked and tasted
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mrs Freshwater's Blackened Salmon, Seafood Platter, String Beans, Catfish with Greens and Yams, New Orleans Catfish, Macaroni & Cheese, Candied Yams, Corn Muffins, Austin's Sauteed Cabbage, Home-Made Cake, Potato Salad, Peach Cobbler, Red Beans & Rice, Red Beans and Rice, Rice & Gravy, Chicken Wings, Fried Shrimp
Tonya Wilson
Terrible customer service, rude and dismissive. Went to celebrate my birthday to no avail after having a reservation.
Noisy Wings, LLC
Food is amazing placed a take out order couldn't leave the parking space once i opened my tray. Atmosphere A-1 and owners are one of a kind special. Thanks again highly recommend??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicole Childress
This meal was one of the best I have had in a long time. Considering I travel all over, the flavor, temperature, portion size, everything was perfect! 10/10 on the beef short ribs. The meat fell right off the bone… I will be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
N A
I initially stopped by for the first time on Saturday, 04-01-23. I wanted a take out order, but as soon as I stepped inside, I saw that take out was closed; the time stamp on my picture is 6:08 pm.Wanting to try them because they were on a list of good black owned restaurants, I returned on Sunday, 04-02-23. There was no staff near the restaurant entry. There were 2 gentlemen sitting & waiting, telling me that they hoped I'd called ahead because the wait was terrible. Talking with them was the highlight of the visit. I waited at least 10 minutes before a staff member acknowledged me; it was at least 5 more minutes before I was able to place my order.I ordered a sides plate of green beans, cabbage, mac & cheese, and yams with cornbread. The food was just alright and not worth the wait; the green beans weren't seasoned. Cornbread was a little burnt. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
The McGills
We arrived at the restaurant a little later in the evening but were welcomed in with open arms. The atmosphere was exquisite and very relaxing which we needed and enjoyed. The food was excellent! We will definitely be returning to this lovely place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mrs Freshwater's Blackened Salmon, Fried Catfish Dinner, Seafood Platter, Catfish with Greens and Yams, New Orleans Catfish, Candied Yams, Corn Muffins, Red Beans & Rice, Red Beans and Rice, Chicken Wings, Fried Shrimp
Shawn Lee
Loved
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daevon Pendergrass
Everything about this place was amazing. The service was top tier. The owner came out to the table and explained everything on the menu. The food, I dont even know what to say. It was simply dancing in my mouth with every bite. The flavors clashing on my palate was Heavenly. You'll surely enjoy this place.
The ambiance and atmosphere is very inviting, the food is excellent, top notch everything is good and made from scratch!!The owners and staff are just amazing and personal!! The staff is limited (like everywhere since COVID) but they take care of you!!This is my go to place for all my out of town guest!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mrs Freshwater's Blackened Salmon, Fried Catfish Dinner, Seafood Platter, String Beans, Uptown, Catfish with Greens and Yams, New Orleans Catfish, Macaroni & Cheese, Candied Yams, Corn Muffins, Austin's Sauteed Cabbage, Home-Made Cake, Potato Salad, Peach Cobbler, Red Beans & Rice, Red Beans and Rice, Rice & Gravy, Bread Pudding, Chicken Wings, Fried Shrimp
Raquel Atkinson
There are a lot of restaurants to try in Charlotte,NC, yet hospitality is lacking real bad at a lot of these places. However, I found the perfect combo here at Freshwaters!Outside of the food, Ms. Rocky's genuine hospitality was the star of the show! She treated me like a visiting family member, warm, welcoming and friendly. My food was delicious and piping hot. (I opted for the fried catfish and shrimp) Best part is that it's a black owned and ran restaurant✊?Much appreciated, I'll definitely be back! ?Parking: The restaurant's location is in a plaza with no real signage that there's a restaurant there, but the parking is free and plentiful once you find the plaza.
Freshwaters was ok. The food was a bit salty for me and the service was slow.Vegetarian options: Limited but good selection. Again, a bit salty but ok.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Macaroni & Cheese, Corn Muffins, Peach Cobbler, Red Beans and Rice
Anthony Rupolo
Found this gem while visiting Charlotte with a Google search and the reviews. Delicious food and great atmosphere! The experience brought us back to our New Orleans visit! Thanks for a wonderful dinner. Salmon cake amazing! Jambalaya and Etufee meals so good!
