This South End Charlotte restaurant known for its prix fixe dinner is closing soon.
The Dunavant, a South End staple known for its signature steaks, bottomless truffle fries and creative seasonal drink menu, announced late Tuesday it plans to close the Charlotte restaurant permanently in early September. Its last meal service will be brunch on Sept. 3, Labor Day weekend.
“We are saying farewell to all our loved clientele, by holding off until the end of the summer then we must take our final bow,” The Dunavant posted on Facebook. “Thank you so much Charlotte for letting us into your lives it was a pleasure to serve you.”
The post explained that the restaurant has been bought out of its lease to make way for a new development. “Never ones to stand in the way of progress, we are excited to see who and what will take over the space we lovingly designed and built” in collaboration with d3 Studio and Fairwood Construction.
“We look forward to serving you all for one last month and having the opportunity to say thank you and goodbye for now (but not forever) to all our patrons, neighbors, and fellow business owners who have supported us over the last 4.5 years,” the post said. “There are no words for how much we will miss all of you and South End.”
The Dunavant opened on Feb. 13. 2019 at 2322 Dunavant Str., and quickly became known as an inexpensive date night with its $25 steak and bottomless truffle fries deal. (With inflation, that price is now $32 per person.)
“We went through about 20 cases of potatoes in the first weekend,” then-chef and co-creator Travis Hearne told CharlotteFive at the time.
Outside the prix-fixe order, The Dunavant also offers a selection of small plates and not-so-small plates, including many vegetarian choices. It’s become a popular brunch spot, with favorites that include steak and eggs, chicken and funnel cake, lobster mac and cheese and more.
In a Yelp review, Lauren D. of Charlotte wrote, “I enjoyed the chicken and funnel cake, a fun spin on chicken and waffles. The cranberry mimosa was good as well. The atmosphere was laid back. On a nice sunny day, the outdoor seating and open garage would be nice to experience. Overall, I’d recommend visiting at least once.”
After hearing of the restaurant’s closing, many customers took to The Dunavant’s social media pages to share their thoughts.
Carla H. wrote, “So sorry to hear this news. Loved your beautiful restaurant and curated space.”
Marcio P. speculated, “Let me guess. More apartments… Hope you can find another place and reopen. Tons of possibilities on the suburbs for much less rent.”
In response to a more negative comment, Av G. said, “ I’ve always found it to be an amazing experience over the past few years and I found it honorable how the owner made sure to keep their employees employed during covid and also donated a lot to the community during that time.”
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes available.
The Dunavant
Location: 2322 Dunavant St #200, Charlotte, NC 28203
Cuisine: American
Instagram: @thedunavant
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