Vela is stylish and self-aware. It's a mezcal-tinged hangout in a part of town that needs more places like it. With time, it could become one of River North’s best. For now, it’s a worthy evening out... just don’t expect everything on the table to match the energy in the room.

Bentley’s is a solid choice for a formal night out in Charlotte, especially if you value traditional French sensibility and generous plating. It just needs to find its rhythm and lean more confidently into what it wants to be.

Orosoko is a vibe-forward restaurant with design credentials and conceptual flair. It's one you want to like, and for the most part, you probably will. It’s not flawless, but it doesn’t need to be. It just needs to sharpen up.