UNPROFESSIONAL OWNER...MS. FRESHWATER. DO NOT GIVE THIS RESTAURANT YOUR BUSINESS:My six friends and I made reservations at Freshwaters Restaurant two weeks ago for March 23rd. We arrived early and waited at least 20 minutes before the waitress told us it would be a minute mind you, there is not a host at the front desk. While waiting, another walked in behind. The OWNER MS. FRESHWATER was behind a desk by the bar yelling out, "I only reservations for a party of 5 or 6". Then the waitress comes over and ask us if had reservations and how many were in our party. We told her it was for seven, she stated "8". We said no, 7. She then leaves and continues to serve patrons in the restaurant. Again, MS. FRESHWATER YELLS OUT, I have a party for 5 or 6 and then the group that came in after us, rushed passed up and sat a table because there was no at the front desk!! Then MS. FRESHWATER walks over and rudely states "WHO MADE RESERVATIONS WITH ME. My friend gives her, her name and then this lady looks through some ARCHAIC notebook where she has scribbled reservations in which she stated that she could not find ours mind you earlier, she yelled out that the wait would be an hour.After she told us she could not find our reservation, we told her that we would take our business elsewhere. This rude woman closed up her ARCHAIC NOTEBOOK and walked away without even an apology. Not that it matters, because it could have been anyone. What she did is turned away two doctors, one professor, one director and 3 managers...all at prestigious locations. Needless to say, none of us will ever recommend this place of business and in fact, we will tell our colleagues to BEWARE if they decide to go to FRESHWATER RESTAURANT! WE WILL NEVER GO HERE AGAIN!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I can’t tell you how the food was because the way that I was treated prevented me from choosing to eat at this establishment. I made reservations for 7 two weeks prior to the arrival of my guests, when we arrived, we waited 5 minutes before being acknowledged. When the person finally came to acknowledge us, she wasn’t able to find our reservation information.In the background we heard someone say “they have to wait an hour”. The person walked away, came back and said she couldn’t find our reservation and that the owner would come and speak to us. She walked up with much attitude and a lack of gratitude that we were patronizing her business. Her attitude was a SIGNIFICANT turn off. As a result, we decided to take our business elsewhere. I will NEVER give her my business! Such a disappointment!Update:They responded and said we didn’t have a reservation. That’s not true! Maybe if you used a more reliable system instead of pen and paper you would have captured the information that was set!
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
best food I had in Charlotte! party of 15 and all of our food looked and tasted
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mrs Freshwater's Blackened Salmon, Seafood Platter, String Beans, Catfish with Greens and Yams, New Orleans Catfish, Macaroni & Cheese, Candied Yams, Corn Muffins, Austin's Sauteed Cabbage, Home-Made Cake, Potato Salad, Peach Cobbler, Red Beans & Rice, Red Beans and Rice, Rice & Gravy, Chicken Wings, Fried Shrimp
Terrible customer service, rude and dismissive. Went to celebrate my birthday to no avail after having a reservation.
Food is amazing placed a take out order couldn't leave the parking space once i opened my tray. Atmosphere A-1 and owners are one of a kind special. Thanks again highly recommend??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This meal was one of the best I have had in a long time. Considering I travel all over, the flavor, temperature, portion size, everything was perfect! 10/10 on the beef short ribs. The meat fell right off the bone… I will be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I initially stopped by for the first time on Saturday, 04-01-23. I wanted a take out order, but as soon as I stepped inside, I saw that take out was closed; the time stamp on my picture is 6:08 pm.Wanting to try them because they were on a list of good black owned restaurants, I returned on Sunday, 04-02-23. There was no staff near the restaurant entry. There were 2 gentlemen sitting & waiting, telling me that they hoped I'd called ahead because the wait was terrible. Talking with them was the highlight of the visit. I waited at least 10 minutes before a staff member acknowledged me; it was at least 5 more minutes before I was able to place my order.I ordered a sides plate of green beans, cabbage, mac & cheese, and yams with cornbread. The food was just alright and not worth the wait; the green beans weren't seasoned. Cornbread was a little burnt. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
We arrived at the restaurant a little later in the evening but were welcomed in with open arms. The atmosphere was exquisite and very relaxing which we needed and enjoyed. The food was excellent! We will definitely be returning to this lovely place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mrs Freshwater's Blackened Salmon, Fried Catfish Dinner, Seafood Platter, Catfish with Greens and Yams, New Orleans Catfish, Candied Yams, Corn Muffins, Red Beans & Rice, Red Beans and Rice, Chicken Wings, Fried Shrimp
Loved
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything about this place was amazing. The service was top tier. The owner came out to the table and explained everything on the menu. The food, I dont even know what to say. It was simply dancing in my mouth with every bite. The flavors clashing on my palate was Heavenly. You'll surely enjoy this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The ambiance and atmosphere is very inviting, the food is excellent, top notch everything is good and made from scratch!!The owners and staff are just amazing and personal!! The staff is limited (like everywhere since COVID) but they take care of you!!This is my go to place for all my out of town guest!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mrs Freshwater's Blackened Salmon, Fried Catfish Dinner, Seafood Platter, String Beans, Uptown, Catfish with Greens and Yams, New Orleans Catfish, Macaroni & Cheese, Candied Yams, Corn Muffins, Austin's Sauteed Cabbage, Home-Made Cake, Potato Salad, Peach Cobbler, Red Beans & Rice, Red Beans and Rice, Rice & Gravy, Bread Pudding, Chicken Wings, Fried Shrimp
There are a lot of restaurants to try in Charlotte,NC, yet hospitality is lacking real bad at a lot of these places. However, I found the perfect combo here at Freshwaters!Outside of the food, Ms. Rocky's genuine hospitality was the star of the show! She treated me like a visiting family member, warm, welcoming and friendly. My food was delicious and piping hot. (I opted for the fried catfish and shrimp) Best part is that it's a black owned and ran restaurant✊?Much appreciated, I'll definitely be back! ?Parking: The restaurant's location is in a plaza with no real signage that there's a restaurant there, but the parking is free and plentiful once you find the plaza.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Catfish Dinner, New Orleans Catfish, Macaroni & Cheese, Fried Shrimp
Freshwaters was ok. The food was a bit salty for me and the service was slow.Vegetarian options: Limited but good selection. Again, a bit salty but ok.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Macaroni & Cheese, Corn Muffins, Peach Cobbler, Red Beans and Rice
Found this gem while visiting Charlotte with a Google search and the reviews. Delicious food and great atmosphere! The experience brought us back to our New Orleans visit! Thanks for a wonderful dinner. Salmon cake amazing! Jambalaya and Etufee meals so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love the owner and service. Food was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5