Orosoko: Inspired Restaurant and Lounge Bar in Charlotte
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Charlotte’s music and food culture has been through an interesting time of late. Hit hard by COVID-19 but coming back with force, the city continues to reinvent itself with new venues. Orosoko is a great example. This new upscale restaurant and lounge bar blends great food with delicious music and friendly South End vibes. Located at the corner of Bland and Winnifred, this intimate space offers top-notch acoustics for the ultimate food and music experience.
Let’s take a look at this venue and learn about the food, music, and people that make it special.
The Story
Orosoko is owned and operated by Greg and Lisa Pappanastos, who launched the business with partners Nick Spain and Jay Pound. Greg is a former DJ who works in commercial real estate, and he’s owned the building at 130 W. Bland St. since 2009. After seeing the city drop off and wake up following the pandemic, he wanted to be part of the reinvigoration process. According to Greg, the building used to be “a dirty, old warehouse with an uneven concrete floor and brick walls covered in plaster.” The neighborhood was special, however, and he knew he could transform this asset into something truly unique.
Pappanastos wanted to renovate the space without losing its charm, building something for the city without relying on food and drinks alone. “Post-COVID, our collective patience diminished considerably,” Pappanastos said. “You see that everywhere, from the grocery store to the interstate to the restaurant experience. You have to be cunning and sharp when you’re offering people a night out on the town. I don’t want to be relegated to a dinner-only experience until 9 p.m.”
The Venue
Situated in a vibrant apartment community at the corner of Winnifred and Bland streets, Orosoko is adjacent to The RailYard, a bustling space with Class A offices and ground-level businesses. The entire neighborhood is alive and kicking, and Orosoko mixes it up with breweries, retail shops, and other restaurants.
The space is small and extremely well-thought-out, with beautiful décor creating refined-yet-relaxed vibes and a wonderful sense of intimacy. The Orosoko venue looks fantastic from the street — its recessed entry and imposing door certainly make an impression. The solid mahogany door weighs in at 1,000 lbs, and the large circular doorknob matches the venue’s scribble logo.
As you arrive at the venue’s threshold, you’re welcomed by a gracious host and offered a signature scent. Led through a darkened foyer, you then emerge into a single room featuring the bar and dining space. Orosoko features a modern interior design scheme with a blend of natural textures to anchor the experience. The brick walls and custom leather cushions present a feeling of relaxed luxury and timeless sophistication.
This is a 40-seat venue with a 2,300-sq. ft. interior — the ideal size for wonderful food and sound experiences. As both a restaurant and a “listening” cocktail lounge, Orosoko has been designed with incredible acoustics. An amazing sound system works hard behind the scenes, enveloping every guest with crystal-clear audio. There’s not a bad seat in the house, as Greg and the team work hard to find the perfect balance between music and conversation.
The Music
Orosoko is more than a restaurant. Delicious food is always accompanied by fantastic music. From chill lounge tunes to hard house beats, high-quality audio pours into every corner of the space. Orosoko is a vinyl lovers paradise, and great music is part of the DNA.
Along with providing an unmatched dining experience, Orosoko also functions as a listening lounge. These spaces first emerged in Japan during the late 1920s, where people would meet to drink and soak up sound together. These intimate spaces have now spread across the globe, and Orosoko is proud to bring this culture to the people of Charlotte.
At Orosoko, the most notable feature isn’t even visible. Pappanastos and his team have invested heavily in acoustics, with every square inch of the building designed for sound. Soundproofing insulation helps to absorb ambient noise, walnut sonic diffusers enliven the audio, and corners are analyzed and softened to prevent dead spots. Much like a shrine, the DJ booth at Orosoko is where the magic really happens. You’ll even find a private table behind the booth, surrounded by motorized drapes for A-list guests and complete privacy.
The Food
While the music is always front and center at Orosoko, the food is another major highlight. Renowned chef Jason Pound has created an amazing menu, delivering scrumptious flavors with diverse Latin and Asian influences. Pound previously led the kitchen at Soul Gastrolounge, where he grew his reputation as a creative culinary star. He brings all this experience to Orosoko, delivering a bold modern menu full of rich global flavors and eye-catching ingredients. The food at Orosoko tastes incredible, and it looks amazing both in person and on Instagram.
According to Pound, the Orosoko menu is equally inspired by East and West. “From the West, I loved the street corn fritters and chili BBQ empanadas. From the East, don’t miss the hamachi and shiitake mushroom steamed buns.”
The drinks are another feature, with the Orosoko team specializing in cocktails from all corners of the world. Many of the colorful cocktails feature exotic ingredients, including matcha, cold brew, and sake. With shareable plates, refined cocktails, and crystal-clear music in a relaxed space, Orosoko delivers a full-spectrum culinary experience.
The Vibe
All great venues are built on something intangible. Along with the great food and delicious music, the Orosoko team is focused on creating a fantastic vibe. The venue has been designed around the guest experience, with every element thought about and refined over time. The Orosoko team obviously wants to make an impression, but they also want to create memories and build a community. Guests are led through a process of escape and discovery upon arrival, and they’re treated with respect and familiarity once seated.
Overall, Orosoko radiates a sense of relaxed luxury and modern sophistication. The gracious hosts are passionate about the project, delivering inspired hospitality in a stylish environment that’s built for sound. Depending on the time and date, there’s likely to be a skilled DJ spinning beats on the venue’s world-class audio system. If you’re lucky, you might even get to hear owner Greg Pappanastos playing his favorite hard house records.
Come On Down
Make a reservation and check out Orosoko tonight. Experience a first-class atmosphere that exudes luxury without being pretentious. Our full dining menu is available until 12 a.m. on weekends, and you can enjoy music into the wee hours. With perfectly executed cocktails, comfortable seating, and a refined music experience, we deliver the sexiest vibes in the city. If you want something more relaxed, our O-ToGo window offers a fresh take on street food. It’s open late on the weekends, with pick-up and delivery options both available.
For special daytime fun, Orosoko presents Soundbar Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This brunch day party breathes fresh life into South End each and every week. We curate beats for relaxed Sunday vibes, from downtempo to dub, reggae, and deep house. It may be cold outside, but the fire’s always burning at Orosoko. Soundbar Sundays have no cover charge, and reservations are optional.
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