Perched in Camperdown Plaza at the corner of Main and Broad, this is a downtown anchor built for occasions, sitting directly across from the Peace Center and a short walk from Falls Park and the Reedy. Guests get to pick the mood, from a lively bar to a string-lit terrace to a quiet white-linen room, which makes it an easy stop before a show or for a celebration. The room is backed by a Wine Spectator-recognized wine list and a full craft cocktail program, and the team also runs an award-winning catering and private-event operation for weddings and corporate functions.
The restaurant dates to 2005, grown by Mark and Larkin Hammond from their original Larkin's on the Lake in Lake Lure, NC. Among the plates reviewers single out are dry-aged steaks, shrimp and grits, lobster mac and cheese, she-crab soup, tuna tartare, and crab cakes, with the vanilla crème brûlée drawing repeat mentions. Regulars consistently credit the steaks, the attentive service, and the cocktails, with the old fashioned earning frequent nods. The main friction is logistical rather than culinary: downtown parking takes some planning, though valet is available at the neighboring AC Hotel, and the check lands firmly in splurge territory.